Chapter 50

The lights in the main tent flickered dimly, casting the faint silhouettes of two figures locked in an embrace through the delicate fox-fur canopy.

For the moment, Pei Muxi could not afford to be distracted by this. He vaulted onto his horse.

The fierce gale whipped his cloud-like cloak into the air, instantly stripping away his gentle and refined demeanor as if he had transformed into an entirely different person. Holding his tasseled spear pointed toward the heavens against the backdrop of the rising sun, his thin lips pressed into a tight line, radiating an arrogant majesty that rivaled the mountains.

The warhorse neighed, a long whip cracked, and a rolling thunder of iron hooves trampled through the dense smoke, gradually vanishing from sight.

The camp’s accompanying physicians and cooks had all departed with the troops. With more than half of the personnel gone, the encampment instantly felt vastly emptier.

Xu Ying delivered Pei Muxi’s token to the main tent. Seeing that the two individuals inside were dressed neatly and without any improper or unseemly behavior, she felt slightly reassured. "My lady, the lord instructed me to bring this travel token to you."

Qingwu suppressed the scorching, deep-seated yearning in her eyes, keeping her expression completely neutral.

It was far too coincidental.

The moment she told Du Jin that she intended to leave this place, Pei Muxi had so kindly delivered the token straight into her hands?

It felt so much like a trap that she dared not accept it.

Xu Ying treated it merely as an assignment, leaving no room for refusal as she shoved the item forward. "The lord was afraid my lady would grow bored and unhappy cooped up in the camp. With this token, you can finally go out for a stroll."

True enough.

In any case, it would take Pei Muxi and his men at least several days. Even if they had dug some pitfall, by the time a few days passed, she would have already fled to the ends of the earth.

"Does this token allow me to go anywhere?" Qingwu took the token, tossing it into the air and catching it.

"Of course." Xu Ying had initially doubted whether the princess's amnesia was genuine, but after observing her words and actions following her bouts of intoxication, she became certain that the princess truly remembered nothing of the matters concerning the young lord.

It was simply a waste of all the painstaking effort the young lord had spent on her.

Qingwu lifted the curtain, preparing to go out and find Huo Xun. Turning back, she said to Xu Ying, "You are carrying a child, so you should rest well."

She had originally intended to give instructions and slip away without anyone tailing her in her search for Huo Xun. Having finally found an excuse to persuade Xu Ying to stay, she never expected Yunting to be waiting at the entrance, accompanied by half a dozen robust, martial artists.

Without so much as lifting an eyelid, she expressionlessly brushed past him.

Recalling that early morning when she had unhesitatingly drunk the bowl of medicine handed to her by Yunting, the affection they had built up over half a year of companionship came to an end right at that very moment.

"Master Du, the military strategist has instructed the two of us to escort you back to your tent." Du Jin was blocked from advancing by two soldiers standing in his path behind Qingwu.

The lord had given strict orders that the token was only meant to allow the young lady to wander freely within the camp, whereas the physician accompanying her was confined to his assigned tent and forbidden from approaching the main tent barring special circumstances.

"Why?" Qingwu asked with displeasure.

"Those were the lord's instructions; please do not make things difficult for us, my lady." Ordinarily, the two soldiers had never even laid eyes on a woman, let alone a young maiden of such striking beauty. Their faces turned beet red down to the roots of their necks the moment they spoke, terrified that if Qingwu pressed further, they would stutter and fail to articulate any reason at all.

Unwilling to arouse suspicion, Du Jin waved his hand. "Awu suffered from night terrors last night. Going out for a stroll to relax will do her good; do not worry about me."

Understanding his intent, Qingwu pressed the matter no further. She asked a soldier for directions and strode toward the rear camp on her own.

Huo Xun possessed formidable martial arts skills yet lacked Du Jin's immediate utility. They certainly would not dare let him roam free to do manual labor, so he must have been locked up in the rear camp's penal dungeon.

Qingwu walked and paused by turns, refusing to ask the guards trailing behind her for directions even if she encountered trouble.

Knowing full well that the betrayal letter and the bowl of aphrodisiac had deeply angered the princess, Yunting dared not speak. He merely lowered his head and quickened his pace, keeping a distance of several steps as he closely monitored the figure ahead.

Qingwu had originally intended to endlessly ignore this traitor who had turned against his master, but as she walked, she still could not make sense of it. "Did I ever treat you unfairly in the past?"

Not only had she rescued Yunting from the imperial palace, but to spare him from suffering grievances, she had even transferred him to work in the Banzhu Garden.

Though, for the most part, that was because of Hanyue—

Ah, Qingwu's thoughts suddenly pivoted. "Is Hanyue still alive?"

Other than that, she could find no reason for Yunting's betrayal. Besides, apart from witnessing Zhixue plunge from the city wall with her own eyes, it was entirely possible that the others might still be living.

