"The soldiers on the front lines are fighting desperately for our Great Wei. We do not yet know the situation, but if they are suspected on baseless charges, it will undoubtedly dampen their spirits," Xie Jia Yan stepped forward, his tone unhurried.
He spoke for no one in particular, yet his words hit the mark.
The soldiers fighting abroad, risking their lives and fortunes, should not be treated in such a manner.
Upon hearing this, Gu Bo Hao also stepped forward to speak for the Yu family, and several other ministers echoed his sentiments, making the Yao family appear vindictive and petty.
Yao Zhi Nian had not expected to be thwarted today, having already gained the upper hand, by Xie Jia Yan.
He had underestimated him; indeed, a barking dog doesn't bite.
The Sage waved his hand to halt the proceedings, and this storm passed.
As Yao Zhi Nian passed Xie Jia Yan on his way out of the court, he said sarcastically, "Young Minister Xie, you are promising for your age, but do not choose the wrong side."
In Yao Zhi Nian's view, anyone who did not clearly align themselves with the Yao family was an enemy.
"I receive my salary from the ruler, and naturally, I worry for the ruler," Xie Jia Yan's lips curved slightly, his expression calm, his demeanor unwavering.
Yao Zhi Nian flicked his sleeve. Since they were so aggressive, he would not be blamed for being ruthless; they had forced his hand.
Thousand Peaks Temple
Wang You Ling, who was sound asleep, was awakened by the sounds of fighting outside. As soon as she sat up, a voice reached her ears, "Your Highness, do not be afraid. We are here to escort Your Highness back to the palace."
Wang You Ling's mind cleared instantly. "Who are you?"
"Your Highness need not know who I am. In any case, I will not harm Your Highness," the person assured her.
Wang You Ling lightly flicked her sleeve and sat up straight. "No matter whose subordinate you are, I will not go with you. You should leave now."
"Your Highness, please do not make things difficult for me. If I fail to escort Your Highness back, I will lose my life. Your Highness, with your benevolent heart, consider this a good deed for the day," the person pleaded on their knees.
Wang You Ling let out a scoff. Her elder brother truly understood her, but she was no longer the Wang You Ling of the past.
Bi Yu heard the commotion and hurried over. Although the room was not lit, her familiarity with the space allowed Bi Yu to reach Wang You Ling's side smoothly.
"How dare you threaten Your Highness!"
"Your Highness, please understand, I would never dare. But today, I must escort Your Highness away..."
Wang You Ling did not expect this person to resort to force. Unfortunately, Bi Yu did not know martial arts and was struck unconscious by a palm strike even as she instinctively shielded Wang You Ling.
"Your Highness, forgive me. You can punish me later when we return to the palace," the person said, and then they exited through the back window with Wang You Ling.
There were people waiting at the back window for them, but they were discovered not long after they left.
These individuals were willing to use lethal force to prevent Wang You Ling from being taken away. In order to protect her, the escort's arm was cut.
Wang You Ling, who had been a vegetarian for years, suddenly smelled blood and felt a wave of nausea.
"Leader, hurry!" The men formed a line, using their bodies to block the pursuers.
The person holding Wang You Ling by the arm gritted their teeth and finally left with her.
They had accepted a mission with no room for failure; they had to protect Your Highness's safe return to the palace, even with their last breath.
Their master had reinforcements at every stage of the journey; he just needed to hold on a little longer.
Suddenly, an arrow shot towards Wang You Ling. Without a second thought, the escort pulled Wang You Ling and rolled on the ground. In that instant, they also pulled an arrow from their back and flung it towards the attacker.
"Your Highness, he is trying to take your life. Please do not hold out any hope for him. Do not betray the master's brotherly affection for Your Highness," the person said, effectively revealing their identity.
"He should not have come to take me down the mountain," Wang You Ling said with a wry smile.
It would have been better if things had remained as they were before, at least preserving their last shred of dignity.
As expected, not far ahead, they encountered their reinforcements, but the brothers who had initially escorted her away had all perished.