Chapter 19: The Guardian of Flowers-A princesa volta com o filho, e o frio e poderoso ministro se arrepende amargamente(A batata-doce roxa está muito quente.)

The palace was heavily guarded tonight. The number of patrolling Imperial Guards had clearly increased, as if they were searching for someone.

"Imperial Sister, are they looking for you? Why? Ah, I know—you're trying to escape your arranged marriage!"

Cheng Xueyang thought she was being incredibly clever. She had heard that the marriage alliance entourage was set to depart tomorrow, and lately, her sister had been taken by their father, the Emperor, to stay in a different palace, under the pretext of learning the court etiquette of the Chu Kingdom.

But her sister was clearly in love with the young general of the General’s Manor. That big fool of a father didn't even know, and insisted on sending her off to be married. It was absolutely terrible.

For the sake of her sister’s happiness, she would give it her all!

After climbing over several high walls, they reached the final palace rampart when her sister unexpectedly collapsed, gripped by a fit of violent, uncontrollable coughing. She frantically pulled out her personal medication and gulped down some pills, which finally managed to suppress it.

In the moonlight, Cheng Xueyang realized with horror that her sister was coughing up blood. Her face was deathly pale.

"Imperial Physician! Send for the Imperial Physician at once!"

Cheng Xueyang panicked and turned to go find someone, but her sister clamped a hand over her mouth and dragged her behind some shrubbery beneath the wall.

In the blink of an eye, Imperial Guards arrived, drawn by the sound, and began to search the vicinity.

Cheng Xueyang’s mouth was held tight. Her sister seemed to fear she might bolt, and with her other hand, she pressed a golden hairpin against Cheng Xueyang’s throat—a silent warning. If she made a sound, her sister would pierce her neck.

Cheng Xueyang’s mind went blank. The sharp sting at her throat pulled her back to reality. She didn't know what was happening. Why was her sister coughing up blood? Why were the Imperial Guards trying to catch her? Would her sister really kill her?

A chill touched the back of her neck as liquid slid down. It wasn't her own blood; it was tears.

Her sister was crying.

It was a silent, soundless weeping. She didn't even dare to let out a sob. Her hands were trembling, her entire body shaking. Her sister was struggling with all her might, and she was terrified.

In Cheng Xueyang’s memory, her sister was always heroic and dashing, fearing neither tiger nor wolf. She didn't even fear their father, often arguing with him on equal footing to advocate for the rights of women.

But now, she was crying. What had happened?

Cheng Xueyang began to feel afraid, too. She feared many things, but she feared losing her sister most of all.

Suddenly, a figure approached, standing outside the hedge, staring straight at them.

"General Lin, there is no trace of her here."

The man turned to his subordinates and said, "She must have run elsewhere. Search that way."

"Yes."

The other guards left. The man cast a suspicious glance at the hedge before walking away.

The pressure on Cheng Xueyang eased, and her sister slid to the ground, breathing heavily.

"I’m sorry." Her sister kept her head lowered; Cheng Xueyang couldn't see her expression.

Cheng Xueyang reached up to touch the spot where she had been pricked; it was shallow, just a broken patch of skin. "If I hadn't been obedient just now, would you have really killed me, Imperial Sister?"

Her sister remained silent, still looking down. "Little Xue, you must leave now. Go back to your palace. As far as anyone knows, you never saw me tonight and never left your quarters. Lin Xuan has already discovered me; he will return soon. I... I have no strength left to run."

Cheng Xueyang did not move.

Her sister slowly stood up. "I’m sorry. So much has happened tonight that I no longer know who to trust. I am in such a state of confusion. For a moment, I truly wanted to silence you. I wanted to escape, to see Zhao Hui one last time. I’m very selfish, aren't I?"

"I thought I had a clear conscience and would never harm an innocent person for my own gain, but in the end, I am that man's daughter. The blood of sin flows through my veins."

"Little Xue, never trust anyone again—not even those of your own blood. Human nature is inherently evil. You can only rely on yourself. If you have the chance, stay far away from the palace and marry someone you love to live a simple life."

Cheng Xueyang rushed forward to catch her sister, who was on the verge of collapsing, and hoisted her onto her back, hurrying away from the spot.

Cheng Xueyang was only twelve, and while she was well-built for her age, her sister was a grown woman, much taller and heavier. Carrying her was no easy task.

Her sister was startled. "Little Xue, what are you doing?"

Cheng Xueyang replied, "Imperial Sister, I don't know what happened to you tonight, but it must be something terrible. Yet, you still came to find me. You trust me in your heart, so how could I ever betray that trust? We are sisters. Mother is gone; I only have you now."

Her sister wept again. She was incredibly fragile tonight.

With her sister on her back, Cheng Xueyang successfully escaped the palace through a secret passage and headed straight for the General’s Manor, only to learn that General Zhao had led his troops north three days ago to suppress the Xiongnu invaders.

The steward of the General’s Manor noticed her sister’s condition and rushed to summon a physician.

Her sister refused. "Please, prepare a fast horse for me. I must pursue Zhao Hui. And do not speak a word of having seen me."

She turned to Cheng Xueyang. "You must go back to the palace as well. Remember, you never saw me tonight."

"Imperial Sister, what are you saying? I am your protector, am I not?"

Her sister tried to resist, but she was too weak, and when Cheng Xueyang became stubborn, there was no way to refuse her.

Cheng Xueyang took the reins, her sister clinging to her back, directing her path. The two of them on a single horse galloped north into the night.

As dawn broke, their path was blocked.

Lin Xuan seemed to have been waiting for some time; this was the only route to the north.

"Your Highness, I knew you would come. You have made me wait quite a while. Game time is over—return to the palace."

Cheng Xueyang refused to listen and urged the horse forward.

Lin Xuan pursued them. "Your Highness, you cannot escape. Stop now."

"Hyah!"

The jolting of the carriage shook Cheng Xueyang awake, and she realized she had been dreaming.

Her expression was grim. "Song Hui, what is it?"

Song Hui replied, "Your Highness, Ugshi is pursuing us again."

Cheng Xueyang lifted the rear curtain and saw, as expected, Ugshi riding behind them, watching her with a mocking grin.

He had been so well-behaved at the Prince of Shou’s estate; it turned out he had been harboring malicious intent all along. He was using the same trick to intercept her again. But Song Hui would not fall for the same trap twice; having already escaped his encirclement, he was now pursuing them in frustration.

*Swish—*

Something flew straight at Ugshi. To avoid it, he had to pull on his reins and stop his advance. The object that smashed onto the ground was a teacup.

Ugshi glared darkly at the man in black sitting at a roadside tea stall. "Master Gu, we truly have a predestined connection."

Gu Mo curled his lips into a cold sneer. "A chance encounter is better than a planned one. Why not stay and have a cup of tea?"

The carriage pulled away.

Ugshi dismounted and sat opposite Gu Mo.

The tea stall owner approached tremblingly to refill the tea. One glare from Ugshi, and the man’s legs turned to jelly. The steppe warrior was far too imposing and fierce; he was clearly not a man to be trifled with.

"Owner, you may go about your business."

Gu Mo’s voice sounded like music, and the owner, immensely relieved, dropped the teapot and fled.

Gu Mo lifted the pot and poured tea into Ugshi’s cup. "A person should know their own worth. What does the Prince think?"

Ugshi scoffed. "Do you think I am not worthy?"

Gu Mo nodded.

Ugshi laughed in anger. "And you think *you* are?"