Chapter Eleven: Encountering Hu Yun Again

The four stood silently.

Lin Zhaoyan smiled faintly—it was a matchmaker after all.

“If the heir prince is here to play matchmaker, then there’s no need,” Lin Zhaoyan lowered her gaze, her expression indifferent. “I have never considered marriage.”

It had been the same in her previous life, and it was the same now.

Zhou Jingxuan was momentarily taken aback but nodded awkwardly. “Very well.”

She had said these words to him in their past life. Back then, Zhou Jingxuan had dismissed them lightly, but now he fell silent and did not press the matter further.

Lin Zhaoyan stood and lifted her leg to leave. “The entire army, prepare to move out!”

Xia Wan glanced at Gu Zhi with a triumphant smile, nodding with satisfaction.

Gu Zhi merely curled his lips and ignored her.

Just wait and see. In his opinion, there was definitely something brewing between the general and the heir prince!

Lin Zhaoyan continued riding her horse, but Zhou Jingxuan, sulking, refused to sit in the carriage behind her and instead squeezed into the royal carriage of King Zhou.

—Though he got scolded for it.

Zhou Jingxuan wasn’t truly angry at Lin Zhaoyan; after all, she wouldn’t know what he was upset about. He was only sulking with himself.

Why must one make oneself so lowly?

Before, his persistence might have been excusable, but now...

Not long after setting off, the carriage was blocked.

Gu Zhi ran up from the front, reporting, “Report—there’s a young girl, unknown if alive or dead, blocking the way!”

Lin Zhaoyan reined in her horse. “Bring her over.”

“This borderland is desolate; how could a young girl be here?” Song Zijie frowned and warned Lin Zhaoyan, “General, be cautious. It might be a trap.”

Gu Zhi escorted a little girl covered in blood to Lin Zhaoyan. Yet the girl seemed vaguely familiar.

The girl hung her head weakly, her body limp—had Gu Zhi not held her up, she would have collapsed.

Her clothes were tattered, her body bruised and battered, evoking deep pity.

Xia Wan leaned in, feeling sorry. “She looks truly miserable. We should save her first and then set her down once we reach the city.”

Lin Zhaoyan dismounted and crouched beside the girl, cradling her head—it was Hu Yun!

Wasn’t she supposed to have returned home? Why was she here in the territory of the Anchu Kingdom? What was her purpose in coming?

“Not far ahead is the mountain city. It’s better to bring her there,” Song Zijie analyzed. “Besides, the girl barely has strength to lift her hand; she poses no threat.”

The troop halted for quite some time. King Zhou sent Zhou Jingxuan down from the carriage to inquire about the situation.

Upon seeing Hu Yun, Zhou Jingxuan immediately recognized her.

His gaze flicked to Lin Zhaoyan, burning with intensity.

Lin Zhaoyan kept her eyes straight ahead but finally relented. “She can come with us. Xia Wan will treat her wounds, and then we will continue.”

Zhou Jingxuan breathed a sigh of relief and immediately praised, “The general has a kind heart; we are all in awe.”

Damn it, he had sworn never to bother Lin Zhaoyan again!

Yet Lin Zhaoyan only raised an eyebrow and gave him no glance.

...She’s pretending now!

Xia Wan helped Hu Yun into the carriage. Lin Zhaoyan, after some thought, climbed in as well.

“Zhaoyan, aren’t you worried about her?” Xia Wan was checking Hu Yun’s injuries and had just loosened her clothes when she paused.

“These clothes...” Xia Wan withdrew her hand. “They’re from the Qie Kingdom? She’s from Qie?”

A flicker of struggle passed through Lin Zhaoyan’s eyes. “Yes.”

Xia Wan turned her head away. “I won’t treat Qie people.”

“My parents once traveled far and wide, healing the sick and saving countless lives. When they rested in a small village in Qie, they were driven away by villagers in the dead of night because they failed to save an old man. Lost in the mountains, they faced countless dangers.”

