There is a dense forest several miles southeast of Yuehu Town, which is rarely visited by people. However, at this time, dozens of riders have been secretly staying here for nearly ten days.

  In front of a spacious small earth slope in the dense forest, there was an exquisite little tent. With this little tent as the center, all the knights dispersed around it. Their mission was to protect the people living inside the tent.

  A sudden, urgent footstep sounded from the south, these knights were extremely vigilant, with several pairs of eyes fixed intently on the direction of the sound. Several small crossbows had already been slowly cocked, and the dark arrowheads glinted with a faint, ominous light. Even the air was filled with a tense atmosphere.

  Two figures finally appeared in the eyes of those knights, they simultaneously let out a sigh of relief, and the opened crossbows quietly closed. The two of them traveled unimpeded all the way to the small tent.

  "Mr. Zhang, I've scouted the roads, all the exits are blocked." Liu Zhengzhong said hastily, his breathing still a bit unstable, to be able to exhaust this second-rate master to such an extent, it's imaginable how much road he had run.

  "Alas... I didn't think our whereabouts would be exposed after all." Zhang Zihua sighed helplessly.

  "Why don't we guard Your Highness and find a weak point in their defense to break through?" Gao Chengwei said in a deep voice.

  Liu Zhengzhong replied: "As things stand now, there is no other way but this."

  Everyone's eyes were fixed on Zhang Zihua, waiting for him to make a decision.

  Zhang Zihua's face was gloomy, and he remained silent for a long time. Although he didn't know how the Xiongnu people were able to track their route, he knew that at this point, there was no room for him to drag things out any longer.

  Although the Huns' exact location was still uncertain at this time, their encirclement network was shrinking and would continue to shrink until they were found. In any case, a decision had to be made, and they could not wait for death with folded arms.

  "Mr. Zhang, the number of Huns is not enough after all. If we choose a place to launch a surprise attack, with our advantageous position and my skills, we can definitely keep Your Highness safe." Liu Zhengzhong advised him by his side.

  The commander of the Yellow Dragon Army knew that if he couldn't persuade this person, then Crown Prince Liu Zhengyi would never leave.

  "Break through? I'd like to ask, sir, if we were to alarm the Xiongnu people, how would you plan to deal with their relentless pursuit and attacks? What assurance do you have that you can safely escort the prince to the east?" Zhang Zihua asked coldly.

  Liu Zhengzhong's face changed instantly, he gritted his teeth and said slowly: "This old minister will do his best."

  Gao Chengwei shook his head, although he didn't say anything, it was clear that he had no confidence in this.

  "Actually......" Liu Hualiang muttered to himself.

  "What did you say?" Liu Zhengzhong asked in surprise, unable to hear clearly.

  Liu Hualiang looked at Zhang Zihua and hesitated to speak.

  "It doesn't matter, just speak," Zhang Zihua instructed.

  Liu Hualiang, under everyone's gaze, had a layer of mist on his forehead. He looked up and met Liu Zhengqi's impatient gaze, his heart skipped a beat, and he immediately said: "Just now when I was scouting with the commander-in-chief, I saw that the Xiongnu people pay special attention to those with disabilities in their right hand. Once they discover it, regardless of whether it is true or not, they will be arrested on the spot. So I think they must have received news about Mr. being by the emperor's side. Why don't we ask Mr. to stay here for a while, and we..."

  "Nonsense!" Liu Zhengqi shouted in anger, cutting him off.

  Liu Hualiang lowered his head and didn't dare say another word.

  Zhang Zihua's face grew increasingly somber, and he turned to ask Liu Zhengzhong: "Commander Liu, is this true?"

  Liu Zhengzhong nodded silently, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense. No one dared to speak again, and the dead silence in the air made people feel suffocated.

  "So that's how it is. I didn't expect Zhang to be the one holding you back, Your Highness." Zhang Zihua let out a long sigh, breaking the deathly silence.

  "Zi Hua, don't talk nonsense. You are Gong's left and right arm, how can you be a burden to him?" Liu Zheng Qi immediately vetoed.

  Zhang Zihua smiled slightly, the gloom on his face dispersed, as if the clouds had parted to reveal a bright and sunny smile: "The Xiongnu people are doing this for me, it's just right for my use, Your Highness should be safe now."

  His expression was extremely rare, and Liu Zhengzhong and others had seen it for the first time in recent days, and they couldn't help but feel a stir in their hearts.

  Liu Zhengqi's heart beat faster, and a bad omen rose inexplicably. He stared at the chief minister's eyes and asked: "Zi Hua, what did you say?"

  "It's nothing," Zhang Zihua said calmly.

  His gaze at Liu Zhengqi was filled with too much reluctance and attachment, at this time, he was no longer the ruthless and unfeeling prince's strategist, but just an ordinary person who couldn't let go of his heart.

  But in the next moment, his eyes became strong again, a kind of unyielding persistence that cannot be described in words.

  "Your Highness, I am leaving." Zhang Zihua smoothed out his robe and heavily knelt down on the ground.

  Liu Zhengqi angrily said: "Don't spout nonsense." His voice also had some uncontrollable trembling.

  "Your Highness, I'm leaving now. Please take care of yourself from now on." Zhang Zihua didn't seem to hear the rebuke and continued to instruct: "Tan Hongda, the commander of the Qilin Army, was a favorite general of the previous emperor and is also a relative of Your Highness's maternal family. He will definitely not betray you. However, in today's chaotic world, after arriving at the Qilin Army, Your Highness must not act rashly. You should hide your strength and wait for an opportunity to strike."

