Chapter Ten, The Autumn of the Heart of the Departed

As he gazed at her silhouette, Zhu Zhanji maintained a calm demeanor, his expression fluctuating between light and shadow, his gaze sweeping past Li Cheng before settling on Yan Qing

How did she appear at the inn? Is she a person of the Han Wang, and how does she know about Han Wang's conspiracy? Zhu Zhanji is unaware of all this, but one thing he can be certain of is that she should be harmless to him. Otherwise, there would be no need for such trouble; the situation at the small inn could have easily captured them all without any further complications.

Li Cheng and Yan Qing's hearts were immediately in turmoil, filled with anxiety. His Highness had always been indifferent to women, so why today was he behaving so unusually, being so close to this unidentified woman in the inn? They pondered back and forth, unable to reach a conclusion.

Zhu Zhanji hesitated for a moment before reaching out to help Yue Nu onto the horse's back, and then he also leaped up.

Zhu Zhanji stood quietly to the side, his face devoid of expression, silently watching the scene of desperate fighting unfolding in the room. With a soft thud, another person fell under Li Cheng's sword, blood splattering against the wall, blooming into a captivating flower. Meanwhile, Yan Qing's iron arm clamped down on the head of a dark-faced man, violently smashing it against the corner of the table, followed by a scream and a wave of blood rushing towards him.

Zhu Zhanji hesitated for a moment, then waved his riding whip and galloped towards the main road

Leading the group was the Second Prince Zhu Zhanrong

Such a woman brought him too much shock; he could not say he liked her, nor did he have any other feelings. He simply did not want her to die, and it was as simple as that, he thought

Zhu Zhanji's eyes were cold and fearsome, seemingly tinged with blood. He fixed his gaze on the four corpses in the room, his brow furrowed as he asked in a low voice: "Is it the Tian Ce Guard?"

"Leave a survivor." As soon as Zhu Zhanji spoke, the two captured individuals had already taken their own lives before him. Li Cheng reached out to pry open one person's mouth, his expression slightly changed, "Your Highness, this is the poison that seals the fate of a noble with blood. It is usually concealed within a gold tooth, and at a critical moment, one must bite down hard to die instantly."

Your Highness!" Xiang Ting hurriedly stepped forward to wrap her hand with a cloth, "Do you need to summon the imperial physician?

The young princess cast a sidelong glance at Sun Ruowei, pouted her lips, and continued to grip the brush tightly in her hand. However, her body began to fidget restlessly in the chair, and she softly hummed to herself.

Yet Wei seemed oblivious, as she gently pushed open the door of Xiangting and stood up to walk outside, her voice ethereal and cool, "Do not follow me, let me be alone for a while"

At that moment, the three individuals who had been soundly asleep on the ground suddenly leaped into the air, and in an instant, the clash of blades and swords erupted into a fierce battle. On one side, the glint of knives and swords forced people into a corner, while on the other side, the gusts of palm strikes surged like waves, rolling and tumbling, creating an impenetrable barrier that threatened to choke the breath from their throats

Upon reaching a fork in the road, the three individuals reined in their horses and came to a halt

Zhu Zhanji patted Zhu Zhanyong on the back and cast a glance behind him. Everyone immediately bowed down and knelt, "We pay our respects to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

Your Highness, the main road ahead leads into the territory of Northern Zhili

Are Xiao Shanzi and those guards also dead

Wisdom and strategy not only serve to counter the enemy, but also require sacrifice as a prerequisite

Zhu Zhanji lowered his head to look at the woman in his arms, "Yue Nu, which path do you think we should take?"

Traveling along the main road for no more than one hundred miles, one can see in the distance a group of people waiting, accompanied by a ceremonial procession with yellow dragon canopies to welcome them

In the tranquil and elegant chamber of the Nanjing Imperial Palace, Ruowei sat before the qin table, gently polishing the seven-stringed guqin, her eyes reflecting a serene contemplation. Not far away, at the writing desk, the daughter, Princess Xin'er of Changde, was pouting as she practiced her calligraphy alone.

Could it be of the same ilk as Xi Shi?

