Chapter 8

Ten years ago, I had just turned eight.

That year, the Dog Emperor issued an imperial decree, demanding the lives of my entire family.

My grandfather needed to evacuate the Northwest Army, so he told my mother to take the three of us siblings and leave first.

Unexpectedly, on the way to Qingzhou, we were attacked by bandits.

The guards fought desperately, carving a bloody path for us.

At the time, our horse was injured and couldn’t run fast.

Zhao Jingcheng shrank in my mother’s arms, crying loudly in terror.

Zhao Mingyue was even paler, her delicate voice trembling as she sobbed, “Mother! If those people catch us, I’d rather die.”

I gripped the dagger tightly in my hand, focusing intently on the sounds outside.

Old Qin was driving the carriage. He said urgently, “Madam! We’ve reached a fork in the road. You should get out of the carriage and take the left path. I’ll drive the carriage to the right to confuse the bandits!”

But my mother didn’t listen to Old Qin at all.

After glancing at me, she pushed me out of the carriage with all her strength!

I hit the ground hard, stunned and dazed.

Old Qin jumped down to save me.

At that moment, my mother seized the reins and drove the carriage away.

The bandits behind us were closing in fast.

Old Qin cried out anxiously, “What is Madam doing!”

I thought to myself, my mother is truly clever.

She knew that after throwing me out, Old Qin would fight to the death to protect me.

That way, she could seize the chance to escape.

Old Qin gripped his blade, his eyes bloodshot as he said, “Miss! Run quickly! Even if I die, I’ll protect you.”

I turned to look at the dust kicked up by the horses and said softly, “Old Qin, I won’t die, and neither will you. We must both survive.”

Even if we are humiliated and trampled, we must survive.

I remembered that year, when my father shielded me in his arms.

His blood soaked through my clothes, and his body gradually grew cold.

The last thing my father said was, “Yunshu, you must live.”