Chu Ke had originally shared a carriage with Miss Chu, but after Xiao Xun joined the group, Xiao Xun mostly rode on horseback, so Chu Ke followed suit.
This allowed him to ride alongside Xiao Xun and engage in conversation.
However, in the past two days, Chu Ke suddenly stopped riding. Xiao Xun didn’t particularly care about Chu Ke, but he was highly sensitive to anomalies and had Tie Ying investigate.
Due to Miss Chu’s attitude, Xiao Xun rarely approached her, but that didn’t mean he was completely indifferent to her affairs.
The entire group was now under his control.
Tie Ying quickly found out that Chu Ke had started suffering from diarrhea on the night they stopped in the city to change carriages and horses. It wasn’t severe, but it was enough to prevent him from riding freely, forcing him to lie down in the carriage.
The physician accompanying the prince’s household had examined him and found nothing seriously wrong, but a guard told Tie Ying that he had seen Miss Chu’s maid sprinkling something into Chu Ke’s food.
There was no doubt—it was Miss Chu’s doing.
“It was just to stop Young Master Chu from speaking with you, Heir Apparent,” Tie Ying said, both angry and incredulous. “This Miss Chu is so young and beautiful—how can her heart be so vicious?”
In the capital, she had assaulted someone, stolen money and fled, changed her identity to deceive others while on the run, entangled herself with Couriers, and now she had drugged her own cousin. How could everything she did be so disgraceful?
Xiao Xun was also at a loss for words. His father often privately praised Chu Ling as a rare talent—accomplished in both literary and martial arts, intelligent and noble—and held him in the highest regard.
How could Chu Ling have raised such a daughter?
Xiao Xun turned to look at Miss Chu’s carriage. The weather had warmed, and the curtains were rolled up, allowing the spring breeze to drift in. The girl sat by the window, her chin resting in her hand, lost in thought or perhaps admiring the scenery.
Her face was as pale as jade, her dark hair tied up, her appearance still bearing traces of childishness.
Sensing his gaze, her wandering eyes instantly sharpened like arrows as she looked back.
Xiao Xun was not wearing his usual splendid attire but a slightly worn, thin robe, his entire figure bathed in the spring light.
So handsome.
In that past life, her heart would race whenever she saw him.
But that heart had died in her previous life.
Now, facing him, Chu Zhao felt no heartbeat at all.
Chu Zhao withdrew her gaze and snapped the curtain shut with a sharp pull.
Xiao Xun’s line of sight was cut off. He paused briefly, then looked down at his hand gripping the reins, the fine hairs on the back still standing on end.
Strange—why had he felt a killing intent from the girl the moment their eyes met?
“Heir Apparent?” Tie Ying asked, noticing Xiao Xun’s unusual reaction.
Xiao Xun made a soft sound, tightened his grip on the reins, and said, “It’s nothing.”
As Tie Ying was about to step back, Xiao Xun called him again.
“This Miss Chu is unruly—keep a close watch on her,” he said with a light laugh. “I don’t want to be drugged and suffer from diarrhea, unable to reach the capital.”
Tie Ying understood. Miss Chu opposed their escort. Her earlier bad attitude was one thing, but if she had the ability to drug someone, precautions were necessary.
“Rest assured, Heir Apparent,” he said gravely. “She will have no opportunity to come near your food, clothing, lodging, or travel.”
Tie Ying withdrew, and Xiao Xun continued on his way, his usually calm eyes slightly troubled.
A bad attitude could be ignored, but if there was killing intent, that was another matter entirely.
Was this killing intent the girl’s alone, or did it come from Chu Ling?The convoy consisted of four carriages: besides those for Chu Zhao and Chu Ke, Deng Yi and Xiao Xun each had one, with the remaining carriage used by Xiao Xun’s servants to carry travel supplies.
However, Deng Yi rarely rode in his carriage, especially after Xiao Xun joined the journey.
He rode at the forefront on horseback.
A guard whispered to him by his side.
They were also discussing Chu Ke.
Deng Yi had learned immediately when Chu Zhao drugged Chu Ke, but since it was none of his concern, he paid no attention.
