Seventy-four: Exiled to the Frontier

Xueqing had used some unknown method to affix a piece of false flesh to Yan’er’s left cheek, blurredly carved with the character for “slave,” pressing it tightly to her face. At first, the coldness of the false flesh made Yan’er’s hairs stand on end. She reached up to touch her face, feeling the strange texture. “Sister Xueqing, your face…”

“Don’t worry about me. The most important thing now is that you ensure your safety tomorrow. I fear you may not survive the journey to the border, and meet your end before you arrive. Yueyang has arranged everything for you along the way, but nothing is certain. Ou Ruolan and Empress Rong are determined to get rid of you. You must be extremely cautious.” Xueqing’s face was now hidden beneath Yueyang’s silk kerchief, revealing only her eyes.

“What exactly is Empress Rong’s intention?” Yan’er still couldn’t fathom the empress’s plot. Could it be that, as the empress of a nation, she would disregard everything for her daughter’s happiness, even to the point of taking lives?

“We don’t know Empress Rong well, but I don’t think her motives are so simple. Although she is Ou Ruolan’s birth mother, she has lived outside the palace for many years and never cared for Ruolan as other mothers do. Instead, it’s Emperor Jing who dotes on Ou Ruolan. As for this matter, we don’t know what Empress Rong’s purpose is. I only remember that she returns to the palace only in times of crisis for Panlong Nation, and Emperor Jing treats her with great respect. It must be said, Empress Rong is indeed a remarkable woman.” Xueqing always spoke of “we,” and Yan’er understood she was speaking on behalf of Pan Yueyang.

“She is the empress, wielding power over all the women in the realm. If she wishes to eliminate me, it is effortless. Hmph, why should I compromise my dignity for a sliver of life?” Yan’er was proud, gazing at Xueqing’s face, concealed beneath the silk kerchief.

“It’s said Empress Rong can divine the future, almost like a living immortal. We’ve never seen it ourselves—it’s just rumor. Don’t pay attention to these tales.” Xueqing pulled Yan’er’s hand toward her. “Yueyang is very worried about you.”

The mention of Pan Yueyang made Yan’er stiffen, and she quickly withdrew her hand. “My fate is mine, not Heaven’s.”

Xueqing shook her head. It seemed Yueyang’s place in Yan’er’s heart was fading. With a sigh, she said, “I must leave now. Take care of yourself.”

“Sister Xueqing, your face…” Yan’er had never expected the usually aloof Xueqing to be the one who rescued her at a critical moment. The warmth and coldness of human nature was truly difficult to grasp.

“I’ve already notified Mubai. I’m sure he’ll arrive soon.” Xueqing patted Yan’er’s shoulder, smiled gently beneath the silk kerchief, and left the cell, locking the door behind her without sparing Yan’er another glance.

Yan’er was bound to a wooden cross, her body numb, but the pain in her heart was deeper than any physical numbness. Pan Yueyang—I misjudged you. I thought you were noble and upright, but you are just an ordinary, timid soul.

Time passed slowly, and soon dawn broke. Yan’er had not slept all night, her mind racing through the events of the past months. She looked up at the tall window bars above her cell.

Creak—

The cell door opened at some unknown hour. Yan’er gathered her thoughts, and watched coldly as the women from yesterday appeared before her once more.

“Let’s go.” It was still the leader who spoke, surveying Yan’er up and down before her gaze settled on Yan’er’s face. Yan’er instinctively lowered her head and turned away, which made the woman quite pleased. She signaled her subordinates to untie Yan’er and led the way forward.

They shoved Yan’er roughly to the ground; all she could see was a row of tall black boots. She stood and brushed the dust from her clothes. The heavens were unkind, for just as her luck worsened, snow began to fall, and the biting wind lashed her thin body. She pulled her cloak tighter, a glaringly ostentatious cloak that belonged to Empress Rong.

The five guards said nothing, only fastening shackles to Yan’er’s wrists. One guard led her forward.

“Sir, could you slow down a bit?” Yan’er stumbled among the guards, forced to jog to keep pace. At this rate, she would die of exhaustion before reaching their destination.

“Once we’re a bit farther from the palace, we’ll slow down. For now, you must endure, miss.” The oldest guard spoke in a calm, steady voice.

Yan’er immediately understood the implication and nodded with a smile, enduring her discomfort as she continued to stumble along.

Baili Mubai glanced at the sky—damn, why had it suddenly begun to snow heavily? He wiped his face, feeling the exhaustion from expending his inner strength. Just over this hill and he would reach the capital. Baili Mubai did not slow his pace, instead summoning another surge of energy to quicken his journey.

