Chapter 204: Chapter 203 PursuitHe Ying didn’t kiss her for too long before he released her.


    It really wasn’t the time for intimacy.


    He kissed her simply because he didn’t want her to say those self-harming words.


    "You, you—"


    Sang Yan’s face flushed, unsure of what to say.


    And there were officials nearby!


    This lecher acted so wantonly, with no regard for the occasion!


    "It’s okay, Ah Yan, don’t be angry—"


    He Ying rubbed her reddened lips, his eyes still holding lingering affection, yet his words had turned cold and firm, "He Hongzhao is full of tricks, ruthless and vicious. If you follow me, I will truly be distracted, so please, be good and wait here for me. I promise you, I won’t take any risks, alright?"


    Not good.


    That’s what Sang Yan thought inside, but she sighed on the surface, "Then be careful."


    She saw the determination in his eyes and knew his mind was made up, so she didn’t want to say anything more to delay him.


    "Mhm."


    He Ying nodded solemnly.


    Pei Muyang had already come in and stood silently to one side.


    Seeing him, He Ying said sharply, "Have Lu Zijin gather the troops; we’re heading to Cangcui Mountain right now."


    "Yes!"


    Pei Muyang hurried off.


    Gao Wenliang also went to assemble the government soldiers.


    In less than the time it took to finish a cup of tea,


    two teams of horses and men gathered at the entrance of the State Mansion.


    A middle-aged man dressed as a merchant was hawking rouge and powder.


    Seeing the soldiers outside the State Mansion, his face changed instantly, and he immediately pushed his cart away.


    Once in a secluded alley, he took a messenger pigeon from beneath his stall, quickly wrote a line of words, and placed it in the cylinder on its foot.


    Then, stroking the pigeon’s head, he released it into the sky.


    The pigeon spread its wings and quickly disappeared into the heavens.


    Cangcui Mountain,


    ten miles outside of Quanzhou City.


    He Family’s Ancestral Tomb,


    inside the tomb chamber,


    Han Chen watched the woman who was still pale and tinkering with herbs, an impatience flickering in his eyes: "Haven’t you figured it out yet? How much longer do you need?"


    He had been in this tomb chamber for several days and was about to suffocate.


    Mainly, he felt it was unsafe here.


    Sooner or later, He Ying’s people would find this place.


    "What’s the rush?"


    He Hongzhao coughed a few times, pinched a herb, and put it in her mouth.


    As if tasting it.


    The result was an even more violent cough.


    With each cough, blood followed.


    Han Chen immediately stepped back further, worried her illness might be contagious.


    But if it were to be contagious, he probably would have caught it by now.


    Bad luck for him, sent by Mr. Jiu to save her, so now he shared a tomb chamber with her, living in a sorry state.


    Utterly pathetic!


    "Shouldn’t I be in a hurry? He Ying’s troops will find us soon, and you’re still here researching herbs?"


    He was already a hothead, and now he was like a lit fuse.


    He Hongzhao wasn’t affected by Han Chen’s temper, her demeanor still indifferent: "These herbs are a good thing."


    As her words fell, a white pigeon flew from afar and landed on the tombstone.


    "There’s someone!"


    Han Chen’s expression turned stern, he clenched the long sword in his hand and stepped lightly to go check.


    With this look, he saw the white pigeon on the tombstone, and his brow immediately furrowed.


    The pigeon, as if understanding humanity, flew towards him and landed on his arm.


    Han Chen quickly took the note out from the cylinder, his expression changed, and he hurried back to the tomb chamber: "Let’s go! He Ying is leading people this way!"


    Hearing this, He Hongzhao’s brow furrowed slightly and her indifferent face tensed: "This He Ying is more formidable than I imagined."


    She had thought he was just an emperor obsessed with beauty.


    Unexpectedly, he managed to guess she was here.


    Seeing her still there leisurely praising He Ying, and remaining so composed, really infuriated Han Chen: "Enough, they’re already coming, what are you dawdling for? Sick of living?"


    As he urged her on, he began to pack their belongings.


    Medical books, herbs, simple food.


    He had long prepared for escape.


