So what if she's my sister-in-law? You seduced me first.

The day after the sage's death, feudal lords from all over the country rushed back.

They didn't dare bring their troops back to the capital. Instead, they all stayed stationed dozens of miles outside the moat, eager to see who would capture the capital and sit on the emperor's throne.

That night, the Xuanwu Gate tower was suddenly attacked. The Seventh Prince, under the pretense of wanting to see his father, openly attempted to break into the Zijin Square.

This was something no one expected; the heavily guarded Xuanwu Gate would be the first to be attacked.

Xuanwu Gate was heavily guarded and could not be captured after a long siege. Not long after, the Seventh Prince's faction stirred up the warlike sentiments of the Elders' Council and the Crown Prince, and gained the support of certain forces in the Elders' Council. Uprisings broke out inside and outside the capital, and the Jinghe Gate, which had been ordered to be sealed off, was opened wide.

The generals of the Eastern Palace, blinded by rage, ordered an attack on the Seventh Prince's residence, determined to drag Xie Chizhang's group down with them even if it meant their own deaths.

Kyoto was ravaged by the bloody struggle for the throne, and the borders of the Great Xia Kingdom were filled with the smoke of war.

Crown Prince Xie Jingchen officially issued an edict in the afternoon, stating that the Muhe clan in the northeast had forced the emperor to revolt, and that the rebellious seventh prince Xie Chizhang had colluded with the traitors, thus becoming a treacherous minister.

The long-brewing struggle for the throne erupted into a fierce battle in the palace passageway of Jinghe Gate, with a chilling wind carrying crimson blood.

Under the pitch-black night, Xie Jingchen was already bloodthirsty. When he suddenly heard the news that the Crown Princess might have miscarried due to excessive bleeding, his expression was one of utter disbelief, as if his skin had cracked open.

Just as the Seventh Prince Xie Chizhang and the Crown Prince Xie Jingchen were fighting fiercely, the various factions of the Elders Council suddenly responded to the Xie family's edict and mobilized troops with tiger tallies to surround all the exits of the moat.

The Xie family stated that the seventh prince, Xie Chizhang, was a traitor who rebelled and forced the emperor to abdicate. The Xie family would fully support the crown prince in suppressing the rebellion.

Therefore, troops from all directions flocked to the outskirts of the capital, openly mobilizing them to return to the capital.

Ning Yu had no idea how chaotic things were outside, but the guards stationed in the East Garden patrolled day and night. Even when the old lady asked her to go to Rong'an Hall, the head guard refused, saying that the governor had ordered that the lady could only stay in the East Garden.

Ning Yu had already packed her bags, but now she couldn't get out, and she was so anxious that she even considered climbing out of the window.

But she knew that without the Xie family's help, she might not even be able to get out of the city gates now.

At night, she dismissed all the maids in the room and took out her bundle.

Inside were two boxes, one given to her by the old lady, and the other containing the money she had taken from Xie Xun.

Xie Xun doesn't usually concern himself with her daily expenses. The other day, she asked the steward for a sum of money, so even if she does nothing for the rest of her life, she can still live a life free from worries about food and clothing.

She prepared two unremarkable outfits and put them both in her bundle.

Ning Yu was half asleep in the middle of the night when she suddenly heard the sounds of fighting outside.

She was startled awake and quickly dressed and got out of bed.

Xie Yan took time out of his busy schedule to come back and see her off. Xie Xun is currently embroiled in many matters and, in order to justify his rebellion, he is secretly plotting to kill the Crown Prince and the Seventh Prince.

He even ordered the mobilization of troops to involve all the rebels, hoping to wipe them out in one fell swoop. He even killed several elders of the council in order to legitimize his ascension to the throne. Now the court is in complete chaos.

He won't have time to deal with Ning Yu's affairs.

To further complicate the situation, Xie Yan agreed to open the Yanzhou pass. Now, war is raging throughout the Great Xia territory, and Xie Xun has too many things to attend to.

The guards of Dongyuan were indeed skilled in martial arts, but their target was only Ning Yu; they left men to keep them occupied.

"Isn't it a bit opportunistic for the young master to lead his troops into the East Garden at this critical juncture?"

Taking advantage of someone's misfortune?!

Xie Yan wanted to laugh. Who was the one taking advantage of his vulnerability?

He ignored the soldiers behind him and strode towards the waterside pavilion.

When Ning Yu finished dressing and came out with her bundle on her back, she bumped into Xie Yan, who was rushing in with a sword in hand.

The two exchanged a glance, and without saying a word, she quickly followed behind him and walked outside.

The guards rushed over from all sides, but Xie Yan didn't want to fight them. He grabbed Ning Yu by the waist and leaped onto the roof.

Having fought in many battles over the years, Xie Yan was naturally quite skilled in martial arts, and he quickly led her away from the East Garden.

The surroundings were pitch black, and the scenery in the courtyard rushed past. Ning Yu could only see the small bridges, flowing water, buildings, eaves, and pavilions flowing behind her, as well as the soldiers in the East Garden with their eyes red with anxiety.

"What should we do? The lady has run away."

Enraged, the head guard slashed at the guard who had attacked him and leaped to give chase, but the guards held them tightly, not even giving them a chance to relay the message.

Kyoto is in chaos now, and they have no idea where the governor is.

Xie Yan led Ning Yu to a side gate of the Xie family residence, where a horse was placed in the passageway.

After the two landed safely, Xie Yan helped her onto his horse.

With a shout, the galloping horse quickly headed towards the city gate.

In the dead of night, the entire capital city was filled with deafening noise. Ning Yu sat nervously on his horse, not uttering a sound.

Xie Yan didn't speak to her. He tightened the reins with his strong arms and headed straight for the heavily guarded south gate.

"Your Highness, there's only the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Hurry up, don't make things difficult for your subordinates."

The general guarding the city gate was a member of the Xie family. Xie Yan grunted in response and ordered the gate to be opened.

Under the pitch-black night, a carriage was parked outside the city gate, driven by A-Zhou, surrounded by Xie Yan's personal guards.

With a whoosh, Xie Yan carried her off the horse. The two stood at the city gate, and he held the reins, lowering his eyes as he gave her instructions.

"The things are already in the carriage. I have other matters to attend to and cannot see you off personally. Ah Zhou will escort you away for me, and these guards will protect your safety along the way."

Ning Yu listened to his meticulous arrangements, her heart aching slightly. "Your Highness, thank you, but please leave the guards to protect you. I don't want anyone following you."

A fleeting emotion crossed Xie Yan's eyes. "The world is in turmoil. Ayu is a woman and needs someone to protect her."

"Really, it's not necessary."

She didn't want anything from him.

Xie Yan felt his suppressed anger rise again. "Where are you planning to go?"

Ning Yu planned to go to Xianyang City. "I'm going to Jiangning County. My grandmother gave me a travel permit that leads to Lianhua Town, which is near Jiangning County."

That works too. Once he's in Liangzhou, he won't have trouble finding her.

Xie Yan breathed a sigh of relief. "Alright then, can A-Zhou take you there?"

Ning Yu lowered her eyes, rolled them around, and nodded gently.

Just shake them off on the way.

"Then---I'm leaving." She looked up at him and said softly, "Xie Yan, take care."

Xie Yan watched her turn to get into the carriage and called out, "Ayu, see you in Liangzhou."

Ning Yu's back stiffened, and the figure who had stepped onto the carriage on a stool turned his head slightly. "Alright, see you in Liangzhou."

Upon hearing her promise, Xie Yan leaped onto his horse. After watching her enter the carriage, he lingered without hesitation, turned the reins, and with a shout, his warhorse galloped away.