Huanzhu Time Travel: Yan Luo's Unbreakable Love in the Yong Dynasty

The night was thick and inky. The shouts of battle within the abandoned Taoist temple gradually subsided. Moonlight struggled to pierce through the heavy clouds, casting a cold, silvery glow upon the war-torn land and the ruins. Hongzhou gripped his dulled sword tightly, its blade stained crimson with blood, gleaming eerily in the moonlight. His chest heaved violently, sweat mingling with blood as it streamed down his face, dripping onto the dust- and blood-soaked ground.

"Princess Hejing, please stay behind me and don't make a sound," Hongzhou said urgently in a low voice, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily. At this moment, Princess Hejing clung tightly to Hongzhou's clothes. Her clothes were slightly disheveled, and her hair was a little loose. Her eyes were full of fear and unease, but under Hongzhou's firm protection, a trace of reassurance was also faintly revealed amidst her fear.

"Uncle, I...I'm scared." Princess Hejing's voice trembled, choked with sobs, and her small body trembled uncontrollably.

Hongzhou gently patted her shoulder, trying to give her strength: "Don't be afraid, with your royal uncle here, I will definitely protect you." Even so, he knew in his heart that although the enemy had been retreating step by step, some remnants were still putting up a stubborn resistance, and the situation was still critical.

Just then, a dark figure rushed out from the shadows, aiming straight for Princess Hejing. Hongzhou reacted quickly, turning around and swinging his sword to block. With a loud clang, sparks flew from the metal clashing in the darkness. Hongzhou's arm trembled, but he gritted his teeth and persevered.

"Princess, run!" Hongzhou shouted. Princess Hejing retreated in a panic, her steps faltering.

The man in black attacked fiercely, each move deadly. Hongzhou fought back desperately, each swing of his sword carrying a do-or-die spirit. Under the moonlight, the two figures clashed, their swords flashing. Hongzhou's black outfit had been torn in several places, revealing his bleeding skin underneath.

"If you want to hurt the princess, you'll have to get past me first!" Hongzhou roared, his eyes wide with rage. He unleashed his full power, using a move called "Splitting Mount Hua" to strike the man in black. The man in black couldn't dodge in time and was struck in the arm. He let out a scream, clutching his wound as he fled.

"Hoo..." Hongzhou let out a long sigh, but his tense nerves dared not relax for a moment. He turned around, found Princess Hejing, and held her tightly behind him as they walked out of the Taoist temple. Along the way, remnants of enemies kept attacking, but Hongzhou repelled them one by one. His eyes were firm and resolute, and the sword in his hand seemed to be an extension of his belief in protecting Princess Hejing.

Finally, they arrived outside the Taoist temple. Hongzhou's friends from the martial arts world and the palace guards gathered around, most of them wounded, but their eyes shone with the joy of victory.

"Your Highness, we've finally found you!" a guard said joyfully.

Hongzhou nodded slightly: "Is everyone alright?"

Everyone responded in unison, "Thanks to His Highness, we are all safe and sound!"

Looking at his comrades who had shared life and death with him, Hongzhou was deeply moved: "Alright, let's go back to the palace now. We can't keep the Emperor and Empress waiting."

Meanwhile, in the Kunning Palace of the Forbidden City, Xiao Yanzi paced anxiously inside. She wore a magnificent bright yellow phoenix robe, its intricate embroidery and gold threads shimmering coldly in the candlelight, yet she remained oblivious. Her gaze was fixed on the palace gate; with each footstep, she quickened her pace, a flicker of hope igniting in her eyes, only to be dimmed by repeated disappointments.

"Your Majesty, you've been gone for most of the night. Please sit down and rest," Xiao Tao said with concern, her voice tinged with weariness and worry.

Xiao Yanzi waved her hand, her voice hoarse: "How can I sit still? Princess Hejing's fate is still unknown, and Hongzhou and the others don't know the situation either." As she spoke, her eyes reddened slightly, and the silk handkerchief she was tightly clutching in her hand was already soaked with sweat.

Azhu carefully offered a cup of hot tea, saying, "Your Highness, please have some hot tea to warm yourself. The Prince and Princess Hejing are blessed with good fortune and will surely return safely."

