The sky was boundless and silent. Moonlight sprinkled a silver glow like a silver qilin's faintly clear and cold radiance. The night breeze blew past, the feeling cold as snow when it brushed one's skin under a thin garment.
Sultan Gu carried the shivering Yaoying, his athletic figure flickering through the dark shadows of the grand palace. The leopard followed behind them, its leaping motions lithe and graceful.
Gradually, the clamor of people could be heard. With a whoosh, several sharp arrows broke through the air, the cold piercing sound coming within reach.
Tension rose in Yaoying's heart. Her fingers couldn't help but clench Sultan Gu's robe.
He wordlessly shielded her in his arms, raising his sword through the air to cut through the chaos of incoming arrows. He dropped from the courtyard wall and landed next to a thicket of desert jujubes.
In the adjourning courtyard separated by the wall, someone shouted at the people who fired the arrows: "We see him! That's the Regent!"
The guards who were firing arrows jolted in fear, and there was immediate chaos and shouting.
The solid arm around her shoulder was withdrawn. Yaoying was released, her bare feet landing on the cold ground, a slight chill seeping up her body.
There was a suppressed muffled grunt behind her.
Yaoying's eyes flew open and she looked back.
Sultan Gu covered his chest and took a step back, his robe brushing through the branches of the desert jujube tree, the shaken silver-white petals floating down.
"You're injured?"
Yaoying was shocked and reached out to help Sultan Gu. Just now, when he had held her while confronting Haidu Aling, a concealed blade flew out of Haidu Aling's sleeve. In fear that she would be hit by the short knife, his body suddenly turned to avoid the blow. It was then that he may have suffered internal injuries.
Sultan Gu staggered slightly.
Yaoying stepped forward and held his arm. Thinking he might not understand the Chinese words she had spoken in the heat of the moment, she asked again in Hu: "Are you injured?"
Sultan Gu steadied himself, lifted his eyes, and gave her a faint glance. His scarred face was ugly and sinister. The pupils of his deep blue unfeeling eyes looked like the vast and brilliant starry sky: cold and apathetic, without sorrow or joy.
Yaoying suddenly felt that in front of him stood not a person, but a cold and imposing blade.
An emotionless and desireless knife, born for killing.
Their two eyes met.
Yaoying frowned up at Sultan Gu, without the slightest bit of fear or disgust on her face, only sincere concern and gratitude. The moonlight fell into her clear, slender eyes. There was a sparkle in her eyes, the autumn water brimming, gentle and charming.
Sultan Gu's eyes were still and silent, without ripples.
After staring at each other for a moment, Yaoying continued to ask softly, "General Su, where are you injured?"
The sound of footsteps came like rain from the courtyard gate. Ashina Bisha, dressed in military armor, rushed over with the guards and surged into the courtyard.
The guards saw the arrows on the ground, and then looked at Sultan Gu's fierce face. They looked at each other in horror, cowering and not daring to go forward.
Bisha stepped over the ground littered with arrows, running forward with anxiousness. His eyes fell on Yaoying holding Sultan Gu's hand, and he frowned.
"The palace guards did not fulfill their duty, making the princess frightened." He smiled at Yaoying and gestured to two guards, "Send the princess back to rest."
Yaoying took a glance around.
The long corridor was densely filled with guards, all of whom were fully armed. There were seven or eight of them alone carrying longbows-Tumoroga did not usually live in the palace, and so the palace was not this tightly guarded. These people had obviously been prepared to meet the enemy.
Bisha knew that Haidu Aling would break into the palace. That was why he brought so many people over to save her.
While in thought, Yaoying saw that Sultan Gu could stand firm. She said, "Many thanks to General Su."
Sultan Gu did not make a sound. No expression could be seen on his terrifying face.
Yaoying withdrew her hand and turned to leave.
"Princess, wait!"
Bisha caught up and looked down at Yaoying.
Yaoying was woken up in the middle of the night, so she did not wear an outer robe. Her inner robe, made from material brought from the Central Plains, was thin as cicada wings, light and sheer. The moonlight softly shone down, making her delicate body faintly discernible; her slim waist visible through the flimsy fabric. Her collar was pulled wide open from the struggle just now, exposing her fair, pale shoulder, more smooth and soft than sheep's fat jade. A faint, delicate fragrance lingered.
The guards in the courtyard eyes darted around, all covertly looking at her.
Bisha looked at Yaoying's snow-white shoulders, and his eyebrows furrowed even more.
When she realized her state of dress and readjusted her robe, she gave a smile, moving naturally and without coyness. She had jumped off the bed barefoot and hid. Her reaction had been already fast, but unfortunately, she was still cornered by Haidu Aling. He regarded her as prey and had already figured out her escape habits.
Bisha originally thought Yaoying would show shyness or distress in this embarrassment, or be scared to tears. He didn't expect she would smile, his eyes exposing flabbergastment.
"Princess, you are shivering."
He untied the white robe on his body and wrapped it around Yaoying. Holding her shoulders, he said softly, "Princess need not be afraid. I will keep watch here all night."
The guards stared at him with their jaws dropped: the general was really romantic and elegant! He did not neglect to offer his affection in such a situation!
Yaoying was shivering from the cold and didn't bother to be polite with Bisha. She tightened the coat around her and said, "Many thanks."
Bisha watched her walk away with gentle eyes. When her graceful back disappeared through the courtyard door, he turned to look at Sultan Gu, the corners of his mouth lightly curled.
"Regent, thank you so much for saving Princess Wenzhao. I was really afraid that she had been taken by Haidu Aling just now."
As if he was very scared, he patted his chest and said aloud.
Sultan Gu did not say anything. Returning his sword into its sheath, he raised his head to sweep a glance around the courtyard.
The people were frightened by his line of sight and knelt down, trembling.
Bisha also knelt down on one knee and said respectfully, "Regent, two committed suicide, we captured eight people, killed five, and did not let any of them get away!"
He led his team to lay in wait near Li Yaoying's residence and rushed over when he heard the noise.
Sultan Gu nodded. The hem of his dark grey robe swept past before everyone's eyes. His tall, upright figure walked into the long corridor and blended into the darkness of the night.
The leopard followed, its tail wagging.
A short while later, the sound of footsteps disappeared.
Like a ghost, he came and went without a trace.
The few guards who had fired arrows at Sultan Gu in the panic just now looked at each other, shaking all over: "Is the Regent angry? We will not be punished, right?"
They really did not mean to do so! Seeing a figure holding the princess, they thought it was Haidu Aling! Who could have imagined that the elusive Regent would suddenly appear in the flesh?
The Regent was going to chop off their heads!
Bisha stood up and kicked the guards: "Be more alert next time! What if the Regent was hurt by mistake? All of you go to the Hall of Punishment and receive ten hits each!"
The people did not dare to beg for mercy and kowtowed in acceptance. It was better to receive ten hits than to lose their heads!
The guards asked Bisha: "General, who will be sent to the Buddhist temple to report to the king?"
It was the king who told them to be on guard. Now that they had captured some people, they should first report to the king.
Bisha shook his head: "No need to send anyone to the Buddhist temple... The Regent will report to the king himself."