The person who had kidnapped Murong Zhining obviously came prepared; behind him were several men riding horses, who stalled Chiyun Yuexuan and Tuoba Zhi to prevent them giving chase.

Chiyun Yuexuan’s halberd was repeatedly dodged several times, with the opponent sliding down underneath the horse’s stomach. They seemed to have no intention of fighting him and only engaged him to slow down his pace.

Still, Chiyun Yuexuan was getting closer and closer to the captor. Suddenly, Flash knelt down on its front legs, flinging him off. Chiyun Yuexuan rolled as he landed and immediately was back on his feet, wanting to continue his pursuit.

Tuoba Lan, whose horse also got tripped by a rope trap and threw him off, reached out his hand to Chiyun Yuexuan. “Don’t chase, General Chiyun. Princess’ life isn’t in danger. The other man… just wants to force Princess to marry him…”

Chiyun Yuexuan pulled Tuoba Zhi up from the ground. “Who? Who took Princess?!” His hands balled into tight fists and his eyes blazed with fury.

Tuoba Zhi answered, “Wuli’s Fourth Prince. His proposal was turned down by Princess. Last time, he even took Lan’er in order to threaten Princess.”

Chiyun Yuexuan grew even more anxious at that bit of news. “That’s all the more dangerous. If he ruins her dignity, how’s that any different from killing her?! Hurry and take me to his place!” His voice was frighteningly cold.

……

Gao Chenghao came out to his estate’s gate and greeted them, “What wind blows you here, Brother Tuoba? How come hasn’t Princess come along with you?” He then turned to face Chiyun Yuexuan. “And this gentleman is?”

Tuoba Zhi said, “He’s a friend of mine. Fourth Prince, you sent men to capture Princess. What’s your purpose in doing so?”

Gao Chenghao’s expression quickly turned to one of contempt. “Mister Tuoba, Princess must have been kidnapped right in front of your eyes, was it? If you come to me for trouble every time she gets taken away, what am I to do then? Please don’t waste your time here, hurry and go look elsewhere. I will send people to search as well; after all, Princess is still my fiance.”

Upon hearing that, the halberd in Chiyun Yuexuan’s hand loudly thumped on the ground. Gao Chenghao could feel his anger. He glanced over asked, “This gentleman possesses extraordinary bearing. What’s your name if I may ask?”

Chiyun Yuexuan coldly replied, “I am Chiyun Yuexuan of Huayan, and Princess is my friend. Whoever dares to offend her, I will make him and his country pay a huge price!”

Those words made quite an impact. Gao Chenghao cupped his fists. “So General is the legendary Darkface Halberd Fiend. It’s an honor to meet you. Your mighty reputation has already spread far and wide. I’ll gladly cooperate with you to find Princess.”

At this moment, a carrier pigeon hovered downward in the air. Tuoba Zhi grabbed it and took off the message. After a glance, he pulled Chiyun Yuexuan to leave.

The two went back to the farm where Tuoba Lan was waiting anxiously. “Don’t worry, General Chiyun. Fortunately, my brother still has a trick or two in reserve. After my kidnapping last time, he has sent people to keep watch on Gao Chenghao. We found another residence of his in the western suburbs. Just now, a spy of my brother reported that Big Sis was taken there by a man dressed in all black.”

Tuoba Zhi shot her a glare. “If Princess didn’t get kidnapped by Gao Chenghao today, she would still have been taken away by General Chiyun, is that right?”

Chiyun Yuexuan cupped his fists. “It was I who forced Lan’er to cooperate, you shouldn’t blame her. I must take Princess away with me.”

Tuoba Zhi looked very sad at that. “What if Princess doesn’t want to?”

Chiyun Yuexuan’s eyes dimmed. “I will never let her out of my grasp again, no matter what.”

Tuoba Zhi coldly said, “If Princess is unwilling, I definitely won’t let you take her away.”

Chiyun Yuexuan sneered, “With just you? You think you can stop me?”

Tuoba Lan hastily cut in, “Bro, just let General take Big Sis with him. Their fate hasn’t yet ended.”

Tuoba Zhi took out a hand drawn map. “First, let us save Princess, then we’ll talk about it.” He decisively proposed a plan, “I will send a person to keep a close watch on Gao Chenghao’s residence. As long as he doesn’t leave the northern estate, Princess won’t be in any danger temporarily. After dark, General Chiyun and I will take some people to the western estate and rescue Princess.”

After the man in black took Murong Zhining to the estate in the western suburbs, she was thrown into a room. From time to time, a few women dressed gorgeously and seductively would come in to comment on her from head to toe.

