Struck

"Zhang Zhengyang if you're there let me out…I…I can't breathe." She lied.

There was no response.

"Zhang Zhengyang I really can't breathe, I'm going to die if I stay in here any longer!"

"Zhang Zhengyang!"

"Zhang Zhengyang!"

Xiao Chen looked at his master, he didn't know whether to get up or not, only after Zhang Zhengyang nodded did he get up to help Zhao Xing out.

The girl had a frightened look on her face, as her eyes darted towards the Crown Prince. "Are you alright?"

Zhang Zhengyang raised a brow as if saying 'what does it look like' her eyes inspected him from head to toe, then turned to Xiao Chen next to her.

"I'm afraid you won't be able to stay safe just by staying in there, with all the noise you make."

Zhao Xing's brows creased, she didn't have time for meaningless conversations.

"How is the situation?"

Xiao Chen hesitated whether he should report the happenings to her, he turned to his master.

"I'm fine so it's not too bad."

"…??"

Zhao Xing wondered why he was so calm with all that was happening, even if someone has seen death a thousand times, could they still be this calm?

She turned to the window, and was going to pull the curtain.

"Zhao Xing don't cause trouble and sit down." The Crown Prince's tone changed, and wasn't as relaxed as it was a moment ago. Her actions halted and she sat down looking wronged.

She had just wanted to see what was happening outside, but she remembered Xiao Qi had also told her this before. Of course she should know it was dangerous, but she just wanted to take a peek, was there anything wrong with that?

Zhang Zhengyang had a frown when he looked at her, and was suddenly annoyed at how silly she was.

The carriage went on for a while, but soon came to an abrupt stop.

"What is it this time?" Zhang Zhengyang asked irritated.

"Master…they're here…"

Zhang Zhengyang sighed and stood up to get off the carriage.

"Master…" Xiao Chen wanted to stop him, but his master's warning gaze stopped him.

Zhang Zhengyang looked at Zhao Xing whose complexion had turned pale.

"You stay here, Xiao Chen watch her for this prince."

"Zhang Zhengyang…" How could she let him go out alone? But what could she do even if she went with him? So instead of saying whatever she had in mind she looked at Xiao Chen, "Why don't you take Xiao Chen to protect you?"

"No, the Shadow Guards are already here." He had made so many preparations just for this day, only he knew just how vicious his fourth brother was. But he wasn't going to let him have his way.

Zhao Xing could only keep quiet.

More men in black awaited them just ahead. Zhang Zhengyang was sure the carriage wouldn't be safe if he remained in it. A fight had already started between the two sides, as he stepped out of the carriage his men surrounded him to protect him.

"Master should remain in the carriage, it's safer." One of the men said as they blocked an attack from an assassin.

Zhang Zhengyang didn't pay them any heed and joined the fight.

"What about the others?"

"Reporting to master, they have subdued the enemy."

Of course his shadow guards and the normal guards that followed him around weren't at all on the same level. Zhang Zhengyang nodded.

It was no different this time, the assassins were quickly wiped out by the Crown Prince's people. Peace returned to the forest.

"Master we checked, there's no identification on them."

Zhang Zhengyang chuckled, "Is there a need? Only one person is daring enough to hire this many people to kill this prince."

Zhao Xing was still in the carriage with Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen had been restless, but he couldn't disobey his master. Once he saw that the situation had calmed down, he quickly got off, "Master!"

Zhao Xing who had been worried the whole time also followed behind him. But when she came out the scene made her dizzy.

"Zhao Xing!" Zhang Zhengyang saw her and his face changed.

The smell of blood was so strong and the scene was gory. She saw Zhang Zhengyang covered in blood and didn't know if he was hurt or not, her heat beat erratically.

Her eyes turned red, and her lips began to tremble. There was so much blood! She had never seen such a scene before.

She quickly rushed to his side.

"What are you doing out here I told you to stay inside."

She didn't listen as made her way towards him, walking over the bodies scattered over the ground.

Zzzt-

The girl was just about to reach his side, who would have thought and arrow came flying and struck her, piercing through her right shoulder.

"Zhao Xing!"

Zhao Xing's eyes widened from the shock. The sharp pain stunned her, her eyes that had been on the Crown Prince slowly turned to look at where the pain was coming from.

But she didn't have time to see what it was that had wounded her, her vision quickly became blurry and she passed out.

The Crown Prince watched as the girl fell down and became among all those who lay on the ground lifelessly.

His men quickly became alert. It seemed their enemies hadn't been completely taken care of.

Zhang Zhengyang felt his heart drop, and he couldn't move. His feet seemed to have been planted in that position.

It was just like that time.

["Mother."

"Xiao Yang is here." The Empress was happy to see her son. "You rarely visit, I thought you had forgotten about me."

Zhang Zhengyang, smiled, "How could I? I'm your son, I could never forget about you."

That day he had spent the whole afternoon just him and his imperial mother. But when he was on his way leaving, the servants had screamed behind him.

When he turned around, he found his mother had fainted. A few hours after that, she was declared dead.]