He Lan Tianxia

Just then, the tent flap was suddenly lifted, and a tray flew in, heading straight for Luo Xie's head. Luo Xie dodged it, and with a quick movement, pulled the woman from the bed back into his arms.

"You've finally arrived, later than I expected." Luo Xie didn't even glance at the newcomer, his eyes fixed on the woman, as if speaking to her, his hand gently stroking her hair. "Did you barge into my bridal chamber to personally witness my wedding night with my wife?"

"Let her go," the newcomer commanded coldly.

"Your Highness!" the woman exclaimed in delight.

"But I don't mind, as long as you're happy." Luo Xie exerted force with his right hand, and the woman moved even closer. "I forgot to tell Your Highness that this little beauty you sent me is just what I wanted. Ha..." As soon as he finished speaking, Luo Xie moved his hand, and a hidden weapon flew out.

At the same time, the thin rope in Murong Junlan's hand flew swiftly. The two weapons collided with a clang, and the hidden weapon fell to the ground. Crackling sounds followed as the two exchanged dozens more blows. Fearing to injure the woman, Murong Junlan dared not use any ruthless moves. Just then, the curtain was lifted again, and a group of Xiongnu soldiers wielding swords rushed in, attacking Murong Junlan.

"Your Highness, be careful!" the woman shouted.

A row of archers suddenly appeared behind Luo Xie. With his ropes restricted inside the room, Murong Junlan could only draw his longsword to defend himself.

"You're surrounded," Luo Xie said calmly, signaling the archers to stop firing.

Taking advantage of Luo Xie's momentary lapse in attention, the woman stomped on his foot. Luo Xie merely frowned, pulled the woman closer, and kept his eyes fixed on Murong Junlan.

"Jiang He," Murong Junlan called out to those behind him.

Jiang He brought the middle-aged noblewoman up with a sword at his side, while another person held a sword to Jiang He's neck.

"Luo'er, save me!" the noblewoman cried out in alarm.

"Mother?" Luo Xie was startled. Then he saw the sword on Jiang He's neck, and his lips curled up in a sneer. "Prince Murong, how could I refuse such a generous gift from you?"

Murong Junlan turned his head and saw something terrible. How could this be? He didn't have time to think about it. He suddenly turned around, swung his long sword, and placed it against the noblewoman's neck.

"So what?" Luo Xie tried to appear calm. "Prince Murong, do you think you'll be leaving this house today?"

"Then let's give it a try." Murong Junlan pressed the sword against the noblewoman's neck, and blood immediately seeped from her neck.

"Luo'er!" Luo's mother trembled uncontrollably with fear.

"What do you want?" Luo Xie asked anxiously.

"Change the player." Murong Junlan.

"You're ruthless." Luo Xie squeezed out a retort, never expecting that Murong Junlan would kidnap his mother as a bargaining chip.

"Send a carriage to take the three of us out of the city." Murong Junlan looked at the sword at Jiang He's neck. "Remove his sword."

"Withdraw." Luo Xie had no choice. Jiang He, having withdrawn his sword, immediately moved closer to Murong Junlan.

“We’ll use that wedding carriage from before.” Murong Junlan helped Luo’s mother out, not worried that Luo Xie and the woman wouldn’t follow. Luo Xie, supporting the woman, followed at a leisurely pace, plotting how to capture Murong Junlan alive.

"Let her come over here," Murong Junlan said to Luo Xie.

"Release my mother first." Luo Xie was no ordinary person either.

"Enough with the nonsense, I'll release them once they're out of the city."

"Then let's exchange them outside the city." Luo Xie ordered someone to bring a horse, threw the woman onto it, and then rode on himself.

Thus, this scene unfolded outside the gates of the royal palace. Murong Junlan, Jiang He, and Luo's mother sat in the wedding carriage, while Luo Xie and the woman rode behind on horseback, seemingly escorting the carriage. Initially, Murong Junlan was focused on how to escape once outside the city, but then he noticed something amiss in the curious expressions of the onlookers. He turned around and exclaimed, "Oh no! What's going on? It's practically Luo Xie and his wife escorting Luo's mother on a procession, with him and Jiang He acting as guards!" A surge of anger welled up in Murong Junlan's chest, and with a flick of his wrist, the thin rope trembled.

"Your Highness." Jiang He noticed Murong Junlan's unusual behavior. He was afraid that Murong Junlan would cause trouble, but it was too late.

