Ji Wushang silently prayed as he ventured deeper into the palace.
How lucky! There isn't a single maid here! Ji Wushang cautiously took the gold hairpin he had removed from his hair, proceeding with great care.
She didn't know how many corridors she had walked through, but with each step she took, she felt the chill in the air increase! She could feel her whole body getting cold, and it felt like she was about to freeze into an icicle!
Ji Wushang rubbed his hands together. Was this really the path? Had he not mistaken it for something else? Ji Wushang wondered to himself, but his steps would not falter!
Just as Ji Wushang felt himself about to turn into an ice pillar, he finally heard some sounds not far away! The sounds meant there were people! Did that mean he had really found the place where Yi Yun Muchen was being held captive?
Ji Wushang rubbed his hands together, adjusted his breathing, and then walked inside.
"Your Highness, please have some food!" A maid entered a private room, while another maid presented a bowl of light porridge and several delicate dishes.
Yi Yunmu Chen didn't even look up, "Take it out!"
"Please, Your Highness, have some food! Your unborn child needs to eat, Your Highness, please have some!" the maid pleaded. "If you don't eat, the King will surely come and force you to eat."
Yi Yun Muchen's eyes were deep. She recalled the last time, but ever since she saw Bei Gong Jue Shi on the night of June 15th, she had decided that she must break ties with Yi Yun Shang Cheng to the very end! He was no longer her brother!
Bei Gong Jueshi didn't even recognize himself at that moment. He just stood there when he came in, letting her hug him and cry, but he remained completely unmoved! In the end, she was forcibly pulled away by the maid, and he walked out like a wooden robot!
How could I possibly bear this!
"I want to see Yiyun Shangcheng! Go, bring him to me! If he doesn't come, I won't eat a single meal!" Yiyun Muchen said coldly. Her back was to the maid, her hand stroking her swollen belly, thinking, "Child, it's not that I truly want to starve you, please bear with it... Don't kick me, my child, I will take good care of you, be good..."
"We have already informed the King. He is very busy. Please have your meal first, Your Highness, and wait a bit," the maid said, hoping that Yiyun Muchen could have a meal.
Listening to their conversation, Ji Wushang closed his eyes. "I'm sorry! I'm going to kill again! Am I really going to become a serial killer?" Ji Wushang took another deep breath and slowly approached.
Looking around, there were probably three maids. One maid was talking to Yiyun Muchen, and the other two were carrying food.
But they were all in another room, and I had to go around to find the door before I could go in and deal with them!
Ji Wushang immediately bent down and quickly walked over, touching the entrance to the room before hiding inside. What he saw was a maid still trying to persuade Yiyun Muchen.
Perhaps because she felt so annoyed and angry, Yi Yun Muchen turned around and glared at them, "Are you ever going to stop? I said I won't eat!" But when she saw Ji Wushang gradually approaching from behind the maids, Yi Yun Muchen was surprised.
The maids, assuming that Yi Yun Shangcheng had arrived from behind, all turned around to bow to her. But at that moment, Ji Wushang swiftly stepped forward and thrust a golden hairpin deep into the back of their necks! Meanwhile, Ji Wushang kicked another maid in the chest!
Yi Yun Muchen quickly stepped forward and shoved the remaining maid to the ground! She then grabbed a teapot and smashed it over the maid's head!
Instantly, all three corpses collapsed to the ground! Blood flowed from their heads or mouths.
Ji Wushang stared at Yiyun Muchen in astonishment, "Princess Muchen..."
Yi Yun Muchen glanced at the corpse on the ground and gasped. She looked at Ji Wushang and was surprised that she had been so ruthless and accurate!
But none of that matters now. They're all dead; all we can do is offer them a final prayer for their souls.
Yi Yun Muchen composed herself. "You actually came. What about him?" Of course, she was referring to Bei Gong Jue Shi!
However, Yi Yunmu Chen also realized that Nan Xu Cong must have accompanied Ji Wushang!
“Wang Cizi is outside,” Ji Wushang said. “Let’s hurry out! They’re still waiting for us outside.”
