Chapter 16: Rejecting King You

Startled, Chu Li suddenly remembered how formidable Fu Heng’s martial skills were and how deep his scheming nature ran. When she had left the camp earlier, he must have quietly followed her and seen something.

“Miss Chu, your magical arts are truly extraordinary in my eyes—something I have rarely seen in my life. Even the old sorcerers in the Prayer Division are not as skilled as you,” Fu Heng praised unexpectedly.

Chu Li’s heart skipped a beat. To hear such compliments from this man was astonishing. After praising her, Fu Heng handed the paper back to her, his intentions unmistakable.

Frowning, Chu Li finally looked up and met Fu Heng’s gaze. His eyes were sharp, filled with an unyielding determination that made her heart tremble.

“Your Highness, I am only skilled in physiognomy, averting disaster, and purification. As for divining from birth dates and times, I truly cannot do that.”

Fu Heng raised an eyebrow but did not give up. “Then show me your reading.”

Chu Li was taken aback. This man was determined to make her help him. What gave him the right to assume she could do it? Just because she had shown some skill in the wilderness?

“Your Highness, with your noble status and dragon aura protecting you, my humble skills cannot possibly discern your fate clearly. Please do not put me in such a difficult position.”

Wanting to avoid further entanglement and knowing the disguise charm was about to expire, Chu Li stood up and hurriedly climbed out of the carriage.

Fu Heng was certain she was deceiving him but also knew he was the one asking for help, so he did not press her too hard.

Back in the camp, Chu Li used the excuse of needing privacy to pull Qiuyi into the distant bushes.

“Mistress, did the prince suspect anything?” Qiuyi was extremely worried. When she saw the prince invite her mistress into the carriage, her heart nearly jumped out of her chest. Now, although her mistress had returned, her complexion was not good, and her unease grew.

Chu Li quickly reapplied the disguise charms on herself and Qiuyi, then reassured her, “He did not suspect, but we must remain cautious. The prince has not given up searching for me, but he seems intent on hiding the news of my absence from the capital. Even if he seeks me, he will do so quietly, without fanfare.”

Chu Li’s mind was restless. Had the letters she left in the wardrobe been discovered? She was certain she had been resolute in them, and with Fu Heng’s pride and nature, he wouldn’t have tolerated such a situation silently. Her original plan had been for Fu Heng to publicly issue a divorce letter.

Qiuyi relaxed for a moment but soon lowered her voice.

“Mistress, we should find a chance to leave. The escort agency is guarding Lord Cao, and the prince seems set to meet Lord Cao. If we keep following, we’ll always be under the prince’s watchful eyes. I fear it’s only a matter of time before he notices us.”

Qiuyi worried that if the disguise charm wore off suddenly, they would be exposed to the prince, caught red-handed.

Chu Li was still pondering Fu Heng’s possession of her birth data. She was unsure whether his pursuit stemmed from old affections or an intent to punish her. Until she understood his true motive, her heart remained uneasy—perhaps even tinged with a faint hope.

She felt as if she were ill. Though determined to leave, her feelings still churned upon seeing him again.

“Mistress? Mistress?”

“Ah? Qiuyi, what did you just say?” Chu Li blinked, distracted by her swirling thoughts and had missed her words.

“Mistress, I said we should leave and stop following the escort agency.”

After a moment of silence, Chu Li shook her head. “No. Leaving suddenly would arouse suspicion. We’ll continue north with the escort agency. Being right under the prince’s nose is safer. As a nobleman, the prince is unlikely to get too close to us lowly women. Today was just an accident.”

In the dark, one is safest. Fu Heng would never guess she had such boldness. Even with his cunning and secret observations, he was destined to find nothing.

After all, the Chu Li of the old prince’s mansion was worlds apart from who she was now. And without this layer of disguise, Fu Heng could hardly imagine that once enchanting woman who ruled his world as she was now.

Returning to the camp, Fu Heng’s side indeed made no further moves, and the two groups avoided interfering with each other.

Inside the carriage, Fu Heng calmed himself. He carefully tucked the paper bearing Chu Li’s birth details into his inner pocket, then summoned Heiyu.

“Any news from Heisha? He should know the place where I met the princess. If he cannot confirm her identity within three days, bring his head to me.”

“I obey, my lord. I will relay the order to Heisha immediately.”

Wounded but determined to redeem himself, Heisha had ridden hard ahead, secretly investigating the princess’s origins.

Fu Heng’s information was still vague, unable to confirm Chu Li’s true background.

***

For three consecutive days, Fu Heng did not seek out Chu Li. Both sides kept their distance, and peace was maintained.

On the seventh day, the escort agency led by Jiao Yan finally caught up with Cao Ronghai, carrying half of his belongings.

Cao Ronghai was accompanied by about ten guards, all household servants from the Cao estate. Each radiated a fierce aura, clearly skilled fighters.

Chu Li clicked her tongue in admiration.

“I wouldn’t have guessed that the heavily pregnant Lord Cao keeps such skilled bodyguards.”

“Miss, I heard Lord Cao is immensely wealthy, his gold and silver overflowing. Naturally, he’d secretly keep some fighters at his side.”

Chu Li understood. With the wealth radiating off Cao Ronghai, he must have made no small fortune in secret—no wonder he was so rich.

Yet those servants carried a stench of death energy, and even Cao Ronghai’s eyes had a bluish tint—it was unusual.

That night, Cao Ronghai questioned Jiao Yan and discovered there were two women among the escort team.

Furious, Cao Ronghai shouted, “Jiao Yan, I’ve paid well for your escort service. Why did you bring two women along?”

“These are valuable goods. If anything goes wrong, can you afford the loss? Get rid of them! They’re just burdens!”

Chu Li was eating a flatbread when she heard Cao’s words. She put it down and stood.

Jiao Yan frowned. “They’re not burdens, Lord Cao. Miss Chu is a formidable sorceress. She helped us avoid bloodshed earlier. If you insist on sending them away, the Longyan Escort Agency is willing to pay the breach penalty. You should find others to escort your goods!”

Jiao Yan would not allow anyone to insult Miss Chu and was ready to lose the business over it.

Chu Li felt touched and was about to reply when Cao Ronghai’s eyes suddenly shone brightly. He quickly approached Chu Li and bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle.

“So it is the sorceress, Your Grace. I am Cao Ronghai, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. I was blind and spoke rashly before. Please forgive my disrespect.”

Chu Li was left puzzled.