Yue Nu first smiled, then said: "He has long made arrangements. If there are any unexpected events at the Linxi Inn, an ambush will be set up at the Qiu Du Po near the Shili Pavilion on the main road. There should be no arrangements for the small path, as he said it is difficult to traverse, and His Highness would naturally not take such risks."

But, bringing her along? Could she be another link in the conspiracy and poison scheme devised by Han Wang?

Zhu Zhanji was actually half in the dark and half in the light about this matter. When the woman delivered porridge and rice in the morning, she pretended to wipe the tea stains off his body and wrote the character "poison" in his palm with her finger, as a warning, which was both strange and discreet. Zhu Zhanji was skeptical but chose to believe it, so he, along with Li Cheng and Yan Qing, feigned poisoning and collapsed. As expected, this attracted the assassins to reveal themselves. These individuals turned out to be from the Tian Ce Wei, the royal guard. Years ago, due to the merits of the Han Wang in rescuing the emperor, Zhu Di had rewarded him with a unit. Zhu Zhanji was skeptical but chose to believe it, so he, along with Li Cheng and Yan Qing, feigned poisoning and collapsed. As expected, this attracted the assassins to reveal themselves. These individuals turned out to be from the Tian Ce Wei, the royal guard. Years ago, due to the merits of the Han Wang in rescuing the emperor, Zhu Di had rewarded him with a unit. Therefore, the mastermind behind these assassins must undoubtedly be the Han Wang.

The smile on Xiangting's face instantly faded, "Your Highness truly possesses remarkable foresight. The news just received states that the official ship, upon reaching Penglai, suddenly caught fire and was completely consumed, with no survivors."

If she slightly raised her eyes to glance at Xiangting, "Speak, is there news from the north?"

"You?" Li Cheng stepped forward, pointing his sword, "Are you all in cahoots?"

The maid Xiangting stepped into the room from outside, placed a plate of cherries on the writing desk, gently brushed the little princess's hair, and said with a warm smile: "Princess, you must be tired from practicing your calligraphy. Why not have some cherries and go out to play for a while?"

The path winds westward; although it is closer, the way ahead delves deep into the dense forest and is surrounded by streams, making it difficult to traverse. Moreover, this area is most prone to ambushes.

Before long, the other two individuals were also subdued, struggling in a desperate manner like trapped beasts

Therefore, he is willing to bet on this round

Along the way, the sound of hooves echoes, and dust rises in the air

When the first ray of sunlight rose on the horizon, the entire inn remained silent.

Yes. Li Cheng nodded.

If the eyes are slightly red, facing the gently rippling Nine Dragon Pool, tears finally fall without a trace

Go, let's go take a look!" the middle-aged man in charge commanded.

If Wei saw this, she couldn't help but laugh and said: "Go on, don't linger around here."

"No." As if knowing what Zhu Zhanji was thinking, the Moon Slave, who rode alongside him, spoke up, "Everyone treats the Moon Slave as bait, as an arrow, as a harmful spirit, but Your Highness sees the Moon Slave as a person, having saved me twice in my life, therefore, my life belongs to Your Highness"

Your Highness! Even Li Cheng and Yan Qing, who have long been seasoned in battle, could not help but feel surprised at this situation. Just as they were about to speak to dissuade him, they saw Zhu Zhanji already spurring his horse and galloping away, leaving them no choice but to mount their horses and pursue him closely.

"Oh dear, esteemed guest, please do not take offense!" She immediately took out a handkerchief from her sleeve to help Zhu Zhanji wipe his robe's sleeve. Zhu Zhanji felt quite embarrassed and reached out to block her, but by chance, their hands touched together.

Zhu Zhanji did not respond

Zhu Zhanji wanted to withdraw his hand, but she held on tightly, and Zhu Zhanji's expression changed slightly, while she smiled playfully

Thank you, mother! The young princess immediately beamed with joy and ran out with the cherries.

Yan Qing and Li Cheng could not help but exchange glances, both filled with confusion. His Highness's actions have become increasingly difficult to fathom. Since this month, the servant has already taken risks to warn them in the inn, helping them to avoid a calamity. His Highness believed her and kept her by his side, yet why at this moment does he not heed her advice and still choose to take the main road?

