A’Fu didn’t know why she laughed.

This was clearly the moment when she least felt like laughing.

She had fled the capital to see her father and to avoid the fate of her previous life. She and Xiao Xun had met in the capital—she fell into the water, he rescued her, she fell in love with him at first sight, and they became mutually devoted—

Of course, she only learned before death that this was false.

Noble Consort Liang had sneered with disdain: “What mutual devotion? Empress, your meeting with His Majesty, how could it be so coincidental—His Majesty went to your home, and you just happened to fall into the water? Wake up! Look at what status your Chu family has. How could you have such good fortune? It was nothing but a transaction.”

A fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl, blooming like a flower, spoke words like knives, stabbing her heart one by one, making her—who thought she had already seen through Xiao Xun’s heartlessness—feel as if her flesh was being carved away again.

So that life-saving grace and love at first sight had been her own imagination?

Xiao Xun didn’t like her at all? Marrying her was a transaction? With whom?

Just as Noble Consort Liang said, their Chu family’s status wasn’t merely ordinary—her father still bore the name of criminal, someone everyone avoided.

What ability did they have to make deals with others? And the other party was Prince Zhongshan’s heir apparent!

Noble Consort Liang had said many strange things, not only about her father committing that evil deed, but also about her mother—

But Chu Zhao’s mother had died when she was born!

Why mention her mother ten years later?

She had no chance to find out. They didn’t give her time to ask more questions, urging her to die so she could vacate the Empress position and Noble Consort Liang could be enthroned quickly.

She died in confusion and awoke equally confused. She could only immediately leave the capital to avoid falling into this inexplicable transaction again, to go find her father and ask about many doubts.

She never expected that after leaving the capital, in such a distant place, she would fall into water again, and it would be Xiao Xun who saved her once more.

This couldn’t be anyone’s transaction, could it?

Apart from her and A’Jiu, there was no one else here.

She couldn’t see through A’Jiu’s identity, and he had nearly killed her, but she believed A’Jiu and Xiao Xun didn’t know each other.

Unfortunately, at this moment there was no way to kill Xiao Xun who had been delivered right before her. She could only avoid any connection with him.

To avoid connection with Xiao Xun, the simplest and most brutal method was to have a connection with someone else.

Moreover, it could conceal her identity before Xiao Xun.

So when Zhang Gu was about to reveal their origins, she immediately shouted those words and rushed over to embrace A’Jiu.

As expected, Xiao Xun not only didn’t look at her again, he didn’t even ask about the postal soldiers’ identity.

Thinking that she had escaped this calamity, A’Fu naturally couldn’t help but laugh.

A’Jiu looked at her coldly: “Did water flood your brain? You dare use me in your act? Have you forgotten what kind of person I am? I’m someone who wanted to kill you.”

This girl actually wanted to put on an act with him. Shouldn’t she immediately throw herself into that young man’s arms, both grateful for the life-saving grace and pointing out him as the murderous villain?

Either this girl had gone mad, or she and that man were accomplices, performing an act to deceive him.

Though he couldn’t see through this girl’s origins, he believed this A’Fu and Xiao Xun didn’t know each other.

Why dare to put on an act with him? A’Fu smiled again. Because that man would also kill her—in fact, he had already killed her once.

Faced with two people who wanted to kill her, A’Fu naturally chose A’Jiu. Strictly speaking, A’Jiu killing her was due to a misunderstanding.

“Young Master A’Jiu,” she said. “My name is Chu Zhao. Chu Ling is my father.”

……

……

A’Jiu’s expression froze slightly.

“What nonsense are you making up now?” He frowned immediately. “Changing identities again to deceive people?”

Because she saw him holding the letter for General Chu Ling, she started spinning this tale. This girl’s lies came as easily as breathing.

“I’m not deceiving you,” Chu Zhao said, then called out, “A’Le.”

A’Le, waiting outside the tent, quickly entered.

“Your guess was correct. She’s not my sister. She is indeed a maid,” Chu Zhao said.

A’Le bowed to A’Jiu: “Young Master A’Jiu, please forgive our offense.”

A’Jiu’s face remained expressionless.

Chu Zhao continued: “You should also know that my father only has one daughter—me. He only sent me to the capital last year.”

A’Jiu’s expression was cold: “What I should know, the world also knows. There’s no point in you saying this. I have no time to listen to your nonsense.”

With that, he turned to leave.

“Young Master A’Jiu,” Chu Zhao stood up. “You keep my identity secret, and I’ll keep yours secret too.”

A’Jiu turned back, his eyes cold and sharp. See, this girl’s lies and threats came without hesitation.

“Although you said you deliberately used the secret letter to lure me into revealing my identity,” Chu Zhao said, “your vigilance surely didn’t arise from nothing. Your trip to Yunzhong Commandery must be related to my father.”

A’Jiu gave a cold laugh, said not a word, turned and strode out.

The curtain fluttered, cold wind rushed in. Chu Zhao, suddenly struck by the chill, coughed several times.

A’Le quickly helped her sit by the brazier, asking in a low voice: “Miss, he doesn’t believe you?”

Chu Zhao looked at the fluttering curtain: “No matter. Even if he doesn’t believe me, to prevent me from leaking the secret letter matter, he’ll keep me by his side.”

This A’Jiu was ruthless and cautious. Once his suspicions were confirmed, he immediately tried to kill her to silence her, not even asking a single question. Now that he couldn’t kill her, to avoid exposing his identity, he certainly wouldn’t abandon her either. Dealing with such a person was actually very simple—it was all about mutual interests.

