Why My Domineering Prince Regretted Filing for Divorce?-Chapter 426 - 373: Not Targeting Her, That Means—

"Watch out!"

Nie Chong’s cry echoed through the entire valley, but it was already too late.

A boulder fell from the sky, about to crash into the carriage.

The boulder was as large as half the carriage, and after rolling down, it carried a force of a thousand pounds. If it struck, not only the carriage but even the people inside would be smashed to bits.

People around immediately started shouting in horror—

"It’s over!"

"Get out of the way!"

The chaotic cries instantly filled the valley, yet the people in the carriage seemed unresponsive, and the boulder was already close to rolling down.

At this moment, a roar suddenly erupted from the crowd!

Shantong’er leaped off the horse, raising a massive copper hammer high and slamming it down hard on the carriage’s shaft. The coachman sitting at the front was so scared, he tumbled down, clutching his head.

With a loud crash, the shaft was smashed, wood splinters flying, and the startled horses neighed loudly and galloped forward.

The carriage shuddered and came to a halt far away.

Shantong’er, quick-eyed and nimble, swung the copper hammer in his other hand with great force, delivering a thunderous strike on the carriage!

The massive carriage was pushed back several meters by his hammer!

Just as the carriage was pushed aside, the boulder crashed down.

Directly, it hit the ground right in front of Shantong’er!

Shantong’er was knocked back, landing on his back, while the nearby horses reared up in fright, their cries piercing the valley, and others’ legs turned to jelly, with a few even collapsing to the ground!

So close!

Sitting on the ground, Shantong’er saw the boulder a mere hand’s width from his feet. If he had been a moment slower or taken a step forward, he might already have been crushed to a pulp!

Thinking about it, he felt his legs grow weak.

At this moment, a hand reached out from behind, resting on his shoulder. Shantong’er turned to see a grave-faced Shen Wuzheng.

At some point, he had dismounted and walked over. He said to Shantong’er, "Are you alright?"

"I—"

Shantong’er wanted to say something, but his voice trembled, making it hard to speak.

For the first time, death felt so close.

After struggling for a while, he finally squeezed out a sentence from his throat: "I’m okay."

After speaking, he took a deep breath to calm himself and quickly said, "Brother Shen, go and see if Sister Ruyi and Yu Wen’s second brother are okay!"

Shen Wuzheng looked up, frowning slightly.

The carriage had taken a heavy hit, skidding several meters away and crashing into the mountain wall. Although the door was smashed in half, it had at least avoided the boulder and should be fine.

But why was there no sound from inside?

At this moment, a figure dashed over—none other than Tushere. The sight had scared her witless, and now she rushed to the carriage, her voice tinged with tears, urgently shouting, "Miss! Miss, are you alright?!"

But still, there was no sound from the carriage.

At this, unease spread across everyone’s faces.

Shen Wuzheng frowned deeply. Although his face showed little expression, his heart seemed to hang in the balance, and he walked slowly toward the carriage.

Just as he was about to reach out and push open the remaining half of the broken door, a familiar voice came from behind the carriage—

"Brother."

"...!"

Shen Wuzheng’s eyes widened.

Everyone immediately looked behind the carriage, and saw a rider emerge slowly—not someone else, but Shang Ruyi, whom everyone thought was inside and possibly in danger!

She still looked a bit shaken, but she was unharmed!

Following slowly behind her was Yu Wenye, riding Black Cloud Stepping Snow, his face serious, cold eyes seeming to hold a layer of frost.

They were both unharmed!

The crowd was both surprised and delighted, initially not able to react, but Tushere suddenly burst into laughter through tears, joyfully saying, "Miss, you’re alright!"

"..."

Shang Ruyi remained silent, gently shaking her head.

Feeling residual fear, especially as she saw the boulder up close, smashing a deep pit into the ground, and the carriage crashing into the mountain wall, mostly destroyed, she felt a cold sweat on her back, almost soaking her clothes.

At this time, Shen Wuzheng finally relaxed completely.

He discreetly let out a breath, while Shantong’er, with wide eyes in disbelief, said, "Sister Ruyi, you and Second Brother weren’t in the carriage?"

Shang Ruyi shook her head again, softly saying, "After the rain stopped, I didn’t want to sit in the carriage anymore, so when we entered the valley, I dismounted and rode in with him."

"..."

"It’s just that I didn’t want you to worry about me, so I stayed behind—"

As she spoke the last few words, her voice trembled slightly. Yu Wenye, who had been standing beside her expressionlessly, continued, "I never thought I would not only escape a disaster but also avoid a hammer."

Hearing this, Shantong’er scratched the back of his head and laughed naively.

Although Yu Wenye’s words carried a hint of ease, for those who heard them, there was no such relief. On the contrary, when everyone looked at the giant rock again, their mood grew heavier.

