Chu Tong slept soundly all night. The next morning, she woke up to find a letter beside her pillow. Opening it, she saw only two words written on the paper: "Wait for me." At the end was a secret code known only to her and Yun Yinghuai. Holding the letter, Chu Tong asked suspiciously, "What...what does this mean? Has my young husband changed his mind?"
After she finished dressing and washing up, she sat there lost in thought, holding the letter, when she heard a knock at the door. She opened it and saw Shi Yiqing and Chu Yue standing there. Chu Tong was startled for a moment, then exclaimed happily, "So it's Brother Shi and Sister Chu! Please come in!"
Shi Yiqing said, "Sect Master, Hero Yun has asked the two of us to accompany you and protect your safety."
Chu Tong said, "It would be best if the two of you could protect my safety."
Chu Yue smiled and said, "This morning the shopkeeper said that Miss Jiang left last night with her maids and guards. It must be that Hero Yun acted swiftly and decisively, severing their ill-fated relationship... Sect Master, you should return to Yunding Sect with your subordinates."
Chu Tong was overjoyed and said, "Is that really true? That...that would be wonderful!" But after a moment's thought, she felt something was amiss and asked, "Where is my young husband? Why hasn't he come to see me?"
Shi Yiqing and Chu Yue exchanged a glance. Suddenly, Shi Yiqing clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Your subordinate dares not conceal the truth. In fact, this morning we discovered that Miss Jiang's bedroom was empty, with only a letter left behind. The gist of the letter was that Miss Jiang, reflecting on her life, had been protected by the Southern Yan royal family and enjoyed all the riches of the world without contributing anything, now that the country is in peril, although she, a mere woman, cannot fight on the battlefield, she is willing to serve her country and do her utmost. Her love affair with Hero Yun in this life has ended, and they can only continue their fate in the next life. The tone was sorrowful and resolute, like...like a will..."
Chu Tong sneered, "Her martial arts are not even as good as mine. What can such a delicate young lady do..." Halfway through her sentence, Chu Tong suddenly thought of something and her expression changed immediately. "Young master, did you chase after her after reading the note?"
Chu Yue nodded and said, "That's right. After reading the note, Master Yun pondered for a moment, his expression changed drastically, and he wrote a note for us to bring over. Then he rode off on a fast horse."
Chu Tong jumped up, clutching the note, and exclaimed urgently, "Oh no! Oh no! Jiang Wansheng wants to go and die! It's not just her going to die, but if she drags my husband down with her, won't I become a widow?"
Chu Yue said softly, "What does the sect leader think of this matter..."
Chu Tong paced anxiously around the room, exclaiming, "Ugh! Last night, my young master had a sudden epiphany and turned back from the wrong path. So he said some heartless things to Jiang Wansheng, and that proud, high-class lady couldn't take it anymore. She couldn't possibly stay by his side any longer, but going home would mean being scolded and scorned by everyone. And if she didn't go home, she had nowhere to go. So, she gritted her teeth and took a gamble—Jiang Wansheng must have gone to Chongmen Pass to find the Crown Prince of Da Zhou! The Crown Prince of Da Zhou covets the 'Jianghu Noble...'" "A beauty, known throughout the land. If she wins this gamble, she could become Wang Zhaojun, sent to marry a foreign ruler; if she loses, she could become Jing Ke, plotting to kill the Crown Prince of Zhou. Even if she fails, she could become a national hero. In short, win or lose, it's a splendid endeavor that will be remembered for generations, a story that will be written into history books and plays by talented scholars." As she spoke, she laughed angrily, "Wonderful, wonderful indeed! This Miss Jiang seems so quiet and unassuming, yet she turns out to be quite the passionate and restless person."
Shi Yiqing thought to himself, "It's truly admirable that Miss Jiang, a woman, can be so generous and dignified. However, it seems that this matter has taken on a different meaning in the mouth of this Sect Leader Yao." But he said aloud, "Sect Leader, what should we do now?"
Chu Tong composed herself and pondered for a moment before saying, "Brother Shi, Sister Chu, you two should accompany me on the way. If we can catch up with Jiang Wansheng and my husband, that would be wonderful. Even if we can't, I can't let my husband die in such a muddled way." She then added, "Jiang Wansheng saved my life, and I absolutely cannot let her go and die."
