Peach Blossom.

Tao Ye remembered that according to the plan they agreed upon in Meixiangxie, once Prince Si Xiu's life was in danger, Qingxiu should hold Si De hostage to force Chen Xi to let Si Xiu and the people of Yongchang go.

But after the three-way battle, Tao Ye paid special attention to the fact that their boss Shen Hui had disappeared without a trace in the chaos, and even the Grand Tutor Shen Meng was nowhere to be found, leaving the four powerless dancers here.

This made Tao Ye very scared, because Qingxiu was young and naive, and was kept in the dark. She didn't know that the father and daughter of the Shen family had already run away, and she would most likely carry out the original plan as agreed.

With Prince Yongchang breaking his promise and without reinforcements, it would be difficult for the Yongchang soldiers to defeat the Chen family army. If Qingxiu continued to stay with Si De, she would still have a chance of survival; if she turned against them and helped the Yongchang soldiers, she would most likely be regarded as a spy and enemy by the Chen family army, and she would be surrounded by the Chen family army, wouldn't that be dangerous?

As Taoye realized more and more problems, she wanted to tell Qingxiu and change the plan.

But there were swords and dead bodies everywhere, and Tao Ye could not get to Qingxiu no matter what.

The moment the archers surrounded everyone, the sound of fighting finally stopped. No one present dared to move anymore. They were all locked in one position as if they had taken root.

Tao Ye finally had the chance to walk towards Qing Xiu, but it was too late.

As soon as Chen Xi gave the order to "release the arrow", Qingxiu grabbed Si De's neck with one hand, pulled out the silver hairpin on her head with the other hand, pressed it against Si De's neck, and shouted: "Don't release the arrow, or I will kill him!"

While they were talking and taking action, some archers had already shot their arrows. The surrounded people tried desperately to dodge, causing another panic.

Faced with Qingxiu's action, Chen Xi was certainly not surprised. Only Si De stared at Qingxiu with wide eyes, and Queen Mother Zhou screamed.

However, Chen Xi still waved his hand to stop the archer, and sighed softly: "This old minister has reminded the emperor many times that this woman is a beauty that brings disaster. She is a spy sent by traitors to deceive the emperor. The emperor just doesn't believe it..."

"Tell all your people to get out of the way. As long as Prince Si Xiu and the people from Yongchang leave the palace safely, I will release your emperor." Qingxiu shouted loudly at Chen Xi, with her hands still tightly controlling Si De.

Si De's eyes slightly tilted towards Qing Xiu, still with an incredible and unbelievable look on his face: "You...are you really a spy sent by Yongchang?"

Qingxiu glanced at Si De without saying anything, her eyes full of guilt, and her palms, which were tightly holding the silver hairpin, were sweating.

Chen Xi followed Qingxiu's instructions and ordered his soldiers: "Make way for them."

So the archers gathered to the sides and made way for a path.

Xu Mu hurriedly supported Si Xiu and led the men and women of Yongchang to retreat to the north gate of Hualin Garden. He knew the location of Hualin Garden very well, and only by going out from the north gate would he be closest to the gate of Jiankang Palace.

"Mother..." Si Yao hurriedly reached out to support Meng. Seeing how easily Si Xiu left, she also wanted to take the opportunity to escape.

Chen Ji, who was standing nearby, felt something was wrong. He wondered, Chen Xi clearly knew that Qing Xiu would hold Si De hostage, so why did he let it happen? Why did he give the enemy a chance to escape?

He thought of two possibilities: first, Chen Xi wanted Si De to witness Qing Xiu's true identity with his own eyes; second, there was only one way out of the palace from the north gate of Hualin Garden, and an ambush might have been set up on this road...

While he was thinking, he heard Meng's voice: "Ade has always been filial. The road ahead is not easy to walk. Do you want to lead the way for your grandmother?"

As soon as these words came out, Si Xiu and Xu Mu, who were walking forward, stopped and looked at each other. Even Tao Ye, who was usually not very smart, could hear that there was something wrong ahead.

Si De was being held hostage by Qing Xiu and had no say in the matter. Of course, those two sentences Meng said were addressed to Qing Xiu.

Qingxiu glanced at the northern palace wall and felt a little scared, but the arrow had been shot and there was no turning back. She could only escort Si De and move forward carefully.

