Jiafu's suspicions were confirmed that very night.
The carriage came to a halt, and a sturdy middle-aged woman climbed aboard, holding a lantern. Despite the dim light, Jiafu recognized her immediately. This woman was from the household of the King of the Clouds, surnamed Zhu. Skilled in martial arts and possessing immense strength, she could easily overpower one or two ordinary men. Previously, as a trusted servant of the late princess consort, she held considerable seniority among the household staff. In Jiafu's past life, shortly after she had been defiled by Xiao Yintang and taken away, there was a period when her emotions were highly unstable. At that time, Xiao Yintang was already married, and his wife, Zhang Fengtong—who later became the empress—had personally come to persuade Jiafu with earnest words upon learning that her husband had secretly kept a woman. Far from being displeased, she had even assigned this woman to watch over Jiafu to prevent her from taking her own life.
The woman boarded the carriage and initially remained silent, covertly sizing up Jiafu. Seeing that the young girl was indeed breathtakingly beautiful, she recalled the instructions she had received before setting out. Knowing that any mishap on the road would leave her unable to account for it upon their return, she decided to intimidate Jiafu first, crushing any thoughts of escape. Hanging up the lantern, she pulled a hard old walnut from her sleeve, placed it in her palm, and crushed it effortlessly with a crisp crack . Spreading her hand open with a stern expression, she said, "Once you're in this carriage, you’d better behave. If you don’t listen, you’ll suffer for it." Then, switching to a smile, she added, "But don’t be afraid, little lady. Once we arrive, you’ll realize this is a tremendous blessing—a stroke of fortune others can only dream of. My name is Zhu; you may call me Granny Zhu. I’ll be taking care of you on this journey."
Jiafu huddled motionless in the corner of the carriage.
After the woman boarded, the carriage resumed its journey, continuing late into the night before stopping again at an inn. Before disembarking, the woman untied the ropes binding Jiafu’s feet but left her hands bound and the gag in place. She draped a large cloak over Jiafu’s head and face, blending her into their group as they escorted her inside. At dawn, they set off once more.
The group of seven or eight disguised themselves as a traveling household with servants, hurrying westward with Jiafu in tow without pause. Initially, they avoided main roads during the day, opting instead for rough, secluded paths, and spent nights in small inns or roadside homes. But after half a month, they switched to the main roads, traveling unimpeded and lodging in courier stations at night, always securing the finest rooms. The stationmasters treated them with utmost respect, attending to their every need with deference.
Jiafu knew they must have already entered Yunnan. She guessed that in a few more days, she would be delivered to the residence of the King of the Clouds in Wuding Prefecture. Despite this, Granny Zhu remained vigilant. Though she no longer bound Jiafu’s hands and feet at night—as Jiafu had requested—she confiscated her clothes, keeping them under her own pillow until morning to prevent any escape attempts while she slept.
After being abducted and traveling farther and farther from Quanzhou, Jiafu had long abandoned any thought of escaping along the way. Even if she miraculously seized an opportunity to flee, the risks of being a lone woman on the road were unpredictable and beyond her control.The only solution she could think of was the same path she had taken in her previous life—to find Pei You'an as soon as possible. Only with his help could she possibly escape.
She was certain that Pei You'an had been in Yunnan these past few years and had an extraordinary relationship with the King of the Clouds. However, she didn’t know whether he was currently here at this moment, nor could she ask Granny Zhu, who followed her relentlessly day and night, lest she arouse suspicion.
Jiafu estimated they would soon arrive at Wuding Prefecture. Granny Zhu also seemed eager to reach their destination quickly. That day, they traveled the entire day without stopping, continuing even after nightfall before finally halting.
Based on her experience these past few days, Jiafu knew they must have arrived at the courier station where they would stay for the night. Some of their party had gone in first to arrange the rooms, after which she would be led in through a side entrance by Granny Zhu.
Granny Zhu was already starving and didn’t want to eat the dry rations in the carriage. Seeing that the guards who had gone inside hadn’t returned, she grew impatient, pushed open the carriage window, and leaned out to look. Just then, someone emerged, and she asked, "What’s the matter?"
