Chapter 74: Hidden Arrows Part 3

Alone in the tent, Ana Yanran fell silent, frustrating Bai Yan into pacing. “Princess, there is no chance for regret now. Even if we withdraw, Xun Changqing will not spare you a glance. From earlier, it is clear she knows you are not her mother. You show mercy, but she is ruthless—what good does it do? The priority now is to seize Ji Province before reinforcements arrive, making it harder.”

Sometimes thinking was one thing; doing was another. From Zhou Man’s reports, every matter involved Wei Lingci. This woman’s schemes were unfathomable; even a deep-rooted noble family and the legitimate imperial prince had fallen to her. She was indeed a great threat.

Ana Yanran stared fixedly at the Imperial Capital map in her hand. The Pingnan Prince’s Mansion was just a dot. Her fingertip pressed on it several times, her heart complex. She hesitated, then looked up at Bai Yan, a glint of forbearance in her eyes. “Then go. Unless absolutely necessary, do not harm her.”

She used “do not” unless desperate, not “forbid.” Bai Yan’s eyes gleamed with triumph. She immediately accepted the order, exited the tent, assembled a team of soldiers, and pursued.

The person in the tent leaned back in deep thought for a long while. Hearing voices calling outside and then silence returning, she slowly rose and ordered a horse brought. She mounted alone and rode off.

…

After leaving the camp and heading south for half a li, they reached the official road.

When Bai Yan led her men in pursuit, the road held only refugees coming and going—no trace of Wei Lingci and the others. She hesitated in place for a moment, recalling that their horses were thousand-li steeds, far superior to the camp’s warhorses.

With that thought, she led the soldiers toward Ji Province.

But she overlooked the woods lining the official road. In the summer, the trees were dense, blotting out the sky, with wind whistling through the canopy overhead. Xun Changqing stood in a tree, parting the thick leaves to watch the dust cloud several men high on the road. Confirming they were gone, she leaped down.

She patted the dust from her clothes. “Master, how did you know Ana Yanran would go back on her word?”

Wei Lingci, unharmed, had plucked much grass to feed under the horses’ hooves. “Bai Yan is straightforward; her thoughts show on her face. Zhou Man is one of theirs and knows the Imperial Capital events involve us. To prevent this great enemy from hindering them later and delaying the battle, of course she would want to kill first.”

“I told you not to come. Now we don’t know if they will return. You put yourself in danger for nothing.” Xun Changqing shot her a glance.

After feeding the two horses, Wei Lingci patted their backs and looked at her. “You should be the sad one. Yet you have the mind to scold me. Aren’t you afraid of losing your life here?”

“With you here, why should I fear? You sly old fox, thinking of everything so meticulously—how could you let me lose my life?” Xun Changqing paid no heed to her words’ implications. With nations at war, what use was sadness? She was no longer the naive girl of her past life. Now, Ana Yanran wanting to kill her severed her own hopes, sparing daily thoughts of her.

Now, no one owed anyone. She had sought a clear conscience in their bond.

Wei Lingci had not expected her to think so openly, matching her current temperament. Treat her well, and she returned it. By blood, Xun Luo and Xun Yibai surpassed Ana Yanran. She led the horses out of the woods and mounted. “We must take the official road here. After a few more li, we take the small path to avoid them.”

The barren, impoverished land had many mountains and few people. Bai Yan would assume they returned to Ji Province and at most chase to the city outskirts before turning back. By then, they would be on the small road.

Xun Changqing was half a step slower mounting, then looked back. No one around. Reining in, she said, “I feel someone watching us.”

Wei Lingci’s whip-holding paused. She scanned around and shook her head. “No one here. Better to leave quickly.”

The wind passed silently, leaving only a few fallen green leaves.

Without further words, they spurred their horses onward. But Xun Changqing felt uneasy, glancing back now and then, falling behind. Wei Lingci slowed to match.

Riding side by side, they eased speed at a sharp road bend. But the wind grew fiercer. Hearing movement, Xun Changqing glanced back again. A black shadow streaked through her pupils. In fleeting panic, she abandoned her horse and lunged toward Wei Lingci.

The howling wind masked the sound of iron piercing flesh. Before Wei Lingci could react, both lost strength and tumbled sideways, rolling several times on the sandy ground before stopping.

In that instant, she glimpsed a familiar figure on horseback a hundred meters away—black robes, silver armor. But next came heavy breathing by her ear. Her palm felt slick with liquid. She jerked to look at the person in her arms and called lowly, “Changqing… Changqing…”

“I’m fine…” Xun Changqing struggled to sit up from her embrace, but her right arm lacked strength and she fell back. Crimson blood slid from her slender fingertips.

Wei Lingci’s heart shook. Panicking, she flipped her over. A half-broken arrow protruded from Xun Changqing’s right shoulder—likely snapped in the fall. She glared at the tall figure on the distant horse, her eyes fierce. “Princess, you go back on your word. How can you lead?”

Ana Yanran stared dazedly at the person in Wei Lingci’s arms. Her heart jolted. Those familiar brows and eyes stirred complex emotions, a faint pain slowly spreading. The mere dozens of steps felt like a chasm.

She said nothing. Wei Lingci’s heart churned like boiling seas—pain, unease, regret weaving into thin anger, laced with faint dominance. “Princess, if you want to kill me, you may try—if you have the skill. Your people won’t arrive in time.”

In single combat, Ana Yanran might not win!