As night fell and the palace grew quiet, a blood-covered man burst into Sui Huan’s room, gasping: “Master, we’ve been tricked! The Crown Prince is fine!”
“What?” Sui Huan was shocked. “Why didn’t you report this earlier?”
“Some people came to help the Eastern Palace, and they’re all experts. My men are all dead, and I barely escaped…” The man spat blood.
“Master, run quickly! The Eastern Palace’s troops are coming!”
The escort protected Sui Huan and rushed out of the palace gate, with battle cries erupting behind them. Sui Huan recognized the familiar accent of Yan Xuan’s people.
“Go!” He took a last look at the palace wall, fleeing with unfulfilled ambitions.
Half an hour later, during a fierce battle with city guards, Sui Huan suddenly saw Ning Ye, who was pursuing him on horseback, calling his name. He waved to her, breaking through the encirclement to reach her side.
“A Ye, help me one more time,” Sui Huan whispered in her ear. Before she could react, he pressed a knife to her neck. “Let me out of the city, or I’ll kill your princess,” he stated coldly.
His arm wrapped tightly around her waist, his chest pressed against her, drawing strength from their closeness. Despite the chaos, Ning Ye felt an unexpected happiness; she realized he would be good to her only when he needed her and hoped to always hold value for him.
“He won’t escape anyway,” Yan Xuan said softly. “I want him to have no place to be buried.”
Gao Song stood guard outside the door, sleep-deprived and with dark circles under his eyes.
After a long time, the door finally opened, and Yan Xuan walked out, saying in a low voice: “Spread the order that only entry is allowed into the cities along the route to Chen Kingdom; no exit is permitted.”
Sui Huan had hidden someone well. Since he couldn’t find them, he would let Sui Huan lead him to them.
