Chapter 398
**Chapter 396: Southern Chu**
The King of Wu was still chattering away, “What’s the matter? Now that I’ve exposed your sordid intentions, you have nothing to say, right? I will never grant your wish!”
With that, he flicked his sleeves and stormed off.
Shen Wei twitched her lips.
This man must be out of his mind!
...
The guide fell ill, and the group took a temporary rest at the relay station. The King of Wu returned to the courtyard, plopped down on a stone bench, and sulked, still feeling unsettled.
What a bold one, Yuan Xi’er!
To go to such lengths just to become a princess!
“Your Highness, please have some tea.” The guard, Zhang Wulang, brought over a bowl of hot tea.
The King of Wu took the tea but didn’t drink it right away. Instead, he asked, “Zhang Wulang, what if I were to expel Shen Wei—oh no, Yuan Xi’er—from the group?”
Zhang Wulang tactfully advised, “Your Highness, you cannot drive her away.”
Having just left the territory of Donglin, the long road ahead was like a blind man walking without a guide.
The King of Wu cradled the tea bowl, deep in thought. “So you mean, Yuan Xi’er is deeply devoted to me, unwavering until death? She knows the dangers ahead yet still risks her life to follow me. A girl like her is hard to come by?”
Zhang Wulang: “…”
That wasn’t what he meant.
Zhang Wulang spoke up, “Your Highness, let’s keep Yuan Xi’er in the group.”
They needed her.
The King of Wu gulped down most of the tea, still feeling irritable. He muttered, “You want me to keep Yuan Xi’er? But the woman I intend to marry is the most extraordinary and beautiful girl in the world! How can I explain to my future princess that I’ve kept Yuan Xi’er in the Wu palace? But she is so devoted to me; I really can’t bear to let her down. How about I take her as a concubine?”
Zhang Wulang: …
Zhang Wulang clarified gently, “Your Highness, I meant to suggest you keep Yuan Xi’er in the group.”
Not as a concubine in the palace!
Moreover, along the way, Zhang Wulang often chatted with Yuan Xi’er. In her eyes, he only saw disdain for the King, not a trace of affection.
The King of Wu shot a glare at Zhang Wulang. “You little servant, you’re being ridiculous! Yuan Xi’er is bedridden; how could I take advantage of her in this journey? You seem like a decent man, yet your thoughts are so filthy!”
Zhang Wulang was left speechless, unable to utter a word for a long while.
Following the King of Wu, he hadn’t received any fortune, only a mountain of troubles.
After finishing the bowl of hot tea, the King of Wu, after a fierce internal struggle, finally made up his mind.
He rushed back into the relay station.
Shen Wei was leaning against the edge of the bed, frowning as she took the cold medicine sent by Yuan Fu. The King of Wu burst through the door, startling Shen Wei so much that she almost dropped the bowl of medicine.
“Your Highness, you seem in quite a hurry. Did the group encounter bandits?” Yuan Fu asked.
The King of Wu waved his hand dismissively. “No bandits. Yuan Xi’er, I just had a good chat with Zhang Wulang, and thanks to his reminder, I’ve decided to fulfill your wish.”
Shen Wei was utterly confused.
Fulfill her wish for what?
The King of Wu declared emphatically, “If I can return home safely, I will take you as a concubine!”
A mouthful of bitter medicine lodged in Shen Wei’s throat, and she choked, coughing uncontrollably. She simply couldn’t understand the King’s thought process. As she coughed violently, she waved her hands at him.
She didn’t want to be anyone’s concubine!
She wanted to return to Qingguo and enjoy her life!
Seeing Shen Wei wave her hands repeatedly, the King of Wu thought she was dissatisfied. His handsome face shifted through various expressions as he paused to think for a moment, finally relenting, “Alright, being a concubine might be a bit of a burden for you. How about I take you as a secondary wife in the future?”
Shen Wei: “Cough cough cough—”
...
The group didn’t linger at the relay station for long. The next morning, they set off again in the morning light. Shen Wei still had a slight fever, her voice hoarse.
She put on a windproof hat and pointed out the route they would take to Zhang Wulang. Climbing back onto her horse, she prepared to ride ahead of the group.
