Because the route was changed at the last minute, it was impossible for them to stick to the original plan and stay at a postal station for the night.
With no post station to lodge in, they had no choice but to dine on the wind and sleep under the stars, eventually settling under a simple shelter that offered some protection from the rain.
As soon as Babao and Liujin entered the shelter, their expressions turned sour.
This place was likely built by hunters as a resting spot while on the mountain. As such, aside from a covering overhead, it was completely exposed on all sides, with wind pouring in from every direction.
Worse still, the shelter had nothing inside except a pile of dry straw.
Since Qi Yuan had left so suddenly, she hadn’t instructed them to bring anything. The carriage carried barely any supplies—only a single blanket that had long been stored in a wall compartment, and nothing else.
One of the guards lit a torch and couldn’t help grumbling, “What’s this young lady thinking? We had a perfectly good route, and she insisted on changing it. Now look at us—freezing in the wind!”
A whole night in this condition—they had no idea how they’d get through it.
Though Liujin was just as worried, he still barked at the complainer: “What the h*ll are you spewing?! We’ve been through worse conditions on missions—why weren’t you complaining then? Shut your mouth. Don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking!”
These guards were always like this—grown men who considered women a burden.
They must have thought Qi Yuan was just being troublesome by taking this path.
But he knew that wasn’t the case.
Babao gave Liujin a slap on the back: “Enough! Go boil some water and save your breath.”
The guards scattered to busy themselves.
Liujin asked in a low voice, “Miss Qi is going to stay here?”
Babao wasn’t entirely sure either, but he still walked up to Qi Yuan’s carriage and gently knocked on the wall: “Miss Qi, we’ve arrived. There’s only this one shelter nearby where we can take cover for the night. Looks like there’s going to be heavy snow, so it’s not suitable to keep moving…”
As he spoke, Qi Yuan stepped down from the carriage, wrapped in her cloak.
She took one look at the surroundings, nodded quietly, and said, “It’ll do. We’ll stay here tonight.”
Babao let out a breath of relief, then hesitated, “The conditions are a bit rough…”
Before he could finish, Qi Yuan had already stepped into the shelter. She picked a dry spot, sat down, and said flatly, “It’s not bad. We’ll make do for the night and keep going in the morning.”
Babao hadn’t even finished his warning when he saw her wrapping herself tightly in her cloak and settling against a corner to sleep.
…
Babao and Liujin stood there, dumbfounded.
So the young lady really wasn’t picky.
Even the guard who had been complaining earlier was stunned—just where was this young lady from, to be so unfazed by such harsh conditions?
But seeing that even a young woman could accept it without a word, it set a good example for everyone else.
The strange tension caused by the route change finally dissipated.
After all, it’s annoying when someone makes a mistake and still complains.
But if someone can calmly accept the consequences, that’s something people can forgive.
—
Late into the night, another group was speeding down the main road toward Zhengzhou in Henan.
It started to snow heavily on the way. With the cold intensifying, the secret guards grew worried about Qi Wang’s safety and refused to let him continue traveling.
Only then did Qi Wang reluctantly agree to stop and rest.
Traveling on a snowy night was exhausting. Even though Qi Wang had mentally prepared himself, the cold still got to him—his face had turned a purplish hue from the chill.
They didn’t stay at a post station but chose a regular inn instead. Knowing how precious Qi Wang was, the attendants immediately asked the innkeeper to prepare hot water.
Soon, hot water was brought to his room.
After a bath, Qi Wang finally felt human again. Sitting by the window, he raised an eyebrow and asked his subordinate, “What did Baihu say? Did they find her?”
They had left the city only minutes apart.
And since Qi Yuan was in a carriage and he was on horseback, by logic, he should’ve caught up with her by now.
Before Zhuque could answer, someone knocked at the door.
Qi Wang took a sip of hot tea. “Come in.”
Baihu entered, covered in snow. After bowing, he reported with a grave expression, “Your Highness, we checked along the route, but they didn’t take the main road. They changed direction back at Baoding—they’re not headed for Zhengzhou!”
“What?!” Qi Wang was furious. He flung his teacup straight at Baihu, hitting his forehead with a loud crack. “What the h*ll were you doing?! Useless!”
Blood streamed from Baihu’s forehead, but he didn’t dare wipe it. He immediately knelt and said, “Your Highness, it was our failure.”
What use were apologies?
Qi Wang’s expression darkened. He overturned the table, threw on his cloak, and growled, “Let’s go! Turn back!”
He knew Qi Yuan too well.
She might look sweet and harmless on the outside, but in truth, she was ruthless—never stopping until she got what she wanted.
If she went to such lengths to confuse him with a route change, then the place she wanted to reach must be where Liu Wangfei was hiding.
So she had gotten the location from Qi Zhen after all.
But so what?
Just like in the last life, he would be the ultimate victor!
Let Qi Yuan go ahead and lead the way!
And so his group charged into the storm once more.
—
At daybreak, the snow had stopped. The fire in the shelter still burned brightly. Liujin, who had kept the night watch, turned his head to see Qi Yuan rising and quickly called out, “Miss Qi!”
Qi Yuan hummed in response, looked out at the white-covered landscape, then reached for a broken bowl and poured water from a kettle hung on a frame.
She asked Liujin, “Can we still travel?”
He glanced around at the slowly waking guards and nodded firmly, “Yes!”
Qi Yuan nodded. “Then let’s go.”
Liujin quickly answered and shouted for Babao to get the men ready to move.
But Qi Yuan shook her head. “No. We’re not going forward. You are.”
…
Liujin was stunned. “Miss Qi? What did you just say?”
Qi Yuan smiled. “I said I’m not going further. You will. Now, take my cloak and follow the plan—head straight to Fujian from here.”
…
What in the world?!
Liujin immediately objected. “Miss Qi, His Highness ordered us to protect you all the way!”
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