"How did you know our identities?" Xue Xingyue asked.
Sun Dahai replied, "Miss may not remember, but the Jiang family has vegetable farmers delivering produce daily. My cousin happens to be one of them, and I accompanied him once to inquire about Cui'er's whereabouts. When you knocked yesterday, I found you familiar. Though you specifically covered your face with mud, I could still recognize you. However, I dared not be certain, so I called my cousin. He recognized you immediately, saying you were treated as an honored guest by the Jiang family. At the time, I thought you were in league with them."
Xue Xingyue remained outwardly calm, but inwardly, she breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, they only thought she was an attendant to Princess Xingyue and had not guessed her true identity.
"Dahai, something's wrong, Dahai," a hurried shout came from outside the door.
Sun Dahai rose and said, "I'll go see."
Xue Xingyue and Ji Wuran exchanged a look and followed him out. They saw the man Sun Dahai had sent to gather information earlier, now lying on the ground, covered in blood. He looked at Sun Dahai and said, "He... they... are not..."
Before he could finish his words, Xiao Ming had already fallen to the ground.
Sun Dahai was stunned. He quickly stepped forward, picked up Xiao Ming, and shouted, "Xiao Ming, Xiao Ming..."
"Dahai, Dahai, it's bad! Those troops are heading this way," a man guarding the village hurried over to report.
Sun Dahai heard this and said, "Quickly give the order to escort the village elders and children to the mountain cave in the back. The rest of you follow me." Sun Dahai picked up a hoe from the courtyard and prepared to leave.
"Sun Dahai, I'll go with you," Xue Xingyue said.
Sun Dahai glanced at Xue Xingyue and nodded, "Very well." If they were indeed Princess Xingyue's subordinates, then this Princess Xingyue's guard might be of some use.
Following Sun Dahai into the woods, they concealed themselves. Soon, the sound of footsteps and horseshoes approached. Xue Xingyue looked up and saw several soldiers on horseback leading the way. She found them somewhat familiar, and the soldiers were indeed carrying the flag of Xue Kingdom.
However, she didn't recognize anyone, which struck her as odd.
"I'll go and test them," she said, stepping out before anyone could reply.
"Who goes there?" The leading mounted soldier, brandishing a long spear, swung it past Xue Xingyue's ear. Xue Xingyue immediately collapsed to the ground, feigning terror as she looked up at the person seated high on the horse. "Who... who are you?"
"We are soldiers guarding Zhen Wuguan, following Princess Xingyue's orders to escort the teacher to the capital," the leading man replied.
Xue Xingyue's eyes lit up at his words. "So you are the famous garrison army of Zhen Wuguan? This humble woman has heard of your deeds." Xue Xingyue put on an expression of admiration.
The man on horseback said proudly, "Naturally. However, I seem to have lost my way here. Miss, do you know if there are any villages nearby? We need to rest."
"Wife, how did you end up here..."
Hearing Ji Wuran's voice, Xue Xingyue was slightly startled. She turned back and glared at Ji Wuran. Ji Wuran looked at her dotingly and said, "Wife, you..."
Suddenly, the mounted soldier thrust his spear into the ground, pinning Ji Wuran's clothing. The force of the spear sent Ji Wuran stumbling back several steps. He exclaimed in alarm, "Who... who are you people?"
Xue Xingyue quickly ran over, trying to pull out the spear, but no matter how hard she pulled, it wouldn't budge. She gave up and helped Ji Wuran to sit up, but with the spear still stuck in his clothing, he couldn't sit up at all.
Seeing that both were unarmed, the man leaped off his horse, pulled out the spear, and pointed it directly at Ji Wuran, demanding, "Who are you?"
Xue Xingyue threw herself in front of Ji Wuran, pleading, "General, spare us! This is my husband, please don't kill him."
The general withdrew his spear and asked, "Are there any villages in this area?"
"Kuihua Village," Xue Xingyue replied.
"You two, lead the way." The general remounted his horse and said coldly.
Xue Xingyue cast a casual glance towards the bushes. Sun Dahai and his men had stealthily returned to the village.
When Xue Xingyue and Ji Wuran led the army to Kuihua Village, they saw men working in the fields and women washing clothes and cooking. However, upon closer inspection, Xue Xingyue noticed that the women were remarkably broad-shouldered, with thick waists and sturdy backs.
"Mrs. Xiao, you and your husband are back?" Looking at the person in front of her, who was touching their red lips and had a feminine demeanor despite being male, Xue Xingyue suppressed the urge to vomit. This person bore a striking resemblance to one of those who had previously surrounded her and Ji Wuran.
"Yes, we're back. Where is the village chief?" Xue Xingyue asked.
"Mrs. Xiao, who are these people behind you?"
"These are generals from Zhen Wuguan, here to escort the teacher. They plan to rest in the village tonight," Xue Xingyue replied.
"Oh my, so they are the soldiers! I'll go and invite the village chief right away."
The leading general looked at the men and women in Kuihua Village and felt something was amiss, though he couldn't quite pinpoint what.
"The village chief has arrived."
Xue Xingyue looked up and saw that the person arriving was none other than Old Sun.
Old Sun, upon seeing the general, was about to kneel. The general stepped forward and said, "No need for that. I have no intention of disturbing this place. I merely lost my way from Zhen Wuguan. Please allow my army to rest here for a while."
Old Sun nodded eagerly. "Of course, please come in."
Old Sun gave orders, and the food was prepared.
Xue Xingyue also withdrew. At this moment, only Old Sun and Ji Wuran accompanied the general.
In the kitchen, Sun Dahai put something into the soup and asked, "Do you think these are Princess Xingyue's people?"
Xue Xingyue shook her head. "I can't tell at this moment. We'll only know if we can incapacitate that general and question him."
Sun Dahai nodded. "Then who will deliver this soup?"
"I'll deliver it," Xue Xingyue said, taking the soup.
Xue Xingyue placed the food before the general. Old Sun said, "Please forgive us, General, we can only offer you simple fare."
The general replied, "It's fine."
The general picked up a steamed bun and was about to speak when he suddenly broke it in half and offered it to Xue Xingyue. "You eat too."
Xue Xingyue was taken aback. The general narrowed his eyes as he looked at her. She swallowed and took the half bun, biting into it with a somewhat unnatural expression. The general placed his hand on his sword. Xue Xingyue's eyes suddenly lit up, and she began to eat voraciously, finishing it in a few bites. After finishing, her eyes sparkled as she stared at the remaining half of the steamed bun in the general's hand.
The general took a bite. Xue Xingyue stared intently at the general.
Old Sun cleared his throat lightly. Xue Xingyue turned her head. Ji Wuran walked over and said, "Let's go outside." Xue Xingyue reluctantly left the room.
Once outside, Ji Wuran looked at her and asked, "Why did you eat that steamed bun?"
Xue Xingyue was momentarily stunned and replied, "Why shouldn't I eat it?"
"That steamed bun, isn't it..."
"You think it was poisoned?" Xue Xingyue asked tentatively.
Ji Wuran nodded. "Do you feel unwell?"
Xue Xingyue smiled at his words. "The steamed bun wasn't poisoned. The soup was."
Ji Wuran let out a slight sigh of relief.