"Okay!" Yi Yunmu Chen nodded at her. "Thank you, Fourth Imperial Consort." That should be how she should address her, right?
"Just call me Wu Shang." Ji Wu Shang smiled. The thick smell of blood here was making him feel uneasy. He had to get her away from here as soon as possible!
Yi Yunmu Chen remained silent, and Ji Wushang helped her walk outside immediately.
But the thought of walking through a very cold road, and what if Yi Yun Muchen caught a chill...
"Do you have any thicker clothes?" Ji Wushang asked immediately.
"What's wrong?" Yi Yunmu Chen looked at her, then glanced around.
I woke up here and haven't gone outside. I don't feel hot or cold, so I definitely don't have any thick clothes. But the blanket should still be usable, right? "The only thing that's a little thick is the blanket."
Ji Wushang looked at her and hummed in agreement. He immediately went forward and quickly took the brocade quilt from the bed and draped it over Yi Yun Muchen.
Yi Yunmu Chen was somewhat surprised, "Wu Shang... what is this?"
"We'll be going through a rather cold place later. For the baby's sake, please bear with it for now!" Ji Wushang said, immediately helping her out.
"Then you...?" Yi Yunmu Chen looked at her.
"I'm fine, I've always been quite resistant to the cold!" Ji Wushang said, immediately walking outside. "Shh, don't talk now." He didn't know if anyone would notice Yi Yun Muchen had disappeared and come looking for him, so it was better to be safe!
Yi Yunmu nodded silently.
The two walked out cautiously, but Ji Wushang knew that they would inevitably run into Yiyun Shangcheng and Nan Xuzong and the others... If Nan Xuzong could lure them away, things would be different!
However, Yi Yun Muchen has another task: to take Bei Gong Jue Shi away!
Ji Wushang looked at Yi Yunmu Chen and noticed that her belly was quite protruding. He then whispered in her ear, "Mu Chen, how many months pregnant are you?"
"It's been about seven or eight months!" Yi Yun Muchen wasn't sure how long he had been locked up here; he really didn't know.
"What time is it today?" Yi Yun Muchen looked at Ji Wushang and indeed felt a chill under her feet, which gradually grew cold.
"Today is June 16th." Ji Wushang looked at her. "No, it's June 17th!" He had been so busy that he forgot. Ji Wushang felt a little cold, so he stamped his feet and quickly led Yi Yun Muchen away.
Yi Yunmu nodded, "Then it's probably not seven or eight months, but... the due date is approaching."
Ji Wushang was immediately startled. If he were to take her around like this, wouldn't it be easy for her to suffer and then give birth to the child?
Yi Yun Muchen looked at her, knowing that she must have been thinking about that, and immediately said, "Don't worry, it won't be that fast. I haven't felt any pain during this time. I heard from the old palace maids in the palace that there are some signs a few days before childbirth. I think I can at least hold on for a while now."
Ji Wushang nodded as he listened, realizing he seemed to have heard similar things before. However, he was a little frustrated because he had never read any medical texts about pregnancy, and Nan Xuzong hadn't taught him anything... Otherwise, he could definitely help check on Yi Yun Muchen's pregnancy progress.
"Better safe than sorry!" Ji Wushang thought to himself as he helped Yi Yunmu Chen walk outside.
Nan Xuzong felt utterly overwhelmed by the attacks from so many people! He had been struck several times and was now exhausted and in pain, but he was determined to hold on until his last breath, to help Ji Wushang and Yiyun Muchen escape from here! All his hopes rested on them! He wondered how they were doing!
Yi Yun Shangcheng's martial arts skills are extremely formidable. If he hadn't been genuinely injured and hadn't not fully recovered, and if the insect poison hadn't merely alleviated his internal injuries and aided his recovery... Nan Xu Cong would likely have been even more unable to withstand him! But at this moment, Yi Yun Shangcheng and Bei Gong Jue Shi, working together, had already forced Nan Xu Cong into a retreat!