The guard replied, "There’s only one courtyard available, but it’s already reserved for someone else—though they haven’t arrived yet. I asked the stationmaster to give it to us first, but he refused!"
"Who is it?"
The guard leaned in and whispered a few words.
Granny Zhu froze.
The stationmaster, having checked their travel pass earlier, knew this group came from the King of the Clouds' residence. Though they appeared to be on official business, he wouldn’t dare slight anyone from the royal household. He hurried out, bowing apologetically. "Madam, I wouldn’t dare show you any disrespect, but it’s truly unfortunate—that courtyard has been reserved for Lord Pei. However, I do have another fine room with adjoining side chambers. Though it lacks a courtyard, it’s otherwise excellent and very quiet, perfect for your party. May I show you in to rest?"
Throughout their journey in Yunnan, they had always been given the best accommodations at every courier station. Even if officials were already lodged there, they would yield upon learning that someone from the royal household had arrived.
Granny Zhu was slightly displeased, but this trip wasn’t the time to make a scene. Moreover, she didn’t dare forcibly take the room reserved for that man. With her stomach growling, she frowned and said, "Fine, let it be. Hurry up and arrange it—serve us hot food!"
The stationmaster exhaled in relief, bowed, and was about to leave when Granny Zhu called him back and added in a low voice, "We’ll leave early tomorrow morning. Don’t mention our presence to that man surnamed Pei!"
The stationmaster was puzzled but nodded repeatedly before scurrying off.
Granny Zhu turned and handed Jiafu a large cloak. "Let’s go inside."
Jiafu took it and silently draped it over her head and face, saying nothing. But her heart suddenly raced, and her hands trembled so much that she couldn’t fasten the collar ties properly after several attempts.
She had heard clearly—the stationmaster had mentioned "Lord Pei." To her knowledge, within the King of the Clouds' domain, there was no other man surnamed Pei who could make the domineering Granny Zhu hesitate like this.
If she wasn’t mistaken, this "Lord Pei" was almost certainly Pei You'an.Throughout the journey, she had imagined countless times how she would find a way to quickly relay her message to Pei You'an once they arrived. Never did she expect it would come so effortlessly—before even reaching Wuding Prefecture, where the prince's residence was located, she had already heard news of Pei You'an here.
What was even more astonishing was that tonight, they would be staying at the same Courier Station!
Granny Zhu stood nearby, waiting. Seeing that Jiafu still hadn’t fastened her sash after a long while, she shot her a sharp glance.
Afraid of being detected, Jiafu forced herself to steady her nerves and finally finished dressing. Softly, she said, "I'm ready."
Granny Zhu scrutinized her, then tugged the soft cap further forward to conceal most of her face before pushing open the carriage door. She stepped down first, then helped Jiafu alight.
The night was deep. Two lanterns hung at the entrance of the Courier Station, casting a dim yellow glow on the ground as they swayed in the night wind. The words "Chengjiang Prefecture" were clearly visible on them.
Jiafu’s legs felt weak. She steadied herself for a moment after stepping down from the carriage before Granny Zhu urged her forward. Just as she was about to move, a group of four or five riders emerged from the darkness of the road, galloping toward them with the distinct sound of hooves. They soon drew near, slowing their pace as they passed the carriage and halted nearby, mere steps away from Jiafu.
The man at the front dismounted, handed the reins to his attendant, and strode forward. As he reached the entrance, the lantern light revealed the outline of his profile. Though the light was faint, Jiafu recognized him instantly.
Pei You'an!
Granny Zhu also recognized him. The saying "speak of the devil and he shall appear" had never felt more apt. Unwilling to be seen by him, she immediately dragged Jiafu back, using the carriage as cover.
The moment Jiafu saw Pei You'an, her blood surged, and her heart pounded uncontrollably. Instinctively, she struggled, turning her head to call out to him—but Granny Zhu clamped a hand over her mouth and yanked her back violently. The woman’s eyes gleamed with menace as she twisted Jiafu’s arms behind her back. A sharp gasp of pain escaped Jiafu’s lips, leaving her immobilized.