After saying this, Chu Tong left a note for Wang Lang, roughly saying that she had to leave first because there was something to do at Yunding Sect, and that she would go to Da Zhou to find him after the matter was settled. After that, Chu Tong sent the rest of the Yunding Sect members back to the main gate, and she and Shi Yiqing and his wife headed straight for Chongmen Pass.
The three traveled day and night without stopping, and half a month later they arrived at Jingfeng City, located at the border between Southern Yan and Great Zhou. The further they went, the more refugees they encountered. The people all wore expressions of panic, and soldiers could be seen everywhere. The city and its surroundings were filled with a sense of oppression, as if a great enemy was imminent.
Chu Tong sat in the teahouse, looked outside, and shook her head, saying, "It's only been a few days, and the Southern Yan has already been humiliated by the Great Zhou."
At this moment, Shi Yiqing walked in from outside and said to Chu Tong, "Sect Master, beyond Jingfeng City lies Chongmen Pass. The two armies are currently locked in battle, and the gates of Jingyang City are locked, making escape impossible. Chongmen Pass of the Great Zhou is heavily guarded; anyone loitering nearby is considered a spy and will be executed without mercy." Before Shi Yiqing finished speaking, someone at a nearby table said, "This battle is getting increasingly fierce. If this continues… alas, Jingfeng City may not be able to hold out. I heard that the Emperor wrote a letter of surrender and a declaration of war, seeking peace with the Great Zhou, but the Great Zhou has drafted thirty-two extremely harsh conditions, ordering Southern Yan to submit. Today, court officials went to negotiate peace with the Great Zhou; the outcome of the negotiations is truly unpredictable…"
Another person said, "I heard that the most beautiful woman in the martial arts world, Jiang, actually found the imperial envoy and said that when the country is in peril, every man has a responsibility. She volunteered to accompany him to negotiate peace..." After saying this, the person sighed and said, "Even a young woman is like this. It really puts those seven-foot men who have suffered defeat after defeat on the battlefield to shame!"
Chu Tong thought to herself, "Oh no, it seems that little girl Jiang Wansheng has already gone ahead." She gave a wink and led her subordinates out of the teahouse. The three of them found an inn to rest for half a day, and when night fell, they quietly sneaked into Chongmen Pass.
Inside Chongmen Pass was a town, where soldiers patrolled back and forth from time to time, and the streets were quiet. Shi Yiqing went to scout ahead, while Chu Tong and Chu Yue observed from the shadows for a while. Suddenly, Chu Yue sighed in a low voice, "The Great Zhou army is very disciplined. Soldiers come to patrol every time it takes to drink a cup of tea. No wonder the Southern Yan army was routed on the battlefield."
It was late at night, and a north wind suddenly picked up, making the weather turn cold. Chu Tong, dressed lightly, naturally didn't wear any warm clothes, and she was shivering from the cold. She didn't care about the strict discipline of the Great Zhou army anymore, and hugged her shoulders, whispering, "I wonder, Brother Shi, when will he come back? If this continues, I, I'm going to freeze to death."
Chu Yue looked at Chu Tong and thought, "After all, the sect leader isn't as physically strong as someone who practices martial arts. If she gets cold like this and falls ill, it will be very bad. Perhaps I should sneak into a nearby house and steal some clothes for her." With that thought, she whispered, "Sect leader, I'll go find you some clothes. Please wait a moment." After saying that, she leaped onto the roof of a nearby house and disappeared in an instant.
Standing alone in the corner, Chu Tong felt a little scared. She looked around and suddenly saw a sedan chair approaching in the distance. Chu Tong cursed inwardly and quickly hid behind the wall, peeking out cautiously to look ahead.
A young girl stepped down from the sedan chair, wearing a satin cloak over a fur coat, obscuring her face. She stopped and knocked on the door. Someone opened it, and the girl slipped inside. The four sedan chair bearers, feeling the cold, quickly moved to the other side of the house for shelter. Chu Tong hugged her shoulders, thinking, "With war and chaos, and a curfew in the city, how could a woman be out here? Tsk tsk, she's probably the wife or concubine of a powerful family, sneaking out at night to meet her lover."
As she was lost in thought, she suddenly heard a loud shout: "Who goes there?" Chu Tong was immediately startled. She saw a figure leap over the roof, followed by several soldiers rushing from the other side of the alley. Chu Tong cried out in alarm and quickly turned and ran towards the corner of the alley. Taking advantage of a moment when no one was looking, she dove into the sedan chair parked at the gate.
