106 Breaking Out of the Siege

"And how did you know that?" Yuzhen countered.

"The day you went to An Lushan’s tent to retrieve Youhuan, someone was in there plotting with him to frame the Princess. They shot down your carrier pigeon to cut off your contact with the Emperor. I happened to overhear them from outside the tent. Therefore, Princess, you must be wary of An Lushan."

"Rest assured, my maneuvering with An Lushan is no mere day’s work. Once my Imperial brother travels to Zhongnan Mountain next month, I will personally sever his fox tail and leave him with nothing to tuck away as he flees." Yuzhen’s voice grew stern, the majesty of the royal house radiating from her.

"Hahahaha! Hahahaha..." A burst of wild laughter erupted. Suddenly, a gust of wind rose, causing the weeds to thrash violently and the tree leaves to rustle with a sharp, dry sound.

Chen Yage leaned toward Li Bai, while Dujuan and Youhuan also stepped closer. They stood united with Yuzhen’s group.

"Princess, you are still too young. You possess such beauty; why waste half your life in this dilapidated temple? Why not marry me instead? I will cherish and dote on you, ensuring you live a life of comfort and worldly splendor forever."

"You? You aren't even qualified to be a servant to this Princess, yet you dare to reach so high? Hmph. My status as a daughter of the Imperial bloodline grants me all the glory and wealth I could desire with a single word. Do I need to rely on you?" Yuzhen retorted with biting sarcasm.

Under normal circumstances, Chen Yage would have detested such arrogance rooted in status, but at this moment, she found it immensely gratifying.

She and Li Bai interlaced their fingers tightly and exchanged a smile. Li Bai said, "Do you remember what I once told you? In this moment, I am with you. If you live, I live; if you die, I die."

Chen Yage pressed her lips to Li Bai’s like a dragonfly skimming the water before pulling away. She smiled faintly. "In this life, I am with you. If you live, I live; if you die, I die."

"To have you by my side in this life—what more could I ask for?" Li Bai pulled Chen Yage into his embrace. "No matter what happens, do not let go of my hand."

Chen Yage nodded against Li Bai’s chest. She would never let go of his hand again, no matter what, because she did not want to be separated from him, not even for a single second.

"Seeing this young couple billing and cooing, does it not make you feel miserable? Do you wish for someone to keep you company? Unfortunately, you have no chance left, my Princess. You must wait for your next life. When that time comes, be sure to choose a better family, and do not die young as you will in this life. Hahahaha." An Lushan’s voice was grating, and his laughter was even more piercing.

"The outcome is not yet decided. You are rejoicing too soon," Yuzhen said with remarkable composure. "Guards, seize him!" At her command, the surroundings remained deathly still.

"The Princess has ordered you to seize him! Why do you still hesitate?" Jikong shouted in anger.

"Do not waste your breath," An Lushan laughed toward the heavens. "These men were all promoted by my own hand. Who do you think they obey?"

"Insolent!" Princess Yuzhen was furious, her tone no longer calm. Chen Yage, thinking quickly, shouted, "It is not too late to abandon darkness for the light! The Princess will let bygones be bygones. Once this treacherous minister An Lushan is captured, you will all be heroes who protected the throne. The Princess will reward you with gold and titles. Who is more noble—the Princess or An Lushan? I believe you know that better than anyone. This entire realm belongs to the Imperial family; you would do well to consider this clearly."

Chen Yage’s words carried significant weight. Many of the officials began to waver; holding their blades in hesitation, they looked back and forth between An Lushan and Yuzhen. Finally, they began to move toward Yuzhen in unison. Before Chen Yage could rejoice, An Lushan burst into wild laughter again: "You are all courting death!"

Countless men in black rushed in from all directions, bows in hand. In an instant, the officials who had defected were all cut down.

This tragic scene reminded Dujuan of Taoyuan. Terrified, she clutched her head in agony. Chen Yage rushed to her side, offering constant comfort and persuasion. It took a long while before Dujuan finally quieted down.

"Leave none of them alive," An Lushan commanded. The men in black swarmed toward the besieged Yuzhen like a pack of wolves. An Lushan looked down from above, savoring the chaos and slaughter as if he were watching a fine play.

The wind whistled; blades clashed, flames rose, and the air was filled with shouts and wails. It was pure chaos. Piles of corpses grew, and blood soaked into the earth beneath their feet. Li Bai and Youhuan stood guard over Chen Yage and Dujuan. Dujuan, still in shock, remained curled up, forcing Chen Yage to support her as they slowly retreated.

Seeing the guards around Yuzhen falling one by one until only a few remained, Li Bai said to Youhuan, "Protect them well. I am going to support the Princess."

Li Bai nodded at Chen Yage, signaling her not to worry. Although she was deeply anxious, she said nothing. Yuzhen had saved them multiple times; they could not simply abandon her and flee. Li Bai’s choice was right, and she supported him.

Just then, the sound of galloping hooves approached from the distance, a welcome sight amidst the chaos. A man in black led four horses toward them. As he drew near, Dujuan gasped, "Brother Shao!"

Indeed, the man in black was Ziye. He tossed one of the reins to Chen Yage and said, "Quickly, get her on the horse!"

He threw another set of reins to Yuzhen and urged, "Princess, mount quickly!"

To cover Yuzhen, he had to engage in a brief skirmish with An Lushan’s men. Mounted on a horse, he tossed the final set of reins to Li Bai. "Mount up!"

Li Bai and Youhuan hesitated for a moment; there were still others fighting, and fleeing now felt unjust. Ziye, sensing Li Bai’s concern, whispered, "If you don't worry about them, can you really leave the two women waiting for you ahead? Rest assured, reinforcements will arrive shortly."

Ziye’s words were effective. Li Bai and Youhuan vaulted onto their horses and pulled back from the fray. Seeing them safe, Chen Yage and Dujuan, who were waiting ahead, felt a sense of relief.

Yuzhen kept looking back, deeply concerned for Jikong and the nuns, as they had been her companions for so long.

Ziye pulled Jikong onto his horse and galloped toward Yuzhen. An Lushan’s men prepared to pursue, but at that moment, countless torches flared into life. Immediately following, a thunderous, spirited roar filled the air, and a massive tide of people surged forward like a dark cloud.

They held torches aloft, illuminating half the sky. As they drew closer, everyone present—save for Ziye—was struck with astonishment.

These people were neither officials nor soldiers, but laborers who had been conscripted to build the palace, though some were volunteers. Chen Yage could not help but admire Ziye; only he could have come up with such a scheme.