Chapter 13: The Prince Hosts a Banquet

As night deepened, the relay station in Anzhou City was brightly lit and bustling with noise.

In the most luxurious VIP suite, Prince Jin, Chu Hanxiao, stood with his hands behind his back, gazing out the window. Behind him stood Yu Chi, the captain of the Prince Jin’s personal guard.

Yu Chi bowed and reported, "Reporting to Your Highness, there were indeed two people in Miss Liu’s carriage at the time: Miss Liu herself and her maid, Chun Tao."

"Chun Tao?"

Chu Hanxiao’s brows furrowed slightly. The image of the clever, charming eyes of the woman on the roof flickered before him once again. He didn't know why, but he had already lost count of how many times those eyes had haunted his thoughts. Hearing the name "Chun Tao" now, he felt a flicker of doubt. Could that woman, who possessed such exquisite beauty and a spirit so vibrant, really have such a mundane name?

"Yes, that is her name, Chun Tao!" Yu Chi found it strange. Why was His Highness suddenly so anxious to find a mere maid of the prospective Princess? Could she be an informant the Prince had planted in the Prime Minister’s mansion?

When the bridal procession arrived yesterday, the Prince had gone to look for her once. Unfortunately, the person he was looking for was not among them. Later, when he heard that the prospective Princess and her maid had encountered assassins and were forced to take a mountain path, the typically aloof Prince had stayed awake all night at the relay station. Today, he had even personally ridden out to meet the procession just to confirm that the maid was still alive.

Yu Chi was almost certain that the maid must be in possession of something the Prince was desperate to obtain.

"Pass the order down: I will host a banquet tonight to thank those from the Prime Minister’s mansion who escorted the bride."

If the Prince hosted a banquet, those escorting the bride would not dare refuse! He had to clarify with that girl in person—he was the Prince of Jin, and he certainly did not need any medicine!

"Understood!" Yu Chi accepted the order.

As Xia Qiqi and Chun Tao sorted through the belongings they intended to take for their escape, Xia Qiqi realized there were far too many things she wanted to keep. She was particularly fond of the five-pheasant crown, placing it into her bundle several times, only to take it out again because it was too heavy.

"Chun Tao, let’s just take those few pearls," Xia Qiqi decided, opting to travel light.

She had already planned to leave the relay station with Chun Tao and the cat, Xiao Ai, during the Yin hour (3:00 AM to 5:00 AM), intending to find an inn within Anzhou City to hide. She didn't know the way, but she understood the principle of hiding in the shadow of the lamp.

Xia Qiqi believed that with her mastery of disguise, even Steward Yan would not recognize her if he stood right in front of her.

"Miss, should we bring those rouges and powders?" Chun Tao asked.

"Those are life-saving tools; we must bring them!" Xia Qiqi walked to the window, opened it, and looked out. "Why does it feel like there are even more people at the relay station?"

As she spoke, word arrived that the station master had come to see them. Chun Tao quickly hid their bundles, and Xia Qiqi personally welcomed the station master in. The station master was a female official with a face full of smiles, looking like a kind person.

"Miss Liu, Prince Jin has ordered me to inform you that he will be hosting a banquet tonight at the relay station for the bridal escort. Please make your way to the Hundred Flowers Hall."

*(Wait, no way! I went out for a stroll just now, and there wasn't a single sign of a banquet. Why would he suddenly host one?)*

*(Oh no! Xia Qiqi, could word of your plan to run away have leaked out?)*

Xia Qiqi glanced at Xiao Ai sideways. Only she, her maid, and this cat knew about the escape plan. If the news had leaked, she didn't need to guess—it must have been the cat's doing!

Xiao Ai looked at Xia Qiqi with a slightly frantic expression, let out a few "meows," then curled up at her feet and fell silent.

"Please convey my gratitude to the Prince, but I am feeling a bit unwell and fear I will be unable to attend the banquet." Xia Qiqi suddenly adopted a frail, willow-like posture, covered her mouth with a silk handkerchief, and coughed lightly. "I apologize for the trouble, Madam."

"I shall go summon a physician to take your pulse immediately." The station master was anxious; if the prospective Princess fell ill at the Anzhou relay station and missed the auspicious time for the wedding, she would likely lose her official position.

"Cough... it is not that serious. I suspect it is just motion sickness; I will be fine after a short rest."

The station master’s expression softened. "In that case, Miss Liu, please rest here. It would be fine if your maid, Chun Tao, attended the banquet in your stead."

General Yu Chi had specifically asked for the maid, Chun Tao, to attend the banquet.

"Chun Tao?" Xia Qiqi was puzzled. "Does the official know Chun Tao?"

The station master shook her head. "I do not know her personally; it was General Yu Chi who specifically requested her presence."

Had that general named Yu taken a fancy to Chun Tao? That couldn't be right; neither she nor Chun Tao had even stepped out of the carriage. He must have misidentified the person! However, to refuse any further would only arouse suspicion.

Xia Qiqi nodded. "Very well. Please return to the Prince and tell him that Chun Tao will attend his banquet on time."

She truly did not want to see that scumbag Prince ever again. She would let Chun Tao go to the banquet while she removed her makeup and made a trip to the stables to secure a horse, so their escape later that night wouldn't be so arduous.

"Chun Tao, you go to the banquet with Nurse Wu and the others. I’m going to find a horse so our escape tonight won't be so exhausting."

"I understand, Miss," Chun Tao replied. "I will go tell Nurse Wu and the others right away."

Having lived together day and night, Chun Tao had long since come to regard Xia Qiqi as her true mistress. Whatever the mistress said was naturally correct.

In the Hundred Flowers Hall, wine flowed and music played as dancers performed. The guards and sedan-chair bearers from the Prime Minister’s mansion were drinking to their heart's content. After tonight, they would no longer be responsible for the safety of the 120 chests of dowry or the Prime Minister’s daughter, Liu Mingyu.

Chun Tao, Nurse Wu, and the other maids sat in silence, eating quietly. Tomorrow, they would all have a new master: Prince Jin. It was said that the Prince was cruel and temperamental, and they had no idea what kind of life awaited them in his mansion.

Before the banquet began, Chu Hanxiao had changed into his bright red, dragon-patterned brocade robe. His ink-black hair was tied high with a jade crown inlaid with eastern pearls. He looked handsome, dashing, and imposing.

"Who did you say was Chun Tao?"

Chu Hanxiao stood outside the Hundred Flowers Hall, peering through the lattice window. He searched several times, but could not find the woman he had seen on the roof that day.

The station master bowed and looked inside, pointing. "The one to the left of Nurse Wu is Miss Liu’s maid, Chun Tao."

It wasn't her!

Chu Hanxiao suddenly felt restless and irritable. "That is not Chun Tao!"

The station master was terrified. After receiving the order, she had personally gone to fetch Chun Tao; there was no way she could have misidentified her! But if the Prince said it wasn't her, then it certainly wasn't.

"Perhaps Miss Liu has other maids."

Yu Chi noticed the Prince’s displeasure and hurriedly offered comfort. "I shall go and investigate further."

"Find a guard and question him."

"Yes!"

Since she was not in the Hundred Flowers Hall, the banquet held no appeal for him. It would be better to take out his horse, Red Hare, for a run; it was far better than staying at the relay station, which felt far too suffocating.

Chu Hanxiao turned and headed toward the stables.