A single word, "love," robbed her of any will to fight.
Even if it seemed absurd, how was she any different from Qin Er Niang in the past? The most detestable person was the one who used Qin Er Niang's deep affection to justify her own actions with a clear conscience.
"Miss Xue, I will go save Qin Er Niang," Feng Yun said in a low voice.
She nodded. "Alright."
In a flash, before the guards behind the Ninth Princess could react, Xue Xing Yue had already appeared before the Ninth Princess.
The Ninth Princess stiffened. She had not expected that in the blink of an eye, the butcher's daughter would be standing in front of her. "You..."
Xue Xing Yue smiled coldly, her eyes extremely frigid. "Your Highness Ninth Princess, do you think your saber is faster, or the one in my hand?"
"How dare you," the Ninth Princess said angrily.
"Your Highness Ninth Princess, you might not know this, but I detest being threatened the most." As she spoke, the dagger hidden in her sleeve slipped into her palm.
The Ninth Princess felt a chill against her neck. Her body stiffened. "You... what do you want to do?"
"What do I want to do? Your Highness Ninth Princess, don't you know better than I do what I want to do?"
"If you dare to lay a hand on this princess, I will have my father execute your entire family."
"Is that so? Then I'm truly terrified. But do you think you'll live to see your father execute my entire family?"
The Ninth Princess trembled all over. Looking at the butcher's daughter standing before her, she saw no trace of a butcher's daughter. Instead, this butcher's daughter seemed more like a noble celestial maiden, looking down upon her.
Her clear, cold gaze was filled with a frigid light, and a chilling aura emanated from her entire being. She had to admit that this noble, aloof demeanor was like that of a goddess atop an icy mountain, transcendent and unmatched.
"You..."
"Miss Xue, Qin Er Niang has been rescued."
Xue Xing Yue saw Feng Yun carrying the unconscious Qin Er Niang on her back. She said, "Take Qin Er Niang back first and find a doctor to examine her."
Feng Yun hesitated. "I'm fine. Do you think these people can harm me?"
Feng Yun knew her strength and nodded. "Alright, I'll escort Miss Qin Er Niang back. Please be careful."
Xue Xing Yue nodded and smiled brightly. "Ninth Princess, look, I've already rescued Qin Er Niang."
Suddenly, the Ninth Princess's eyes flickered, and she lunged towards Xue Xing Yue's dagger. Xue Xing Yue retreated in time, but her arm was still grazed, and blood immediately flowed from her fair neck.
She froze slightly. She had not intended to harm the Ninth Princess. After all, she was of royal blood. Harming the Ninth Princess would not only be disadvantageous to her but would also bring trouble to Song Xiu Yuan. But the Ninth Princess's sudden action... could it be that?
As expected, she heard footsteps. She sneered. So that was how it was.
"Greetings, Ninth Princess." The deep voice carried. Xue Xing Yue's body stiffened slightly. She turned around and saw Song Xiu Yuan looking at her with a questioning gaze.
Her heart sank a little.
Then, Yu Yun exclaimed, "Ninth Princess, how did you get injured?"
Upon hearing this, the Ninth Princess slumped to the ground, grabbing Xue Xing Yue's hand holding the dagger and pressing it to her neck. "Brother Xiu Yuan, please save me quickly. She wants to kill me."
"Xue Xing Yue, release the Ninth Princess immediately," Yu Yun commanded.
Xue Xing Yue twisted the Ninth Princess's hand behind her back and sat in the Ninth Princess's previous position, placing her foot on the hand that was on the Ninth Princess's back. She said with a laugh, "Since Her Highness the Ninth Princess wishes to play like this, then I shall respectfully oblige."
"Xue Xing Yue, why don't you release the Ninth Princess? Insulting your superiors is a capital offense," Yu Yun said coldly.
Xue Xing Yue glanced at Yu Yun and smiled. "Your mistress hasn't said anything yet, why are you in such a hurry? Could it be that the Ninth Princess is your mistress?"
"You..."
"Enough," Song Xiu Yuan said coldly, interrupting Yu Yun's retort. He looked up at Xue Xing Yue. "Ning'er, release the Ninth Princess first."
"I'd like to, but the Ninth Princess deliberately offered herself just now. If I don't go along with her, wouldn't it be a waste of such a good opportunity? What do you say, Ninth Princess?"
"Brother Xiu Yuan, don't listen to her nonsense. She tried to kill me just now. You saw it yourself, she had a dagger, and my neck was bleeding," the Ninth Princess cried.
Xue Xing Yue couldn't help but admire the Ninth Princess's acting. She was putting on quite a show. She herself would have believed the Ninth Princess, but did Song Xiu Yuan?
She raised her head and saw that Song Xiu Yuan's eyes were dark, revealing no trace of emotion, his expression calm.
"Yue'er, release the Ninth Princess first."
She shrugged, released her foot, and leaped down, coming to Song Xiu Yuan's side. "Do you believe me? Or her?" she asked, pointing at the Ninth Princess, her tone devoid of any emotion.
Helped by her attendants, the Ninth Princess stood up. The bright red liquid on her fair neck was particularly eye-catching. "Your Highness Ninth Princess, your neck..."
The Ninth Princess nodded, pulled out a handkerchief to cover her neck, and looked at Song Xiu Yuan with a pitiable expression. "Brother Xiu Yuan, you must be fair to me."
"Miss Xue, why did you harm the Ninth Princess?" Yu Yun asked coldly.
Xue Xing Yue glanced at Yu Yun and sneered, "Harm? Did you see it with your own eyes?"
Yu Yun said coldly, "I saw it when I arrived. I believe my master also saw it."
"Even if I did harm her, what business is it of yours?"
Yu Yun's eyes flickered with a hint of gloom. She said coldly, "It is not my business, but you harmed the Ninth Princess, which is a violation of..."
"Enough," Song Xiu Yuan suddenly said.
Yu Yun knelt on one knee. "Master, Miss Xue intended to..."
"Yu Yun, you talk too much."