Perhaps because of the setback that morning, A’Fu didn’t appear all day, remaining in the kitchen to rest. A’Le bustled about even more busily than when they had been racing on horseback.

She boiled several pots of hot water, letting Zhang Gu and the others wash up and soak their feet. Though the courier station had no fine delicacies or wine, the mountain goods and game the old station master had stockpiled made appetizing dishes.

The stone table was covered with bowls and basins of all sizes. When there weren’t enough chopsticks, they used tree branches instead. The courier soldiers and the old station master sat around together, eating happily.

“These are cakes steamed with honey,” A’Le said, carrying over a basket. After thinking for a moment, she moved to A’Jiu’s side, set down the basket, and said quietly, “Soft and sweet.”

Zhang Gu laughed heartily. “That’s right—put them by A’Jiu. The rest of us don’t eat sweet, soft things. Only he likes them.”

A’Le’s face turned red as she hurried away.

A’Jiu reached out, grabbed a cake, took a bite, and curled his lip. “Not fragrant or sweet at all.”

The old station master chuckled. “This young fellow is quite particular. First time traveling far from home, I’d wager.”

“He’s particular at home too,” Zhang Gu said, then teased A’Jiu, “Why is A’Le being so attentive to you? She’s approached you many times today, when before she used to avoid you.”

A courier soldier beside them pursed his lips. “Because he bullied A’Fu again this morning. A’Le is trying to please him, hoping he’ll be nicer to her sister. Poor thing—A’Fu doesn’t even dare come out.”

Zhang Gu raised his hand and elbowed A’Jiu. “You little punk!”

A’Jiu dodged aside. “What? You’re all overthinking this.”

A’Le was indeed trying to please him, but not because he had bullied her sister. That A’Fu wasn’t staying out of sight because she’d been bullied—clearly she was hiding because he’d exposed her.

A maid’s job was to serve people, so of course she was being attentive.

As they talked and laughed, A’Le came over again carrying a jar.

“The wild vegetable soup is ready too,” she said, about to pour it for everyone, starting with A’Jiu first.

But perhaps because it was too hot, her hand slipped and the wild vegetable soup tilted and spilled out.

A’Jiu agilely dodged, but some still splashed on his arm. He cried out, “You did that on purpose!”

The courier soldiers nearby didn’t panic—they all burst out laughing instead.

“A’Le has been busy all along and is tired. Mistakes happen. Don’t be so petty,” Zhang Gu said with mock seriousness.

Everyone actually thought A’Le had done it deliberately, but no one called her out. Who told A’Jiu to bully her sister?

A’Le frantically wiped at A’Jiu, seemingly about to cry from fright. “I’ll wash your clothes for you, sir.”

A’Jiu shook her off. “Don’t touch this young master’s body or clothes.”

A’Le stood there at a loss.

“It’s all right, A’Le,” Zhang Gu said with a smile, looking at A’Jiu’s arm. “Only a few drops spilled. Why are you making such a fuss? Stop causing trouble and eat.”

A’Jiu snorted and rolled up his sleeve, pointing at A’Le. “Stay away from me.”

A’Le lowered her head and hurriedly retreated.

Zhang Gu told A’Le to go eat. “We don’t need you to serve us.”

Only then did A’Le leave.

The courier soldiers continued laughing heartily. A’Jiu’s misfortune had become everyone’s entertainment.

……

……

In the kitchen, A’Le handed a letter to A’Fu.

“Is this it?” she asked in a low voice.

A’Fu sat up on the straw mat, reached out to take it, and saw the four characters “To be opened in secret by Chu Ling” on the envelope. She nodded.

A’Le looked on curiously too. It was actually a letter for the General! Who was this A’Jiu?

Was it from the court to the General, or was he delivering it for someone?

“What a coincidence,” she said with some delight. “That Miss happened to encounter it.”

Yes, what a coincidence. A’Fu held the letter, her expression grave. She had already made indirect inquiries and learned that this group of courier soldiers was going to Yunzhong Commandery to deliver an approved military household registration roster. They had nothing to do with Father and weren’t going to Luo City where Father was stationed.

Why would A’Jiu be carrying a secret letter for Father?

Why would someone in the capital be writing a secret letter to Father?

Father was someone everyone avoided, a Guard General with no prospects.

Her heart pounded. She thought of those words she had heard before dying, the things described about Father that seemed strange and unbelievable to her.

Could those things be true? Was Father really not as ordinary, common, and incompetent as he appeared?

Who exactly was this A’Jiu?

Zhang Gu said he had been punished and made to serve as a courier soldier.

It was all too strange.

She had to see what this letter said. Especially with the court about to become turbulent and descend into chaos—this time, neither she nor Father could be drawn into it again.

A’Fu gently opened the envelope, pulled out a sheet of paper, took a deep breath, and opened it. The next moment, her eyes widened and she momentarily stopped breathing.

The paper contained only two characters.

“Ha ha.”

……

……

The paper and envelope were thrown into the stove by A’Fu and instantly turned to ash.

“What, what do we do?” A’Le’s voice was somewhat tense. “Did he discover it?”

So he had used a fake letter to deal with her?

She rarely failed. In the capital, she had turned the Master’s household upside down, taking away so much money and jewelry, and the whole family hadn’t noticed.

The last time she’d failed was when she was caught by the General. This was the second time.

When A’Fu saw those two characters, she had almost jumped up, but after taking a deep breath and burning the envelope and letter, she calmed down again.

“Deny it,” she said, looking at the letter turning to ash in the stove. “If you weren’t caught in the act, it wasn’t you.”

No evidence, deny to the death.

“If he makes a fuss, we’ll just cry,” A’Fu said, watching the stove fire. The firelight danced in the girl’s dark eyes. “After all, everyone has always known that he bullies us.”

A’Le nodded, no longer afraid. Actually, thinking it over, this was a letter for the General. So what if Miss read it? Even if the General knew, he wouldn’t mind.

Before discovering A’Jiu was carrying this letter, they had been somewhat afraid of him. Now that they’d discovered it, they instead felt emboldened and weren’t afraid at all.

She even wished they could simply reveal Miss’s identity. These courier soldiers would certainly respectfully escort Miss back to the General’s side.

A’Fu knew A’Le’s doubts and thoughts, but A’Le, like most people, didn’t know that the one who truly wouldn’t let her return was Father.

To ensure she could live peacefully at home, Father had even promised her uncle benefits.

Uncle was selfish and greedy. He absolutely wouldn’t let her go back, lest she ruin the prospects he had long anticipated.

With pursuers behind her, and Father ahead—if he learned the news, he would also send people to stop her. So this time, she had to conceal her identity to have any chance of reaching Father’s side.

She had so much to say to Father, so many things to ask him. Most crucially, she couldn’t stay in the capital—that was where her misfortune had begun.

A’Fu lowered her gaze and tossed another piece of firewood into the stove.