Xiao Yanzi took the teacup but simply placed it aside without drinking. She gazed at the night sky outside the window and murmured to herself, "Princess Hejing, you must come back safely. Your mother is waiting for you."

Just then, a series of hurried and chaotic footsteps came from outside the door. Little Swallow turned around abruptly, her eyes instantly igniting with hope.

"Your Highness, the Prince has returned!" Xiao Tao exclaimed in surprise.

As soon as he finished speaking, Hongzhou carried the unconscious Princess Hejing into the room. His clothes were tattered and stained with blood, and his face was full of exhaustion, but his eyes revealed a relieved joy.

"Sister-in-law, Princess Hejing has been rescued!" Hongzhou's voice was tinged with exhaustion and excitement.

Xiao Yanzi rushed forward and saw the unconscious Princess Hejing. Her eyes instantly welled up with tears: "Hejing, Hejing, what happened to you?" Her voice trembled, full of anxiety and heartache.

Hongzhou gently placed Princess Hejing on the bed and said, "The princess was just frightened and fainted. She should be fine."

Xiao Yanzi gently stroked Princess Hejing's cheek, tears welling up in her eyes: "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back." She turned to look at Hongzhou, her eyes full of gratitude: "Hongzhou, we owe you so much this time. If it weren't for you, Princess Hejing would have been in danger."

Hongzhou bowed slightly: "Your Majesty, you flatter me. This is what I should do. Princess Hejing is safe and sound, so I have lived up to your expectations."

At this moment, Su Peisheng hurriedly walked in: "His Majesty has arrived!"

Hongli strode into the room, dressed in a black dragon robe, his expression grave. Seeing Princess Hejing lying on the bed, a flicker of heartache crossed his eyes: "How is Hejing?"

Hongzhou quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Princess Hejing was only frightened and is not in any danger."

Hongli nodded slightly, the worry on his face lessening somewhat: "That's good. Hongzhou, you have rendered great service this time, and I will certainly reward you handsomely."

Hongzhou quickly said, "Your Majesty, I do not ask for any reward. I only hope that the court can quell the border war as soon as possible, eliminate the remaining Ulihak forces, and restore peace to the people of the world."

Hongli patted Hongzhou on the shoulder: "Good, with you saying that, I can rest assured."

As everyone was talking, Princess Hejing slowly opened her eyes.

"Father Emperor, Mother Emperor..." Princess Hejing called out weakly.

Little Swallow quickly grasped her hand: "Hejing, you're awake! How are you feeling? Is anything bothering you?"

Princess Hejing shook her head: "I'm fine, I'm sorry to have worried Father and Mother." As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes.

Hongli gently stroked Princess Hejing's head: "It's good that you're alright. You mustn't run around like that again."

Princess Hejing nodded obediently.

However, before everyone could even breathe a sigh of relief, Su Peisheng rushed in again, looking panicked: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, something terrible has happened! That concubine and Rong Mama have disappeared!"

When everyone heard this, their expressions suddenly changed.

"What? What's going on?" Hongli's voice was filled with anger and shock.

Su Peisheng hurriedly said, "This servant doesn't know the details either. The guards watching over Consort Na's palace said that just now, a group of men in black suddenly broke in and engaged in a fierce fight with the guards. After the fight ended, Consort Na and Rong Mama disappeared without a trace."

Xiao Yanzi frowned slightly, pondering to herself: The disappearance of Consort Na and Granny Rong is so suspicious, could it be the work of Ulihak's remaining followers? Or is there another hidden story?

"Send people to investigate immediately! We must find that concubine and Rong Mama!" Hongli said in a deep voice, his eyes revealing an unquestionable authority.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Su Peisheng accepted the order and left.

The atmosphere in Kunning Palace grew heavy once more, a gloomy cloud hanging over everyone's faces. Although Princess Hejing had returned safely, the disappearances of Consort Na and Rong Mama had added new variables to the crisis. Xiao Yanzi had a vague sense of unease; she knew this was merely the calm before the storm, and a greater crisis might be yet to come…