Night was falling, and with only a small village nearby to take shelter, Chen Yuan decided to rest there for the night. Because he was generous with his money, Zheng Yu and the other villagers welcomed him warmly.
The Youzhou soldiers dispersed among the village.
In the village, the Zheng family was relatively well-off, having three bedrooms. Originally, there was one for Zheng Yu's parents, one for Zheng Yu himself, and one for the little girl, Zheng Ke.
Now, the couple still occupied one room, the siblings temporarily shared another, freeing up one empty room for this pair of "Chen siblings."
Yes, in Zheng Yu's eyes, Chen Yuan and Meng Ling'er were undoubtedly brother and sister.
He had previously overheard someone address Chen Yuan as "Lord Chen." The man's surname was Chen, and the young lady Chen Jihuo also had the surname Chen. Furthermore, she had mentioned earlier that she encountered bandits and was separated from her family.
How could they not be siblings?
Therefore, after hosting the siblings for dinner, Zheng Yu led them to his sister's room. His own room wasn't as clean as his younger sister's and had a faint odor, so it was unfit to host esteemed guests who had essentially solved his family's financial worries for years to come.
The young lad was somewhat embarrassed. "Lord Chen, Miss Chen, our humble home only has one spare room. Please don't mind the inconvenience."
He found nothing improper about the arrangement at all, as he himself would be sharing a room with his sister tonight.
Just spread a mat on the floor and make do for a night—it's no big deal. Besides, there's only one young lady in your party, so of course she stays with her elder brother.
Meng Ling'er froze on the spot.
Chen Yuan also fell silent.
Zheng Yu was fifteen this year, not yet betrothed, and rather blunt. He didn't pick up on the unusual tension between the two. "Miss Chen, I'll go heat some water for you."
Earlier, Meng Ling'er had tried several times to interrupt him, hesitating, wanting to tell him not to call her "Miss Chen"—she actually didn't share that surname. But the name "Chen Jihuo" had come from her own lips. Now, giving a different name in front of that man would feel like a glaring admission of guilt.
After a whirlwind of thoughts, the young girl's emotions shifted from flustered annoyance to numb resignation.
Zheng Yu left.
Only Meng Ling'er and Chen Yuan remained in the room. For a moment, neither spoke.
The atmosphere grew oddly awkward.
"Summer brings many mosquitoes and insects. I'll go ask for some mugwort." Finally, Chen Yuan broke the silence. Remembering Zheng Yu said he'd fetch water for her bath, he added, "When he brings the water, young lady, please wait to bathe until I return."
Meng Ling'er met his gaze, her small face growing redder and redder. "I can bathe by myself. Why should I wait for you to return?"
Chen Yuan suddenly realized how improper his previous words were. He gave a light cough, his eyes dropping to the floor. "Troublesome folk can emerge in remote, harsh places. I will keep watch by the door for you."
Meng Ling'er, her ears burning red, averted her eyes.
The village was situated beside a forest. Besides mugwort and night-blooming jasmine to repel insects, the villagers also had snake gallbladder root. Chen Yuan asked for some of each and returned fully laden, just as Zheng Yu finished heating the water.
"Lord Chen, the water is ready." Zheng Yu carried a wooden bucket with both hands, walking unsteadily.
Chen Yuan walked over, took the bucket with one hand, holding it steady. "I'll take the water to her."
"Lord Chen, wait a moment," Zheng Yu said hastily.
The man, who had already taken two steps, stopped and glanced sideways. His deep eyes seemed inexplicably sharp under the moonlight.
The youth instinctively took a step back, explaining, "Miss Chen's clothes need changing. Probably only my mother's clothes in the whole house would fit her. I'll go fetch a set for her."
Whether it was Zheng Yu's imagination or not, he felt the sharpness around the man dissipate after these words.
Chen Yuan said, "Thank you for your trouble."
He first carried the bucket back to the room. Moments later, Zheng Yu returned with the clothes. "This is a dress my mother made not long ago. She's only worn it once. Miss Chen, please don't mind."
Their family truly had no brand-new clothes.
Meng Ling'er said, "I don't mind at all. Thank you."
The young girl closed the door. There was a latch tied with vine on the door; she secured it, then began to undress.
In the days since leaving the temporary governor's residence, apart from the escape in the river, there had been no chance to bathe. Between fleeing for her life, climbing trees, and rolling on the ground, she felt she could scrub mud off herself now.