The sedan chair was extremely spacious, wrapped in dark blue satin cotton draped with embroidered gold and purple begonias, clearly indicating its extraordinary nature. Chu Tong reached out and touched the area, discovering that the space under the seat was empty. She lifted the tassels hanging from the seat and crouched down to crawl inside. She curled up under the seat, hugging her knees, her eyes wide open, feeling her heart pounding like a drum.
Soon, footsteps sounded outside the sedan chair. The soldiers hadn't noticed Chu Tong and were busy chasing the person on the roof, so the footsteps quickly faded away. Chu Tong listened intently for a while, then finally let out a long sigh. Just as she was about to climb out of the sedan chair, she heard a creak as the door opened, followed by a voice saying, "Where is she? Let's go back to the manor." The sedan chair bearers immediately replied with a smile, "Coming, coming."
Chu Tong inwardly cried out in alarm, and the sedan chair lurched forward. She quickly braced herself to prevent herself from sliding down. The curtain was lifted, and Chu Tong's heart leaped into her throat. Fortunately, it was late at night and the light was dim, so the young girl who entered did not notice what was happening inside the sedan chair. After settling in, she said, "Lift the sedan chair." The sedan chair bearers only noticed that the sedan chair was a little heavier than before, but they did not pay it any mind, and the sedan chair swayed forward.
Chu Tong inwardly groaned, "It's all over, it's all over. I don't know where this sedan chair is going to take me. This is Xie Linghui's territory. If I get caught by the government, wouldn't I be walking into a trap and courting death?" Then she thought about how she had been separated from Chu Yue and Shi Yiqing and there was no one who could save her.
She forced herself to calm down, secretly pulled a dagger from her boot, widened her eyes, and cursed Jiang Wansheng in her mind again. Just as she was lost in thought, she heard a "thud" and something in the sedan chair swayed slightly as it slid straight to Chu Tong's side. The woman cursed under her breath and reached under the seat.
Chu Tong's hair stood on end. She hurriedly brushed the fallen object towards the woman's hand, but it was too late. The girl's small hand had already touched Chu Tong's clothes, and she couldn't help but cry out, "Ah!" Before she could react, a cold dagger was already pressed against her neck, and a voice whispered in her ear, "Don't move! Move again and I'll kill you."
The sedan chair was pitch black, with only a few slivers of cold moonlight shining through the gaps in the curtains. The girl didn't dare to move, breathing heavily with tension. Chu Tong slowly crawled out from under the seat, holding a dagger to the girl's neck, and sat down next to her, pressing acupoints on the girl's body.
The girl said in a trembling voice, "Who are you? You, you dare to hold an official's family hostage! This is a capital offense!"
Chu Tong pushed the dagger forward and said, "Behave yourself! If you don't behave, I'll stab you!" He paused and then asked, "Official's wife? What official's wife?" Chu Tong opened his eyes wide and looked at the girl, but unfortunately the light in the sedan chair was dim, and he couldn't see the girl's face clearly.
Just as the young woman was about to say something, the sedan chair stopped, and someone outside respectfully said, "Miss, we have arrived at the checkpoint. The guards are asking if you have a waist token."
Chu Tong whispered in the girl's ear, "Don't try anything funny. If you cry for help, I'll kill you first!" Her words were filled with endless killing intent.
The girl was slightly startled and said, "The waist token is in my bosom." Chu Tong reached out and felt around for a while, then held the token out from behind the sedan curtain. After a moment, a voice sounded from outside again: "Miss, here's your waist token." The token was then handed in from outside. At this moment, a sliver of light shone on the girl's face. Chu Tong looked closely and was greatly surprised. The girl had a beautiful face and bright eyes, and looked somewhat like herself. Who else could it be but Qian Ying?
A true hero who fears no death
Chu Tong broke out in a cold sweat, thinking to herself, "Damn it, what I feared most has come to pass. I've entered the tiger's den; I'm probably not going to escape this time." Then she thought, "No, no, if there's even a sliver of hope, I'll still try to find a way to escape. Even if I can't escape, I'll take a few people with me with me!"
