Just as Xingxing was about to speak, Zhu Qingruo gestured for silence, then quickly threw out a hidden weapon. The suspicious figure could no longer hide and fell out from behind the tree.
Zhu Qingruo appeared immediately, about to draw her sword.
"Ouch, no, no, no, don't hit me! I'm not a bad person, I know the princess!" Zhang Xiantao cried out in pain and immediately begged for mercy.
Huh!
Xingxing recognized the voice, and when she got closer, she was surprised. "It's you, Zhang Xiantao! What are you doing here? What are you doing following us?"
Does this guy even know that she almost lost her life? Just two days ago, they had experienced the Red Maiden incident, and this guy was following them while wearing the same bright red clothes.
If she were mistaken for a matchmaker and slashed with a sword, should we say she was innocent or that she was just unlucky?
"Your Highness, it's me, Zhang Xiantao. I'm so glad you still recognize me." Zhang Xiantao cried tears of joy.
Xingxing's lips twitched. She was already seven years old and had a very good memory. How long had it been since the palace banquet? Of course she recognized her. Besides, the only person who liked to wear red was Hong Niangzi.
"Get up, what are you kneeling for?" Xingxing sighed helplessly. "Tell me why you're here, what do you want?"
Zhang Xiantao tried to rush over and hug Xingxing's legs, but Xingxing dodged and didn't let her hug her. She stammered, "It's no fun staying in the capital, so I ran out to play. I didn't expect to run into you guys on the way. I... I only just found you. I was afraid you wouldn't want me to follow, so I had to sneak along."
"Are you all alone?" Zhu Lin asked with a half-smile.
"Yes, I came out alone. There are so many refugees on the road, it's so dangerous. Can you take me with you? I promise I won't cause any trouble." Zhang Xiantao looked at the boy with hopeful eyes.
The young man glanced at the bend in the road not far away and bluntly exposed her, "I see that Miss Zhang brought a lot of servants with her, and even a carriage. You should walk on your own and not get in our way."
Zhang Xiantao choked. She did bring two maids who knew martial arts and a bodyguard who had run away. Her mother had chosen a family to arrange a marriage for her, but the engagement still needed her father's consent.
The letter from home has already been sent to the frontier, but her father's reply has not yet arrived. It is estimated that her father agrees to the marriage, but Zhang Xiantao does not want to get engaged yet. She told her mother, but her mother said that she was being childish and that the matter of engagement should be decided by her parents.
Zhang Xiantao was furious. Why couldn't she decide her own marriage? Since her mother wouldn't let her interfere, she would run away from home. With the groom away, she would see if the marriage could still be arranged.
However, she didn't tell Zhu Lin and Xingxing about this. They are both still young. Why would she bring up marriage with them?
"We've known each other for a while, and since we're on the same road, let's look out for each other," Zhang Xiantao said, her voice growing softer as she spoke.
“Miss Zhang says she’s going the same way as us, so tell me where you’re going and where we’re going?” Zhu Lin wasn’t going to put up with her; not just anyone could be protected by them.
"...It's just going to Xiyan City, right? This official road eventually leads to Xiyan Prefecture." Zhang Xiantao's eyes darted around; she was just guessing.
Although she guessed correctly, Zhu Lin didn't plan to take her along. "Do you know where we're going next?"
This is not easy to guess. This official road will pass through many prefectural cities and county towns, as well as many villages and towns, all of which she has never been to before. How could she know the names of those places? She only knows that it eventually leads to Xiyan City.
Finally, Zhu Lin and his group drove the carriage ahead, while Zhang Xiantao rode in her own carriage, with her bodyguards driving, following closely behind.
Out of respect for Xingxing, Zhu Lin didn't deliberately shake her off. When they stopped to stay overnight in the next village, Zhang Xiantao also stayed overnight in that village, and Zhu Lin didn't interfere much.
Zhang Xiantao kept testing the limits of the men in white. Seeing that they did not stop her from getting close to the princess, she was overjoyed and took every opportunity to speak to Xingxing.
Xingxing thought she was a bit noisy, but she didn't find it annoying. However, she said, "Don't always call me princess, just call me Xingxing. We can't reveal our identities when we're out and about."
“Star? I remember your name is Linglong?” Zhang Xiantao asked in confusion.
"This is the nickname my parents gave me, and I'm used to it," Xingxing explained simply, not wanting to say more.
Zhang Xiantao wanted to ask more, but the boy blocked her with his hand and glanced at her indifferently, "Xingxing is going to have dinner, she doesn't have time to chat with you."
"Hehe, yes, it's getting late, and I'm hungry too. I won't bother you any longer. I'll go back and eat, and then I'll come find Gong and Xingxing to play with." Zhang Xiantao made the appointment with a sense of satisfaction.
"I'm going to shower and go to bed after dinner, I don't have time to play with you." Xingxing waved her hand, indicating that she shouldn't come over after she left, she didn't have time.
Zhu Qingruo clicked her tongue, "This Miss Zhang is really a natural at making friends. She looks young, but her lightness skill is quite impressive. I didn't even notice her suddenly getting close during the day."
Zhu Changge nodded and said, "If she were a boy, she would definitely be able to fight on the battlefield like her father and brothers in the future. She would be a rare military talent. It's a pity that there is no precedent for appointing female generals in our dynasty. This girl is good at martial arts and very brave. She actually dared to run away from the capital and come to such a poor and barren place as the Northwest."
"But what is she going to Xiyancheng for? Could it be that her purpose is the same as ours?" Zhu Qingruo asked, puzzled.
Xingxing shoveled a mouthful of rice into her mouth and said in a slightly muffled voice, "When she comes over to talk to me again tomorrow, I'll ask her."
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