Yuan Yintang's fingers, poised to draw his bow, faltered.
Disregarding the deadly arrows, Sang Zhi rushed to Ye Qianning's side and spread his arms to shield her.
"Don't harm the Eighth Prince!" Yuan Yintang waved his hand frantically.
The archers redirected their arrows, loosing them toward Zhan Chi, Gu Shuo, and the others.
Ye Qianning caught the flicker of panic in Yuan Yintang's eyes. 'If anything happens to Sang Zhi, Yuan Yintang won't be able to answer to the Emperor.'
"Eighth Prince, the Emperor sent me to escort you back to the palace. It would be best if you did not associate with these traitors who plot against the throne," Yuan Yintang said, stepping forward one pace at a time.
"They are not traitors!" Sang Zhi retorted, his fair face filled with fury.
"Do you intend to defy an imperial edict, Eighth Prince?"
"So what if I do? Do you dare to kill me?" There wasn't the slightest trace of fear in Sang Zhi's eyes.
