BLHO Chapter 53

Chapter 53: I’m Sorry…

Shen Tan realized something was wrong, but it was already too late.

The Imperial Guards had stormed into the desolate forest and surrounded them. By this time, it was already broad daylight, making escape even more difficult.

Shen Tan hurriedly entered the room and said to Princess Meng Ning, “You go first, I’ll hold them off.”

Princess Meng Ning hadn’t expected He Yuncheng to delay until now without taking action. Her plan had been disrupted, and she was so angry that her blood rushed to her head.

“Useless trash.” She gnashed her teeth, cursing He Yuncheng, “Indecisive, always looking before he leaps. He’ll get his comeuppance!”

There was no time for her to curse and vent her anger. Shen Tan anxiously said, “The carriage is in the backyard. Take the small path, and I’ll send people to escort you.”

“I have to take Lin Shuangxu with me.” Princess Meng Ning said, “If I want He Yuncheng to listen to me, I must keep him in my grasp. I can’t let him fall into the hands of the people from the palace.”

“Okay.”

Without another word, Shen Tan went to the room where Lin Shuangxu was being held, brought him out, and pushed him onto the carriage.

Lin Shuangxu had heard the commotion outside, but he wasn’t sure who had come, so he didn’t rashly resist. He obediently got into the carriage, riding in the same one as Princess Meng Ning.

Once seated, they immediately began to speed away.

Seeing his calm demeanor, Princess Meng Ning became even more furious, unleashing all her anger towards He Yuncheng onto him: “I truly pity you, Brother Shuangxu. You wholeheartedly raised a thankless wretch. He Yuncheng simply doesn’t care whether you live or die.”

Lin Shuangxu could now be completely certain that He Yuncheng had not sent troops.

The weight on his heart finally lifted, and he asked Princess Meng Ning, “Are these people from the palace?”

Princess Meng Ning didn’t answer him.

But Lin Shuangxu knew he wasn’t wrong. If He Yuncheng had come after them, she wouldn’t be so frantically trying to escape.

“Now you know to be afraid?” Lin Shuangxu looked at her like a child, “I thought you were so brave, talking about rebellion every chance you get.”

Once her feigned death was exposed, along with the accusations of sowing discord between the ruler and his subjects and plotting treason, the crime would be enormous.

“Don’t use the same lecturing tone you use on He Yuncheng on me.” Princess Meng Ning glared at him disdainfully, “Just because I call you ‘Brother’ doesn’t mean you’re actually my elder. I’ve never been afraid of anyone since I was a child. It’s just that my plan wasn’t thorough today, and that useless He Yuncheng dragged me down. Just you wait and see who the ultimate winner will be.”

Lin Shuangxu helplessly shook his head, advising her, “Come back with me, Meng Ning. I’ll find a way to help you get out of this.”

“You’ll help me get out of this?” Princess Meng Ning mocked incessantly, “You can barely protect yourself, how can you help me?”

“Just trust me.” Lin Shuangxu said earnestly.

Arrogant and conceited.

Princess Meng Ning rolled her eyes at him, suddenly remembering that there was an important matter she hadn’t had time to ask about.

“What exactly did you say to my mother when you went to see her before?”

Shen Tan had been looking for an opportunity to eavesdrop, but she had never been able to figure out what Lin Shuangxu had used to threaten the Empress Dowager.

Why did the Empress Dowager agree to spare the He family and stop pursuing the matter after hearing his words?

Lin Shuangxu remained silent.

Princess Meng Ning’s sharp gaze swept across his face, carefully observing his features.

Not knowing what she was thinking, Lin Shuangxu subconsciously turned his face away.

Princess Meng Ning had no intention of letting him off the hook, pressing him for an answer: “What secrets do you and my mother share?”

–

When the Imperial Guards arrived, they were an overwhelming force, and Li Yuliang personally led the troops to capture Shen Tan.