Nan Xuzong looked thoughtfully at the people in front of them.
Since Elder Shui was dead and Elder Mu was seriously injured, the other five elders were not a threat. However, he knew that if things continued like this, he would surely be killed by the two of them!
Nan Xuzong supported himself as he looked at Beigong Jueshi, "Jueshi, is this how you choose to aid and abet evil?"
At this moment, Bei Gong Jue Shi's eyes were unfocused, and he remained expressionless as he listened to Nan Xu Cong's shouts.
Nan Xuzong took a deep breath, gripping his longsword tightly. He weighed the situation; if the two women came out and passed by, he would need to provide cover. However, he was currently outnumbered, and if he lured them away… he might forever separate Yiyun Muchen and Beigong Jueshi… Would it be right for him to do that? Yiyun Muchen was carrying Beigong Jueshi's child; if Beigong Jueshi remained under Yiyun Shangcheng's control, he would eventually lose his life!
When Yi Yunmu Chen gives birth, the child will be fatherless… Thinking of this, Nan Xuzong hesitated. Compared to himself, if he were to die, leaving Ji Wushang alone, or if she had a child without a father… He dared not think further. His only goal now was to survive, to hold on and live! Whether it was the future duel or this fierce battle, he would not give up on his life!
Nan Xuzong's eyes darkened. Let them meet... and let Yiyun Muchen choose for himself!
Yiyun Shangcheng stepped forward and looked at Nan Xuzong. "You are seriously injured." His smile was so glaring and full of sarcasm!
“But that doesn’t stop me from killing you!” Nan Xuzong’s tone was just as cold. His thin lips curled up, and he still stood there with an air of elegance.
With his peerless sword in hand, Bei Gong Jue Shi was ready to strike at any moment. His face showed no sign of fatigue. Nan Xu Cong had avoided his attacks as much as possible, so Bei Gong Jue Shi remained completely unscathed!
Yiyun Shangcheng sneered, "Hmph, you're really stubborn! I'm very happy to have you as an opponent, but I won't show any mercy!" He smiled coldly and waved his hand, ordering Beigong Jueshi to go and kill Nan Xuzong.
Nan Xuzong dodged Beigong Jueshi's attack, and instead thrust his longsword at Yiyun Shangcheng. Yiyun Shangcheng naturally wouldn't let Nan Xuzong off easily. He dodged Nan Xuzong's fatal attack and, together with Beigong Jueshi, killed him with his longsword.
Ji Wushang and Yi Yun Muchen carefully walked out of the corridor. Ji Wushang was shivering from the cold, but he still covered Yi Yun Muchen's body with the brocade quilt to keep her from getting cold.
Yi Yun and Muchen looked at her with immense gratitude. Finally reaching the end, they could hear the sounds of fighting outside. Ji Wushang thought for a moment and said, "Muchen, wait for me here. I'll go check it out!"
“Okay. Go back quickly.” Yi Yunmu Chen nodded.
Ji Wushang went forward to see him and saw that Nan Xuzong was exhausted. His black robe was torn in several places and stained with blood. Seeing him like this, Ji Wushang felt heartbroken.
"Cong..." She bit her finger, wishing she could rush forward and fight alongside Nan Xu Cong, but now... if she went forward, she would be in grave danger. Ji Wushang, tears welling in his eyes, immediately turned and strode to Yi Yun Muchen's side.
The priority now is to leave this place as soon as possible, and then create an opportunity for Nan Xuzong to leave as well!
Seeing Ji Wushang's face filled with sorrow and tears welling up, Yi Yun Muchen stepped forward and asked, "Wushang, what's wrong?"
"It's alright, let's go quickly." Ji Wushang grabbed her hand and immediately headed outside.
Just then, Bei Gong Jue Shi broke through Nan Xu Cong's defenses, while Nan Xu Cong was entangled with Yi Yun Shang Cheng, thus unintentionally exposing his back to Bei Gong Jue Shi! Bei Gong Jue Shi's eyes turned cold, and the long sword in his hand changed its move, viciously stabbing towards Nan Xu Cong's back!
