Qi Yuze watched into the distance, unsure of what the Empress intended to do at this moment. Was it truly as he suspected, a scheme to frame him?
He felt an inexplicable chill in his heart. The spirited Princess Xingyue of days gone by was gone, replaced by Empress Xingjiu, who wielded the art of emperorship.
"Little Prince, then you must be prepared," Zhao Yan Luo said.
He felt that if the Little Prince of Nanping fell, he himself would likely not fare much better.
"This Prince is prepared," Qi Yuze said slowly.
Guards suddenly surrounded the carriage. Qi Yu Ming and Qi Yu Heng also sensed something was amiss. Qi Yu Ming extended his head beyond the carriage curtain and asked, "Qi Yuze, what are you doing? Imprisoning us?"
Qi Yuze looked at Qi Yu Ming and said coldly, "Imprisoning? If you feel this Prince is truly imprisoning you, then think so!"
Qi Yu Ming: "..."
"Qi Yuze, I won't let you go when we return to Qi," Qi Yu Ming shouted furiously.
Upon hearing this, Qi Yuze said coldly, "This Prince reiterates his words: we shall see if the Second Prince has the life to return!"
Qi Yu Ming's expression turned grim, "If anything happens to this Prince, it will be the doing of you, the Little Prince of Nanping."
Suddenly, the long sword in Qi Yuze's hand flew out. Qi Yu Ming, startled, dodged quickly. After ensuring his safety, he cursed loudly, "Qi Yuze, do you truly wish to kill this Prince?"
"Second Prince, there are assassins!" With Qi Yu Heng's cry, Qi Yu Ming was pushed down by Qi Yu Heng.
Qi Yu Ming shoved him away, "There are assassins, so why are you pushing me?"
Noticing Qi Yu Heng remained silent, Qi Yu Ming leaned closer and saw a dart protruding from Qi Yu Heng's back.
Qi Yu Ming trembled, "Ming Duan, Ming Guang."
Ming Duan, who was fighting assassins outside, asked, "Your Highness, what is it?"
"The Third Prince is in trouble, quickly send for Qi Yuze," Qi Yu Ming said.
Ming Duan looked up at the Little Prince of Nanping engaged in combat with the assassins and said, "Your Highness, the Little Prince may not be able to come."
"What can he..." Qi Yu Ming lifted the carriage curtain and saw black-clad figures everywhere. Qi Yuze was engaged in combat with them, unable to extricate himself.
At this moment, Qi Yu Ming realized Qi Yuze was indeed too occupied. "Where are A'Da and A'Ling?"
Ming Duan replied, "They are with Ming Guang, holding off the assassins."
Qi Yu Ming retreated his head into the carriage, resigned to tending to Qi Yu Heng himself. He pressed down on him, removed the dart, and bandaged the wound, asking softly, "Qi Yu Heng, how are you?"
Qi Yu Heng did not answer, but he appeared to have lost consciousness.
"Your Highness, there are too many assassins. You and the Third Prince must get out of the carriage quickly," Ming Duan said softly, killing an approaching assassin with a sword.
Qi Yu Ming was stunned by this. Without time to think, he pulled Qi Yu Heng out of the carriage.
Ming Duan supported Qi Yu Heng's other arm. Qi Yu Ming asked, "A'Ling, where is A'Da?"
"Your Highness, let's not worry about them for now. I have left them a marker, and they will know," Ming Duan said.
Qi Yu Ming could only nod.
As soon as he stepped out of the carriage, Qi Yu Ming felt a gust of cold wind. He quickly retreated, and Ming Duan already killed the attacker with a single sword thrust.
"Your Highness, stay close behind me," Ming Duan said softly.
Qi Yu Ming proceeded cautiously this time, following Ming Duan towards a nearby grove of trees.
"Your Highness, be careful!" Ming Duan suddenly shouted.
Qi Yu Ming instinctively looked up and saw an assassin charging at him. He quickly retreated, drew the sword at his waist, and prepared to fight the emerging assassin. However, the assassin's skill was too great. He delivered a kick that, with Qi Yu Heng as a burden, entangled Qi Yu Ming's limbs.
The sword clattered to the ground. Qi Yu Ming was so startled he almost fell to his knees.
Ming Duan arrived in time and killed the assassin.
Seeing the endless stream of assassins, Ming Duan picked up a sword from the ground and handed it to Qi Yu Ming, "Your Highness, hold this."
Qi Yu Ming nodded. At this juncture, he could not afford to worry about anything else. He placed Qi Yu Heng on the ground and, back-to-back with Ming Duan, began to fight the assassins.
Without Qi Yu Heng as a hindrance, Qi Yu Ming could defend himself. While fighting, he asked, "How is the Little Prince?"
Ming Duan replied, "Not very good either. It seems these people came prepared."
"Your Highness, I will go first, you stay behind." Ming Duan leaped forward, engaging the assassins in a fierce struggle. Qi Yu Ming instinctively looked towards Qi Yu Heng but could not see him. He paused, then quickly moved forward, only to discover that Qi Yu Heng had woken up.
He breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Third Brother, get up quickly!"
He reached out to pull Qi Yu Heng's hand. Just then, he saw a dagger in Qi Yu Heng's hand plunged into his body. "Qi Yu Heng, you..."
"Second Imperial Brother, I apologize. Qi Country can only have one Emperor." With that, he pulled the dagger out with one hand.
Qi Yu Ming stumbled back a few steps. At this moment, the assassins, as if by prearrangement, lunged at him from all sides.
"Your Highness..." Ming Duan witnessed this scene and rushed forward in a frenzy, killing the assassins one by one.
Qi Yu Ming fell to the ground. Ming Duan helped him up, "Your Highness, Your Highness..."
Qi Yu Ming wanted to tell Ming Duan who had killed him, but as he opened his mouth, he vomited a mouthful of blood, then another. He could only point in Qi Yu Heng's direction, continuously pointing.
"Your Highness..." Ming Duan roared, his voice seemingly tearing through heaven and earth.
Not far away, Qi Yuze heard the commotion and felt something was amiss. He summoned his men and asked, "Where are the Second and Third Princes?"
His subordinate replied, "In the carriage."
Qi Yuze frowned. Just then, as if receiving a signal, the assassins began to withdraw one by one.
Suddenly, the place fell quiet. If not for the corpses on the ground reminding him of the intensity of the battle that had just occurred, he might have thought it was an illusion.