Granny Zhu leaned close to her ear and hissed in a low voice, "What do you think you're doing?"
Jiafu froze.
Even if she continued struggling and drew Pei You'an’s attention, Granny Zhu would never allow her to speak—let alone let him see her.
Jiafu stopped resisting.
Pei You'an had already reached the entrance when he suddenly paused and glanced back. A nondescript carriage stood silently by the roadside, a dark shadow in the night.
"Master Pei, you've arrived?"
The stationmaster spotted him and hurried out to greet him.
Pei You'an gave a slight nod before turning to look behind him once more. Finally, he stepped inside.
Granny Zhu only knew that this girl came from Quanzhou, the daughter of a merchant family. She could never have imagined that Jiafu knew Pei You'an—let alone the nature of their relationship. But she was furious at Jiafu’s earlier actions. After taking her to their room, she ignored supper and glared at her darkly.
"What were you trying to do just now? I saw you trying to call out to that man. Do you know him?"
They had been so close, yet she could only watch helplessly as he walked past her.Having missed the best opportunity, Jiafu was overwhelmed by immense frustration. But this wasn’t the end—if she couldn’t dispel this woman’s suspicions, once tonight passed and he left while she was delivered into Xiao Yintang’s hands, she might never know when she’d get another chance to send her message to him again.
Jiafu sobbed, “He’s my brother! I originally had two brothers, but one went missing when he was little. The moment I saw that man, I recognized him! There’s no mistake—he’s my long-lost brother! Granny Zhu, no matter how good the place you speak of is, I don’t want to go! I beg you, I just want to go home! Please, take me to see my brother! I want him to send me back to Quanzhou!”
She covered her face, tears streaming between her fingers.
Granny Zhu had initially grown suspicious, but after hearing this, she sneered inwardly. This girl was still young, likely raised in seclusion, and somehow caught the Heir Apparent’s eye. Faced with such a situation, she must have been terrified out of her wits during the journey, to the point of randomly claiming someone as her brother. Since when had Pei You’an become the son of a merchant family in Quanzhou? She scoffed coldly, “Little lady, I’ve treated you well all this way and spoken kindly to you. I advise you to stop these wild thoughts. We’ll arrive in two days. Let me tell you—this is Yunnan, not a place where you can act recklessly. If you dare cause trouble again, don’t blame me for what happens!”
Jiafu curled up by the bed, hugging her knees as she wept uncontrollably. The woman, now free of suspicion and hungry, ignored her and went to eat first. Halfway through her meal, she glanced sideways at Jiafu and saw that her crying had gradually subsided, leaving her sitting there in a daze. She then called her over to eat.
Jiafu slowly walked over. The woman studied her—her eyes swollen red from crying, looking even more pitiable under the lamplight. If this girl were to gain the Heir Apparent’s favor in the future, it wouldn’t do to offend her too much now. For the first time, she personally scooped a bowl of rice and pushed it toward Jiafu, smiling. “We’ve already reached Chengjiang Prefecture. In two more days, we’ll arrive at our destination. Once you’re there, you’ll see that everything I told you earlier was true. This fortune of yours—countless women in this world could only dream of it.”
Jiafu sneered inwardly but asked aloud, “May I ask, Granny, where exactly are you taking me?”
Granny Zhu replied, “You’ll know when we get there. Don’t ask.”
Jiafu fell silent, lowering her head to eat quietly. The woman called for someone to clear the dishes and ordered water to be brought for a quick wash. Then she went out to instruct the guards on their shifts. From inside the room, Jiafu faintly heard her voice: “...We’ll be there in two days. All of you, stay sharp! If anything goes wrong at the last moment, none of you can bear the consequences!”
Exhausted from the day’s journey, the woman wanted to rest early after settling matters. Returning to the room, she made Jiafu strip down to her undergarments, took her clothes, and tucked them under her own pillow. She ordered Jiafu to lie down, then extinguished the lamp and slept on the outer side of the bed.
Late at night, the courier station finally fell silent. A pale beam of moonlight streamed in through the window lattice.Granny Zhu had fallen into a deep sleep, her thunderous snores filling the room. Jiafu slowly opened her eyes and turned her head to gaze at the blurred figure of the woman lying beside her. The thought in her heart grew stronger by the minute.
