Chapter 90

After confirming the news of Feng Liwu’s death, Feng Wu withdrew decisively and swiftly.

Because of Feng Liwu’s death, Jiang Xiurun and her maid no longer needed to be constantly monitored. However, Qian’er was still drugged. At Jiang Xiurun’s repeated request, Qian’er was helped onto Jiang Xiurun’s carriage.

Qian’er had suffered a lot these past few days, and her face had noticeably thinned. Jiang Xiurun, heartbroken, gently touched her face and softly asked what she wanted to eat, promising to get it for her when the opportunity arose.

As she spoke, she took Qian’er’s hand and wrote in her palm.

Thanks to Jiang Xiurun, Qian’er had recently learned many characters. She carefully followed the strokes of Jiang Xiurun’s writing and clearly understood the message: “Don’t talk back, wait for a chance to escape.”

Qian’er nodded slightly, then raised her voice so those monitoring them outside the carriage could hear: “I want to eat stewed meat, preferably pork, a big fatty piece, the kind that really satisfies your cravings.”

Two days later, while camping in the wilderness, a large pot of pork was indeed boiling over a campfire. It was seasoned with large slices of ginger and scallions, and some wine was added to remove the gaminess. The aroma was irresistible, and the meat was ready to be sliced and eaten with salt.

However, Feng Wu, who was particular about his lifestyle, naturally wouldn’t eat such rustic-style pork. His meals were all stir-fried in an iron wok.

Jiang Xiurun also ate the dishes from the iron wok with him.

After initially being devastated by the news of Feng Liwu’s death, Jiang Xiurun eventually recovered.

Bored during the journey, she even got off the carriage to watch the cooks prepare the food. But she was even more particular about food than Feng Wu, criticizing the cooks for their method of cooking red meat, saying it wasn’t tender enough.

Feng Wu approached her and asked with a smile, “What? You know how to cook too?”

Jiang Xiurun absentmindedly replied, “You’re not picky enough if you can eat this. Let me show you how red meat should be cooked.”

With that, she rolled up her sleeves and asked Feng Wu to help tuck the hem of her sleeves into her waistband. Then she squatted down, sliced garlic and ginger, and stir-fried them in hot oil.

Jiang Xiurun had spent a lot of time in the prince’s kitchen, picking up some basic cooking skills from the chefs and kitchen staff.

Now, as she cooked, she looked quite professional.

Feng Wu found it amusing that a noblewoman knew how to cook, and her garlic-chopping technique looked quite skilled.

Just as the meat was about to go into the pot, Jiang Xiurun urgently said, “Quick, get some spring water to add to the pot.”

They were cooking by the river, so where would they find spring water?

A guard handed over a basin of river water.

Jiang Xiurun stared in disbelief at the slightly murky water and said, “I’d rather starve than drink this water.”

Qian’er, who had been listless, suddenly perked up: “Our young mistress is very particular about her food! Since there’s no spring water, at least treat this river water before using it.”

So Qian’er had the guards help her to the riverbank to pick up small pebbles. She layered them densely at the bottom of a basin and poured the river water through to filter it.

Surprisingly, the method worked, and the slightly murky water became much clearer.

Jiang Xiurun then stir-fried the meat, added water, and seasoned it.

She turned to Feng Wu and said, “Later, I’ll have Qian’er filter more water to make tea for you. How about that?”

Feng Wu enjoyed her proud demeanor and naturally agreed with a smile. Noticing that she was thinly dressed in the chilly wilderness, he had someone fetch his fox fur cloak and personally draped it over her.

It was autumn, and the forest was ablaze with color. The setting sun cast a rosy glow on her cheeks, and the fur of the cloak made her face appear smaller. She smiled sweetly at him.

The tea he sipped seemed inexplicably sweet, tasting wonderful.

That night, Feng Wu went to bed early—the entire camp was sound asleep.

Jiang Xiurun and Qian’er lay in their small tent, listening for sounds.

When they heard the footsteps of the patrolling guards, Jiang Xiurun whispered, “Why aren’t they all drugged yet?”

Qian’er whispered back, “Those are the patrolling guards. When they came back to eat, the water in their flasks was refilled, diluting the drug. So they’re not as affected. But soon it will be time for the shift change. If the next shift doesn’t wake up, the drugging will be exposed. We should take advantage of the lax security and escape now.”

Over the past few days, Feng Wu had ordered Qian’er to be drugged several times.

But since she was on Jiang Xiurun’s carriage, with her mistress’s help, she quickly vomited out the drug.

The two had gone to great lengths to prepare for their escape, even collecting the drugged water in a leather pouch on the carriage.

Earlier, while filtering the water, Qian’er had quickly poured the drugged water into the kettle under the guise of filling the water pouch.

Although they had eaten the meal and meat, they hadn’t touched the tea afterward.

The drug, diluted by the water, wasn’t as potent but was enough to make people drowsy for the night.

Jiang Xiurun, who deeply hated Feng Wu, had originally planned to kill him while he was drugged.

But seeing that there were still alert guards patrolling, she had to abandon the plan and escape before the shift change.

Qian’er, who hadn’t been fully drugged these past few days, finally regained her strength. She packed their belongings, including some clothes Feng Wu had given to Jiang Xiurun.

