Ning Dao Covered with Snow

Chapter 423 Shot by an Arrow
Xie Tanyu held the newborn baby in her arms, while Du Yunzhao supported Crown Prince Li Xuanhe. After running a distance, they looked back and saw thick smoke billowing from the Xu residence.

The three of them felt extremely heavy-hearted.

Li Xuanhe wept uncontrollably, his emotions nearly collapsing, but reason told him that so many people had sacrificed themselves to protect him, and he could not let their sacrifices be in vain. He had to live, quell the rebellion, and kill those traitors!

He touched the still-crying child and, forcing back his grief, said, "Those traitors will definitely catch up. We can't put all our eggs in one basket; we have to split up and run. Tanyu, take this child and go to Lord Xiao. He will protect you."

Xie Tanyu hurriedly asked, "Where is His Highness the Crown Prince?"

"Now that the traitors have dared to openly break into the Dali Temple to kidnap people and even dare to kill people in the Xu residence, it means that they have decided to go all out. I guess there must be traitors in the palace now, and Father may have already fallen into their hands. I must rescue Father."

Du Yunzhao immediately said, "I will accompany Your Highness to rescue the Emperor!"

Xie Tanyu was very worried: "Can the two of you manage on your own?"

Li Xuanhe already had a plan in mind. He quickly said, "I'll go find General Wu. He's in charge of the Thousand Bull Guards, and he has a past grudge against the Xie family. If the Xie family succeeds in their rebellion, they will definitely make things difficult for him in the future. He knows this, so he will definitely help us quell the rebellion."

So they split up.

Xie Tanyu took the young prince alone to seek refuge with Xiao Wenyi, while Li Xuanhe, under the protection of Du Yunzhao, went to the Wu family.

However, before they could find the Wu family, they encountered Li Baizhou on the road.

Li Xuanhe asked, "How did you end up here?"

"The Xie family conspired with Prince Wu Cheng to rebel. I was worried about my brother’s safety, so I went to the Dali Temple to find you. Unfortunately, I was too late. When I arrived at the Dali Temple, you and my sister-in-law had already left. Afterwards, I guessed that you might go to the Xu family, but I was too late again. Everyone in the Xu family was brutally killed by the traitors."

Li Xuanhe looked reluctant, while Du Yunzhao clenched his fists and gritted his teeth in hatred: "These scoundrels are utterly depraved!"

"I searched everywhere for you after leaving the Xu family, I never expected to run into you here." Li Baizhou looked relieved. "Brother, it's so good to see you safe and sound!"

However, Li Xuanhe looked grief-stricken: "Although I survived by clinging to life, Aying, Nanxu, and Hanshi all sacrificed themselves."

Li Baizhou was shocked: "Even my sister-in-law... how could this be?!"

Li Xuanhe suppressed his grief and said in a trembling voice, "Now is not the time to talk about these things. We need to find General Wu now and ask him to lead the Thousand Bull Guards to the palace to rescue the emperor."

"You can't go to the palace!" Li Baizhou hurriedly advised. "I heard before I came here that the entire palace has been taken over by the rebels. If you go into the palace now, it will be like a lamb entering a tiger's den. In my opinion, you should leave Chang'an as soon as possible. As long as you're alive, you'll have a chance to take revenge sooner or later!"

Du Yunzhao was utterly astonished: "So, it's very likely that the Sage has already met with misfortune?"

Li Baizhou's eyes were full of worry: "I'm not sure, but it seems that the situation is very unfavorable for us. The Xie family controls the Shence Army, and now even the Left and Right Jinwu Guards have fallen into their hands. The Qianniu Guards alone are no match for them."

Du Yunzhao hurriedly went to look at Li Xuanhe and asked, "Your Highness, what should we do?"

Li Xuanhe looked in the direction of the palace, pondered for a moment, and then made a decision.

"As long as there is a glimmer of hope, I cannot give up. I must save my father, even if it costs me my life!"

He looked at Du Yunzhao: "You have a wife, children, and elderly parents at home. You don't need to risk your life with me. Go home." Du Yunzhao pounded his chest, making a loud thud, and said in a deep voice: "Your Highness underestimates me. Although I, Du, am not a peerless hero, I am by no means a coward. From the day I decided to join the army, I was prepared to die on the battlefield. Now that the traitors are in power and the Crown Prince is in grave danger, I will swear to protect the Crown Prince's safety with my life, until my last drop of blood is shed!"

Li Xuanhe was moved by his loyalty and choked up, saying, "How fortunate I am to have seven talented men like you serve me in my life!"

Li Baizhou said firmly, "Brother, since you are not leaving, I certainly won't leave either. As long as I am alive, I will not let the traitor harm you in the slightest."

"Alright, let's go find General Wu now."

Li Baizhou said, "I know a shortcut to the Wu family. Follow me."

He led the way, with Li Xuanhe following closely behind, and Du Yunzhao responsible for covering the rear.

At this moment, neither Li Xuanhe nor Du Yunzhao saw Li Baizhou's expression, but Yan Ciwan could see it clearly. Li Baizhou's eyes were cold, and he had clearly made up his mind to kill Li Xuanhe.

Yan Ciwan knew that Li Xuanhe's journey was likely fraught with peril, but she was merely a witness to history. She could only observe those who died in history and could not change their fate.

As Yan Ciwan had predicted, Li Baizhou deliberately led the Crown Prince to a location he had arranged with Pei Yan beforehand, where Pei Yan led the Shence Army to surround them.

Pei Yan stated that they had come to rescue the Crown Prince.

“Although we all work under Xie Fu, I am different from the Xie family. I cannot do things like treason and usurpation, which would result in the extermination of nine generations of my family. Neither can my brothers.”

The Crown Prince doubted Pei Yan's words and asked Pei Yan to step back, which Pei Yan did as instructed.

Du Yunzhao didn't believe this guy who suddenly appeared out of nowhere. He wanted to protect the crown prince and leave this place. Unexpectedly, he ran into Xie Fu, who was leading troops to catch up. Xie Fu ordered his men to shoot arrows, determined to leave the crown prince's life here.

In the midst of the chaos, the crown prince was struck in the back by an arrow.

Xie Fu was about to deliver the final blow when Pei Yan rushed out and stopped him at the crucial moment.

Pei Yan shouted at Du Yunzhao, "What are you all standing there for? Quickly take the Crown Prince away!"

After saying that, he led his hundred or so men to fight Xie Fu's troops. While they were entangled, Du Yunzhao picked up the injured prince and fled with Li Baizhou.

They originally intended to go find General Wu, but the Crown Prince was seriously injured. Soon his entire back was stained red with blood, and his mind gradually became blurred. He was about to die.

Li Baizhou said, "We need to find a doctor right away!"

Du Yunzhao had no choice but to carry the Crown Prince on his back and run as fast as he could, hoping to find a clinic as soon as possible. However, instead of finding a clinic, he unexpectedly ran into Xie Tanyu.

Xie Tanyu had just come out of the Xiao residence. He was worried about the Crown Prince, so he came specifically to look for him.

He had just heard that a large-scale fight had taken place here, and guessed that the Crown Prince might be nearby, so he came looking for him, and he actually found the Crown Prince.

Upon learning that the Crown Prince was seriously injured, Xie Tanyu said urgently, "I know where there are doctors. Follow me!"