Chapter 58: Danger

He is my dearest person.

On the fourteenth day of the twelfth month, the heaviest snowfall of the year descended.

Due to Barbarian disturbances at the border, Xuan Rui had led troops out half a month earlier, but he had promised to return today for the little princess’s birthday.

Li Youqing hadn’t held high expectations to begin with. As she sat alone before a lavish table of dishes that evening, she didn’t feel particularly disappointed.

Military campaigns were inherently unpredictable, and besides, this was merely a private promise—how could it hold weight against larger matters?

Today marked her official seventeenth birthday. Thinking about how her intended consort was already the “advanced age” of twenty-two, she couldn’t help feeling somewhat disdainful.

But upon careful reflection, he did possess many merits.

Apart from being robust and strong as an ox, his appearance and physique were passable, and he was more reliable than all those frivolous noble youths in the capital.

While eating her longevity noodles, Li Youqing mentally prepared herself: “Marry a chicken, follow a chicken; marry a dog, follow a dog.”

Even if he couldn’t compare to the gentleness and obedience of the eldest princess’s consort, nor the charm and refinement of the second princess’s consort, at least he was a man of unyielding integrity.

Yet, given his forceful nature, she would inevitably become a subject of The Eldest Princess’s mockery in the future.

Liu Shi watched her finish the entire bowl of longevity noodles and said with a smile, “My lady has been eating so well lately. The General will surely be delighted to hear this.”

“I’m not eating for his sake.” Li Youqing stood up, donned her veil, and prepared to go out for a walk to aid digestion.

“Of course, my lady is all grown up now.” Liu Shi genuinely treated her like a child, indulging her in every way.

Outside, snow continued to fall. Li Youqing wore a fluffy fox-fur hat and a teal cape, with a snow-white fur collar around her neck, looking as delicate as a freshly bloomed white peony in winter.

Liu Shi gazed at her for a moment and couldn’t help sighing, “General Xuan is truly fortunate.”

With such grace and beauty, any man who won her would surely cherish her like the apple of his eye.

“That’s true enough.” Li Youqing wholeheartedly agreed with this sentiment.

But shortly after the two went out for their walk, they saw Yuchi Meng approaching from a distance, his face as dark as soot.

Along with him came unusual clamor, like the clashing of weapons.

Upon spotting Li Youqing, Yuchi Meng immediately turned and shouted, “Found her! Zhao Ze, take command! Lead a team to escort the lady away at once!”

Within mere moments, the camp had descended into chaos.

A column of soldiers surrounded Li Youqing and Liu Shi. The leader decisively pulled Li Youqing onto his horse and galloped away urgently.

After ensuring Li Youqing’s safety, Yuchi Meng turned without hesitation to confront the enemy.

In an instant, the world seemed turned upside down.

Li Youqing felt the wind whistling past her ears, coarse sand stinging her eyes until tears streamed down her face.

“Who is attacking the camp?” she shouted back to the soldier behind her, only to see a string of pursuers closing in.

Judging by their attire, they appeared to be the savage Mohe Tribe.

Countless stray arrows whizzed through the air, but fortunately, the soldier carrying her possessed remarkable horsemanship, dodging left and right without sustaining a single injury.

As they moved farther from the military camp and the pursuing forces were completely eliminated, Zhao Ze still didn’t dare slow down, leading her all the way into a mountain valley.

“Will the military camp be alright?” Li Youqing asked, her fear barely subsided, thinking of Liu Shi who remained in the camp and growing extremely worried.

Zhao Ze’s expression was grim as he cautioned, “With Lord Meng guarding there, there shouldn’t be any trouble. But I fear today’s attackers were targeting the lady.”

Though Yuchi Meng was fierce and formidable, his thinking was straightforward, unable to grasp deeper implications.

For instance, why had a squad persistently pursued him earlier when the camp was embroiled in chaos?

If these people truly aimed for the young lady, then there might be an ambush ahead.

Most of the Xiaoqi Camp’s main forces remained in the camp, leaving their fleeing group isolated and vulnerable.

If they fell into an enemy encirclement set in advance, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Li Youqing had sensed something during the pursuit, and now a chill ran down her spine.

Xuan Rui had said he would return today, but there was no telling where he was now.

As the group advanced slowly into the valley, suddenly, dust and debris flew ahead. As the smoke cleared, enemy figures gradually emerged into view.

Zhao Ze’s fears had materialized, and what made him despair more was that Lord Meng might not even realize the need to send reinforcements.

Li Youqing’s knuckles turned white as she gripped the reins. Looking around, she saw barbarian cavalry swarming from all directions.

Indeed, the camp assault was merely a diversion—their true target was her.

Focusing her gaze, she saw the leader with black hair flowing over their shoulders, a face blending heroic spirit with delicate features—it was Bai Cha, who had escaped from Xuan Rui last time.

Collaborating with the barbarians indicated she had gained support from the Royal Mansion’s forces.

“My lady, do not panic. They appear to number no more than two hundred. I will protect you with my life and break through,” Zhao Ze said through gritted teeth.

Earlier, when the camp was attacked, Yuchi Meng assumed the enemy’s goal was the military base and sent only fifty guards to escort Li Youqing away, believing it would be foolproof.

Bai Cha rode forward, her expression complex as she looked at Li Youqing surrounded by guards.

It had taken days of effort and mobilizing all the Royal Mansion’s resources to finally shake off the reconnaissance camp’s pursuit.

Returning now was undoubtedly walking into a trap.

But this woman before her had to be eliminated.

After all, she herself was the Zhenbei Wang’s only bloodline, the sole heir to the Royal Mansion.

Yet someone had told her that the Wang’s most cherished all these years was the little princess left in the palace.