“That place is fraught with peril; wild beasts roam at night. We inadvertently drew their attention. My father stayed behind alone to fight the beasts to protect my mother and me.”

“But how can a man stand against wild beasts unprepared?” Xia Wan clenched her fists. “My father died, and so did my mother. I buried myself in the earth to survive.”

“Since then, I vowed never to treat Qie people again.” Xia Wan’s expression grew cold as she turned to leave the carriage. “Anyway, in her current state, she won’t die anytime soon.”

“I have seen her before,” Lin Zhaoyan suddenly spoke. “Back then, the heir prince and I were attacked. She imitated the assailants, thinking it was a way to seek revenge.”

“But the heir prince is soft-hearted and spared her. She is still young, with no sense of right or wrong, blindly mimicking others, thinking what they did was justified.”

“But blindly copying others is wrong. If they are vile and malicious, committing wicked deeds, we must not follow.”

Lin Zhaoyan fixed Xia Wan with a steady gaze, her tone calm yet thought-provoking.

A flicker of inner conflict appeared on Xia Wan’s face. After a long moment, she nodded helplessly. “If it is the general’s order, I will do it.”

“That is my order,” Lin Zhaoyan affirmed. “But I hope that someday, you will understand.”

“Perhaps,” Xia Wan replied stiffly and began treating Hu Yun’s wounds.

Upon entering the mountain city, the army rested and replenished their strength. Lin Zhaoyan instructed Gu Zhi to take Hu Yun away and arrange a room at an inn for her to recuperate.

Hu Yun stood by Lin Zhaoyan’s horse, unwilling to move or speak.

Lin Zhaoyan tossed a pouch of silver coins to Hu Yun. “These are small coins and copper pieces—use them sparingly so no one will notice.”

Gu Zhi tried to approach Hu Yun, but she screamed and dodged away.

Hearing the commotion, Zhou Jingxuan hurried over. Hu Yun clung to his leg, trembling.

Zhou Jingxuan looked to Lin Zhaoyan with concern; Lin Zhaoyan was puzzled as well.

“Money, lodging—what else do you want?” Lin Zhaoyan softened her voice, afraid to frighten Hu Yun. “I’ll try to fulfill your wishes.”

Hu Yun raised her eyes to Lin Zhaoyan, filled with fear and unease.

Lin Zhaoyan sighed and reached out her hand. “If you don’t trust him, I will personally take you there.”

Hu Yun hesitated for a moment, then grasped Lin Zhaoyan’s hand.

She remembered the first time they met—Hu Yun was unwilling to acknowledge her, like a frightened little hedgehog.

Lin Zhaoyan led her toward the inn. Hu Yun dragged her feet, clearly reluctant.

Zhou Jingxuan quietly followed at a short distance behind them.

At the inn, Lin Zhaoyan gave Hu Yun some instructions and awkwardly ruffled her hair before turning to leave.

Hu Yun grabbed the hem of her clothes, looking up with pleading eyes.

“...Can you take me with you?” Hu Yun begged, then bent her knees as if to kneel.

Zhou Jingxuan hurried forward, but Lin Zhaoyan caught Hu Yun.

Her expression turned cold. “I have given you all the help I can. For various reasons, I cannot take you with me. I’m sorry.”

“I know—I’m from Qie, and you’re all from Anchu. If you took me back, I’d be scorned...” Tears fell, wetting the clean clothes Lin Zhaoyan had given her.

“But I... I have nowhere else to go.” Hu Yun covered her face, trembling.

Zhou Jingxuan put his arm around Hu Yun, his face full of worry. “She has no father or mother and is so young. Perhaps—”

“If the general of Anchu brings a Qie person back, can I guarantee my own safety?” Lin Zhaoyan asked coldly.

“If you won’t, then I will.” Zhou Jingxuan shielded Hu Yun. “I will bear all the consequences.”