Early in the morning, after washing up, Qiu Xinran dragged her heavy steps to the entrance of the official post station only to discover that the carriage outside had been changed. It looked more spacious and magnificent than the one they’d been riding before, causing her to stare at it in a daze for a while.

Gao Yue rode over on horseback. Seeing her standing outside the carriage without moving for quite some time, she jumped down from her horse and called out: “Why aren’t you getting in?”

Qiu Xinran turned her head curiously: “This is…”

Gao Yue understood: “The County Magistrate Chen who hosted the banquet last night somehow offended the Marquis. Early this morning he sent over a pile of things to apologize. But I noticed the Marquis seemed to be in quite a good mood this morning. When he saw the people from the county office, he even gave them a pleasant expression for once, didn’t say much, just returned all the other items and only kept this carriage. For the next several days, we’ll be riding in this one.”

Hearing this, Qiu Xinran looked over: “Is Miss Gao also riding in the carriage with us starting today?”

“You don’t want me to?”

Qiu Xinran smiled with pursed lips: “It’s my honor.”

“Get in first.” Gao Yue urged with some grumbling. Qiu Xinran didn’t point out her little bit of awkwardness and obligingly climbed into the carriage first. Zhang Hui was already sitting inside. Seeing Gao Yue follow right behind and bend down to enter the carriage, she was slightly startled, then graciously nodded to her.

Gao Yue uncomfortably turned her face away, then noticed Qiu Xinran sitting by the window with a space left in the middle. She frowned: “Why are you sitting there?”

Qiu Xinran looked innocent: “I get severely dizzy as soon as I get in the carriage. I have to sit by the window to get some air to feel better.”

Gao Yue felt a breath stuck in her chest, unable to rise or fall. Finally, she sat down sullenly between the two of them.

With the carriage more spacious, the journey was much more comfortable. Whether or not it was because the bowl of medicine from last night had truly been effective, Qiu Xinran actually felt much better sitting in the carriage today. By afternoon, she could even lift the carriage curtain to look at the scenery outside.

Today the person outside had changed to Gao Yang. Seeing her, he greeted her: “Is Miss Qiu feeling better today?”

Qiu Xinran was somewhat surprised. Hearing this, she remembered last night’s events and hurried to thank him: “I must thank Attendant Gao for the medicine you fetched yesterday.”

Gao Yang didn’t take credit: “This subordinate merely followed the Marquis’s instructions.”

This should have been expected. Qiu Xinran also found it strange that when Xia Xiuyan said that last night, she hadn’t thought of this. She couldn’t help but laugh: “Then—please also thank the Marquis on my behalf, Attendant Gao.”

Gao Yue also poked her head out from inside the carriage: “Where did He Zhong go? Why are you here today instead, brother?”

Mentioning He Zhong, Gao Yang couldn’t help but smile: “Last night, County Magistrate Chen’s subordinates were all heavy drinkers, provoking He Zhong into a drinking contest until the second watch. Right now he’s still lying in the carriage up ahead.”

“He did that and wasn’t reprimanded?” Gao Yue muttered quietly. “It seems the Marquis really was in a good mood yesterday.”

Qiu Xinran didn’t catch what she said. She only felt the carriage’s forward speed suddenly slow down, and the procession ahead gradually came to a halt. Those behind couldn’t help but crane their necks to look forward curiously. Gao Yang instructed them to sit back inside the carriage, turned his horse around, and rode ahead.

Zhang Hui didn’t know what was happening outside and was somewhat worried. Gao Yue glanced at her and suddenly spoke without preamble: “Further ahead is Wanfeng Mountain. Going all the way inside, it’s all high mountains and canyons with complex terrain. I’ve heard there are many bandits who rob travelers in this area. The Marquis probably wants to adjust the formation before entering the mountains so that if we encounter any situation, we can respond early.”

Zhang Hui hadn’t expected her to offer an explanation and was startled. She smiled warmly at her: “I see. I feel much more at ease hearing you say so, Miss.”

Gao Yue turned her head away. After a long while, she quietly answered: “You’re welcome.”

Sure enough, before long, an unfamiliar soldier rode over and said to the young ladies inside the carriage: “Going forward past a canyon, there’s a town, and inside is Wanfeng Mountain. But it’s not very safe along this route. Many bandits rob passing merchants. The Marquis is worried there might be an incident and has already adjusted the formation, ordering us to come protect you. You young ladies need not worry.”

