Seeing so many enemies, everyone quickly shielded the Second Prince in the center. His personal guards, facing death with resolve, said, "When I was young, I always dreamed of achieving great things with Your Highness. It seems I won't have that fortune. We will hold them off and create an escape route. You must flee immediately."
The Second Prince remained silent. His reason told him this was the correct course of action, but his heart was filled with sadness. Today, he had not only lost many good brothers but also signified his failure in this struggle. He didn't know what dangers lay ahead, and he might even perish here. Even if he escaped, would the throne be lost to him forever?
Zhang Dahai sighed. He had expected the Second Prince to have contingency plans for such a significant event, but now it seemed he was about to be trapped. Even among the remaining dozen or so people, some bore light injuries. He shook his head helplessly, concluding that the prince was ultimately too inexperienced. From the enemy's aura, he could sense that they were not only outnumbered but also vastly inferior in combat prowess.
"You protect the Second Prince well," he commanded, then drew the soft sword at his waist and, to everyone's disbelieving eyes, leaped up and charged directly at the enemy.
An expert's move reveals their skill. The leader had initially dismissed them, having witnessed the group's two previous skirmishes. Even if they hadn't been injured, they would still be no match for his forces. He had believed this task would be completed with ease. However, the moment Zhang Dahai attacked, he realized his miscalculation.
He immediately became alert and moved to engage. In the ensuing fight, he clearly understood that he was in grave danger due to his underestimation.
Since arriving in this world, Zhang Dahai had secretly practiced frequently, but his actual combat experience was still limited. However, it was more than enough to overpower them. Soon, bodies lay scattered around him.
Covered in blood, he turned to see the people surrounding the Second Prince instinctively step back, their eyes watching him with vigilance. Zhang Dahai knew what they were thinking: his overwhelming martial skill was so frightening that they feared he might betray them, a risk they couldn't afford.
He sighed with a hint of helplessness. This was why he had been hesitant to reveal his martial arts. He whistled, and his horse trotted over. Zhang Dahai elegantly mounted his steed and said with a touch of impatience, "If I truly intended to harm the Second Prince, could any of you have stopped me?"
Watching him charge ahead, the others exchanged glances. It was the Second Prince who reacted first, giving the order, "Follow him quickly."
Hearing the sound of hooves behind him, Zhang Dahai couldn't help but smile. It seemed he hadn't misjudged the prince.
The Second Prince soon caught up and said with emotion, "I finally understand why Marquis Anding so highly recommended you to me. With your intelligence, skills, and ability to generate wealth, anyone who supports you will strike gold. I am honored that you recognized and chose me."
"We value you because we see your intelligence, wisdom, and ability to identify and utilize talent. You will undoubtedly be a wise ruler," Zhang Dahai said, offering a compliment that was also sincere.
It was impossible for the Second Prince not to be wary of him, given his formidable martial prowess. A sudden attack could prove fatal. However, he was intelligent enough to know that now was not the time to distance himself but to actively court Zhang Dahai's loyalty for his own benefit.
He could sense a rift between them. If Zhang Dahai had been willing to serve him wholeheartedly from the start, he wouldn't have held back his strength until driven to desperation. Nevertheless, today, thanks to him, escaping was far from a certainty.
Although the Fifth Prince had contemplated much, reality had unfolded in an instant. Soon, silence fell upon the entourage.
The Emperor was conversing with his ministers when he heard the sound of approaching horses. As the riders drew closer, he recognized the Second Prince accompanied by his personal guards. Seeing their blood-soaked state, his eyes twitched. It was evident they had been attacked. How could such a thing happen when he had stationed guards throughout the forest?
Before the Emperor could question them, the Second Prince knelt and recounted his entire ordeal, his voice choked with emotion, "Your Son doesn't know who has offended him to inflict such brutality. If not for the desperate protection of my subordinates, Your Son would have been eternally separated from Father today. Even so, we lost dozens of men."
The Emperor quickly helped him up and comforted him, "Rest assured, I will seek justice for you. To dare to act under my very nose is utter audacity."
This immediately led him to another concern: if his second son had been attacked, were his other sons also facing life-threatening situations?
At this thought, he could no longer sit still and immediately ordered men to go to their aid.
Of course, among his sons, his favorite was the First Prince, born to his most beloved consort. Although she had passed away young, he had promised her on her deathbed that he would protect him throughout his life.
He knew that among his many sons, the Second Prince possessed the most talent and was the most suitable to be emperor. Yet, he was biased and wished to pass the throne to the ordinary First Prince. In his view, he had spent his life diligently building a solid foundation for his son; as long as the First Prince remained discreet and avoided trouble, he could reign for a lifetime.
Therefore, for this rescue operation, he gave a subtle glance to the chief eunuch beside him. The eunuch immediately understood and dispatched twice the number of men to escort the First Prince compared to the others.
However, the forest was vast, and they were unsure of the princes' exact locations, so they could only search as they proceeded.
Deep within the forest, the Third Prince watched in despair as an arrow pierced his heart. Lying on his back, his mind went blank. He could only see the blue sky above the trees before darkness consumed him completely.
Like the Second Prince, he had endured three waves of attacks. He was known for his moody temperament and his inability to win over his subordinates. The only reason people still followed him was due to his mother's influential family.
Truly capable individuals had long since found excuses to leave. He showed no signs of being a ruler, and even if he ascended the throne, he would not be a wise emperor. Those around him, both in terms of ability and martial strength, were inferior to others. This was not apparent in normal times but became evident when they faced death at the hands of their enemies. By then, it was too late.