Shocking! Five men are in love with the same woman!

As night fell, Lingyan set off again to see the famous Qinhuai River.

From afar, it resembles a colorful ribbon flowing with timeless charm, winding through the bustling city.

The entire Qinhuai River was brightly lit, with lanterns on both banks twinkling like stars, illuminating the entire river surface.

The river flows gently, its surface shimmering in the sunlight. On both banks stand a continuous stretch of ancient buildings, with carved beams and painted rafters arranged in a harmonious and orderly fashion, their flying eaves and brackets showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship and magnificence of the architecture.

The willows along the riverbank sway gently, their emerald green branches dancing in the wind like long, flowing green hair.

A gentle breeze swept by, and willow branches brushed against the water's surface, creating ripples.

The streets were bustling with pedestrians and traffic.

The wealthy young master rode a tall horse, followed by his entourage, looking majestic; the literati held folding fans, walking leisurely and chatting amiably.

The women were dressed in gorgeous clothes, their skirts fluttering, their jade pendants jingling, and their beautiful faces blooming like flowers.

Painted boats glided across the river, their bows adorned with exquisite carvings and their sides hung with colorful lanterns.

Inside the cabin, the singers sang and danced gracefully, their voices melodious and their instruments harmonizing.

The guests drank and made merry in the cabin, enjoying the songs and dances, and were immersed in the dreamlike atmosphere.

The night on the Qinhuai River is a blend of prosperity and romance, a fusion of history and reality.

It's like a poem that can never be finished, captivating and unforgettable.

Lingyan, wearing a hat, along with Chu Xiyao (who had changed his appearance) and Yunmeng, boarded an elegantly decorated painted boat.

The boat was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and its carved beams and painted rafters were a sight to behold.

Upon entering the boat, one finds the cabin exquisitely and comfortably furnished, with several kinds of delicious Qinhuai snacks laid out on the guest tables.

They sat down quietly by the window, gazing out at the bustling scene along both banks of the Qinhuai River.

As the painted boat moved slowly forward, Lingyan enjoyed the beautiful scenery along the way.

Before long, a group of graceful dancers boarded the painted boat.

They were dressed in colorful dance costumes, holding light gauze, and danced gracefully.

Her light dance steps fluttered like butterflies, and her graceful figure swayed beautifully under the lights.

Lingyan was deeply attracted by the wonderful performance, and she couldn't help but be captivated by it, her mind and body immersed in the wonderful atmosphere.

The sounds of music, dance, and the murmuring of the Qinhuai River intertwined to create a breathtaking scene.

She was admiring the beautiful scenery, unaware that she herself was also part of the scenery in someone else's eyes.

Chu Xiyao had no interest in these performances; his gaze remained fixed on Ling Yan.

Even though she was wearing a hat, his gaze didn't waver at all.

Besides him, there was another person gazing intently at Ling Yan.

He was simply hiding in the shadows, and his superior martial arts skills prevented his bodyguards from noticing him.

Lingyan was completely unaware of this, focusing intently on the song and dance performance.

Just as Lingyan was engrossed in the beautiful song and dance performance before her, a commotion suddenly arose in the distance.

At first, the sound was faint, like a barely perceptible noise, but gradually it grew louder and more chaotic.

Lingyan immediately looked in the direction of the sound.

Not far away, flames shot into the sky from the pleasure boats, and the raging flames instantly engulfed them.

Flames raged, and thick smoke billowed straight into the sky.

At the same time, a sharp scream pierced the night sky, plunging the once peaceful and tranquil Qinhuai River into panic.

Everyone panicked and ran in all directions, turning the once orderly scene into chaos in an instant.

The pleasure boat where Lingyan was located was also affected by this sudden chaos.

The dancers stopped dancing, and the musicians stopped playing abruptly. Fear and helplessness were written all over everyone's faces.

At that moment, dozens of dark figures leaped into the various painted boats.

