Chapter 11: A Bloodshed Beckons for All
After traveling for ten consecutive days, Autumn Yi was clearly starting to feel the strain. Yet she noticed that her pampered mistress, the princess, showed no sign of fatigue; aside from a somewhat weathered appearance, her spirit remained unbroken.
During a rest, Chu Li was not idle. She had already changed into a discreet female outfit and applied a new disguise talisman, transforming herself into a delicate, somewhat sickly-looking young woman.
“Mistress, what are you doing?” Autumn Yi asked with puzzled eyes.
Chu Li smiled faintly, exuding a fragile grace like a willow swaying in the wind. “How do I look? Doesn’t this appearance make you feel pity and tenderness?”
Autumn Yi was stunned, quickly nodding. “Mistress, you really do look convincingly frail. If I were a man, I’d be moved to protect you. Even the hardest-hearted would soften seeing you like this.”
But then Autumn Yi hesitated and murmured, “Mistress, didn’t you say pretending to be husband and wife would make it easier to avoid the prince’s pursuit?”
The delicate guise did indeed inspire sympathy, but it also made them vulnerable to ill intentions from others.
Chu Li raised an eyebrow and smiled. “I plan to beg those escort guards for mercy, to give me a ride. Walking on foot is exhausting. Hiring a carriage temporarily isn’t just conspicuous, it’s unsafe. Those escort guards look reliable enough.”
Autumn Yi was speechless.
That afternoon, Chu Li caught up with the escort team ahead.
Jiao Yan and his group were very cautious. Noticing someone trailing them, they heightened their vigilance.
Chu Li looked them over with newfound respect. Such a well-trained and alert escort team was indeed fortunate to have been found by Lord Cao.
“Miss, why aren’t they responding to us?” Autumn Yi, excited by her mistress’s plan, knew this escort team had a formidable reputation in the capital. Traveling with them would certainly be safer than acting alone.
Yet Autumn Yi was puzzled that, despite having made eye contact and seen her mistress’s frail appearance, the guards showed no sympathy—only suspicion, as if guarding against thieves.
Chu Li covered her mouth and coughed softly. “We mustn’t rush; that would raise suspicion. Let’s follow their group for a while and stay close.”
That night, unable to reach the next resting place, the group camped in the wild forest.
Chu Li and Autumn Yi made a small fire nearby.
From a distance, Jiao Yan looked on with some reluctance.
“Go, give my cloak to that young lady. We’re all travelers—if we can help, we should.”
One subordinate protested, “Brother Yan, I feel something’s off about those two women. In these wilds, no one travels alone or just in twos, especially women.”
“Particularly that sickly-looking lady. She’s too beautiful to be traveling without attendants. Isn’t she afraid?”
Jiao Yan glanced thoughtfully at Chu Li. Her pale face flickered in the firelight, and even his steadfast heart was moved slightly.
“She must be facing some hardship. Enough talk—just deliver the cloak.”
The subordinate muttered, “Brother Yan, could it be you’ve taken a fancy to the lady? You’re twenty-five—time to marry.”
Meanwhile, Chu Li and Autumn Yi sat by the fire as an escort guard approached carrying the cloak.
“Here, the chief escort sent this for you to keep warm.”
Autumn Yi gratefully accepted it and draped it over Chu Li.
Chu Li smiled at the man, “Thank you, brother, and please thank your chief escort as well.”
In the firelight, Chu Li noticed the guard’s darkened face and grim expression, a harbinger of death. The cloak was warm and windproof, fresh from washing—likely unworn.
Though not overly charitable, Chu Li’s training in the mystical arts had nurtured a degree of compassion. She remembered kindness shown to her.
This escort guard was clearly close to death; an ominous aura clung to him. Tonight would bring trouble.
“Autumn Yi, bring some of our rations to share with the brothers.”
Jiao Yan was speaking with his men when he sensed movement behind him. Instinctively gripping his sword, he turned to see Chu Li and then relaxed.
Supported by Autumn Yi, Chu Li took a few steps but soon panted, her face pale and feeble, convincing Autumn Yi utterly.
Her mistress’s skill in feigning frailty was remarkable—even her closest attendant believed the fragile illusion.
Jiao Yan’s eyes flickered. Courteously, he offered Chu Li his seat.
“Miss, need some warmth? Sit here; this spot is cozy.”
Chu Li accepted without hesitation, sitting on the tree stump he gave up, and took from Autumn Yi a package wrapped in oiled paper.
“Brother escort, thank you for the cloak. I have little to repay you with, but I happen to have some jerky here to share.”
She opened the package, revealing fragrant strips of dried meat.
Though on the run, Chu Li did not neglect herself. The hundred taels of silver from Lord Cao sufficed for her and Autumn Yi’s travel expenses, including such luxuries.
The savory aroma soon attracted the other escorts. Jiao Yan prepared to refuse, but his men eagerly reached out.
Chu Li smiled gently, placing the package on a nearby rock.
“Brothers, please don’t be shy. Help yourselves.”
Seeing their chief escort’s approval, the men happily took some jerky.
This gave Chu Li a chance to observe closely.
Except for a few guarding the cargo, the whole team had gathered.
They were a young group—none older than thirty, some about Chu Li’s age.
Yet all bore dark, shadowy marks on their foreheads, surrounded by deathly auras. Some had such thick shadows they obscured their forms.
To Chu Li, this meant a miserable fate awaited them.
One person facing death might be unlucky, but an entire team marked for death suggested an imminent massacre—something dire.
Jiao Yan watched Chu Li cautiously. He had never seen such a beautiful and unusual woman before. Though she appeared frail and chronically ill, her eyes shone with unwavering determination.
Like a magnolia growing from a rocky crevice, her survival seemed bleak, yet her spirit reached endlessly toward the vast sky.