Qiao Chu

If Chu Zhao knew what Xie Yanlai was thinking on the city wall when she left the capital, she would definitely call him a "jinx."

When flames surged in the valley and arrows filled the sky, Chu Zhao wanted to curse someone, but didn't know who to blame.

Herself? She knew full well the journey wouldn't be safe after leaving the capital, but should danger stop her? No matter how she thought about it, she would still have gone, so there was no point in cursing herself.

The bandits? She didn't even know who these bandits were.

The journey had been smooth until then.

Chu Zhao's party was small—Xiao Man led ten people, while the women and children stayed in the capital. Of course, the women and children weren't weak; in fact, their lack of attention made them more lethal. Xie Yanlai wanted to give half of the Dragon Guard Army to her—Chu Zhao felt embarrassed. She was trying to travel discreetly, not with thunderous fanfare.

In the end, Chu Zhao only took ten people.

Twenty people traveled light and fast, not stopping to rest until it was time to change horses. They soon left the heart of the Central Plains and passed by the North Cao Town station again.

Seeing the station, A Le enthusiastically introduced it to Xiao Man: "We tricked a lot of people here before."

This time, however, they didn't need to stop. They merely glanced at it as they passed by. The fat Station Chief standing outside picking his teeth didn't even notice them.

Chu Zhao deliberately avoided Zhongshan Commandery, so they didn't encounter the great river again but instead crossed over a large mountain.

Yet, an unexpected incident still occurred.

As soon as they entered the valley, a group of people suddenly appeared, shouting and blocking the way to rob them. Their speech and attire resembled that of mountain bandits.

But no one believed they were bandits.

Xiao Man sneered, "How do they look like bandits?"

The leader of the accompanying Dragon Guard Army, surnamed Bai, called himself Lao Bai—though he was only middle-aged. Carrying a long blade on his back, he spoke little and simply said, "Their aura isn't that of bandits."

The "bandits" clearly couldn't be bothered to put on an act either. They skipped the usual threats like "your money or your life" and charged straight at them with weapons raised.

And they weren't alone. Behind them, more hoofbeats echoed through the valley, accompanied by fierce shouts of "Kill—"

...

...

These people were indeed not bandits. Even as they fell one after another under the Dragon Guard Army's resistance, not a single one retreated.

At first, Xiao Man and her ten people only guarded Chu Zhao. Soon, Xiao Man sent some to provide support. In the end, even Chu Zhao and A Le were holding weapons, their faces and clothes splattered with blood.

A prolonged battle was not a good strategy.

"Into the mountains!" Xiao Man shouted. "These people aren't from here. They don't know the mountains well."

A thought flashed through Chu Zhao's mind: But we aren't from here either, and we don't know the mountains well either, do we?

Still, it didn't slow her movements. Lao Bai didn't question it either, and the group immediately fled into the forest.

The dense woods and rocky terrain formed a natural barrier. Chu Zhao and the others quickly vanished into them.

But the pursuit didn't stop.

...

...

The "bandits" rained arrows down on them.

One arrow whizzed past Chu Zhao's head, and Xiao Man reached out to push her down.

"I know my limits," Chu Zhao whispered to her urgently. "Focus on your own tasks."

Although she had fought on horseback with a blade during the chaos in the capital that night, she was no match for Xiao Man. Xiao Man was about the same age as her but far more skilled in combat.

She knew her limits and wouldn't push herself to avoid causing trouble.Xiao Man warily scanned their surroundings, then pointed in a direction to the man standing on a tree. The man immediately leaped several times to the edge of the cliff, drew his bow, and released an arrow—several screams echoed from below the mountain.

The rain of arrows from below temporarily ceased.

"These men are trained soldiers," Lao Bai murmured as he moved over from another side.

In truth, even without him saying it, Chu Zhao had already guessed. These bandits moved with discipline—there were archers, axemen, and even shield bearers—

"Can you tell their origin?" Xiao Man asked.

