The Princess Cannot Escape: The Cunning Prince Is Not to Be Messed With

Chapter 47 Besieged on All Sides

Shen Xin breathed a sigh of relief upon noticing the change in the soldiers' emotions.

Stabilizing morale undoubtedly bought them time to adjust their strategy and reorganize their equipment. In such moments, even gaining just a second can be crucial to victory or defeat!

His gaze lingered on the soldiers' slightly dirty and weary faces. Xiahou Ying raised his chin slightly and looked at the distant grove of trees that had never been lit again, his expression somewhat gloomy.

The torches were inexplicably extinguished, and the people were somewhat panicked. However, a few brave ones broke open the tinderboxes they carried with them, which seemed to bloom into small orange-red flowers in the darkness, reducing some of the fear brought by the darkness.

Yin Quan and Lian Hongling, who had changed their appearances, stopped in their tracks and looked back.

In the darkness, Pang Ban's black carriage was no longer visible, and no one knew what had become of him.

Glancing ahead at the garrison of the Northern Garrison, where faint flames could be seen, Yin Quan pursed her lips and quickened her pace.

Fortunately, she had learned basic disguise techniques from Long Jue beforehand; otherwise, it would have been difficult to fool those people.

Recalling the message Xiahou Ying had sent, she secretly exhaled and subconsciously tightened her grip on the medicine Lian Hongling had prepared for her.

If Xiahou Ying's men and Hong Ling can't do anything to those people, then she'll let them taste these things!

Thinking this, Yin Quan quickened her pace.

In the darkness, a group of five men in black, like ghosts, flashed to the side of a carriage shrouded in black cloth. Just as the shadowy figures approached the carriage, a loud bang was heard, and the carriage suddenly exploded. Countless steel needles coated with poison shot out from the scattered fragments, instantly turning the men in black who had survived the explosion into sieves.

Pang Ban and five members of Cat's Eye only emerged from the bushes after the last upright black figure fell to the ground.

Fifteen men, each with Mongolian script tattooed on the back of their necks; the script represented the assassins' names.

These people are Charkhan's secret assassin group...

With a furrowed brow, Pang Ban stared at the name on the back of the assassin's neck for a long time, then suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

"Head to the Northern Garrison immediately! It is highly likely that the Mongol army under Charhan has already infiltrated the camp!"

With a low shout, Pang Ban leaped and darted through the shadows of the trees.

He suddenly had a bad feeling...

Just as Pang Ban set off, Yin Quan and Lian Hongling, who were leading the people to deliver grain to the military camp, also arrived at the camp.

As he passed through the crowd, he caught sight of those exceptionally bright eyes. Xiahou Ying's lips softened, but he did not walk towards her.

He simply stood with his hands behind his back, watching her from afar, gazing at that familiar yet unfamiliar face.

Through the layers of tents and the ever-moving crowd, Yin Quan also looked at him, at those deep, misty eyes like morning dew on lotus leaves, and at that tall, slender figure like a pine tree on a high mountain.

The two were not far apart, but neither of them stepped forward, nor did either of them expose the truth.

They just watched each other from a distance that wasn't too far or too close.

In a fleeting glance, a world had changed within their hearts.

Yin Quan really wanted to tell him that, in fact, her current appearance was her original form.

However, he's so rigid. If he finds out that she's just a ghost from another world, he probably won't speak to her again for the rest of his life.

Just then, someone behind her suddenly convulsed strangely, then foamed at the mouth and collapsed to the ground. After twitching a couple more times, the person's face turned ashen and their eyes widened.

The sudden turn of events sent shockwaves through the northern garrison like a thunderbolt from a clear sky. Someone shouted, "Someone has poisoned us!"

Some people shouted, "These people poisoned us!"

Some even drew their swords and echoed, "Arrest these people! There are spies from enemy countries among them!"

"Wait! These people are all from Santong County! You mustn't frame them without cause! So many people ate the food the people brought, how come he alone was poisoned and died?! This is a frame-up! An attempt to sow discord between the military and the people! To alienate the morale of our Northern Garrison!"

Almost immediately, Yin Quan glared at the soldier who had drawn his sword, showing no fear. His dark eyes were bright and piercing, like those of a snow owl hunting in the dark.

"Why should we believe you?" the soldier was clearly not giving up.

"What right do you have to make baseless accusations without any evidence?" Yin Quan stepped forward and retorted sharply, showing no sign of backing down.

"Both of you shut up!" Shen Xin stepped forward and stopped the two men who were about to draw their swords.

"This matter will be thoroughly investigated by the Commander-in-Chief. Until the truth is ascertained, none of you are to leave my Northern Garrison Camp." With that, he looked around and shouted, "Where is the army doctor?"

Before he could finish speaking, a slender young man pushed through the crowd and ran over.

"We must find out the cause of this person's death."

"promise!"

The medic clasped his hands in response and dispersed the crowd. He then dragged the body onto a stretcher and, together with another guard, carried the person away.

Staring at the corpse, Lian Hongling frowned slightly.

Noticing her unusual expression, Yin Quan nudged her with her elbow and asked, "What's wrong? Did you see something?"

"There seems to be some kind of pattern on the back of that person's neck..." Lian Hongling murmured thoughtfully, following the direction the military doctor had left.

"Patterns?" Upon hearing this, Yin Quan also frowned.

