But when you thought about it, it made sense. In this era, not everyone had the courage to break with their family—especially not Shangguan Ya, who was a girl!
Early the next morning, under Li Rong's watchful eye, Li Chuan led several guards into the mist-shrouded mountain path. But just like everyone else, they lost their way as soon as they entered the mountain.
Just as Li Chuan was growing anxious, Shangguan Ya suddenly appeared. She looked at him solemnly and said, "Ya San pays her respects to the Crown Prince!"
The moment Li Chuan heard how she addressed him, he knew she was his cousin. He breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "Cousin, there's no need to be so formal. We're family."
Shangguan Ya smiled back. "Since we're family, would the Crown Prince mind having his guards stand farther away? I have something I'd like to discuss with you."
Li Chuan hadn't expected Shangguan Ya to make such a request. He was somewhat conflicted, but then he remembered the three hundred people his mother had sent. They hadn't been able to do anything in this dense fog, and with only a few men, he wasn't exactly safe either.
So Li Chuan simply turned to the guards and said, "Wait here. I'll talk with my cousin for a few minutes!"
Hearing Li Chuan, Feng Ming anxiously called out, "Your Highness..."
Before Feng Ming could say anything more, Li Chuan replied calmly, "Feng Ming, if my cousin wanted to harm me, she wouldn't need to go to all this trouble. Have you forgotten what happened to the three hundred people Mother sent?"
Feng Ming's shoulders slumped. He could only bow to the two of them, then stay behind with the other guards.
Shangguan Ya was pleased with Li Chuan's response.