Lao Bai shook his head, a trace of shame on his face. After all, he had always been in the capital and was unfamiliar with military forces from commanderies outside it.

"It's not surprising you can't tell," Chu Zhao said quietly. "Since they're targeting me, they would naturally conceal their identities."

They were either Prince Zhongshan's men, remnants of the Zhao Family loyal to the Third Prince, or—there was no one else.

Perhaps there would be others in the future.

Chu Zhao smiled faintly to herself. But for now, only those two wanted her dead.

Prince Zhongshan was the most likely.

He had been the greatest threat throughout this journey.

Currently, Prince Zhongshan and the court maintained an eerie calm. The court had not moved against Prince Zhongshan, and he remained silent—neither attending the funerals of the late emperor and crown prince nor offering congratulations to the new emperor, as if he had vanished.

Of course, Prince Zhongshan hadn't disappeared, and there was no true peace between the court and him. First, the court's troops—Xie Yanfang's forces—had been pursuing Xiao Xun, then mobilized to surround Zhongshan Commandery. After Deputy General Zhong returned to the Border Commandery, he also dispatched troops toward Zhongshan Commandery, forming a pincer movement with the court's forces—

Naturally, Prince Zhongshan knew the troops were closing in.

But for now, neither side had struck. Both seemed to be waiting, waiting for the right opportunity—

That was why Chu Zhao had deliberately detoured around Zhongshan Commandery, to avoid becoming that opportunity.

Yet now it appeared Prince Zhongshan hadn't let the chance slip.

She had concealed her movements from the entire court and the world, but that didn't necessarily mean she could hide them from Prince Zhongshan. Though the Imperial City had been purged multiple times, after so many years of his influence, his spies couldn't be easily eradicated.

Was she still destined to die at Xiao Xun's hands?

"Your Highness," Lao Bai said, looking at Chu Zhao in a low voice, "they also seem afraid of being discovered, so they haven't sent many men. We've seized the advantageous position first, so we're safe for now. If we can find a way to alert the local garrison, we're sure to repel these bandits."

The location Xiao Man and the others had chosen was indeed excellent. The bandits' initial attempt to set a fire had failed to cause harm, and now their arrows were largely ineffective due to the terrain.

Chu Zhao surveyed their surroundings. Behind them was the highest cliff; in front lay a clearing devoid of trees, only rugged rocks forming a natural protective wall. Positioned high above, standing behind the rocks was like being atop a tall city wall.

But how long would "for now" last?

"Any arrangements we can make, they will naturally anticipate," Chu Zhao murmured, gazing toward the forest ahead where the quiet bandits showed slight movement, as if some had withdrawn—this was not normal.

She looked around again. Their numbers were too few. After the earlier skirmish, five of their twenty were lost, and seven or eight of the remaining were wounded.

No matter how favorable their position, these people couldn't hold out for long.

Lao Bai knew this well. He said solemnly, "Your Highness, let this young lady escort you away. We will fight to the death to ensure you leave here safely."

As long as she could escape this place, there would be a chance to call for help.A Le tightened his grip on his weapon nearby and nodded along. "Miss, you should go with Xiao Man now."

She would not leave. Xiao Man could only take one person, and she refused to become a burden. She was willing to risk her life to hold off the bandits for her lady.

Chu Zhao shook her head, gazing at the undulating forest. "We know even less about what lies beyond these woods. Without cover, it would be just as dangerous."

Xiao Man, who had been silent all this time, sprang to her feet upon hearing this.

"I'll go find help!"

With those words, before Chu Zhao, Lao Bai, or the others could react, she gripped her long blade and dashed forward in a few swift strides.

"Cover her!"

Chu Zhao barely had time to shout.

As her command rang out, Lao Bai and the others drew their bows and released a volley of arrows, while shouts erupted once more from the forest opposite.

A rain of arrows blotted out the sky once again.