After the favored concubine remarried, the aloof and powerful minister forcibly took her away.

Chapter 200 You Care About Me
Lord Zhou realized that this topic could not be continued, so he changed the subject.

The two walked into the tent together, and neither of them mentioned the matter again.

By the time they finished discussing the matter, it was already 4:45 AM.

The sky began to turn a hazy white, and a cold wind blew in, instantly waking Pei Yanzhi from his somewhat groggy state.

He originally wanted to go see Xiang Ning, but before he could take a step, he heard a roar coming from afar.

The horses' hooves kicked up clouds of dust as they trod the ground.

Pei Yanzhi gripped his sword tightly and ordered the person beside him to call for reinforcements.

Instead of launching a surprise attack, they allowed others to seize the initiative.

The roars grew closer, and Pei Yanzhi's eyes, sharp as an eagle's, were fixed on the direction where the dust was rising.

A short while later, a group of riders in black emerged from the mist.

The leader was a burly man with a hideous scar on his face that looked even more terrifying in the dim light.

"Pei Yanzhi, today is your death day!"

The burly man brandished his long sword and let out a deafening roar.

Pei Yanzhi remained calm, holding his sword horizontally, assuming a fighting stance.

At this moment, the soldiers in the tent heard the commotion and rushed over, quickly forming a square formation in front of Pei Yanzhi.

Lord Zhou's expression was grave, and he said in a low voice, "It seems the other side was prepared. We've probably fallen into an ambush."

Pei Yanzhi nodded slightly, "Lord Zhou, you should retreat to the rear and lead your men to withdraw. I will take care of things here."

"Chenghua, take Xiangning away. If anything happens to her, I won't let you off the hook."

Having said that, he lightly touched the ground with his toes and charged into the enemy ranks like an arrow released from a bow.

The flashing of swords and the shouts of battle were so loud they made one's eardrums ache.

Lu Yongkang is indeed a difficult person to deal with; he reacted so quickly.

He probably intended to trap himself here, but fortunately, he made preparations in advance, so the losses were not too severe.

The sounds of fighting reached back, and Xiang Ning immediately stood up.

Since arriving here, she has always slept fully clothed, for fear that such a scene would occur and burden others.

Chenghua said "Miss Xiangning" outside the tent, and then Xiangning came out.

"What happened?"

"Lu Yongkang's men attacked. Master told me to take the girl and leave first."

Upon hearing this, Xiang Ning looked up at the scene ahead, nodded, and followed Cheng Hua's steps.

Lord Zhou had already led his soldiers in retreat. Xiang Ning looked at this large-scale retreat and suddenly felt uneasy.

Are you sure Pei Yanzhi has someone with him?

Cheng Hua was pulled back by Xiang Ning, and upon hearing her question, a hint of unease appeared on his face.

"The master only told me to take the girl away..."

"girl?!"

Before he could finish speaking, Xiang Ning snatched the bow and arrow from the side and walked back.

Chenghua didn't have time to think and hurriedly followed.

"Young lady, you cannot go. It is dangerous ahead. If anything happens to you, I will be held responsible!"

"Besides, young lady, you can't shoot arrows..."

Upon hearing Cheng Hua's words, Xiang Ning paused, nocked an arrow, and fired it.

While not quite an archer who could hit a willow leaf from a hundred paces, he shot the soldier sitting high on his horse with perfect accuracy.

"Who told you I couldn't?"

Xiang Ning looked at Cheng Hua and said this in a cold voice.

However, she does not actually know how to shoot arrows; she was just better at using a slingshot when she was young.

She couldn't bear to watch Pei Yanzhi fight alone.

After all, he had assigned Chenghua and the guards to her. If something happened to him, his life would be in her hands.

“Go tell Pei Yanzhi that there are concealed areas outside the moat of Tingzhou that can be used to lure people there.”

"If anything happens to him, Qing Kingdom will truly be beyond saving. Go quickly." Xiang Ning nocked another arrow and stared at Cheng Hua as she said this.

In that instant, Cheng Hua suddenly saw something different in Xiang Ning.

In the past, they all thought she was just a weak woman.

"Yes, miss, I'll go right away."

Cheng Hua pulled over a horse and mounted it, with the arrows shot by Xiang Ning providing cover for him.

After he finished speaking to Pei Yanzhi, Pei Yanzhi understood Xiang Ning's meaning.

Seeing that Lord Zhou and his men had completely withdrawn, he no longer hesitated and ordered his men to retreat.

Seeing Pei Yanzhi and Cheng Hua safely break through the encirclement, Xiang Ning's tense nerves instantly relaxed, and her hands fell limply to her sides.

The bow and arrow felt incredibly heavy in her hands. She had exhausted all her strength to hold on until now, and every finger was trembling slightly.

Pei Yanzhi rode a pure white steed toward Xiang Ning.

He came to Xiang Ning's side, bent down, picked her up around the waist, then turned his horse around and galloped away into the distance.

The men in black behind them were not about to let them go so easily; they rode swift horses and gave chase.

The horses bounced back and forth on the rugged mountain road. Pei Yanzhi raised his hand to protect Xiang Ning's head and held her tightly in his arms.

He led her through the dense forest, branches scratching his arms and leaving bloody marks, but he was oblivious, his mind focused on only one thing: to get Xiang Ning away from danger.

Xiang Ning's words were true; outside the moat of Tingzhou, there was a very complex terrain that they had never explored before.

The man in black followed them inside and immediately fell into the trap.

Pei Yanzhi raised his hand and fired a crossbow bolt. Several archers beside him quickly followed up, pressuring the enemy.

The men in black quickly realized they had fallen into their trap, but they were already surrounded by people and had nowhere to hide.

"Capture them alive."

Seeing that the man in black was already trapped, Pei Yanzhi coldly gave this order, and then left with Xiang Ning.

"Is A-Ning alright?"

Once they reached a safe place, Pei Yanzhi lowered his head and said with concern.

Xiang Ning placed her hand on her shoulder and shook her head at him.

"I knew it, you care about me."

Thinking of Cheng Hua's words, Pei Yanzhi smiled with delight.

Xiang Ning avoided his gaze and said calmly, "If you were to get into trouble because you sent people to protect me, then I would be a sinner of the Qing Kingdom."

"Then I'll take it as you caring about me, which is why you came back."

"I'm very happy."

Pei Yanzhi, like a child whose wish had been fulfilled, reached out and embraced Xiang Ning.

She cried out in pain because of his touch.

Upon hearing this, Pei Yanzhi quickly took her hand: "Where are you hurt?"

After he finished speaking, he suddenly remembered the arrows that had been shot at him.

"It hurts here?"

He lowered his head and said something, his hand on her shoulder with a gentle touch, as if afraid of hurting her.

"No need to..."

"Pei Yanzhi, what are you doing?"

A thick cloak enveloped the two of them, and his gaze carried an undeniable air of dominance.

"Let me examine your injuries so I can prescribe the appropriate treatment."

After saying that, Pei Yanzhi took off his hair ribbon and covered Xiang Ning's eyes: "If you're afraid of the pain, just pretend you can't see it."

"Be obedient, or you'll suffer from health problems later."

Her petite body nestled completely into his embrace, and the cloak that enveloped her still carried his scent.

Xiang Ning felt his hand lifting the edge of her clothes, and she trembled all over, pushing him away.

"I will do it myself!"

(End of this chapter)