Tan Hua - Chapter 87: Ambush

Chapter 87: Ambush

Ten days later.

The caravan of the Jingguo officials slowly exited the royal capital of Loulan, moving toward the desolate countryside amidst the sound of hooves.

The wheel tracks were deeper than before, filled with boxes of tribute gifts Loulan had presented to the Emperor of Jingguo. Although it hadn’t been officially declared, the world had already considered Loulan a vassal state of Jingguo.

Prince Jun Qiyu sat in the foremost carriage, eyes closed. Qi Miao hurried about inside the carriage, preparing various medicinal concoctions, while Lord Qi’s face was ashen, his expression weary and desperate.

“When we return to the capital, you’ll go to the Emperor and beg for mercy,” Lord Qi said to Qi Miao, “Try to get the Emperor to show leniency and spare your life.”

Qi Miao knew he had caused trouble and didn’t dare to lift his head.

“Father, it… it can’t be that serious, right?” Qi Miao said nervously.

Lord Qi’s anger flared, and he glared fiercely at him.

“Not serious? You’ve harmed the Crown Prince’s health! How is that not serious? A lesser offense would be a death sentence! A greater offense would involve punishing your entire family!”

“The Emperor is a reasonable person…”

Qi Miao was about to defend himself when Lord Qi hit him on the backside with his cane, shaking his head in disappointment.

“Reasonable? You really are dreaming! Do you know the Emperor’s temperament from his younger years? He’s not the type to reason with you!” Lord Qi realized his mistake and changed his tone. “Even the most wise and just emperor would never tolerate someone harming his only son! If I had known, I never would have let you study medicine. I thought the medical path would be safe, at least ensuring you a peaceful and secure life without trouble. Who would have thought… sigh!”

“I made my own choices. I won’t drag anyone down with me. As for Father, I…”

Before Jun Qiyu could finish speaking, the sound of hooves suddenly became chaotic. The coachman shouted and halted the carriage.

“Your Highness! It’s an ambush!”

The guards on horseback quickly became alert, pulling out their swords and surrounding the carriage to protect it.

“Protect His Highness the Crown Prince!”

Although the situation unfolded suddenly, the Jingguo cavalry remained calm. They formed a tight formation, raising shields and weapons, surrounding the carriage like a fortress.

Qi Miao lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, then immediately shut it in shock.

“There are so many people! There are assassins in black clothing outside!”

Jun Qiyu listened closely.

“Night robes?” Jun Qiyu furrowed his brows. “No traps, dressed in night robes—these can’t be raiders seeking treasure… Qi Miao, how many do you see?”

Although the Xiyu Hu bandits had a record of attacking Jingguo merchant caravans, they usually didn’t dare to touch the official royal carriages.

Qi Miao quickly answered, “At least a hundred, many of them I can’t make out.”

“A force this large is no mere assassination attempt, it’s an outright ambush. They’re likely targeting me. Stay alert, stay inside the carriage. The ones outside are highly skilled killers, capable of killing without hesitation.”

Jun Qiyu offered a warning.

Qi Miao, stunned, asked, “Your Highness hasn’t seen them, how can you tell they are skilled?”

“Over a hundred people hiding in the sand, yet I can’t hear a sound from them. Their steps are light, indicating they are highly trained,” Jun Qiyu explained, pulling open the curtain and stepping outside.

“Your Highness!”

Qi Miao tried to follow but was pulled back by Lord Qi.

“You can’t fight! How will you protect yourself? What are you doing running into danger?!”

Jun Qiyu ignored him, standing atop the carriage with his hands behind his back.

“Do you know who you’re blocking?”

Jun Qiyu remained calm, unhurried, and asked.

“The Crown Prince of Jingguo, Jun Qiyu.”

A voice from among the crowd answered.

Jun Qiyu turned toward the voice and nodded.

“Since you know that, you must be prepared… Who are you?”

“I am the one tasked with capturing you, the traitorous scoundrel.”

A man on horseback walked out from the darkness, dressed in the imperial robes of a four-clawed dragon, not hiding it at all, facing Jun Qiyu directly.

Jun Qiyu grinned at the term “traitorous scoundrel.”

“Who is this…?”

Qi Miao blinked, having never seen anyone so daring to wear dragon robes openly.

“Strangely familiar…” Lord Qi lowered his head and thought for a moment, then shouted, “This is the royal dress of the former dynasty’s princes! Your Highness, this person…”

“Just a remnant from the former dynasty.”

Jun Qiyu laughed lightly, clearly not concerned.

The prince, Xiao Taizi, hearing the term “remnant,” immediately glared angrily.

“Presumptuous traitor! Why haven’t you knelt upon seeing this prince?!”

Jun Qiyu stood tall, his arrogance already overshadowing Xiao Taizi’s.

“You’re nothing. How dare you demand that I kneel?”

Xiao Taizi’s voice grew fierce, “My Xiao family is the true royal bloodline, the rightful rulers of the Central Plains! Your father was just a usurper! I am the true heir, protected by heaven! You, a mere son of a traitor, should kneel before me and beg for mercy!”

“Reduced to hiding in Loulan, living like a rat, while you claim to be the true royal bloodline? Those who succeed are kings, those who fail are bandits. You’re no different from the bandits of the Western Regions.”

Jun Qiyu’s words hit Xiao Taizi hard. He considered himself superior and took great offense at being called a rat, while those who should have been in his place as emperor were revered.

“Jun Qiyu, today I will make you kneel and beg for mercy! You, misguided subjects, listen up! Submit to me, and I will spare your lives!”

No one responded.

Jun Qiyu sneered.

“You think you can make me beg for mercy? You need the capability first. You should have set traps here and sent twice the number of men, then maybe you’d tire me out.”

“I know you are skilled, but what can you do? It’s over for you, your eyes are gone. You can’t act tough forever. I will defeat you in a fair fight, and you will kneel before me!”

Jun Qiyu smirked.

“Your words are bold.”

“Attack!”

At Xiao Taizi’s command, a group of assassins surged forward like a swarm of locusts.

Jun Qiyu listened to the rustling wind and the chaotic steps on the sand. He tore off a piece of black cloth from his sleeve and tied it over his eyes.

Taking a deep breath, the previously erratic footsteps became clear. Fortunately, after injuring his eyes before, he had continued practicing martial arts, allowing him to rely on his hearing. Jun Qiyu placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.

Without relying on sight, his hearing became extraordinarily sharp.

A sound of blades slicing through the air came from the left, already close. Jun Qiyu’s blade was faster, and the sound of steel clashing was like a dragon’s roar. A black-clad man’s head flew off, blood spraying everywhere.