The Great Song Dynasty: You were put in charge of teaching, and you produced a whole bunch of prime

"Separate?" Zhao Lingjun was the first to ask. "Why? Wouldn't it be safer for us to be together? With Niu-guniang around..."

"No." Jiang Lin shook his head, interrupting her. "The target is too big. Besides, our missions are different."

He solemnly took out the account book wrapped in oilcloth from his bosom and spread it out in the firelight.

"This thing is our death warrant, and also our only lifeline." Jiang Lin's gaze swept over Zhao Lingjun and Shen Kuo. "It must be sent to the capital as quickly as possible and handed over to the Emperor. Only when the Emperor issues an edict can we be truly safe, and only then can Zhao Liben be brought to justice."

He looked at Zhao Lingjun, his tone leaving no room for doubt: "So, Your Highness, your mission is to take this ledger to the military post station thirty miles outside the city and find Wang Shao. Have him escort you back to the capital. This is the most important matter, concerning the lives and fortunes of all of us, and also the safety of the Great Song Dynasty."

Zhao Lingjun felt a little nervous under his gaze and subconsciously straightened her back: "I...I understand."

"Shen Kuo," Jiang Lin turned to Shen Kuo again, "you'll come with me. We need to stir up trouble in the city, distract Zhao Liben, and buy time for the princess. Also, I have other things I need you to do."

"No problem, Headmaster." Shen Kuo agreed readily, he now had 100% trust in Jiang Lin.

"Niu Aihua," Jiang Lin said, looking at Niu Aihua one last time, "you... protect the princess."

Niu Aihua frowned, clearly reluctant. She preferred to follow Jiang Lin, because following the headmaster meant she'd get to eat meat.

"This is an order." Jiang Lin emphasized, "The princess's safety is more important than any of ours. Only when she reaches the capital will we have any hope of winning. Along the way, there may be pursuers, or even assassins planted elsewhere by Zhao Liben. I can only feel at ease when you are by her side."

Niu Aihua was silent for a moment, then finally nodded: "Okay. But Headmaster, you must promise that we'll have meat at every meal."

Jiang Lin was both amused and exasperated: "Don't worry, once this is over, I'll treat you to a whole cow feast."

The plan was thus decided. Splitting up and acting separately was the only way to break the deadlock at the moment.

However, looking at the princess in front of him who had just experienced a life-or-death escape and was still in shock, Jiang Lin was still a little apprehensive.

Sending her alone—no, with Niu Aihua, who only knew how to fight—through thirty miles of desolate wilderness to find a military post station was an extraordinary task for a girl who had grown up in the deep palace.

But he had no other choice. This was a task she had to complete, and a responsibility she, as a princess, had to bear.

Jiang Lin stood up, walked to Zhao Lingjun, and personally handed her the most important and crucial ledger.

"Take it. Remember, from now on, it's more important than your life."

Zhao Lingjun extended her slightly trembling hands and accepted the thin booklet. She knew that this booklet contained the blood and tears of countless wronged souls, and the hope that Jiang Lin and the others had risked their lives to obtain.

She nodded vigorously, her eyes losing their girlish naiveté for the first time and gaining an unprecedented firmness.

"Don't worry, Headmaster."

The sky was already bright, and the chirping of birds in the woods was quite annoying.

Jiang Lin and the others ate a little of the last bit of dry rations that Niu Aihua had somehow managed to find, which helped them replenish their strength. Their clothes were also almost dry from the heat, although they were wrinkled and still smelled of smoke, but it was better than being wet.

"Alright, it's time to get going." Jiang Lin stood up, patted the dirt off his clothes, and said, "Time waits for no one. The longer we drag this out, the more prepared Zhao Liben will be."

He walked to a higher spot, pointed to a blurry direction in the distance, and said to Zhao Lingjun and Niu Aihua, "Follow this direction, go through this forest, and then climb over that small hill. You should be able to see the official road. The military post station is not far from the official road. Wang Shao mentioned its exact location to me before; there's a large, crooked willow tree there that's easy to spot."

Zhao Lingjun looked in the direction he pointed, feeling completely uncertain. To walk thirty miles of mountain path on her own two legs was utterly unthinkable for someone who had always been surrounded by servants.

She glanced at Niu Aihua beside her; the girl was intently licking the last crumbs of biscuit off her fingers, looking completely unreliable.

"Headmaster, I..." Zhao Lingjun hesitated. She wanted to say that she was afraid she couldn't do it, but she swallowed the words back. She knew that now was not the time for her to be weak.

Jiang Lin noticed her unease, walked over, and handed her a sharpened wooden stick.

"Use it as a walking stick to save some energy." His tone was very calm, without any words of comfort, but Zhao Lingjun felt much more at ease.

"Be careful on the road, try to take side roads and avoid crowded places. Take good care of Niu Aihua," Jiang Lin added.

Niu Aihua finally finished licking her fingers and nodded: "Don't worry, Headmaster, if anyone dares to touch her, I'll crush their head."

These words, though simple and blunt, inexplicably put Zhao Lingjun at ease.

"We're leaving." Jiang Lin said no more, and led Shen Kuo, turning and walking in another direction. Their goal was to sneak back to Daming Prefecture. The most dangerous place is often the safest place.

Watching Jiang Lin and Shen Kuo's figures quickly disappear into the woods, Zhao Lingjun finally looked away. She took a deep breath and gripped the wooden stick in her hand and the account book in her arms.

"Miss Niu, let's... go too."

"Mm," Niu Aihua responded, and started walking forward.

Zhao Lingjun quickly followed.