Chapter 02: Encountering a Robbery

Princess! Princess! Imperial Phoenix Princess

Yufeng let out a cold smile; in fact, just a moment ago, she had found it beneath her dignity to dirty her hands by hitting him. Instead, she cleverly used his own strength against him, striking him on the ear with the hand of one of Baldy's subordinates. Unfortunately, Baldy was too slow-witted to realize what had just happened.

Farewell, Hanyuan Hall, Qifeng Pavilion, Tong'er, wet nurse, Wuqiu...

A gentle breeze lifted his long robe, and there was not a trace of ripple in his calm eyes. He gazed indifferently at the chaos and screams of the battlefield, as if everything happening there had no relation to him whatsoever

The crowd was shouting, following the slowly departing ceremonial procession. No matter how the guards scolded and drove them away, they could not be stopped, until the crowd began to riot, restless and agitated

He is merely a spectator

Thus, four or five individuals surrounding the imperial carriage exchanged glances and simultaneously brandished their weapons, launching a forceful assault.

The purple shadow swept through the air, the hem of the skirt and the sleeves fluttering and dancing, radiating dazzling brilliance. When the crowd focused their gaze to take a closer look, they all involuntarily exclaimed "Ah" and were left in a daze

Princess! I have been wronged—please help this common woman!

Li Tong had never witnessed such a magnificent and imposing scene

Nan Gongqing, in light of the "Twin Heroes of the Enchanted Sword," we will grant you a personal favor; the young girl is left to you. Let us depart!" The old woman in a dark green robe was the first to rush in the direction where Cao Huan and the others had fled, with the others following closely behind.

Farewell, Mother! Do not blame your daughter for her unfilial behavior... It is just, it is just... The daughter has grown weary of the intrigues and power struggles within the royal family

Nangong Qing was overjoyed, so excited that he could hardly speak, continuously nodding his head. He wanted to reach out to embrace her, but Yu Feng suddenly stepped back, creating a certain distance between them.

As she was about to leave, she couldn't help but glance back at the towering city in the distance, and then, steeling herself, she resolutely turned around and took a decisive step forward

The two of them had already left Mingde Gate far behind, yet some commoners surprisingly persisted in following them all the way out of the city gates of Chang'an.

Nangong Qing found it uninteresting, yet he was not angry, and a smile still lingered on his face

He stood there in a daze, and after a moment, he suddenly erupted in anger at one of his subordinates: "How dare you hit me?"

"Arrogant fool!" Zi Ying'er spun lightly, and it was unclear what technique the Phoenix Rider used, so fast that no one could see what had happened. Suddenly, two crisp sounds of slapping echoed, and the bald man, who had just been smug and arrogant, received two slaps in the blink of an eye

Although it is still unclear what the origins of these individuals are, it is evident that they are not familiar with the city of Chang'an, nor with the royal family and nobility. Therefore, they are even unable to distinguish who the true Princess of Phoenix is.

Amidst the chaos, new sounds of battle erupted. A group of agile and mysterious figures descended like divine soldiers, suddenly charging into the ranks and completely scattering the guards who had barely surrounded the phoenix carriage.

Indeed... Li Tong's face flushed with excitement. She eagerly leaned out of the palanquin, waving the embroidered handkerchief in her hand, following the throngs of people who cheered and rejoiced wildly, the crowd surging.

"What is there to be concerned about?" The Phoenix smiled lightly, her eyes sparkling, "Do not forget, you are also a princess of the Tang Dynasty"

They quickly approached the phoenix carriage, and just as they were scrambling to climb onto the carriage frame, preparing to lift the curtain and rush in, a loud bang was heard. The first person suddenly flew out, followed by seven or eight others who attempted to break into the imperial carriage, all of whom fell to the ground one after another, in a state of utter disarray

Only because she usually prefers simple attire, she still wore a light purple dress today, not realizing that it would lead to her being overlooked. In contrast, Li Tong put considerable thought into her outfit for this occasion, aiming to make a grand appearance during her visit to Luoyang.

"General Cao, you must ensure the princess is safely returned to the palace..." As he spoke, a long sword was thrust forward. The Phoenix-headed figure lowered its head and forcefully pushed the still-dazed Cao Huan, sending him two zhang away. "Hurry and go! Go!"

