Chapter 12 The Road Back
The next day, the autumn wind felt cool.
I sat inside the carriage as Xie Ning and Xuan Ming rode beside it.
Inside, everything had gone quiet.
Xuan Ming lowered his voice. "The Imperial Princess might be hiding from Rong Che. That's why she wants to stay in the valley."
"Hiding?"
Xie Ning asked. "You think her promise to marry me was just to lower my guard?"
Xuan Ming frowned. "What else could it be?"
"How could the Young Valley Lord be worthy of the Imperial Princess?"
I stayed silent, eyes fixed forward.
Xuan Ming kept talking. "Our plan was to send her to Lan Shan so she could find her fiancé."
"Now she refuses to leave. What do we do?"
"Yan Zhuo will be here soon to take her. Should we hand her over?"
"To Rong Che?"
Xuan Ming nodded. "Yes. If we get involved and anger the Young Lord, those siblings will just make up and we'll be the ones who suffer."
I lowered my eyes but said nothing.
Xuan Ming pressed on. "Besides, I heard Rong Che dotes on his sister. Even if she ran away, he wouldn't punish her."
"Her family matters aren't ours to worry about."
Wolf howls echoed from the distance. It seemed his subordinates were reporting.
Yan Zhuo had entered the valley.
After a moment, the carriage curtain lifted.
Sunlight spilled inside.
I rubbed my eyes and sat up. "Are we there yet, Xie Ning?"
"Not yet," he said, tucking the blanket around me.
"The road was blocked by a landslide. I need to find another way."
"Wait here for me."
I nodded without question and pulled the blanket closer.
"Be careful."
"When we reach Lan Shan, I'll get medicine for your cough."
My hair ornaments swayed as I spoke.
Xie Ning's throat moved. He reached toward my head.
A Li stepped in front of me.
His hand stopped. He let it fall.
He turned to leave, but my voice came again, soft and drowsy.
"Xie Ning, don't leave me behind this time."
...
Two figures rode through the valley.
Xie Ning held the reins loosely, his mind elsewhere.
Wind scattered leaves across his face.
Hoofbeats echoed ahead.
Yan Zhuo would find me soon.
Xie Ning pulled his horse to a stop.
He looked up at the sky.
It was clear and bright.
He sighed.
He turned his horse around and rode back the way they came.
Xuan Ming shouted after him. "Xie Ning! What are you doing?"
The only answer was his fading voice.
"I changed my mind. Is that not allowed?"