This bucket was utterly incomparable to the pool at the governor's residence. She couldn't soak; she could only wet a cloth in the bucket and wipe herself down.
The conditions were not comparable.
But Meng Ling'er was content. After experiencing days of uncertainty where each dawn was not guaranteed and hunger was constant, being able to eat her fill, stay warm, and now bathe was already a blessing.
The sound of splashing water came from inside the room. Chen Yuan stood a little distance from the door, from where he could see both the wooden door and the room's single window.
The man stood under the moonlight, gazing into the distance at the dark, heavy curtain of the sky. After a moment, he lowered his eyes to look at the small insects on the ground. After a long while, he shifted his gaze elsewhere.
His mind was unsettled, no longer as calm as usual.
A long time later, the sound of water in the room ceased. After another short while, the wooden door opened, and the young girl emerged carrying the bucket.
Chen Yuan quickly stepped forward and took the bucket from her. In village houses, there weren't so many formalities; one could simply pour the water in a corner.
After Meng Ling'er finished her bath, they switched, and Chen Yuan also swiftly cleaned up.
All necessary tasks were done, leaving only sleep.
Chen Yuan unrolled the bamboo mat Zheng Yu had left behind and, under her watchful gaze, laid it out in another corner of the room. Sensing her eyes still on him, he said, "Circumstances force this upon us. It is presumptuous. I beg the young lady's forgiveness."
Meng Ling'er, seeing him so formal and proper, frowned, displeased, and asked pointedly, "Why exactly is it presumptuous?"
This was purely picking a fight.
Chen Yuan said helplessly, "Young lady, 'after the age of seven, men and women do not share the same mat.'"
The sages said that after the age of seven, men and women should not sit together, let alone share a room for sleep if they are not husband and wife.
However, some of the scouts who had abducted her were still missing, and it was unknown if they might be lying in wait in the shadows for an opportunity.
Leaving her to stay alone was not something he felt at ease with.
The young girl over there sat on the bed. "I take off my clothes to sleep. If an unrelated man like you sees me, how am I to marry in the future?"
Silence came from the other corner for a moment before a voice replied, carrying a hint of amusement. "I thought that by claiming the surname 'Chen' to outsiders, the young lady was treating me as an elder brother, and thus I am no longer an outsider."
That wave of heat instantly rushed up again, steaming her face crimson. She thought that light laugh had settled the matter, so why was he bringing up the past again now?
Ultimately, she was young and thin-skinned. The young girl wrapped herself in the blanket and turned over, presenting her back to him.
However, not long after, she turned back. This time, it was for serious business. "If we don't head north, but instead go southeast first and then detour north, the journey back will take much longer. My mother these past days must be unable to sleep or eat properly. We must send someone back quickly to deliver news of my safety."
Chen Yuan said, "Tomorrow, I will dispatch someone to go ahead and return."
With that, Meng Ling'er felt at ease.
Previously, she had always slept alone, with Shui Su resting in the small side room at night. Now there was an extra person in the room. Although they did not share the same bed, this person was different from others.
She thought she would be anxious all night, but surprisingly, she wasn't. The young girl, hugging her quilt, quickly fell asleep, a faint smile curling at the corners of her mouth.
She slept soundly and sweetly, and even had a dream.
In the dream, their family had returned to the Governor's mansion.
Her father and mother were playing chess by the window, her eldest brother was tending to exotic flowers and plants in the courtyard, and her second brother was playing fetch with the hunting dog, Black Pheasant.
She sat under the loquat tree in the courtyard, watching the scene both inside and outside the house. Out of the corner of her eye, she glimpsed a tall figure sitting on the ground beside her.
It was a picture of tranquil contentment.
She woke up to find the sky outside bright with daylight.
The Zheng family, being diligent, had prepared breakfast early.
Actually, a family like the Zheng's typically only ate two meals a day and did not usually have breakfast. But now, with distinguished guests visiting, they were no longer sparing with their provisions; slaughtering a chicken was nothing.
After a hearty meal, Meng Ling'er and Chen Yuan bid farewell to the Zheng family.
The Youzhou soldiers emerged from various households and gathered on the village path. Chen Yuan pointed to one man: "Han Yuan, you set off immediately from the north, go ahead and return to the Acting Governor's residence to report our safety to the General and the Lady. I will take the young lady south, avoiding the enemy's military blockade and taking a detour back to the Acting Governor's residence. It will take more days, but please assure the General and the Lady of my word: I will deliver her safely, or return with my head to atone for my failure."
