The evening glow spread across the river surface as Chen Guang set up a small stove at the stern to cook fish soup.

“Who were those people just now?” Imperial Censor Xing emerged from the cabin and stood beside Chen Guang to ask.

Chen Guang couldn’t help but look toward Qiao Zhao.

Having worn the human skin mask for so long without ventilation, Qiao Zhao simply removed it, revealing her true appearance: “He’s from the Jinlin Guards.”

Ever since witnessing the unusual intimacy between Qiao Zhao and Shao Mingyuan and thus learning that she was a young lady, Xing Wuyang’s attitude toward Qiao Zhao had become noticeably distant. Upon hearing this, his expression changed slightly as he sneered coldly: “Birds of a feather!” After saying this, he walked into the cabin with his hands behind his back.

Qiao Zhao said nothing, lowering her head to stare at the boiling fish in the iron pot while pondering Jiang Yuanchao’s purpose in her heart.

His wanting to take Imperial Censor Xing away—was it the Jinlin Guards’ intention, or his own?

If it was the Jinlin Guards’ intention, did Jiang Tang want to use Imperial Censor Xing to bring down Lan Shan, or prevent Imperial Censor Xing from entering the capital to curry favor with Lan Shan?

If it was his intention, that would be even more puzzling—she couldn’t think of any meaning behind such actions.

“Third Miss, Third Miss—”

Qiao Zhao collected her thoughts and looked up at Chen Guang.

“Have some fish soup.” Chen Guang smiled as he handed over a bowl of steaming hot fish soup.

Qiao Zhao took a sip, and her expression twisted slightly.

“Third Miss, does it taste good?” Chen Guang wore an expression seeking praise.

“Have you given some to Imperial Censor Xing to drink?” Qiao Zhao asked calmly.

Chen Guang grinned: “Not yet. This is my first time making fish, so I wanted you to give me some advice.”

The corner of Qiao Zhao’s mouth twitched.

So he wanted her to give advice—she had thought he was taking the opportunity for revenge.

“Third Miss?”

Qiao Zhao looked deeply at Chen Guang and sighed: “I have no other advice, but next time could you scale the fish?”

Chen Guang was stunned, then slapped his forehead with a look of sudden realization: “I was wondering what I had forgotten—turns out I forgot to scale it!”

After saying this, he looked toward the cabin with a bitter expression, his face full of conflict.

Qiao Zhao said flatly: “Take it over. Fish scales are nutritious.”

Only then did Chen Guang breathe a sigh of relief and carry the fish soup to Imperial Censor Xing.

The river at night was even more chilly, with even the stars filling the sky giving off cold light. Chen Guang had drunk too much fish soup at dinner and emerged from the cabin in the middle of the night to take care of personal business.

He had just loosened his belt when he suddenly felt something was wrong. He hastily retied his belt and returned.

In her drowsy sleep, Qiao Zhao heard Chen Guang’s urgent shouts: “Third Miss, get up quickly!”

Qiao Zhao sat up abruptly.

She had been sleeping fully clothed, so when trouble arose, she directly rushed out and asked in a low voice: “What’s wrong?”

“Look ahead.” Chen Guang reminded her.

Borrowing the bright moonlight and stars filling the sky, Qiao Zhao looked forward.

The river surface was broad and endless. In the night, several small boats like dangerous beasts were quietly approaching in their direction.

Those boats were all small, but they formed an encircling formation, blocking the escape routes for Qiao Zhao and the others’ boat.

“Third Miss, those boats should be coming for us!” Chen Guang’s voice was ice-cold as he secretly clenched his fists.

“Could it be Jiang Yuanchao’s people?” Qiao Zhao’s first thought was of Jiang Yuanchao.

“It shouldn’t be. Jiang Yuanchao was injured by you and fell behind us.” Chen Guang stared at the boats approaching from far to near with a fierce expression. “No matter who they are, they’re going to cause trouble for us.”

