The mistress has no feelings, why do you provoke her?

The evening sky was ablaze with colorful clouds, a breathtaking sight.

Song Wenjun stood at the doorway, gazing at the distant sky with anticipation in her eyes.

She had been waiting for a long time, but Xiao Ji still hadn't appeared.

Madam Xu draped a cloak over her shoulders and advised, "Your Highness, please go inside and wait. It's windy outside."

The weather has been getting colder and colder lately, and it looks like it's going to snow.

Song Wenjun rubbed her hands together, her nose red from the cold, but she still stubbornly said, "No, I'll wait here. I want him to see me first when he comes back."

When Xiao Ji is mentioned, her face always lights up with a smile.

Seeing that she couldn't persuade her, Madam Xu sighed: "If the prince comes back and sees you suffering for him, he'll be heartbroken."

Song Wenjun's cheeks flushed pink: "How could that be?"

Although she said that, a sweet feeling welled up inside her.

Xiao Ji treated her better than anyone else in the world.

He always puts himself first.

She hadn't felt this way when she was with Xiao Ji, but after they separated, Song Wenjun didn't miss him for a single day.

The two had been separated for almost two months, and now that he was coming back, how could Song Wenjun not be excited?

However, they waited from morning until night.

Xiao Ji was nowhere to be seen until the last glimmer of light was swallowed by darkness.

The food on the table had all gone cold.

Song Wenjun's unease grew stronger.

She pressed her lips tightly together and remained silent.

But the worry in her eyes was about to burst out.

Yan Yan gently tugged at her hand: "Mother, why hasn't Father returned yet?"

"It'll be soon, it'll be soon," Song Wenjun said, trying to reassure him.

Only then did she remember that Yan Yan was also waiting with her and hadn't eaten yet.

Song Wenjun quickly picked up some food and said to him, "Son, order some to fill your stomach first."

Yan Yan shook her head: "I won't eat. I want to wait for Father to come back so we can eat together."

After saying that, he puffed out his cheeks and ran to the door, where he plopped down on the threshold.

Looking at her son's small figure, Song Wenjun felt an indescribable sadness in her heart.

Yan Yan rarely loses her temper; this child has been more sensible than other children her age since she was little.

But now, contrary to his usual behavior, he really misses his father.

Song Wenjun walked over and squatted down behind Yan Yan, only then realizing that his small body was trembling.

After realizing someone was behind her, she wiped away her tears again.

"Mother, I'll be fine by myself for a while." Yan Yan's voice was muffled, and Song Wenjun could hear a sob in it.

Yan Yan is really heartbroken.

Song Wenjun knew that saying anything now would be useless, so she sat down next to Yan Yan and said to him, "Mother will wait with you."

Yan Yan looked at Song Wenjun with some surprise, seeing a smile on her face.

But those eyes were filled with bitterness.

She was also worried about Xiao Ji.

The mother and son huddled together, neither willing to move an inch.

After an unknown amount of time, the tranquility of the night was broken by a sudden commotion.

The sound of the wind, carrying with it the chaotic footsteps and the clanging of weapons, drew ever closer.

A guard in black rushed in like a whirlwind.

He staggered, looked panicked, and was covered in blood.

Upon seeing Song Wenjun, he knelt down on one knee with a thud, his rapid breathing particularly clear in the silence.

His voice trembled with anxiety as he said, "Your Highness, something terrible has happened! The Duke of Zhenguo has mobilized a large number of troops from somewhere and has completely surrounded this place. All the entrances and exits have been blocked, and the Dragon Guards have suffered heavy losses!"

"The Duke of Zhenguo?" Upon hearing this, Song Wenjun's pupils contracted sharply, and her voice rose instantly, filled with disbelief. "How is this possible? We've been so cautious every step of the way, yet we still couldn't shake off his pursuit?"

Her hands unconsciously reached for her abdomen, where the baby inside was kicking her.

The guard looked troubled, his eyes flickering. He glanced at Xiao Tao subconsciously, his lips parting slightly, but then seemed to be choked by something, looking as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.

