They traveled several dozen miles further, when suddenly a hundred cavalrymen appeared ahead. Their killing intent was palpable, blocking Chu Mo and his companions.

From a distance, the lead knight shouted loudly, "Halt! If you advance any further, we will not show mercy!"

At his command, the hundred cavalrymen drew their bows, aiming their arrows at Princess Nayi and her party.

The atmosphere quickly became tense!

Chu Mo, standing next to Nayi, clearly saw her expression change slightly. A strong sense of anger flashed in her eyes.

A knight beside Nayi shouted, "Brother Baduo, it's me, Han Feng! Last year at the royal court, I invited you for a drink. Don't you recognize me?"

At the knight's words, the leading knight made a hand gesture. Hundreds of cavalrymen stopped their actions and lowered their bows, but they did not put them away.

This caused Chu Mo to frown slightly. He didn't believe these people didn't know their identities. This hostile behavior was clearly telling them—

We are not welcoming you here!

This situation was almost exactly as Chu Mo had predicted earlier.

Seeing Nayi riding by his side, her chest heaving with anger, Chu Mo softly said, "Don't be angry, remember, we expected this."

"Yes, I will listen to you." Nayi replied softly and muttered, "I wonder where my aunt has gone."

"So it's Brother Han Feng, sorry, I didn't recognize you. What brings you and your party suddenly to the Haoyue Tribe?"

At this point, Han Feng, the knight, was silently cursing: Could they be more pretentious? They must have heard about the incident at the royal court and yet they put on this show, what's their intention?

However, he could only keep these thoughts to himself. The situation was different now. In the past, Baduo might have rushed to greet him with cordial and enthusiastic attitude, being careful not to offend him, a knight from the royal court.

"Ah!"

Han Feng sighed deeply then rode his horse forward to Baduo. With a bitter smile, he said, "Haven't you heard what happened in the royal court, brother Baduo?"

Baduo, a thirty-something bronzed man, with bright eyes had an air of cunning. He wasn't denying anything and replied, "Yes, I heard about the sudden deaths of the king and queen. Jin Ge and Yin Ge have taken control of the royal court, accusing the princess of causing trouble. They have ordered all tribes to capture the princess once she is spotted."

As he said this, there was a trace of anger in Han Feng's eyes, which he suppressed and asked solemnly, "Brother Baduo, you don't believe these slanders, do you?"

Baduo let out an awkward laugh, "As a small insignificant person, my words don't matter, but the elder has said that the princess is virtuous, so naturally, she couldn't have done this."

With these words, some of Han Feng's anger disappears. "The princess is in our ranks, could you please send someone to inform your elder that the princess has come to visit."

In Baduo's shrewd eyes a trace of contempt flickered. He thought disdainfully, Visit? Now she's a fleeing princess, and still trying to put on airs, thinking she still is the pearl of the prairie?

Of course, he wouldn't dare to say such words aloud. With a glimpse at the distant crowd and a fist salute, he said casually, "I did not know the princess has arrived, please forgive me for any offense!"

Then, he nonchalantly ordered his men, "Go, inform the elder that the princess has arrived!"

There was a flash of cold light in Han Feng's eyes. The knights of the royal court, not only have martial skills, they also receive the best education in the entire prairie.

Even if compared with top academies in Great Qi or Great Xia, it wouldn't be inferior.

Therefore, each of the knights has both literary and martial talents, and must not be underestimated.

Seeing Baduo's indifferent attitude, Han Feng wanted to cut him down in anger.

Such disrespect towards the princess of the royal court was truly detestable!

However, on Baduo's face was a careless smile. He clearly saw Han Feng's displeasure, and it was exactly what he wanted!

He was actually wishing for Han Feng to say, "I do not understand manners. If I say something offensive, come and fight me!"

All these actions were clearly instigated by someone higher up. Otherwise, as a small tribe knight captain, how could he be so arrogant in front of the princess?

At this moment, Baduo was feeling somewhat disappointed. He'd thought that by this disrespect towards the princess, the knights would react out of anger, even though the princess could tolerate it.

He was even looking forward to the knights getting angry and starting a fight.

That way, he would have an excuse to kill all the loyal guards around Nayi—

Without leaving a single one!

With only Nayi and her brother left, would their fate not be up to them?

However, to his disappointment, although Han Feng looked angry, he surprisingly did not lose his temper.

"Damn, he can really endure!" Baduo couldn't help but curse in his heart.

Far away.

The third prince, Lie Ge, who was riding with Nayi, couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "What a despicable creature, relying on others for power and treating us with such disdain, despite the kindness my father and mother showed them in the past. We raised a pack of ingrates!"

