A new group of assassins had caught up with them!
Enduring the pain, she struggled to carry Zhao Jingxing into a patch of reeds.
After making sure there were no traces of blood nearby, she finally lowered him to the ground.
By now, she was drenched in sweat, and her face had turned deathly pale.
The approaching footsteps grew louder and more chaotic. She hurried over to Zhao Jingxing, pressing one hand against his shoulder while covering his mouth with the other to ensure he wouldn’t make a sound.
“The bloodstain ends here. They’re not here! Hurry, keep chasing! Don’t let them escape!”
After the footsteps approached, they gradually faded into the distance.
Although she was certain the assassins had gone far away, Qu Jinshu still didn’t dare stay there for long.
She hurriedly took Zhao Jingxing to another cave.
Just then, heavy rain began pouring outside. At that moment, the tension in her heart finally eased a little.
The rain had arrived right on schedule, just as it had in her previous life. The water would wash away their scent and footprints.
Although this would make it difficult for the reinforcements to find them, it would be equally difficult for the assassins. At least they would have a chance to catch their breath.
She tore a piece of cloth from Zhao Jingxing’s robe, dampened it with water, and used it to wipe his forehead and cool him down.
Then she went out into the rain to look for medicinal herbs.
Having spent many years on the battlefield, finding herbs in the wilderness was an easy task for her.
There were plenty of medicinal plants in this forest, too. She quickly found some suitable for Zhao Jingxing, crushed them with a stone, mixed them with water, and fed the mixture to him.
Her feelings were rather complicated at that moment. She couldn’t understand why anyone would want to kill someone who was little more than a fool.
The surroundings were pitch black. She couldn’t risk lighting a fire and attracting the assassins, so she had to rely entirely on touch.
Only when her hand confirmed that his fever had subsided did she finally let out a long sigh of relief.
However, when she moved again, she realized that her right shoulder had gone numb with pain.
Fortunately, the assassins hadn’t coated their daggers with poison. Although her wound looked frightening, it wasn’t particularly serious, and she wouldn’t end up crippled as she had in her previous life.
After applying some medicine to her wound, Qu Jinshu finally reached her limit. She leaned against the stone wall and gradually lost consciousness.
“Your Highness, I’ve already released the sleeping incense. The others should be asleep by now.”
Several dark figures appeared inside the cave without making a sound. They lit their fire starters, and the cave was instantly illuminated.
Zhao Jingxing, who should have been unconscious, slowly opened his eyes. A cold glint flashed in them.
“Too late.”
Those two simple words carried unmistakable reproach.
The expressions of the hidden guards changed simultaneously. They immediately dropped to their knees.
“We failed in our duty and allowed Your Highness to be injured. We will return and willingly accept our punishment.”
Zhao Jingxing wiped the corner of his mouth with his hand. There were still bitter residues of medicinal herbs clinging to his lips.
His cold gaze fell on Qu Jinshu, who was leaning against the stone wall.
She certainly hadn’t been very careful when feeding him that medicine.
“Your Highness, should we kill him?”
Jingfeng drew his sword and pointed it at Qu Jinshu’s slender neck.
But the moment he got a clear look at her face, his eyes widened. “She… She… She’s not the son of that old Qu!”
But Lin Zhong had clearly said that Qu Zhao had escorted Prince Jing away, which was why they had immediately come here in secret to search for His Highness.
“That’s right. She isn’t him.”
Zhao Jingxing looked down at Qu Jinshu from above.
Beside her lay a human skin mask that had fallen off.
Her disheveled hair fell over her shoulders, and her face looked pale in the faint light. Her thick eyelashes rested quietly against her cheeks. If she opened her eyes, they would probably be bright and clear, yet filled with unwavering determination.
Her brows were tightly furrowed, as though even in sleep, she couldn’t find any peace.
Her silver armor had long since been shattered, leaving her dressed only in a thin, plain white robe. The bloodstains on it were clearly visible.
“Your Highness, who is she?”
Jingfeng was practically at a loss for words.
Where had this woman come from? He didn’t even know whether she had discovered His Highness’s secret.
And he had no idea whether they should kill her.
He had barely revealed a hint of murderous intent when Zhao Jingxing’s cold, distant voice sounded.
“She means no harm. Leave her alone for now.”
His seemingly casual remark left Jingfeng and the others exchanging bewildered glances, their hearts filled with shock.
After all, their prince had always been extremely cautious. He would never leave behind any potential threats.
“Your Highness, could she be…?”
“Qu Zhao’s double,” Zhao Jingxing replied.
Jingfeng’s face was filled with disbelief. “Qu Zhao’s double? A woman?”
He looked down again and noticed that the boots beneath Qu Jinshu’s trouser legs had unusually thick soles. They would make walking uncomfortable for an ordinary person.
She must have used this trick to make herself roughly the same height as Qu Zhao.
Looking more closely, he could faintly see blood seeping through. Her feet must have been badly rubbed raw.
“Your Highness, could it be that the military achievements Qu Zhao earned on the frontier were actually the work of this woman?”
If that were truly the case, then the woman before them was rather terrifying.
With such a small frame, she had managed to impersonate a man and accomplish so many remarkable feats.
“Your Highness, are you returning now? Lin Zhong and the others are still searching for you outside. Should I give them a signal?” Jingfeng asked again.
Otherwise, given the capabilities of those Imperial Guards, it might take them a very long time to find this place.
“No need. Let them continue searching.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
After issuing his order, Zhao Jingxing lowered his dark, unreadable gaze to Qu Jinshu’s face.
Only by staying alive can you witness your enemies paying for their crimes?
Then who exactly were her enemies?
And after risking her life to save him, wasn’t she afraid that she might lose her own life because of him?