After eight days of relentless travel, they finally reached the first Zhao-Wei fortress. As soon as they entered the city gates, Li Jin wanted to replenish their dried provisions. However, Taohua stopped him, instructing Qingtai to continue driving the carriage. Only after passing through the main city did she relax, whispering, “We’ll exchange silver for supplies in the village ahead.”
Yang Wanqing was about to suggest that she might be overly cautious when they noticed the city gates behind them suddenly going on high alert. Every entering and exiting carriage was being scrutinized against wanted posters.
Taohua’s face paled as she said, “Our carriage can’t outrun their swift horses. At this rate, we won’t make it through the second fortress.”
“Don’t worry,” Jiang Taohua reassured them. “I have a plan.”
Li Jin remained skeptical about what plan could work. Meanwhile, Taohua’s motion sickness was worsening. Each time the carriage stopped, she would vomit violently, her complexion deteriorating.
“Are you…” Yang Wanqing furrowed his brow. “Could you be with child?”
Waving her hand, Taohua rinsed her mouth. “Don’t overthink it. I can’t get pregnant.”
Yang Wanqing paused, remembering the gu poison in her body. He sighed, his eyes filled with pity. As he was about to offer words of comfort, Taohua mischievously added, “But when we reach the next fortress, pretend that I am pregnant.”
Li Jin frowned. “What are you plotting now?”
“Naturally, I’m planning how to return to Zhao smoothly,” Taohua replied seriously. “We don’t have much time left. As long as we have breath in our bodies, we must find every way to get back quickly.”
Qingtai gritted her teeth and urged the horses faster. At a relay station where they changed horses, she watched her mistress vomiting severely and said, “You must take care of yourself. If the Third Prince learns how you’re pushing yourself, he’ll be upset.”
Taohua crouched on the ground, clutching her stomach. “I don’t have the energy to worry about his feelings anymore. Seeing him alive is enough. When we reach the next fortress, use some silver to bribe a doctor. I’ll need one.”
“Understood,” Qingtai agreed, helping her back onto the carriage.
Ten days had passed, and a heavy atmosphere still hung over the Chancellor’s residence.
Gu Huairou sat beside Shen Zaiye, observing his pale and troubled expression. She couldn’t help but advise, “No matter how busy you are, you must eat properly. Otherwise, you’ll collapse before accomplishing anything significant.”
“It’s fine,” Shen Zaiye replied, his eyes fixed on the outside, lips tightly pressed. “I’m not so easily broken.”
Sighing, Gu Huairou shook her head. “The last time you were this upset was when Madam went to the mountains to recuperate.”
Shen Zaiye shot her a cold glance. “What does this have to do with her?”
“Isn’t your distress due to Madam’s sudden departure?” Gu Huairou, emboldened by the black veil covering her head, ventured to say, “In my opinion, my lord, you truly love Madam deeply.”
“Absurd!” Shen Zaiye scoffed, about to leave when Zhanlu entered, calling out, “My lord!”
Shen Zaiye’s expression changed. He quickly pulled Zhanlu aside. “What news?”
“We couldn’t find them at the first fortress. They’ve likely passed through already,” Zhanlu frowned. “Four people traveling at such speed—they must be desperate.”
Shen Zaiye’s face darkened further. “Continue alerting the next city. We must catch up to them no matter what.”
“Yes,” Zhanlu agreed, then hesitantly asked, “If we intercept them, should we capture them alive or…?”
Shen Zaiye gave him a complex look. “You want to bring her corpse back to me?”
“But that’s what you said before, my lord,” Zhanlu cautiously reminded him. “Just a few days ago, you insisted on seeing her body if she were dead.”
“You just do whatever I say?” Shen Zaiye frowned. “After serving me for so long, can’t you differentiate between words spoken in anger and my true intentions?”
Zhanlu shook his head honestly. “Your attitude regarding Madam has always been difficult for me to discern. I relayed your previous words exactly as you said them.”
Shen Zaiye pushed him against the wall, his voice cold. “Issue new orders immediately. Anyone who harms a hair on her head will answer to me with their life!”
A man’s heart is truly unfathomable! Zhanlu wanted to scream. Even if you’re the master, you can’t toy with people like this! Changing your mind daily over such long distances can easily lead to mistakes!
“I’ll see to it at once!” Zhanlu fled swiftly. Shen Zaiye, feeling agitated, paced by the door for a while before returning to sit in the room.
Could she withstand such a grueling journey?
She couldn’t. Upon reaching the second fortress, Jiang Taohua saw the men waiting to capture them at the city gate. Without hesitation, she turned herself in.
“Prepare a room for me and summon a doctor,” Taohua commanded. “If anything happens to my belly, none of you will escape unscathed!”
The guards, initially ready to arrest them, were taken aback by her attitude. After a brief discussion, they escorted the group to the relay station and settled them in.
