“I won’t.”
“You go on your own. Don’t worry about me.”
Hua Zhiyun wanted to leave too.
Unfortunately…
Her space wouldn’t allow it.
The moment she deviated from the exile route, everything inside her space would be erased.
That space was her lifeline.
Could she bear to lose it?
Absolutely not.
Chu Linzhang sighed with regret.
“With Lady Hua’s abilities, you shouldn’t have to suffer in the Southern Barbarian Lands.”
Hua Zhiyun raised an eyebrow.
“What makes you think I’ll suffer?”
Chu Linzhang froze for a moment before smiling.
A faint light flickered in his deep eyes.
“You’re right.”
“As long as Lady Hua wishes it, no one should be capable of making you suffer.”
Hua Zhiyun nodded confidently.
She pulled the old-fashioned hairpin from his hair.
It looked no different from an ordinary tree branch.
Had it been made of gold, silver, or gemstones, it certainly wouldn’t have survived the confiscation.
“Pull off the tip and point it toward the sky,” Chu Linzhang instructed.
Hua Zhiyun did as he said.
The hairpin vibrated slightly.
Whoosh!
A firework shot into the night sky and exploded brilliantly.
The sudden display caught the attention of many of the exiles.
Several guards also started walking over to investigate who was causing the disturbance and whether someone was sending a signal.
In ancient times, fireworks were often used to transmit messages.
A prearranged signal.
A firework as the command.
Unlike modern times…
There was no WeChat.
But the guards saw that it was Hua Zhiyun.
They immediately turned around and walked away.
Better not get involved.
After only one day, she’d already caused several deaths, gouged out multiple eyes, and crippled a man.
She wasn’t someone they wanted to provoke.
Madam Chu the Fifth shook Chu Lin’an awake.
“Who beat you? Tell Mother! Who was it?”
Chu Lin’an winced in pain and shook his head.
“I’m fine.”
“It’s only superficial wounds.”
“Don’t worry, Mother.”
“I’m going to check on Big Brother.”
Madam Chu the Fifth glared at him in frustration.
“I told you to do something for me.”
“How did you end up getting beaten instead?”
“Lin’an…”
“Have you really decided to abandon your younger brother?”
Chu Lin’an looked at Chu Linqing, who was shivering with fever.
He clenched his fists.
“I’ve already asked the Zhou family to help me obtain some medicine for him.”
“They’ll bring it over after it’s been prepared.”
“The Zhou family beat you?” she asked.
The Zhou family was another household being exiled alongside them.
They had been imprisoned before the Chu family.
Now that everyone had fallen into exile, no one’s life was easy.
Besides…
There had always been some bad blood between the Zhou and Chu families.
No wonder Chu Lin’an had been beaten.
They clearly hadn’t vented all their resentment.
Looking at her son’s swollen face that resembled a pig’s head, Madam Chu the Fifth sighed.
“Go.”
“Just remember to bring your brother’s medicine back later.”
“Alright!”
Chu Lin’an smiled brightly.
His mother had finally approved of him helping his eldest brother.
Which also meant…
She no longer intended to poison him.
Fortunately…
He had thrown away the poison.
Limping all the way, Chu Lin’an returned to the prison cart, his face swollen beyond recognition.
Chu Linzhang frowned.
“With your skills, you shouldn’t have been beaten this badly.”
“You didn’t fight back?”
Chu Lin’an shook his head.
Grinning foolishly, his white teeth showed despite the bruises.
“It’s alright.”
“It doesn’t hurt.”
“Let’s put medicine on your wounds first.”
Chu Linzhang glanced toward the Zhou family’s camp, his eyes turning cold.
His gaze then shifted to the packet of medicinal powder in Chu Lin’an’s hand.
He remained silent.
Nearby, Hua Zhiyun was drying her hair.
A breeze blew toward her.
She sniffed the air.
Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Chu Lin’an preparing to pour out the medicine.
If her nose wasn’t mistaken…
That powder was a deadly poison.
A blood-sealing poison.
If sprinkled onto Chu Linzhang’s wounds…
He wouldn’t survive the night.
Her eyes darkened.
She looked at the boy’s swollen face.
Before her mind could fully react…
Her body moved first.
She kicked the porcelain bottle from his hand.
Crash!
The bottle shattered.
The powder scattered across the ground before the wind carried it away.
Chu Linzhang looked at her in confusion.
“Lady Hua…”
“What do you mean by this?”
Chu Lin’an frowned unhappily.
“Princess Sister-in-law…”
“Why did you break it?”
“Do you know how difficult it was to get this medicine?”
“They only gave us this tiny amount.”
“Now it’s all gone!”
As he spoke, he knelt to salvage what remained.
Instead…
Hua Zhiyun kicked him squarely on the backside, sending him stumbling forward.
Chu Lin’an: “…”
“Don’t touch it.”
“It’s a blood-sealing poison.”
“Don’t mistake kindness for hostility.”
She folded her arms arrogantly.
“If you don’t believe me…”
“Try it.”
“It’s poisoned?”
Chu Lin’an immediately withdrew his hand.
Hua Zhiyun shot him an exasperated look.
Then she reached into her sleeve and pulled out…
A mouse.
It had accidentally been stored in her space while she was stockpiling supplies.
There were quite a few of them inside.
Back then everything had been collected in such a hurry that she hadn’t had time to sort anything.
Anything entering her space simply fell asleep.
Now…
This little mouse was finally useful.
The two men watched in stunned silence as Hua Zhiyun produced a live mouse from her sleeve.
Chu Linzhang: “…”
Chu Lin’an: “…”
She made a tiny cut on the mouse.
