AYM Chapter 105

Yan Yihuan had always known that he was not someone with much courage or resolve. Ever since he was young, there had always been someone standing before him, shielding him from every danger and sheltering him beneath their protection.

The corpses on the ground had already begun to pile up, and the torches that had once been far away now wound closer like a slithering snake. In mere moments, it would reach them. If they waited until then, Han Zhen truly would not be able to leave.

Yan Yihuan’s gaze remained fixed upon the man who had come here for his sake, now covered in wounds and drenched in blood from the fierce battle. Although he could not stop his body from trembling, he still pushed himself to his feet with the support of the tree trunk.

“Brother Han, you must leave, Li Xuanjing really won’t…” Remembering everything Li Xuanjing had done, his confidence faltered, yet he still said firmly, “He would never kill me.”

Han Zhen retreated a few steps, drawing closer to Yan Yihuan. Although his breathing was labored, his deep voice remained as reassuring as a gentle breeze.

“His Majesty had intended to rescue you before taking action. Now, it can only begin ahead of schedule.”

His Majesty…?!

Although the words had been spoken softly enough for only Yan Yihuan to hear, they struck him like a thunderclap, leaving him frozen where he stood. Yet there was no time to think. More and more soldiers surrounded them, and even though they knew Han Zhen was formidable, their patience was wearing thin as their overwhelming numbers emboldened them. The encirclement was visibly tightening.

At that moment, the rapid sound of hoofbeats rang out. Tang Tong came galloping toward them on horseback and shouted urgently,

“Stop!”

The soldiers who had been poised to strike all turned their heads. Pointing at Yan Yihuan behind Han Zhen, Tang Tong continued, “His Highness the Heir will arrive at any moment. This person is an important hostage. He must not be harmed.”

Li Xuanjing rode astride a magnificent steed. Although the situation had arisen so suddenly that he had not had time to don his armor, he was still imposing and arrogant beyond compare.

Especially after recognizing that the intruder was Han Zhen, his eyes filled with mockery.

“Has Li Xuanming gone mad from illness? He actually dared to send you here alone to rescue him. Do you think the soldiers of my Qin residence are nothing but useless fools?”

As he spoke, Li Xuanjing’s fierce gaze fell upon Yan Yihuan, who had been hiding behind Han Zhen all this time. His low, measured voice carried an unmistakable threat that made one’s skin crawl.

“Yihuan, come here.”

Yan Yihuan’s heart tightened. He was both frightened and flustered. He knew that the moment he stepped even half a pace away from Han Zhen, a volley of arrows would be unleashed. No matter how capable Han Zhen was, not even having three heads and six arms could save his life then.

Gritting his teeth, not only did he refuse to obey Li Xuanjing, he even ignored Han Zhen’s attempt to stop him and stepped in front of him. Without saying a word, his eyes revealed a fierce resolve for the first time.

Seeing this, Li Xuanjing’s expression instantly darkened. The hand gripping his reins so tightly spoke of patience that was nearing its limit. In one-on-one combat, no one here was Han Zhen’s match, but no matter how formidable he was, he was still only one man. But…

“Yan Yihuan!”

Han Zhen saw more than anger and forcefulness in Li Xuanjing’s eyes. There was also a trace of reckless determination. What was he planning? Had he truly ceased to care whether Yan Yihuan lived or died?

“Are you relying on the fact that I won’t kill you?” Li Xuanjing smiled grimly. “I won’t kill you, but as long as you don’t die, that’s enough, isn’t it?”

The moment those words left his mouth, Han Zhen’s eyes widened. He immediately pulled Yan Yihuan behind him. The veins on the hand gripping his sword hilt stood out sharply as he watched Li Xuanjing raise his hand, preparing to order the archers to fire.

At that critical moment, scattered points of firelight appeared beyond the hill beside the camp. The lights grew denser and drew nearer at astonishing speed, flowing like a river of flame until they rapidly reached the outer perimeter of Li Xuanjing’s military camp.

A sneer curled at Li Xuanjing’s lips. “So these are the men you summoned with your signal?”

Han Zhen said nothing, but Yan Yihuan, whom he had pulled behind him, could clearly feel the subtle relaxation in his shoulders.

