The Southern Barbarians were located to the southwest of Great Wei. This neighbor still practiced tribal slavery and was warlike and savage, causing Great Wei constant headaches over the centuries.

The Southern Barbarians consisted of five tribes, each with nobility who called themselves kings. The Wuman were one of these five tribes.

The five tribes had been fighting among themselves for years, with the Southern Barbarian King holding no real authority. During this chaos, the Wuman tribe unified their internal voices and pledged allegiance to Great Wei, seeking to marry a Great Wei princess to ally.

To divide the five Southern Barbarian tribes and prevent their unification, Great Wei naturally agreed to the Wuman’s marriage alliance policy. Great Wei further hoped to support the Wuman’s rise to power, allowing the Wuman King to become king of all five Southern Barbarian tribes and unify them.

To show their determination, Great Wei married Princess Danyang, the Empress’s daughter who was only fifteen at the time, to the Wuman King who was already in his early thirties.

When Princess Danyang married the Wuman King, the king’s original tribal queen was demoted to a concubine.

Because this marriage alliance involved the Emperor’s daughter and the Empress’s young daughter, not just an ordinary royal princess, its significance was extraordinary throughout Great Wei. When Princess Danyang married the Wuman tribe, it was a grand affair, with all of Great Wei’s citizens both blessing and pitying this young princess.

However, after just two years, the Wuman King was struck by an arrow in battle with another tribe. As this ruler was dying, he passed the throne to his successor.

The successor planned to marry his father’s widow Princess Danyang and continue the friendly agreement between the Wuman and Great Wei.

But before the successor could marry Princess Danyang, internal warfare erupted.

The new Wuman King died tragically in the civil war, while Princess Danyang and her servants fought their way out through the bloodshed, returning to Great Wei.

Even now the Wuman remained in chaos, and Great Wei’s border armies couldn’t determine the current situation among the five Southern Barbarian tribes—

Because this matter was so significant, many in Great Wei paid attention to it.

Now on this rainy night in an ordinary gentry household in Shashui Town in Lingnan, Yan Shisheng, the second son of the Yan family, revealed Mu Wanyao’s identity, making the guards who came seeking the princess extremely wary.

The guards drew their swords and demanded harshly: “To our knowledge after the Princess arrived in Lingnan, she never revealed her whereabouts. How did you know she was the Princess?”

Yan Shisheng remained standing in the corridor. Having been woken in the middle of the night, he was somewhat tired, his voice slightly hoarse: “Though she never explicitly stated her identity, she left many clues. She claimed her surname was Mu and knew how to play ‘Wandering Prosperity’ cards found only in the Chang’an palace. Combined with her servants’ extreme respect for her, I dared guess she was royal kin of the Mu family.

“The Wuman falling into civil war wasn’t a small matter, nor was Princess Danyang’s return to Chang’an. Everyone in the world had heard something about it.

“And the biggest event in Lingnan this past year was the Late Emperor’s kinsman Lord Li being banished to Nanhai to become the County Magistrate.

“Connecting these points, I couldn’t help but guess that Princess Danyang came to Lingnan to visit her uncle, the current Nanhai County Magistrate Lord Li, isn’t that right?”

The guards blocking the Yan family gate looked at each other, their eyes showing shock and suspicion because Yan Shisheng’s guess was completely accurate.

Before they could think further, Yan Shisheng had already voluntarily explained their confusion: “However, for such an important person as the Princess, since she didn’t wish to reveal her identity, even though I figured it out, I never told anyone. If you don’t believe me, you’re welcome to ask around.”

With him saying this, the expressions of the guards standing outside the bamboo fence improved considerably.

The guard captain’s expression changed several times before he put away his earlier contemptuous sneer toward this scholar. This scholar was astute and had spent many days with the Princess… he might well be a formidable person.

Thinking this way, when he cupped his hands in greeting, he kept his sword blade facing himself to show he meant no harm to this scholar.

This guard captain spoke somewhat respectfully: “Since you’ve guessed our identity, could you tell us where the Princess is now?”

In the night, Yan Shisheng’s face was obscured by the rain curtain, his long eyebrows lifting almost imperceptibly.

Yet his words remained warm and concerned: “The Princess left my home three days ago. What’s the matter? Has the Princess not gone to Nanhai? You can’t find her?”

Everyone smiled bitterly.

Thus, the people blocking the Yan family’s gate no longer treated these guards as thieves but invited them in to talk. Because these guards were wary of the second young master’s keen observation skills, they didn’t dare look down on the Yan family either. Both sides met amicably to discuss finding the Princess.

Master Yan, who had been hiding in his room and hadn’t come out, let out a long sigh inside. Though middle-aged, his face remained scholarly and handsome. Through the door crack, his complex gaze watched his second son leading the guards into the house—

With such a capable son, even a small place like Lingnan probably couldn’t hide him forever.

Meanwhile, Liu Wenji, who had been hiding in another room, also came out to help Yan Shisheng and the other children receive the guards.

After a whole night of turmoil, Liu Wenji’s heart was also in flux, alternating between shock and disappointment. He never imagined that the arrogant young lady who had stayed at the Yan house and barely acknowledged them was the famous Princess Danyang.

Then that beautiful maid must have been the Princess’s maid… they were all such important people—

Yan Shisheng entertained those guards, both sides compared information, and immediately decided to search for the Princess together.

