Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Zhan Mingyue carried the Young Princess on her back, while Li Jiuniang and I supported Xie Rushu.

We stumbled our way up the slope and finally encountered Lu Jin’an, who was out searching for us.

…

An hour later, Lu Jin’an lifted the tent flap.

“The Prince of Qi has a reward for you.”

That night, a sudden torrential rainstorm had broken out, and wolves were on the prowl; the Prince of Qi’s carriage had overturned, just as ours had.

The couple had spent the entire night searching for their daughter, but they had only found a few scraps of her dress. The Princess Consort had cried until she was nearly blind, and in her despair, she had almost thrown herself off a cliff.

When they suddenly learned that their daughter was still alive, they both wept with joy.

After the Young Princess woke up, she told her parents, “A big sister saved me.”

The Prince of Qi decided then and there that he would take this woman as his adopted sister.

At this moment, after Lu Jin’an finished speaking, the four of us fell into a collective silence.

Everyone realized that this was an opportunity.

The Prince of Qi was the Emperor’s eldest son; he had been born with a physical disability and was not particularly favored.

However, his adopted sister would be the Emperor’s adopted daughter.

As long as that status was solidified, it would be impossible for her to enter the palace as a concubine.

For us, this was a life-saving talisman.

Zhan Mingyue shot me a jealous look and muttered under her breath, “She just got lucky.”

Li Jiuniang kept her head down, wiping her beloved hunting knife.

I suddenly spoke up. “Jiuniang, go with Lord Lu to see Your Highness Prince Qi.”

As the words fell, Li Jiuniang froze.

Even Zhan Mingyue turned her head, staring at me in disbelief.

“Why?” she murmured softly.

I walked over to Li Jiuniang’s side, knelt down, and patted her head.

“I know why you eat so much at every meal. It’s because you’re afraid you’ll die soon and never get to eat again.

“It’s alright now. You’re going to be the Emperor’s adopted daughter. You don’t have to stuff yourself until you’re bloated at every meal anymore.”

Li Jiuniang’s eyes grew red.

I pressed the flint into her palm.

“Thank you for the flint. You saved both my life and the Young Princess’s.”