With a squelching sound, the sharp weapon pierced flesh, blood splattering, staining Meng Jinse’s face, yet her face was filled with astonishment.

An arm was placed in front of her, the sharp hairpin already embedded in that arm.

"Master!" King Rui’s subordinates exclaimed.

King Rui dodged the hairpin swiftly, without a blink, pulled it out of his arm, and casually tossed it aside.

His face was enveloped in coldness, ignoring the bleeding from the wound, his eyes fixed on Meng Jinse, "Do you really want to die that much?"

For the first time, Meng Jinse felt fear, not because she lost courage but because she felt some guilt.

No, she wasn’t wrong; she didn’t ask him to save her, nor did she ask him to meddle; moreover, it was he who forced her to this point!

If he hadn’t captured Princess Diao Bin and insisted on using her for exchange, how would it have come to this?

Meng Jinse’s gaze gradually regained firmness, losing all hesitation and bewilderment.

"Jinse!" Bai Ruozhu’s heart was still pounding, eyes welling up with tears, but fortunately, she was unharmed.

"Even if you compel me to stay, as long as I have the chance, I will still seek death. I’m the daughter of the Meng Family; I won’t bring shame to the family." Meng Jinse’s gaze grew colder, staring at King Rui.

King Rui showed a painful expression, refusing even his subordinates’ attempt to bandage him.

"I have ways to make you unable to die even if you want to." He gritted his teeth and said.

Bai Ruozhu stepped forward, "King Rui, a twisted melon is not sweet; let Jinse go. To snatch someone against their will brings no joy, what’s the point?"

King Rui sneered, "What do you know? Over time, affection will grow. A day as a couple, a hundred days of grace; I don’t believe she doesn’t care for me at all."

"Your positions are different, and you’re a fugitive; would you really drag her into being captured with you?" Bai Ruozhu spoke, secretly signaling behind her back.

She came to buy time, giving the Astrologer a chance.

Now, drizzle started falling, Bai Ruozhu breathed a sigh of relief, it was the Astrologer’s Yin Yang Rain.

Even though the Yin Yang Rain was ineffective against humans, it could restrain demons and evil filth; the nearby Great Formation formed by poisonous insects restrained them, as the insects were evil things.

Indeed, the effect of the Poisonous Insect Array slowly diminished; Jiang Yichun exchanged a look with Bai Ruozhu, and instantly a mass of water vapor formed under King Rui’s feet, condensing into an ice river the next moment.

"Save her!" Bai Ruozhu shouted, charging at Meng Jinse as King Rui was held back by the ice underfoot, yet his hands were not idle, striking a palm toward Bai Ruozhu.

Bai Ruozhu gathered her inner strength to meet the strike, but King Rui’s inner strength was too deep; she was knocked back repeatedly, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

Jiang Yichun supported her, "Are you okay?"

"Don’t mind me, hurry and save her!" Bai Ruozhu anxiously pushed him.

The ice could only hold temporarily, the effect of the Yin Yang Rain was short-lived; miss this chance, and it would be too late.

Jiang Yichun rushed forward and engaged King Rui, who was holding Meng Jinse with one hand, only able to fight back with the other, appearing somewhat at a disadvantage.

Bai Ruozhu quickly approached, using poison and looping behind to rescue, yet King Rui would rather be stabbed by a dagger than let go of Meng Jinse.

"Careful!" Meng Jinse shouted, suddenly turning to block in front of King Rui.

King Rui took out a Heaven-shaking Thunder, just about to hurl it at Bai Ruozhu and others, but with that block, the Heaven-shaking Thunder fell right at his feet.

With a boom, both he and Meng Jinse were blasted away, yet even so, he tightly protected Meng Jinse, his back an indistinct mess from the explosion, while Meng Jinse in his arms remained unscathed.

"Cough, cough..." He got up, coughing up blood, "Are you insane?"

Meng Jinse furiously pulled out the hairpin from her head, "Yes, I’m insane; I’d rather die than go with you, die!"

The hairpin pierced down sharply, King Rui did not evade, watching as the hairpin penetrated his chest.

"How could you be so heartless?" He said weakly.

All the pent-up emotions in Meng Jinse released with that stab; terrified, she hurriedly withdrew, retreating in a panic.

Bai Ruozhu rushed over to support her, but she looked in horror at the blood on her hands, repeatedly saying, "I killed someone, I killed someone..."

"It’s okay, it’s okay, it’s all over, I’ll take you home." Bai Ruozhu comfortingly patted her back, soothingly reassuring her.

King Rui looked at her with no hatred, only despair and pain, "Meng Jinse, you’re so heartless!"

Meng Jinse trembled but dared not look back, as King Rui’s men quickly mobilized, Bai Ruozhu hurriedly pulled Meng Jinse, fleeing to the distance.

Suddenly, cries of battle approached; government soldiers, having received news, rushed in!

King Rui’s men carried him away swiftly, Meng Jinse couldn’t help but glance back, just seeing King Rui’s eyes slowly closing, an arm dropping limply.

"He’s dead..." She said softly, eyes dry without tears, yet severely distressed.

Bai Ruozhu hurriedly led her away, "Don’t think about it, it’s all over."

The government soldiers pursued them, killing many of King Rui’s remnants, but ultimately found no trace of King Rui’s body; Bai Ruozhu and her group were invited into the Imperial Palace, naturally including the just-rescued Diao Bin and Meng Jinse.

"Meng Family contributed to the assassination of King Rui, awarded the rank of First-Class Female Officer, and may return to Beiyu City to reunite with family immediately."

The emperor’s rewards were quickly announced, and the first award went to Meng Jinse, who sat in a daze, incapable of any gratitude, without an ounce of response.

Bai Ruozhu hurriedly pulled her to kneel in thanks, making an excuse, "Jinse was struck on the head by King Rui, needs a period of proper recuperation."

After all, the emperor’s men were far away and might not have seen clearly.

"This time the Meng Family suffered grievances; I’ll bestow more medicinal supplements. Bai, Chief Doctor, see to her proper care." Observing Meng Jinse’s condition, Tang Yin felt a bit of sympathy.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Bai Ruozhu bowed her head, now it should be Diao Bin’s turn, right?

Tang Yin glanced at Diao Bin, "Royal Sister, is there nothing you want to explain to me?"

Diao Bin knelt with a thud, "Diao Bin greets Royal Brother, making him worry."

"Worry? It’s much more than worry, isn’t it?" Tang Yin’s voice slightly heightened.

"Royal Brother, I was sent to Fusang by Wu Yunfeng’s men, experiencing peril time and again, truly exhausted." Diao Bin grimaced wretchedly, "If not for this status, how would these things happen?"

"Is that what a princess should say?" Tang Yin’s tone softened somewhat; the phrase "peril time and again" made his heart skip.

At this point, someone announced outside, saying that Prince Xi had come and wanted to see his aunt.

Before Tang Yin could speak, Prince Xi had already trotted in with his short legs, "Auntie, Auntie..."

He barely knew how to speak, only able to call out "Auntie."

Prince Xi quickly spotted the white-haired Diao Bin, excitedly rushed over, "Auntie!"