Then Qian’er dragged a sleeping guard into their tent, took the silver from his body, and changed into his clothes. She led Jiang Xiurun behind the tents, away from the campfire’s light, and they crawled into the nearby woods. Following the river, they let the sound of the water mask their footsteps as they hurried away.

Jiang Xiurun knew that once Feng Wu woke up and realized he had been drugged, he would be furious and would surely hunt them down.

So they had to escape as quickly as possible.

Qian’er was an expert at fleeing and surviving. Dressed as a man, she looked more convincing than Jiang Xiurun. They walked all night and arrived at a village in the countryside. There, they traded an embroidered dress for some plain clothes and two straw hats from the villagers before leaving the village and having Jiang Xiurun change into them.

Qian’er’s appearance was unusual, and Jiang Xiurun’s beauty was striking, so they needed to disguise themselves.

Jiang Xiurun changed back into men’s clothing and tied her hair simply, though her looks were far from those of a country bumpkin.

Since they didn’t know how to disguise themselves, they smeared some mud on their faces and put on the hats before continuing their journey.

Feng Liwu’s death left Jiang Xiurun feeling empty.

She didn’t know why, but due to Feng Wu’s schemes, the hostage Jiang Herun from Bo State had already drowned in the river in Wei territory.

From what she heard Feng Wu ordering the guards to report, the female assassin impersonating her must have been exposed.

Jiang Xiurun knew she couldn’t show her face again, or she would be accused of conspiring with traitors to assassinate the crown prince.

The urgent task now was to rescue her brother and sister-in-law before the news of the crown prince’s death reached the capital. She had saved up a considerable amount of gold, and as for houses and shops, they were just material possessions that could be abandoned.

However, from then on, she, her brother, and sister-in-law would have to live in hiding.

Jiang Xiurun had always taken things one step at a time. With time so tight and the road ahead uncertain, she couldn’t afford to think too much. The inexplicable sadness brought by Feng Liwu’s death had to be firmly suppressed in her heart.

Logically, their escape shouldn’t have caused much trouble for Feng Wu.

But unexpectedly, after a few days, Qian’er noticed that someone was chasing them.

Not only were they being chased, but many wanted posters had also been put up.

In the border areas between countries, where the rule of law was chaotic, many wealthy families would post their own wanted notices if they were robbed or if their children were kidnapped, seeking revenge.

In the counties and villages they passed through, there were suddenly posters with their portraits, both in male and female attire, and the reward for their capture was substantial—up to a hundred taels of silver.

In such poor rural areas, this was a sum that could tempt people to sell their own parents.

Jiang Xiurun made a quick decision: they could no longer travel through towns and villages, but had to detour through the wilderness.

However, after much detouring, they ended up back in Wei territory, where the Mochi Literary Gathering had taken place. Perhaps Feng Wu hadn’t expected them to double back, as the posters gradually disappeared.

Jiang Xiurun had thought that her time in the laundry bureau was tough, but this life of sleeping rough without a tent was even harsher. They were always half-starved, and the cold and damp nights were torturous.

Every night, Qian’er would gather some straw to make a simple shelter, and the two would huddle together for warmth.

Fortunately, Qian’er had packed the long fox fur cloak that Feng Wu had given to Jiang Xiurun. Otherwise, with her delicate constitution, Jiang Xiurun would have long since fallen ill from the cold.

However, the dry rations they had bought in the last town were almost gone, and the stolen silver was nearly spent.

Next, they would have to pawn the fox fur cloak for food and travel expenses.

One day, as they walked along a river in Wei territory that led to a large river, they saw a noisy crowd on the riverbank, seemingly casting nets to catch something.

On the riverbank, people kept receiving reward money to dive into the river.

Curious, Jiang Xiurun pressed down her hat and quietly asked a bystander what was happening.

The woman, with her arms crossed and sniffing, sighed, “It’s a wealthy official. His wife fell into the river, and he’s searching section by section, determined to bring her body back. Tsk tsk, what a deeply devoted nobleman!”

Qian’er, with her sharp eyes, looked from a distance and thought the man standing like a statue by the river looked familiar. He looked exactly like Dou Siwu.

His sorrowful expression did resemble that of a man who had lost his wife, but… when had he gotten married?

Qian’er thought that since her mistress was supposed to be dead, they shouldn’t meet any acquaintances.

So the two exchanged glances and turned to leave.

But unexpectedly, Dou Siwu happened to look up and saw Qian’er’s tall and robust figure from behind.

He would recognize that distinctive way of walking anywhere!

Though he suspected he might be seeing a ghost in broad daylight, Dou Siwu felt that his sincerity had moved the river god. He rushed over, shouting, “Qian’er!” and tightly hugged her waist.

Qian’er hadn’t expected him to pounce and quickly tried to shake him off. But their close combat skills were always evenly matched.

In the struggle, Qian’er’s hat fell off.

The villagers and countrywomen who had been moved to tears by the nobleman’s devotion were stunned.

This nobleman, it seemed, had a taste for… this?

Such an ugly man, and he was hugging him like a treasure?

Could it be that his wife, who had fallen into the river, had committed suicide out of despair?