Chapter 168

Qiao Nian had actually seen the slowly approaching team.

She rode her horse quickly for several days, not daring to rest much along the way. After learning that Xiao Heng led his troops up the mountain to rescue Jing Yan last night, she hurried here!

But...when that team really appeared in her sight, she suddenly didn't dare to take another step forward.

I'm afraid that if I get closer, I will see the image that has been denied countless times in my mind, but still pops up for no reason.

She only dared to stand there and wait for the team to approach.

She thought that Jing Yan would definitely recognize her and run towards her.

Unexpectedly, the team also stopped.

She was stunned and couldn't help but look towards the front of the team. She saw that figure with the sun behind him, and the blood all over his body was particularly dazzling.

That's... Xiao Heng?

Qiao Nian didn't dare to admit it.

In her reflection, Xiao Heng had always been high-spirited and had never looked so decadent and depressed.

So, did you lose?

Couldn't even Xiao Heng defeat those bandits?

What about Jing Yan?

Qiao Nian's eyes looked at the team behind Xiao Heng.

Like Xiao Heng, everyone in the team was more or less stained with blood.

Was Jing Yan also injured?

Just like them, his face was blurred by blood, so she couldn't recognize him right away?

They were too far away, and Qiao Nian couldn't see clearly at all. Seeing the team standing still, he had no choice but to ride his horse again and move forward.

As she got closer, she could finally see the faces of the soldiers in front of her.

There is no Jingyan.

So, she never stopped and continued to move forward.

When passing by Xiao Heng, a very familiar scent came vaguely, but she deliberately ignored it.

She didn't even look at him and continued walking into the line.

Xiao Heng's hand suddenly tightened the reins.

Waves of dull pain hit his heart, but he just lowered his eyes slightly and didn't move at all.

He knew that Qiao Nian didn't ignore him on purpose, she just really didn't see him.

In her heart now, there is only Jing Yan.

Finally reaching the front of the team, Qiao Nian got off his horse and scanned the faces of the soldiers in the first row one by one.

There is no Jingyan.

Second row, no.

There is no third row either...

She searched row after row, but never saw Jing Yan.

until……

She saw the rear of the procession, followed by a herd of horses.

Some seriously wounded soldiers were riding horses, but not all of them were.

Some are carried on piggyback.

Qiao Nian panicked.

She knew that only dead people would be carried like this.

But as if possessed, Qiao Nian recognized Jing Yan almost at a glance.

The one with dried blood on his body but no color on his face, the one being carried is Jing Yan!

His legs went weak for a moment.

Qiao Nian almost fell to the ground.

No, it won't.

She must have seen it wrong!

She quickly withdrew her gaze. She didn't believe it was Jing Yan!

Her heart felt as if she had been stabbed by something, and the pain made it difficult for her to breathe.

But as if to confirm something, she looked over there again.

But this time, she could no longer deny it.

That one is Jing Yan.

It was Jing Yan who swore he only loved her and said he would protect her with his life!

But why did he really lose his life?

She walked towards Jingyan step by step.

Until, when she walked in front of Jing Yan, she looked at his side face lying on the horse and couldn't help but stretched out her hand.

She thought, maybe, he just fell asleep?

Was he tortured by bandits for too long, so he couldn't bear it anymore and fell asleep?

Her hand was shaking violently, but she finally touched his cheek, but his face was so cold.

Qiao Nian's eyes suddenly heated up and she burst into tears. The emotions that had been accumulated all the way finally broke out quietly at this moment...

"Jingyan..."

She called softly, her voice was soft and thin, as if she was afraid of waking him up.

But, she obviously wanted to wake him up!

So, her voice became louder again, "Jing Yan, it's me, I'm here to find you."

The man on horseback showed no reaction at all.

She shouted louder and even started to shake Jing Yan's body, "Jing Yan, wake up, don't scare me!"

But Jing Yan won’t wake up.

I will never wake up...

Seeing Jing Yan being shaken off his horse.

At the critical moment, a figure appeared behind Qiao Nian and pulled her into his arms.

"He's dead!"

Qiao Nian didn't believe it and struggled. She wanted to wake Jing Yan up!

But the person behind her kept dragging her back, "He's dead! Jing Yan is dead!"

dead...

Qiao Nian's body suddenly stiffened. She saw Jing Yan's body almost falling off the horse, and the soldiers on the side hurriedly stepped forward to help him up.

From beginning to end, the figure lying on the horse did not show any signs of life.

Dead?

Just like her grandmother, don't want her anymore?

Tears kept rolling down, Qiao Nian stared at Jing Yan's closed eyes, hoping that he would open his eyes to see her in the next moment!

But, those eyes were closed tightly, motionless...

She finally understood that Jing Yan was really dead...

But at this moment, the vaguely familiar fragrance came again. Qiao Nian was stunned for a moment, and then slowly turned around.

The person behind him is Xiao Heng.

No...

No!

Qiao Nian's hand began to touch Xiao Heng's body, "Give it back to me, give it back to me!"

That was the sachet she gave to Jing Yan, the spices she made by herself, and the smell was very familiar to her!

How could it be on Xiao Heng's body?

Why on earth is it on Xiao Heng's body!

That was Jing Yan's!

She gave it to Jing Yan!

Her hands were tearing at his clothes, as if she didn't see that he was also covered with wounds.

Those bandits were extremely vicious, and he was once besieged. How could he not be injured?

But Qiao Nian didn't care, she didn't care about him at all.

Her hands were tearing at his wounds, as if she wanted to tear his flesh apart.

It hurts, it hurts...

Obviously, the person she cared about the most in the past was him!

Obviously, after seeing him injured, she cried more sadly than when she was injured herself.

But why doesn't she care at all now?

The wound that had finally stopped bleeding was torn by her and started bleeding again.

Seeing Qiao Nian's emotions gradually getting out of control, Xiao Heng had no choice but to raise his hand knife and knock her unconscious...

That night, Hezhou County Court.

There was only a dim candle light in the room where Xiao Heng rested.

He sat in front of the table, holding in his hand the sachet stained with Jing Yan's blood, which Qiao Nian wanted to take back even if she went crazy.

He had never seen her so crazy before.

He remembered that Qiao Nian had given him one a long time ago. Where did he put it?

Xiao Heng's eyebrows twisted slightly.

I don't remember...

He had never cherished and kept the things she gave him like Jing Yan did.

Even after being tortured by the bandits for so long, the sachet was still intact.

In his mind, he suddenly remembered what Jing Yan said before he died.

He said, protect her for him.

A hint of gloom appeared in his deep eyes.

Xiao Heng never thought that one day, his protection for her would become another man's last wish before his death.

"General."

A voice suddenly came from outside the door, interrupting Xiao Heng's thoughts.

"Miss Qiao has woken up and is clamoring to send Deputy General Jing's body back to Beijing overnight."