Snow had fallen in recent days, and the branches of the emerald pines and cypresses on the eastern mountain were adorned with pure white snowflakes.
A thin layer of snow covered the ground, crunching underfoot with each step.
Murong Yao rode a red Ferghana horse, ahead of him were the imperial concubines, their carriage curtains tightly drawn. In the middle were the civil and military officials, who tightened their official robes and whispered among themselves.
According to tradition, the imperial tomb sacrifice had to be performed every year before the New Year.
Murong Yao looked up at the birds soaring high in the sky and was about to order the procession to quicken its pace when suddenly a “crack” sound echoed, as if someone had stepped on a broken branch.
“Protect His Majesty! Assassins!” the sharp-eared Eunuch Feng suddenly shouted.
Before his words had even faded, a group of people dressed in white rushed down from the hillside, brandishing gleaming swords in their hands.
Leading them was none other than Murong Hao, who glared furiously. “Murong Yao, this will be your burial ground!”
“You treacherous, disloyal villain.”
The assassins surged forward like a tide. The Imperial Forest Army swiftly shifted formations, raising their spears, ready to face the attackers.
The civil and military officials instantly fell into chaos, gathering together in panic.
The concubines were terrified, and the carriages descended into turmoil.
Murong Yao turned back and entrusted Xiao Changning to Jiang Yuzhou.
He pulled a flare from his waist and, with a “whoosh,” it pierced the sky, spreading red fireworks across the horizon.
Jiang Yuzhou drew her sword, pulling Xiao Changning behind her for protection.
The Imperial Forest Army clashed with the assassins, the sounds of clashing blades and agonized screams mingling together.
The pristine snow was soon stained red, warm blood steaming as it dissipated into the frigid air.
Murong Hao, who had prepared in advance, charged toward Murong Yao. “My dear brother, long time no see!”
“I’ve missed you dearly!” And even more, I’ve missed your death!
Murong Hao raised his sword. “You’ve occupied a position that doesn’t belong to you for far too long. It’s time to return it to me.”
“Hmph!” Murong Yao sneered coldly, swinging his sword to meet the attack. “Who lives and who dies is still uncertain.”
Murong Hao retorted, “Don’t delude yourself. Your reinforcements have already been intercepted by me.”
The two swords collided, sparks flying in all directions.
Seeing that reinforcements were delayed, Xiao Changning pulled the Empress aside and pointed to the lush pine forest on the right. “We can take shelter there. The path is slippery, so the assassins won’t catch up to us easily.”
“As long as we hide in the forest, we can hold out.”
Jiang Yuzhou glanced at the dense pine trees and shouted, “Let’s go, Bixia!”
Assassins broke through the middle, cutting off the crowd.
Xiao Changning watched as the Empress raised her hands to block an attack—truly impressive!
Skilled in both civil affairs at court and martial prowess against assassins!
Suddenly, an assassin lunged toward Xiao Changning. She turned to evade the strike, swiftly plucking a golden hairpin from her hair and plunging it into the assassin’s neck.
Blood gushed out like a fountain, splattering across her cheeks.
Jiang Yuzhou also dispatched an assassin and grabbed Xiao Changning’s hand, breaking through toward the pine forest.
The two of them sprinted toward the forest when suddenly, a sharp arrow pierced through the air, flying straight at them. Jiang Yuzhou pushed Xiao Changning aside but was herself thrown backward by the momentum.
Even more tragically, the spot where Jiang Yuzhou landed turned out to be a cliff hidden beneath weeds and a thin layer of snow. As she crashed down, the ground instantly gave way.
Xiao Changning didn’t hesitate. She rushed forward and grabbed the Empress’s hand, but her own footing gave way beneath her.
The two of them instantly lost their balance, the biting wind howling past their ears as they plummeted into a bottomless abyss below.
Xiao Changning’s hands frantically groped along the cliff face until she finally caught hold of a withered vine. The vine shook violently under their weight, sending snow cascading down from above.
“Empress sister, this vine won’t hold for long.”
She glanced downward, gesturing with her chin toward a slope to the left. “Let’s jump over there. There are shrubs—maybe we’ll get lucky.”
Their eyes met, conveying determination and resolve. Trembling, they both nodded.
The dark valley below was both a dead end and their only way out.
Xiao Changning took a deep breath, and Jiang Yuzhou, seeing this, began the countdown with her.
“One, two, three!”
Just as they leaped, the vine snapped.
In the moment she closed her eyes, Xiao Changning crashed heavily into the shrubs.
The two tumbled down the slope, their bodies tossed and battered, their clothes torn by branches, shreds fluttering in the icy wind.
It wasn’t until they thudded against hard ground that they finally came to a stop.
Xiao Changning coughed violently, struggling to prop herself up. Empress Jiang Yuzhou lay nearby, blood from her arm staining her clothes, her face pale as paper.
Just as they were about to rise, the alert Xiao Changning heard the sound of something cracking.
“Empress sister, don’t move!”
They held their breath, listening intently. The creaking sound was coming from beneath them.
Xiao Changning said despairingly, “You’ve got to be kidding me. One fall wasn’t enough—now we have to do it again?”
The ground beneath them seemed determined to oblige. With a sudden rumble, it collapsed, plunging them into a pitch-black pit until, with two splashes, they landed in icy, bone-chilling water.
The pool wasn’t too deep, just reaching their waists. Supporting each other, they stood up.
Xiao Changning looked around. The pit was naturally formed, its walls smooth and covered in moss.
She pointed to a small hole above them. “That’s where we fell through.”
“Empress sister, let’s find a place to rest first. Otherwise, we’ll freeze to death sooner or later.”
“Alright.”
They swam to the shore, climbed out, and leaned against the stone wall to catch their breath.
Jiang Yuzhou asked, “Guifei sister, how are you? Are you hurt?”
Xiao Changning stood up and turned in a circle. “I’m fine.”
Noticing the wound on Jiang Yuzhou’s arm, she moved to help. “Let me bandage it for you.”
Jiang Yuzhou reacted as if she’d heard something terrifying, scrambling backward and exclaiming loudly, “No!”
“Don’t come near me!”
Xiao Changning froze, her hand suspended mid-air. She didn’t understand—it was just a wound. Why such a strong reaction?
Jiang Yuzhou then realized her own outburst. “I’m sorry. I’m fine—it’s just a minor injury.”
“I’m not used to others touching me. I’ll handle it myself.”
Xiao Changning nodded and handed her a handkerchief. “Alright. I’ll go gather some dry firewood to start a fire. Otherwise, we’ll freeze to death sooner or later.”
“Mm.”
Watching Xiao Changning collect dry grass from the surroundings, Jiang Yuzhou let out a sigh of relief.
She deliberately turned her back, using one hand to clean the wound and the other to bandage it. The gash on her arm was deep, blood flowing incessantly, flesh torn open—she could even see the bone!
With great effort, Jiang Yuzhou finally managed to bandage the wound.
However, she felt her eyelids growing heavier, as if there were a sedative in her mind. Moments later, she fell into a deep sleep.
By the time Xiao Changning returned, Jiang Yuzhou had already collapsed from exhaustion.