“Sorry.” Mu Mianmian fell onto the grass, and when she looked up, her gaze met the man’s reddened ears. In the sunlight, they looked extremely shy.
Yet his face remained remarkably calm and composed.
His thin lips pressed lightly together, his cold eyes staring at her without any emotion.
This expression made her think of her deceased fiancé, and for a moment, she was lost in thought. It really is so similar… she whispered softly.
“It’s okay.”
“Miss Mu, the head wants to see you. Come over.” A young soldier called out to her.
Mu Mianmian got up. “I’ll go see what it’s about.”
Ye Si Ming glanced at the man in the distance, his expression darkening. Liu Wei was with her, and he seemed unusually accommodating toward her. Thinking of this, Ye Si Ming’s handsome face grew stern; the flutter in his chest from earlier moments vanished instantly.
Seeing him seem displeased, Mu Mianmian explained, “I know, but we can’t confront him directly. He’s in charge of this group.”
With families and children in tow, escaping wasn’t an option. They would have to reach the southern荒地 (remote wastelands) first and see if there was a chance to turn things around. She said no more and turned to leave.
Ye Si Ming watched her small figure go, lost in thought.
..
“Captain Liu, you called me?” Liu Wei leaned against a tree stump, examining the delicate young woman, smiling. “I heard Miss Mu knows some medicine?”
“Yes, a little,” Mu Mianmian said cautiously.
“Can you heal the Ye King’s leg?” Liu Wei asked.
Mu Mianmian’s expression darkened. “No. I’m not a doctor. I can’t completely fix his leg.”
“His bones are shattered, and it’s been too long. I only gave him some ordinary painkillers. By the time we reach the exile village, it might be too late.”
Liu Wei smiled lightly, as if seeing straight through her. “Miss Mu, don’t worry. I have no interest in harming a fallen and crippled king.”
“I know, Captain Liu is a good man. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have looked out for us all this way,” she said, her voice soft and appealing.
Liu Wei laughed. “You’re the first to call me a good man.” He wasn’t really one.
Mu Mianmian’s fist clenched. “Captain Liu, is there anything else?”
“That supply cart—we need to use it. You can’t borrow it anymore.”
Is he starting to make trouble? Mu Mianmian’s heart sank. “Fine. When do we set off?”
Liu Wei didn’t know what she was up to.
“The weather is hot. We’ll have to wait until the afternoon to travel.”
Instinctively, he asked, “What do you intend to do?”
“I’m going into the woods to cut some trees. I’m going to make a carriage myself.”
Liu Wei thought he misheard.
“Haha!” The young soldiers nearby burst into laughter, mocking her.
“She said she’s going to make a carriage herself? In half a day? Impossible!”
“A delicate little woman like her… how can she build a carriage alone? She must be crazy!” The soldiers all thought she was daydreaming.
“Little girl, making a carriage is complicated. It’s not as simple as you think. You don’t even have tools—how can you do it with your bare hands? Don’t be ridiculous.” An older soldier advised.
“You’d be better off begging our head. He’s soft-hearted. Say a few nice words, give him some good food, and he might help.”
The young girl was too stubborn. Liu Wei was clearly trying to see if she would throw herself at him, but she didn’t.
Liu Wei was the third son of the Liu family, not an ordinary soldier. Although a bastard, he was highly favored by the Crown Prince. He was tasked with escorting exiles for a reason.
The older soldier glanced at Liu Wei and then approached Mu Mianmian, lowering his voice.
“Miss Mu, the Ye King has no future now. He’s a cripple. You’d be wise to think about your own path. Our head is the best choice.”
The higher-ups won’t let the Ye King survive to the southern wastelands. If he dies, the Ye family’s main branch is fully split, and the rest of you will be sitting ducks—especially you, Mu Mianmian. A delicate young girl like you would have no good life there. You’d be at the mercy of men. Better to rely on Liu Wei now. At least he can give you a secure place.