  Liu Zhengqi's mind was in a mess, he hastily said: "Zi Hua, you don't have to say anything else, no matter what, I won't let you leave."

  Zhang Zihua looked at him and suddenly smiled: "Since Your Highness is determined to do so, then this humble subject will obey."

  Liu Zhengqi let out a deep breath and said, "I knew Zihua wouldn't abandon me."

  Liu Zhengzhong and others looked at Zhang Zihua, their eyes filled with surprise, perhaps with a hint of disdain.

  Zhang Zihua was about to speak when he suddenly turned pale and stared at Liu Zhengzhong on the left side of the Crown Prince, asking in surprise: "Commander Liu, what are you doing?"

  Liu Zhengqi was taken aback and subconsciously turned his head to look around. He only saw Liu Zhengzhong's face full of astonishment, with a bewildered expression in his eyes. He was puzzled in his heart and was about to ask when he suddenly saw Liu Zhengzhong's face change greatly, stretching out his hand as if beckoning something.

  The back of his head throbbed with pain, and Liu Zhengqi suddenly felt dizzy and stumbled, fainting away. His soft and limp body seemed to have lost all its bones, collapsing to the ground.

  Under everyone's astonished and uncertain gaze, Zhang Zihua stretched out his left hand, which had just knocked the crown prince unconscious, to support his limp body.

  Liu Hualiang took a step forward, taking Liu Zhengqi from his hand, and looked up with a look of shock in his eyes.

  "Mr. Zhang, what do you mean by this?" Liu Zhengzhong asked.

  "The great leader must have known this already, why ask?" Zhang Zihua said calmly.

  Liu Zhengzhong hesitated for a moment, then said: "Actually, sir, there's no need to do so. Just hide here for a while and wait for the Xiongnu people to withdraw before coming back to meet with us."

  Zhang Zihua glanced at him and smiled: "General, are you still in the mood to joke? The Xiongnu have set up such a formation, they must be determined to capture the prince. You have many people and obvious characteristics, it's not easy to escape."

  "Alas... Since it's come to this, I'll accompany you on this journey, sir." Gao Chengwei had been silent all along, but finally spoke up.

  "Highly respected, your martial arts skills are exceptional and your experience is rich. The Crown Prince is now wandering the rivers and lakes, in dire need of your great protection. Absolutely cannot act impulsively, following Zhang Mou to a pointless death." Zhang Zihua furrowed his brow, firmly refusing.

  Liu Hualiang looked at Liu Zhengqi who was unconscious in his arms and gently patted him, calling out: "Your Highness..."

  His wrist was suddenly tightened, and a cold but extremely powerful palm had firmly grasped him, as if an icy iron cuff that made one's blood run cold.

  Zhang Zihua's face gradually lost its color, he shook his head and said softly under the gaze of everyone: "These days, His Highness has been tired, let him rest well for a while."

  Liu Hualiang stared at his bloodless skin, but the chill in his heart gradually dissipated, replaced by a surge of turbulent waves.

  "I'm going with Mr." Liu Hualiang's voice was firm and proud.

  Shaking his head gently, Zhang Zihua sighed: "Hualiang, you've been in the mansion for over ten years now."

  "Yes, sir."

  "After I leave, there will only be you left in the mansion, so take care of yourself." Zhang Zihua patted his shoulder, and at this moment, he was like a kind elder chatting with his own children and grandchildren.

  "You..." Liu Hualiang called out softly.

  "Shh..." Zhang Zihua placed his finger in front of his lips and blew softly, saying: "Don't disturb His Highness."

  Liu Hualiang's movements came to a sudden stop, as if he had been struck by a hidden acupoint, and he didn't move at all.

  Zhang Zihua smiled faintly: "You must live on, live for me, and take care of the princess." The smile on his face grew brighter, but it was still pale and lifeless: "Your only flaw is that you're too soft-hearted, you need to change. Whether it's for your own sake, mine, or...the princess', you must change, no more showing mercy like a woman."

  Liu Hualiang's lips trembled slightly, but he couldn't say a word.

  Zhang Zihua straightened his back, he was not tall and big, but he had a majestic momentum like a towering mountain.

  His gaze turned to Gao Chengwei and Liu Zhengzhong, and he bowed deeply to them, saying: "Zhang will entrust the imperial edict to you two."

  The two of them simultaneously returned the courtesy, their faces changing color with uncertainty.

  Zhang Zihua gazed at the unconscious crown prince for one last time, then suddenly turned around and strode away with a swish of his sleeve. A moment later, a faint neighing sound came from outside the dense forest, and more than ten riders had already departed into the distance.

  In front of everyone, it seems that the lingering and determination of that one glance still remain. A person's eyes can also express such rich emotions in an instant.

  He is Zhang Zihua, his eyes are as clear and calm as ever, but he has disappeared from the sight of everyone, and it's a permanent disappearance.

  PS: Recommend the new book "Killer's Love" by a beautiful female author, hehe, not just me promoting it, many big shots are also promoting it. The link is below, click in directly. Book number: 110550

  Tomorrow is May 1st. Last week's double update has exhausted the heavens. Today, I'll take a rest and only update one chapter.

  I should also spend more time accompanying our little princess at home.

  However, starting from tomorrow for a week, it will still be two updates per day. I won't say more, please support me with your monthly tickets, brothers!

  Old book friends all know that my limit speed is two days and three chapters, but if the monthly ticket list can have a good ranking, then this month will definitely guarantee one day and two updates.

  If there is a passable ranking within seven days and before the end of the month, even if it's just an excuse, heaven will explode once or twice.

  Click to view picture link: Killer's Love