The terrain in the desolate forest was complex, and the Imperial Guards couldn’t figure out the direction for a while.

Shen Tan had been prepared, leading her men in circles repeatedly, fighting as they retreated.

Although the difference in numbers was significant, this tactic made it very difficult for the Imperial Guards to achieve a quick victory.

But Li Yuliang wasn’t worried, patiently playing the game of cat and mouse.

He knew that Shen Tan wouldn’t be able to hold on for much longer.

The life-sustaining medicine he had given her last time should have run out long ago. It was truly remarkable that she had been able to persist until now.

As if a million insects were gnawing at her, Shen Tan gritted her teeth and endured, tightly gripping her embroidered spring blade, not daring to relax during the battle.

Another sword thrust came at her, and she blocked it with her blade, but her arm went limp. She retreated three steps and was surrounded and knocked to the ground by dozens of people.

A moment later, Li Yuliang slowly walked over from the side. Reaching close, he looked down at Shen Tan, his back to the sky.

He saw that her face was bloodless with pain, and beads of sweat dripped from her forehead. Her whole body trembled as if in convulsions.

Li Yuliang raised the corner of his mouth and asked her, “You knew what the consequences of betraying me would be. Why did you still do it?”

Shen Tan bit her lip, saying nothing.

Li Yuliang coaxed her, “Where is Lin Shuangxu?”

Shen Tan curled up her body, still not answering.

Li Yuliang continued to ask, “Tell me, who ordered you to do this?”

Shen Tan’s consciousness began to blur, and uncontrollably, she reached out, wanting Li Yuliang to give her the life-sustaining medicine.

Princess Meng Ning’s face kept appearing before her eyes.

She forced herself to wake up, withdrew her hand, and used low growls to relieve the pain.

“You won’t talk?” Li Yuliang shook his head, “I trusted you so much. Shen Tan, you’ve disappointed me greatly.”

Since she was determined to remain unyielding, he would grant her wish.

Let her slowly enjoy the agonizing pain.

Li Yuliang looked in the direction of the hidden path, “Pursue.”

–

At this time, Princess Meng Ning had already realized that the situation was not good.

If everything had gone smoothly, Shen Tan shouldn’t have taken so long to catch up.

She pushed open a crack in the carriage window and looked back, but didn’t see any of her own people.

Lin Shuangxu saw her worries and said to her, “Do you still think that with just a few of your men, you can fight against the imperial court?”

Not seeing Shen Tan, Princess Meng Ning was naturally very worried, but she understood even more that in a critical moment, she must never hesitate.

Shen Tan needed help, but going back to save her now would undoubtedly be throwing herself into a trap.

In a flash, Princess Meng Ning made a quick decision and said to the subordinate driving the carriage, “Go faster!”

“Yes!”

Lin Shuangxu felt helpless and advised her again, “Do you know that the Empress Dowager is seriously ill? Don’t you want to see her one last time?”

“Don’t try to deceive me.” Princess Meng Ning didn’t believe him, “My mother has always been in good health, how could she suddenly become seriously ill?”

“I’m not lying to you. If you don’t believe me, go back to Fengdu City and see for yourself.”

“I can’t go back. You don’t need to waste your efforts trying to persuade me anymore.” Princess Meng Ning’s eyes were full of stubbornness, rolling around, cunning and bold. Not only did she not listen to a word of Lin Shuangxu’s advice, but she also turned the tables, trying to win him over to her side.

“I don’t care what connection you have with my mother in private. Let me tell you clearly, she can’t protect the He family. The imperial court is completely rotten. Going back will only lead to death. Not only will I not survive, but the He family won’t be able to live in peace either. Some people can’t tolerate He Yuncheng. Once today’s disaster is over, there will be more traps waiting for him tomorrow. Rebellion is the only way out. Brother Shuangxu, you’re a smart man. If you can persuade He Yuncheng to submit to me, this matter will be simple.”