Their group here was small, so sending a message could only be entrusted to one man, with the rest focusing on protecting the young lady.
Meng Ling'er's eyelashes fluttered rapidly twice.
Han Yuan cupped his hands. "As you command."
Back when their party had traveled here by boat and through forests, their horses had long been stabled elsewhere. Now, whether it was Chen Yuan and Meng Ling'er's side or Han Yuan going to report their safety, they would all have to proceed on foot initially.
With the tasks assigned, the two parties headed in opposite directions.
After leaving the village, Han Yuan headed north. The north path was a forest trail frequently used and trodden by villagers, where even the ruts of oxcarts could still be seen on the ground.
Han Yuan quickened his pace, thinking that if he encountered an oxcart later, he must get a ride.
As his thoughts wandered, a sudden, intense sense of crisis struck him. Han Yuan instantly focused, swiftly surveying his surroundings.
"Swish—"
A small bamboo arrow shot out from the woods beside the path.
The arrow came suddenly, but Han Yuan reacted quickly, sidestepping to avoid it.
One arrow missed.
The archer was not discouraged and immediately fired several more bamboo arrows in quick succession, forming a dense, rain-like barrage.
Han Yuan raised his blade to block. He wasn't hit in any vital spot, but one sharp arrow grazed his cheek, drawing a line of blood. Such a minor wound wasn't even worth wiping for Han Yuan. He raised his blade to meet the three men emerging from the woods.
Just three? He was a Youzhou elite from the Black Armored Cavalry. Taking on three alone wasn't impossible.
The clang of blades colliding rang out. After one strike, Han Yuan didn't forget to sweep his leg, kicking one man down. Seizing the chance while the man was unprepared to finish him, Han Yuan closed in again. His left hand produced a short dagger, while his right hand lifted the long blade to block the rescue attempt from the man's companion. Simultaneously, he thrust the dagger in his left hand forward fiercely.
Blood sprayed. One man was already dead.
With one of the three eliminated, the pressure eased. Han Yuan was just about to laugh at his opponents' overestimation of their abilities when his body suddenly shuddered.
Numbness and sharp pain struck at once. He found he could no longer even swallow his own saliva, and his limbs gradually stopped obeying his commands.
Seeing this, Zhuang Xiang laughed. "This bearded viper venom is indeed potent. My efforts searching all last night were not in vain."
The venom of the bearded viper was not only incurable but also acted with exceptional speed.
Zhuang Xiang walked over to Han Yuan, blade in hand. The latter's eyes were wide, red veins appearing in the whites, his face contorted in a snarl as he tried to raise his blade to strike the enemy.
But it was a futile effort. His blade was knocked away by his opponent. Zhuang Xiang drove his own blade into Han Yuan's chest: "Traveling north alone, you intended to send word to Huo Youzhou, didn't you? A pity, but I cannot allow you to deliver this message. No one is allowed to ruin Grand Marshal Ji's plans."
He yanked the blade out violently, blood splattering across the ground.
Zhuang Xiang looked at the other man. "We'll clean up here. Then you go notify the troops along the route, and I will head to the Shenyuan Pass."
Acting Governor's Residence.
Today was the ninth day, and there was still no news of their daughter.
Waking up this morning, whether it was due to several restless nights in a row or some other reason, Pei Ying's eyelid was twitching fiercely.
It was the right one.
She had heard others say before, "Left eye twitches for fortune, right eye twitches for misfortune." Pei Ying was not a superstitious person; usually, she would just dismiss such sayings. But as day after day passed with no news of her daughter, she grew increasingly uneasy.
These past few days, Huo Tingshan had been having meals with her. As before, seeing her eat only a few bites before starting to push grains of rice around, the man took a small bowl, filled it with meat dishes, and began assigning her a task.
"My lady, I received another message this morning," Huo Tingshan said.
Pei Ying looked up, her gaze full of resentment.
For days now, he had said he received messages daily. When she asked what they were, he always said he'd tell her after she finished eating.
Some of the messages weren't important at all—trivial matters of routine reports—yet he still brought them up. The annoying part was, even knowing this, she couldn't help falling for it every time, because she didn't want to miss even the slightest possibility of news related to their daughter.
Pei Ying often had the feeling she had become a rabbit, and this man was dangling a carrot on a fishing rod in front of her, leading her on.
She was about to take the small bowl when Guo Dajiang hurried in to report: "General, My Lady, another letter has arrived!"
It was again mulberry bark paper sealed with red cinnabar.
A letter from Chang'an.
