The servant said, “Women care most about their reputation. When you return to the capital, spread the word that Miss Yu is temperamental and unruly, often mingling with the military…”
Halfway through, the servant gave a rather lewd smile. “Think about it—what could an unmarried young woman possibly be doing in the military camp? Could it be to look at men? Or perhaps Miss Yu already has a lover among the soldiers, which is why she treats you with such disdain.”
Yu Ange overheard every word of the conversation between the master and servant, a flicker of fire igniting in her dark eyes.
She had followed her father into the military, honing her martial skills, and later donned armor to protect the people of Yinguo on the battlefield. Yet in the mouths of others, she was reduced to such vileness.
It wasn’t until Shang Qingyan let out an unbearable groan that Yu Ange snapped back to reality.
Looking down, she realized she hadn’t helped Shang Qingyan remove the arrow. Instead, in her intense fury, she had inadvertently torn his wound open.
Shang Qingyan was drenched in cold sweat from the pain. After taking a few deep breaths, he said, “I know Young Master Yu is angry upon hearing someone plotting against your sister, but could you perhaps spare a thought for my wound?”
Yu Ange quickly released her grip. “My apologies.”
From the other side of the wall came Cen Jiashu’s rebuke: “You scoundrel!”
The servant, startled by Cen Jiashu, hurriedly slapped his own face.
But even as he struck himself, he complained, “I deserve to die, but I was only thinking of you. Miss Yu lacks virtue and is unfit to be a virtuous wife or mother. If we spread word of her actions in Wangchuncheng, I doubt the old master would give you too much trouble.”
Through the wall, Yu Ange couldn’t see Cen Jiashu’s expression, but she heard him scold, “Enough! A woman’s reputation is more important than her life! Do not mention such despicable methods again!”
The servant hastily agreed.
Shang Qingyan, holding his forehead, said in a tone that shifted between light and shadow, “Cen Tanhua’s stern refusal makes him seem like a gentleman.”
Yu Ange snorted coldly. In her previous life, those unspeakable rumors might not have come directly from Cen Jiashu’s mouth, but they were undoubtedly connected to him.
To describe Cen Jiashu as a gentleman was an insult to the very words.
Regardless, Shang Qingyan’s interruption had lessened the ache in her heart. Wasn’t the purpose of this second chance to change everything?
Refocusing, Yu Ange prepared to continue removing the arrow from Shang Qingyan, only to notice that despite the cold sweat of pain on his forehead, his glass-like eyes were filled with curiosity and mockery.
Like a cunning white fox, he had inadvertently glimpsed her thoughts.
Yu Ange narrowed her eyes and, without a word, yanked out the arrow. Shang Qingyan gasped sharply, his entire body curling inward from the pain.
On purpose! Yu Anhe must have done it on purpose! Shang Qingyan thought through gritted teeth.
Yet he couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to make Yu Anhe wear such an expression upon hearing Cen Jiashu’s voice.
It was as if she wished to devour his flesh, drink his blood, and grind his bones to dust.
Beneath the hatred lay a profound coldness, like a withered tree in a snowstorm, sustained only by vengeance.
Yu Ange deftly stitched up Shang Qingyan’s wound and pressed the back of her hand against his forehead. “You’re running a fever. You won’t be able to leave for a while, but the pursuers will catch up soon.”
Shang Qingyan turned to look at Yu Ange, tugging at the hem of her clothes warily. “You’re not thinking of abandoning me, are you?”
Yu Ange said, “This inn is filled with my people. You stay here to recover from your injuries while I go lure away the pursuers.”
Shang Qingyan neither agreed nor disagreed, only asking, “Where did your people take Zhu Ying?”
Yu Ange replied, “He is with Yushu Yanbo. If they escape safely, Yanbo will take Zhu Ying to report to the authorities. The magistrate of Qizhou is an old friend of my father and will surely protect us. Once the officials arrive to provide protection, those assassins won’t dare act openly.”
Shang Qingyan, however, looked at Yu Ange’s arm. “You can’t go lure the pursuers alone. It’s too dangerous, and you’re injured too.”
As they spoke, Yu Ange finished bandaging Shang Qingyan’s wounds. She was contemplating whether to go lure the pursuers alone when another commotion came from next door.
Cen Jiashu had asked the inn attendant for some dry provisions for the road, as if they would rest briefly before setting off again.
Yu Ange glanced at Shang Qingyan, then at the wall, her eyes deep and filled with a murderous aura.
