MY PRINCE HUSBAND HAS SEVEN WIVES AND I AM HIS FAVOURITE!

The cold night air felt heavier as Hua Jing and Zhao Yan froze in place.

The shadow that had swiftly passed in front of them was gone, but the tension it left behind was suffocating.

Hua Jing’s heart raced as she glanced at Zhao Yan, whose face had turned sharp and alert.

"Did you see that?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Zhao Yan nodded. "Stay behind me," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Hua Jing frowned, but before she could retort, the faint sound of footsteps reached her ears.

She stiffened, her eyes darting around the dark valley. The moonlight barely illuminated the area, making it difficult to see beyond a few feet.

"There’s more than one," Hua Jing murmured, her voice trembling slightly.

Zhao Yan’s jaw clenched as he scanned the surroundings, his hand instinctively moving to where his sword would have been.

"Stay close," he said firmly.

---

The footsteps grew louder, echoing ominously in the narrow valley.

Zhao Yan positioned himself in front of Hua Jing, his body tense and ready to shield her if necessary.

Hua Jing, however, wasn’t convinced that staying behind him would help.

"If they’re surrounding us, being behind you isn’t exactly safer," she muttered.

There was danger lurking everywhere!

Zhao Yan shot her a glare. "Do you ever stop talking?"

"Not when my life’s on the line," Hua Jing quipped, though her voice lacked its usual bite.

Suddenly, a faint glow appeared at the top of the hill to their left.

Both of them turned towards it, their eyes narrowing.

The glow grew brighter, illuminating the valley bit by bit.

As the light spread, the shadows that had been hidden in the darkness became visible.

Dozens of men stood around them, their faces obscured by masks.

Each one held a bow, and the tips of their arrows were ablaze, casting an eerie orange light over the scene.

Hua Jing’s breath hitched as she counted their numbers.

Zhao Yan’s voice was low but steady as he said, "Don’t move."

The realization struck Hua Jing like a bolt.

"The arrows..." she whispered, her eyes fixed on the burning tips.

Zhao Yan glanced at her, his brows furrowing.

"They’re the same," she said, her voice trembling. "The same arrows that set the fire at your study!"

Zhao Yan’s eyes darkened as he followed her gaze to the fiery weapons.

It made sense. These were the people who had attacked the makeshift palace.

And now, they were here to finish what they started!

They heard footsteps from in front again and they quickly looked up.

The leader of the masked men stepped forward, his voice cold and mocking.

"Prince Zhao Yan," he said, his words dripping with disdain. "You’ve proven to be a troublesome thorn in our side."

Zhao Yan’s expression remained stoic, but Hua Jing could see the tension in his body.

"Who sent you?" Zhao Yan demanded, his voice commanding.

The man chuckled darkly. "Do you think we would answer that?"

Hua Jing’s mind raced. She knew Zhao Yan could handle himself in a fight, but they were outnumbered, and the fiery arrows added another layer of danger.

She took a step closer to him, her voice low. "What’s the plan?"

Zhao Yan didn’t look at her. "The plan is for you to stay out of the way."

Hua Jing rolled her eyes, her fear momentarily overridden by annoyance. "That’s not a plan. That’s barely a suggestion."

"Do you have a better idea?" Zhao Yan snapped, his eyes darting between the archers.

Hua Jing hesitated, her mind racing.

---

The leader raised his hand, and the archers pulled back their bows.

Hua Jing’s heart lurched as the fiery tips aimed directly at them.

Zhao Yan’s grip on her arm tightened as he pulled her closer.

"Run," he said firmly, his voice low and urgent.

"What?" Hua Jing whispered, her eyes wide.

"I said run!" Zhao Yan repeated, pushing her towards the opposite end of the valley.

But Hua Jing planted her feet firmly, refusing to move.

"I’m not leaving you here!" she hissed.

Zhao Yan turned to her, his eyes blazing. "You’ll only slow me down!"

"And you’ll die if I leave!" Hua Jing shot back, her voice trembling with anger and fear.

Zhao Yan froze. The words at the tip of his tongue were quickly swallowed back.

He could see the fear in her eyes and they made his heart tremble

The leader’s hand dropped, signaling the archers to release their arrows!

---

In that split second, Zhao Yan grabbed Hua Jing and dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the fiery rain that descended upon them.

The arrows struck the ground where they had been standing moments ago, the flames extinguishing in contact with the snow on the ground.

Hua Jing coughed as smoke filled the air, her eyes stinging from the heat.

Zhao Yan pulled her to her feet, his grip firm as he led her towards a cluster of boulders.

"We can’t stay here," he said, his voice clipped.

"No kidding," Hua Jing muttered, glancing over her shoulder at the advancing archers.

The ground was covered in a thick layer of snow, muffling their hurried breaths and footsteps.

Hua Jing crouched low behind the boulders, her eyes scanning the white expanse.

All around them lay scattered arrows, their once-flaming tips now extinguished by the snow.

The enemy’s fiery assault had failed, but the men were far from retreating.

Zhao Yan stood beside her, his sharp gaze fixed on the advancing figures.

"They’re coming," Hua Jing whispered, her voice tight with urgency.

Zhao Yan didn’t respond, his entire focus locked on the shadowed figures moving closer.

---

The crunching of boots against the snow was louder now, more distinct.

Hua Jing’s heart thudded in her chest as she heard the unmistakable sound of swords being unsheathed.

She turned her head slightly and saw their leader stepping forward.

His menacing grin sent a chill down her spine, colder than the snow beneath her feet.

There was hatred in his eyes, but something deeper simmered beneath the surface—something darker, more personal.

Hua Jing couldn’t tear her gaze away from him.

He wasn’t just here to kill...

He was here to destroy!

Zhao Yan shifted beside her, his stance widening as his hands curled into fists.

"Stay behind me," he murmured, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Hua Jing glanced at him, her lips pressed into a thin line.

"Again with that?" she muttered, but she didn’t argue further.

They moved back to back, revolving slowly to watch all angles, their breaths visible in the frigid air.

The enemy had formed a circle around them, their swords glinting faintly in the dim light.

"Do you recognize him?" Hua Jing asked quietly, her eyes flickering to the leader.

Zhao Yan didn’t answer immediately, but his jaw clenched.

"I don’t need to," he said after a beat, his voice colder than the winter wind.

Hua Jing felt the tension in his words. This was personal, even if Zhao Yan wouldn’t admit it.

The leader raised his blade high, his dark eyes locking onto Zhao Yan with a venomous glare.

He opened his mouth to speak but stopped, instead releasing a blood-curdling yell that echoed through the valley.

"Ahhh!"