"You can't go!" Zhou looked panicked and wanted to go forward and hold Si De.

Qingxiu then brought her silver hairpin a little closer to Si De, and shouted to Zhou in fear, "Don't come over here, or I'll kill him if you come any closer!"

Sid held his breath and said nothing.

Zhou had no choice but to stand still and watch Si De moving forward under the control of Qing Xiu.

Meng smiled, held Si Yao's hand, and walked slowly forward at a position close to Si De.

When Qingxiu escorted Si De past Taoye, she looked at Taoye with anticipation.

Tao Ye felt extremely upset. She knew that Qingxiu was still counting on her to use magic to save them, but how could she tell her the truth now?

She also didn't dare to persuade Qingxiu to let go of Si De, because once Si De was out of danger, how could Chen Xi leave Qingxiu a chance to survive?

Tao Ye could only pray silently in her heart, hoping that Qingxiu could escort Si De out of Jiankang Palace. As long as they walked out of the high palace wall, there would surely be soldiers from other government offices waiting outside to rescue their masters, and the situation would no longer be something Chen Xi could control.

However, how could Chen Xi give them such an opportunity?

Just when Qingxiu walked around Si Xiu and other Yongchang people and was about to reach the north gate of Hualin Garden, Chen Xi suddenly took an archer's bow and arrow and quickly shot two arrows. The first arrow hit Qingxiu's arm that was holding Si De, and the second arrow hit Qingxiu's back.

She was caught off guard by her light sleeves and felt pain in her hand, so she unconsciously let go of Si De. Then she was shot in the back by an arrow, and she looked back in confusion.

Si De was also stunned for a moment. When he turned his head to look at Qing Xiu, he didn't expect Meng to suddenly pounce on him and hug him from behind.

Si Yao remembered that her mother had told her last night that when there was no chance to escape, if Chen Xi was in an advantageous position, she should cling to Si De; if Chen Ji was in an advantageous position, she should cling to Si Xiu. Although the result was unpredictable, she would be able to save her life.

So Si Yao also rushed over, and the mother and daughter dragged Si De together. Si De struggled and was dragged away from Qing Xiu.

"Qingxiu!" Tao Ye screamed and ran towards the north gate involuntarily.

At this time Chen Ji also rushed over and grabbed Tao Ye, but he pulled her in the opposite direction.

Sure enough, a strong wind blew up out of nowhere. Chen Ji had just pulled Tao Ye back a few steps when the bluestone slabs on the corridor outside the north gate were pushed open from below. Countless soldiers with swords jumped out from below, causing countless large and small stones to roll everywhere.

Tao Ye watched as many stones hit Qingxiu. Qingxiu was knocked to the ground and pinned down by the stones, unable to move. Her clothes were covered in blood and blood was gushing out of her mouth and nose. She looked extremely miserable.

"Please save her, please save her!" Tao Ye looked at Qingxiu and burst into tears. She grabbed Chen Ji's arms with both hands and pleaded with tears in her eyes.

But Chen Ji watched as the Chen family troops inside and outside the garden rushed over and attacked the Yongchang soldiers from both sides. He was unable to take care of himself, so how could he have the time to save Qingxiu?

Mada only obeys Chen Ji's orders and would never care about irrelevant people.

Xu Mu ordered the Yongchang soldiers to protect Si Xiu and defend on both sides. The Meng family warriors in the garden also fought with the Chen family soldiers again. The archers who had originally surrounded Hualin Garden also drew their arrows and began to accurately shoot at the enemy in the melee.

With a "whoosh", somehow, an arrow hit Si Xiu's chest. Si Xiu was so scared that his legs went weak and he fell to the ground before he could even bleed.

"Prince..." Xu Mu wanted to help Si Xiu up, but he couldn't.

Xu Mu looked around helplessly. The difference in strength between them made it almost impossible for them to win. He wanted to ask why Prince Yongchang did not come to reinforce him, and why the Shen family father and daughter fled from the battlefield. However, the prerequisite was that they had to be able to get out alive...

Without any better ideas, Xu Mu let go of Si Xiu and rushed towards Si De with sword in hand, intending to control Si De so as to create another chance for the people of Yongchang to escape.

But Chen Xi was quick-witted and realized Xu Mu's intention immediately. He rushed over and personally protected Si De.

