Chu Linzhang and his group successfully slipped into the woods.
Carried on the back of one of his personal guards, he moved swiftly through the forest.
Before long, they reached the rendezvous point.
Several horses had already been prepared. A carriage would only slow an escape; horseback was the fastest option.
Chu Linzhang was carefully settled onto the back of a black warhorse—his own mount.
Recognizing its master, Black Wind rubbed its large head affectionately against him, so excited it nearly reared.
Chu Linzhang wanted nothing more than to stroke the horse’s head.
But he couldn’t even manage such a simple movement.
Seeing this, the guard’s eyes darkened.
He wished he could charge straight into the imperial palace and kill that dog emperor.
They all knew…
Their prince had been framed.
But the one sitting on the throne was the emperor.
When the ruler commands a subject to die, the subject has no choice but to obey.
Fortunately…
Their prince had finally summoned them.
Originally, they had intended to secretly follow him all the way to the place of exile.
As his personal guards, they had sworn to live and die with him.
“Physician Ma is already waiting ahead. Time is of the essence. We should leave immediately,” Bai Lian urged.
Chu Linzhang nodded.
His gaze drifted toward the campsite where the exiles rested.
After pressing his lips together, he quietly ordered,
“Go.”
Black Wind surged forward.
Sensing something was wrong with its master, the usually wild and spirited horse didn’t gallop recklessly as before.
Instead, it deliberately kept a steady pace, running with unusual restraint.
For Chu Linzhang, who could no longer control a horse with reins, this was ideal.
No one had expected Chu Linzhang to bring the Fifth Branch of the family with him.
Since they hadn’t prepared a carriage, the only option was horseback.
Each guard carried one person.
Madam Fifth couldn’t ride, and propriety prevented her from riding with another man.
So Chu Lin’an took her himself.
The sons of the Chu family began horseback training at the age of four.
At only twelve years old, Chu Lin’an already had eight years of riding experience.
Carrying his mother wasn’t difficult.
Besides, Madam Fifth wouldn’t have trusted anyone else.
After riding for quite some time…
Everyone gradually felt something strange.
It seemed…
They were going in circles.
Black Wind grew increasingly restless, snorting repeatedly.
Chu Linzhang frowned.
“Did we take the wrong path?”
Bai Lian immediately shook his head.
“Impossible.”
“I’m extremely familiar with the terrain around here. I’ve checked the route several times.”
“The only explanation…”
“…is that we’ve encountered a ghost maze.”
Chu Linzhang glanced at Chu Lin’an.
“Go.”
“Take a leak.”
There was an old saying:
A virgin boy’s urine can break the illusion of a ghost maze.
Among those present, aside from Madam Fifth, everyone qualified.
Chu Linzhang, however, couldn’t possibly do something like that.
Nor could his guards bring themselves to.
Being singled out, Chu Lin’an turned bright red.
Suddenly inspiration struck.
Without hesitation, he passed the responsibility to someone else.
He looked at his sleepy younger brother.
“Sixth Brother.”
“Need to pee?”
Little Chu Linqing immediately nodded.
“Pee…”
“Mother…”
Madam Fifth had no choice but to ask the guard carrying him to find a secluded corner.
After pulling down the boy’s trousers…
“Shh… shh…”
She even whistled encouragingly.
The child cooperated wonderfully.
A second later—
A stream of urine shot out.
Though admittedly…
It didn’t travel very far.
At that very moment—
The scenery before them suddenly changed.
The whistle seemed to awaken something.
Before them stood Chen Dali and the escort officers, holding blazing torches and broadswords.
They were panting heavily, their faces filled with fury.
Chen Dali pointed directly at Chu Linzhang.
“Chu Linzhang!”
“You’ve got some nerve!”
“You actually dared attempt an escape!”
“According to the law, escaped convicts are to be executed on the spot!”
The officers drew their weapons, murderous intent radiating from them.
The personal guards immediately surrounded Chu Linzhang protectively.
Although the escort officers outnumbered them four or five to one…
They were willing to fight to the death to get their prince out alive.
Little Chu Linqing hadn’t even finished peeing.
Startled, he stopped midway and burst into tears.
“Mother…”
“Brother…”
The guard hurriedly carried the crying child back toward Madam Fifth.
A frightened child could only be comforted by the person closest to him.
Madam Fifth herself was trembling uncontrollably.
Chu Lin’an gripped her shoulders, signaling her not to act rashly.
Chu Linzhang swept a cold gaze over Chen Dali.
“So…”
“You think you can stop me?”
Chen Dali smiled.
“We know the War God Prince is powerful.”
“But Your Highness should also know that you’ve been sentenced to exile in the Southern Barbarians.”
“You may never return to the capital.”
“Even if you escape today, you’ll spend the rest of your life being hunted.”
“Why live like a fugitive?”
“You’d be better off obediently going into exile.”
“At least then you’ll have a chance to survive.”
Chu Linzhang sneered.
“I’m afraid you’re the ones who can’t wait to kill me.”
Chen Dali narrowed his eyes.
