HomeAfter I Bloom Hundred Flowers DieChapter 503: A Woman Like Death God

Chapter 503: A Woman Like Death God

“Prince Lie, Your Highness!” Shen Xihe was extremely surprised.

Moyu sheathed her sword upon seeing Xiao Changying’s face. Xiao Changying had never intended to fight seriously with Moyu, also worried she would recognize his moves since they had crossed swords before.

This was precisely why his veil was so easily removed. When Moyu withdrew, he followed suit.

“Why is Your Highness here?” Shen Xihe scrutinized him.

Xiao Changying’s hand tightened, clenching into a fist behind his back: “I cannot say.”

Following her since the post station – Shen Xihe didn’t believe he just happened to be traveling the same route on official business. If that were the case, he wouldn’t have touched the safety charm she hung up, getting the Ten-Mile Fragrance on him.

“Is Your Highness following me on His Majesty’s orders?” Shen Xihe asked directly.

In Shen Xihe’s view, as a prince, Xiao Changying couldn’t possibly leave the capital without imperial orders. Now that he had left and was following her, he must be acting on His Majesty’s command.

Xiao Changying had left the capital on his own, not by imperial command, purely wanting to protect her. He had waited at the post station until dark on Xiao Changqing’s advice, almost doubting his brother’s prediction, but his patience paid off and he indeed found Shen Xihe.

This time was extremely dangerous. His brother, fearing he would regret it later, had told him the truth and let him choose. He knew Shen Xihe didn’t need him at all, but he couldn’t control himself, worried that if something happened to her…

Faced with her questioning, a vein throbbed on Xiao Changying’s forehead, but his pride prevented him from saying he had come for her. Even if he did, given her coldness and ruthlessness, she wouldn’t be moved even for a moment: “That’s right, I came on His Majesty’s orders.”

Getting this confirmation, Shen Xihe raised her eyebrows and nodded: “Your Highness is brave to come alone.”

Xiao Changying instinctively became defensive: “What do you intend to do?”

Shen Xihe gave a light laugh: “Better to avoid trouble. Since Your Highness came alone, let’s pretend we never met. It saves us from conflict.”

Shen Xihe truly meant this. Though she didn’t know how Xiao Changying had found her since he came alone if he said he hadn’t seen her, then he hadn’t seen her – no one could question him.

“You want me to let you go and stop following you?” Xiao Changying understood her meaning.

Shen Xihe nodded slightly.

“I must follow you,” Xiao Changying disagreed.

Shen Xihe lifted her chin slightly. There was a curve to her lips, but no trace of humor in her eyes.

Xiao Changying looked away, avoiding her expression that suggested she might strike at any moment: “My brother and I don’t wish to be enemies with you and your husband, but since I have imperial orders, I must follow you. If you encounter His Majesty’s people, I can account for your whereabouts.”

Most of His Majesty’s people had followed the fake Shen Xihe onto the ship, where fierce fighting had broken out. With Xiao Changying’s whereabouts unknown, Emperor Youning would surely question him. Shen Xihe could understand his reason for following her.

She weighed whether to let Xiao Changying continue his harmless following, which could be useful in case of trouble or to subdue him now and quickly leave with Moyu.

Considering that Xiao Changying already knew her route, and she couldn’t afford delays or detours, even if she subdued him now, he would still catch up. She certainly couldn’t resort to killing him over this.

“Then let’s pretend I never saw Your Highness,” Shen Xihe said, turning back to her room.

Shen Xihe acted as if she’d never seen Xiao Changying, continuing with Moyu according to their original plan through Longzhou to Yuanzhou, then to Lanzhou.

Xiao Changying also acted as if he hadn’t been discovered, maintaining his original distance while following Shen Xihe.

The journey was peaceful until their last day leaving Yuanzhou. Due to the route, even leaving Yuanzhou early, they couldn’t reach Lanzhou by nightfall and had to camp in the wilderness.

As Shen Xihe and Moyu were roasting their evening meal, an evening breeze brought different scents – human presences, and more than one.

Shen Xihe’s calm eyes lifted from the bright fire, starlight seeming to flicker and burn in her pupils.

She raised her hand, her sleeves floating in the wind. After a while, she lowered her hand. Having gauged the wind direction, she stood and took a powder box from her saddlebag. Moyu, who hadn’t noticed anything unusual, saw this and her eyes flickered.

Shen Xihe gave her a look, and they moved to sit in a position opposite the wind direction. Shen Xihe opened the powder box, releasing a faint fragrance. She grabbed a handful, appearing to sprinkle it on the roasting game but dropping it all into the fire.

The originally faint fragrance became stronger as it burned, spreading with the wind.

It was the transition between spring and summer when flowers bloomed abundantly. Mountain breezes often carried flower scents, so these pleasant fragrances raised no suspicion. Some even found it particularly refreshing and couldn’t help taking several deep breaths.

After about half an incense stick’s time, dull thuds sounded one after another, about one or two li away from Shen Xihe and her companion. People fell from trees, while others hidden on the ground fainted. Their companions who had avoided the sleeping fragrance by being upwind suddenly realized they’d been exposed. Not waiting for nightfall when their targets would be resting, they drew their blades and leaped toward Shen Xihe and her group.

A slingshot appeared in Shen Xihe’s hand, launching white wax balls at the approaching attackers. Her technique was extremely fast and fierce, leaving no time to dodge except by cutting through the projectiles with their blades.

As the wax balls broke, white powder dispersed with a fragrant scent. After two breaths, by the time they reached Shen Xihe, their index fingers were too weak to hold their steel blades.

Xiao Changying, catching up, witnessed this scene: wave after wave of people falling to the ground while Shen Xihe sat elegantly on a rock, looking calm and unruffled. Moyu dragged the bodies one by one, stacking them like dominoes onto pre-placed ropes, binding them in groups of five. Fourteen people in total, bound in three stacks.

Xiao Changying: …

After binding them all, Moyu only woke the three at the bottom of each stack, coldly asking: “Who sent you?”

The three men, firmly pressed down at the bottom, remained stubborn and refused to speak.

Moyu’s patience wore thin. In one leap, her long sword flashed, its cold light sweeping past. Something round fell from the top, landing in front of them and rolling before their eyes.

Though stacked, the bodies were slightly offset. Blood from the top dripped down onto their foreheads, running down their noses to the ground, the firelight illuminating the thick liquid.

Even these men, accustomed to torture, couldn’t help but feel their hearts constrict.

The sight made Xiao Changying’s scalp tingle, yet Shen Xihe sat nearby, calmly tending to her roasting meat.

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