The Much-Adored Fake Princess (Part Two)

Wang City was practically on the border. Jiang Xuefu feared that, once those people failed to find her in the city, they would continue searching farther afield. To be safe, she didn't dare stop, instead heading south all the way, intending to take a look at the capital.

She had heard people say that the capital was the most prosperous place under heaven, where everyone could afford food and new clothes. There were also laws, government offices, and prison cells. Once she got there, surely those men in black wouldn't dare strike in broad daylight.

But Jiang Xuefu, who had never left Wang City since she was little, had still underestimated how far away it was.

She had gold and silver, but no water or food. The land along the way was barren, and she saw hardly a soul. She could only rely on her own sense of direction.

But she was so tired... so thirsty... She had planned to beg for food if she came across a village, or simply steal a few ears of corn from a field. She hadn't expected that, let alone stealing corn, she would be on the verge of death herself.

Jiang Xuefu's thoughts wandered, and in the end, her strength gave out. She fainted, crushing a patch of grass beneath her.

"Young master, there's a little girl who has fainted up ahead." Mo Yu brought the carriage to a stop not far from Jiang Xuefu and reported to the boy inside, awaiting his instructions.

The boy was about seven or eight years old. Despite the heat, he still wore two thick layers of silk. His exquisitely picturesque features bore a sickly pallor, and he occasionally gave a few faint coughs.

When he heard Mo Yu's words, Jimo Chi lifted a corner of the curtain and looked outside. A little girl lay in the grass beside the road, but the afterglow of the setting sun seemed to drape her in a hazy veil, making her hard to see clearly.

"Take her some water and food, and see if she can survive."

The boy's indifferent voice came from inside the carriage, carrying a maturity beyond his years.

After receiving his orders, Mo Yu immediately took the supplies, climbed down from the carriage, and walked toward the little girl lying on the ground.

"Little girl? Little girl? Wake up!"

Huh? Who is it? So annoying, making noise in my ear nonstop!

After being fed a few mouthfuls of water in her daze, Jiang Xuefu gradually came to. Frowning, she thought irritably, I want to see who dares disturb this young lady's sleep.

With that thought, Jiang Xuefu slowly opened her eyes. But when she saw the unfamiliar man before her and the surroundings, she remembered: what young lady? The Jiang Family had already been wiped out.

"Ahem, th-thank you, big brother..." She weakly thanked the man who had saved her.

The girl was only four or five. Though her face was too dirty for her features to be seen clearly, her large eyes were lively and beautiful, even if they were a little dull from weakness at the moment. Her small nose twitched slightly, and her lips were somewhat chapped, making her look especially pitiful and adorable.

Mo Yu's heart softened a little. "Little girl, it'll be dark soon. Can you still walk back?"

Jiang Xuefu's tears came at will. She had met so many people when she was a little beggar that she knew best what kind of look would tug at adults' heartstrings.

"Big brother, I don't have a home anymore..." she whimpered softly, looking pitiful and aggrieved, frightened and on the verge of tears, yet holding them back.

Sure enough, Mo Yu's expression faltered at the sight. He hesitated. "Little girl, where are you going? If it's on our way, I'll beg the young master to give you a ride."

"Really? Thank you, big brother. I'm going to Jade City to look for my relatives."

What a coincidence. They were heading back to Jade City too, and it wasn't all that far from here.

"Wait here. I'll go ask my young master."

Jiang Xuefu saw him say something beside the carriage, but he was too far away for her to hear. Only occasionally, through the curtain lifted by the evening breeze, could she glimpse the carriage's soft, exquisite furnishings.

Before long, the man returned. Looking apologetic, he handed Jiang Xuefu a few pastries. "I'm sorry, little girl. You'll have to go to Jade City on your own."

Hearing that, Jiang Xuefu couldn't help feeling disappointed. The carriage was bound to be comfortable to ride in. What a pity.

But one look at the carriage's owner was enough to tell he was either wealthy or noble, and he had a team of guards accompanying him. She didn't dare play any little tricks, so she took the pastries and got up, ready to walk to Jade City on her own.

While it wasn't completely dark yet, she would get as far as she could. It would be even better if she came across a household. Once she reached the city, she would first pawn something for silver, then go to a restaurant and have a proper meal!

Not long after Jiang Xuefu left, the carriage, having rested in place for a while, set off as well.

But as Mo Yu passed the spot where Jiang Xuefu had fainted, his sharp eyes suddenly spotted something that looked like a token.

"Young master, that little girl seems to have dropped something. She hasn't gone far yet. Should I pick it up and return it to her?"

Jimo Chi rubbed his forehead and sighed softly. "If you want to go, then go."

If Father hadn't transferred all the other guards away today, he would never have brought Mo Yu along.

Mo Yu's name sounded like "speak not," which was what Jimo Chi had meant when he first gave him that name. Unfortunately, Mo Yu hadn't noticed his young master's intention in the slightest and still talked nonstop from morning to night.

Mo Yi, the guard behind them, heard Jimo Chi's words and darted forward to pick up the jade pendant. He had intended to give it to Mo Yu, but after seeing something, he suddenly froze and gave it to Jimo Chi instead.

"Young master, this jade pendant belongs to the imperial family."

It was impossible to tell what material the pendant was made of. It was black throughout and looked ancient and extraordinary.

Jimo Chi took it in his hand, rubbing the raised mark on the pendant. It was the character Qi, the surname of the Great Chang Kingdom's imperial family.

"Mo Yu, catch up with that little girl."