If they hadn’t happened to get off the carriage, if Nie Chong’s sharp ear hadn’t warned them in advance, if Shantong’er’s innate Divine Power hadn’t acted in time, it’s likely the two of them wouldn’t be standing here joking in front of everyone now.

This giant rock was enough to crush them on the spot!

It wasn’t until this moment that everyone barely regained their composure. Someone couldn’t help but wonder, "Why did such a big rock suddenly fall?"

"Yes, it’s strange."

"Could it be that—"

Yu Wenye suddenly turned to Nie Chong and asked, "Did you hear something just now?"

Nie Chong nodded and immediately raised his hand to point upward, "I heard someone talking up there."

Everyone followed the direction of his finger and looked up. It was indeed where the giant rock had fallen from. Along the cliff, there was a mark where the giant rocks had rolled and crushed. Looking further up, there was the mountain top, so high that it was beyond their line of sight, at least dozens of feet away.

As they looked at that moment, there were only some lush shrubs and rugged rocks, with no sight of anyone.

Shantong’er said, "There’s no one there."

Nie Chong said calmly, "I couldn’t have heard it wrong."

Yu Wenye’s expression darkened, "Mu Xian, immediately take people up there and check it out!"

"Yes!"

Mu Xian took the order and quickly led a few subordinates to make their way up the mountain. Meanwhile, Yu Wenye glanced at the now useless carriage and said, "It’s still not safe here. Let’s first leave this valley."

Indeed, everyone was quite frightened by the massive rock earlier, whether it fell unintentionally or for some other reason. If another rock were to fall, no one could guarantee it wouldn’t land on their heads. This place was far too dangerous, so everyone didn’t dare complain and hurriedly moved forward.

Finally, as the sun set, they exited the valley.

Since they took the small path and couldn’t find an inn, and there were no villages around, they found a water source and set up camp there. Although it was already the peak of summer in August, spending the night in the wild, especially after so much rain, the ground was still somewhat damp and cool. Yu Wenye immediately ordered a fire to be lit and sat by the fire with Shang Ruyi.

Shang Ruyi sat on a mat, staring at the flickering flames in front of her.

Seeing the firelight reflected on her slightly pale face, Yu Wenye said, "You’ll have to put up with it tonight."

"..."

Hearing this, Shang Ruyi glanced at him, then gently shook her head, "I don’t mind this."

After all, she had just narrowly escaped death.

Just thinking that if the two of them had been in the carriage, even if they weren’t crushed to death by the giant rock, they would have lost half their lives from Shantong’er’s hammer. Shang Ruyi felt there was nothing to complain about.

Heaven has already been very kind to her.

It seems always to provide her an unexpected way out at the most crucial, life-and-death moments.

At this time, Shen Wuzheng walked over and sat across from them. Upon seeing him, Shang Ruyi immediately put on a smile and said softly, "Brother, that was close just now."

Shen Wuzheng knew she was intentionally comforting him and remained silent for a moment before saying, "As long as you’re okay."

Shang Ruyi nodded.

Shen Wuzheng then looked at Yu Wenye, "Mu Xian and the others haven’t returned yet?"

Yu Wenye glanced back. At this time, the sky was already dark, and they had moved far from the cliff, making it impossible to see it. He turned back and said solemnly, "Not yet."

Shen Wuzheng said, "From the tone of Nie Chong, he probably didn’t hear wrong."

"..."

Yu Wenye and Shang Ruyi exchanged a glance but said nothing.

Although they had only been together for a mere two or three days, they had already witnessed the power of Nie Chong’s "Sharp-Hearing Ear," making it unlikely he heard wrong. But if he actually heard someone speaking on the mountain, the giant rock must have been deliberately pushed down, intending to take their lives.

The question is—whose life did they intend to take?

Shang Ruyi thought for a moment and said, "If it was aimed at me, it should be similar in purpose to Fan Cheng’en. But if it was similar in purpose, the one behind it shouldn’t use such a method."

Those wholeheartedly seeking revenge for the Emperor would certainly be loyal subjects in the court, and such people, acting in the name of the Emperor’s revenge, would undoubtedly do so openly, not using such means.

Therefore, the giant rock likely wasn’t meant for her.

If it wasn’t meant for her, then—

Shang Ruyi turned her head to look at Yu Wenye, who was beside her with a heavy expression, and said softly, "Wasn’t it said that after crossing the Yi River, Liang Shide’s men wouldn’t follow us?"

Yu Wenye gave her a glance.

Before he could speak, Shen Wuzheng on the opposite side said, "Maybe it’s not Liang Shide."

Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi frowned.

At this moment, a cold light flashed in Yu Wenye’s eyes.