Then dabbed a little of the powder onto the wound.
Within seconds…
The mouse writhed in agony.
A few moments later…
Its legs stiffened.
Its tail went rigid.
Dead.
Of the three people present…
Only Hua Zhiyun remained calm.
The expressions on the other two men’s faces turned ugly.
Chu Lin’an suddenly understood.
“No wonder the Zhou family was so eager to give me wound medicine.”
“So this was their plan all along.”
“If Princess Sister-in-law hadn’t stopped me…”
“I would’ve killed Big Brother.”
His face filled with guilt.
“I’m sorry.”
“I misunderstood you.”
“You’re so magnanimous.”
Being called Sister-in-law over and over made Hua Zhiyun uncomfortable.
“Stop calling me Sister-in-law.”
“Just call me Sister.”
Not understanding, Chu Lin’an glanced at the silent Chu Linzhang.
“Is… that really alright?”
Chu Linzhang answered simply,
“Do as she says.”
Chu Lin’an: “…”
Big Brother is surprisingly easygoing after getting married.
Whatever Sister-in-law says goes.
He’s completely henpecked!
The gossip-loving teenager wore an amused expression.
Chu Linzhang shot him a glare.
“Thank you once again for saving my life, Lady Hua.”
Hua Zhiyun replied matter-of-factly,
“When you become rich someday…”
“Repay me with a thousand taels.”
She never saved people for free.
She wasn’t interested in him pledging himself to her.
Gold was far more practical.
Chu Linzhang agreed immediately.
“Very well.”
Chu Lin’an: “?”
What kind of newlywed relationship is this?
Why can’t I understand anything anymore?
Chu Linzhang offered no explanation.
Instead, he told Chu Lin’an,
“Later…”
“Bring your mother and your younger brother to the prison cart.”
Chu Lin’an nodded.
“Alright.”
Hua Zhiyun knew exactly what Chu Linzhang intended.
He planned to take the Fifth Branch of the family and escape.
Sensing his gaze upon her, she returned it with absolute determination.
No one was taking her away.
She had to reach the place of exile.
Chu Lin’an wanted to confront the Zhou family.
Chu Linzhang stopped him.
“Now isn’t the time.”
“If you go, you’ll only get beaten again.”
“Wait.”
“I’ll avenge you myself someday.”
“For now…”
“Bring your mother and your brother here.”
Reluctantly, Chu Lin’an obeyed.
Hua Zhiyun tactfully moved away from the prison cart.
She had no intention of interfering with their escape.
Late that night…
Silence blanketed the campsite.
Other than the occasional sound of someone slapping mosquitoes…
No one stirred.
These nobles, accustomed to luxurious lives, had marched all day.
The moment they lay down…
They couldn’t wake up.
Tomorrow they still had another three thousand li to travel before reaching the Southern Barbarian Lands.
Without proper rest…
Whether they’d survive the journey was anyone’s guess.
Hua Zhiyun lit a mosquito coil.
No mosquitoes dared approach her.
After the ruthless displays she’d put on throughout the day…
Everyone had been thoroughly frightened.
She alone occupied the large rock nearby.
No one dared disturb her.
She could burn mosquito coils…
Eat secret snacks…
And no one would know.
A faint rustling reached her ears.
Opening her eyes, she saw several shadowy figures quietly approaching the prison cart.
They were Chu Linzhang’s men.
Thinking about it…
It made perfect sense.
He had once been the God of War.
How could he possibly have no fiercely loyal subordinates?
Once she had exposed the true face of the dog emperor…
A man with his abilities and loyal followers would naturally choose escape.
Continuing obediently toward exile would simply mean he had a hole in his brain.
So…
She pretended not to notice.
Half-closing her eyes, she watched them quietly carry Chu Linzhang out of the cart under cover of darkness.
Madam Chu the Fifth woke in alarm.
Someone immediately covered her mouth and led her away.
Chu Lin’an carried his younger brother and silently followed.
Then he suddenly realized someone was missing.
Looking toward Hua Zhiyun, he called softly,
“Sister-in-law?”
Hua Zhiyun: “…”
“Sister-in-law, wake up!”
Chu Lin’an grew anxious.
His voice became louder and louder.
He didn’t even consider that he might alert the guards and expose the escape.
Chu Linzhang didn’t stop him.
Deep down…
He still hoped Chu Lin’an could wake Hua Zhiyun and persuade her to leave with them.
Unfortunately…
They had never heard one simple truth.
You can never wake someone who’s only pretending to sleep.
Hua Zhiyun was pretending.
She refused to open her eyes.
Just because she felt like it.
Seeing through her intentions, Chu Linzhang finally spoke just as Chu Lin’an was about to shake her awake.
“Lin’an.”
“We’re leaving.”
“But Sister-in-law…”
Before Chu Lin’an could finish, his eldest brother shot him a sharp look.
He had no choice but to give up.
Sister-in-law sleeps far too deeply…
How is she ever going to survive in the future?
The patrolling guards were drawing closer.
Chu Lin’an knew they had no more time.
If they delayed any longer…
None of them would escape.
Grinding his teeth, he followed Chu Linzhang’s men into the woods.
Soon…
They vanished into the darkness beyond the campsite.
As they moved farther and farther away…
Hua Zhiyun’s space map suddenly erupted in alarm.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
[Primary storyline characters have deviated from the designated route.]
[Please correct their course immediately.]
[Otherwise, all stored supplies will be erased.]
[All stored supplies will be erased.]
[All stored supplies will be erased.]
[Countdown: 30… 29… 28…]
Hua Zhiyun: “…”