"Keep an eye on her." As soon as he finished speaking, Murong Junlan flew away from the wedding carriage, and his fine rope suddenly shot out, heading straight for Luo Xie.

Luo Xie, who was enjoying riding with the woman, was startled by Murong Junlan's sudden attack. They had agreed to change partners outside the city, so why this unexpected move? Besides, fighting here would offer Murong Junlan no advantage. Therefore, Murong Junlan's thin rope caught him off guard. Suddenly, the woman fell forward, and Murong Junlan's rope flew out, knocking Luo Xie's sword away with a clang. Startled, Luo Xie fell off his horse. At that moment, Murong Junlan leaped onto the horse, sitting in Luo Xie's spot. With a swift movement, he cut the rope binding the woman, then pulled her into his arms. Murong Junlan pulled on the reins, urging the horse forward towards the city gate.

The speed and the moves were too fast, and with the torchlight insufficient at night, the onlookers hadn't even had time to react before the situation changed hands. Because it was so spectacular, everyone forgot that their master had been defeated and started cheering.

Luo Xie's face darkened, and he angrily said to his trusted aide, "Prepare the horses." The aide quickly brought the horses, and Luo Xie leaped onto his horse and chased after Murong Junlan and the others.

The torches on the city gate grew closer, but the gate remained tightly shut. Murong Junlan reined in his horse and turned to wait for Luo Xie to run over.

"Ha... So you still can't leave the city after all." Luo Xie laughed at Murong Junlan. "Prince Murong, you can't escape today. Unless you leave my mother behind, I will let you leave the city."

"Stop talking nonsense. Once we're out of the city, I'll release your mother. Open the door!" Murong Junlan was too lazy to waste words with Luo Xie.

"Alright, let's make a bet today and see if you can escape right under my nose." Luo Xie shouted loudly towards the city gate, "Open—the—gate!" The city gate slowly opened with a rumble.

"Jiang He, mount your horse." To facilitate the retreat, Murong Junlan cut the carriage's tether with a sword. Jiang He leaped onto the horse, and the two horses and three people rushed out of the city gate one after the other.

Luo Xie ordered his men to rescue his mother, but instead of giving chase, he calmly took a horn from his pocket, put it to his lips, and blew it loudly towards the sky. The horn's clear and high-pitched sound traveled through the night from within the city and resounded all the way outside.

Murong Junlan and Jiang He were riding their horses in the dark when suddenly, the two horses neighed and reared up, nearly throwing the three people off. Fortunately, Murong Junlan and Jiang He had been riding since childhood and were skilled on horseback, so they managed to keep their balance. The woman, however, was not so lucky and fell directly into Murong Junlan's arms.

"Are you alright?" Murong Junlan asked with concern as he waited for the horse to come to a stop.

"It's nothing, thank you, Your Highness." The woman moved forward a little shyly from the prince's embrace.

"Don't move it. This horse won't obey you," Murong Junlan quickly reminded him.

Just then, the distant sound of Luo Xie's horn rang out again. Suddenly, the two horses turned sharply and galloped wildly toward the city gate. Murong Junlan and Jiang He hurriedly pulled on the reins, but to no avail. The two horses rushed into the city in a flash, leaving Murong Junlan no time to even jump off.

Torches flickered all around. Luo Xie, seated on his horse, seemed to be welcoming Murong Junlan back, and said with a hint of mockery, "Prince Murong, we meet again." He circled the two horses once, then added, "I forgot to tell you, Your Highness, these two fine horses are my mounts; they won't be allowed to be ordered around by anyone else. But Your Highness knows this now, it's too late, ha..."

Yes, horse taming was a specialty of the Xiongnu, especially Luo Xie's mount. Murong Junlan had forgotten this. At that moment, the city gate behind them slammed shut with a loud bang, and then a large net descended from the sky, trapping Murong Junlan and his companions inside.

"Not good." Murong Junlan thought to himself that something was wrong, but it was too late. The net tightened suddenly, and the three of them were thrown into a carriage and sent back to the royal city.

"Guards, throw these three people into the royal prison." Having his wedding plans disrupted, Luo Xie was extremely displeased and had no desire for the bridal chamber. He suddenly felt incredibly irritable.

"Bring me a pot of wine."

"Yes." The confidant knew that the Chanyu was in a bad mood and dared not say more. He immediately brought the Chanyu a pot of wine. The Chanyu picked up the wine and took two sips. He found it tasteless, so he grabbed the wine pot and walked towards the royal prison.