Harvest cried as she dressed Lin in complicated court attire, applied her makeup, and wrapped Xi Lin’s court clothes, following behind her.
“Harvest, you don’t need to follow me. There are so many people in the mansion.”
If something happens to me and **, you will take them back to Yan Chao; do not let them be stranded in this foreign land,” Lin instructed, holding the court clothes and opening the door, only to see Wang* standing outside.
“Elder Brother Mu has already taken the young princess away. Madam, please be at ease. I should protect your safety and dare not disobey,” Wang* said.
“Wang, why must you risk your life?” Lin asked.
“A promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold,” Wang* replied casually.
The Rong monarch seemed to keep his word, with no soldiers inside or outside the mansion. Lin* hesitated at the gate and asked Wang* if he knew how to meet the monarch in Rong. Wang* confirmed he did. Just as Lin* was about to board the carriage, someone rushed from the alley and quickly stuffed something into Wang*’s arms before fleeing.
Wang* took out the item and said: “A message from the Fourth *. The Rong monarch is leading troops to the border day and night. The *** is also in the team. I’m afraid their fate is grim.”
“The Fourth *?”
“Yes, the Fourth * is accompanying the expedition,” Wang* confirmed.
“Wang, do we still have good horses in our mansion? If we travel day and night, can we catch up?” Lin asked.
“Perhaps we can,” Wang* replied.
The February wind was cold and harsh, cutting painfully across faces. Lin* and Wang* traveled without stopping, only resting for a couple of hours when truly exhausted. Wang* would gather wood to light a fire, and they would warm themselves by it. When thirsty, they’d grab a handful of hard snow; when hungry, they’d eat cold, hard rations.
Lin*, who had just given birth, felt exhausted and worried about her daughter, even as she sat by the fire.
“Madam, you shouldn’t have come,” Wang* said.
“I’ve already come,” she replied, the flickering firelight reflecting her unpredictable future.
“You should honor your promise to **, but for your and the young princess’s safety…” Wang was speaking when Lin* suddenly collapsed to the ground, her brow furrowed.