Lin Shuangxu asked her, “Why do you think that the He family will definitely lose to the eunuch party?”

Princess Meng Ning sneered and sighed, “Until now, how can you still not understand…”

She looked at Lin Shuangxu with a gloomy gaze and said to him, “You think that everything today is because the eunuchs are wary of He Yuncheng, but have you ever thought about who in the Northern Sheng court is most afraid of He Yuncheng…”

She stopped halfway through her sentence. With a whoosh, a sharp arrow shot straight into the carriage.

The arrow grazed past Lin Shuangxu and Princess Meng Ning’s faces, piercing the driver’s head.

Blood splattered everywhere, and the person instantly fell to the ground, startling the horses and causing the carriage to shake violently.

Lin Shuangxu quickly looked behind him. The black mass of Imperial Guards were catching up. The person in the lead, riding a horse and drawing his bow, was none other than Li Yuliang.

Princess Meng Ning was surrounded by well-trained assassins who reacted quickly to the situation, rushing forward to meet the enemy.

Someone jumped up to take the reins again, and the carriage continued to move forward.

Li Yuliang knew that Lin Shuangxu was in this carriage, and relentlessly pursued it, ignoring everyone else.

And now, Lin Shuangxu could only flee with Princess Meng Ning. If he fell into Li Yuliang’s hands, the situation would only get worse, no matter what.

“Why aren’t you trying to persuade me anymore?”

The carriage sped along, and Princess Meng Ning, unsteady on her feet, tightly gripped the window beside her, asking Lin Shuangxu mockingly.

“Advise me to turn back, or drag me down now and beg for mercy, and see what our fate will be?”

Lin Shuangxu remained calm and asked her, “What did you mean by what you just said?

Who in the Northern Sheng court is most afraid of He Yuncheng?”

Their eyes met, Princess Meng Ning’s gaze so sharp it seemed to pierce through him.

Just as she was about to speak, another arrow suddenly shot in.

This arrow was perfectly aimed at Princess Meng Ning’s back.

Lin Shuangxu, hearing the sound of the arrow cutting through the air, anticipated it, and shouted “Careful!” pushing Princess Meng Ning behind him, shielding her.

Princess Meng Ning only heard the sound of a sharp object piercing flesh, but felt no pain herself.

Looking up again, Lin Shuangxu’s forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat, and his pale lips trembled uncontrollably.

The arrow was firmly lodged in his body, and blood was spreading from his back, staining his white robe red.

Princess Meng Ning could only feel surprise.

“You…”

Why did he save her?

She didn’t understand.

But there was no time for her to think. The sound of hooves was getting closer and closer. Li Yuliang was catching up with the Imperial Guards.

They were looking for Lin Shuangxu. As long as she gave them Lin Shuangxu, they would probably not pursue her relentlessly, and she would have a chance to escape.

Otherwise, with such a seriously injured person, it would be difficult for her to escape.

Princess Meng Ning quickly made a decision.

Opening the car door, she decisively pushed Lin Shuangxu out.

His body, pierced by the arrow, had no strength to support itself. Lin Shuangxu rolled several times with the momentum of the carriage before weakly falling to the ground.

Seeing the person he was looking for, Li Yuliang finally reined in his horse and stopped.

In the moment he hesitated, Princess Meng Ning’s carriage sped away.

Li Yuliang did not continue to chase. He dismounted and stared coldly at Lin Shuangxu’s wound.

Then he ordered his men to take him away.

The Imperial Guards obeyed the order, but before they could approach Lin Shuangxu, they were blocked by a long blade.

The He family army stood in a line, like the Chu River boundary, separating the Imperial Guards and not allowing them to approach Lin Shuangxu in the slightest.

Behind them, He Yuncheng bent down and knelt beside Lin Shuangxu, his arms trembling as he picked him up, as if he were carefully picking up a shattered piece of porcelain.

He blankly apologized to the person in his arms: “I’m late, I’m sorry…”