The abstinent prince, practicing Buddhism, is seduced by a voluptuous beauty into breaking his vows.

The carriage swayed and wobbled as it left the palace and headed towards the East Palace.

Su Yaoyao leaned against the carriage wall, her mind still churning over the unusual events at Shou Kang Palace.

"What are you thinking about?"

He Qing's voice rang in my ears.

Su Yaoyao came to her senses and saw that alluring face was very close, with crescent-shaped peach blossom eyes and a smile.

"I was thinking about Shen Qinghe. She was acting strange today," she said honestly.

He Qing raised an eyebrow.

"Hmph, thinking of other women in front of me? Master, you've broken my heart."

Su Yaoyao rolled her eyes.

"Can't you be serious for once?"

He Qing clutched his chest, looking hurt.

"How am I being improper? I accompanied my master through life-and-death situations to infiltrate the palace, and now I'm escorting you home. How proper am I?"

As he spoke, he suddenly leaned closer.

"But then again—" he lowered his voice, his smile ambiguous, "we can finally be alone together."

Su Yaoyao looked at him.

"Ling Feng is outside."

"He's made of wood," He Qing waved his hand. "He's not human."

Su Yaoyao smiled.

"Then what am I?"

He Qing blinked.

"You are the master."

Su Yaoyao was amused by his shameless behavior.

"What? Is the princess trying to openly steal your cousin away while your cousin is away?"

"The master's words are really awful."

He Qing blinked.

"We finally managed to shake off that jealousy, so why don't we talk?"

He leaned back, fanning himself with a folding fan.

"My cousin is so boring, it's no fun being with him. Why don't you come back to Xiliang with me, Master? There's delicious food, fun things to do, and lots of handsome young men there—"

Su Yaoyao interrupted him.

"He Qing".

"Um?"

"Are you asking for trouble?"

He Qing smiled.

"Master is really fierce. I was just saying."

He sighed, then suddenly leaned closer.

"If I had met you first, would you...?"

Su Yaoyao reached out and pressed her hand against his face.

"Won't."

He Qing's mouth was covered by her hand, and she made two muffled noises.

Su Yaoyao released her grip.

He Qing rubbed her face, looking aggrieved.

"I was just asking."

He spoke casually, but there was a clear hint of loneliness in his peach blossom eyes.

Su Yaoyao looked at him, her heart filled with mixed feelings.

"Heqing," she said.

"Um?"

"You are a good person."

He Qing paused for a moment, then smiled.

There was a hint of bitterness in that smile.

"What a kind person," he murmured, "but my master really knows how to hurt people."

Su Yaoyao smiled helplessly.

"Heqing, thank you."

He Qing was stunned for a moment.

"Thank me again? What are you thanking me for this time?"

"Thank you for helping me," Su Yaoyao said earnestly. "Thank you for saving me, thank you for helping me investigate the Shen family, and thank you for accompanying me to the palace today."

He Qing looked at her,

The smile seemed more genuine than before, but it was also more bitter.

"The master thanked me again," he said softly, "and if he does... I really need to ask for a gift in return..."

Just as Su Yaoyao was about to speak, she suddenly noticed his expression change.

Those peach blossom eyes narrowed, and the smile vanished instantly.

"Be careful!"

He pulled her into his arms and shielded her with his body.

Almost simultaneously, a cold arrow pierced through the carriage curtain and embedded itself in the carriage wall!

The arrow's fletching was still trembling, making a buzzing sound.

Su Yaoyao's heart clenched suddenly.

"There's an assassin!"

Ling Feng's voice came from outside.

"Protect the Crown Princess!"

The carriage began to shake violently, and the sound of clashing swords could be heard outside.

He Qing held Su Yaoyao tightly, his expression grave.

"How many people?" he asked, looking out of the car.

Ling Feng's voice came from outside the car.

"At least twenty! All of them are top-notch experts!"

Su Yaoyao's heart sank.

Twenty.

A top-notch expert.

Has that old hag gone mad?

He Qing looked down at her.

Are you scared?

Su Yaoyao shook her head.

"I'm not afraid."

He Qing smiled,

"Well done."

He drew a soft sword from his waist and held her protectively in his arms.

"Princess! Protect the Crown Princess!" Ling Feng's voice rang out.

The sound of swords clashing rang out.

The carriage jolted violently, startling the horses, which then began to gallop wildly.

Su Yaoyao was tossed about by the wheels, and He Qing held her tightly.

"Don't be afraid. I'm here."

His tone was more serious than ever before.

Su Yaoyao leaned against him, feeling his muscles tense, like a leopard poised to pounce.

The carriage was hit by several more arrows, the walls shattered, and cold wind rushed in.

"He Qing!" Su Yaoyao saw an arrow graze his arm, and blood splattered on her face.

He Qing gritted his teeth and remained silent.

"It's nothing," he said, "just a superficial wound."

The carriage jolted again as soon as he finished speaking.

The horses neighed, and the entire carriage overturned.

He Qing hugged Su Yaoyao and shielded her with his body, and the two rolled to the ground.

"Crown Princess! Princess!" Ling Feng's voice rang out.

"Run that way! into the woods!"

He Qing got up, grabbed Su Yaoyao, and ran.

Behind them, the figure of the man in black moved through the forest, his blade flashing.

He Qing led her into the depths of the forest, while the pursuers behind them drew ever closer.

Suddenly, He Qing stopped in his tracks.

Su Yaoyao felt his body stiffen for a moment.

"What's wrong?"

He Qing didn't speak, but simply pulled her behind him and gripped the soft sword tightly.

A dozen or so men in black surrounded them from all directions.

Ling Feng and several guards were kept outside and couldn't rush over for a while.

He Qing looked at the men in black and suddenly smiled.

"That's it?" he said, his tone flippant. "Not enough to fight."

Without a word, the man in black charged forward.

He Qing stood protectively in front of her, his soft sword flashing as he fought off several men in black who rushed towards them.

But he was all alone after all.

A man in black attacked from the side, his sword pointed directly at Su Yaoyao.

He Qing didn't have time to block—

He turned to the side and blocked the sword with his left shoulder.

The sword pierced into flesh, and blood splattered on Su Yaoyao's face.

"He Qing!"

He grunted, and with a backhand stroke, killed the man.

Blood flowed down his arm, staining his crimson robes.

But he couldn't care less; he just stood there protecting her.

Crimson robes fluttered in the forest, swords rose and fell, each strike taking a life.

But he was also getting more wounds.

Arms, shoulders, back—

Blood stained his robes.

"Heqing!" Su Yaoyao called out.

He Qing did not turn around.

He simply stood in front of her, refusing to budge an inch.

Another sword light flashed, and He Qing groaned as he knelt on one knee.

His sword braced against the ground, and his body trembled.

The man in black seized the opportunity to rush forward.

He Qing gritted his teeth, stood up, and pierced the man's throat with his sword.

But he himself swayed.

More men in black surged forward.

Ling Feng finally fought his way through and charged forward.

"Princess! Take the Crown Princess away!"

He Qing gritted his teeth, stood up, and pulled Su Yaoyao into the woods.

He staggered and nearly fell several times, but he never let go of her hand.

There was a dilapidated temple in front of us, in a terrible state, with its doors askew.

He Qing pushed her inside and stood guard at the door.

"Don't come out," he said, his voice terribly hoarse.

"This approach is wrong...it doesn't seem like someone from the Central Plains!"