I humbly dare to request that the princess return to the palace at once

The old man with a white beard was clearly mocking Nangong Qing, yet to his surprise, Nangong Qing burst into hearty laughter: "Since Senior Wu is aware of my intentions, I hope Senior Wu can grant my wish!" After saying this, he bowed deeply.

Sister, something seems a bit off!" Li Tong retracted her head, her voice trembling slightly

Princess Yufeng! We want to see Princess Yufeng

Not only the court, but even the rivers and lakes are stirring restlessly, with many chivalrous warriors frequently infiltrating the imperial palace, attempting to restore the Tang dynasty by assassinating the Empress Wu

Yufeng furrowed her brows tightly, standing up to listen carefully to the situation outside, a sudden feeling of unease rising in her heart

Then do not blame the old woman for being merciless with the three-foot green blade in her hand! As she pointed her long sword, the old lady was about to take action to seize the person. Just at that moment, the sound of bells and drums suddenly erupted at the city gate, as the news of the civil unrest had already reached the city, prompting a large number of imperial guards to be dispatched to assist in the suppression.

Yufeng let out a cold snort, barely holding in her arms the pale and already unconscious Li Tong. Her phoenix eyes swept across, containing hidden anger: "What kind of people are you, daring to disturb the princess's palanquin?"

Prior to this, he was unaware of the secretive schemes they were concocting, and he did not care in the slightest. Now, the world has fallen into the hands of Empress Wu, and the emperor of the Li family is merely a puppet, manipulated by that woman at will. The highest authority in the realm is frequently altered at her whim.

"You insolent girl, are you tired of living? Do not blame me for using my strength against the weak!" The old man with a white beard furiously raised his knife and swung it down towards the head of the phoenix. As the large knife swung, it created a whistling wind.

Seeing him shake a paper fan, a pair of sly eyes darting back and forth at her, was truly brazen and exceedingly annoying. Yu Feng, with a stunningly beautiful face, coldly averted her gaze, not even glancing at him.

The imperial carriage had long been forced to a halt, and the road ahead had unknowingly been completely blocked by the gathered onlookers.

The phoenix pushed aside the brocade robe, sat up straight, revealing an unprecedented calmness: "Who are you, the one who has come?"

What nonsense! There are hard points covering it! The old man with the white beard on the left has a much sharper insight than him

"Bold and unruly subjects!" Cao Huan rose abruptly, shouting, "All soldiers, heed my command. If anyone dares to disobey or defy orders again, treat them as rioters and rebels, and execute them without mercy!"

He is unclear about why he has wandered to Chang'an; perhaps it is merely out of boredom that he has followed a large group of suspicious martial artists to this place

The guards were no match for those individuals, retreating step by step, and in the blink of an eye, that group of mysterious figures had surged forward to the front of the princess's palanquin. These individuals not only possessed exceptional martial skills, but also struck with ruthless decisiveness, their movements as fluid as flowing clouds and running water, as if fighting was as natural to them as breathing.

The old woman's expression changed dramatically: "First, let's seize the person!"

However, among the onlookers, there were those with discerning eyes. An elderly woman dressed in a dark green shirt shook the long sword in her hand and shouted, "Little sister, we do not wish to make things difficult for you. Just put down the Princess Yufeng and leave quickly!"

"Sister, isn't this a bit too exaggerated?" Li Tong said with an embarrassed expression. Being adored by the subjects is a good thing, but being adored to this extent is rather terrifying.

Without waiting for her further instructions, seven or eight onlookers had already rushed forward, brandishing various weapons. Yu Feng felt a surge of anxiety; it was already nearly impossible for her to confront this large group of people alone, especially with Li Tong, who was unconscious beside her. Growing up in the palace, no matter how clever and resourceful she was, she had no experience in facing such a challenging situation.

The prestige of the Nangong family holds significant weight in the martial world, and Nangong Qing's statement naturally gives ample face to Old Wu. Moreover, after their initial exchange, Old Wu had already realized that Nangong Qing's martial skills were far superior to his own. At this moment, he snorted a few times and ceased to speak further

Avoiding the long sword, she turned around with a fierce gaze, exuding an air of elegance and nobility that momentarily stunned the assailants into hesitation. She extended her arms to block a group of martial arts masters and coldly declared: "If you wish to capture the princess, you must first pass through me!"

