A-Fu didn’t know why she was laughing. This was certainly no time to be laughing.

She had fled the capital to see her father and to avoid her past life’s fate. In her previous life, she had met Xiao Xun in the capital—she fell into water, he rescued her, she fell in love with him at first sight, and he reciprocated her feelings—

Of course, only at her deathbed did she learn it was all false.

Consort Liang had sneered: “What mutual affection? Empress, your meeting with His Majesty—how could it be so coincidental? His Majesty visited your home, and you just happened to fall into the water? Wake up! Look at your Chu family’s status—how could you have such luck? It was nothing but a transaction.”

The words from this fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl had cut like knives, stabbing her heart one by one, flaying her to the bone even when she thought she had already recognized Xiao Xun’s heartlessness.

So that life-saving grace and love at first sight was just her imagination?

Xiao Xun never liked her? Marrying her was a transaction? With whom?

As Consort Liang had said, her Chu family’s status was beyond ordinary—her father even carried the burden of criminal charges, avoided by everyone.

What ability did they have to make deals with others? And with the Prince of Zhongshan’s heir, no less!

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

She, Chu Zhao, was born after her mother died!

How could they bring up her mother ten years later?

She never had the chance to find out. They didn’t give her time to ask questions, hastening her death so they could vacate her position and Consort Liang could be quickly crowned as Empress.

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

Unexpectedly, after leaving the capital, so far away, she fell into water again, and it was Xiao Xun who saved her once more.

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

Here, besides her and A-Jiu, there was no one else.

She couldn’t discern A-Jiu’s identity, and he had nearly killed her, but she believed A-Jiu didn’t know Xiao Xun.

Unfortunately, she had no way to kill Xiao Xun, who had appeared before her, so she could only avoid any connection with him.

To avoid entanglement with Xiao Xun, the simplest and most direct method was to be entangled with someone else.

Moreover, it could also conceal her identity from Xiao Xun.

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

Sure enough, Xiao Xun not only refrained from looking at her again but also stopped asking about the postal soldiers’ identities.

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

A-Jiu stared at her coldly: “Did water get into your brain? You dare use me in your act? Have you forgotten who I am? I’m the one who wants to kill you.”

How could this girl still play games with him? Shouldn’t she immediately throw herself into that young man’s arms, expressing gratitude for saving her life while pointing out that he was a murderer?

Either this girl was mad, or she and that man were accomplices, acting to deceive him.

Although he couldn’t discern the girl’s background, he believed that A-Fu and Xiao Xun didn’t know each other.

Why did she dare to play games with him? A-Fu smiled again because that man would kill her too, had even killed her once already.

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

“Young Master A-Jiu,” she said, “my name is Chu Zhao. Chu Li is my father.”

…

…

A-Jiu’s expression momentarily froze.

“What nonsense are you making up now?” he then frowned and said. “Changing your identity again to deceive people?”

Because she had seen him with the letter for General Chu Li, she started making these connections. This girl lied as easily as breathing.

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

A-Le, who had been waiting outside the tent, hurried in.

“You guessed correctly—she is 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 has only one daughter, me, and he sent me to the capital just last year.”

A-Jiu’s expression remained cold: “What I should know, everyone knows. Saying this means nothing. I don’t have time for 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 gaze sharp. See, this girl lied and threatened with such ease.

“Although you said you deliberately used the confidential letter to lure me into revealing my identity,” Chu Zhao said, “your vigilance certainly didn’t come from nowhere. Your journey to Yunzhong Commandery must have something to do with my father.”

A-Jiu gave a cold laugh, said nothing, and strode out.

The curtain fluttered, letting in a cold draft. Chu Zhao shivered and coughed several times.

A-Le quickly helped her sit by the brazier and asked softly: “Miss, he doesn’t believe you?”

Chu Zhao watched the swaying curtain: “It doesn’t matter. Even if he doesn’t believe me, to prevent me from revealing the secret letter affair, he will keep me close.”

This A-Jiu was ruthless and cautious. Once he confirmed his suspicions, he immediately tried to kill her to silence her, without asking a single question. Now that he couldn’t kill her, he certainly wouldn’t leave her behind to avoid exposing his identity. Dealing with such a person was quite simple—it was merely a matter of mutual benefit.

A-Jiu was no longer the pressing concern; the concern was Xiao Xun outside.

“Miss, do you know that young master?” A-Le asked curiously. It seemed the young miss was afraid of him, but also looked like she wanted to kill him—

Chu Zhao didn’t want to mention that name: “Whether I know him or not doesn’t matter. What matters is that he mustn’t recognize me.”