    He Hongzhao leisurely ground the herbs into powder and poured them into a small, green and transparent glass bottle.


    Inside the glass bottle, there was some liquid which, when mixed with the ground herbs, sparked with white light.


    "What is this?"


    Han Chen was half curious, half still curious: He Hongzhao’s medical skill was exceptional, and his poison-making was unsurpassed in the world. How could he not be curious about the effect of this substance?


    "You’ll find out soon."


    He Hongzhao didn’t explain but placed the glass bottle into the sachet at his waist. Sёarch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then the two of them walked out of the tomb chamber.


    Just in time to see a flock of birds taking flight in the sky to the northeast.


    Something had startled them.


    Han Chen held his breath and listened for a moment before pulling He Hongzhao with him, "They’re coming after us! Let’s head southwest!"


    But they hadn’t gone far before they were caught by the leading riders.


    "There they are! Kill them!"


    Lu Zijin, leading the way on horseback with bow and arrow in hand, immediately shot at them.


    Fortunately, Han Chen reacted in time, dodging the arrow while holding He Hongzhao.


    He didn’t put her down but continued to carry her as they jumped and sprinted away.


    Lu Zijin pursued them on his horse.


    Just as he was about to catch up—


    He Hongzhao grabbed a handful of herbal powder from the sachet and scattered it behind.


    Lu Zijin instinctively reined in his horse and covered his nose, "Your Majesty, be careful! She is using poison!"


    He Ying, riding on a horse behind Lu Zijin by a step, also saw clearly.


    Knowing that He Hongzhao was skilled in poisoning, he too stopped and held his breath.


    This gave He Hongzhao and the others the chance to flee.


    "Damn it!"


    He Ying spurred his horse to chase.


    Lu Zijin quickly blocked him, "Your Majesty, let your humble servant pursue them, please stay behind."


    Saying this, he ordered a row of soldiers to follow and gave pursuit.


    He Ying waited a moment but, anxious, rode after them.


    "Your Majesty!"


    Imperial Doctor Liu’s voice came from behind.


    He Ying heard him and turned back, "Why has Imperial Doctor Liu come?"


    The question was pointless.


    Imperial Doctor Liu had obviously come anticipating He Hongzhao’s use of poison.


    And this was true, the poison indeed bought them time.


    "Lady sent me."


    Imperial Doctor Liu explained, "Lady is afraid of He Hongzhao’s poison and asked me to watch over you."


    He Ying’s heart warmed at the mention of Sang Yan, "She’s always so thoughtful."


    Imperial Doctor Liu took a few sniffs of the air and smiled, "Your Majesty need not worry; it’s merely common herbs."


    "Curse her! That villain deceived me!"


    He Ying, infuriated, whipped his horse and pursued further.


    Imperial Doctor Liu hurriedly followed, calling out, "Your Majesty, do not be reckless! Lady warned against being rash!"


    He Ying, thinking of Sang Yan, kept a distance anyway.


    Lu Zijin continued the chase.


    And managed to catch up.


    They had both of them surrounded.


    "Whoosh!"


    Swords clashed and hidden arrows flew in the skirmish.


    Han Chen was a formidable fighter, where he went, he stirred up clouds of fallen leaves.


    Amidst their fluttering, an aura of grim death prevailed.


    "Han Chen, He Hongzhao, surrender now!"


    He Ying sat firmly astride his horse, his gaze piercing and presence commanding, his words belying the majesty of a sovereign.


    "Cough, cough, cough—"


    He Hongzhao was being held by Han Chen, dizzy from the shaking, wanting to speak, but coughing too hard to say anything.


    Han Chen fought valiantly, protecting He Hongzhao. Outnumbered, it didn’t take long before his arms and legs suffered injuries.


    "Whoosh!"


    An arrow struck his chest.


    Pain turned his complexion deathly pale as he staggered back two steps, with cold sweat dripping from his forehead.


    "The grudge of Qi Wuya stealing your wife, today, you Han Chen... will first pay for him."


    He Ying held a black recurve bow, slowly fitting three arrows onto it.


    These three arrows to be loosed at once?


    Han Chen, both shocked and trembling, sensed imminent danger: It seemed this was to be his final resting place.