Without even confirming whether she was his biological daughter, the Wang had ventured deep into the Zhenbei Army camp, only to fall into Xuan Rui’s clutches.

Her purpose now was singular: to become the Zhenbei Royal Mansion’s sole heir.

Just as she had poisoned her elder brother, she would stop at nothing to kill the little princess.

Meeting her gaze, Li Youqing smiled contemptuously. “I wondered who went to such lengths to capture me. So it’s the rebel king’s illegitimate daughter—a creature born in shadows, always skulking in darkness.”

Bai Cha, accustomed to a life of disdain, remained calm at the insult. “The noble little princess has also become the Northwest Wild Wolf King’s plaything, hasn’t she? We’re in the same boat—no room for mockery.”

Li Youqing frowned, taking a deep breath to suppress her irritation at the remark.

Plaything… Was that how everyone saw her?

Zhao Ze was the first to lose patience. “Brothers, this woman spews nothing but nonsense. Show no mercy when we strike later—the General won’t blame us.”

Bai Cha let out a cold laugh and raised her left hand with a forceful sweep. Immediately, a large number of enemy soldiers surged from the mountain, armed with bows and arrows ready to fire upon them.

The two sides immediately clashed in a fierce battle. Zhao Ze, leading Li Youqing, attempted to break through the encirclement, but the enemy forces were overwhelming. In no time, they were tightly surrounded and gradually fell into a disadvantage.

Suddenly, an arrow struck the horse’s leg, causing the steed to rear up in panic.

Zhao Ze was desperately fending off arrows from the right and momentarily distracted. Li Youqing was thrown off by the startled horse.

The intense pain nearly caused her to faint on the spot.

Surrounded by hooves from all directions, she lay helplessly on the ground. Seeing Zhao Ze shot in the shoulder while rushing to her rescue, she shook her head and said, “It’s no use. Don’t worry about me. All of you, go!”

Bai Cha had been observing from the periphery. Witnessing the young princess fall from her horse, she charged forward without hesitation, swinging her sword down toward her.

Zhao Ze dismounted and rushed to block the strike, helping Li Youqing to her feet to continue their breakout. However, the relentless arrows were too numerous. He took two more arrows to his leg and fell to one knee.

Li Youqing felt a bone-deep despair. In their current predicament, every one of them would die.

Steeling her heart, she shouted at Bai Cha, “Your target is me! Don’t harm the innocent. Order them all to stand down!”

“No!” Lu Ze struggled to grab her, but could only watch helplessly as the young princess staggered forward.

The enemy’s long sword was pointed directly at her.

When Xuan Rui arrived, he saw Li Youqing’s frail form moments away from being pierced by Bai Cha’s blade.

Without a second thought, his eyes blazed crimson with fury as he hurled his Mystic Iron Sword.

As Bai Cha slowly collapsed backward, Li Youqing stumbled forward and fell heavily to the ground once more.

Hooves closed in from all sides, threatening to trample her the next moment when a large hand scooped her up and placed her on a horse.

As her body leaned back against the familiar chest, an immediate sense of security washed over her.

After Xuan Rui and his men joined the battle, they crushed the enemy with near certainty.

Finally, his horse trampled over Bai Cha’s corpse as he coldly commanded, “Hang her on the city walls. Let her body be exposed for three days as a warning to others—”

Li Youqing turned around, wrapped her arms around his waist, and tightly shut her eyes.

She maintained this position all the way back to the military camp until Xuan Rui lifted her from the horse and carried her directly toward the tent.

The enemy had set this trap specifically to lure out Li Youqing. The camp wasn’t the main battlefield; the earlier confrontation had been mere bluster.

Yuchi Meng, still unaware it was a trap, boldly approached but was kicked to the ground by the enraged Xuan Rui.

Confused and about to ask why, he heard the severely wounded Zhao Ze remind him, “General, examining the princess’s injuries is urgent.”

“What princess? Where did a princess come from?” Yuchi Meng looked bewildered, then felt a chill run down his spine as Xuan Rui’s cold gaze swept over him.

“All of you, get out.” Xuan Rui lowered his eyes, seeing the pale-faced girl in his arms still clutching his clothes tightly. A heart-wrenching pain seized him.

In that moment, he felt an almost overwhelming urge to destroy everything.

What tormented him most was the realization that he had been the one to place her in such peril.

He had been wrong from the very beginning—wrong to ever imagine he could confine a golden branch and jade leaf to the harsh northwest.

Feeling the delicate figure in his arms tremble slightly, he patted her back rhythmically, soothing her: “It’s alright now, don’t be afraid. I’ve returned.”

Li Youqing’s slender arms tightened, still clinging firmly to his waist as she buried her face in silence without uttering a word.

Having narrowly escaped death, she didn’t want to show any sign of fragility—after all, she had turned seventeen today and was truly an adult now.

But before him…

Before him, she simply couldn’t control herself, yearning only to lean deeply on him.

“I’m actually not afraid of dying at all,” she struggled to keep her tone steady, yet the moment his large hand rested on her head, tears streamed down her face. Choking up, she murmured, “No one cares about me anyway—if I die, so be it.”

“But that was before. I wanted my mother to care about me, yet she always looked right through me. I kept wondering if she’d grieve if I died.” Her words tumbled out incoherently, even she herself unsure what exactly she was saying.

“And now?” Xuan Rui’s voice came out hoarse as he asked.

“Now I don’t think about her anymore. I have you—you’re the closest person to me. I want to be with you forever, to have our own children and cherish them as they grow up.” Tears fell as she spoke, her heart filled with an unprecedented sense of belonging. Intertwining her fingers with his, she felt both sorrowful and sweet.

Xuan Rui remained silent for a long moment before finally whispering a single word by her ear: “Alright.”