Xu Mu was no match for Chen Xi at all. Before he could get close to Si De, Chen Xi hit him on the arm with a sword. He looked up and saw Chen Xi's sword swinging at him again.

Seeing that Xu Mu's life was in danger, Chen Ji once again handed Tao Ye to Ma Da, and quickly rushed over to block Chen Xi's sword and protect Xu Mu.

Chen Xi smiled and said, "My second brother's swordsmanship has improved a lot compared to before."

Chen Ji was too lazy to talk nonsense. He and Chen Xi were from the same school, so it would be difficult for him to win alone. He immediately called on Xu Mu to fight two against one.

Fortunately, Xu Mu could understand Chen Ji's intention very well. He just watched Chen Ji's moves, and kept advancing and retreating with Chen Ji and attacked at the same time, but he was always on both sides of Chen Xi, so that Chen Xi would be overwhelmed and unable to take care of the side.

Si De, who was protected by Chen Xi, was squeezed between the two fat women, Meng and Si Yao, and could not break free. The three of them almost hugged each other and spun among the soldiers like a rolling meatball. It was a real royal joke.

Sid was extremely angry and yelled "Let me go". He used all his strength and finally stretched out his hand while spinning and rolling, and picked up a dagger on the ground. No one knew who had dropped the dagger on the ground.

After picking up the dagger, he swung it left and right, scaring Meng and Si Yao, mother and daughter, into letting go. But after he was free, he did not hurt Meng and daughter again, but took a few steps forward and stabbed Chen Xi in the back with the knife.

Chen Xi was fighting with Chen Ji and Xu Mu, and he didn't expect Si De to do this. The knife stabbed so deep!

This knife also made Chen Ji forget about the fight. He imagined and speculated that maybe Si De intended to stab him, but they changed positions too quickly during the fight and accidentally injured Chen Xi.

However, the next second, it was proved that Chen Ji's speculation was wrong.

Sid suddenly pulled out the dagger and yelled at everyone, "Stop fighting!"

Blood spurted out from the wound on Chen Xi's back. Chen Xi turned around in a daze, staring at Si De with wide eyes. Unexpectedly, Si De stabbed the dagger into his chest again. He was so distracted that he didn't have time to dodge.

"What are you doing?" Queen Mother Zhou ran over and slapped Si De in the face.

Si De smiled grimly, and then he roared like thunder in the blink of an eye: "You fight and argue all day long, have you ever thought that the person you want to support doesn't want to be the emperor at all?"

Upon hearing this, Queen Mother Zhou was so shocked that she was speechless.

The scene was as if the pause button had been pressed. There was total silence, with only the sound of Sid's footsteps, running towards Qingxiu.

After being shot by an arrow, hit by a stone, and stepped on several times, Qingxiu was covered in blood and lay there unable to move, with only his mouth opening and closing.

"Qingxiu..." Si De squatted down, looked at the dying Qingxiu, and tears fell like rain.

Tao Ye also pushed Ma Da away and ran to Qing Xiu's side. She saw Qing Xiu's lips moving and said to Si De hurriedly, "She wanted to tell you that her feelings for you are not fake. She never intended to hurt you. She even asked me to save you yesterday."

"I know... I've always known..." Si De burst into tears, hugged Qing Xiu's head, looked at Tao Ye, and choked with sobs: "Aren't you a god? Please save her, save her..."

Tao Ye's tears also fell, guilt and pity surged in her heart. She really wanted to save Qingxiu, but how could she save Qingxiu?

Si De cried bitterly and yelled at Chen Xi and Queen Mother Zhou again: "I hate you! I hate you so much!"

Seeing this, several generals in the Chen family army were furious. Right Guard General Chen Yong said to Chen Xi: "This rotten wood emperor is not worthy of the support of the Grand Marshal. Please allow me to capture him and punish him for treason. The Grand Marshal can replace him!"

Several other generals also joined in the commotion: "The Grand Marshal can take his place!"

Chen Xi frowned, covered the wound on his back with one hand, looked at Si De, then moved his gaze down to Qing Xiu, and replied softly: "Crush that woman to death."

After hearing this, Chen Yong ordered the Chen family army: "Execute the evil woman and capture the traitorous king alive!"