Chapter 7 "I'll go out and lure them away."...

The rumbling of wheels echoed across the rugged stone path as the carriage slowly made its way into the mountains. The wheels crunched over fallen leaves, startling a few crows into flight. Once they crossed the deep and treacherous Wolf Bone Ridge, they would officially enter the northern frontier. The carriage curtains had been replaced with thick, airtight felt, and the corners had been reinforced with leather, but listening to the howling wind outside, one could still feel the chill seeping in from all directions.

Fengmian's hands were hidden inside a crimson feather-lined rabbit fur crane cloak, holding a silver hand warmer with auspicious cloud patterns, and a small stove was placed at her feet for warmth.

She had been traveling a long way these past few days and had fallen slightly ill again. Fortunately, the physician checked her pulse daily, and she recovered after a little rest. But it still terrified her two maids. The journey was long, and what if something happened to them?

So as soon as they noticed the weather was getting colder, Firefly and Willow began to worry about keeping Fengmian warm. At this moment, she was not cold at all; in fact, she was almost sweating.

"It's already spring, yet it's still so cold in the north? Listen to the wind, it's whistling so loudly." Liu Ying pressed her ear against the felt curtain, clicking her tongue in amazement.

Wu Liu pulled Feng Mian's crane cloak collar tighter, almost burying Feng Mian's fair face in the rabbit fur embroidery at the collar. She raised her chin to reveal her mouth, so as not to ingest a mouthful of rabbit fur when she spoke.

"Springtime in northern Xinjiang is different from other places. Sandstorms are commonplace. There are also cold snaps in spring. As the saying goes, 'In the north, the snow is three feet deep in April.' We might even see another snowfall."

While they were talking, she quietly placed the hand warmer aside, concealed by her crane cloak.

It's so hot!

"It'll snow again!" Liu Ying's eyes lit up, then she looked at Feng Mian with worry, "But the princess's health..."

Feng Mian said helplessly, "The physician said that I only caught a slight cold due to the long journey and the sudden change in weather. My body is not so weak that I would fall over at the slightest breeze. You don't need to worry about me. Besides, it will be warm in June when summer arrives."

"The princess really didn't say a word about who was greedy and secretly ordered ice cream at the post station?"

Wu Liu's casual remark drew Liu Ying's agreement: "That's right, that's right. Doesn't the princess have any idea about her own body? We servants have to keep a close eye on her!"

Even after three days of debating this topic, Feng Mian was still at a disadvantage, so she simply changed the subject: "How much longer until we reach Yunzhong County?"

"There is a sentry post a hundred meters away. After passing it, you will officially enter the territory of the Northern Frontier. After another four or five days, you will reach Yunzhong County."

After listening to Wu Liu's words and hearing the howling wind outside the carriage, Feng Mian thought for a moment and said, "There's no rush. The wind is so strong today, let's stop and rest for a while, and make a fire to warm ourselves up..."

Before he could finish speaking, the carriage suddenly stopped.

Feng Mian's heart skipped a beat, and she felt a vague sense of unease.

The sound of horses' hooves approached the carriage, followed by Lu Mingzhu's gentle voice: "Princess, don't panic. There seems to be something unusual ahead. The commander has already sent people to investigate."

He had barely finished speaking when another hoofbeat came to a sudden stop beside the carriage.

The commander of the Luanyi Guard pushed past Lu Mingzhu, lowered his voice, and said urgently, "Princess, there are bandits robbing the road ahead. We need to take another route."

Having said that, he was about to spur his horse away when he heard Feng Mian's clear voice, "Wait!"

Feng Mian flung open the window, leaned out, and stared intently at the commander, saying in a deep voice, "What exactly is the situation? Report back truthfully."

The commander had no choice but to report: "The bandits have surrounded a caravan and are currently in a standoff."

"How can we just stand by and watch a caravan perish and abandon it?" Lu Mingzhu blurted out in shock.

The commander glanced at him coldly and said, "Protecting the princess's safety is our duty."

Lu Mingzhu wanted to say something, but after opening his mouth, he ultimately remained silent, only glancing at Feng Mian with a complicated expression. With the emperor's orders on their minds, protecting the princess seemed to be their top priority.

Feng Mian replied, "Lord Lu is right. I request that the Commander lead his men to assist us."

“Your Highness, you may not know this place, but it is named Wolf Bone Ridge because the bandits here are like wolves, ferocious and cunning. Although they fight individually, they will help each other in times of trouble. If the pack of wolves were to tear you apart, we might not be able to guarantee your safety.” The commander was already somewhat impatient, but he still spoke to Feng Mian with great seriousness, “The bandits are driven by bloodlust and will not care about the title of Your Highness!”

“Our food, clothing, shelter and transportation all depend on the labor of the people. Now that we see the people in distress, there is no reason for us to ignore it,” Feng Mian insisted. But he also understood the commander’s thoughts and continued, “I understand the commander’s intentions and will definitely protect ourselves. My uncle has transferred a thousand men from the Imperial Guard and another thousand elite soldiers from the Golden Guard. That is enough for us to split into two groups.”

The commander was taken aback: "What does the princess mean?"

"Abandon the baggage. Commander, lead eight hundred elite soldiers to rescue the people, the rest will escort us away via a detour. Assemble at the sentry post ahead."