The concubine named Yin Shu walked up to her. “You’re the Shangxia princess that stole His Highness’ soul? Mmm, not too shabby. Tonight, you must be obedient and serve Him, understand? Someone come, serve Princess a bath and help her change into new clothes. His Highness wants to favor her tonight.”

Several concubines stripped off Murong Zhining clothes and pushed her into the huge bathtub full of flower petals. They also took off their clothes and jumped into the tub, playing around with each other.

After bathing, Murong Zhining was taken to a luxury sleeping chamber with a big, round bed. The bed was covered in soft white furs and had layers of pink gauze curtains hung around it.

Gao Chenghao’s concubine troops pressed Murong Zhining to sit down at the makeup table. They then painted her brows, drew a flower pattern, and generally freshened her up until she couldn’t be any more beautiful and noble.

Murong Zhining pleaded, “We’re all women, why must we make it hard on each other? Please let me go.”

Yin Shu laughed derisively. “After our prince is done with you, you won’t want to leave even if you’re chased away. Our prince is young and handsome, and he’s very likely to become the next king of Wuli. You aren’t losing out by following him.”

Chiyun Yuexuan, clad in a night-walking outfit, was hiding on the roof of Gao Chenghao’s western estate. He moved a tile and watched everything that happened in the room. Since it was only just getting dark, he didn’t dare to act rashly.

After dressing up Murong Zhining, the women all left, one after another. Murong Zhining rushed after them, only to find out that the door had been locked from the outside.

Just as Chiyun Yuexuan was observing the situation inside the compound, a commotion arose outside.

Dressed in a crimson, cloud-patterned brocade robe, Gao Chenghao jumped off his horse in high spirits. His concubines all flocked over and obsequiously welcomed him home.

Yin Shu pulled on Gao Chenghao’s hand. “I have arranged for Princess to stay in your sleeping chamber. I was afraid that she wouldn’t listen, so I fed her a medicine that will make her obedient. Please take your time and enjoy yourself, Your Highness.”

Gao Chenghao nodded with a hearty laugh. “Yin Shu has always been the most sensible. I’ll reward you well after I conquer that unruly little princess.”

Hearing this, Chiyun Yuexuan clenched his fists, loathing the fact that he could not butcher this shameless bunch right here and now. After more observation, he had scouted the clear details of this place. Aside from the seven concubines of Gao Chenghao plus the two guards he had brought, there were a total of twelve people here. Chiyun Yuexuan already had a plan on how he should deal with them.

Gao Chenghao couldn’t wait as he entered the sleeping chamber with impatient steps and latched the door. “I’ve already warned you, Princess, but you didn’t listen. You can’t escape my palm.”

Murong Zhining retreated in fright, until Gao Chenghao had her trapped in a corner. In his eyes was the excitement of a hunter seeing his prey in a desperate struggle.

Chiyun Yuexuan’s brows tightly knitted, but he couldn’t afford to act rashly. If he missed the best timing and caused Murong Zhining to be taken away again, rescuing her wouldn’t be so easy next time. Tuoba Zhi even warned him that if Gao Chenghao died, a war would surely be upon Shangxia.

With one hand, Gao Chenghao yanked the drugged Murong Zhining to his chest. “I’ve been thinking of you day and night, but you have been so cruel to reject me over and over. You accepted my flower, but you repeatedly and mercilessly trampled on my infatuation and dignity. Yet, my heart still yearns for you all the same. Tonight, I shall adore every part of you. By then, your imperial father won’t be able to refuse my proposal again.”

Murong Zhining struggled to escape with all her might. “Fourth Prince, you are a person of status, you can’t do such a degrading thing like this!”

Like a beast toying with its prey, Gao Chenghao unhurriedly chased after Murong Zhining. He seemed to be intoxicated by the fear and helplessness she showed upon facing him. “Interesting. I’m used to women throwing themselves at me. A reserved girl like Princess ignites an intense desire to conquer her in me.”

Murong Zhining felt her body get lighter and lighter, until her legs went limp and she slumped to the ground.

Gao Chenghao carried the powerless Murong Zhining to the bed, leaning over her. Like a wild beast, he slowly tore the thin clothes on her body with his teeth.

On the roof, Chiyun Yuexuan clenched his teeth in fury. Unable to bear this any longer, he decided to move ahead of plan. He took out a cloth pack from his chest and unwrapped a needle that had been soaked in anesthetic beforehand. Inserting the needle into a copper tube, he aimed at Gao Chenghao and blew it. The needle with a red tassel tail firmly stuck in Gao Chenghao’s left shoulder.