Upon seeing this, Xiao Tao's face instantly turned ashen, and she swayed as she realized what had happened.

"It must have been the Duke of Zhenguo who followed my trail and found this place. It's all my fault, I've dragged everyone into this mess! He had been holding back all this time, waiting for the Prince to show up so he could wipe us all out in one fell swoop, right?"

The guard remained silent, bowing his head deeply.

Xiao Tao clenched her fists and gritted her teeth, saying, "That old fox, he actually dared to scheme against me, I'm going to kill him right now."

She started walking towards the door, and Song Wenjun hurriedly ordered her guards: "Stop her."

The guards stopped Xiao Tao, who was furious and her eyes turned red: "Your Highness, don't stop me! Even if I die, I will cut off the head of that old scoundrel, the Duke of Zhenguo."

"Xiao Tao, we are outnumbered. Even if you go now, you won't be able to kill him. You'll just lose your life in vain," Song Wenjun said helplessly.

"Are we just going to stand by and watch him break in?" Xiao Tao's tears fell uncontrollably.

She was filled with remorse; it was all her fault for being so stupid.

Little did they know that the Duke of Zhenguo had deliberately let the tiger return to the mountain.

Now that she has implicated the princess and the prince, she could never forgive herself if anything happened to them.

Song Wenjun smiled gently: "Even without you, the Duke of Zhenguo would have found this place through other means. Besides, I trust the Prince; he won't let me be in danger."

"Your Highness, do you trust the Prince that much?"

Song Wenjun said firmly, "I believe him."

Seeing Song Wenjun's calm demeanor, the guards felt somewhat embarrassed.

Faced with a formidable enemy, he, as a Dragon Guard, lost his composure.

He's not even as good as a woman.

"Your Highness, what should we do next?"

Song Wenjun ordered him, "Have everyone hold the courtyard at all costs, delaying it as long as possible."

This valley is surrounded by mountains on three sides and water on one side.

Based on Song Wenjun's understanding of Xiao Ji, she knew he would never choose a residence with no way out.

As Song Wenjun was thinking, she heard a rough laugh coming from outside the courtyard: "Princess Consort of Chu, I've been looking for you for so long, hahaha, I didn't expect to catch you here."

Outside the courtyard, the blazing torches illuminated the night sky as bright as day.

Thick smoke billowed up, adding a touch of gloom to the tranquil night.

The Duke of Zhenguo and his men surrounded the courtyard like a pack of wolves, ready to pounce on their prey at any moment.

At this moment, only a dozen or so Dragon Guards remained in the courtyard, but they still held their ground without showing any sign of retreat.

Their clothes were already soaked in blood, and their faces were full of exhaustion and wounds.

But his eyes were resolute, his hand gripped his weapon tightly, and he fiercely guarded the courtyard behind him.

The Duke of Zhenguo, mounted on his tall horse, surveyed the stubbornly resisting Dragon Guards from his elevated position.

A mocking smile curled at the corner of his lips, his eyes filled with disdain: "Hmph, everyone says that the Emperor's Dragon Guards are all highly skilled in martial arts, but now it seems they're nothing special."

Having said that, he tightened the reins with both hands, and the warhorse reared up and neighed, its front hooves raised high.

The adjutant beside him understood immediately and shouted at the top of his lungs into the courtyard, "Listen up, you people inside! As long as you lay down your weapons and surrender obediently, the Duke is merciful and will surely spare your lives and ensure your safety..."

However, before he could finish speaking, an arrow streaked across the night sky like lightning and shot straight at him.

The arrow came with great force, so fast that no one had time to react.

With a "thud," the arrow pierced the deputy general's throat with perfect accuracy.

The lieutenant stared wide-eyed, his face still bearing the astonished expression he had when he shouted, as if he couldn't believe he would die here even in death.

His body swayed, then he fell heavily to the ground.

The sudden turn of events threw the Duke of Zhenguo into a panic. He looked around sharply and shouted, "Come out here, and I might spare your life."