"This servant is merely following orders and truly cannot divulge too many matters to Your Highness." As though wound up like a clockwork toy, Yunting performed everything with rigid, mechanical adherence to rules.

Instantly losing all desire to question him further, Qingwu whipped her head around and walked away. The guards at the rear camp recognized her waist token and bowed obsequiously, welcoming her into the penal dungeon.

Yunting went in first to inspect the interior for any anomalies that might allow messages to be passed, while Qingwu waited outside the door.

"You still dare to show your face?!" Huo Xun slammed his fist against the iron bars of the cell, glaring at him with burning rage.

The iron frame emitted a loud clanging sound, startling the guards who had just stepped inside.

As Qingwu walked in from the exterior, Huo Xun caught sight of her, and his legs instantly turned to jelly, causing him to drop to his knees.

The emperor had entrusted the safety of the little princess to him, yet he had been so negligent as to overlook the unusual stirrings outside, falling right into a trap and plunging the princess into perilous jeopardy.

Qingwu hurried forward to pull him up. "What are you doing?"

"This subordinate failed in his duty as a guard, allowing the princess to suffer such grave grievances." Huo Xun gripped Qingwu's wrist in return, swiftly palming a slip of paper she had slid into his palm and concealing it within his sleeve cuff.

"I have suffered no grievances; you need not reproach yourself." Their contact was fleeting, so rapid that the surrounding guards failed to notice any abnormality.

The guards stood closely beside her, watching the two of them with unblinking eyes. Seeing that Huo Xun and Qingwu were separated by the cell's iron bars without any further physical contact, and that they were merely exchanging polite words of mutual concern, the guards assumed it was only natural for a former master and servant to chat since the young lady had no familiar acquaintances left in the camp. Thus, they did not restrict the duration of their conversation.

Upon emerging from the rear camp, Qingwu wandered aimlessly around the encampment for a few rounds before announcing her return to the main tent to rest.

With the lord absent, the male guards feared offending a young woman and dared not enter the inner chambers.

Yunting possessed no such scruples; just as he lifted his foot to step inside, his movements abruptly froze.

Qingwu planted her foot squarely on the tent curtain, her tone laced with impatience. "Spare yourself the trouble, Eunuch. I am no longer a princess, and I can no longer afford the luxury of someone as opinionated as you."

Fearing the people outside might overhear, she kept her voice extremely low. Yet to Yunting's ears, it felt as though something blocked his throat, rendering him temporarily speechless and unconsciously compelling him to leave her to enter alone.

Qingwu behaved with relative obedience, refraining from giving the guards any trouble. She extinguished the candles one by one, lay down decorously on the bed, and conserved her energy for the tasks of the latter half of the night.

Indifferent to Qingwu's attitude toward him, Yunting spoke in an amicable tone from beside the curtain, asking, "My lady? Have you rested?"

Hearing no movement within the tent, he instructed the guards to station themselves at intervals, forming a protective perimeter around the main tent.

***

In the middle of the night, rain abruptly began to pour. As a flash of lightning split the sky, Qingwu snapped her eyes open, listening to the faint rustling sounds atop the canopy.

A small blade slowly carved out a one-meter-long opening, and Huo Xun descended from above, followed by Yunting, landing right before Qingwu's couch.

"Good thing you didn't forget." Feeling the pent-up tension in her chest finally dissipate by more than half, Qingwu took the bow and arrows handed to her by Huo Xun and slung them over her back.

Du Jin had previously scattered a temporary paralyzing powder over the canopy. While Huo Xun stepped outside to ensure the perimeter guards had fallen under the drug's effect, Du Jin remained inside to map out their escape route with Qingwu.

"A carriage is far too slow; we will take the waterways directly." Qinzhou City was bordered by rugged wilderness, and before they could even cross those overlapping mountain ranges, pursuing enemies would capture them and drag them back.

Deeming this reasoning sound, Du Jin had Qingwu change into a set of clean, unencumbered men's garments.

Given Qingwu's appearance and beauty, traveling without modest concealment would make her an eye-catching target wherever she went.

"Let's go." Huo Xun parted the tent flap, confiscated two swords from the incapacitated guards, and handed one to Qingwu.

The nocturnal shadows served as the finest shield, and coupled with the misty drizzle, the night patrols moved at a pace slower than usual by a quarter-hour. The trio swiftly dashed out of the encampment, aiming to make their first stop within the city.

For reasons unknown, clamorous shouts erupted deep within the main camp, and torches flared to life one after another.

Not daring to look back, Qingwu spotted a small boat moored at a nearby pier. Ignoring the identity and background of the boatman, she pulled the hairpin from her hair and handed it to him, urging him to set sail immediately.

This hairpin was casually plucked from the dressing table when she changed into men's attire, and she figured Pei Muxi's possessions were hardly ordinary goods. The boatman had initially looked reluctant, but the moment his eyes caught sight of the hairpin, they went wide.