Xiao Xun appearing here didn’t feel like a 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 uncertain.

The girl didn’t complain to him about her romantic affairs; she only said she wanted to depart quickly.

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

Zhang Gu wanted to ask what her “situation” was, but seeing the girl’s embarrassed demeanor, he felt too awkward to inquire. What was there to ask anyway? They had already done those things—this A-Jiu was truly sinful!

“However,” Zhang Gu said, “that young master did save your life. A-Fu, you shouldn’t be so impolite.”

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

Meeting by chance, what future was there? Zhang Gu didn’t press the girl further. After all, she was too young, had encountered great misfortune, had no parents to rely on, and was emotionally fragile—A-Jiu was truly a beast!

“Very well, I’ll thank that young master, and we’ll depart immediately,” Zhang Gu said.

As he turned to leave, the girl caught the hem of his clothes, pleading: “Uncle Zhang, please don’t abandon me.”

Zhang Gu shook his head and sighed. Before, he couldn’t abandon her; now, after this incident with A-Jiu, he was even less able to leave her behind. How could he face her parents otherwise?

“Don’t worry,” he said, “I must deliver you sisters to your father’s hands.”

Then let the girl’s father discipline A-Jiu—he couldn’t manage it anymore.

Zhang Gu went out and ordered everyone to pack up. The postal soldiers had no objections. When A-Jiu tried to speak, Zhang Gu silenced him with a glare: “Not a word from you! I don’t care about these matters; I only care about our military orders. Anyone who dares delay our journey will face my wrath.”

A-Jiu watched the two girls emerge from the tent, dressed in thick cotton clothes and carrying bundles. He gave a wry smile and pointed his finger at Chu Zhao, indicating he knew she had tricked Zhang Gu.

But indeed, he did not object and lazily walked away.

…

…

Tie Ying entered. Xiao Xun was drying his hair, which emitted a faint scent of green orange.

“Those postal soldiers are leaving,” Tie Ying said. “Their leader, Zhang, came to bid farewell and express gratitude to Your Highness. I sent him away without revealing our identity.”

He was usually courteous to troops from the capital, but thinking about how these postal soldiers brought along girls, engaged in unclear relationships, and created life-and-death dramas—what kind of duty was this?

“Have the imperial troops deteriorated to this state?” he sneered.

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

Tie Ying scoffed: “It’s not just one or two cases. The military in the capital has almost become a domain for imperial in-laws. The Yang and Zhao families are making a mess—”

Xiao Xun rebuked him: “Silence! Do not discuss state affairs.”

Others might discuss such matters, but given their status, it was inappropriate. If local officials learned of it, it would cause trouble.

Tie Ying bowed his head immediately: “This servant acknowledges his fault.”

Xiao Xun didn’t reprimand him further, saying: “The river scenery in winter is beautiful too. Look how interesting these views are.”

Tie Ying muttered: “Yes, Your Highness can even rescue someone in the river and get scolded for it—quite interesting indeed.”

Xiao Xun laughed heartily. Hearing the commotion outside as the postal soldiers mounted their horses and departed, he showed no interest in looking.

“Let’s board our boat and continue our journey,” he said.

But before he could leave the tent, a guard entered hastily.

“Young Master,” he handed over a small scroll, “a pigeon message from the Prince.”

Xiao Xun took it, opened it, his expression momentarily puzzled, then thoughtful, and finally, he smiled.

“Interesting,” he said.

…

…

Among the postal soldiers galloping along the main road again, the atmosphere felt strange, as if they didn’t know how to interact with the two girls anymore.

Zhang Gu inwardly cursed A-Jiu, then blamed A-Fu, and finally blamed himself. It was a complete mess. He cracked his whip loudly—they needed to reach the border commandery quickly and rid themselves of these troubles.

Hooves flew, as if everyone was desperately racing forward.

But hoof beats also approached from behind, moving equally fast.

“Please wait!” a group of voices called out loudly.

Zhang Gu paused, looked back, and saw a large contingent of riders, appearing from a distance like a dark cloud pressing down—he recognized them as the escorts of that young man from before.

What was happening? Had they come to seek revenge for the girl’s rudeness?

“Ignore them,” Chu Zhao shouted. “Hurry!”

She whipped her horse, darting like lightning through the postal soldiers to the very front, but she couldn’t shake off the thunderous sounds behind her.

“Miss Chu—”

“Please wait—”

Chu Zhao closed her eyes. She knew meeting Xiao Xun meant misfortune for her.