After the favored concubine remarried, the aloof and powerful minister forcibly took her away.

Chapter 110 An unexpected person
The sound of a monkey came, almost startling Xiang Ning.

Xiang Ning breathed a sigh of relief when she turned her head and saw that it was a monkey.

Did I scare you?

Seeing Xiang Ning's reaction, the monkey said something somewhat embarrassed.

Xiang Ning shook her head and asked, "What's wrong?"

"My elder brother saw that you hadn't returned for a long time, so he sent me to look for you."

"We're leaving tonight, so the eldest brother asked the waiter to prepare a table full of dishes."

The monkey raised its hand to scratch its head and smiled at Xiang Ning.

If it weren't for the fact that this was the first letter from the border region in so many years, I doubt my brother would have been in such a hurry to go to the border.

"Okay, then you take these things back first, I'll go get the other things."

Xiang Ning paused for a moment before replying to the monkey, fearing she might run into Wei Ziqian at the inn.

Although she had only met Wei Ziqian once, Xiang Ning dared not gamble.

She had no choice but to coax the monkey back first, and then she would go in through the back door of the inn.

Who would have thought that, by such a coincidence, we would run into Wei Ziqian here?

The monkey, unsuspecting, carried the packed items toward the inn.

After the monkey left, Xiang Ning picked up other things and went around to the back of the inn.

The innkeeper was somewhat surprised to see her come in through the back door.

"Why did our distinguished guest come in through the back door?"

He then offered to help Xiang Ning get her things, but Xiang Ning quickly waved her hand, indicating that she didn't need it.

"It's okay, I can do it myself."

The food box she was holding was just the right height to conceal Xiang Ning's face.

Even though she wore a veil over her face, Xiang Ning was afraid of being discovered.

The waiter withdrew his hand and lifted the curtain for her to go inside.

Standing in the hall, Wei Ziqian turned his head to look when he heard the sound. No matter how he looked at it, the figure seemed somewhat familiar.

After Xiang Ning returned to her room with her things and tidied up, she knocked on the door of Xiao Ming's room.

"Hey girl, you're here. Have a seat here."

Xiao Ming smiled and gestured for Xiang Ning to sit down: "Look at you, if I had known you were going to buy so much stuff, I would never have let you go."

"The journey is long, so it's always good to be well-prepared."

Xiang Ning smiled and shook her head. It's always good to be prepared for such a long journey from Jinzhu Town to the border.

"Okay, I'll listen to you, sister. We probably won't see each other for a long time after this."

Xiao Ming got up and poured Xiang Ning a cup of tea: "We won't drink alcohol today, we'll use tea instead."

"When you go to Yangzhou tomorrow, wear a hat so no one can see your face, speak little, and don't flaunt your wealth."

Xiang Ning also stood up, listened to Xiao Ming's careful instructions, and nodded.

"I know."

Xiang Ning agreed, and Xiao Ming raised his hand and drank the tea in one gulp.

Then, he took out a dagger and placed it on the table: "Take this. This knife has been with me through thick and thin. I hope it can protect you too."

“Sister, since you’ve called me big brother, if you ever run into trouble, just send me a message. I still have people in Shuizhen. You can send the message home; someone will receive it.”

After she finished speaking, Xiang Ning hummed in agreement, a smile playing on her lips, and poured herself another cup of tea.

"Brother Xiao, Monkey, Xiao Si, it's my honor to know you. I've dragged you down, but thank you for your help along the way."

Xiang Ning offered the teacup to the three of them, then drank it all in one gulp.

"Miss Zhao, you're too kind."

As the monkey and Xiao Si talked, Xiang Ning smiled and took out three amulets from her waist.

“Where we come from, we always carry amulets when we travel far away. I made these myself, hoping they will protect you and keep you safe and sound.”

The three exchanged glances, then their eyes fell on the amulet that Xiang Ning had handed over.

"Take this, and with this amulet, we must return safely."

Xiao Ming reached out first, followed by Monkey and Xiao Si. The four of them sat together and talked for a long time.

Although they had only known each other for a short time, Xiang Ning treated them like family.

After leaving Xiao Ming's room, Xiao Si followed Xiang Ning to get the remaining items.

When do we leave tonight?

Hearing Xiang Ning's question, Xiao Si smiled and replied, "We'll be leaving around 7 PM. We need to take advantage of the darkness and fewer people to make our journey easier."

The roads to the border are all main roads, and with few people, they are indeed easy to travel.

"Be careful, I won't see you off."

Xiang Ning took a deep breath; in truth, she wasn't someone who was very good at accepting parting.

Xiang Ning was afraid that she would burst into tears at such a parting.

"Alright, young lady, get some rest. Once you've settled in Yangzhou, you can write to your elder brother."

Hearing Xiao Si say this, Xiang Ning nodded in agreement. Xiao Si turned and left, and the door closed in front of Xiang Ning.

As human beings, we will all experience the day of separation.

As darkness fell, Xiang Ning heard noises coming from the next room and finally let out a long sigh.

Xiao Ming and his group went to the border at this time, so something must have happened.

Xiao Ming had told me that they had previously been stationed on the border with General Li Shichang.

However, after General Li was persecuted by treacherous people, the border guards were replaced.

Only then were Xiao Ming and his men able to return from the military camp.

Xiang Ning turned over, but she was wide awake.

Tomorrow she will be setting off for Yangzhou, and a complex mix of emotions welled up within her.

Once she arrived in Yangzhou, which was far from the capital, all those troubles and disturbances were no longer her concern.

She can start her life anew in a completely new place, forgetting her past troubles and entanglements.

Forget Pei Yanzhi...

Xiang Ning slowly closed her eyes, trying to calm herself down.

However, for some reason, Pei Yanzhi's face involuntarily appeared in her mind.

His words echoed in her ears like a curse she could never escape.

Those words seemed to carry an invisible force, tightly binding her and making it impossible for her to escape.

Not long after, Xiang Ning opened her eyes and let out a long sigh.

"Are you asleep, sir?"

Just as she was about to turn over again, she suddenly heard the waiter's voice from outside.

Xiang Ning frowned, finding it somewhat strange.

What does the waiter want with her so late at night?
Doubt and wariness arose in her heart.

The waiter outside didn't hear Xiang Ning's voice, so he raised his hand and knocked on the door again.

Xiang Ning sat up, her unease growing stronger.

She held the dagger Xiao Ming had given her in her hand and covered it with her clothes.

There was still no sound from inside the house, and then a few disordered conversations could be heard from outside. The voices were indistinct and it was impossible to tell what they were saying.

Xiang Ning's heart skipped a beat, and she was so nervous that she could hardly breathe.

She gripped the dagger tightly, carefully put on her clothes, and carefully placed the exchanged silver and banknotes close to her body.

This money is her guarantee for her future life, and she must keep it safe.

Before long, there was another knock on the door. Xiang Ning tiptoed to the window and cautiously observed the movements outside.

She considered many possibilities, but when Xiang Ning opened the window and saw the people outside, her heart couldn't help but skip a beat.

"Xiang Ning".

I can't stand it anymore! Just a heads-up, the next book will be a forced marriage that all you princesses love to read.

So what if she's his nephew's wife? He holds a very high position in the government, wields immense power, and has everything he desires.
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(End of this chapter)