She composed herself, took the waist token and put it in her bosom, silenced Qianying by pressing her pressure point, and quietly lifted a small crack in the sedan curtain to look outside. She saw soldiers in armor everywhere, and it seemed that they had arrived at the military camp. She gritted her teeth in anger. At this moment, the sedan stopped, and she heard someone outside say, "Is that Miss Qianying in the sedan?"
Chu Tong was startled and quickly replied vaguely, "That's right."
The man said, "Miss, General Xie has been waiting for you for a long time and ordered you to come to the flower hall to report as soon as you return."
Chu Tong replied, "Understood." A chill ran down her spine: "It's over! Xie Linghui, that deadly devil, wants to see me! Am I going to die here today?" She glanced at Qian Ying, her eyes darting around, a plan forming in her mind. She reached out and stripped Qian Ying's cloak off, putting it on herself. Then, she carefully moved Qian Ying's body, tucking her under the seat. At that moment, the sedan chair stopped, and the bearers said, "Miss, we've arrived." The sedan chair landed, and Chu Tong immediately crawled out, pulling her hat brim low to cover half her face. She and Qian Ying were very similar in stature. It was dark and windy, visibility was poor, and no one suspected anything. A guard approached Chu Tong and said, "Miss Qian Ying, this way please."
Chu Tong mumbled something and followed the guard, her eyes darting around. She found herself in an imposing mansion, heavily guarded with sentries every five or ten steps. Chu Tong felt a chill run down her spine, thinking, "Good heavens, where am I?" The guard led her to a small side hall and respectfully said, "Please wait a moment, Miss. General Xie has just received an urgent military intelligence and will arrive shortly." Chu Tong wished Xie Linghui would never come. As soon as the guard left, she jumped up, eager to escape. Just then, she heard melodious zither music coming from the main hall next door, followed by a sweet female voice: "Dreams broken on the long bridge under the frosty moon, wild geese cry in the river sky in farewell. When will we meet again? Only the mournful sound of the flute is heard. Incomplete, incomplete, longing and loneliness like snow." Chu Tong was startled, thinking, "That's Jiang Wansheng's voice!"
She turned around, tiptoed to the door, and slightly lifted the felt curtain. Peering inside, she saw Jiang Wansheng sitting gracefully in the hall, playing the zither. She was clearly dressed meticulously, wearing a long coat of snow-white brocade with gold trim and embroidered fawn fur, and a lake-blue palace-style long skirt. Her hair was styled high on top, tightly tied in a bun, adorned with sparse, sparkling pearls. Two long strands of hair peeked out from her temples, cascading down, exuding a unique charm that made one feel as if they would dance in the wind or float with the fragrance of incense.
Seeing this, Chu Tong felt ashamed of herself, and thought bitterly, "Jiang Wansheng is the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. Even my mother wasn't that beautiful back then." She then felt relieved that Yun Yinghuai wasn't there; otherwise, being seduced by Jiang Wansheng after seeing such beauty would be disastrous. Her gaze swept to the side, where she saw a man in his thirties sitting nearby. He had thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a slender figure. Though not handsome, he exuded an air of wealth and nobility. He wore a bright yellow satin robe embroidered with dragon patterns, the center of which was decorated with golden dragons playing with pearls and clouds. He wore a golden crown with coiled dragons. Chu Tong recognized the man's attire as the Crown Prince Deming of the Great Zhou Dynasty. She thought to herself that her hasty escape due to a serious crime was all because of him, and couldn't help but glance at him a few more times. She saw him gazing at Jiang Wansheng's pretty face with infatuation, his hands tapping along to the music.
Chu Tong shook her head, thinking to herself, "It's such a waste that Jiang Wansheng isn't working in a brothel. With just one glance from her eyes, she could make any man in the world lose his soul. Tsk tsk, the way the Crown Prince looked so infatuated, it was like his whole body was melting." Then she remembered that she was in a tiger's den and really had no mood to continue watching Jiang Wansheng's seductive methods, so she quickly turned around and fled.
Just as she was about to push the door open, she heard it creak open, and Xie Linghui and seven or eight generals and officers walked in. Chu Tong was immediately terrified and quickly lowered her head to the side.
Xie Linghui clearly didn't notice Chu Tong's strange behavior. As he entered the room, he asked, "Qian Ying, did you see that person?" Then he tilted his head and frowned, asking, "Who's in the main hall?"