A’Jiu was no longer the pressing matter. The pressing matter was Xiao Xun outside.

“Miss, do you know that young master?” A’Le asked curiously. Moreover, it seemed the miss feared him, yet also seemed to want to kill him—

Chu Zhao didn’t want to mention that name: “Whether I know him or not isn’t important. What’s important is that he can’t recognize me.”

Xiao Xun appearing here didn’t feel like coincidence.

“We need to leave quickly.”

……

……

Zhang Gu was also called into the tent. Facing this girl again, he felt uncomfortable, his expression awkward and at a loss.

The girl didn’t cry to him about romantic matters. She only said she wanted to depart quickly.

She lowered her head: “I don’t want to face so many people. That young master saw my situation. I’m very ashamed.”

Zhang Gu really wanted to ask what her situation was, but seeing the girl’s shameful appearance, he was too embarrassed to ask. What was there to ask? Things had already gone this far and that far—this A’Jiu was truly wicked!

“However,” Zhang Gu said, “that young master is after all your life-saving benefactor. A’Fu, you can’t be so rude.”

Chu Zhao lowered her head: “I will repay his great kindness in the future.”

Meeting by chance on the road, where would there be a future? Zhang Gu no longer pressed this girl. After all, she was too young, her family had suffered great calamity, temporarily without parents to rely on, her spirit was fragile—this boy A’Jiu was truly a beast!

“Alright, I’ll go thank that young master, then we’ll depart immediately,” Zhang Gu said.

As he turned, the girl grasped the corner of his robe, saying pitifully: “Uncle Zhang, don’t abandon me.”

Zhang Gu shook his head and sighed. He couldn’t abandon her before, and now with this incident with A’Jiu, he certainly couldn’t abandon her. How would he explain to her parents?

“Don’t worry,” he said. “No matter what, I’ll deliver you sisters to your father.”

Then let this girl’s father discipline that A’Jiu. He couldn’t manage it anymore.

Zhang Gu went out and ordered them to pack up. The postal soldiers had no objections. A’Jiu tried to say something, but Zhang Gu’s glare silenced him: “Don’t say a word! I don’t care about these matters. I only care about our military orders. Whoever dares delay the schedule, I won’t be polite.”

A’Jiu looked toward the two girls emerging from the tent, changed into thick cotton clothes and carrying bundles. He gave a mocking smile, just pointing his finger at Chu Zhao, indicating he knew she had played tricks on Zhang Gu.

But as expected, he said nothing in opposition and lazily walked away.

……

……

Tie Ying entered. Xiao Xun was drying his hair, emanating a faint scent of green citrus.

“Those postal soldiers are leaving,” Tie Ying said. “That Zhang fellow came to bid farewell and thank Your Highness. I dismissed him without telling him our identity.”

He had originally been courteous to soldiers from the capital, but thinking of how these postal soldiers were traveling with girls, with unclear and improper relations, making scenes of life and death—what kind of duty was this?

“The court’s soldiers have come to this?” he sneered.

Xiao Xun glanced at him: “Don’t judge the whole from a part. It’s just an isolated incident.”

Tie Ying sneered: “It’s not just one or two incidents. The capital’s military has almost become the domain of imperial relatives. The Yang and Zhao families are making such a mess—”

Xiao Xun rebuked him: “Silence. Don’t discuss state affairs.”

Others might discuss such things, but with their status it was inappropriate. If local supervisory officials learned of it, it would invite trouble.

Tie Ying quickly lowered his head: “This subordinate knows his fault.”

Xiao Xun didn’t rebuke him further, saying: “The river scenery in winter is also beautiful. Look at these beautiful views—how interesting.”

Tie Ying muttered: “Yes, Your Highness can even save people from the river and get scolded for it. Also quite interesting.”

Xiao Xun laughed heartily. Hearing the commotion outside as the group of postal soldiers mounted their horses and left, he had no interest in even glancing at them.

“We’ll also board the boat and continue our sightseeing,” he said.

But before he could leave the tent, a guard rushed in.

“Your Highness,” he presented a small rolled paper, “a carrier pigeon message from the Prince.”

Xiao Xun reached out to receive and open it. His expression froze, he looked thoughtful, then smiled.

“Interesting,” he said.

……

……

The postal soldiers galloping once more on the main road had a strange atmosphere, seemingly unsure how to interact with the two girls.

Zhang Gu’s mind alternated between cursing A’Jiu, blaming A’Fu, and finally blaming himself. What a mess. He cracked his whip loudly—quickly reach the border commandery, quickly throw these troubles away.

Hoofbeats flew as everyone seemed to run forward desperately.

But hoofbeats also came from behind, also running fast.

“Please wait!” A group of voices shouted loudly.

Zhang Gu was startled. Looking back, he saw a large troop of horses and men that from afar looked like a black cloud pressing down—he recognized them as dressed like the guards of that young man from earlier.

What was this about? Were they coming to retaliate for the girl’s rudeness?

“Don’t mind them,” Chu Zhao shouted. “Go quickly!”

She raised her whip and spurred her horse, shooting past the postal soldiers like lightning to the very front, but she couldn’t shake off the thunderous rumbling behind.

“Miss Chu—”

“Please wait—”

Chu Zhao closed her eyes. She had known it—encountering Xiao Xun was her misfortune.