Chapter 131: It Is All Because of You That the Princess Was Injured

From the first moment he saw Qiao Qingyun, he knew she was different from others. Moreover, the second time, she had stepped forward to resolve his troubles.

"Understood." The attendant dared not say more. Jieli disliked talkative people, so he simply turned away to return to his duties.

"Qiao Qingyun, what exactly are you being so difficult about with me!" Yuan Zaichun chased after her. As the Crown Prince, he had never been ignored like this, let alone by a woman! In his experience, there was no one who would not lower their stature in the face of his status.

"If the Crown Prince believes Qingyun is being difficult with you, then you are mistaken. Qingyun has never been one to waste time on anyone unworthy."

The woman’s words were piercing. She headed straight for the exit. Once they left the Qinyin Workshop, they faced a stretch of woods that they had to cross to reach the bustling inner city. Just as they stepped onto the path, the rustle of footsteps reached their ears, immediately alerting Hongying and the others.

"Brother! There is movement."

Qiao Qingyun stopped. Because of the training Zhong Shi had once provided, she stilled her mind to listen to every sound in the surroundings, fearing she might miss a subtle clue.

"Who’s there!"

The woman spun around suddenly, and a black-clad figure charged toward her! Qiao Qingyun immediately reached for the soft sword at her waist and dashed forward to meet the attack!

"Princess!"

Thinking of her unborn child who had died at the hands of these people, Qiao Qingyun’s soft sword seemed to come alive. She unleashed a flurry of strikes against her opponent! The intensity of her actions stunned even Zhong Shi and the others; they wondered why Qiao Qingyun’s murderous aura was so fierce today.

"Quick! Protect Qingluo! She has no martial arts skills!" Qiao Qingyun shouted. Zhong Shi immediately joined the fray, while Hongying blocked Qingluo to keep her out of harm's way.

"Miss!" Watching the number of people surrounding Qiao Qingyun increase, Qingluo could only fret, unable to move a step. Just as Qiao Qingyun was fighting like a cornered beast, a yellow figure flashed forward with lightning speed!

"The Crown Prince?" The woman was startled. Once she recognized him, she fought alongside him, and Liufu was certainly not idle either.

Nearly twenty men in black attacked Qiao Qingyun and her group with lethal intent, showing no mercy. As the struggle dragged on, everyone’s stamina began to wane. Finally, Zhong Shi and the others killed the last assailant, and Qiao Qingyun collapsed to the ground, exhausted.

Looking at the mark on the black-clad assassin, she sneered, her gaze toward Yuan Zaichun filled with growing disappointment. "If the Empress wants me dead, why bother having the Crown Prince save me?"

Yuan Zaichun’s body stiffened. After a closer look, he realized it was indeed the same mark as the assassins found previously!

"That’s not..." Before Yuan Zaichun could finish, Qiao Qingyun saw a black-clad figure behind him rise to his feet. Taking advantage of their distraction, the assassin thrust his sword straight at Yuan Zaichun!

"No!"

Qiao Qingyun acted as if she had lost her mind. She lunged forward, grabbed Yuan Zaichun, and used all her strength to spin them around, shielding him with her own body. The sword pierced through her shoulder blade.

Before the others could react, Qiao Qingyun was already drenched in blood. She lowered her head, looked at the pierced bone, and gave a bitter smile. "Damn it, capsized in the gutter."

In the next second, Yuan Zaichun pulled Qiao Qingyun into his arms. Once they were clear of the blade, he grabbed a sword and slashed at the assassin, severing his head.

"Qingyun!" The man roared like a wounded beast, holding the woman tightly. But as Qiao Qingyun’s pain intensified, she realized the struggle was no longer worth it, and her eyes fluttered shut.

"Qingyun!" "Princess!"

The group rushed over. Yuan Zaichun’s eyes were bloodshot as he shouted at Liufu, "The carriage! Quickly!"

The group was in a frantic scramble. Inside the carriage, Yuan Zaichun used a handkerchief to press against Qiao Qingyun’s wound, but blood continued to seep out. By the time they reached the medical clinic, Qiao Qingyun was covered in blood, staining Yuan Zaichun as well.

"Teacher!" When Chun Cheng and Xu Lu saw the group entering, all bearing wounds of varying severity, they were initially stunned. It was only when they recognized Yuan Zaichun holding Qiao Qingyun that they realized who was gravely injured!

"Quick, save her, save her!" Yuan Zaichun had been on the verge of a breakdown the entire journey, constantly checking Qiao Qingyun’s breath, terrified she wouldn't make it. They immediately rushed her to the second-floor ward.

Zhong Shi, filled with hostility, followed them upstairs. As soon as he entered the room, he grabbed Yuan Zaichun and landed a punch right on his face.

"Bastard! It’s all because of you! It’s because of you that the Princess is hurt!"

"Zhong Shi! Calm down! I didn't want this either; I am more anxious than anyone!" Liufu restrained Zhong Shi. Yuan Zaichun had been knocked aside, blood trickling from his mouth, but he paid it no mind, his eyes fixed on Qiao Qingyun.

That pale little face was frozen before him, and in that moment, Yuan Zaichun felt as if his own heart had stopped. *Heaven, do not be so cruel, do not take her away!*

Chun Cheng and Xu Lu rushed in, sensing the tension, and exclaimed in frustration, "This is no time for fighting!"

They immediately hooked Qiao Qingyun up to a blood bag, but when they tied the tourniquet around her wrist, no veins bulged. Xu Lu was at a loss and turned to ask Qingluo, "What’s going on? Has the teacher not eaten?"

"Eaten... no, she hasn't even had a drop of soup since this morning!" Qingluo swallowed the complaints she had meant to hurl at Yuan Zaichun; this was no time for blame—the priority was to wake Qiao Qingyun.

"The Princess drank yesterday. After she got drunk, she went straight to sleep and didn't eat anything," Zhong Shi said truthfully. When Yuan Zaichun heard this, he trembled, staring at Zhong Shi with wide eyes. "You mean, Qingyun just went to sleep after returning?"

Zhong Shi, who hadn't wanted to admit it, feared it would interfere with Qiao Qingyun’s treatment. After a moment of struggle, he nodded. "That's right. The Princess was drunk and slept for a while. She only had a bit of lamb leg last night."

"It’s over, I can't find a vein!" Xu Lu looked helplessly at Chun Cheng. The people in the room held their breath. Chun Cheng made a decisive call, "The teacher once inserted the needle based on the vein's pattern. Try it! If we wait any longer, she will bleed out!"

"Right."

With no other options, Xu Lu gritted her teeth and inserted the needle. As everyone watched, Xu Lu let out a sigh of relief. "I've got it."