"When I came out, I vaguely heard Börte say to Feng Kun, 'Speed up the progress at the old mine, make sure everything is ready before the wedding.' Feng Kun replied, 'That's all.' They were speaking very softly, but I have good hearing, so I heard it."
"Speed up the old mine... get everything ready before the wedding..." Urna repeated the words, a shadow falling over her heart.
What exactly is Feng Kun preparing in the old mine? A "grand gift"? Who is it aimed at? Lin Feng? Or... the princess? Or perhaps both?
"Also," Sude pulled a rough sheepskin from his pocket, "this is a map I got. The area behind the mountain isn't marked in great detail, but the approximate location of the hunter's hut is circled. It's on the shady side of the low hill directly behind the Bright Moon Palace, near a birch forest."
Urna studied the map carefully, memorizing the key information. "Are there guards near the hunter's hut?"
"It's not marked on the map, but I asked the guy who made the map, and he said that area is remote and no one goes there usually, but recently he seems to have seen Black Wolf Guards patrolling there. He's not sure if it's a fixed outpost."
Urna's heart sank again.
"Furthermore," Sude said with a worried look, "when I returned, I heard that the Black Fox tribe's delegation had just arrived! They've already entered the royal court and been accommodated in the guest tents east of the Golden Tent. Leading them is Batur's brother, Harbala, with a full two hundred elite cavalrymen, who are currently stationed outside the royal court. Burte will be hosting a banquet for them tonight."
"Commander Urna, what should we do? Time is running out!" Sude said anxiously.
"We can't wait any longer." She raised her head, her voice hoarse but resolute. "Sud, go back immediately and get our brothers ready. We'll move tomorrow night."
"Tomorrow night?!" Su De exclaimed in surprise. "But... the princess's body, the guards at the secret passage exit, the backup men, and the old mine..."
"Without thorough preparation, there will never be any," Urna interrupted him, her gaze as firm as a rock.
"Every moment we delay increases the uncertainty. The princess's illness cannot wait, nor can the conspiracy between Börte and Feng Kun, and the pressure from the Black Fox tribe's delegation cannot wait either. Tomorrow night, Börte will likely host another banquet for Harbala, when the royal guards will be relatively distracted."
She quickly articulated her idea, despite the risks and uncertainties it presented:
"First, prepare all the necessary items for evacuation. Tomorrow night, take the items and lie in wait at the edge of the birch forest behind the mountain to provide support."
"Secondly, tomorrow night, I will infiltrate Mingyue Palace again to meet the princess. If the princess can walk, we will immediately evacuate through the secret passage. If... if the princess is truly unable to walk..."
Urna's voice choked for a moment, then hardened further. "I'll carry her out. We must leave Moon Palace by tomorrow night, no matter what!"
"Alright!" Sude nodded emphatically, a fierce determination appearing on his honest face. "The warriors of the Suhe tribe are not afraid of death! Even if I, Sude, have to risk my life, I will definitely bring the princess out."
The following night, Urna sneaked into the princess's bedroom through the cellar again.
"Princess..." she called out very softly, her voice trembling without her even realizing it.
The figure on the couch froze abruptly, the coughing abruptly ceasing. Then, the figure turned around with difficulty.
In the dim candlelight, Princess Uloran's face was so pale it was almost transparent. Her eyes, which were once as bright as stars, were now bloodshot. Only when she saw Ulna did they suddenly burst forth with an unbelievable, faint yet astonishing brilliance.
"...Ul...Na?" Her chapped lips moved, and she reached out her hand, as if to confirm that this was not a dream.
Urna immediately knelt on one knee before the bed, grasped the princess's hand tightly against her face, and scalding tears finally streamed down her face uncontrollably. "It's me, Princess, it's me!"
Feeling the warmth and real touch of the back of her hand, the princess's tears instantly streamed down her face.
"Lin Feng...he..." the princess asked haltingly.
"Lin Feng knows you're in trouble and is trying to rescue you. I've also found the exit of the secret passage; it's in the back mountain. Princess, I've come to take you out!" Urna's words were clear and forceful.
"Get out..." A glimmer of hope ignited in the princess's eyes. She coughed violently, and Urna quickly helped her up and patted her back gently.
Just then, Granny Suhe came in and said urgently in a low voice, "Miss Urna, hurry! Prince Burte's men are here, they'll be here soon!"
What?! Urna and the princess on the couch both changed their expressions drastically at the same time.
Of all times! Was it a coincidence? Or had they sensed something?
"Quick...hide!" the princess urged Urna.
Urna looked around, then quickly ran out the door, returned to the cellar, and sneaked out of the palace.
"Search! Turn every inch of the floor upside down! Under the bed! In the closet!"
The rough roars, mixed with the scraping of armor and the rumble of leather boots on the ground, came from afar, causing the doors and windows of the Bright Moon Palace's sleeping quarters to tremble slightly.
The torchlight shone through the carved window frames, casting distorted and flickering shadows inside, like ghostly figures dancing wildly.
Princess Uloran, wrapped in a brocade quilt, leaned against the headboard, staring intently at the tightly closed carved wooden door.
The hope and excitement from the brief meeting with Urna had not yet subsided when a deeper fear was poured over my head like ice water.
Just then, from behind the huge sandalwood screen with a painting of galloping horses on the grassland, which was located on the inner side of the bedchamber near the dressing table, came an extremely faint "click" sound, like a night mouse scratching a wooden board.
Princess Ulolan, the old nanny, and little Zhuoma all froze, staring in horror.
The heavy screen silently slid open a foot to the side, revealing a gap just wide enough for one person to pass through.
A dark shadow, like a weightless ghost, flashed out and landed silently.
The newcomer was covered in dust and his face was smeared with black ash, but his eyes, sharp as a hawk's even in the shadows, struck Princess Uloran like a thunderbolt. She trembled violently and almost cried out in shock!
It's Lin Feng! How did he get in?! This is the Grey Fox Tribe's royal court, the heavily guarded Bright Moon Palace!
Lin Feng gestured for her to be quiet, his gaze sharp as lightning, quickly sweeping across the room.
The sounds of the search outside had reached the outer corridor of the palace; time was of the essence.
"Search this area! Don't even leave the princess's bedroom unsearched!" A rough, hoarse Di Rong voice roared from outside the door.
"Bang!" The heavy, carved wooden door of the bedroom was suddenly pushed open and slammed against the wall with a loud thud.
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