***The Ambush at Black peak mountain***
Dawn crept over the Lian Valley far too quickly.
By the time the palace servants arrived to escort the "princess" to the imperial carriage, Xiu Mei and I had already exchanged identities. A heavy bridal veil concealed our faces, hiding the terror trembling beneath it. Thankfully, my father never came to see me off.
Or perhaps… he simply did not care enough to.
Xiu Mei climbed into the carriage in my place, her hands shaking beneath the layers of embroidered silk, while I followed quietly behind her dressed as her personal maid.
The moment the carriage doors shut and the wheels began to roll, my chest clenched. It was done and there's no turning back now.
We traveled along the hidden mountain route leading through Black Peak, the cold morning mist curling through the cliffs like wandering spirits. The deeper we went into the mountains, the heavier the silence became.
I pulled my cloak tighter around myself.
Jinhai would meet me at the hunter's shack near the western cliff before sundown. I only needed to endure a little longer.
Everything was going according to plan until a sharp whistle sliced through the air stopping our horses. Then, immediately, arrows rained down from the mountainside.
The horses shrieked, rearing violently as the carriage lurched to a halt. Outside, soldiers shouted in alarm, swords scraping from their sheaths as they scrambled to form a protective circle around the carriage.
"What happened?" Xiu Mei gasped beneath the veil.
Before I could answer, dark figures emerged from the fog between the trees. Masked and cloaked, armed with curved Xuan blades.
Assassins!!!!
"Assassins?..." Both Xiu Mei and I mumbled. My blood turned to ice. I immediately tore the veil from my face and peeked through the carriage window, only for my breath to catch in my throat at the sight before me.
Steel clashed violently against steel. Screams echoed through the mountains as Lian soldiers fell one after another, blood staining the rocky ground. The assassins moved with terrifying precision, cutting through trained guards as though they were nothing.
The assassins were overpowering our soldiers with ease.
"What's going on?" Xiu Mei asked already trembling.
"Assassin's, I think we're being ambushed."
"What!!! Ambushed??? Xiu Mei muttered, her face drained completely of color. Tears already shimmered in her frightened eyes. "W-what do we do?" She stammered.
"We run," I said quickly. "Now."
I grabbed her wrist and shoved open the carriage door.
The moment our feet hit the ground, we bolted into the trees, branches clawing at our robes as we stumbled through the thick fog.
"Wait!" Xiu Mei cried breathlessly behind me.
Then a shout rang out. "The princess is escaping!"
My heart stopped.
Three assassins broke away from the fight and chased after us through the forest.
We barely made it a few steps before they appeared in front of us, blocking our path as though they had materialized the whole mountains.
One of them laughed darkly. "Where do you think you're running off to... princess?"
Xiu Mei let out a terrified whimper and hid behind me, clutching the back of my robe with trembling hands. Both of us struggled to catch our breath, fear tightening around my chest like chains.
"Take the princess," one assassin ordered coldly. "They want her dead before she reaches the palace."
My heart slammed violently against my ribs. They? Who were they?
We slowly moved backwards as the assassins advanced toward us.
"W-what do you want from me?" I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady.
The men burst into laughter.
"From you?" one sneered. "We don't need you. We want the princess."
My mind spun. They thought Xiu Mei was me. Of course they did. I was dressed in a servant's cloak while Xiu Mei wore the bridal veil.
"But…" one assassin muttered as his gaze slid over me. A crooked grin spread across his face as he stepped closer. "You're quite pretty for a maid."
The others chuckled crudely.
"You could still be useful for some fun." He said giggling and the others join him but the laughter stopped instantly when i suddenly spat on his face.
His expression darkened with irritation as he wiped his mouth.
"Forget her," he snapped harshly. "Get the princess."
"No!" I cried out desperately as Xiu Mei sobbed behind me. "I'm the princess! Take me instead—let her go!"
They ignored me completely.
One assassin grabbed my arm violently and yanked me backward while another threw Xiu Mei over his shoulder.
"My lady!" Xiu Mei screamed, kicking helplessly. "Please! Help me! Don't let them take me!"
I struggled wildly against the man holding me, kicking and twisting with everything I had.
"Take me instead!" I shouted frantically. "I'm Princess Ruyue!"
He only tightened his grip.
Desperate, I bit down hard on his hand.
He cursed loudly and released me.
I stumbled free and ran toward Xiu Mei but before I could reach her, another assassin stepped forward and drove a knife deep into my stomach.
Pain exploded through me. A broken gasp escaped my lips as my knees slammed against the ground.
"No! My lady! No!" Xiu Mei screamed. She bit the assassin restraining her and threw herself toward me, collapsing beside me as blood poured through my fingers.
"Please don't die!" she sobbed hysterically. "Please—my lady—please!"
The assassin who stabbed me stared down in shock. "She bleeds like a servant," he muttered. "This… this might not be—"
"Too late," the leader snapped sharply. "We need to move before someone finds us!"
Two assassins seized Xiu Mei again, dragging her toward the ravine path.
"Kill her and throw her off the cliff," the leader ordered, staring at me.
"No!" I cried weakly, my hands slick with blood as I struggled to rise. "Please… listen to me… I am Princess Ruyue…"
Then suddenly, the sharp clash of swords rang through the mountain air and a quick scream followed.
Xiu Mei is dead!
I slumped sideways, my vision fading in and out, unable to move. Then I saw a glimpse of a figure approaching me.
The last thing I saw before darkness swallowed me whole was a pair of fierce storm-gray eyes staring down at me.
Then strong arms lifted me gently from the ground.
"Miss… stay awake," a low voice murmured near my ear. "Stay awake. You're safe now."
And then everything went dark.