He lowered his head and looked deeply at Qiao Zhao, saying seriously, “Third Miss, this subordinate doesn’t know if I can protect you and get you out safely today. But you can rest assured—if they want to harm you, they’ll have to step over my corpse first.”

“Their target isn’t me, but Imperial Censor Xing.”

Chen Guang thought of Shao Mingyuan’s instructions and said coldly: “Then hand Imperial Censor Xing over to them!”

To the General, a hundred Imperial Censor Xings couldn’t compare to one Third Miss in importance.

If Imperial Censor Xing fell into others’ hands, at worst, this trip would be for nothing. But if something happened to Third Miss, that would cost the General his life.

Chen Guang was clear about this point and firmly remembered Shao Mingyuan’s instructions, his expression resolute.

“Head to shore!” Qiao Zhao said coldly.

Chen Guang was stunned: “Third Miss?”

“I said head to shore!” Qiao Zhao pointed diagonally behind them. In the deep night, her eyes were bright and clear. “That’s a forest over there. If we abandon the boat and hide inside, we might not be able to escape.”

She wouldn’t accept fate until the last moment.

Once surrounded on the river surface, the three of them would have nowhere to flee and could only surrender. But if they reached the dense forest, in the dead of night like this, they might be able to find suitable hiding places and avoid those people.

Chen Guang hesitated briefly before nodding: “Alright! Third Miss, please wait a moment while I call Imperial Censor Xing.”

While Chen Guang went to call Imperial Censor Xing, Qiao Zhao hurriedly picked up the bundle beside her pillow. After thinking, she took out the small bow and arrows from the bundle and strapped them to her back, then felt the dagger in her bosom. Only then did her heart settle somewhat as she quickly walked out.

The three abandoned the boat and went ashore, fleeing into the forest.

Imperial Censor Xing’s body hadn’t fully recovered yet. Awakened in the middle of the night, his face was pale as paper. After running with Qiao Zhao and Chen Guang for a while, he began gasping for breath.

Chen Guang stopped, and in the dense black forest, only his voice could be heard, cold as ice and snow: “This won’t work!”

He looked up, then suddenly scooped up Imperial Censor Xing with one arm, leaped up, and grabbed a thick tree trunk with his other hand, climbing upward like an agile monkey.

Qiao Zhao looked up, borrowing the faint starlight to watch as Chen Guang and Imperial Censor Xing’s figures quickly disappeared into the dense canopy.

A moment later, an agile figure dropped from above, landing on the ground that was soft and thick with fallen leaves, making only a slight sound.

“Third Miss, forgive the offense.” Chen Guang reached out to pull Qiao Zhao.

Qiao Zhao stopped his movement: “Don’t stay in one place. Let’s go forward a bit more.”

The two ran forward for another stretch before Chen Guang picked up Qiao Zhao and placed her on a high branch.

“Third Miss, just stay here and don’t move. Wait for this subordinate to eliminate those people, then I’ll come get you.” Chen Guang gave an uneasy reminder.

Seeing him about to jump down from the tree, Qiao Zhao quickly said: “Chen Guang, don’t be reckless—”

Chen Guang waved his hand: “Don’t worry, Third Miss. This subordinate hasn’t married yet, so I treasure this life dearly.”

After saying this, he nimbly jumped down and ran back.

The dense branches and leaves blocked Qiao Zhao’s vision. She quietly parted the branches and widened her eyes to look in the direction Chen Guang had left, but unfortunately, she couldn’t see anything.

A total of seven or eight people came ashore one after another and gathered together.

One of them said, “They ran into the woods. Let’s go!”

Several people quickly entered the forest.

“Those three people shouldn’t have gotten far—” Before the speaker could finish, he let out a miserable scream that startled countless sleeping birds.

A throwing knife was embedded in the man’s chest, the entire blade buried inside with only a red tassel remaining at the end.