While Zhao Zhi and Cui Shenghe were trapped in the stone cave, Shen Hanshan, along with Du Heng and several accompanying guards, disguised themselves as merchants and traveled through Chunsheng County. A few days later, they arrived at Chaoyu Mountain.
"Your Highness, are you really sure His Highness is at Chaoyu Mountain?" Du Heng asked, puzzled, throughout the journey.
Shen Hanshan looked up at the towering Chaoyu Mountain, slowly unfolding a map. "This is merely speculation." Once, when Zhao Zhi was in confinement after childbirth, he saw her looking at a map through a half-open window.
Zhao Zhi didn't have time to properly put the map away, so he simply placed it under her pillow. While she was sound asleep that night, he secretly took out the map and made a copy. In addition, he already knew that Cui Shenghe, the sworn brother Zhao Zhi had recognized in Daxuan, was actually Yun Li, the new emperor of the Yun Dynasty, and according to secret reports, the whereabouts of the Yun Dynasty's real imperial seal were still unknown.
Thinking of this, Shen Hanshan turned his gaze back to the map in his hand and said in a deep voice, "Those Yun Dynasty people who were chasing after Zhizhi earlier, they tried every means to get the pear wood box in her hands. I suspect that the box may contain clues to the imperial seal."
Upon hearing this, Du Heng frowned. Although he had many questions in his mind, he also knew that this was not the time to discuss them in detail.
“Since Your Highness has this speculation, we must find His Highness and Young Master Cui as soon as possible, lest things get complicated.” Du Heng gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, his tone revealing an unwavering determination.
Shen Hanshan nodded, carefully rolled up the map, and put it into his robes. He turned to his followers and instructed, "Everyone must be careful. Chaoyu Mountain is treacherous with many dangerous rapids. Be on your best, stay alert, and don't fall behind!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
The group followed the winding mountain road, their feet glistening with morning dew, heading deeper into Yushan Mountain.
Ancient trees towered on both sides of the mountain road, vines entwined around them, and the occasional chirping of unknown birds added to the mystery and tranquility.
As they ventured deeper, the mountain path became increasingly rugged and difficult to traverse. Shen Hanshan and Du Heng led the way, frequently turning back to check on the group and ensure no one had fallen behind.
Chaoyu Mountain is full of water. The group carefully stepped on the rocks and crossed one stream after another. The sound of rushing waterfalls in the distance could be heard from time to time.
The group trudged along the winding mountain path, the morning light filtering through the dense canopy and dappling the damp stone path, the air filled with the fresh scent of earth and leaves.
Suddenly, a flock of birds took flight from the woods on one side, their wings flapping and breaking the surrounding tranquility.
Everyone felt a chill and stopped in their tracks, looking warily in the direction from which the sound came.
Shen Hanshan frowned, his hand unconsciously gripping the hilt of the sword at his waist. Years of battlefield experience made him keenly aware of an unusual aura.
Just then, a large, spotted tigress slowly emerged from the depths of the forest. Her eyes gleamed with wariness and hostility, and her belly was slightly swollen, clearly indicating that she was pregnant.
"Your Highness, a tiger!" Du Heng's voice trembled with fear. In his entire life, Du Heng had fought alongside the prince on the battlefield, killing enemies with swift and fearless strokes, but he was afraid of tigers.
The scene before them caused everyone present to hold their breath, and the atmosphere instantly became extremely tense.
"Everyone be careful, do not make any rash moves!" Shen Hanshan whispered, while signaling everyone to remain calm and retreat slowly to avoid provoking the other party.
However, the tigress did not seem to intend to let the intruders off easily. She growled and approached step by step, each step causing the ground to tremble slightly.
As it took one step forward, everyone else took one step back. Meanwhile...
Upon seeing this, Du Heng quickly stepped in front of Shen Hanshan, his long sword flashing coldly, ready to deal with any possible attack.
But Shen Hanshan gently pressed down on his shoulder, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
"It's pregnant, let's try not to hurt it," he said in a low voice. If he hadn't personally experienced the pain of Zhao Zhi's ten months of pregnancy and childbirth, Shen Hanshan might have already ordered everyone to rush forward and kill the tiger.
"Your Highness, even if we release it, it might not release us! If you hesitate any longer, we'll become its lunch today!" Du Heng looked into the tiger's terrifying eyes and felt the ground tremble, his back breaking out in a cold sweat.
Ahead, the tigress seemed to sense Shen Hanshan's goodwill, or perhaps intimidated by his aura, and stopped in her tracks, staring intently at them with her wary eyes.
Shen Hanshan slowly took a step forward, raising his hands to show he was harmless, and said to the mother tiger in a gentle but firm voice, "We have no intention of disturbing you; we are just looking for our lost family. Please rest assured, we will take a detour and will not harm you or your cubs."
Miraculously, the tigress seemed to understand Shen Hanshan's words. The hostility in her eyes gradually dissipated. She slowly turned around and disappeared back into the dense forest, leaving only a series of low and long tiger roars that echoed in the valley.
"Oh dear, my heart is about to jump out of my chest—" Du Heng watched the tiger's departing figure, bent over, put his hands on his knees, and his legs trembled involuntarily.
The others were also still in shock, their faces ashen, their fear beyond words.
"Your Highness, you possess the aura of a king, which is why even tigers show you respect and dare not act rashly!" A guard accompanying you said with a smirk, feeling both relieved and flattered.
Upon hearing this, Shen Hanshan's face darkened, and he sternly rebuked him: "Such presumptuous words must never be uttered again! Do you know how much trouble these words will bring upon you if they get out?"
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