Chapter 5: The Bandit Encounter
"Give us your money!" the leader of the bandits barked, his face twisted and ugly, with a scar running down his cheek and a menacing grin that revealed yellowed teeth. "Princess, I'm scared," Chen Xiu whispered, her voice quaking with fear.
"I'm scared too," Princess Hua admitted, tears streaming down her cheeks. Suddenly, the bandit leader stepped closer, his eyes glinting with malice as he reached out to touch her face. "Don't take only her; take them too for our lord," he sneered, and the other bandits erupted into laughter.
"Your Highness!" Chen Xiu cried, panic rising in her chest. Just then , a voice broke through the chaos. "Young master, is that not Princess Hua?" It was Bao, Wang Wei's loyal guard, who had traveled with his young master and Mei in search of a cure for Mei's dumbness.
"Let's go!" Wei, another companion, urged, but instead of following, Mei dashed toward the princess, throwing stones at the bandits. "Ah! Ah!" she laughed, mocking them. Princess Hua was taken aback, surprised to see Mei there.
One of the bandits, enraged, drew his blade, aiming for Mei. But before he could strike, a sword flew through the air, hitting him squarely in the head and beheading him. The remaining bandits, stunned, turned to face their attackers. Bao charged forward, his training evident as he engaged the bandits in combat.
Wei, despite being in a wheelchair, fought valiantly. He maneuvered with surprising agility, using the wheels to propel himself forward. With a swift motion, he kicked out at one bandit, sending him sprawling to the ground. He swung his arms with precision, catching another bandit off guard and delivering a powerful punch that sent him reeling. The others, taken aback by his skill, hesitated, giving Bao the chance to take down another bandit with a well-placed strike.
The fight was fierce, but together, they overpowered the bandits, leaving them defeated and bloodied on the ground. Princess Hua and Chen Xiu stood frozen, shocked by the violence and the bloodshed that surrounded them.
"Mei, let's go!" Wei commanded, but Mei, undeterred, took Princess Hua's hand. "Mei!" Wei yelled at her, frustration evident in his voice. Bao, sensing the urgency, gestured for Mei to come with him, but she stubbornly refused to leave the princess's side.
As they began to move away, Princess Hua and Chen Xiu ran after them, calling out, "Wang Wei!" But he remained silent, his focus on the path ahead. "Wang Wei!" she called again, her voice filled with desperation.
"Your Highness," Chen Xiu panted, struggling to keep up. "Please, we need to go!"
"Wang Wei, thank you for saving me," Princess Hua said, her heart racing. Yet, Wang Wei did not respond, signaling Bao to wheel him away. She stopped him again, her determination unwavering. "Wang Wei, I am engaged to you. Why can't you give me a reply?"
"Princess, our engagement has been cut off," Wang Wei replied, his tone cold and distant. Mei, holding onto Princess Hua's hand, looked up at her with wide eyes, sensing the tension.
"Your Highness, you are fast," Chen Xiu said, finally catching up to her. Bao leaned in closer to Wang Wei, whispering, "It seems Wang Mei likes Princess Hua. Why don't you just marry her?"
Wang Wei's expression darkened, and he hit the armrest of his wheelchair in frustration. "Wang Wei, let's get married," Princess Hua declared, her voice filled with a mix of hope and desperation.
"Young master, why don't you just marry her?" Bao suggested again, his voice low and conspiratorial.
Wang Wei took a deep breath, his expression softening slightly. "Okay, let's get married on two conditions..."