As everyone was putting on rain capes and preparing to go out searching, the Yan family’s youngest daughter Yan Xiaozhou took advantage of others’ inattention to pull her second brother to a corner.

Looking up at her second brother’s clear but somewhat tired eyes, Yan Xiaozhou set her face: “Second Brother, what exactly are you doing?”

Yan Shisheng raised his eyebrows slightly, asking gently: “What do you mean, little sister?”

Yan Xiaozhou stamped her foot.

Among the Yan children, the eldest son was simple-minded and skilled in martial arts, and the third son studied alongside the second brother but showed no results except for his loud voice… among these children, only the young Yan Xiaozhou showed any hint of cleverness.

Hiding from those guards, Yan Xiaozhou spoke softly and anxiously: “Second Brother, others might not know you, but how could we family members not know? You figured out the Princess’s identity early on but didn’t tell anyone – surely you’re not secretly planning something? How dare you scheme against a princess?”

She was extremely worried: “What exactly are you plotting? Won’t this bring disaster to our family?”

Yan Shisheng’s gaze flickered slightly as he looked at her.

Seeing him not speak, Yan Xiaozhou knew this was his way of tacitly agreeing. She became even more worried—

Her second brother appeared completely harmless and kind, never angry, never losing his temper.

But that didn’t mean her second brother was an especially upright person.

When someone can make everyone who knows them think well of them… such a person is terrifying.

Yan Xiaozhou tried to stay calm: “Second Brother, tell me, shouldn’t we take this chance to flee and hide…”

Yan Shisheng chuckled.

He reached out and rubbed his sister’s head: “Little sister, how could I let our whole family go into hiding because of me?”

Yan Xiaozhou: “Then between you and the Princess…”

Yan Shisheng sighed: “I admit, I did engage in a small scheme.”

Yan Xiaozhou’s face instantly went white.

But Yan Shisheng continued: “But I used open strategy, not underhanded plots. I would never harm the Princess, you really needn’t worry. I just… tested some things, seeking a future path, that’s all.”

These words finally put Yan Xiaozhou’s mind at ease.

She then mocked herself – what was she afraid of? Her second brother was a good person.

Wait, her second brother was a good person… right?—

The rain stopped.

Princess Danyang’s group had wandered exhaustedly through the forest for another day. Now night had fallen again, and thick fog once more shrouded the tall forest.

The guards rested wearily against tree stumps.

Mu Wanyao gripped her dagger, sitting by the fire. After two days of rushing about, they still hadn’t left this forest. Even with her strong personality, she couldn’t help feeling troubled and confused.

As time wore on, her body also began showing signs of discomfort, alternating between hot and cold, her head somewhat dizzy.

Fang Tong came to the Princess’s side. Looking down at her face, pale in the firelight, he said softly: “Chunhua is still running a high fever and hasn’t woken up.”

Mu Wanyao responded with a distracted “mm.”

Another guard came over, telling the Princess in an uneasy voice: “Your Highness, we seem to have encountered a ‘ghost wall.’ We keep wandering in this forest but can’t get out.”

His voice was neither loud nor soft, and many guards nearby heard the words “ghost wall,” suddenly becoming anxious.

Mu Wanyao coldly glared at the guard who mentioned the “ghost wall,” saying: “It’s just that the weather has been bad these past days, and fog has risen in the forest. You useless lot simply can’t tell directions. Don’t make excuses for your incompetence.”

Everyone immediately lowered their heads in self-reflection. Though scolded by the Princess, with her as their pillar of support, they weren’t so anxious anymore.

Seeing them stabilized, Mu Wanyao stood up. As she rose, her body swayed slightly, and Fang Tong quickly supported her.

Mu Wanyao gave Fang Tong a look, and they walked to one side.

Fang Tong lowered his voice, deeply worried: “As Your Highness said, the fog in this forest is too thick. If we can’t get out, with no one to treat Chunhua’s snake venom, I’m afraid she’ll die here.”

Mu Wanyao pondered for a moment.

She spoke: “Chunhua can’t wait any longer. We must continue moving.”

Fang Tong: “It’s just one maid. Everyone is already exhausted…”

Mu Wanyao said coolly: “Not just one maid.”

Her clear, cold eyes stared at Fang Tong as she said slowly: “I was able to lead you out of Wuman, so I can certainly lead you out of this ‘ghost wall.'”

She turned back, gazing at the great fog enveloping heaven and earth.

The young lady’s clear voice rang in everyone’s ears: “Since the night we left Wuman, I swore never to let anyone by my side be sacrificed or injured again!”

Her eyes fixed on all the guards as she said word by word: “I will not abandon any one of you! Now, follow me on the road!”

Everyone stared at the Princess, then silently, one by one, they stood up and took up their weapons. They moved silently through the mountain forest vegetation, and in the rustling sounds, they resolutely followed the Princess.

They walked on, not knowing how long had passed. The fog kept following them, and they seemed to be going in circles, but no one spoke again to disturb morale.

Mu Wanyao was walking at the front when she suddenly heard something that jolted her foggy mind alert. She quickly took two steps forward, pushing aside the waist-high grass, and saw someone carrying a horse lantern walking this way. She watched silently as the young scholar carrying the lantern through the forest suddenly looked up.

Their eyes met.

…it was Yan Shisheng!

Standing among the wild grass, he smiled at her, warm and gentle: “How are you, Lady Mu?”