"Hold tight, young masters." The boatman noticed the middle figure was short and slender with an extremely peculiar posture, and just as he wanted to take a closer look, he was fiercely glared at by the towering brute beside him.

Qingwu and Du Jin sat chatting at the stern of the boat while Huo Xun kept watch over the boatman.

Silvery moonlight poured over the water's surface, spilling across the rolling mountain ranges. As the night breeze brushed against the fine mist of rain on her face, a sudden, dreamlike detachment washed over her.

Leaning against Du Jin's upper arm, Qingwu felt her tightly wound nerves gradually relax. The sound of lapping water echoed in her ears, acting as an exceptional lullaby.

As they drifted past a small island in the middle of the lake, the boatman slowed his rowing pace, making a distinct move toward the shore.

Huo Xun drew his blade straight to the man's neck. Unfazed, the boatman placed two fingers to his lips and blew a sharp whistle.

Aroused by the noise, Qingwu snapped awake, her left hand instinctively blocking Du Jin behind her.

From the murky shadows of the island, shirtless water-demons emerged one after another, broad slaughter-knives strapped across their backs. Their eyes locked relentlessly onto the three individuals on the boat like starving beasts fixating on three slabs of dripping fat.

"All the wealth we carry can be yours; there is no need to resort to violence," Huo Xun stood at the bow. Being the most robust of the group, he possessed the greatest deterrent presence.

Yet those desperate scoundrels ignored his words entirely, charging forward blindly while the boatman flashed a covetous, wretched grin. "That middle one's a little lady, isn't she? My brothers here haven't tasted woman-flesh in ages. Leave her behind, and the two of you may go."

"Audacious!" Huo Xun bellowed a roar. From behind him came the whistling sound of rushing arrows as three feathered shafts streaked right through the cabin, piercing the eyeballs of the three men in the lead.

Thinking this tactic would shock them into submission, he was surprised when the men behind simply trampled over their comrades' corpses and sprinted furiously toward the skiff.

Bows and arrows were rendered useless; Qingwu drew the longsword she had brought from the camp.

"Ha! This little lady knows martial arts; her flavor will be all the more spirited!" Countless foul profanities mingled with hideous, lecherous laughter struck their eardrums. The wild brutes rushed forward without a shred of fear, their fleshy faces jiggling in a manner that churned the stomach and threatened to induce vomiting.

Huo Xun slit the boatman's throat and casually tossed him overboard. The lifeless corpse floated face-up on the water.

The boat rocked twice from his movements, and struggling for balance, the three of them took a moment to steady themselves.

"Let's get up on the shore." Slipping past the cabin, Qingwu joined Huo Xun, leaving Du Jin seated safely in place.

The tide of desperate lake bandits seemed endless, and from the murky depths of the island out of sight, endless dark silhouettes surged like thousands of upside-down bats clinging to a cave ceiling.

Outnumbered, the two refused to yield in presence or momentum.

Just as Qingwu dispatched the last of the glazed-eyed perverts directly before her, she caught sight of a cold flash high in the distance, resembling a flickering star hovering beside a full moon in the pitch-black night.

"Careful!"

A swift arrow left its bowstring, flying straight toward the cabin behind them.

Huo Xun was currently surrounded by several assailants and lacked the time to intervene even though he saw it coming.

Without a second thought, Qingwu sheathed her sword and rushed into the cabin, intending to shove Du Jin out of harm's way with her own body.

*Thwack.* The arrow drove directly into Qingwu's shoulder.

The scene seemed to freeze in time: her graceful silhouette colliding mid-air with the arrow, knocked backward by the immense recoil like a wounded white dove plummeting straight into the water.

"Awu!" Du Jin's pupils contracted in horror as he cried out frantically, moving to dive in after her.

Huo Xun grabbed him and hauled him ashore. "The princess sacrificed herself to save you! Look after yourself and don't throw your life away along with hers!"

He fought while retreating, yet steadfastly refused to leave the vicinity of the small boat, hoping Qingwu would manage to surface on her own.

Before exhaustion fully claimed them, a large vessel appeared in the distance, plowing rapidly through the waves toward their location.

...

Before plunging into the water, Qingwu ruthlessly snapped off the protruding shaft of the arrow, breaking the surface with a splash.

Her eardrums were instantly muffled by the lake water, and the pain from her shoulder wound rendered her immobile.

Had Huo Xun been left alone, he undoubtedly could not have held off so many bandits.

And she wondered how Du Jin was faring...

She swallowed a few gulps of water, her ankles feeling as though they were bound by clinging weeds, dragging her endlessly downward.

How much time had passed? The air in her chest was completely squeezed out, and her boiling blood was gradually chilled to ice by the cold water of the lake.

Long after, all external sounds faded from her ears as she slowly sank like a senseless, waterlogged piece of timber into layers of utter darkness.

Abruptly, a pair of long, powerful arms wrapped securely around her slender waist.

The faint, rough calluses on the palm brushed against her tender side, sparking a tingling wave of numbness.