He remarried after his mother's death, seized power over the world, and slept on the emperor�

Upon hearing this, Ji Ling grinned.

"At least the trip wasn't in vain."

The joy in his eyes seemed genuine; he was truly happy to have invited this highly respected old concubine back to the capital.

Only Jiang Bingning felt a strong alarm bell ringing in her heart.

We'll set off tomorrow; it's only a two- or three-day journey back to the capital.

In her previous life, she and her father arrived in the capital without ever seeing her mother or hearing any news of the return of the Princess Consort of Xin.

Jiang Yuerong was only focused on crying and making a scene, saying that her mother had been taken away by people from the Prince Xin's Mansion and her fate was unknown.

In retrospect, the truth of the matter differs greatly from her version of events.

Was it because of his competition with the Dowager Empress that they were brought forward?

Or perhaps, in her past life, her mother... had an accident on her way back to the capital?

The next morning, as dawn broke.

Two horse-drawn carriages were waiting on the mountainside of the Taoist temple. One was decorated in a simple and heavy style, while the other was relatively simple.

Ji Ling mounted his horse and took the lead, clearing the way ahead.

Ji Yunhan shared a carriage with Liu Jingyi and silently followed at the back of the caravan, acting as the rear guard.

With the help of Zhang Mama, the Dowager Consort walked out of the Taoist temple. She did not get into the carriage directly, but lifted the curtain and looked straight at Jiang Bingning.

"Little girl, ride with me."

Jiang Bingning was slightly taken aback, then nodded in agreement and stepped onto the magnificent and heavy carriage.

The carriage was filled with calming incense, creating a tranquil atmosphere.

The wheels rolled on, slowly driving away from Xiufeng Mountain.

The Dowager Empress closed her eyes to rest for a moment, then suddenly spoke.

"Your kung fu is quite good."

Jiang Bingning respectfully replied, "Your Highness is too kind."

"But why didn't you use the Liu family's spear technique yesterday?"

The Dowager Empress opened her eyes, her weathered gaze gleaming with a sharp light.

"Are you afraid of hurting me, your old woman?"

After thinking for a moment, Jiang Bingning decided to tell the truth.

She shook her head.

"Your Highness, this junior... does not know the Liu family spear technique."

"What?" The old lady's voice suddenly rose several decibels.

"My martial arts skills were all taught by my father. I have never heard of my mother's family having any family-inherited spear techniques."

The glimmer of light that had finally appeared in the old lady's eyes slowly faded away.

She sighed deeply and leaned back on the cushion, her expression a mixture of disappointment and complexity.

"yes……"

"The Liu family's spear tradition has ultimately ended..."

Jiang Bingning wanted to use the Dowager Empress's words as a pretext to ask the Liu family what exactly was going on.

call out--!

A sharp whistle rang out.

Jiang Bingning's expression tightened instantly.

This is the highest level of warning signal that a scout will send out when they encounter an insurmountable enemy and don't even have time to report back!

The situation is extremely critical!

There was no trace of panic in the old concubine's eyes, only a deep, iron-like killing intent.

She slowly sat up straight and said in a deep voice, "There's an ambush."

Before he finished speaking, a deluge of arrows rained down from the forests on both sides of the mountain!

"Protect the Dowager Princess!"

"There's an assassin!"

puff!puff!puff!

The sound of arrows piercing flesh was incessant, and the guards outside the carriage fell to the ground instantly.

As soon as the rain of arrows stopped, dozens of dark figures darted out of the forest like ghosts.

They were all dressed in black, masked, and carrying sharp blades, exuding a strong murderous aura; they were clearly well-trained assassins.

Ji Ling was instantly surrounded by more than twenty people!

His eyes were bloodshot, and he wildly brandished his spear, but he couldn't break free for the time being.

The remaining twenty or thirty people rushed towards the carriage where the Dowager Consort and Prince Xin were without hesitation!

"kill!"

The shouts of battle were already close at hand.

Just as Jiang Bingning was about to rush out, an old but strong hand pressed down on her shoulder.

"Stay put."

The Dowager Empress's voice was as cold as ice.

The next instant, the Dowager Consort's eyes blazed with fighting spirit!

She kicked the car door open!

"boom!"

The heavy car door flew off with a bang, sending a man in black, along with his knife, flying out of the car!

Without even looking, she casually pulled out a long, jet-black spear from the weapon rack hanging on the side of the carriage!

"Old woman, I haven't laid a hand on you in years. Do you really think I'm some kind of vegetarian monk?"

With a flick of her wrist, the old lady's spear shot out like a dragon, advancing instead of retreating, charging fiercely towards the group of men in black!

Not far away, a hint of joy flashed in the eyes of the leader of the men in black.

But they completely underestimated the terror of this veteran general who had fought his way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood!

The old concubine moved with lightning speed, her spear transforming into streaks of black lightning.

The spear tip flashed with a cold light, each thrust precisely piercing an enemy's throat.

Her moves were not flashy at all; they were simple, direct, and deadly!

In the blink of an eye, several men in black fell silently to her gun!

Jiang Bingning followed closely behind, her curved blade flashing with a cold light.

With a single move, she precisely filled the gap left by the Dowager Empress's charge.

Any survivors who attempted to flank her were swiftly and cleanly cut down with a single stroke.

Just then, the soldiers left behind at the camp at the foot of the mountain finally heard the alarm and rushed over like a tide!

The encirclement was formed instantly, and the remaining men in black, seeing this, launched a final, fearless charge.

A moment later, the mountain path returned to calm, leaving only corpses scattered on the ground and a strong smell of blood.

Ji Yunhan held his bloodstained sword, his face ashen.

On the other side, Ji Ling stepped on the chest of a still-breathing survivor, lifted him up from the ground, his eyes filled with rage.

"How dare you!"

He shook the half-dead assassin in his hand, his voice icy and chilling.

"Dare to assassinate the Dowager Princess of Xin at Xiufeng Mountain!"

"This isn't over!"

Seeing that the Empress Dowager was alright, Ji Yunhan looked past everyone else.

He strode quickly to Liu Jingyi, shielding her behind him, and looked her up and down.

"Jingyi, are you alright? Are you hurt?"

His voice was filled with barely suppressed fear and concern.

Liu Jingyi shook her head, her face somewhat pale.

"I'm fine."

Right now!

A sharp, piercing sound rang out from the distant mountains and forests!

This sound was far faster than the previous rain of arrows!

The arrow that came flying at high speed was aimed at Prince Xin, Ji Yunhan, who was facing away from the direction from which it came and was completely concerned about Liu Jingyi!

"Your Highness, be careful!"

"Royal Uncle!"

Everyone gasped in alarm, but it was too late!

It's too late to say, then soon!

Standing in front of Ji Yunhan, Liu Jingyi's eyes flashed with a resolute look!

She turned around abruptly and pushed Ji Yunhan away with all her might!

"Yay!"

Just as the arrow was about to pierce Liu Jingyi's chest, Jiang Bingning's shout came at the same time.

She threw her scimitar, which struck the arrow with remarkable precision.

The arrow was deflected slightly by the curved blade.

puff!

The sound of an arrow piercing flesh was so clear it sent chills down one's spine.

The deadly arrow struck Liu Jingyi squarely in the right shoulder!

Blood instantly stained her clothes.