Chu Tong stammered, unsure how to answer, when Xie Linghui had already reached the side door of the main hall. He lifted the curtain and glanced inside, then pulled Chu Tong along, leading her inside. He bowed and said, "Your subject Xie Linghui greets the Crown Prince." Chu Tong had no choice but to kneel down as well. Jiang Wansheng's zither music immediately stopped.
Deming said, "General, there's no need for such formalities. Come, come with me and listen to Miss Jiang play a piece. Miss Jiang's musical skills are superb..."
Xie Linghui stood up and said expressionlessly, "Your Highness, Qianying has returned and wants to tell you what she knows in person."
Chu Tong was shocked and thought to himself, "Good heavens! How was I supposed to know what Qian Ying was up to? I'm determined to expose her!"
Deming said with displeasure, "There's no rush. We can talk about it later." He then waved to Jiang Wansheng and said with a smile, "You continue playing."
Jiang Wansheng's slender, delicate fingers plucked the strings of the zither, producing a melodious tune. Deming gazed at Jiang Wansheng with a look of rapture, while Xie Linghui's face darkened, his lips pressed tightly together. Suddenly, he drew his long sword from his waist and thrust it fiercely at Jiang Wansheng!
Deming was taken aback and shouted, "This is unacceptable!" He then stood up and blocked Jiang Wansheng's path. Xie Linghui was also taken aback and hurriedly turned his sword around, abruptly stopping.
Deming broke out in a cold sweat, his voice trembling as he said, "What, what are you doing!" At this moment, several military officers who had been waiting in the side hall rushed in, each holding a weapon, their expressions filled with surprise and uncertainty.
Chu Tong's bright eyes darted around, thinking to herself, "Wonderful, wonderful! This is going to be a good show! I hope the Crown Prince will be furious and shout, 'Guards! Drag Xie Linghui, this treacherous minister, out and beat him to death!' Then I can take advantage of the chaos and escape."
Xie Linghui knelt on one knee and said, "Your Highness, I have disturbed you and deserve to die!"
Deming let out a long breath, still shaken, and looked at Xie Linghui with some annoyance. But then he thought of Xie Linghui, his son-in-law, who had made great contributions in the campaign against Nan Yan and had always been loyal to him. His expression softened slightly, and he said, "Get up." He then turned to look at Jiang Wansheng and saw that the beautiful woman's face was pale. He couldn't help but want to say a few words of comfort.
Seeing this, Xie Linghui narrowed his phoenix eyes and knelt on the ground without moving, saying, "Your Highness, I beg you to order the killing of the Jiang family of Southern Yan!"
Deming froze, his face immediately darkening as he asked, "What did you say?"
Xie Linghui said, "Your Highness, ever since Jiang arrived, you have spent your days playing chess and music with her, neglecting matters of state and military affairs. You even listened to her instigation to release three captured Southern Yan generals. The generals are indignant, which has shaken the morale of the army. Jiang is a seductive enchantress who has bewitched the emperor and should be executed!"
As soon as Xie Linghui finished speaking, the generals who had come with him knelt down and said in unison, "Your Highness, please grant the Jiang family members death to appease the army!"
Jiang Wansheng was shocked. Her pretty face turned deathly pale, and her expression became sorrowful. She softly called out, "Your Highness!"
Seeing everyone kneeling, Chu Tong had no choice but to kneel down as well. She thought to herself, "Oh dear, this is terrible, terrible! The 'Song of Everlasting Regret' says, 'The six armies refused to advance, what could be done? The beautiful concubine died before the horse... The emperor covered his face, unable to save her, looking back, tears of blood flowed together.' Now I'm afraid I'm going to see it all. Jiang Wansheng, Jiang Wansheng, even I'm in danger of losing my life, and now I can't save you. If you die, I'll definitely burn lots of paper money for you." While observing the situation, she quietly moved towards the door, just so she could sneak away when no one was looking.
Deming closed his eyes and pondered. He hadn't even known Jiang Wansheng's appearance before, but his joking announcement of "wishing to keep the most beautiful woman in the Jianghu, Jiang, in his household" subtly insulted Southern Yan. However, upon seeing Jiang Wansheng, he was immediately stunned. He felt that although he had seen countless women, he had never seen such beauty. Jiang Wansheng possessed a noble and learned air, and he regarded her as a fairy, daring not to defile her in the slightest. In the few days he had spent with her, he felt that his previous thirty-odd years of life had been wasted, practically a complete waste. Killing such a beauty was something he couldn't bear. But… Deming glanced at the kneeling generals before him. He had secretly plotted to usurp the throne years ago, harboring great ambitions, but had always been hampered by a lack of military power. This southern expedition was the perfect opportunity to cultivate his forces; if not now, when?
