I don't know how much time had passed when a guard rushed in. "Your Majesty, all the assassins have been captured."
"Kill them!" At the emperor's order, there were wails all around outside.
While Ye Zhinan felt pity for those lives, she was more concerned about someone else.
Where was Qin Yihuai? He hadn't shown up for a long time. Did he take advantage of the chaos and run away? It couldn't be, could it?
There was another person who had the same thought. The crown prince, Wen Jie, grabbed a guard and shouted angrily, "Where is Qin Yihuai?"
"Lord Qin is injured!" the guard said tremblingly.
"What?" Before anyone could react, Ye Zhinan had rushed out. Concubine Chen glanced at the emperor but didn't dare to move. She stared straight out.
When Ye Zhinan arrived, Qin Yihuai was tearing strips of cloth from his clothes to bandage his wounds. There were knife wounds on his hands and legs.
"Let me do it! How could you be so careless!"
In Ye Zhinan's heart, he was someone who wouldn't get injured.
Qin Yihuai's murderous eyes softened when he saw the little woman in front of him. "I'm hungry. I have no strength!"
Qin Yihuai had been lured into the palace by the crown prince and imprisoned. If it hadn't been for Concubine Chen's discovery, he might not have been able to arrive in time to save Ye Zhinan. That was also when he realized his deep connection with Concubine Chen. Although neither of them had spoken it out, they both knew it in their hearts. And now that the emperor had suddenly intervened, it seemed that he had seen through everything.
Ye Zhinan took a life - saving pill that she always carried with her and gave it to him. Seeing Qin Yihuai's complexion improve, she whispered, "It's not safe to stay here for long. Let's run away while there's chaos!"
Qin Yihuai was stunned for a moment, a curve appeared on his lips, and he pointed into the distance. "We can't run away!"
Ye Zhinan looked in the direction he pointed. The emperor, the crown prince, and Concubine Chen were walking towards them.
Damn it. This old emperor just couldn't swallow this grudge!
Ye Zhinan stuffed her personal dagger into Qin Yihuai's hand. "Hold me hostage if necessary!"
She was counting on her identity as the daughter of the grand tutor, hoping that the emperor would show some mercy. But Qin Yihuai stuffed the dagger back into her hand and whispered, "No need!"
No need?
Ye Zhinan looked blank, but the emperor gave her the answer next.
"Foreign tribes are invading the border. You will lead the troops and go on an expedition with the crown prince to fight them!"
Was this a chance to atone for his mistakes or a way to send him to his death?
Ye Zhinan anxiously looked at Concubine Chen. Seeing her nod, she no longer had any doubts. It was just that the crown prince, Wen Jie, seemed reluctant and wanted to say something, but Concubine Chen kept stopping him.
"I obey your order. I will surely quell the rebellion and ensure the safety of the crown prince!"
After Qin Yihuai said that, he quickly glanced at Concubine Chen when no one was noticing. She had been staring at him and silently responded with a smile.
Ye Zhinan saw all their little actions. That night, she was sent back to the grand tutor's mansion. Ye Shenyan and Han Xiangmei were both waiting outside, fully dressed.
"Dad, Mom! Why are you standing outside?"
Ye Zhinan was touched and felt pity for them.
Han Xiangmei hugged her daughter tightly, and tears welled up instantly. "I heard that assassins had broken into the palace. Are you okay? And did the crown prince make things difficult for you?"
Although Ye Shenyan didn't say anything, his expression was equally tense.
"I'm fine. Let's go in quickly. Although it's almost dawn, it's still very cold. I'll tell you everything inside."
As soon as she entered the door, Ye Zhinan told them everything that had happened, including her suspicion about Qin Yihuai's identity.
"Dad, do you think Concubine Chen is...?"
"Shh! Don't make random remarks!" Although Ye Shenyan said so, he nodded. "Even if we know these things, we have to act as if we don't. Only in this way can we ensure the safety of you, me, and others! And this is a letter from your brother."