Qiu Xinran lifted the curtain to look and discovered that the convoy behind had indeed gathered closer together. Many more guards had been stationed around them as well, and the atmosphere was somewhat more serious than before. She lowered the curtain. The maid beside Zhang Hui looked somewhat nervous, gripping her mistress’s hand tightly. Seeing this, Gao Yue offered another reassurance: “No need to worry. Even if there are bandits along the way, seeing the military banner, they won’t have the guts to rob the Changwu Army’s carriages.”

This was indeed true. No bandits would rob their way to the authorities’ doorstep.

The carriage continued advancing into the mountains. Dense forests stood on both sides, with towering trees blocking out the sky. Walking through them, it seemed even the daylight had darkened somewhat.

The soldiers around them were especially cautious. No one spoke along the way. Sitting in the carriage, they could only hear the sound of wheels crushing dead leaves and rustling footsteps. The people in the carriage were influenced by the atmosphere outside and gradually stopped conversing as well.

The mountain road was bumpy. Qiu Xinran leaned against the carriage wall. The dizziness from riding in the carriage attacked her in waves again, so she could only close her eyes to rest and distract herself.

Like this, the procession traveled for most of the day. Finally, they felt the road gradually becoming smoother, and the light around them brightened as well. It seemed they had emerged from the forest. Gao Yue lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and carefully glanced outside, then turned back with a smile: “Good, once we pass that canyon ahead, we’ll reach the town.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the atmosphere inside the carriage immediately relaxed. She herself also seemed to breathe a secret sigh of relief, showing that although she’d reassured everyone many times before, she hadn’t been completely unworried herself.

Qiu Xinran leaned against the carriage wall. Hearing voices gradually emerging from outside, it seemed things were truly as Gao Yue had said—they had safely passed through the forest without encountering any incident. Before the stone in her heart could settle, she suddenly heard a “clang” sound. The carriage violently lurched, and the horses pulling the carriage also whinnied loudly. The driver hastily tightened the reins to prevent the carriage from tipping over.

All around came shouts of people and neighing of horses. Like hot oil meeting water, everything instantly boiled over. Warning cries of “ambush” and “be careful” came faintly from ahead. Gao Yue’s expression changed. She made a snap decision and shouted to everyone: “Quick, get down!”

Before those in the carriage could react, she grabbed them from their seats, pulled them down, and pressed them to the floor. She blocked the small table in the carriage against the door, one hand on the long whip at her waist, using her body to shield them while carefully listening to the sounds outside the carriage.

The driver finally managed to control the startled horses. Although this ambush had caught everyone off guard, fortunately, before entering the mountains, Xia Xiuyan had made early preparations. The accompanying soldiers were battle-hardened. The front quickly adjusted their formation, fighting while advancing, covering the convoy behind while launching a counterattack.

Qiu Xinran was pressed firmly to the floor by Gao Yue, her back against the seat. The several people huddled tightly together, barely able to catch their breath. The carriage swayed more violently than ever before. In their ears was the sound of cold arrows piercing through the carriage window and embedding in the carriage walls—everything causing them to break out in a cold sweat. However, at this moment, the discomfort from dizziness had been overtaken by fear. Qiu Xinran only felt her stomach churning violently. Using all her strength, she could only manage to keep herself from immediately vomiting in the carriage. In the chaos, she could only hear the clashing of swords and spears outside, with no idea how the situation was developing.

After about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, the sound of metal against metal outside the carriage gradually ceased. The carriage gradually stabilized and finally stopped safely by the roadside. Before long, footsteps approached. The soldier who had been guarding outside the carriage ran over and pushed open the door. Seeing that everyone inside was safe and unharmed, he couldn’t help but let out a long breath: “We’ve successfully passed the canyon. The bandits ambushing in the canyon have also retreated. It’s safe now. Are any of you young ladies injured?”

Hearing him finish this sentence, Qiu Xinran felt the pressure on her body ease. Then Zhang Hui’s alarmed cry rang in her ears: “Miss Gao is injured!”

She forced her eyes open and discovered that indeed, Gao Yue’s left shoulder had a tear in her clothing. An arrow that had shot into the carriage earlier had grazed her shoulder. Now blood covered her entire shoulder. The soldier hurried to find people to help. Inside the carriage, Zhang Hui, her face pale, pressed one hand over the wound. When help arrived from outside, they assisted in moving her to another carriage.

Having just experienced an ambush, quite a few people in the convoy were wounded. Fortunately, they’d been prepared early on, so most injuries were minor and only required simple bandaging. Xia Xiuyan ordered everyone to rest in place, first reorganize the formation, then enter the city before nightfall.

