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

Chapter 48 Conflict Looms

Try to get them to expose the back of their necks...

His fingertips caressed her palm, making her itch from her hand to her heart. It took her a lot of effort to guess what he was writing, and it took her five tries to figure it out.

She first frowned and glanced at him, then pursed her lips and looked towards the other side where the three commoners and Lian Hongling were imprisoned.

Exposed nape?

Did Xiahou Ying know what those patterns were?

Yin Quan glanced once more at the men and women imprisoned across the way, then pursed her lips.

There are both men and women... seduction doesn't seem to work...

do my best!

Thinking of this, she began to untie her belt, but Xiahou Ying grabbed her wrist.

"What are you doing!" he hissed.

"Take off your clothes..." she said.

"Here?" He frowned.

"Otherwise..." she shrugged.

Just as the two were locked in a stalemate, Lian Hongling suddenly let out a very soft exclamation: "I remember now, that's the symbol of the Chahar Secret Assassin Group!"

Almost simultaneously, one of the Santong people who had been craning their necks suddenly broke free of the chains binding their hands with a "bang," bursting out of the fence like a black mist and reaching straight for Yin Quan.

In a flash, two streaks of silver light shot out from Xiahou Ying's wide sleeves. With a single flash, the black, mist-like figure twisted strangely, easily evading his interception with a movement almost beyond human comprehension. Just as the black shadow, emitting a constant "heh-heh" laugh, was about to reach Yin Quan, Xiahou Ying shook his arms, shattering the wooden bars between the two cages. Instantly, countless splinters of wood rained down on the figure, only forcing it to pause slightly. This crucial moment of hesitation bought him time.

Xiahou Ying stretched out his long arm and pulled Yin Quan behind him. At the same time, a strange fragrance suddenly filled the entire prisoner-of-war camp. Then, a buzzing sound arose, and a dark cloud drifted in from outside the tent, enveloping the black figure. The figure clutched its head and rushed out, but just as it broke free, it let out a chilling scream. Immediately afterward, everyone saw someone lift the tent flap from the outside, and the person who entered was Pang Ban.

"Master!" Upon seeing Xiahou Ying, Pang Ban called out in a low voice and strode forward.

"Pang Ban, take her away." Xiahou Ying pushed Yin Quan into Pang Ban's hands, lifted his robe, and walked forward.

Just as Xiahou Ying stepped out of the prisoner-of-war camp, he bumped into Shen Xin, who had a gloomy expression.

"We just received a battle report that two gates of Luming Pass have been captured by the Mongol army. We've fallen into their trap!"

"What were the results of the autopsy?" As if she hadn't heard the anxiety in Shen Xin's words at all, Xiahou Ying just looked at him indifferently, a faint fire burning in her clear eyes, which looked uncertain.

Upon hearing this, Shen Xinjian frowned, seemingly quite shocked by his indifferent reaction.

He knew the importance of Luming Pass among the three passes, but Xiahou Ying's reaction left him somewhat at a loss, and even his anger vanished.

"Ha, guarding the pass is our top priority, yet Prince Duan is so concerned about the autopsy results. Could it be that he has improper thoughts about that vixen?!" It was the same deputy general of the northern garrison who had spoken rudely earlier. He sneered and pointed the finger directly at Xiahou Ying.

"Luming Pass is the most important of our three border passes. I share the same feelings as all the soldiers stationed here. My colleagues died innocently, and I am as heartbroken as you all. But none of this can be used as evidence to slander others. As you all saw just now, there are enemy spies among the civilians. Therefore, I do not rule out the possibility that there may also be traitors among you." Xiahou Ying spoke calmly, his deep-set features devoid of any emotion, only his dark eyes gleaming, reflecting the orange-red campfire, giving him an imposing aura.

Upon hearing this, the sarcastic deputy general, though no longer speaking, let out a cold snort and stared intently at Yin Quan.

That person might still hold some status and prestige in the army. Although Shen Xin didn't seem to show any obvious suspicion towards her, that person's suspicion was undisguised.

The soldiers' expressions flickered as they looked at her; almost without reason, everyone was certain that she was the damned poisoner.

Stared at by those sharp, piercing eyes, Yin Quan walked away from Pang Ban and went straight to Xiahou Ying, shielding him behind him. He said, “You may have doubts, but everyone saw what just happened. Instead of wasting time questioning the loyalty of our own men, we should quickly find out the truth and stabilize morale! If the Mongol army easily destroys our trust in each other at the cost of just one or two loyal soldiers, it's practically a victory in this war! Luming Mountain, which you have defended for a whole month, will become ruins under the Mongol army's iron hooves! I believe you don't want to see such an outcome!”

Although Yin Quan's voice was not loud, it was extremely penetrating, like the rising sun bursting forth from the horizon at dawn, shining directly into the eyes of every soldier and into their hearts shrouded in doubt.

Like the soldiers, the deputy general, who had been skeptical of Yin Quan and the others from beginning to end, also looked at her. After a long while, he finally spoke stiffly: "What you said makes some sense!"

As he spoke, the man clasped his hands in a fist and volunteered to lead five hundred elite soldiers to the Luming Pass gate!