Gao Chenghao whose mind had nothing but Murong Zhining on it didn’t realize that he had been pricked by a needle. He bent to kiss Murong Zhining’s lips, but she weakly turned her head away to avoid him. The drug was quick to take effect; Gao Chenghao’s body swayed a few times before his head tilted aside and he rolled to collapse next to her on the bed.

Murong Zhining was extremely frightened and stared with her eyes wide open. But her body had been drained of all strength and wouldn’t allow her to get up.

Chiyun Yuexuan snuck to the other rooms and restrained the rest using the same method, then tied them up with ropes. After everything was done, he calmly returned to the sleeping chamber for Murong Zhining. Chiyun Yuexuan threw Gao Chenghao off the bed, tied him up with ropes, and kicked him under the bed.

Murong Zhining’s entire body was feverish and her eyelids were heavy. In her groggy state that produced hallucination, she tried to open her eyes and saw those charming eyes of Chiyun Yuexuan approaching her face with a devilish smile.

She weakly reached out her hands and pressed again Chiyun Yuexuan shoulders, trying to stop him from getting closer.

Chiyun Yuexuan originally intended to carry Murong Zhining out of here, but seeing her so uncooperative, he mischievously grabbed her hands and lifted them over her head, pinning them down tightly on the pillow. Murong Zhining was simply powerless to resist as an unknown restless agitation was running amok in her body.

Murong Zhining breathed out in despair, “Get out! Don’t touch me with your dirty hands.” Contrary to her words, her tone was as light as gnat buzzing and as soft as a pool of spring water.

She could feel Chiyun Yuexuan’s warm breath when his voice floated by her ear, “Very firm attitude, but your body is too honest.”

At first, Chiyun Yuexuan planned to quickly get Murong Zhining away from this dangerous place, but the drug effect unexpectedly acting out put his willpower under an unprecedented trial.

Murong Zhining’s chestnut-gold eyes that had turned misty from the drug were reflecting alluring lightwaves. Like a dangerous vortex, those eyes devoured his rationality bit by bit. Her tender cheeks were rosy and her soft cherry lips half-open, revealing the pink tongue that wandered between her teeth. At the corner of her lips where a hidden dimple resided hung a delicate silver thread of saliva.

Chiyun Yuexuan’s willpower instantly collapsed. He lowered and gently sucked away the silver thread. Slowly, his lips roamed around Murong Zhining’s cheek before finally settling on her lips.

Murong Zhining’s hands that wanted to push him away suddenly disobeyed their master and wrapped around Chiyun Yuexuan’s neck. As he softly bit her lips and sucked on her tongue, “Mmm…” Murong Zhining’s resistance turned into sultry croons.

Chiyun Yuexuan used the last bit of his reason to break away from her, wanting to bring her out of this place.

After all the struggling, Murong Zhining’s clothes had slid off, leaving only a pink embroidered body wrapper on her upper body. Her willow-soft and slender waist was exposed. Her hair bun was loosened and brown silky hairs scattered on the pillow mat. When her smooth and glossy body squirmed lithely on the bed, a pair of jade-like legs peeked out from her silk dress.

The sight was extremely tempting.

Chiyun Yuexuan’s mind spun out of control, his blood boiled and ran wild all over his body. The scene before his eyes was exactly what he had fantasized about countless times in the past – Murong Zhining moving in pleasure under his body.

Unable to extricate himself from drowning in this sweet temptation, he bent down and wildly kissed her.

Murong Zhining’s resistance disappeared little by little. Like a rattan vine, her body wrapped around Chiyun Yuexuan, who went with the flow and completely leaned over, gently enveloping her body under his.

Chiyun Yuexuan’s hands roamed licentiously around her soft body as the last of his willpower burned to ashes. He easily lifted up the silk skirt on her body. At this moment, the scene when he had violated her suddenly flashed in his head. His reason quickly came back.

Chiyun Yuexuan realized that if he hurt her now, he wouldn’t be any different from a despicable beast like Gao Chenghao.

His rationality quickly won out, Chiyun Yuexuan resolutely got off the bed. He took off his black robe and wrapped it around Murong Zhining’s bare upper body, then carried her out of the estate. Outside, Tuoba Zhi, who came just in time to reinforce them, was upset by what he saw.

Flash ran over neighing. Chiyun Yuexuan placed the unconscious Murong Zhining on its back before he mounted himself and let her rest in his embrace.

Tuoba Zhi tightly grabbed Flash’s reins. “Don’t you think it’s wrong to take Princess away when she’s unconscious, General Chiyun? Don’t you know that her father will be very anxious? You only want to act out of your passion, but have you ever considered the consequences? I won’t allow you to leave. We must wait for Princess to wake up. She’ll decide for herself whether to stay or not.”