Compared to the previous two days, Young Master Chu’s complexion had improved significantly today. After some unknown argument with Chu Zhao in the carriage, he loudly called for a servant to bring his horse, climbed out of the carriage, and mounted it. Deng Yi watched with amusement as Chu Ke urged his horse forward to catch up with Xiao Xun ahead.
This scene was familiar to Deng Yi. Chu Ke, who had never before had the chance to interact with royalty, was now eagerly seeking to befriend a crown prince.
The heir apparent was an elegant young nobleman, courteous to everyone and particularly gracious to admirers like Chu Ke.
But this time, before Chu Ke could reach Xiao Xun, a guard stopped him, gesturing toward Xiao Xun. Several guards surrounded Xiao Xun, speaking in low voices, clearly indicating that Chu Ke was not to disturb them.
Chu Ke promptly retreated, waiting on horseback within the procession. But just as Xiao Xun’s guards stepped aside, before Chu Ke could approach, Xiao Xun abandoned his horse and returned to his carriage.
The Crown Prince of Zhongshan’s carriage was spacious and ornate, and without an invitation from the heir apparent, Chu Ke could not board it.
Chu Ke rode back and forth several times, but no invitation came from Xiao Xun. Eventually, he gave up in frustration.
The same pattern repeated over the following days. It seemed as if overnight, everyone had become aware that a member of the royal family was traveling with them. Xiao Xun now displayed the full pomp of his status, surrounded by guards, aloof and unapproachable to ordinary people.
The guard whispered to Deng Yi, "Miss Chu must be satisfied now. The heir apparent clearly despises both her and her brother."
Though Xiao Xun had never been particularly warm, he had at least maintained courtesy. Now, however, his cold detachment was unmistakable.
Deng Yi smiled. "That’s just fine."
How could that be fine? The guard was puzzled.
To Deng Yi, others’ disdain, when manipulated by this girl and aligned with her wishes, was indeed favorable for her. Holding the reins, he glanced toward Chu Zhao’s carriage.
Chu Zhao was looking out through the window. This girl was always quiet—unless she was launching an attack.
As the thought crossed his mind, her gaze turned toward him, and a smile appeared on her face as she lifted the carriage curtain.
"Lord Deng, Lord Deng," she called, waving.
Deng Yi slowed his horse, allowing her carriage to draw nearer. "What is it, Miss Chu?"
Chu Zhao took a small porcelain vial from her maid, A Le. "Lord Deng, this is my family’s secret frostbite ointment. The spring chill is severe, and I noticed you have an old injury on your hand. This will protect it."
Deng Yi glanced at his hand, where an old frostbite scar marked the back. "Very well," he said, reaching out to take it. "Thank you, Miss Chu."
Chu Zhao shook her head. "It’s only right."
Only right? Deng Yi nearly laughed aloud. Both he and Xiao Xun had disrupted her plans—why was it "only right" for him but not for Xiao Xun?
This young girl knew how to offend, but she also knew how to please.
But why him?
Whether in terms of status, position, appearance, or age, he was no match for Xiao Xun. It made no sense.
Interesting. Smiling, he urged his horse forward.
Chu Ke, lying in his carriage, had watched the entire exchange. Waiting until Deng Yi had ridden away, he sneered and demanded, "Why is it 'only right' for him? Why isn’t it 'only right' for the heir apparent?"He wasn't stupid. Having noticed Xiao Xun's aloofness, he naturally guessed it must be because of Chu Zhao. Chu Zhao had offended the Heir Apparent, causing him to hate everyone associated with her—even ignoring him now.
It made him grind his teeth in fury.
"Because he's the one who arrested me directly," Chu Zhao said casually. "Of course I need to curry favor with him. This matter has nothing to do with the Heir Apparent."
"Are you an idiot?" Chu Ke scolded angrily. "To avoid punishment, you should be currying favor with the Heir Apparent instead. Deng Yi is just a minor official—this matter doesn't even fall under the Ministry of the Guards' jurisdiction. He's merely an errand runner. But the Heir Apparent is different. With his high status and position, even if this matter has nothing to do with him, if he speaks up for you later, his influence would far surpass this Deng Yi's."
Chu Zhao glanced at him. "You're wrong about that. Lord Deng is actually the most powerful one."
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