Masquerade in Bridal Attire and Marry the Prince

13. Refuse to Give up Up

Translator: Antonia

What kind of cooking fire could be in the wilderness! Obviously someone was trying to set fire to the mountain!

Yuxing Tianrui’s first reaction was to check Du Chuyue. He turned around, only to see that woman holding a pie and gulping like a tiger, without any demeanor of lady. At once, he turned back in rage.

“Your Highness. What should we do now?” The military advisor was anxious because there were still archers opposite them. As long as they showed up, arrows would be instantly shot at them. If the fire was built, they would all die of burning or smoke. The soldiers were alright, but the Crown Prince shouldn’t be stuck here.

Yuxing Tianrui narrowed his eyes, squatted down to touch the dirt on the ground. He was about to say something, when he heard that voice saying smugly, “His Highness is the real son of heaven, blessed by heaven. Don’t worry. He’ll find a way to take us out.”

If these were said by others, Yuxing Tianrui wouldn’t say anything even if he didn’t like it. However, now the apple-polisher was no one but Du Chuxuan. It gave him a feeling of being stung at the lip by a mosquito while drinking water—uncomfortable and wanting to bite back!

“Since my sweet said so, you’re also one of my beneficiary. What’s your clever advice?” Yuxing Tianrui patted the dirt off his hands, poised to wait for his reaction.

Du Chuxuan almost wanted to slap himself. He was just trying to win a round but forgot that this man was only meek to soft methods instead of tough ones. Now, the stone fell on his own feet.

Receiving the admiring eyes from the guards, Du Chuxuan found himself up a gum tree. Moreover, he was the one who had dug this pit.

He paced back and forth pretentiously for a while and finally sighed helplessly, “We do have a solution, but it’s a bit dangerous.” Meanwhile the smoky smell became stronger.

Those standing on the outer side already covered their mouths and noses with their clothes damp with water and looked to Du Chuxuan expectantly. Aware of the urgent situation, he told them the solution as fastest as he could. But to his surprise, the first one opposing to the solution was Yuxing Tianrui.

“No. I said no. I mean it. Anyone among so many men can go. I can’t let you, a woman, to be the vanguard!” When he said this, Yuxing Tianrui’s breath was unsteady and his face flushed, “Don’t think I’m biased towards you. It’s only because of your identity.”

Du Chuxuan didn’t care about the real reason and believed this proud spoiled boy wouldn’t speak the truth. He checked the dagger on his waist and asked, “Who do you think can go through the narrow slit to the east besides me?”

Du Chuxuan was very thin, so although he was tall, no one could tell he was in fact a man. Yet, there was a person who better suited this task, that was Yuxing Tianrui. But no one dared to request their Crown Prince to protect the rest of them.

Everyone lowered their heads. Flames of anger shot out from Yuxing Tianrui’s eyes, his fists clenching hard in the sleeves, “Fine. As you wish. But if you can’t complete the task, then you’re no longer my princess!”

Du Chuxuan was a little surprised. To others, this was a threat, or even a military order. But only he understood the undertone behind Yuxing Tianrui’s words, that was if he couldn’t complete the task, he could find a way to escape and let heaven decide his life and death.

If Du Chuxuan ran away on him, he also left the constraints of the imperial family and was set free ever since. Immediately understanding this spoiled prince’s intention, he somehow felt a slight ache in his heart.

He pinched on his thigh so as to fight back the tears welling up. After all, he didn’t want to be emotional before others and waved his hand carefree, “Don’t worry, Your Highness. I tried all means to climb onto this position, of course I’ll try my best to defend it.”

Finishing that, ignoring Yuxing Tianrui, who nearly jumped up from anger, he drew out the dagger to hold it in his hand, threw the long scabbard on the ground, and bent down to climb into the slit.

Only after he climbed halfway and felt dizzy did Du Chuxuan start cursing. Damn it. He didn’t expect the claustrophobic feeling in the narrow space beforehand.

Was he pushing himself to death?

He gritted his teeth and made an inches-long cut in his arm. In an instant, blood oozed out. But for the dim lighting, only the sight of the fresh blood was terrifying.

It was only three hundred meters from the platform where they rested to the place where explosives were set, but it took Du Chuxuan half an hour to climb there.

“Your Highness, Her Highness hasn’t returned yet. Did anything happen to her?” As the smoke got denser, the soldiers on the edge began to move towards the inside.

The rocks on the edge were heated up. Soon, this place wouldn’t be suitable for people to stay. They must be prepared to transfer to another place.

Yuxing Tianrui pulled a cold face and didn’t speak. One must admit that he did look terrifying when he was expressionless. The imperial demeanor he born with made others forget the amiable look he usually displayed.

“The princess hasn’t come back yet. Anyone wants to move? Try it.” Yuxing Tianrui said it coldly, but inside, he was anxious and restless.

He didn’t know what that woman had done to him. The woman who obtained the position of the Crown Princess through schemes. However, on the thought that she might die somewhere, he felt a surge of unspeakable pain.

The military advisor frowned and stamped his feet because he knew he couldn’t persuade the Crown Prince anymore. Hence, he began to consider other solutions. He planned to wait for another quarter. If she still didn’t return, he would knock out the prince and carry him away. No matter what, at least they could fight their way out to send the prince back safely, even if it meant a huge casualty!

There, Du Chuxuan didn’t know that those people were already impatient. He felt painful all the way here, but this was the only way to keep himself sober.

However, the soberer he was, the greater the fear. At last, he even couldn’t tell whether he was struggling to suppress his fear or simply to keep going on.