"Control your words. Remember to keep thoughts like that to yourself, never let them escape your lips! When you meet your uncle later, you must show respect, understood?" Nayi's eyes were slightly reddened as she softly educated her brother. Yet inside, was she not also filled with grief?

"Sis, don't worry, even though I'm young, I understand everything. Our father is no longer here, and beyond the title of prince, I am nothing. Moreover, this prince's title is like a sharp sword, ready to take my life at any moment," Lie Ge quietly confessed, his young face filled with indignation. "One day, if I, Lie Ge, manage to grow up safely, I won't let any of those who betrayed the royal court go unpunished!"

Chu Mo gave Lie Ge a deep look, thinking to himself: children who grow up in the royal family are indeed different, able to express such thoughts at such a young age.

Nayi lightly patted her brother's head, heaving a sigh, without speaking a word.

Pang Zhongyuan comforted them from the side, "Your Highness, don't worry... Let's follow Young Master Lin's plan. If they are too enthusiastic, it will only make matters more difficult for us."

Nayi nodded, taking a deep breath.

At that moment, a cavalry in the distance was rushing towards them at high speed.

From afar, a woman's cry could be heard, "Where are my pitiful niece and nephew? You bunch of imbeciles! How dare you stop my niece and nephew! There will be consequences to deal with later!"

Baduo's face took on an awkward smile as he fist-palmed towards Han Feng, "Apologies, brother Han Feng, I'm only doing my duty... No offense meant."

Han Feng gave an insincere nod, "No problem!"

Whoosh!

A woman, riding atop a colossal black horse, shot through the crowd towards Nayi, with a large troop of more than three hundred cavalrymen roaring behind her.

They began to disseminate into a fan-shape behind Baduo's cavalry, seemingly forming an enclosure around Baduo and his men.

Baduo's face turned unpleasant, and he slightly furrowed his brows but didn't say anything. Instead, he motioned for his men to put down their weapons and not to act rashly.

The cavalrymen were all royal knights!

The true elites of the prairie!

All of them had come when Princess Baolian was married off to the Haoyue Tribe.

Despite many objections, the king had divided his royal knights to accompany his beloved sister.

Hence, Princess Baolian had always had immense respect for her brother. The news of her brother's and sister-in-law's tragic deaths had made her cry and curse Jin Ge and Yin Ge for their beastly acts for days on end.

If not for Elder Haoyue's intervention, this cultured and martial princess would have stormed the royal court with her men to settle the score with Jin Ge and Yin Ge long ago.

Upon hearing that her niece and nephew were not welcomed into the tribe at once, the fiery-tempered princess fervently reprimanded a messenger knight and led her men out immediately.

Princess Baolian knew well the internal state of the Haoyue Tribe; her silence did not mean she was ignorant, but that she simply could not be bothered.

With a suspicion that her niece and nephew might be in danger, she was immediately enraged and rode out in her former style as a princess, heedless of the consequences.

Nayi and the young boy in her arms cried out "Auntie" upon seeing the approaching woman, and bolted towards her.

The woman atop the towering black horse leapt into the air from a hundred feet away, and strode on the void to reach Nayi.

Such prowess belonged only to a Yellow Rank martial artist!

Sitting on his horse, Chu Mo's eyes flashed, thinking to himself: This once princess of the royal court... is not to be underestimated!

By this time, Princess Baolian had reached Nayi, grabbing Nayi and Lie Ge into her arms, weeping like rain, "My poor children, you've suffered so much. For all your pain, I apologize. Your aunt should have been there for you sooner!"

Unable to hold back their tears, Princess Nayi and Lie Ge cried in their aunt's arms, their grief rendering them speechless.

Pang Zhongyuan and the other knights were tight-lipped, their eyes welling up as they looked away.

Had it not been for maintaining their composure as men, these people would have broken down in tears.

This journey had been too hard. The few surviving from the thousands of royal knights who had set out initially spoke volumes to their ordeal.

If not for meeting Chu Mo later, they all would have died before reaching Elder Haoyue's tribe.

After a while, the aunt and the two children gradually calmed down from their crying.

Her eyes swollen from crying, Princess Baolian, holding Nayi and Lie Ge, gently said, "Everything is alright now, you don't need to be afraid. Your aunt won't let anyone harm you, not even a bit! No one has the right!"

Her voice was soft, but her words were stubborn, unyielding, and decisive.

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Emerging from the dark room after a day of typing, I've finally finished today's update. So hungry I'm seeing stars, um... I'd appreciate some votes for comfort.