The archers on both sides of the valley collectively put away their crossbows and watched as Caiyu galloped forward on her horse like a shooting star.
As she was about to approach Song Yinghuai, the speed of the steed beneath her showed no sign of slowing down!
Everyone:???
Song Yinghuai:...
He gasped and shouted in a deep voice, "Caiyu! Pull the reins!"
Caiyu seemed flustered. On the horseback, she shouted, "My Lord! Watch out for the ambush on the mountain! Your maid has come to rescue you!"
At the same time, she fumbled to grab the reins and pulled with all her might!
In an instant, the valley was filled with the long neighs of the fiery steeds!
The valley was narrow. With the horses rearing up their hooves, even Song Yinghuai was forced to take a few steps back.
Then, Caiyu fell headfirst from above his head!
Right on target, she landed in Sheng Jiangli's arms!
Everyone:!!!
Sheng Jiangli:...
He quickly reached out and grabbed Caiyu's delicate neck, pulling her in front of him. His large palm tightened as he spoke in a teasing tone,
"What a lucky little savior from the sky! Prince of Yan, it seems you'll have to let me go!"
Song Yinghuai narrowed his deep, profound eyes. His gaze was as sharp as a blade, filled with gloom and killing intent. His thin lips were tightly pursed as he spat out each word like ice,
"Let her go!"
Sheng Jiangli swayed unsteadily and leaned on Caiyu's shoulder. His voice came through the mask with a muffled sound, but it was clearly full of relaxation,
"Yes, Prince of Yan. As long as you let me and my brothers go, I'll surely return this delicate girl."
Song Yinghuai held the long sword in his hand. The veins on his forehead throbbed violently as he carefully assessed the situation in front of him.
Although he had a hunch that the leader of the assassins might be Sheng Jiangli, no one could be sure until the mask was removed.
If he made the wrong bet, Caiyu's life would...
Caiyu's throat was being squeezed by Sheng Jiangli, making it difficult for her to breathe. She met Song Yinghuai's surging black eyes.
It was as if there was a huge beast inside, exploring and weighing things up.
Caiyu's heart rate suddenly went out of control as she let out intermittent, broken sounds,
"My Lord... Save... Save... your maid... Your maid... doesn't want to die... Wuwuwu..."
Caiyu's voice carried a touch of sadness, like the falling petals in the wind. Her clear eyes sparkled with teardrops like stars. Especially her slender neck, under the contrast of Sheng Jiangli's large palm, seemed as if it would break with just a little more force.
Song Yinghuai's breath caught in his throat. The veins on the back of his hand bulged. In the end, he didn't dare to take the risk.
He waved his hand and ordered the Brocade Guards on both sides of the valley to retreat. His expression was menacing as he said to Sheng Jiangli,
"If you harm a single hair on her head, I'll tear you and your brothers into pieces."
Sheng Jiangli felt relieved and smiled, "Don't worry. For the sake of my own life, I'll take good care of this girl. Please ask Prince of Yan to lead all the horses over for us."
Ji Qian glanced at Song Yinghuai and led four horses over.
Sheng Jiangli smiled again, "I want all the horses."
"You!" Ji Qian glared at him angrily, "There are only four of you left. What do you need so many horses for?"
Sheng Jiangli: "I said I want them. Hurry up!"
Ji Qian had no choice but to drive the remaining two horses over.
Sheng Jiangli watched as Suobude and the others mounted their horses and left first. Then he pushed Caiyu onto a horse and stabbed the butts of the two remaining empty horses hard with his curved knife!
The two horses were stung and let out long, pained neighs. They went crazy and galloped forward, quickly disappearing without a trace.
Sheng Jiangli then hijacked Caiyu onto the last horse and let out a clear laugh,
"Haha! Prince of Yan, the green mountains will never change and the green waters will always flow. I admit defeat this time. If we have the chance again next time, let's fight again!"
After saying that, he slapped the horse's butt with the back of his knife. The horse beneath him reared up, let out a high-pitched neigh, and then lifted its hooves. The man and the horse galloped away along the valley path.
Ji Qian's face turned ashen. He called on the Brocade Guards to follow.