“What now?” Yang Wanqing surveyed the surroundings before returning to Taohua’s bedside. “There are many guards outside. It’ll be difficult to escape.”
“No rush. Let’s rest for a day,” Taohua replied. “We’re still over ten days’ journey from the Wei capital. There’s no need to worry about anyone arriving from there soon. As long as no one comes from the capital, leaving here won’t be an issue.”
Li Jin looked at her with a complex expression. “You’re truly clever, always finding a solution. No wonder Su’e is so wary of you.”
Rolling her eyes, Taohua retorted, “She’s probably jealous because I’m prettier than her. She doesn’t care about brains.”
If Su’e had any sense, she wouldn’t have put Li Jin in the Chancellor’s position.
Li Jin: “…”
“My lady,” Qingtai entered with a doctor, followed by the local magistrate. Taohua remained silent, extending her wrist to the doctor for pulse-taking while keeping an eye on the burly magistrate.
Judging by his expression, he seemed unsure how to handle her situation. The news probably hadn’t reached him yet, leaving room for maneuvering.
“Madam,” the doctor said gravely after checking her pulse, “It appears you’re with child, but excessive travel has risked miscarriage. You must rest well.”
Taohua let out an “Oh!” and immediately said, “How did I not know I was pregnant? Had I known, I would never have left the capital! The Chancellor has long wanted a child. He’ll be overjoyed to hear this news!”
The magistrate, startled, stepped forward and cupped his hands. “May I ask who you are, Madam?”
“You’re arresting me without knowing my identity?” Taohua raised an eyebrow.
“Forgive my ignorance,” the magistrate replied. “We were instructed to apprehend and return you to the capital, but your identity wasn’t specified.”
“I see,” Taohua smiled, pulling out Shen Zaiye’s jade pendant from her neck and showing it to him. “Do you recognize this?”
The magistrate’s face turned pale upon seeing it. He quickly knelt. “Yes, yes! You’re the Chancellor’s wife?”
“Indeed,” Taohua smiled sweetly. “I had a sudden urge to visit my maiden home. I didn’t expect the Chancellor to be so concerned. Since that’s the case, I’ll wait here for him to send someone to escort me back.”
“But…” the magistrate hesitated. “Our orders were to escort you back ourselves.”
“How can that be?” Taohua glared, covering her belly. “Didn’t you hear the doctor? I’m at risk of miscarriage. If I lose the child on the journey, will you explain that to the Chancellor?”
The magistrate panicked. He turned to look at his adviser, who whispered, “We can’t take this responsibility. Let’s send a message back and wait for instructions from above.”
Agreeing, the magistrate bowed to Taohua. “Then please move to the county office to rest for a few days while we await news from the capital?”
“My stomach hurts. I don’t want to move. I’ll stay here,” Taohua frowned. “Just assign more men to protect me.”
She then grumbled like a petty housewife, “Really, I was just being willful once. Why are they chasing me like a criminal?”
Seeing this, the magistrate could say no more. He instructed his men to serve her well and hurried off to send a message.
Li Jin and Yang Wanqing were dumbfounded. Both knew about her gu poison, so they weren’t surprised when Qingtai bribed the doctor. However, Jiang Taohua’s acting skills were truly impressive!
“Aren’t you afraid that Shen Zaiye will find out you deceived him and settle accounts with you later?” Yang Wanqing marveled.
Taohua snorted lightly, closing her eyes. “Who knows when ‘later’ will be? Let’s get through this hurdle first. You should all go rest now. Regain your strength. We’ll set out tomorrow.”
“How can we leave?” Li Jin asked. “You specifically asked him to assign more guards for protection. Won’t they notice if we try to escape?”
“You said it yourself—they’re here to protect, not monitor,” Taohua explained patiently. “Since it’s protection, no one will be guarding against our escape. Can’t we just find a way to climb over the wall tomorrow?”
Why was communicating with these people so difficult? It was most comfortable being with Shen Zaiye. He could understand her subtle intentions with just a glance.
But… why was she thinking of him again?
Shaking her head, Taohua quickly went to sleep. Her stomach was still faintly aching, possibly due to her approaching monthly cycle.
Yang Wanqing pulled Li Jin outside. After closing the door, he suddenly sighed, “You truly aren’t suitable for her.”
“What?” Li Jin frowned.
“Jiang Taohua is too clever. You’re not from the same world,” Yang Wanqing shook his head. “She’s destined to have her realm.”
“Are you looking down on me?”
Yang Wanqing shook his head. He didn’t know how to explain, but ever since seeing Jiang Taohua in Wei, he realized she had changed. Gone was the subdued aura she had in Zhao. Now, she was radiant and dazzling, as if she could hold the world in her hands.
Such a person might be more suited to be Zhao’s ruler.
(End of Chapter)