She looked in the direction of Xiahou Ying and saw him whispering something to the burly, bearded man in iron armor who claimed to be the commander. His refined and slender features appeared somewhat deep and distant in the light of the rising campfire.

Suddenly, Xiahou Ying, who had been talking with Shen Xin, walked towards her without any warning. The night wind rose, billowing his snow-white, spotless sleeves like sails billowing in the wind.

As that upright figure, as majestic as a pine tree, stood before her, Yin Quan moved her lips, but couldn't utter a single word.

"Someone come here." Xiahou Ying lowered his gaze, his eyes, as dark as the night, clear as the cold moonlight, and slowly enveloped Yin Quan. They seemed gentle and mild, but they were like countless sharp swords, piercing her and leaving her riddled with holes.

Almost instinctively, she took a step back, staring at him, her mind in turmoil, like a raging storm.

He's doubting her?!

How could he doubt her?!

Yin Quan always believed that even if the whole world doubted her, betrayed him, and abandoned her, Xiahou Ying would never...

But now, the message conveyed by those dark eyes seems to be quite different...

“She is someone I brought with me. According to military regulations, I should be isolated and questioned along with her.”

With a blank expression, Xiahou Ying spoke in a calm tone, yet it carried an unshakeable determination and resolve.

He didn't look at her, but spoke only to the soldiers who had come upon hearing the news. His snow-white robes stood out conspicuously in the flickering firelight, like blood-stained battle armor, exuding a touch of madness and eeriness.

The young soldier seemed to be intimidated by his sudden and chilling aura, and hesitated as he looked at Shen Xin. The latter also showed a hint of hesitation, but did not immediately step forward to stop him.

As the commander-in-chief of the three northern passes, Shen Xin naturally could not allow the mere Prince Duan to shake his absolutely unshakable position in the army, but he also could not offend a military overlord who was once known as the Evil King.

For a moment, the commander was truly caught in a dilemma.

"Commander Shen, there's no need to make things difficult. The emperor is subject to the same laws as commoners, let alone me. Before the truth is revealed, you have the right to suspect any of us." With that, Xiahou Ying stretched out his hands towards the nearest soldier and said, "Lock them up."

Staring at him intently, Yin Quan opened her lips but couldn't utter a single word.

The previously restless people of Santong suddenly fell silent when Xiahou Ying stepped forward. Their eyes were fixed on him, their gazes complex.

Shen Xin also fixed his tiger-like eyes on him, his gaze filled with shock and admiration, the kind of emotion that heroes feel especially appreciative of each other.

"Then I must offend you!" Shen Xin said emphatically, and with a wave of his hand, the soldier immediately and without hesitation chained Xiahou Ying in front of him. At the same time, another team of soldiers also shackled Yin Quan and the other three civilians, leading them into the prisoner-of-war camp inside the camp.

The soldiers locked Xiahou Ying and Yin Quan on one side, and Lian Hongling and the other civilians on the other. A narrow path separated the two sides.

Looking at Xiahou Ying, whose hands were chained, Yin Quan moved her lips slightly.

Even though he was locked up, his tall and slender figure remained upright, like a pine or cypress, like a ray of sunlight suddenly appearing, piercing straight into the field of vision and illuminating the entire view.

Even with her eyes closed, she could still imagine the expression that would float in those dark eyes, as deep and unfathomable as a cold, dark pool.

"If you have something to say, say it now." Suddenly, Xiahou Ying, who had his eyes closed, spoke, startling Yin Quan.

“Actually, you didn’t have to go to this extent…” she murmured softly, pursing her lips.

After he finished speaking, he remained silent for a long while before lifting his eyelids to look at her, and then said, "I did not do this for you."

Upon hearing this, Yin Quan's eyes widened suddenly, but she quickly regained her composure.

She can't get angry, she can't get angry, she absolutely can't get angry!

Xiahou Ying was a stubborn and headstrong person by nature, and she absolutely couldn't afford to get angry with such a simple-minded person over something so trivial! Never!

Not worth it!

Just as he was grinding his teeth, his clear, water-like voice rang in his ears again: "If there really is a Mongol spy among these people, I will be implicated no matter what. It would be better to stay here and find that person. But if these people are just ordinary civilians, then the spy will definitely still be in the army, waiting for the next opportunity to make a move. Once the spy makes a move, it will prove our innocence."

His tone was flat, yet contained a hint of patience, as if he were deliberately explaining it to Yin Quan.

Looking at his sharply defined, smooth-lined profile from the side, she suddenly moved closer to the wooden railing that stood between them, and reached out to grab his sleeve through the railing.

"So, you've never doubted me?"

Have you ever doubted me?

He countered with a question, his brows gleaming with a deep, unfathomable light.

The two remained silent, yet both felt a sense of relief.

“By the way, Hong Ling said that the soldier who died suddenly seemed to have a pattern on the back of his neck…” Yin Quan said as if she suddenly remembered something, her brows furrowing slightly as she looked at Xiahou Ying.

"Pattern..." Upon hearing this, Xiahou Ying frowned slightly, but suddenly grasped her wrist and repeated in a low voice, "Pattern?"

"Yes...have we met somewhere before?"

“That’s not a pattern.” His voice suddenly became a little deep. He squeezed her wrist and then began to write on her palm.