Since all the horses had been driven away by Sheng Jiangli, it would be impossible to catch up for a while. They could only track the horse hoof prints along the way, so Ji Qian was extremely annoyed.
Then he looked at the silent man standing in the middle of the road.
There seemed to be a thick layer of frost covering his handsome face.
His lips were tightly closed, and his Adam's apple rolled up and down quickly. It seemed that he was trying hard to suppress the surging blood in his body.
Ji Qian's heart skipped a beat. He carefully said,
"My Lord... Er, don't worry. Our Brocade Guards are the best trackers in the world. Those thieves are seriously injured. Your subordinate guarantees that we will bring Miss Caiyu back safely..."
"By the way, My Lord, the matter of entering the capital can't be delayed!"
"Humph!"
Suddenly, Song Yinghuai let out a cold snort. The long sword in his hand shot out like a white rainbow piercing the sun and stabbed deeply into a large rock on the cliff!
The long sword carried a huge amount of internal force and shattered the hard, iron-like rock as tall as a person!
In an instant, the gravel flew into the sky!
Each word of Song Yinghuai seemed to roar out from the abyss, piercing people's hearts like a sharp sword,
"Why did Caiyu appear here?!"
"Where is Han Fen?!"
"Find him and bring him to me immediately!"
Ji Qian shrank his neck in fear, "Your subordinate will immediately send someone to look for Guard Han!"
He continued to persuade with a worried face, "My Lord, but the matter of entering the capital must not be delayed. Why don't you go ahead first? Your subordinate is willing to bet his life that we will find Miss Caiyu!"
Song Yinghuai's tone was cold and stern, "What use is your life to me?"
"I'll stay here for one more day. I'll give you one day. I want to know Caiyu's whereabouts!"
Ji Qian's scalp went numb, "Yes... Yes..."
In the southern mountains and rivers in spring, the tree-lined paths were shaded. The morning breeze blew, and the sun shone brightly. The horse hooves stepped on the crystal dewdrops on the fragrant paths.
The grass on the side of the road was lush, the willows were uneven, the wildflowers were swaying, and the bees and butterflies were flying beside the horse hooves. The fragrance of the flowers was faint in the air, making people feel intoxicated.
Caiyu was sitting in front of the horse. Her shoulder was being pressed against by Sheng Jiangli's chin, and it was getting heavier and heavier.
Finally, she couldn't help but push him, "Hey! Stop leaning on me! You're so heavy!"
Sheng Jiangli's face was pale under the mask, but there was a faint smile in his voice, "I've never seen a hijacked person as arrogant as you."
"Aren't you afraid that I'll kill you with one knife?"
"Smack!"
As soon as Sheng Jiangli finished speaking, Caiyu elbowed him hard in the abdomen. He immediately bent over in pain.
Then, Caiyu turned around and grabbed his mask with both hands. At the same time, she scolded angrily,
"You're still pretending! You're still pretending!"
"Don't think that I don't know who you are just because you're wearing a mask!"
"Sheng Jiangli! You've really done it this time!"
"You dared to lead the Hu cavalry into the pass without an imperial edict!"
"You dared to assassinate the Prince of Yan!"
Suobude and the others stared at Caiyu in disbelief, watching her fierce appearance. They all swallowed their saliva involuntarily.
Caiyu scratched and beat Sheng Jiangli mercilessly. Sheng Jiangli was already injured, and he couldn't stand her chaos on the horseback. Immediately, both of them fell onto the grass!
As soon as Sheng Jiangli fell, he covered his head and begged for help, "Ahh! It hurts! Hurts! Hurts!"
"Ahh! Don't scratch my face!"
"Ahh! My ear!"
"My Queen! My Queen! I was wrong..."
Finally, Caiyu grabbed Sheng Jiangli's ear and said with gritted teeth and a smile,
"It was you guys who tried to assassinate us last time, right? It was you who overturned my carriage and made me roll down the hillside, right? It was you who made me sprain my foot, right?"
Sheng Jiangli's ear was being grabbed, and his mask was being pulled off, revealing a pale and grimacing face. He said with a forced smile,
"Yes... Yes, but I took the fall for you, didn't I?"
"You're magnanimous. For the sake of the broken rib I got from being smashed by you, please let go of my ear!"