chapter 11

The cold was unbearable.

Shen Yue hit the water hard, the impact knocking the air from her lungs. The river surged around her, dragging her under before she could gasp for breath. Her limbs flailed as she struggled to reach the surface, but the current was merciless, pulling her deeper into its dark depths.

Just as her vision blurred, a strong arm wrapped around her waist.

Li Han.

He held her tightly, kicking against the current as he fought to bring them to the surface. They broke through, gasping for air, only to be swept further downstream by the relentless flow. Shen Yue clung to him, coughing violently as the freezing water stole her breath.

"Hold on," Li Han said, his voice strained.

They crashed against jagged rocks, barely managing to stay afloat. The river twisted and turned, until finally, they were thrown into a calmer stream that led to the shore.

Li Han dragged them onto the muddy bank, collapsing onto his back as he caught his breath. Shen Yue lay beside him, trembling from the cold. The sky above them was darkening, signaling the approach of night.

After a long silence, Shen Yue turned her head toward him. "Are you hurt?"

Li Han exhaled sharply, sitting up. His robes were torn, his hands scraped, but nothing seemed too serious. "I'll live. You?"

She shook her head, though the exhaustion in her body told another story. They had survived—but they were far from safe.

"We need to move," Li Han said, scanning their surroundings. The dense forest stretched endlessly, offering no clear path. "The assassins won't stop until they confirm I'm dead."

Shen Yue shivered, both from fear and the cold. "Who sent them?"

Li Han's expression darkened. "The Third Prince."

Her heart pounded. She had heard rumors of the Third Prince's ambition, but to openly send assassins after his own brother? It was far more dangerous than she imagined.

Li Han stood, offering her a hand. "We can't stay here."

She took his hand, allowing him to pull her up. "Where do we go?"

"There's a hunting lodge nearby," he said. "If we reach it before nightfall, we'll have shelter."

They moved cautiously through the forest, their soaked clothes clinging to their skin. The air was thick with tension—every snapped twig, every rustling leaf sent Shen Yue's heart racing.

As they walked, Shen Yue couldn't help but glance at Li Han. He was silent, his gaze focused, but she could see the weight of everything pressing on him.

After a while, she spoke. "Why would the Third Prince want you dead so badly?"

Li Han hesitated before answering. "Because I am in his way."

The bitterness in his voice told her there was more to the story. She wanted to ask, but the sound of distant hooves made them both freeze.

Someone was approaching.

Li Han grabbed her hand and pulled her behind a thick tree, his body tensed for a fight. Shen Yue held her breath, gripping the folds of her wet dress tightly.

The riders slowed as they neared, their torches flickering in the dim light. The crest on their armor was unmistakable.

The royal guards.

Li Han let out a quiet sigh of relief. "It's my men."

Stepping out from their hiding place, he raised his hand, signaling to the leader of the group. The captain, a tall man with sharp eyes, dismounted quickly.

"Your Highness!" he bowed. "We have been searching for you since the attack." His gaze flickered to Shen Yue. "And Lady Shen…?"

"She was caught in the ambush," Li Han said firmly. "She stays with us."

Shen Yue met the captain's scrutinizing gaze, her back straightening. Whatever scandal her presence might cause, it was the least of their concerns now.

"We ride for the capital," Li Han ordered. "And I want every trace of those assassins erased."

The captain nodded, signaling the men. Within moments, they were on horseback, riding through the night.

As Shen Yue held onto Li Han, her heart pounded with a different kind of fear.

This was not over. If anything, it was only the beginning.