With a deft movement, the phoenix lightly tapped the tip of her toes on the back of the blade, giving it a gentle flick and kick. The steel knife flew out of the royal carriage with a whoosh, striking the assailant squarely in the chest. The man let out a muffled groan and fell to the ground, unconscious.

The four or five assailants were repelled three zhang away, each of them wearing an expression of disbelief on their faces, and those with slightly inferior martial skills were unable to withstand it, with a faint trace of blood at the corners of their mouths

The sound of "clang" echoed as the steel knife in the hands of the old man with a white beard was deflected, causing him to involuntarily take a step back. Suddenly, a young man appeared in front of Yufeng. Everyone was astonished, and the old man with the white beard felt both ashamed and embarrassed, his wrinkled face flushing red: "Nangong Qing, what do you want? Are you perhaps taken by this young lady's beauty and wish to take her home as your seventh concubine?"

He was taken aback, initially thinking he had misheard. Yu Feng then said: "Let's go! Leave..."

Witnessing this bloody turmoil unfold before his eyes, it is often said that a healer possesses the heart of a parent, yet he remained unmoved, not even a flicker of his brow.

Minister Feihu | General Cao Huan of the National Defense, in accordance with the Empress Dowager's decree, is tasked with escorting the princess on her journey to the Eastern Capital

That heart, yearning for an ordinary life, can no longer afford to turn back; having missed this opportunity, there will be no next time

The Phoenix smiled gently: "What if I say no?"

Cao Huan was fighting while retreating, feeling secretly anxious in his heart. He watched as the carefully arranged plan was unexpectedly disrupted by a group of highly skilled individuals who had emerged from nowhere. He was hesitating about how to explain the situation to Princess Taiping after everything was over. As his agitation grew with each passing moment, he suddenly found a soft, fragrant body thrust into his arms, startling him greatly. Upon focusing his gaze, he discovered that it was indeed the princess he had been seeking.

"Who are you? Clearly, it is your filthy little hand!"

Nangong Qing, ignoring the watchful gazes of others, turned around with a smile and said to Yu Feng: "I am Nangong Qing. Miss, you seem startled. May I ask for your esteemed name?"

Aunt ... ... girl, please ... ... He did not mind her aloofness, after all, there is plenty of time ahead. He is confident in his charm and believes that in the future, he will surely win the heart of the beauty.

"No, it’s not me... it has nothing to do with me..." That subordinate was so frightened that he stuttered while speaking. My goodness, how could he possibly have the courage to slap the boss in the face

The phoenix nestled against the embroidered phoenix brocade, smiling as it closed its eyes

"Ah, I didn't expect her to be such a tantalizing beauty!" Although the bald man had been kicked hard twice in the chest and spat blood on the spot, he had long forgotten who had caused him this pain, completely mesmerized, his eyes wide open and unblinking, as if they were about to pop out.

Bold! With a soft and crisp reprimand, the palanquin could not help but shake violently. In an instant, there was a loud crash, and dust flew up as the exquisitely beautiful palanquin suddenly collapsed.

Oh? She slightly furrowed her brows, feeling an indistinct sense that something was amiss, yet she could not quite articulate it at the moment

As the officers and soldiers drew closer, Nangong Qing knew he could not linger here for too long. He secretly contemplated how to quickly abduct the beautiful young lady before him, who was as lovely as a flower. Unexpectedly, Yufeng suddenly grabbed Nangong Qing's arm and said, "Take me away"

"Sister," Li Tong sighed, "I only realized today that Chang'an is indeed so prosperous. Not only that, but the people of Chang'an are even..."

Step back! The purple shadow swayed, the sound of garments rustled, and the Phoenix Rider took a deep breath, leaping three zhang into the air. She caught sight of a general not far away, commanding the guards in battle; it was none other than Cao Huan from earlier. Without time for further thought, she twisted her waist in mid-air and charged towards him.

A wandering drifter, aimlessly roaming the world!

The princess ... ... there has been a drought with no rain ... ... pleads for the princess to wield her divine power ... ...

"May I?" She widened her excited eyes in astonishment

Delicate as a flower, with tender cheeks, shining black eyes, exquisitely sculpted features, a graceful and charming figure, draped in flowing purple garments, standing elegantly... She is truly an unprecedented and extraordinarily beautiful young girl.