“Han Zhen, you know better than I do how many troops are left in the capital. This pathetic garrison thinks they can surround me? They are not even enough to fill the gaps between the teeth of my Qin army.”

In the blink of an eye, the soldiers surrounded them. Although Li Xuanjing was disdainful, his eyes remained fixed on the man leading them. He thought to himself that, besides Du Yunsong, who else in the capital could command troops now?

As the group drew nearer, Li Xuanjing’s eyes suddenly lit up with delight. It really was Du Yunsong. Before the joy could fade from his face, however, the figure who rode forward immediately behind him left him frozen in place.

The man seated atop the magnificent warhorse, clad in gleaming armor, was none other than Li Xuanming!

For a moment, not only was Li Xuanjing dumbstruck, but Yan Yihuan had to bite down painfully on his tongue to stop himself from crying out in surprise. From that moment on, he could no longer tear his eyes away from that figure.

So his grave illness had indeed been nothing more than a deception.

Having come this far, Li Xuanjing naturally had no intention of maintaining any pretense of respect between ruler and subject. When he looked at Li Xuanming, his eyes held contempt, disdain, and, above all, the confidence of a man who believed himself invincible.

This royal prince who had grown up within the deep palace truly knew nothing of military strategy or how to employ men.

He had failed to realize that Du Yunsong had long since betrayed him and yet had even appointed him commander-in-chief. And now, having brought only a small contingent of the capital’s garrison troops, he dared to charge headlong into an army of thousands. It was utterly laughable.

Yet what infuriated Li Xuanjing even more was that, in the briefest moment, Li Xuanming merely cast him a casual glance before his gaze traveled across the distance to meet Yan Yihuan’s. Although he did not speak a single word, the tenderness in his eyes was left entirely undisguised. It was as though neither Li Xuanjing nor the formidable army behind him was worthy of any notice.

“Li Xuanming!” Li Xuanjing grew even more furious, barely suppressing the rage threatening to erupt. “I had intended for you to meet your demise in the palace. Who would have thought you’d deliver yourself to my doorstep instead?”

It was as though he had only just noticed that Li Xuanjing was there. Only after hearing him speak did Li Xuanming withdraw his reassuring gaze, the faint curve of mockery still lingering at the corners of his lips, “And how do you know that the one delivering himself to the doorstep isn’t you?”

His confidence only made Li Xuanjing laugh. Although he could hardly wait to see the look on Li Xuanming’s face when Du Yunsong betrayed him, before that, he wanted even more to sever the irritating bond between him and Yan Yihuan.

“Hah. A man betrayed and abandoned by all still dares to be so arrogant.” Li Xuanjing pointed the tip of his sword directly at Yan Yihuan and sneered. “That deployment map was eagerly delivered to me by the one who warms your bed.”

Li Xuanjing, that despicable scoundrel!

Hearing those words, Yan Yihuan wanted nothing more than to beat Li Xuanjing senseless. Although his life now hung by a thread, for some reason, the thing that terrified him most was not death itself but the possibility that His Majesty might misunderstand him.

There were many things he could endure in silence, but not this.

“What is a mere defense map?”

Before Yan Yihuan could speak, Li Xuanming raised his chin ever so slightly. Although hopelessly outnumbered and facing countless drawn swords, he remained lofty and composed as he said calmly, “Even if he handed this entire empire over to you, Zhen would not care. Zhen could take it back all the same.”

The words were spoken lightly, yet they struck with the force of thunder. Even the soldiers standing behind Li Xuanjing felt their hearts tremble and could not help but be filled with awe.

But to Yan Yihuan, it was as though he had been struck by lightning. Between the lines, it sounded unmistakably as if Li Xuanming had already accepted that he had betrayed him.

“Your Majesty!” Yan Yihuan could no longer hold himself back. Even if he were to descend into the underworld today, he could not bear such a charge upon his name.

Seeing that Yan Yihuan was truly distressed, Li Xuanming turned his gaze toward him. There was not the slightest attempt to conceal the affection in his eyes as he looked straight at him and said, word by word,

“However, Zhen know that he has never betrayed Zhen.”