Her decisive words stunned both Lu Mingzhu and the commander. Princess Qingping, usually so delicate and frail, actually had such a resolute side?

Feng Mian thought they were reluctant to part with the dowry, but she was reluctant too, after all, it was a treasure she had painstakingly gathered from all over the place, and she would have to rely on it to make a living in the future. However, she said: "Human life is more important than treasure. We will bring people back to collect it after we are safe. Do not hesitate."

The commander immediately clasped his hands in a salute: "Your subordinate obeys!"

The commander immediately spurred his horse to the rear and issued military orders. Lu Mingzhu stood still for a moment, then turned his horse around to align it with the carriage, and solemnly said, "Your subject will serve the princess with his life!"

Feng Mianchong nodded slightly, her unease undiminished; even her right eyelid twitched slightly. She patted her chest to reassure herself: a twitching left eye means good fortune, a twitching right eye means nonsense!

*

The commander left behind the deputy envoy who knew the way, and led the rest of the group, escorting Feng Mian's carriage, to another passable route through Wolf Bone Ridge. Few knew of this route, and even fewer had traveled it, as it was narrower and steeper, making it difficult to traverse. Had they not temporarily abandoned their baggage, they too would have struggled to pass.

But there is one advantage: even bandits are unwilling to rob people on this road.

Feng Mian wanted to abandon the carriage the whole way, but was persuaded by both sides and had to give up for the time being. However, after traveling only a few miles, the carriage suddenly stopped. Feng Mian almost fell out due to inertia, but fortunately, Liu Ying and Wu Liu were watching her and caught her immediately. The hand warmer at her feet tilted and rolled to the side of the curtain.

"What's going on?" Liu Ying was about to lift the curtain to go out and see when Feng Mian quickly grabbed her sleeve, shook his head, and listened quietly to the commotion outside.

The sound of swords being drawn was particularly clear.

The deputy commander of the Imperial Guards spoke in a deep and solemn voice: "How dare you! Who is it that dares to block the princess's carriage!"

"I don't care what kind of entourage you have. Once you're on my turf, you'd better leave some money to save your lives!" a rough, hoarse voice said disdainfully.

Liu Ying turned pale with fright: "Didn't you say that bandits rarely appear on this road?"

It's indeed strange. This road is steep, and one wrong step could send you tumbling down the cliff to your death. Bandits are after money, but they won't risk their lives.

However, in the blink of an eye, the sounds of swords and spears clashing outside resounded.

The horses pulling the carriage pounded their hooves in alarm, causing the carriage to sway violently from side to side. Liu Ying, always more timid, let out a low scream, tears streaming uncontrollably down her cheeks. Feng Mian, holding Liu Ying's hand in one hand and Wu Liu's in the other, tried to calmly reassure them, "Don't be afraid. The Luan Yi Guards are all elites selected from the Imperial Guards; these mere bandits..."

A flash of bright, cold light appeared, and the felt curtain was ripped open in the middle.

The firelight and the glint of blades mingled as a pair of fierce eyes peered through the opening for a moment, then leaped with delight: "The princess is here!"

As the man was speaking, he tried to climb onto the carriage. Before Feng Mian could think, he grabbed the overturned stove at his feet and smashed it away.

At the same time, the voices of the Imperial Guards rang out from outside: "Protect the Princess!"

The commotion around the carriage suddenly intensified, with knives slashing against the ornate frame. Feng Mian suddenly realized: "They're not so audacious as to dare hijack the princess's entourage; they're after me..."

“They came prepared and swarmed forward, and the Imperial Guards were no match for them. But if we can break up their forces, we might still have a chance to fight back.”

Wu Liu frowned: "What does the princess mean by this?"

“I’ll go out and distract them.”

Liu Ying exclaimed in alarm: "There are bandits everywhere outside! Does the princess have a death wish?!"

“I have a way to protect myself.” Feng Mian touched the hidden dart in his sleeve. “Have you forgotten what the Crown Princess sent?”

After saying that, she pulled out a small dagger from her lower back. "And this too."

The dagger was plain except for a ring of gemstones inlaid on the hilt, but when it was drawn, it gleamed with a cold light and the blade was sharp.

This was a gift her father gave her when she was four years old. It was her first and only time with her father. He took her out of the palace for three whole days, and only on the eve of his departure for another campaign did he reluctantly send her back to the palace.

At that time, she cried and begged her father to take her with him, so that she could accompany him to protect their country.

Her father chuckled, a smile of mixed relief and reluctance spreading across his handsome face. He then gave her the small dagger, telling her to first learn to protect herself and those around her before talking about joining him in defending their country. He also promised to return when she could carve a complete and beautiful pear blossom on wood with the dagger.

But just as she was carving pear blossoms onto every pillar of the Summer Moon Palace, she received the news that her father would never return.

Feng Mian remained silent, even the Empress Dowager muttered that she might be cold-hearted. Then she turned around and slipped out of the palace alone, running twenty miles in one breath to find her father. She was found and brought back in Qishan.

During that escape, Feng Mian didn't find her father, and she also lost more than twenty lives in the Shuyue Palace. Only then did she realize that her wrong step had harmed not just herself, but first and foremost those who cared for her.

"I won't let you get hurt because of me again." Feng Mian gripped the hilt of the dagger tightly, and gently pinched Liu Ying's cheek reassuringly. "I'll go out first in a bit..."