The honor guard passed through Chang'an Avenue, and as they passed by Mingde Gate, the entire city of Chang'an was in an uproar. Thousands of common people rushed to squeeze along both sides of the street, kneeling and bowing as the imperial carriage passed by, repeatedly calling out, "Long live the princess"

Although the number of rebels was not as great as that of the guards, each of them was agile and possessed exceptional martial skills, rendering the ordinary guards no match for them. In a short time, dozens were killed. The eunuchs and palace maids, who were utterly defenseless, were so frightened that they dropped their belongings and screamed in an attempt to escape with the onlooking commoners. Yet, they could not escape their grim fate, as countless were hacked to death or injured by indiscriminate blades, turning the streets of Chang'an into a river of blood.

Dressed in a full rose-red palace gown, with a golden hairpin and a swaying hairpiece, her delicate eyebrows are accentuated, and her earlobes adorned with pearl rings, she radiates brightness and vibrancy, showcasing the charm of a young girl. In comparison, Li Tong's elaborate attire naturally exudes a more regal princess demeanor.

Hehe, princess? What of the princess? Even if that old witch with the surname Wu were to come in person, I would still dare to make her regret it...

The scene became increasingly chaotic, and with the first instance of bloodshed leading the way, the guards grew bolder. The number of injured was rising rapidly, and the people's initial reverence turned to astonishment, and finally to anger, as they roared and fought with the guards. The sounds of wailing, curses, scuffles, and shouts intertwined in layers.

She finally left the palace and breathed the air outside the imperial city, which was truly the place that brought her comfort and joy

A piercing scream echoed as a middle-aged man at the front was slashed on the arm, and blood gushed out like a fountain

Once this path is taken, perhaps there will be no turning back!

With a stern expression, the Phoenix declared: "Do not harm the innocent!"

The cavalry led the way, followed by the infantry, as a formidable force of three to four thousand soldiers advanced with great momentum, causing the very ground outside Chang'an to tremble.

The phoenix suddenly opened its eyes, and a fleeting sharpness flashed in its gaze. The air was filled with the thunderous cheers, and it was evident that the procession behind the ceremonial hall had been dispersed by the crowd

Yufeng was momentarily taken aback, but soon grasped the subtlety of the situation—these individuals, judging by their accents, were certainly not residents of Chang'an. Their behavior was crude, their origins unclear, and they appeared to be accomplices; however, there seemed to be a certain wariness among them towards one another.

As commanded!" the guards responded in unison

A large crowd surged towards the imperial carriage, and the guards drew their weapons in an attempt to intimidate. However, the oncoming individuals seemed to be possessed by some madness, fearlessly charging forward one after another

A bald, muscular man jumped up from the ground, smacked his lips, and exclaimed, "This is really damn strange!"

Seated within the golden-topped, pale yellow embroidered phoenix sedan chair, she occasionally glanced around in a flustered curiosity, as the ceremonial procession stretched for a mile, with no end in sight. Pairs of dragon banners and phoenix standards, peacock feather palace fans, and colorful phoenix umbrellas boldly displayed the grandeur of the royal court. The palace maids held golden incense burners, wafting the imperial fragrance along the way, while the inner court officials carried scented handkerchiefs and dusters. The guards of the inner palace stood imposing and formidable.

Yufeng took the snow-melt flower dew tea handed over by Wu Qiu, took a gentle sip, and with a slight smile at the corner of her mouth, said: "You may as well wave your hand to thank your subjects and the common people."

Ah! Do not... a gleaming steel knife plunged into the royal carriage, startling Li Tonghua, whose face turned pale, and she screamed incessantly

"Your Highness, the emotions of the common people are too intense, causing the situation to spiral out of control. For the sake of safety, I humbly request that Your Highness turn the royal carriage around and return to the palace at once!" Behind a layer of brocade curtains, it can be faintly seen that a general clad in silver armor is kneeling upright before the imperial carriage.

Li Tong's face turned pale with fright, while Wu Qiu and Yan Jun huddled together, trembling. The three of them, with their slightly fearful eyes, stared intently at Princess Yu Feng, hoping she would make a decision soon

After seeing Li Tong off, she felt no more burdens in her heart and only wished to delay time as much as possible, allowing Cao Huan to take Li Tong further away.