Ji Wushang rushed out and witnessed this scene, turning deathly pale with fright. "No!"
A fierce glint flashed in Nan Xuzong's eyes. He lowered himself to the ground, pressing his body against the earth!
Yi Yun Muchen was shocked to see Bei Gong Jueshi trying to kill Nan Xuzong. "Jueshi!"
Upon hearing such a shout, Bei Gong Jue Shi was stunned for a moment and did not make a move. Seeing this, Nan Xu Cong immediately flew up, dodged Bei Gong Jue Shi's longsword, and turned to a more open space!
Life and death are but a moment apart!
Yi Yun Shangcheng looked at Ji Wushang and Yi Yun Muchen in surprise, "Wushang, Muchen?"
Ji Wushang felt a surge of pain in his heart. He bit his lip and pulled Yi Yun Muchen to Nan Xuzong's side.
She rushed to Nan Xuzong's side, looking at him in a panic, "Zong, how are you?" Her bright eyes were filled with tears, and her hands trembled so much that she didn't know what to do with them. Looking at the wounds on his body, her heart ached more and more!
How could he possibly withstand an attack from so many people all by himself? And they were all so powerful!
"I'm fine." Nan Xuzong smiled. It was so good to see her; he had made it through everything!
“But you, you’ve lost so much blood…” Ji Wushang immediately tried to find medicine on her body, but Nan Xuzong had already taken her hand. “No need. Remember my words, take Princess Muchen away. Also, Jueshi can still be saved. Let Muchen wake him up!” Nan Xuzong looked at Yiyun Muchen.
Yi Yunmu Chen felt that he had let down the two people in front of him.
She was rescued by Ji Wushang and Nan Xuzong, but her husband and brother wanted to kill Nan Xuzong! How could she face them?
Seeing the guilt on her face, Ji Wushang stepped forward and said, "Mu Chen, I hope you can take Wang Cizi away. Go back to Wudang Mountain! There, the Taoist Taibai will calm his heart, and your child will be safe. Your brother won't come up the mountain to cause you trouble."
"Really? Wudang Mountain?" Yi Yun Muchen looked at Ji Wushang.
“Yes.” Ji Wushang turned to look at Nan Xuzong, then at Beigong Jueshi and Yiyun Shangcheng standing there. “The second son of the king has not completely lost his heart. Although he is controlled by your brother because of his demonic nature, as long as you have confidence, you will definitely be able to awaken him.”
"Mm." Yi Yunmu Chen nodded; she had never given up on him!
Her gaze fell upon Bei Gong Jue Shi, whose sleeve was empty while his other hand gripped a bloodstained longsword, filling Yi Yun Muchen with bitterness.
Nan Xuzong glanced at Ji Wushang and nodded.
Just then, a person walked in from outside, saying, "Such a good show, how could I, Your Highness, be left out?"
"Third Imperial Brother!" Nan Xuzong's heart brightened instantly. With Huangfu Xuan here, they could naturally join forces to deal with Yiyun Shangcheng and the five elders! As for Beigong Jueshi, he could be handed over to Yiyun Muchen!
Huangfu Xuan's lips curled into a wicked smile as he looked at them, his expression cold. "So the second son of the Prince of Zhenbei is here too!"
"Don't hurt him!" Yi Yun Muchen immediately spread her arms to block Huangfu Xuan. She didn't know who he was, but when Nan Xuzong said that he was the third prince, he was a powerful figure in the Great Xia Zhou Dynasty. But she just didn't want them to hurt Bei Gong Jue Shi!
Huangfu Xuan's lips curled up as his gaze fell on Yi Yun Muchen. Her face bore a resemblance to Yi Yun Shangcheng's, with delicate features and a high nose bridge. She was indeed a beautiful princess. This must be Princess Muchen, Bei Gong Jue Shi's first wife, and she was currently pregnant... several months along.
Ji Wushang stepped forward and pulled Yi Yunmu Chen, "Mu Chen, the Third Prince will definitely not harm the Second Prince."