She had practiced martial arts since childhood, joined the army at fourteen, and went to the battlefield at sixteen. In her previous life, countless enemy soldiers had died by her hand. She had never been one for mercy.
Cen Jiashu had come to Wangchuncheng without his family’s knowledge, bringing few attendants. If she could redirect the danger toward him…
Shang Qingyan discerned her thoughts from her fierce and wild gaze, saying meaningfully, “They are heading in the direction of Shengjing.”
Without hesitation, Yu Ange found the innkeeper and whispered a few instructions. The innkeeper nodded and silently withdrew.
When Yu Ange looked back, Shang Qingyan had taken his medicine and was now leaning against the bed, seemingly drowsy.
Yu Ange said, “I’ll help Your Highness hide in the cellar.”
Shang Qingyan’s steps were unsteady, and his vision blurred, but he still managed to probe Yu Ange: “Although the method proposed by Cen Tanhua’s servant was despicable, Cen Tanhua didn’t actually go through with it. Why must you resort to such cruelty against him?”
Yu Ange gave him a cold, sarcastic look. “Your Highness is so compassionate. When you chant Buddhist prayers, don’t forget to perform rites for Cen Jiashu.”
Why must she?
Between her and Cen Jiashu lay a blood feud of a fallen nation and a destroyed family. Even tearing him apart a thousand times would not quell her hatred.
Letting him die at the hands of those assassins now was letting him off easy.
Shang Qingyan was momentarily silenced by Yu Ange’s retort but remained unperturbed. “Fine, I’ll remember that.”
Cen Jiashu was the Tanhua personally selected by the emperor and had close ties with the eldest prince. If he died on his way back to the capital, it wouldn’t be a bad thing for Shang Qingyan either.
After a night of turmoil, Shang Qingyan could no longer hold on. He changed his clothes, washed up briefly, and fell into a deep sleep.
Yu Ange was also exhausted and took a brief, restless nap nearby.
At the beginning of the Si hour, the rain outside finally stopped, and Cen Jiashu left with his attendants.
By noon, a group of pursuers stormed into the inn and began searching room by room without a word.
Some guests came out grumbling, wanting to argue with them, but upon seeing the swords in their hands and their menacing expressions, they dared not voice their anger.
The innkeeper hurriedly intervened, “What is this now? Heavens, are we even allowed to live?”
The lead assassin grabbed the innkeeper by the collar. “Now?”
The innkeeper wore a pained expression. “Yes, at the crack of dawn, a few armed men barged in, took a room, and asked for some things.”
The leader of the assassins asked, “What did those people look like?”
The innkeeper gestured with his hands, “Two men, both about this tall. One of them, dressed in white, was injured, and the wound looked quite gruesome.”
The leader of the assassins felt a surge of excitement. “Where are they now?”
The innkeeper replied, “They left about an hour ago, heading in that direction. They also asked for a carriage.”
The other assassins had already searched every room in the inn but found no trace of Yu Ange and Shang Qingyan. However, one of them did find the bloodstained white clothes Shang Qingyan had changed out of.
The leader took the white garment in his hands and examined it carefully. “It’s his! He’s injured and won’t get far.”
He immediately led his men in pursuit, but before leaving, he had the foresight to send a few men in the opposite direction pointed out by the innkeeper. He also left two assassins behind at the inn.
The innkeeper served the remaining two assassins water laced with a sedative, and they soon fell unconscious.
Only after learning this did Yu Ange finally feel somewhat at ease, falling into a deep sleep in the cellar.
In her dream, she returned to her past life. She saw her own corpse hanging from the city gate, her blood and tears dried up, her eyes wide open in death.
Inside the city, Liangbing soldiers were celebrating their victory with a grand feast, the lights blazing brightly, fueled by the blood of Yinguo’s people.
During the feast, a Liangbing soldier led several naked young girls forward as if they were sheep. The emperor of Liangguo waved his hand, bestowing them upon the generals and soldiers present.
The girls’ cries and trembling bodies only excited the Liangguo soldiers even more. They immediately pulled the girls into their arms, subjecting them to brutal abuse.
Yu Ange was so enraged that her eyes nearly burst from their sockets. She wanted to draw her sword and slaughter these beasts but was powerless to do so.
In her moment of despair, a firework exploded in the night sky, and a Liangbing soldier guarding the city shouted in panic, “It’s bad! Yinguo’s reinforcements are attacking!”