Chapter 11: Arrival at the Inn
Prince?
Prince Jin!
Unexpectedly, Prince Jin had also arrived outside Anzhou City!
The winter sunlight filtered through the thick carriage curtains, yet it brought no warmth—only a creeping chill that rose along her back.
Xia Qiqi sat upright with her hands crossed over her chest, her face betraying no emotion.
But suddenly, she recalled what Steward Yan had said before she left the Prime Minister’s residence.
Steward Yan mentioned that Prince Jin, Chu Hanxiao, was twenty-two this year, born of the Empress alongside the current Crown Prince, and unparalleled in nobility.
Ordinarily, he enjoyed the Emperor’s highest favor and was the most handsome among all the princes.
Yet despite this, no noblewoman in the capital dared to marry him!
The reason was that he commanded the imperial guards of the Daliang Kingdom and had a violent temper, earning him the fearful nickname “The Grim Reaper” among the court officials.
Though Prince Jin had gone to his fiefdom, he remained unmarried. Seeing that his younger royal brothers were approaching marriageable age, the Emperor reluctantly arranged a marriage, choosing the eldest legitimate daughter of the Left Prime Minister’s household, Liu Mingyu.
The Prime Minister’s family was a distinguished clan, and Liu Mingyu was worthy even of being Crown Princess.
Yet she had been bestowed upon this “Grim Reaper,” making it clear that Liu Yuanqing’s so-called affection for Liu Mingyu was somewhat hollow.
Of course, none of this concerned Xia Qiqi anymore.
Her only thought was to escape amidst tonight’s chaos—that was the right course.
Still, she had to find a way to bring along some of the dowry. After all, she had worked for Liu Yuanqing for nearly half a month; asking for some payment was not unreasonable.
“I heard Miss Liu was attacked en route. Is she unharmed?”
Judging by the voice, it must be Prince Jin himself asking. Yet Xia Qiqi found the voice oddly familiar, as if she had heard it somewhere before.
Liu Yichen replied, “Your Highness, my eldest sister was fortunate not to be injured.”
Prince Jin asked, “Mr. Liu, was your eldest sister alone in the carriage?”
Liu Yichen looked puzzled but answered truthfully, “The carriage contained my eldest sister and her personal maid.”
“Uh...” Prince Jin’s tone suddenly seemed much lighter. “Yu Chi!”
“At your command!”
“Escort Miss Liu to the inn to rest.”
“Yes!”
As dusk fell, the carriages finally arrived at an inn within Anzhou City.
---
Upon entering the room, Aunt Wu and the four accompanying maids were already waiting inside.
Xia Qiqi found it strange. Liu Yichen had said taking the mountain path would get her there a day earlier than the bridal procession, yet the procession had arrived first?
This added another obstacle to her planned escape tonight!
Seeing Xia Qiqi and Chun Tao enter, Aunt Wu approached Xia Qiqi and lowered her voice, “Miss...”
Knowing she had something to say, Xia Qiqi instructed Chun Tao, “Take them downstairs to rest first.”
Chun Tao agreed and led the maids out.
Xiao Ai slipped from Xia Qiqi’s arms to the floor, then vanished in an instant.
Aunt Wu said, “Miss, officials from the Ministry of Rites just delivered the hairpins and the gilded bridal veils as reminders for the dowry.”
Xia Qiqi nodded lightly.
Since the original Miss had never married, Xia Qiqi didn’t understand much of what Aunt Wu was saying.
A flicker of disdain crossed Aunt Wu’s eyes. “What I mean is, I need your seal so I can retrieve the gifts to return as a token.”
After all, Aunt Wu was a lowly maid and didn’t even understand the basic etiquette of a noble family’s wedding!
Xia Qiqi gave a faint “oh” and took the seal from her sleeve, handing it over. “The dowry was unharmed during the attack today, right?”
Her voice was calm and indifferent, much like Liu Mingyu’s.
“The true dowry was sent to Anzhou yesterday. Today’s attack only targeted empty boxes!” Aunt Wu’s expression held a trace of pride. “In my opinion, only the Prime Minister could be so calculating!”
No wonder!
Empty boxes would, of course, move faster!
If they traveled day and night, they could indeed arrive a day earlier than Xia Qiqi, who took the mountain path.
The bait was still in place!
Just like Liu Yuanqing!
Aunt Wu took the seal and the dowry list and hurried to the inn’s storage to retrieve the return gifts.
Xia Qiqi wanted to quietly follow Aunt Wu to the storeroom, but just as she stood, Liu Yichen entered.
“Um, that...” Liu Yichen hesitated, unsure how to address her, but finally bit his lip and called out, “Xia Qiqi!”
Xia Qiqi’s heart fluttered nervously, and her voice lost its confidence. “Brother Chen, who are you calling?”
How could he recognize her?
Even Aunt Wu, who had met her before, hadn’t recognized her.
What basis did Liu Yichen have to identify her as Xia Qiqi?
“I know it’s you, Xia Qiqi!” Liu Yichen was still just a boy, his voice filled with grievance as he whispered, “I won’t expose you.”
Xia Qiqi shot him a warning glance, signaling that there were ears nearby, and sternly said, “Brother Chen, be careful what you say!”
Only then did Liu Yichen realize it wasn’t that Xia Qiqi refused to acknowledge him, but that this was not the Prime Minister’s residence and caution was necessary.
Moreover, Xia Qiqi was now nominally the fiancée of Prince Jin, and after the recent assassination attempt, her residence was surely guarded by secret agents.
A faint smile finally appeared on his slightly tanned face. He blinked and then said aloud, “Eldest sister, I’m returning to the Prime Minister’s residence tomorrow. This is the list of dowries my sisters prepared, specially brought for your review.”
“Oh? Let me see.”
Liu Yichen stepped closer, respectfully presenting the list, and whispered so only they could hear, “Xia Qiqi, is it really you?”
Xia Qiqi smiled faintly and nodded. “My sisters are truly thoughtful; the dowry is quite generous.”
“Did my father force you?” Liu Yichen’s eyes darkened. For the first time, he stood so close to her. He ought to have been happy!
Three years ago, the day Xia Qiqi entered the Prime Minister’s mansion was also the day Liu Yichen was acknowledged as the Prime Minister’s illegitimate son.
His biological mother had been the Prime Minister’s concubine. On the day she gave birth, the wife Wang found out and sent many maids and servants to cause trouble at her quarters.
Frightened, she suffered hemorrhaging after giving birth and died.
Wang then hired a fortune teller to tell the Prime Minister that the boy was ill-fated and would harm his parents.
Thus, Liu Yuanqing left him to be raised outside.
Until three years ago, when Liu Yuanqing learned the boy was not only talented but skilled in martial arts, he acknowledged him and brought him back under Wang’s name.
Wang was well aware of the true cause of the boy’s mother’s death, so she only consented to grant him the status of a concubine’s son.
That day, fatefully, Xia Qiqi, a lowly maid who had just lost her way, met Liu Yichen.
From then on, Liu Yichen had his first friend.
The thought that Xia Qiqi would marry into Jin City in place of his eldest sister tomorrow made his heart ache inexplicably.
“It’s my own choice.”
Xia Qiqi’s tone was flat, as if speaking of someone else’s affairs, her eyes void of excess emotion.
“Xia Qiqi, I’ll help you escape!”