Chapter 385: The Delayed Decisive Battle (Part Five)

Chapter 385: The Delayed Decisive Battle (Part Five)

The battlefield remained bloodless throughout the day.

Until the winter sun dipped low, and the sound of galloping hooves echoed from the mountains and forests, accompanied by the whistle of a sharp arrow.

The arrow, aimed directly at the captive Yun Murui, tore through the sky with terrifying speed, heading straight for his heart—so sudden, so unexpected.

Just as the arrow was about to pierce Yun Murui's heart...

"Cousin... be careful..."

With a sharp cry, Yao Yeting broke free from the rough lad's grip, lunging forward to shield Yun Murui.

A dull thud echoed as the arrow pierced his chest, blood instantly drenching the arrowhead.

Yao Yeting collapsed to the ground, blood gushing from his mouth.

"Ye... Ting..."

Yun Murui shouted in anguish, his pupils dilating in shock.

Before anyone could react, three more arrows whistled through the air, followed by the figure of a girl on horseback, her bow drawn, each shot precise and deadly.

Seizing the opportunity, she ensured no one would escape—starting with Yun Murui, then his generals.

The three arrows flew in unison...

Thud... thud... thud...

The arrows struck true, embedding themselves in the bodies of Yun Murui's generals.

Crimson blood spilled instantly.

This marked the start of today's battle.

The smoke of war loomed on the horizon.

After four arrows, seeing Yao Yeting shield Yun Murui, she nocked a fifth arrow, drawing the bowstring taut, again aiming at Yun Murui.

She herself arrived on the battlefield.

Her horse raced like the wind, bringing her to Zhu Xian's side.

Seeing this, Xianyi Chishaou swiftly rode to Su Rao's side.

His Eagle Wing Army stood ready behind him, awaiting orders from their prince and princess.

"Yun Murui, your emperor has handed your life to me."

Her cold voice and peach blossom eyes met the Crown Prince's defiant gaze, his eyes blazing with crimson fury, as if he wished to devour her.

Su Rao responded with a cold snort.

Her shout seemed to signal to the Yunlang army faction that she and Yun Ji had struck a deal—Yun Murui's life in exchange for their non-interference.

In truth, after Su Rao's first arrow, Su Er could have intercepted the next three with his skills, but he remained hidden, allowing her to succeed.

With Su Rao's shout, no one dared to save Yun Murui, leaving the Crown Prince of another nation to face her deadly arrow.

Is Yun Murui really going to die just like that?

No, Yun Murui didn’t die. Just as Su Rao was about to shoot the fifth arrow, someone stepped in to block it.

From another hillside came a panicked shout:

"Hold your arrow, hold your arrow..."

After these two urgent shouts, someone scrambled onto the battlefield, directly placing themselves between Yun Murui and the arrow aimed at him. Sweat poured down their forehead, even in winter, showing how desperately they had run.

"Cousin Rao'er, wait..."

The man was dressed in coarse cloth, with a scarf wrapped around his head, looking like an ordinary commoner. But when he spoke, it turned out to be Mu Mingjin.

"Cousin Rao'er, no, if my sister finds out her husband was killed, especially by you, she won't be able to bear it. My sister has been so kind to you; you can't repay her kindness with cruelty."

He threw his arms wide open.

Mu Mingjin, fearless and reckless, stepped in to block Su Rao's arrow aimed at Yun Murui.

My sister is newly pregnant; she can't handle the news of the Crown Prince's death.

The sudden appearance of this person halted the battle once more, preventing it from breaking out.

"Princess Yi, Miss Mu is with child."

This calm statement came from Yun Ji, who had just returned to the scene. At that moment, he seemed unchanged from when he was on the city wall, his chest wounds hidden by the Yue Hua cloak, unnoticed by all.

"The child is innocent, especially one still in the womb. Today, you can kill anyone else, but the fate of the deposed Crown Prince demands careful consideration. If you truly want his life, Yun Ji won't stop you, as long as you feel no guilt towards Miss Mu."

Though her heart was stone-cold, the bow in her hand suddenly weighed a thousand pounds, so heavy that Su Rao's wrist ached, making it impossible to keep holding the bow.

But why... why should she be kind? Why, even now, are they forcing kindness on her? Why do they assume she would be kind? She refuses, she refuses...

Behind her, she suddenly felt an icy chill, as if plunged into an ice cave, but then a solid body embraced her, and the bow in her hand, along with her frozen, stiff fingers, was gripped firmly. The arrow shot forth with tremendous force...

Su Rao turned to see who had dared to act so boldly behind her.

"Rao is my princess, and she may act without hesitation. I stand by her, and no one can sway Rao's decisions."

The thumping in her chest felt like it would burst, not from passion, but from a deep emotional stir.

At that moment, the arrow grazed past Mu Mingjin and struck Yun Murui.

It didn't hit his heart but pierced through his shoulder blade, injuring his shoulder. It wouldn't kill him, but it would take half his life.

"Emperor Yun, today's matter ends here on behalf of my princess. As for whether there will be war or peace between Zhu Xian and Yun Lang, if my princess agrees, I am willing to sit down and discuss it with Emperor Yun. For now, we will withdraw and bid farewell."

Kicking the horse's belly, Xianyi Chishaou and Su Rao rode off together. Though they withdrew, they set up camp not far away. Su Rao would not agree, and the camp would not be dismantled until she did.

This decisive battle ended with Xianyi Chishaou's words.

The Crown Prince's faction was thus eliminated.

"Phew..."

At that moment, Su Er watched as Su Rao was taken away, noticing Yun Ji's impassive expression. He pursed his lips and crouched to examine Yun Murui's wound.

His right arm was crippled by an arrow, likely unable to wield a sword again, effectively crippling his martial skills.

Mu Mingjin rushed over.

The rough lad directed others to clean up the mess at the city gate.

Only Yun Ji strode straight into the border city.

A smile spread across his face, the kind only Prince Yun Ji could wear—calm and serene.

Knowing someone like that was protecting Rao Rao, he could leave in peace.

Until the next life...

His smile faded, replaced by a sudden, overwhelming desolation—deep and sorrowful.

There would be no next life, no promised rebirth.

"Grandpa, aren’t we bringing little sis home? Didn’t you say you knew she wasn’t Rao’er, but you treated her like your own granddaughter? Since she’s family, shouldn’t we bring her home and reunite everyone?"

Old General Su and Su San stood unseen, having witnessed everything.

"Sigh..."

Old General Su stroked his beard, his face grave.

"Let’s wait. Once the war in the border city ends, we’ll bring Rao’er home properly."

Once the war ends and her hatred fades, she can come home and truly be a daughter of the Su family again.

The Su family owed her parents and family. Though they couldn’t return her birth parents, they could still give her this large family. As long as she still recognized him as her grandfather, she would remain his precious granddaughter, the treasure of the Su family.

"Grandfather, we’ve found the fifth brother."

Su Da, a young but steady warrior, emerged from the woods.