After being reborn, the aloof prime minister was once again forced by a tyrant.

Xiao Jingyuan rode on a black horse, with a dense array of imperial guards behind him, blocking the entire long street.

He was still wearing the black dragon robe he wore to court, the gold-embroidered dragons shimmering in the sunlight, but his crown was slightly askew, fine beads of sweat glistened on his forehead, and his chest heaved—he had ridden all the way here at breakneck speed.

His face was as dark as the sky before a storm, and suppressed anger surged in his pale eyes.

"Qinglan." His voice wasn't loud, but it reached Xie Qinglan's ears clearly. "Where are we going?"

Xie Qinglan rode his horse to block the carriage, his Qingyun sword already drawn. The blade gleamed, its cold light reflecting off his pale yet resolute face in the sunlight.

"The marriage alliance is canceled." His voice was cold and steady. "Get out of the way, I'm taking her back to Nanyue."

Xiao Jingyuan's gaze passed over him, glanced at the shadowy figure inside the carriage, and then fell back on Xie Qinglan.

He saw the paleness on Xie Qinglan's face, the unbelievable steadiness of his hand holding the sword, and the marks on the side of his neck that had not yet completely faded.

Less than five days had passed. His health had only just begun to improve.

I just wanted to run away.

"You're not fully recovered yet, don't resort to violence." Xiao Jingyuan's tone was both coaxing and threatening. "Qinglan, come back with me. I can pretend today's events never happened."

"Impossible." Xie Qinglan slowly raised the tip of her sword, pointing it directly at Xiao Jingyuan. "Make way."

Xiao Jingyuan closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, the anger in his eyes was uncontrollable.

He dismounted and took a long sword from his attendant. The blade was drawn, its cold light gleaming.

"Then let me see how much strength you still have."

Swords clashed, the clanging of metal echoing through the long street.

Both were top masters of their time, and every move they made was deadly.

Xiao Jingyuan's swordplay was powerful and sweeping, each strike carrying immense force—yet each strike contained a fraction of its power, avoiding vital points and leaving ample room for maneuver.

He dared not hurt Xie Qinglan, and he didn't even dare to use the back of his knife on him.

But his swordsmanship was extremely fierce, and his killing intent was overwhelming. Every strike blocked Xie Qinglan's path, forcing him to retreat, to parry, and to move him step by step away from the direction of the carriage.

Xie Qinglan, however, was fighting desperately.

Each of his sword strikes was extremely sharp, the blade grazing Xiao Jingyuan's shoulder armor, sending up a string of sparks, and leaving a long gash on the dragon robe on his chest.

His face was as pale as paper, his lips were pressed into a thin line, and beads of cold sweat rolled down his forehead, but his sword moves were faster and more ruthless than the last.

Xiao Jingyuan dodged a sword thrust, took half a step back, and frowned.

He could tell that Xie Qinglan was at his limit—the man's hand holding the sword was trembling slightly, and his steps were more unsteady than usual.

He's clearly not fully recovered, yet he's pushing himself so hard; something bad is bound to happen sooner or later.

"That's enough." Xiao Jingyuan blocked his sword and said in a low voice, "Your legs are shaking. If you keep hitting him, you'll—"

Before she could finish speaking, Xie Qinglan's knees suddenly buckled, and she tumbled forward.

Although it was only for a very brief moment, and although he regained his footing in the next instant, in such a duel, even a momentary opening is enough.

Xiao Jingyuan instinctively reached for his sword, but then saw a slender figure suddenly rush out of the carriage.

"Stop! Stop hitting him!"

Pei Yuning lifted her skirt and ran between the two, spreading her arms to block Xie Qinglan.

Her timing was impeccable—it was exactly the moment Xiao Jingyuan sheathed his sword, the blade still sharp, when she suddenly took an extra step forward, offering her arm to the blade.

Blood seeped from her sleeve, staining her lotus-root-colored palace dress red.

"Ning'er!" Xie Qinglan's face turned even paler in an instant.

He threw down his sword and caught Pei Yuning in his arms.

Blood trickled down her arm, dripping onto his black cloak and staining it with dark red flowers.

"Xiao Jingyuan!" Xie Qinglan raised her head, her voice trembling with anger, "You're utterly unreasonable!"

He bent down to check Pei Yuning's wound, but her hand was gently pushed away as soon as it touched her sleeve.

Pei Yuning clutched the wound on her arm, blood seeping from between her fingers. Her lips turned white from the pain, her eyes were red, and tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to fall.

"Brother Qinglan... please don't fight His Majesty anymore." She looked at Xie Qinglan with teary eyes, her voice weak and trembling with sobs, "Ning'er loves His Majesty, Ning'er doesn't want to leave."

After speaking, she looked up at Xiao Jingyuan again, and tears finally rolled down her pale cheeks, making her look extremely pitiful.

"Your Majesty, please don't blame Brother Qinglan. He was just too worried about me. It's all my fault. If you must punish someone, then punish me."

"Ning'er, you don't understand." Xie Qinglan lowered her voice, her tone filled with anxiety and exhaustion, "Xiao Jingyuan isn't a good person. He—"

"His Majesty is naturally the best person." Pei Yuning interrupted him, her voice soft but resolute. She smiled through her tears, and the tenderness and certainty in that smile made Xie Qinglan's words catch in his throat.

Xiao Jingyuan stood still, the tip of his knife pointing towards the ground.

He saw Xie Qinglan holding Pei Yuning protectively in his arms—one hand around her shoulder, the other around her waist, and his face, which had never shown him any tenderness, was now full of heartache and anxiety.

Xiao Jingyuan felt something twisting violently inside his chest.

Jealousy instantly overwhelmed his reason.

"Guards!" His voice was as cold as ice. "Take Consort Ning back to the palace for treatment."

Two shadow guards appeared silently beside Xie Qinglan.

Xie Qinglan instinctively tried to protect Pei Yuning even more, but Xiao Jingyuan had already stepped forward, grabbed his wrist, and pulled his hand away from Pei Yuning.

He used tremendous force, his five fingers gripping Xie Qinglan's slender wrist as if he wanted to crush it.

"Don't touch her—" Xie Qinglan's voice wasn't loud, but it was cold.

Xiao Jingyuan ignored him.

He pulled Pei Yuning out of Xie Qinglan's arms and handed her to the shadow guard.

"Take him back to the palace and let the imperial physicians treat him properly."

The shadow guard accepted the order and disappeared instantly at the end of the long street.

Then Xiao Jingyuan turned around and looked at Xie Qinglan. Xie Qinglan's wrist was held by him, but there was no fear on her face, only cold stubbornness and undisguised disgust.

"Xiao Jingyuan, let me go now, and I can forgive you—"

He hadn't finished speaking.

Because Xiao Jingyuan suddenly bent down, put one hand under his knees and the other hand around his back, and lifted him up horizontally.

In front of the entire Imperial Guards and the entire Nanyue delegation, he disregarded Xie Qinglan's punches and kicks, mounted his horse, and held him firmly in his arms.

"Return to the palace." His voice regained its imperial indifference, but if you listened carefully, you could hear a barely suppressed tremor beneath it. "Issue my decree: no member of the Nanyue wedding delegation is allowed to leave the capital without authorization. Anyone who disobeys will be executed."