By the time he’d settled the subordinates at the front and rode back on horseback, the traveling military physician had already treated Gao Yue’s wound. Gao Yang came down from the carriage, his expression relatively calm—it seemed Gao Yue’s injury wasn’t serious. However, Zhang Hui stood outside looking anxious and full of worry.

Xia Xiuyan breathed a slight sigh of relief, then looked around as if searching for someone. Gao Yang understood his thoughts and glanced toward the forest not far away.

Xia Xiuyan’s steps paused. He turned and walked toward the forest. Before long, he saw beneath a large tree in the forest a figure leaning against the trunk, vomiting desperately.

He raised his eyebrows slightly and walked toward her. Just then, Qiu Xinran finished vomiting up what little acidic fluid remained in her stomach. Turning around, she saw a figure approaching in the distance. She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. When he’d walked to within ten paces, she finally recognized who it was. She couldn’t help but freeze for a moment, then immediately called out: “Hey—don’t come over.”

Xia Xiuyan’s steps paused. He didn’t understand why she had this look of facing a great enemy. Qiu Xinran embarrassedly shifted her body to the side: “I just vomited filth all over the ground. The Marquis likes cleanliness—it’s better not to come closer.”

She still knew to be embarrassed. Xia Xiuyan’s heart stirred as he recalled He Zhong’s drunken words from last night: “…then they become especially mindful of their every word and deed, not wanting the other to see even the slightest flaw in them.”

Looking at the woman beneath the tree with her embarrassed expression, he actually felt somewhat nervous himself. He lowered his head and cleared his throat uncomfortably, feigning composure as he said: “There may still be bandits nearby who haven’t retreated. Don’t stay in the forest alone.” After saying this, he indeed didn’t walk forward anymore but turned and headed back toward the convoy. At the same time, he slowed his pace, carefully paying attention to the sounds behind him. Before long, hearing footsteps following him, he breathed a sigh of relief, and a smile unconsciously appeared at the corners of his lips.

During the day they’d encountered an ambush in the canyon. Fortunately, the enemy had few people. Although they’d briefly disrupted the Changwu Army’s formation by taking advantage of the terrain, because Xia Xiuyan had prepared in advance, the convoy’s losses weren’t great.

That night they lodged at the official post station in the city. After settling the wounded soldiers, they closed the doors to review the day’s ambush. They’d already questioned the station master, who said there were many bandits in the area. The authorities had sent people to the mountains multiple times to eliminate them, but because this area was already Wanfeng Mountain’s territory, the bandits would hide deep in the mountains and become difficult to trace. So it could only be left unresolved.

Zhang Rong stood to the side with folded arms, pondering: “According to this, these bandits should be disorganized stragglers, at most only targeting passing merchants. Why would they have the guts to ambush the Changwu Army in a canyon?”

This was precisely the strange aspect of this matter. Gao Yang added: “After arriving at the town today, I took people back to investigate. That group used heavy bows and iron arrows—not weapons ordinary mountain bandits would use. To be able to shoot arrows so far, there should be several highly skilled fighters among them.”

Because of last night’s drinking, He Zhong had been lying in a carriage when today’s incident occurred. Right now he regretted it deeply, filled with self-reproach, and said hatefully: “I think this group truly has eaten the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard. Next time we encounter them, I’ll definitely make them pay!”

He said these words without thinking too much, but they truly hit upon the key point of the matter. Who exactly were these people? What were they after? If they continued forward, would there be another ambush?

This afternoon, judging from the confrontation between both sides, the enemy’s numbers weren’t large. If they engaged head-on, they definitely wouldn’t be a match for the Changwu Army. But if they kept ambushing along the route, ready to strike at any opportunity, it couldn’t help but demand serious attention.

Gao Yang looked hesitantly at the man who hadn’t spoken for a long while, then said uncertainly: “Does the Marquis think these people might be targeting Miss Qiu?”

Zhang Rong frowned: “Impossible. If they were truly targeting Miss Qiu, once she reaches Qizhou there would be plenty of opportunities. Why would they specifically choose to strike on the road? Moreover, she’s already left the capital—who would need to put her to death at all costs?”

He Zhong didn’t understand what they were talking about: “What does this have to do with Daoist Qiu?”

Xia Xiuyan spoke up to interrupt: “In the mountain valley today, the first arrow came at me. This group’s target should be me.”

They’d left the capital not long ago, and already encountered an ambush on the road. Who would have such audacity to dare move against Marquis Dingbei? For a moment, everyone in the room fell into silence.

The man sitting behind the desk stared at the topographical map of the area around Wanfeng Mountain on the table. After pondering for a moment: “I have an idea we can try.”