Deming's expression shifted between light and dark. He turned to look at Jiang Wansheng, and seeing her pitiful and charming appearance, his heart softened. Just as he was about to speak, Xie Linghui said firmly, "Your Highness, please reconsider!"
Deming coughed lightly and said, "In times of war, envoys should not be killed. After all, Jiang came with the envoy from Southern Yan. Killing her would damage our country's prestige... Guards, take Jiang back to her residence and lock her up! She is not allowed to step out of her room until the war is over!" Immediately, two strong guards stepped forward, took Jiang Wansheng away.
Xie Linghui felt a bitter taste in his mouth, thinking to himself, "Jiang is neither an official of Southern Yan nor a member of the royal family. Even if she were, Great Zhou now has the upper hand. What difficulty would it be to kill her? Jiang's background is unknown, and she is extremely cunning. Keeping her around will always be a great threat! Alas, the Crown Prince is addicted to women and lacks decisiveness and fortitude. How can the Xie family help such an incompetent ruler achieve unparalleled hegemony?" But he knew that this was the biggest concession Deming had made, so he kowtowed and said, "Your Highness is wise!"
Deming watched Jiang Wansheng being led away, feeling quite displeased. He waved his hand and said, "That's enough, that's enough. Get up, all of you. What do you need to report to me?"
Xie Linghui said, "Your Highness, just now Qianying went out to meet with our informant who we planted in the Southern Yan army. She must have brought back important military intelligence."
Deming perked up and said, "Oh? Then quickly report it."
Everyone turned around, their eyes fixed on Chu Tong. Just then, Chu Tong had moved to the gate and, upon hearing this, thought to herself, "Oh no! I'm doomed this time!" She knelt on the ground, her palms sweating profusely, stammering unsure what to say. At that moment, a loud gong sounded outside, and someone shouted, "It's terrible! It's terrible! Fire! Fire!"
Everyone inside the house paled simultaneously and rushed to the door. Chu Tong breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to herself, "Heaven is on my side! If I don't leave now, when will I?" She slipped out through the door. Behind the house, flames soared into the sky, and soldiers ran and shouted, carrying buckets and other supplies; the scene was utter chaos.
Chu Tong was secretly delighted and was about to run away when she felt her arm tighten. Xie Linghui had grabbed her. Chu Tong was terrified. She lowered her head, cold sweat rolling down her forehead. She cried out in her heart, "Alas! The trick has been exposed! That scoundrel Xie Linghui is going to kill me!" Thinking this, a cold glint flashed in her eyes, and she reached for the dagger in her bosom, intending to take Xie Linghui down with her. At this moment, she heard Xie Linghui say to her in a low voice, "Jiang Shi lives in the westernmost wing of the backyard. She wants to commit suicide tonight. Go find a suitable person to help her."
Chu Tong felt a chill run down her spine. She nodded hurriedly, turned around, and ran, thinking, "Thank goodness, I'm terrified! I've survived this ordeal, now I must escape!" After running a few steps, she thought again, "No, that girl Jiang Wansheng saved my life. I can't be so disloyal as to leave her in the lion's den!" She gritted her teeth and ran straight west.
A soldier was guarding the door to Jiang Wansheng's room. Chu Tong stepped forward, took out her waist token, and waved it, saying, "I am here on General Xie's orders to ask Miss Jiang some questions. You may leave." All the soldiers knew that Xie Linghui had a trusted maidservant who was often seen coming and going freely in the mansion. The soldier had no suspicions, clasped his hands, and said, "Yes." He then withdrew.
Chu Tong pushed open the door and entered. Jiang Wansheng was sitting on the bed in a daze. She immediately stood up when she saw someone enter the room. Chu Tong rushed forward, grabbed Jiang Wansheng's hand, and whispered, "Jiang Wansheng, Xie Linghui wants to kill you. You must come with me."
Jiang Wansheng was shocked when she saw Yao Chutong's face and exclaimed, "Yao Chutong! You, how did you get here?"
