Murong Yao, clad in a black cloak, gave the order, and the procession stretching for miles began to move simultaneously. The characters “Murong” on the military banners gleamed brilliantly under the sunlight as they advanced toward Jincheng, the capital of Beiyuan.
The sound of hooves galloped northward, day and night without pause, until they reached the border between the two nations, the frontier city of Beiyuan, where they finally halted to rest.
That evening, Xiao Changning lifted the curtain of Murong Yao’s tent.
Murong Yao, who had been reviewing memorials, was overjoyed to see her arrival. In recent days, Changning had never sought him out on her own initiative, making this visit truly unprecedented.
Xiao Changning performed a proper bow toward him.
Murong Yao hurried forward, extending his hand, his tone unusually gentle. “Changning.”
However, Xiao Changning glanced at the outstretched hand and sidestepped to avoid it. After a moment of hesitation, she voiced the question weighing on her mind. “Why has Your Majesty hastily returned to the country? Was this premeditated?”
Murong Yao’s smile froze on his face, and he awkwardly withdrew his empty hand. “What premeditation could I possibly have?”
“If we speak of premeditation, I should be the one asking you, Changning.”
Murong Yao circled around her. “What did that maid of yours give you? Are you willing to open your heart to me?”
Xiao Changning, her thoughts exposed, felt her legs weaken, nearly stumbling. Clenching her sleeves, she evaded, “What Ali gave me were letters from my mother. She was merely concerned about my well-being—a mother’s love for her daughter is something everyone understands.”
She raised an eyebrow, feigning confidence as she looked at Murong Yao. “Surely Your Majesty wouldn’t even doubt such things.”
Murong Yao nodded. “Of course not.”
He curled his lips into a smile, leaning close to Xiao Changning’s ear, exuding the imperious aura of an emperor. “Changning, you are mine. I will never let you leave.”
“Even in death! Absolutely not!”
Xiao Changning trembled at his words. “The journey has been exhausting these past days, and I am feeling unwell. I shall take my leave now.”
Before the words had fully left her mouth, Xiao Changning hurriedly fled. Outside, she gasped for breath, repeatedly soothing her chest with her hand.
Ali, seeing this, rushed forward to support her. “My lady.”
Xiao Changning glanced sideways at Murong Yao’s tent. Her visit today had only confirmed her suspicions further—his hurried return meant he already knew of her and the Crown Princess’s plans.
Only the mother and daughter knew of this matter. How could Murong Yao have found out?
There must be a traitor in their midst!
She helped Xiao Changning back to the carriage, while Xiao Changning stared at her with a guarded expression.
Ali felt uneasy under her gaze and finally asked, “Why is my lady looking at me like this? Have I done something wrong?”
“Wrong?” Xiao Changning spoke cryptically. “How can loyalty to one’s master be considered wrong?”
Ali looked at her and smiled foolishly. “This servant is utterly loyal to my lady.”
“Truly?”
“Ah?” Ali was taken aback, stammering, “O-of course it’s true.”
Then, she tentatively asked, “Why does my lady ask such a question?”
Xiao Changning no longer concealed her thoughts. She glanced outside, confirming no one was around, and spoke bluntly. “The letters detailing my mother’s and my plan to escape were delivered by you, yet Murong Yao inexplicably knows of them.”
“Can you honestly say you were unaware of the letters’ contents? That you have always kept the secret?”
“How can I trust you?”
Ali finally understood—her own mistress was doubting her loyalty. Her heart instantly panicked, and she attempted to divert attention, saying, “This servant grew up with the young mistress since childhood. How could you suspect me?”
Xiao Changning was not fooled by this. Her face turned cold. “Don’t try to dodge the question. Speak up!”
“It wasn’t me!” she instinctively denied.
Ali knelt on the ground, raising three fingers, swearing solemnly, “This servant swears to heaven, I have absolutely not betrayed the young mistress.”
“If there is even half a lie, may I die a horrible death!”
Xiao Changning looked at her earnest expression and suddenly felt ridiculous.
“Do you remember the osmanthus cakes from a few days ago?”
Ali nodded, utterly unable to grasp Xiao Changning’s thoughts, so she remained silent.
“Those osmanthus cakes were fresh and sweet, as if just out of the oven.”
Xiao Changning slowly leaned closer to her. “If it really was as you said, that you brought them from home, traveling from a small village to the Beiyuan military camp would have taken at least a day.”
“You know, I’m very particular about food, especially when it comes to taste.”
“You lied to me.”
Ali was terrified, never expecting that she had already given herself away. Then she asked, “In that case, was the young mistress’s secret plan with the Crown Princess to escape also fake?”
Xiao Changning nodded. “I considered it before, but the letter I sent that day wasn’t to discuss timing with my mother—it was to persuade her to give up.”
Ali’s round eyes stared at Xiao Changning. So it had all been a trap she set.
Xiao Changning sniffled, her voice choked. “I want to ask, why?”
“From when you were twelve until now, six years—I’ve treated you well.”
Ali knelt before her. “The lives of my entire family are in His Majesty’s hands. I had no choice but to obey him.”
She kowtowed heavily to the person above her. “This servant has wronged the young mistress.”
“So that’s how it is.”
Xiao Changning said despairingly, “Now that the truth is out, return to your master’s side.”
Hearing this, Ali was horrified. She hurriedly grabbed the hem of Xiao Changning’s clothes, weeping and pleading, “Young mistress, please don’t!”
“If His Majesty learns that my identity has been exposed, I’ll be useless to him. His Majesty doesn’t keep idle people around.”
“And if I mess things up, I’ll wish I were dead.”
Xiao Changning shook off her hand. “Oh? You were the one who swore to die a horrible death.”
“Now that the oath has come true, why are you begging others?”
Ali opened her mouth, wanting to cry but having no tears. This retribution had come far too quickly.
“Young mistress, I…”
The rest of her words vanished in her throat, but Xiao Changning finished them for her. “You were just saying it.”
Ali’s face flushed bright red, and she lowered her head in shame.
Seeing her like this, Xiao Changning only felt her heart ache—repeatedly misplaced trust, repeatedly betrayed.
Xiao Changning stood up and said, “Murong Yao has people watching me at all times. On the inside, you work for him; on the outside, the Anwei never leave my side.”
“Sooner or later, he will learn of our conversation today.”
“In a moment, go tell Murong Yao that I drove you away, severing our master-servant bond. You and your family are never to appear in my sight again.”
With that, Xiao Changning rose and walked out of the carriage, dragging her leaden legs.
She gazed at the darkening sky, at the lonely crescent moon hanging in the night, and murmured to herself, “Isn’t that just like me?”
“Alone, with no one by my side, and no family in sight.”
Just as Xiao Changning was lost in despair, a sharp clang echoed through the air—a swift arrow cut across the sky, flying straight toward her.
“Watch out!”