Upon entering the capital, Baili Mubai headed straight for the General’s Mansion. Unkempt as he was, he cared little for the disdainful looks of the townsfolk as he passed.

A sharp whistle sounded, and Baili Mubai halted abruptly—the General’s Mansion was just ahead. He turned suddenly into an alley.

“Senior Sister!” Baili Mubai recognized Xueqing immediately, despite her face being covered. “Why are you hiding your face?”

Xueqing smiled, pulling down the silk kerchief to reveal the character for “slave” written in blood on her left cheek. Seeing Baili Mubai’s shocked expression, she leisurely covered her face again.

“Who did this to you?” Baili Mubai’s eyes blazed as he grabbed Xueqing’s shoulder.

“This was meant for Yan’er. I merely took her punishment.” Xueqing pulled his hand from her shoulder, her gentle eyes comforting him.

“What happened?” Baili Mubai was shaken at the mention of Yan’er.

Xueqing briefly explained what had transpired, then handed him a horse she had prepared. “There’s food and some silver. Yan’er and her escorts have just left. Go with her.”

Baili Mubai stroked the horse’s mane. “Senior Sister, Yan’er will be grateful to you for life.”

“I don’t seek anyone’s gratitude. Remember, I am Yueyang’s subordinate. We serve our master without counting the cost.” Xueqing gripped his hand tightly.

“I am not his subordinate.” Baili Mubai, knowing her intent, coldly withdrew his hand and mounted the horse.

“Take care,” Xueqing called after him as he whipped the horse, and watched his figure disappear into the distance.

From afar, Baili Mubai saw Yan’er’s frail silhouette. Five guards pulled at her chain, her head bowed as the freezing wind billowed her cloak. Baili Mubai rode forward. “Hyah!”

After a few lashes, the five guards fell to the ground with cries of pain. Yan’er crouched in fear, thinking assassins had come for her even before leaving the capital.

“Spare us, hero! We are escorting a prisoner to the border under imperial orders. Please allow us to fulfill our duty,” one guard pleaded, clutching his bleeding chest.

“Hmph!” Baili Mubai twirled his whip.

The voice was so familiar—Yan’er looked up suddenly. “Mubai!”

Baili Mubai jumped off his horse and rushed to Yan’er, ready to unlock her chains.

“Don’t, Mubai. These guards are not bad people.” Yan’er stopped him, glancing around. “They’re Pan Yueyang’s men.”

The five guards immediately knelt. “So the hero is a friend of General Pan. He instructed us to care for this young lady along the journey.” Realizing Baili Mubai’s purpose, the guards understood Yan’er was no ordinary prisoner.

“Get up! Unlock her chains.” Baili Mubai’s heart ached at the sight of Yan’er’s wrists, rubbed raw and bleeding.

“We mustn’t, hero. We haven’t left the capital yet. These precautions are for her protection.”

Yan’er nodded, and Baili Mubai mounted his horse again. “Go on. I’ll protect you from the shadows.”

The guards quickly rose, escorting Yan’er onward. Baili Mubai followed behind at a distance.

Not far outside the capital, the guards unlocked Yan’er’s chains. One hurried to the woods and pulled out a carriage. “Miss, please get in. There are cotton clothes inside—do change quickly.”

Yan’er nodded and jumped into the carriage, where it was much warmer than outside. The curtains, padded with cotton, kept out much of the cold. Though the carriage had been outside all night, and the warmth was limited, it was still the best Yan’er could hope for. She quickly donned the cotton clothing, feeling warmth seep into her body.

The guards, seeing Yan’er safely inside, swiftly took up the reins, and the carriage sped forward. “Miss, we may encounter ambushes along the way. We must hurry. Please hold on.”

Yan’er clutched her stomach, queasy from the carriage’s jostling. The sensation within her was all too familiar...

There was a small bed in the carriage with blankets. Yan’er wanted to lie down and rest, but the speed made her wary. She could only sit on the bed, feeling another wave of nausea. Unable to bear the jolting, she opened the window, letting in the icy air, which seemed to help. Gripping the window, she watched the snow swirling outside. Suddenly, she caught sight of Baili Mubai following behind on horseback. With him nearby, her heart felt much more at ease.

Recalling these past days—from her miscarriage, Pan Yueyang’s constant presence brought her happiness and sweetness, making her almost forget her resentment. Then came Ou Ruolan’s scheming, pushing her to the center of the storm, followed by Empress Rong’s appearance... Yan’er suddenly froze. Since her miscarriage, she had not had her monthly cycle. Could it be?

Could she be pregnant again?