Chu Tong said, "It's a long story. You'd better come with me now. Xie Linghui wants to kill you. I risked my life to come here. If I'm any later, we'll both lose our heads!" Seeing that Jiang Wansheng was still hesitating, Chu Tong stomped her foot and said, "Are you coming or not? If you're not coming, I'm leaving now."
Jiang Wansheng thought to herself that although this person harbored resentment towards her, he still had some genuine feelings. Moreover, Xie Linghui had just tried to kill her, so what Yao Chutong said should be true. She stood up, took her cloak, and said, "I'll go with you."
Jiang Wansheng was clearly very familiar with the layout of the mansion. She led Chu Tong, choosing secluded and dark spots to escape. The two had only run a few steps when they heard a frantic shout: "Protect the Crown Prince! Catch the assassin! Catch the assassin!" Chu Tong and Jiang Wansheng exchanged a glance, both thinking that this night was going to be quite lively, and quickened their pace.
Soldiers guarded the gates of the mansion. Chu Tong took out her waist token, and the guards immediately let her through. After leaving the mansion, the two passed through the checkpoints without any major incidents and finally left the military camp.
Jiang Wansheng asked in a low voice, "Where do we go now?" Chu Tong replied, "I got separated from my men and I don't know where to go." She then paused and said, "If we go back to town now, we'll be caught by the patrolling soldiers and die. But it's too unsafe to stay here. We should find a place to hide for a while."
Jiang Wansheng said, "You and I think the same thing. There is a valley behind this barracks. Ying Shuang and I agreed that my subordinates would wait for me at the entrance of the valley on even-numbered days of every month. Tomorrow is an even-numbered day. We will go into the valley to take shelter for one night and we will be able to escape danger tomorrow."
Chu Tong was overjoyed and said, "That would be perfect!" But when she thought of Jiang Wansheng's meticulous mind and wise and composed actions, she couldn't help but feel a little jealous.
Suddenly, they heard the faint sounds of barking dogs and hurried footsteps behind them. Both of them paled at the same time. Chu Tong grabbed Jiang Wansheng's arm and said, "Let's go!" The two immediately took off running. Jiang Wansheng was, after all, a noblewoman of the royal family, and her body was delicate. She couldn't keep up after running into the forest. Chu Tong held onto Jiang Wansheng's arm and dragged her a little further. In the end, Chu Tong was also too exhausted and sat down on the ground, panting heavily. She felt a tearing pain in her heart and lungs.
Both of them lay on the ground catching their breath for a while. Chu Tong, lying on the ground, said, "We can't hear any footsteps anymore, we should be safe now."
Jiang Wansheng remained silent for a while before saying, "Yao Chutong, you saved me, thank you very much."
Chu Tong said, "You don't need to thank me. You saved my life, so this is me repaying your favor. From today onwards, we are even."
Jiang Wansheng sighed, then chuckled softly and said, "That's right, we're even." She thought to herself, "It was nothing for me to save her that day, but she took a great risk to save me today. She's a very loyal and devoted person." Thinking of this, she sat up and looked at Chu Tong with her bright eyes and said, "Since we don't owe each other anything, why don't we become friends from now on?"
Chu Tong froze, looking at Jiang Wansheng. Moonlight streamed through the trees, illuminating Jiang Wansheng's serene and beautiful face, making her appear even more ethereal and refined. Chu Tong turned her face away, saying calmly, "No." Jiang Wansheng was taken aback.
Chu Tong closed her eyes and said, "Jiang Wansheng, I can't be friends with you. My husband likes you, so I wish I could never see you again... I'm just an ordinary person, not as pretty as you, not as noble as you, and not as broad-minded as you, so after we escape danger, let's go our separate ways and never see each other again for all eternity."
Jiang Wansheng stared at Chu Tong for a while, then slowly nodded and said, "Never to see her again? Fine, fine."
The two walked deeper into the woods for a while, then stopped to rest because they were too tired to go any further. Exhausted, Chu Tong leaned against a tree, half-asleep, when Jiang Wansheng gently nudged her and said, "Yao Chu Tong, listen, isn't someone coming this way?"
Chu Tong was startled and immediately perked up her ears. Sure enough, she heard faint sounds of fighting coming from ahead. She jumped up and grabbed Jiang Wansheng's hand, saying, "Good heavens! Xie Linghui is coming! We have to run!"