"Good!" Shen Xin nodded emphatically, looking at the deputy general with a rather complicated expression.

Xiahou Ying gazed at the slender figure in front of him, his eyes suddenly softening.

He never imagined that he would be protected by a woman.

The woman was unarmed and knew nothing of martial arts. Yet she followed him on his journey and eventually entered the army camp.

Like a fleeting firework, a burning desire swept through his heart and lungs. Xiahou Ying's eyes flickered, and he suddenly wanted to reach out and stroke her waist-length black hair, and to embrace her.

His arms eventually fell to his sides, his gaze deep, taking in her back view.

Watching the dark blue banner behind his deputy general, who had followed him for many years, gradually blend into the night, Shen Xin turned to Xiahou Ying, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "What Your Highness says makes sense. However, how can we force out that traitor and minimize our losses?"

Upon hearing this, Xiahou Ying slightly raised his angular chin and said in a low voice, "The enemy is in the open while we are in the dark. Why not use this as a pretext to lure the snake out of its hole?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Xinhu's body trembled slightly.

Such a wicked approach could probably only be conceived by the Evil King.

Despite some concerns, this is currently the only feasible solution.

Shen Xin was always a military general who prioritized the overall situation. He was willing to sacrifice Xiahou Ying or anyone else, or even himself, to protect the overall situation.

Thinking of this, his mind raced, and he immediately roared at Yin Quan, "You audacious witch! You dare to use your sorcery to bewitch my soldiers! You're endangering their lives and sowing discord among my northern troops! Guards!"

Shen Xin roared and waved his hand, immediately summoning two soldiers. He said, "I have investigated the truth. It was all the work of this witch! Take her into custody. No one is allowed to enter!"

After saying that, he personally locked Yin Quan's door and took her away in front of Xiahou Ying.

Hearing the clanging sound, Yin Quan felt like she wanted to cry.

It's her again...

If you're going to play along, why not just send someone else...?

Soon, she returned to the prisoner-of-war camp. Looking around at the mess, she felt as if a million alpacas were galloping wildly in her heart.

Did she owe their entire family, who were stationed at the Northern Garrison, a debt?!

Why her of all people?!

Just as he was frowning and complaining inwardly, a figure suddenly flashed in from outside the tent and almost immediately rushed to Yin Quan's side.

Upon seeing the gray figure, Yin Quan's scalp tightened, and he was greatly alarmed.

Although this was a prisoner-of-war camp, the soldiers guarding the outside were no ordinary people. Judging from the way this person came in, although he wasn't as abnormally strong as the previous one, he was still a master.

Damn it, they're here to kill her again?!

This doesn't make sense...

Her face didn't seem to have words like "I killed your whole family" written on it, so why were these Mongolian assassins so obsessed with her?

Seeing a glint of silver light within the gray figure, Yin Quan immediately growled, "You want to kill me?"

The figure seemed startled by her inexplicable question, and paused for a moment, but this did not hinder his speed in approaching her.

The man's brief moment of stunned silence finally gave Yin Quan a chance to see his outline clearly amidst the interplay of light and shadow. She saw that the man was clutching his chest, with beads of sweat covering his forehead, and he seemed to be in great pain.

"Shut up!" A low, hoarse voice came from the figure's throat, hissing like a venomous tongue spitting out its tongue.

Hearing the man's gloomy voice, Yin Quan immediately shut her mouth.

"I heard that he poisoned your entire secret assassin group in Charkhan?"

She glanced down at the narrow sword he held to her neck, and spoke cautiously.

The man didn't speak, but his breathing became increasingly heavy.

"How often do you take the antidote? Every seven days, ten days, or a month?" she continued tentatively, instinctively shrinking her neck back.

The man remained silent, his body slightly lowered. Yin Quan, who was close to him, could clearly hear the grinding of his teeth in pain, which sent chills down her spine and made her teeth ache.

"The poison is taking effect now, and you'll die from its spread soon. If you die like this, it'll be a pointless death compared to the other assassins. Why not consider joining us?"

"Shut up!" The man shook his head forcefully, squeezing out two words through gritted teeth. His hand holding the narrow sword wobbled slightly, leaving a bloody mark on Yin Quan's neck.

"Okay, okay, I'll shut up..." She pouted, trying to appease him, but quickly started moving her lips again: "Two of you have already died, and now you're suffering from the poison. I'm afraid this was all planned by Charhan. He sent you here to undermine morale and never intended for you to go back. Are you sure you want to risk your life for a master like that?"

Before she could finish speaking, there was a loud thud, and the assassin collapsed to the ground, clutching his head and writhing in agony. Yet he didn't utter a single cry of pain, proving himself to be a true man.

Lowering her gaze to the trembling body in pain, Yin Quan pursed her lips, watching the body gradually change from a strange tremor to spasms, and then become completely still.

What an unlucky person...

With a soft sigh, she glanced at the corpse, only to find that the man's bulging eyes seemed to be staring at her intently. A chill ran down her spine, and she abruptly looked up, meeting a pair of sharp eyes. Almost simultaneously, she screamed, the piercing cry reaching Xiahou Ying's ears and instantly tensing every nerve in his body.