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

"Jingyi!"

Ji Yunhan rushed forward like a madman and pulled the swaying Liu Jingyi into his arms.

Blood gushed from her shoulder blade, quickly soaking through his robes.

"A military doctor!"

"Quickly, call the army medic!"

He held the woman, who was barely breathing, in his arms and roared angrily at the people around him.

Everyone was stunned by this sudden turn of events and didn't know what to do. Ji Ling stepped forward in one swift motion, his face ashen.

"The medic is with the main force! It's half a day's journey for them to get here by fast horse. I've already sent a fast horse to catch up, but..."

But distant water can't quench a nearby fire!

"Get out of the way!"

Jiang Bingning pushed aside the people blocking her way and squeezed to the very front.

What came into view was her mother's deathly pale face and the glaring scarlet patch on her chest.

Liu Jingyi's unfocused gaze focused on her daughter's face.

She struggled to raise her left hand, wanting to stroke Jiang Bingning's cheek.

"Ice Freeze..."

Her voice was barely audible.

"I'm sorry... Mother... I'm so sorry..."

Jiang Bingning's heart skipped a beat and she was about to speak when Liu Jingyi's gaze had already passed over her and landed on Ji Yunhan's face, who was tightly hugging her.

"Yunhan..."

"Jingyi, don't speak!"

Ji Yunhan held her tightly, tears mixed with blood streaming down his face.

"You'll be alright, I will never let anything happen to you!"

Liu Jingyi seemed not to hear him, and just smiled weakly at him.

"To die in your arms... I... I would be content..."

"No! I won't let you die!" Ji Yunhan roared in despair.

"I have... there's one more thing..." Liu Jingyi's breath grew weaker and weaker: "I need to tell you... it's about..."

She didn't finish her sentence.

A swift palm strike swept past!

Jiang Bingning delivered a precise chop to the back of Liu Jingyi's neck.

Liu Jingyi let out a muffled groan and completely lost consciousness.

The entire mountain path fell into a deathly silence.

Ji Yunhan was stunned for a moment, then a surge of rage rushed to his head!

"What are you doing!"

He suddenly looked up and grabbed Jiang Bingning's collar.

"Let go."

Jiang Bingning's voice was not loud.

"Do you want her dead?"

Ji Yunhan's movements suddenly froze.

"My mother has lost too much blood and is no longer in consciousness."

Jiang Bingning speaks very quickly.

"If you let her continue talking so emotionally, she'll explode, and even a miracle worker couldn't save her!"

"This arrow wound doesn't look deep, but if the arrowhead is poisoned, every moment of delay increases the danger!"

These words instantly calmed Ji Yunhan down a bit.

He slowly released his grip, his gaze returning to Liu Jingyi's wound.

"poisonous?"

The Dowager Empress, who had been silent all along, finally spoke. She bent down and carefully examined the exposed section of the arrow shaft.

"Wait... this arrow..."

Upon hearing this, everyone crowded forward.

The arrowhead was shimmering with a faint blue light.

"hiss--"

Everyone's heart was in their throat.

Ji Yunhan's expression changed.

"It must be pulled out immediately!"

He reached out to grasp the arrow shaft.

"Don't pull it out!"

Jiang Bingning sternly stopped him.

Jiang Bingning picked up the curved knife without the slightest hesitation.

"puff."

The knife tip sliced ​​through the skin and flesh around the wound, making a faint sound.

She said in a deep voice, "This is a barbed arrow; the barbs will embed themselves firmly into the flesh. Forcibly pulling it out will only tear off a large chunk of flesh, causing secondary damage!"

Before she finished speaking, she had already carefully grasped the arrow shaft and snapped it open with force.

"Snap!"

The arrow shaft snapped in two.

"Does anyone have any wound medicine?" she asked without looking up.

Ji Ling immediately took out a porcelain bottle from his pocket and handed it over; it was the best medicine for wounds in the army.

Jiang Bingning took the medicine and applied a thick layer of powder to the wound, trying to stop the bleeding first.

But the blood continued to seep out, washing away the powder completely in the blink of an eye.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Jiang Bingning's forehead.

Damn!

My internal energy cultivation is ultimately too shallow; it's simply not enough to forcibly seal my mother's bloodline using acupressure techniques!

"I'll do it."

Ji Ling spoke succinctly, his fingers like swords, striking several acupoints around Liu Jingyi's injury with lightning speed.

Jiang Bingning felt a slight sense of relief and dared not delay for even a moment.

A moment later, she gently flicked it with the tip of her knife.

With a crisp "ding," an arrow with barbs and a blue glow was successfully removed.

Everyone breathed a long sigh of relief.

However, Liu Jingyi's face remained a frightening bluish-gray.

The toxins have clearly begun to spread.

Use this.

The Dowager Consort approached unnoticed. She took out an antique-looking purple-gold bottle from her bosom and poured out a red pill that emitted a strange fragrance.

"This was bestowed by the Emperor years ago. Although we don't know if it's the right treatment, it might be able to preserve her heart."

Ji Ling's pupils suddenly contracted when he saw the pill!

"A life-saving pill!"

His face was full of disbelief.

Ji Ling, who had survived countless near-death experiences and made outstanding military achievements, only received one such gift from the Emperor a few years ago!

This elixir has the power to bring the dead back to life and heal flesh and bones; it is truly a priceless treasure!

Even the Dowager Empress probably doesn't have many!

Jiang Bingning didn't have time to think. She took the pill, pried open Liu Jingyi's mouth, and pushed the pill in.

The elixir melts instantly upon entering the mouth.

However, after only a few breaths, the bluish-gray color on Liu Jingyi's face faded somewhat, and her breathing became steady and strong.

"No!"

Ji Yunhan's eyes were filled with anxiety.

"We can't delay any longer!"

He suddenly stood up.

"I know an old, reclusive physician who lives just outside the capital. We must get there immediately!"

Ji Ling made a decisive decision: "Imperial Uncle, Empress Dowager, you take your men and go first! I'll handle the aftermath here!"

Everyone immediately sprang into action.

Several guards carefully lifted Liu Jingyi onto the carriage.

Ji Yunhan stayed by the car without leaving its side, and the Dowager Consort and Jiang Bingning also got into the car.

Without further delay, the convoy sped off towards the capital.

On the mountain path, only Ji Ling and his personal guards remained.

He stared in the direction the carriage had gone, his eyes dark and thoughtful.

A lieutenant stepped forward quickly, bowed, and reported: "Your Highness, we have checked them all. These assassins have no items on them that can prove their identities."

"The survivor just now also bit into the poison sac hidden in the corner of his clothes and committed suicide."

The lieutenant sighed.

"All the clues... have gone cold."

Ji Ling's lips curled into a cold, mocking smile.

"Who said the trail went cold?"

He bent down and picked up the poisoned "reverse-tooth arrow" from the ground.

"Don't you recognize these weapons?"

The lieutenant was stunned for a moment, then his expression changed drastically.

"This is standard military weapon!"

"That's right."

Ji Ling toyed with the arrow between his fingertips, his voice devoid of any warmth.

"Especially these reverse-toothed arrows, apart from our Northern Barbarian elites, no other country has them."

As he spoke, his gaze returned to the convoy that had long since disappeared at the end of the mountain road.

Jiang Bingning was just a noblewoman from the Zhou Kingdom, raised in seclusion. How did she know about the Reverse-tooth Arrow?