The sky gradually darkened.

Qin Shuying and Liang Zhe had been walking through the forest for quite some time.

Liang Zhe had rich military marching experience and accurate grasp of terrain analysis, so Qin Shuying had no objections to the route he analyzed and followed him without hesitation.

The route Liang Zhe analyzed was to cross over a high mountain, make a large circle, and return to the camp.

However, having walked for so long, even though Qin Shuying usually paid attention to physical exercise, she was now somewhat exhausted.

Along the way, Liang Zhe had casually caught two wild rabbits, saying that if there were no other accidents, they wouldn’t return to camp until noon tomorrow.

Therefore, they would need two more meals in the wilderness.

Liang Zhe found a wooden stick to lead Qin Shuying with.

Additionally, he made another stick for Qin Shuying to hold, which could save some strength and also clear the path or sweep away troublesome insects.

They followed the small river where they had caught fish earlier, finally reaching the base of a giant locust tree they had seen from afar just before darkness fell.

Liang Zhe discarded the stone shard and took out the sharp dagger from his boot, cutting some vines.

Looking around, he quickly carved several convenient handholds on the tree with his dagger, climbed up, and tied vines between several branches to create a simple sleeping platform.

Then, the two washed the rabbits clean by the water and made a fire to roast them.

After eating the rabbits, Liang Zhe wrapped the remaining rabbit meat in leaves, bound it with vines, and threw it up into the tree.

By this time, it was completely dark.

Qin Shuying adjusted her silk dress to make climbing easier, then climbed up the tree with difficulty.

Just as she sat on the branch, by the remaining embers from roasting the rabbit meat, she saw three wolves approaching not far away.

In her urgency, she still remembered to keep her voice low: “There are wolves! Come up quickly!”

She immediately grasped the higher branches and climbed up with her legs, making room below just as Liang Zhe came up.

The moment Liang Zhe’s legs left the ground, the three wolves pounced.

Just a little bit more and they might have bitten Liang Zhe’s feet.

Seeing their prey escape, the three wolves howled furiously and jumped up trying to reach the two people in the tree.

How dangerous!

From the moment Qin Shuying spotted the wolves, she had already calculated an action plan in her mind. In just a few seconds, she had climbed up several branches.

This allowed Liang Zhe to quickly climb up as well.

In moments, both were sitting high up.

Qin Shuying was soaked through and only now realized her whole body was shaking.

Her earlier bravery had been a complete mobilization of all her potential in the face of mortal danger.

Liang Zhe comforted her: “Shuying, don’t be afraid!”

Below the tree, the three wolves circled around, their green eyes particularly visible in the darkness.

“Ziyu, will these wolves attract other wolves?”

Liang Zhe pondered for a moment: “Hard to say. Supposedly, there shouldn’t be wolves here.”

Qin Shuying immediately sensed conspiracy: “Ziyu, you mean this was someone’s deliberate doing?”

Liang Zhe’s eyes narrowed slightly: “I trust my instincts.”

“This person is no simple opponent!”

Liang Zhe remained silent.

Qin Shuying climbed onto the sleeping platform, sat steadily, and discovered she was still gripping the wooden stick from earlier.

Liang Zhe also saw the stick and gestured for her to give it to him.

Liang Zhe took his dagger and carved the wood into two sections, then sharpened them. “Shuying, don’t look in a moment.”

Qin Shuying roughly understood what he meant and agreed.

After sharpening the wood, Liang Zhe aimed at one wolf below with its mouth open and threw it fiercely. “Take this…”

The sharp wood pierced the wolf’s throat, and its howling stopped abruptly.

Before the other two wolves could react, Liang Zhe’s other sharp stick shot out, pinning another wolf to the ground.

Then he leaped down, his dagger ruthlessly stabbing into the last wolf’s body.

In the blink of an eye, all three wolves were killed by him.

Liang Zhe completed this in one fluid motion without even blinking.

Afterward, he dragged the three wolf carcasses and threw them into the nearby dense forest. When he returned, he also extinguished the scattered embers on the ground.

Although Qin Shuying had closed her eyes, she heard every sound clearly.

When Liang Zhe returned to the tree, Qin Shuying breathed a sigh of relief and mentally lit candles for Madam Liang and the others—with Liang Zhe being such a ruthless person, why did you all have to offend him?

The night was completely dark.

Liang Zhe tied vines around Qin Shuying, then sat on the sleeping platform beside her. “Shuying, I’m right here. You needn’t be afraid.”

“Alright.”

This night passed particularly slowly. Although Qin Shuying was exhausted, she didn’t sleep deeply.

Liang Zhe couldn’t sleep either, and the two chatted about many things.

Until the first light of dawn arrived the next day, Qin Shuying and Liang Zhe climbed down from the tree, hastily ate the rabbit meat by the water, and immediately set off.

At noon, they finally made the detour back to camp.

The camp was in chaos because of yesterday’s earthquake. The noble ladies and misses were scared out of their wits, and some immediately wanted to return to the traveling palace. But it was too late, and without imperial decree, no one dared leave.

They spent an uneasy night, and no one noticed Qin Shuying’s disappearance.

Frightened by Liang Yanjun, Madam Mao and Xu Peiwei didn’t dare make a fuss. Plus, worrying whether they could preserve their own lives, they didn’t pay much attention to Qin Shuying.

Early the next morning, the female family members got into carriages to return to the traveling palace. When Qin Shuying and Liang Zhe returned to camp, it was basically empty.

Seeing them return, Liang Yanjun and Ziteng were there, and Ziteng immediately embraced Qin Shuying with tears in her eyes.

They rushed back and managed to reach Qinghe just as everyone was entering the traveling palace.

With such a major incident occurring, the female family members were sent back to the capital while civil and military officials remained to discuss important matters.

This earthquake occurred in the capital’s outskirts, over two hundred li from the traveling palace. Fortunately, casualties weren’t too severe.

Qin Shuying followed Madam Mao back to the capital and returned to the Qin residence.

The next morning after breakfast, Nanny Fu came in saying: “Miss, Eighth Miss’s marriage has been decided.”

“Which family?”

“Chang Daocheng!”

Qin Shuying set down her tea cup.

Nanny Fu approached and said: “Miss, this is a marriage Eighth Miss sought for herself. In the master’s study, she volunteered to become Chang Daocheng’s second wife, and the master agreed. The master personally went to speak with Chang Daocheng, and it will probably be settled in the next day or two.”

Qin Shuying pondered for a while and said: “It seems that after the Sun family incident, Eighth Sister finally understands that circumstances are stronger than people, and has learned to make her own choices.”

“There’s also Second Young Master’s marriage. The eldest young madam found a legitimate daughter of a fifth-rank official, and she’ll probably have the master review it in the next few days. The madam knows about this and has been extremely anxious these days. However, with the old madam here, they can’t accomplish anything.”

Nanny Fu chattered on while Lu Ye and the others chimed in about household matters, and the morning passed like this.