They wielded sharp blades, their eyes were cold, and they would slash anyone they saw.

Blood splattered, staining the decks of each pleasure boat red.

Screams, cries, and pleas for mercy rose and fell, weaving together a tragic symphony.

The assassins moved like ghosts through the various pleasure boats, leaving a trail of blood wherever they went.

Some tried to resist, but under the assassin's fierce attack, they instantly fell into pools of blood.

Lingyan quickly signaled to the Eastern Palace guards to rescue the people on the pleasure boats.

Upon receiving orders, some of the guards immediately appeared and flew to rescue the person.

The other part also arrived in front of Lingyan, protecting her and forming an indestructible barrier.

Lingyan looked at the chaotic scene with great concern and once again ordered the Eastern Palace guards: "One of you go and inform General Li to bring his men. The rest of you go and rescue people. I still have the Ninth Prince's guards protecting me."

Upon receiving the order, the leader of the Eastern Palace's secret guards immediately dispatched one of them to deliver the message.

The others stood still, even though they knew they could not disobey their master's orders.

However, their duty is to protect the Crown Princess with their lives.

If they were all to leave, how could they possibly compensate the Crown Princess if something happened to her during that time? It would be an unforgivable sin.

Lingyan understood their intentions, but she was safe.

So she commanded again in a deep voice, "They are all subjects of the Great Zhao Dynasty. I cannot stand by and watch them die. I now order you to set off immediately to rescue them!"

At this moment, her aura was fully unleashed, causing the Eastern Palace guards to immediately feel a chill.

They immediately turned around to save the person.

Lingyan then said to the boatman of the painted boat, "Hurry up and dock."

The boatman agreed nervously, then used all his strength to row the boat quickly.

By this time, the musicians and dancers were already terrified by this sudden turn of events.

They huddled together, their faces filled with fear and helplessness.

Chu Xiyao stood like an unshakeable mountain beside Ling Yan, his eyes sharp as he vigilantly scanned the surroundings, keeping her firmly by his side.

Yunmeng stood close to Lingyan, holding poison and silver needles tightly in her hands, ready to strike.

It shimmered with a cold, eerie light under the moonlight, ready to face any sudden crisis.

For a moment, no one spoke on the ship; it was eerily quiet and deathly still.

Only the sound of people's rapid breathing broke the oppressive silence.

Time seemed to freeze at this moment, every second filled with tension and unease.

In this quiet atmosphere, the ship was finally about to dock safely.

But then an accident suddenly happened.

A dozen or so assassins dressed in black suddenly appeared on their pleasure boat.

They are well-trained and ruthless.

With a single blow, the boatman fell into a pool of blood.

Then, like the scythe of death, they mercilessly swung at everyone on the ship.

Chu Xiyao's bodyguards reacted quickly and instantly engaged the assassins in combat.

The sound of metal clashing echoed in the night sky, and the flashes of fire and the shadows of swords intertwined to create a breathtaking scene.

The assassins are highly skilled; it won't be easy to take them down in a short time.

Seeing the situation, Lingyan knew she had to reach the shore first.

Otherwise, not only would it be difficult to carry out combat operations, but there is also a possibility of facing the desperate situation of shipwreck and loss of life.

So she decisively explained to Chu Xiyao, "We must reach the shore first, and you will take the helm!"

Although Chu Xiyao was reluctant to leave her side after hearing this, he also understood that the matter was urgent.

He also knew that she was capable of protecting herself.

So he immediately went to the bow of the boat and rowed to shore.

But then they discovered that the boat had started to move steadily.

Through the eyes of many people, Lingyan could only see a man in white robes with a sword at his waist standing at the bow of the boat, rowing vigorously with his oars.

And they reached the shore in just a short while.

It must have used some kind of internal force to accelerate, otherwise it would never be this fast under normal driving conditions.

Although this person's identity is unknown, his willingness to help at this moment indicates that he is a friend, not an enemy.

And judging from his appearance, he's quite skilled.