With her delicate face and slender waist, the royal uncle lost control.

As darkness fell, the last glimmer of light in the mountains and forests was swallowed up.

Yun Nian could only rely on her senses, groping her way forward in the darkness, one step at a time.

We finally arrived at Xiangguo Temple.

Yun Nian rushed to the mountain gate in a disheveled state, her hair disheveled, her clothes tattered, and her face and hands covered in scratches and dirt.

Upon seeing this, the guards at the gate immediately stepped forward to stop them: "Halt! Who goes there?"

"I...I want to see Prince Ningxiang..."

Yun Nian, panting, said, "I have something urgent."

The guard frowned and sized her up: "The prince is currently praying to Buddha and is not receiving outsiders. You…"

"Let her in."

Qin Jiuchen was kneeling on a prayer mat in the Buddhist hall, his back to the hall door, his posture upright like a pine tree.

He held a string of Buddhist prayer beads in his hand, his expression serene.

Yun Nian broke free from the guards and rushed into the Buddhist hall.

She said urgently, "Your Highness, Qiluo has been captured by bandits from Tiger Roar Stronghold. Please help me rescue her."

Qin Jiuchen paused slightly as he twirled the prayer beads, then slowly opened his eyes.

He placed the prayer beads on the altar in front of him with unhurried movements.

Then he stood up and turned around.

In the candlelight, he could see Yun Nian's appearance clearly.

Her hair was disheveled, with a few wet strands clinging awkwardly to her pale cheeks.

The once elegant dress was torn in several places by thorns and covered with mud and grass clippings.

His face was streaked with blood.

Qin Jiuchen frowned.

"Tiger Roar Stronghold captured you too?"

"Yes."

Yun Nian nodded vigorously, speaking very quickly, "We were in an alley when we were suddenly kidnapped by three bandits. When we woke up, we found ourselves imprisoned in Yeling Mountain."

"We could have escaped together, but the bandits were hot on our heels. Qiluo turned around and led them away so that I could run first."

"Your Highness, I beg you, go save her now! If we wait any longer, it may be too late!"

As she spoke, her eyes suddenly reddened, and tears welled up in them.

Qin Jiuchen stood there, saying nothing, simply watching her quietly.

Chen Sha, who was standing by, stepped forward and whispered a reminder: "Master, news has just come from the front that Zhao Lihu, the chief of Tiger Roar Village, is leading most of his confidants down the mountain today."

"Our original plan was to strike when he returns to the village tomorrow and everyone gathers together, catching him like a turtle in a jar. If we act rashly now, we might alert him, making Zhao Lihu prepared, or even allowing him to escape..."

Chen Sha didn't continue, but her meaning was already clear.

Yun Nian understood.

She was not an ignorant young lady confined to her chambers; she naturally understood the relative importance of the "imperial government's grand plan to suppress bandits" versus "the life of a mere maid."

In Chensha's view, it would be extremely unwise to disrupt the carefully planned scheme in order to save Qiluo.

Her heart sank little by little.

Qin Jiuchen simply nodded after hearing Chen Sha's words.

"Chensha," he called, "you go out first."

Chen Sha was taken aback, then immediately clasped his hands in a fist and palm salute: "Yes."

He took a few steps back, turned around, and walked out of the Buddhist hall.

Qin Jiuchen remained silent.

Yun Nian suddenly bent her knees and knelt down on the cold floor tiles with a "thump".

She raised her head, her tone solemn: "Your Highness, in your eyes, Qiluo may just be a lowly maidservant, her life worthless. But in Nian'er's heart, she is a friend, family, one of the few people in this world who truly cares for me."

"If she hadn't saved me today, she could have escaped. She put herself in danger for my sake. If I hadn't saved her, I would have spent the rest of my life in turmoil and guilt."

She paused, then continued, "Previously, Nian'er had considered making a deal with the Prince, exchanging information for your help in dissolving my engagement. Now, Nian'er has changed her mind."

She straightened her back and said, "If Your Highness thinks Nian'er is still useful, Nian'er is willing to give herself in exchange for Qi Luo's life."

"From this day forward, Nian'er's life belongs to the prince, and she will obey his every command without complaint."

After saying that, she bent down and slammed her forehead heavily against the cold ground.

"Please grant my request, Your Highness."

Qin Jiuchen was slightly taken aback.

He lowered his eyes and stared at Yun Nian, who was kneeling on the ground.

"Trade yourself for a girl?"

He slowly repeated her words.

Yun Nian straightened up, still kneeling upright, her face still wet with tears, but her eyes were clear and firm, showing no sign of backing down: "Yes."

The flickering candlelight cast long shadows of the two people onto the wall and the Buddha statue, creating an interplay of light and shadow.

Qin Jiuchen gazed at her for a long time.

After a long pause, he finally spoke.

"As you wish."

Yun Nian suddenly looked up, her eyes immediately blurred by a torrent of tears.

Qin Jiuchen turned towards the palace gate, "Chensha."

The palace doors were immediately pushed open, and Chen Sha strode in: "Master?"

"Assemble a team of elite shadow guards."

Qin Jiuchen's voice was cold and authoritative, "Depart immediately for Tiger Roar Village. Bring Qiluo back."

A look of obvious surprise flashed across Chen Sha's face: "Your Highness, what about tomorrow's plan...?"

"The plan remains the same."

Qin Jiuchen interrupted him.

Chen Sha was shocked and immediately understood his master's determination.

He knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in a fist and replied in a deep voice, "Your subordinate obeys and will certainly not fail Your Highness's trust."

After saying that, he got up and left.

Chen Sha accepted the order and withdrew.

The Buddhist hall returned to silence, with only the candlelight burning quietly.

Yun Nian's extremely tense heartstrings suddenly relaxed, followed by an overwhelming sense of exhaustion and depletion.

A whole day of thrilling adventures and desperate escapes through the mountains had exhausted Yun Nian's last bit of strength.

At this moment, the string that had been supporting her finally loosened.

She felt her legs go weak, her vision blurred, and her body lurched forward uncontrollably.

An arm swiftly and powerfully embraced her swaying waist, steadily supporting her.

Yun Nian was pulled into a broad and warm embrace.

The cool, refreshing aura belonging to Qin Jiuchen enveloped her in an instant.

This aura is inexplicably reassuring.

The composure I had just maintained crumbled at this moment.

The fear of surviving the ordeal, the grievances and helplessness of the past few days, surged forth like a flood bursting its banks.

She couldn't help but bury her face deep in his chest, letting out suppressed sobs.

She asked haltingly, "Your Highness... will Qiluo be in trouble? She's all alone, she's just a girl, what if those bandits do something to her..."