Where is sorrow synthesized, in the hearts of those separated, autumn

If Wei were to walk alone in the quiet afternoon of the Imperial Garden, his feelings would be difficult to articulate as either joy or sorrow

But why did this little moon servant turn against them at the critical moment? He originally could not understand, but later he suddenly remembered that the bright eyes and smile reminded him of her, the stubborn woman who, despite being wronged that year, bloomed proudly like a red plum in the icy cold.

That young talent, so extraordinary and untainted by the mundane, has he truly perished in the flames like this

What? If Wei's complexion suddenly changed, her hand trembled, and she happened to be cut by the strings of the zither, her jade-like fingers immediately oozed a few drops of blood

Soon, they had no choice but to hold Zhu Zhanji in the highest esteem

At that time, regardless of whether she was a person of the Han Wang, leaving her behind meant she would only face a dead end

Their eyes met, and a faint, slightly elusive smile appeared at the corners of her lips, inexplicably tinged with a hint of bitterness and melancholy

Zhu Zhanji looked southward, and under the sunlight, his handsome face radiated an imposing aura, exuding elegance and brilliance. However, at this moment, his gaze was filled with anticipation, and a hint of tenderness flickered across his expression

-

Just then, Yan Qing walked in from outside, "Sir, the horse has been fed and we can set off now"

"Yes, it is, Yue Nu has overstepped her bounds." Yue Nu's face turned slightly red as she turned to leave the room, gently closing the door behind her

Zhu Zhanji finally regained his composure, "Alright, let us have a little porridge and rice, and then we shall depart."

Then the subordinate quietly approached, gently brushing his hand across his nose.

She knew that from this moment on, there would be no more joy in her life

Yue Nu seemed to be oblivious to everything, her pair of lively and beautiful eyes fixed intently on Zhu Zhanji, and with a softening of her knees, she knelt before him. "Your Highness, should Yue Nu live or should Yue Nu die?"

Four figures pushed open the room where Zhu Zhanji, Li Cheng, and others were staying, only to find that the three of them were lying on the ground as if they were asleep

The official ship was burned, proving that the group hidden in the shadows, whose intentions were detrimental to Zhan Ji, was indeed disturbed by the smoke she released. This would buy Zhan Ji some time, increasing his chances of safely returning to the capital. ... However ... ! ... The person impersonating the Crown Prince on that official ship was none other than Xu Bin!

Zhu Zhanji raised his eyes and saw her simple and unadorned attire, her slender and delicate figure, and a face shaped like a melon, devoid of makeup. However, her large eyes were strikingly captivating, exuding a sense of spirit mixed with a hint of chivalry, which made her seem quite approachable. He then smiled slightly and bowed with both hands, saying: "Thank you, miss, this truly makes us feel somewhat indebted."

Your Highness! The voice of Xiang Ting carried a hint of sobbing, and despite her best efforts to restrain herself, she still could not hold back.

"Go, leave this place immediately." Zhu Zhanji lifted his leg and walked out. Li Cheng and Yan Qing followed closely behind, and as they exited the courtyard gate, they saw a young girl standing lively in front of the horse.

Li Cheng immediately cleared his throat and stepped forward, saying, "Thank you, miss. We can handle such matters ourselves."

"Elder Brother!" Zhu Zhanrong, dressed in mourning attire, stepped forward and embraced Zhu Zhanji tightly, "Father, Father has passed away... The late Emperor has commanded us to await you here, Elder Brother!"

Just as Zhu Zhanji was about to come over, she accidentally spilled a few drops of tea onto Zhu Zhanji's body.

Zhu Zhanji seemed to have a slight twitch in his heart, feeling that she looked somewhat familiar

Just as the Moon Slave asked him, "Do you want the Moon Slave to live, or do you want the Moon Slave to die"

Yue Nu's gaze never left Zhu Zhanji's eyes; her eyes flickered slightly as she glanced at Zhu Zhanji and then at the bowl of porridge. She then stepped forward, picked up the teacup from the table with the hot teapot, slowly poured a cup of hot tea, and handed it to Zhu Zhanji with both hands