With that, he put Ye Yingfeng's letter in Ye Zhinan's hand. Ye Zhinan saw that, sure enough, there was an invasion by a foreign country on the border. Ye Yingfeng was leading the people and troops in the northern border to resist bravely. The assassins in the palace this time were sent by the enemy country. On the one hand, they wanted to disrupt the order on the border, and on the other hand, they wanted to sneak into the interior to assassinate the emperor. Their intentions were really malicious.
"With your brother there to take care of him, the crown prince won't be able to cause much trouble this time when Qin Yihuai goes." Ye Shenyan's words hit the nail on the head of what Ye Zhinan was thinking. After thinking for a moment, she knelt in front of her parents.
"Dad, Mom, please allow your daughter to go to the northern border to offer support!"
"What? What are you, a girl, going to do there?" Han Xiangmei wiped the tears from her face and said seriously.
"Mom, what's wrong with being a girl? I can be a military doctor. My medical skills are well - known. When the country is in trouble, I want to do my part!"
Ye Zhinan tried her best to argue, but Han Xiangmei just wouldn't agree. "I know you're worried about Qin Yihuai, but this is not the time for love. You'll only cause trouble if you go."
Ye Zhinan had no choice but to turn to Ye Shenyan. "Dad!" Her eyes were full of expectation, but unexpectedly, Ye Shenyan also didn't allow her to go. He even ordered the butler to lock her in the room.
Seeing that the day of the expedition was approaching, Ye Zhinan paced back and forth anxiously in the room. "Dad, Mom, if you won't let me go, can I at least go to see them off? Just let me prepare something for Qin Yihuai. Otherwise, he'll be worried if he doesn't see me. Then he'll be distracted during the war, and your unmarried daughter will become a widow!"
She shouted for a long time. Then she heard footsteps at the door, and the lock was opened. Han Xiangmei's face appeared in front of her. "Go, but just to see them off! Your dad and I will go with you."
"Great! Thank you, Mom!" Ye Zhinan happily kissed Han Xiangmei hard and then went back into the room to prepare.
On the day of seeing them off, the common people in the capital lined up to see the troops off. The emperor personally sent the troops out of the city gate, exhorting the crown prince and the officers and inspiring the people.
Ye Zhinan searched for Qin Yihuai's figure in the crowd. Finally, she found him behind the crown prince's carriage. He was wearing battle armor and looked extremely heroic. But her hand was tied to Han Xiangmei's, and she couldn't leave at all. She could only exchange glances with him.
"Mom, just let me go over!" Ye Zhinan pleaded in a low voice, but Han Xiangmei remained unmoved. "The butler has already sent the things there, and Lord Qin has also sent a message to you. It's not appropriate to go over now!"
Ye Zhinan had no choice but to give up and could only follow the crowd slowly.
Qin Yihuai's eyes always followed her movements. Although they were far apart, their hearts were connected.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew. Sand flew everywhere, the sky darkened, and everyone's eyes were blinded. Everyone covered their faces and lowered their heads. After the gust of wind passed for a moment, when Han Xiangmei turned to care about Ye Zhinan, she found that her hand was empty. Only a rope was swaying lonely in mid - air.
"My lord!" She immediately shouted to Ye Shenyan, but Ye Shenyan shook his head. "We can't stop her. I've already sent a letter to Yingfeng. Don't worry!"
After these words, the people dispersed, and the army marched towards the northern border in an orderly manner.
The crown prince's carriage stopped beside Qin Yihuai. The carriage curtain was lifted. "We'll settle our score after the great battle is over!"
Qin Yihuai stared at him with cold and gloomy eyes and replied in a low voice, "As you wish!"
As the carriage drove away, Qin Yihuai looked at the dust raised by the carriage and tightened the hand of the person beside him. He didn't know when there had been an extra white steed beside him. The person on the horse was wearing armor and a military cap, but the almond - shaped eyes looking at him were full of tenderness.
"You! Do you really have to go with me?"
"Of course. Since I've made the decision, I won't regret it. Besides, I'm afraid the crown prince will kill you. Then who will protect me?"
Ye Zhinan playfully winked at Qin Yihuai.
Qin Yihuai looked at her with doting eyes. "I promise you, I will protect you all my life and never leave you!"
The two looked at each other and smiled, then spurred their horses to chase after the crown prince's carriage.