The small town on the border of the Celestial Empire wasn't very large. Throughout the year, it was only on Chinese New Year's Eve that it became truly bustling and lively.
Every household decorated their homes with colorful lights and red lanterns fluttered in the wind. Children, as lively as monkeys, ran amok in the streets, laughing and playing in the freezing snow. The older kids would occasionally light firecrackers, which exploded with a loud bang, scaring the younger ones into screaming.
Cui Huan pushed open the door and brought Wei Dongling a bunch of candied haws. Seeing that she was still listless and didn't even reach out to take them, Cui Huan tried to sound casual. "I saw someone selling candied haws at the inn entrance just now, so I thought I'd buy a bunch to try. But I took a bite and found it wasn't sweet at all. I just can't eat it anymore. Why don't you finish it for me?"
Hearing this, Wei Dongling reluctantly reached out and took the candied haws. She slowly brought them to her mouth, took a bite, and started chewing.
The taste was a mix of sweet and sour, quite pleasant. Suddenly, Wei Dongling remembered that when she was eight years old, her adoptive father, Wei Jiang, sent her to General Qi's mansion. At the moment of their farewell, Lord Qi took out candied haws to console her, afraid that she would be sad. The taste, both sweet and sour, brought back feelings of sadness, just like now.
Even though Wei Jiang was only her adoptive father and the emperor of the Celestial Empire was the biological father of this body, in Wei Dongling's heart, the figure of her adoptive father was the only one she truly considered her father.
Cui Huan was glad to see that Wei Dongling finally started eating the snack. Hawthorn was known to stimulate the appetite, so she asked, "How's the taste?"
But as soon as she asked, she saw that Wei Dongling's eyes were red and filled with tears. Cui Huan panicked and rushed over to hug her. She rested her chin on Wei Dongling's slender shoulder and whispered, "Miss, you must pull yourself together and avenge the young master!"
Wei Dongling's body trembled slightly. She knew Cui Huan was right.
Cheng Hao and Jing Zhe were smart enough to spread the news that the Fifth Princess had died in the Xiliang territory, fooling everyone. But the Zhao family didn't let it go and secretly sent assassins to track them down. This meant that Zhao Chuanyi wasn't dead at all! And he still had doubts about her supposed death. So, whether she was alive or dead, Zhao Chuanyi wanted to eliminate her completely, which was why he had been chasing and killing Cui Huan and the others!
She definitely couldn't let him get away with it!
Li Mingyang! Zhao Chuanyi! Now that she was in the shadows, she would find a way to kill them to console the young master in the afterlife!
Wei Dongling forcefully suppressed the hatred in her heart. She sniffed Cui Huan's fragrance and choked out, "Huanhuan, I just got my teeth sour from the candied haws. Just like you said, it's not sweet at all."
Sorry, Huanhuan. I've made you worry about me.
In the next room, Pin Hao was deep in thought with his eyes closed when the door was suddenly kicked open. Pin Hao looked up in surprise and saw a secret guard from the prince's mansion rushing in. The guard bowed to him and said, "Sir Pin Hao! There are many assassins gathering and ambushing around the town! Most likely, they're Zhao Chuanyi's men, and they're probably here to kill the Fifth Princess! Should we try to break through the encirclement?"
Jing Zhe and Cheng Hao, who were sitting by the charcoal brazier to keep warm, exchanged a look and immediately got up and left.
The two brothers had a clear division of labor. Jing Zhe flew off to secretly scout the enemy's situation, while Cheng Hao rushed into Wei Dongling's room to guard her.
Pin Hao made a quick decision. He got up to pack his things, carefully wrapped the young master's pear - wood guqin in a soft cloth, carried it on his back, and hurried out the door.
Wei Dongling hadn't even finished her candied haws when Cui Huan started wrapping her up like a mummy in a hurry. These past few days, even with the charcoal fire in the room to keep warm, Miss Wei's hands and feet were still as cold as ice, and she couldn't get warm all night. On this escape journey, they might not find a place to rest, so Cui Huan naturally wanted to bundle her up warmly.
Just as they were about to leave after getting everything ready, Jing Zhe rushed back. He whispered to Wei Dongling on Cui Huan's back, "Miss, we don't have to leave. Someone has come to support us. Those remnants of the Zhao family are probably going to be wiped out here."
The secret guard from the prince's mansion was stunned to hear this. There were at least five hundred well - trained assassins from the Zhao family. How many reinforcements had come? Did they have the strength to root them out and kill them all?
For the first time, Wei Dongling's expression changed. Her voice trembled as she asked, "Is it Uncle Li and Uncle Luo coming back for me?"
Cui Huan was also happy to hear this.
Jing Zhe shook his head and hesitated. "It's... General Fei."
Wei Dongling's expression froze.
Jing Zhe and Cui Huan knew that General Fei was Yu Zixi, and they were also aware that it would be no problem for him to kill the remnants of the Zhao family. But he had once turned around to marry Miss Qi, which had made Miss Wei so sad that she was willing to marry far away in Xiliang. Now, with the tragic death of the young master, and him coming here so eagerly, would Miss Wei forgive him?
After a moment of hesitation, Wei Dongling coldly ordered, "Let's go." Returning earlier to plan with the uncles and rescuing Grandpa Su as soon as possible was the most important thing. As for the rest, forget it!
Thinking that they still had to travel in the snow on Chinese New Year's Eve, Cheng Hao felt very aggrieved. The wound on his shoulder was so deep that the bone was visible, and he hadn't had a good rest during the days of traveling. Moreover, Miss Wei had just recovered from a high fever, and with all these recent changes and excessive worry, she should have taken a few days to recuperate! But she was as stubborn as a mule and just wouldn't listen to anyone.
Cheng Hao felt like crying but had no tears. What could he do with such a master? He could only spoil her!
Jing Zhe hesitated. "I asked the innkeeper. This place is remote and desolate. The nearest place to rest is at least a day and a night's journey by carriage on the official road." They had been traveling at night these past two days, choosing desolate paths to avoid being chased and to prevent anyone from recognizing the Fifth Princess's identity. So, Jing Zhe didn't want to take the official road.
Wei Dongling thought for a moment and coldly said, "Immediately buy a carriage and take the official road! Everyone should disguise themselves and rest there for a few days before choosing another route." She didn't want to stay here for a moment and didn't want to see that face for the rest of her life!
Jing Zhe immediately agreed. He bought a carriage from the innkeeper at several times the price and drove it away on a relatively hidden path.
There was too much snow in the mountains, and the carriage struggled to move forward on the winding mountain road against the snow.
Wei Dongling lifted the curtain and coldly looked down at the foot of the mountain. From afar, she saw people fighting on the snow. A group of black - clothed men were attacking a slender figure together, and the fight was extremely intense. There was also an eagle hovering aimlessly in the air.
The cold wind made her shiver all over. Wei Dongling tightened her grip on the small charcoal stove in her hand and expressionlessly closed the curtain.
In the swaying carriage, Cui Huan casually tied Wei Dongling's hair in a man's style. She then used charcoal to thicken and darken her willow - like eyebrows and smeared her fair and delicate skin to a dark gray color. In a short while, she had transformed Wei Dongling into a thin and small down - on - his - luck man. At first glance, there was not a trace of femininity left.