The King of Wu observed her frail figure and sighed inwardly. He called out to Shen Wei, “Come sit in the carriage with me; there’s no need to ride.”
Shen Wei weighed her options in her mind.
She hadn’t fully recovered from her cold, and riding in the wind could be risky. Shen Wei always chose the path that benefited her the most, so she decisively dismounted and climbed into the King’s carriage.
The King of Wu clicked his tongue.
She was so eager.
The group continued on their way. The carriage was much more comfortable, with soft cushions that shielded her from the wind and cold. After finishing her cold medicine, Shen Wei leaned against the carriage wall, taking the opportunity to catch up on sleep.
In the afternoon, they would reach Wenzhou.
Wenzhou was chaotic, and the entire group needed to stay alert to guard against robbers.
The King of Wu silently sipped his tea while Shen Wei sat across from him, her eyes closed against the carriage wall. He couldn’t help but admire her sleeping face.
Her skin was still dark and rough, her features only passably pretty, and she was as thin as a cat. From any angle, she didn’t meet the standard of beauty. Yet, as the King looked on, he found himself inexplicably thinking she was quite lovely.
Her sleeping posture was graceful.
Her aura was exceptional.
The King of Wu couldn’t help but reflect on himself: “Have I been in Wuxian for too long, not seeing any beauties? Now I find even a black cat charming?”
Shen Wei was awakened by his voice, her annoyance evident as she opened her eyes. “What cat?”
Her voice was still hoarse from her cold.
The King of Wu suddenly felt a bit warm and thirsty.
He awkwardly drank a bowl of tea, not daring to meet Shen Wei’s gaze. “It’s nothing... you, just go back to sleep.”
The caravan continued along the official road at a slow pace. In the distance, the border mountains of Qingguo came into view, along with the Mingyuan River that flowed between the two countries. In the afternoon, after enough rest, Shen Wei woke up, unfolded a map, and began to study the upcoming route.
Little Master, there’s more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading; it gets even more exciting!
The most dangerous stretch of road lay in Wenzhou. Once they crossed Wenzhou and reached the territory of Qingguo, officials along the way would ensure their safety.
Just as Shen Wei pondered the route, Zhang Wulang’s voice came from outside the carriage. “Your Highness! There’s news.”
The King of Wu lifted the carriage curtain. “What news? Bandits on the road?”
Zhang Wulang shook his head. “Not bandits. It’s Shen Xiuming, the Minister of the Interior from Qingguo. He’s resting in Wenzhou and sent word that he’s waiting for us there.”
The King of Wu was momentarily bewildered, then his face lit up with joy. “He’s not in Yanjing, but came to Wenzhou for what—never mind! Now we don’t have to worry about being robbed in Wenzhou; we can just rely on Shen Xiuming.”
The Minister of the Interior from Qingguo would naturally have strong guards with him. The King of Wu’s heart, which had been hanging in the air, finally settled. He could hardly wait to fly to Wenzhou and take shelter under Shen Xiuming’s protection.
“Let’s stop at the pavilion ahead for a while. Everyone wash your faces by the river to refresh yourselves. We need to reach Wenzhou before dark,” the King of Wu ordered cheerfully.
Shen Wei was equally surprised.
Shen Xiuming actually came to Wenzhou? Was it to find her?
Shen Wei secretly sighed in relief; as long as she could meet Shen Xiuming, her return to Qingguo was practically guaranteed. The afternoon sun was warm, and Shen Wei stepped out of the carriage for some fresh air. She still had a slight fever, her forehead and face feeling a bit hot.
Yuan Fu went to the river to fetch water to prepare cold medicine for Shen Wei. She walked to the riverbank and splashed some water on her face.
The icy river water refreshed her slightly. As she wiped her face with her sleeve, she heard a noise behind her. Thinking it was Yuan Fu, she turned around and said, “Is the cold medicine ready—”
The rest of her words caught in her throat.
The riverbank had been overtaken by a dark mass of iron-clad cavalry.
The Mingyuan River flowed slowly by, its blood-red flag emblazoned with the words “Southern Chu” fluttering in the wind. Against the harsh sunlight, Shen Wei saw a tall figure striding toward her.
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