“So…”
“Your Highness refuses to come back?”
Chu Linzhang replied coldly,
“That depends on whether you have the ability to keep me.”
Seeing persuasion had failed…
Chen Dali immediately adopted Hua Zhiyun’s suggestion.
He dragged Hua Zhiyun out from behind the escort officers.
Before doing so, he whispered,
“Sorry, Grandma…”
“It’s for the plot.”
“Please cooperate.”
Hua Zhiyun discreetly nodded.
A blade rested against her slender shoulder, its edge pressing against her neck.
Chen Dali shouted toward Chu Linzhang,
“If you dare leave…”
“We’ll carve your princess into a thousand pieces!”
Hua Zhiyun instantly put on a tearful, pitiful expression, blinking dramatically.
“Your Highness…”
“Save me…”
Chu Linzhang nearly fell off his horse from the sheer awkwardness of her terrible acting.
If she didn’t want to cooperate…
Who in the world could possibly threaten her?
What exactly was she trying to do?
After steadying himself, he asked,
“You want me to save you?”
She nodded vigorously.
“Mm-hmm!”
Her movement scared Chen Dali so badly that his hand trembled.
He hurriedly moved the blade away from her neck, terrified of accidentally nicking her.
If she got hurt…
He’d be dead too.
After all, he was poisoned.
If he failed to receive the antidote within a month…
He’d bleed from all seven orifices, his abdomen would burst open, and he’d die horribly.
Just imagining it was terrifying.
Living was much better.
Their eyes met.
In the darkness, Chu Linzhang’s black eyes locked onto Hua Zhiyun’s.
They communicated silently.
After several long seconds…
Countless thoughts flashed through his mind.
Finally…
He sighed.
“…Very well.”
“I’ll return with you.”
Bai Lian immediately protested.
“My Prince!”
Chu Lin’an secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He had feared there would be a bloody battle tonight.
He didn’t care much if he himself died…
But his mother was timid.
His younger brother was still just a child.
If they were killed because of him…
He would never forgive himself.
Chu Linzhang shot Bai Lian a warning glance, silencing him.
The guards helped him down from the horse.
An escort officer stepped forward carrying heavy wooden shackles, intending to lock them around his neck to prevent another escape.
Hua Zhiyun coughed lightly.
Chen Dali nearly dropped the shackles onto his own foot.
Thinking quickly, he tossed them aside.
“The Prince is a man of his word.”
“Since Your Highness has agreed not to run…”
“There’s no need for shackles.”
“You’ll obediently continue to the place of exile, won’t you?”
Chu Linzhang glanced at Hua Zhiyun, who was pretending to cough innocently while clenching her fist.
The corner of his lips lifted.
“…Yes.”
Bai Lian glared furiously at Hua Zhiyun.
To him…
She was nothing but a burden.
Noticing his gaze, Hua Zhiyun lazily rolled her eyes at him.
Bai Lian: “…”
A beauty truly is a disaster.
Hua Zhiyun: “…”
If you’ve got the guts, stop glaring and actually slash me with that sword.
I’d dare you.
Chu Linzhang surrendered without resistance and was escorted back.
Retracing their steps, everyone realized…
They actually hadn’t traveled very far at all.
What terrible luck.
They had really encountered a ghost maze.
Meanwhile, Hua Zhiyun quietly checked her map.
The navigation had returned to its normal route.
The reassuring green line had replaced the frightening red warning line from earlier.
The ghost maze…
Really was useful.
She’d definitely use it again next time.
Otherwise…
By the time they caught up, everyone would already have escaped.
That’s right.
Chu Linzhang’s failed escape…
Had been reported by Hua Zhiyun.
She had even pointed them in the right direction.
She was also the one who trapped them inside the ghost maze.
People looked out for themselves.
Otherwise, heaven and earth would destroy them.
If it didn’t affect her interests…
She couldn’t care less about anyone else’s business.
But once her own interests were involved…
Naturally, she put herself first.
Thinking about the way Chu Linzhang had looked at her…
His face really was quite ugly now.
He couldn’t see it himself, so it didn’t matter to him.
But at night…
It was genuinely frightening.
As a reward for cooperating…
Hua Zhiyun walked over and nudged him with her elbow.
Feeling a little guilty, she rubbed her nose.
“So…”
“Want me to fix your face?”
Chu Linzhang considered for three seconds.
“…Could you treat my arms and legs instead?”
“The tendons in my hands and feet were severed.”
“Being unable to move…”
“For someone like me who lived on horseback and the battlefield…”
“It’s torture.”
“Compared to my face…”
“I’d much rather regain the use of my limbs.”
He had never relied on his appearance anyway.
Since she’d already made it clear she wasn’t interested in his body…
He might as well ask for something practical.
Hua Zhiyun glanced at the infected, festering wound on his wrist.
If it wasn’t treated soon…
Even she might not be able to save it.
After a brief silence…
“…That’s not impossible.”
For a fleeting moment…
Chu Linzhang thought he had misheard.
He had won his gamble.
This woman…
Really did possess extraordinary medical skills.