She had stayed at this courier station in Chengjiang Prefecture several times before with Xiao Yintang and knew exactly where Pei You'an's solitary courtyard was located. Earlier, when they arrived, she had deliberately memorized the path—it was very close to where she was staying now. All she needed to do was get out, cross a long corridor, and she would reach his quarters.
She couldn't let such an opportunity slip by. No matter what, she had to try. Even if she failed in the end, the worst outcome would simply be being caught by this woman surnamed Zhu and watched even more closely.
Jiafu hesitated no longer. Quietly, she climbed out of bed, carefully stepping around the sleeping woman's feet. She tiptoed to the table, found the oil lamp, and took a fire striker. Returning to the foot of the bed, she held her breath and slowly poured the lamp's oil onto the bed curtains. Once emptied, she lit the fire striker and brought it close to the curtains.
Flames sprang up, quickly climbing higher. In no time, half the bed curtains were ablaze, and soon the bed frame caught fire as well. The fire crackled and spread, smoke thickening in the air. Granny Zhu, either still deep in sleep or overcome by the smoke, remained motionless, unaware.
Covering her mouth and nose, Jiafu endured the choking smoke until the fire grew strong enough. Then she hastily wrapped herself in the cloak she had grabbed earlier and ran to the door. As soon as she stepped outside, she collided with a night guard who had heard the commotion. Pointing behind her, Jiafu cried, "The room's on fire! Granny Zhu is still asleep inside! Go check!"
The guard rushed to the doorway and, seeing the thick smoke and flames, gasped in shock before charging inside. Seizing the moment, Jiafu turned and sprinted away. Just as she reached the corridor, she heard footsteps chasing after her—another night guard had spotted her and was in pursuit.
Jiafu didn't look back. She ran with all her might toward the courtyard at the other end of the corridor, her heart pleading silently: Pei You'an must be inside. He must be inside. He will open the door for me.
But she never made it to that courtyard gate.
With only a short distance left, the guard caught up in a single stride, blocking her path. Then, from behind, came a stream of curses mixed with violent coughing.
Granny Zhu had caught up too.
"Cousin! Save A'fu!" Jiafu screamed toward the courtyard with all her strength.
"Gag that little wretch and drag her back!" Granny Zhu, her hair and eyebrows singed black, her clothes disheveled, coughed as she barked at the guard.
Though the guard had traveled with them for over half a month, he had never seen Jiafu's face before. Stunned by the sudden encounter, he hesitated before reaching for her. Jiafu shrieked, yanked off the shoe still clinging to her foot, and hurled it at his face. Using the momentary distraction, she turned and clung desperately to a nearby railing, crying out again, "Cousin—!"The guard stood frozen, holding the shoe Jiafu had thrown at him, unsure of what to do. Granny Zhu, furious, caught up and clamped a hand over Jiafu's mouth, shouting at the stunned guard, "What are you waiting for? Hurry up!"
Snapping out of his daze, the guard rushed forward. Just then, the door at the end of the corridor creaked open.
"Let her go."
A voice spoke.
Just three simple words, but to Jiafu, they sounded like the voice of an angel.
She hadn't even seen the person yet, but she recognized that voice instantly.
It was Pei You'an.
He had finally come out!
Tears welled up in Jiafu's eyes. She bit down hard on Granny Zhu's hand, making the old woman yelp in pain and release her. Immediately, Jiafu let go of the railing and dashed toward the figure standing in the moonlight. Without hesitation, she threw herself at him, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist and refusing to let go.
"Cousin! Save me..."
Sobbing, she tilted her head up, her tear-filled eyes wide as she gazed at Pei You'an, who looked down at her.
Pei You'an staggered slightly from the impact. Before he could react, he felt a soft, delicate body press tightly against him, her arms locked around his waist. His entire body stiffened, his hands frozen at his sides. After a brief hesitation, he exhaled slowly and spoke gently, "Don't be afraid. Let go of me first. We can talk about whatever's wrong."
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