After being reborn, I stole the female lead's cheat ability and raised the empress.

Chapter 145 Misfortune

Zhao Jihua and the Ninth Prince fled desperately along the rugged mountain path, their clothes torn by thorns, their breathing rapid and heavy.

However, at this moment, they only had one thought in their minds:

Damn it, run!

Behind them, a group of men in black pursued relentlessly like ghosts, their chilling killing intent filling the air.

"Quick, we can't let them get away!" the leader of the men in black whispered.

Their footsteps were exceptionally clear in the silent forest, each step sounding like a countdown to death.

Zhao Jihua and the Ninth Prince ran wildly towards the mountaintop, tree branches whipping their faces and leaving bloody marks, but they dared not stop for a moment.

Sweat soaked their backs, and their heartbeats roared like thunder in their chests.

Suddenly, the Ninth Prince slipped and nearly fell.

Zhao Jihua reacted quickly and caught him.

Before I could even feel relieved, I lost my balance...

Both of them tumbled down the slope.

After landing, they quickly stood up and continued running.

Fortunately, this roll created distance between him and the man in black.

They discovered a snake hole hidden in the grass.

Outside the cave, the python's body was partially visible, its scarlet tongue flicking out.

"There's no other way, I'll have to fight!" The Ninth Prince gritted his teeth and drew his sword.

Zhao Jihua followed closely behind, and the two engaged in a fierce battle with the python.

After a fierce battle, the python finally collapsed in a pool of blood.

They didn't even have time to catch their breath before quickly hiding in the snake hole.

However, the smell of blood still attracted the men in black.

"There's blood here!"

The voice of the man in black echoed outside the cave, carrying a chilling aura.

"Everyone inside, get out right now, or I'll suffocate you with smoke!"

Before long, a pungent smell of herbs wafted into the cave.

"They want to smoke us out!" Zhao Jihua covered his mouth and nose, his brows furrowed.

The Ninth Prince's face was gloomy, and his eyes searched anxiously inside the cave.

Just then, he inadvertently noticed a hollow sound coming from one side of the cave wall.

With a hard tap, the plaster peeled off.

"Over here!" the Ninth Prince called out in a low voice.

The two followed the opening and crawled into a hidden cave.

But before they could even breathe a sigh of relief, they heard the sound of men in black rustling as they crawled into the cave.

A tense atmosphere filled the cave, and both Zhao Jihua and the Ninth Prince were on tenterhooks.

The cave was very empty; the only place where people could hide was a pool of water next to it.

Without hesitation, the two quickly submerged into the pool. Zhao Jihua grabbed two reeds to breathe and used them to conceal themselves.

At this moment, the man in black entered and searched the cave.

"Aren't they here?"

"A man in black said in confusion."

"It's on the mountain! Everyone, search carefully again!" the leader roared.

As the group of people walked back and forth by the pool, Zhao Jihua and his companion's hearts pounded in their throats. They dared not move, fearing that they might be discovered by accident.

Time passed second by second, but the men in black still hadn't noticed them.

Suddenly, someone squatted down and asked, "Is it possible that it's in the water?"

Everyone immediately gathered around.

"I think it's possible, after all, we've searched the whole area."

"It's possible they're not even in here..."

"What about the python outside? It looks like it's been chopped up!"

"It's also possible that they were simply blocked by the python, and after killing the snake, they continued their escape."

"Should we go and investigate?" someone asked the leader.

The two men in the water gripped their daggers tightly, ready to fight them to the death if necessary.

Just then, a noise came from outside.

"Everyone! Chase them!" The leader immediately led his men in pursuit.

……

In the pool, Zhao Jihua and the Ninth Prince relaxed their tense nerves a little.

They climbed out and sat on the shore to rest.

"Thanks to you this time."

The Ninth Prince looked at Zhao Jihua with gratitude in his eyes, but at this moment, both of them were soaked, and her exquisite and graceful figure was on full display.

He added, "Don't worry, I will definitely take responsibility for you! I will go to the Prince of Jin's residence to propose marriage as soon as I return to the capital."

"Your Highness, it is my duty to protect you," Zhao Jihua said sarcastically.

She thought to herself, "I asked you to cooperate, and you really treat me like your possession."

They still want to trap me.

The Ninth Prince, however, did not notice her unease and continued, "I almost died several times today, but I wasn't scared at all because you were by my side."

He looked at her, his eyes filled with deep affection: "Actually, I fell in love with you at first sight!"

Zhao Jihua: !!!

Their eyes met, and in this life-or-death moment, he no longer concealed his feelings for her. "When I was thirteen, in the Buddhist hall of West Mountain, the Third Prince declared himself the future ruler, and everyone asked him to explain his strategies for governing the country. His answers were incoherent, but you stood up and spoke eloquently, saying exactly what I was thinking. I fell in love with you at first sight. Back then, you were dazzling, while I was just a lowly prince with little presence, too afraid to approach you. So I studied hard to become stronger, just so I could be closer to you and see you... Actually, I really didn't want that position, but I could see that you wanted it. If you wanted it, I was willing to be the shoulder to support you."

He said so much in one breath, and when he mustered up the courage to look at Zhao Jihua, he found that she had already lost in thought.

Ninth Prince: "..."

Seeing the Ninth Prince staring at her, she quickly said, "Huh? What?"

He took a deep breath and repeated what he had just said.

Zhao Jihua sneered inwardly, "Ha! You actually think you can use sweet words to make me wholeheartedly serve you?"

However, she remained composed and dignified: "Ah! Well, I didn't know we had met so long ago. I was just helping the Third Prince out of a predicament. I also didn't know you had liked me for four years. But thank you for liking me and for supporting my ideas. You are the first person besides Li'er to support me. I am willing to consider you one of my own, but if you do anything to betray me or the Prince of Jin's mansion..."

“Jihua, actually I have always…” Before the Ninth Prince could finish speaking, he suddenly felt the temperature around him rise sharply.

And there was also the smell of burning hay.

"Oh no, they've set the mountain on fire!" Zhao Jihua exclaimed.

"After all, we are on the mountain. The only option is to set the mountain on fire. We will either be burned to death on the mountain or run out and be killed by them."

The fire spread rapidly, and thick smoke billowed into the cave through the snake hole.

The two had no choice but to hide at the bottom of the pool again, trying to escape this deadly threat.

But as time went on, the smoke inside the cave grew thicker and thicker.

The two inhaled a large amount of thick smoke, felt dizzy, and their consciousness gradually faded.

"Jihua, hold on..." The Ninth Prince's voice grew weaker and weaker.

Zhao Jihua wanted to respond, but found that she had no strength left.

Ultimately, the two sank to the bottom of the pool.

The fire grew larger and larger, and the entire hilltop was engulfed in flames.

The firelight illuminated the sky, creating an apocalyptic scene.

The fates of Zhao Jihua and the Ninth Prince remain unknown, their destinies becoming increasingly uncertain amidst the raging flames...