Exile? A mad, wicked woman empties the national treasury to escape famine.

Ji Yunshu grew increasingly alarmed as she listened. She hadn't expected that in such a short time apart, Xie Mohuan and Xie Mu would have experienced so much, including being hunted down...

Why would someone be chasing me?

Who knows Xie Mohuan and Xie Mu's identities in this deep mountain forest, and why would they be specifically hunting them down?

"You just said someone was chasing you, are you sure you read that right? Not many people in these deep mountains know who you are, could it be bandits or something?"

Xie Mohuan thought for a moment, then shook her head vigorously.

"No, no, Third Sister-in-law, it was the ones who chased me and Xie Mu! At first, I also suspected that I had mistaken them for someone else, but those people did not know Xie Mu, but they knew me and even called out my name, so I dared to be so sure."

Those people didn't waste any words; they came up to us and brandished their knives, ready to kill Xie Mu and me.

Later, someone said something like, "We need to capture them alive to report back," and that's why they didn't kill us, but that only applied to me.

They didn't recognize Xie Mu, so they naturally went after him with deadly intent. Xie Mu and I ran for a while, but when we had no other choice, we took out our pistols and shot them dead. However, a few of them were still alive and kept chasing us.

We ended up in the Second Prince's sights by sheer accident. You know what happened next, Third Sister-in-law. That's how it went. Luckily you arrived in time, otherwise we'd both be dead by now.

Xie Mohuan's voice grew softer and softer, and as she spoke, she still felt lingering fear.

It was so close, just a tiny bit more. Luckily, my third sister-in-law arrived quickly.

Ji Yunshu listened, her heart heavy.

Xie Mohuan made it so clear that there was no doubt that those who were hunting them were targeting them.

What puzzled her was that in this remote mountain forest, not many people knew their identities. Who would find their location and hunt them down?

"Did you see what those people looked like? Do you know who they are?"

Xie Mohuan frowned, thought for a moment, and shook her head.

"I don't know, I can't tell. They're all wearing masks, so I can't see what they look like at all, and even if I did, I might not recognize them."

She had never left the capital before, and this was the first time she had ever been chased.

In the panic, all they cared about was escaping for their lives; they didn't even have time to look at what other people looked like.

Even if you see it, you'll probably forget most of it.

Ji Yunshu sighed, glancing at Xie Mu who seemed hesitant to speak. She raised an eyebrow: "Xie Mu, did you figure something out?"

Xie Mu was a bodyguard who had been traveling around with Xie Moyao for many years, so he was definitely more knowledgeable than Xie Mohuan.

Judging from his hesitant expression, he must have noticed something.

Xie Mu opened his mouth, glanced at Xie Mohuan, then looked at Ji Yunshu, and nodded seriously.

"Hmm, Your Highness, I have a rough guess, but I don't know if it's correct."

Ji Yunshu's heart skipped a beat: "Tell me first."

Xie Mu thought for a moment, then took a deep breath.

"Your Highness, I have served the Prince for many years and have always been loyal to him. I am not one to cause trouble, but I can roughly guess who the people who chased after me and the young lady that day were."

Although those people were masked and their clothes had been altered to be all black and tight-fitting, the swords they carried were the same swords used by the First Prince's guards. I have no doubt about that.

In the capital, the swords used by the men under the command of each prince were different.

He hadn't paid special attention to it before, but during this time the eldest prince had been following the prince and princess's group, and he had been observing their movements from the shadows, so he naturally remembered what kind of sword the eldest prince's guards used.

Ji Yunshu's expression hardened: "What? Really? Are you sure you didn't see wrong? It really is the First Prince's man?"

The Crown Prince's entourage consisted of many people from the capital, a large and impressive group. She didn't have the leisure to count how many people were in the group, and if ten or eight were missing, it would indeed be difficult for others to notice.

"Your Highness, I have no mistake. On the way here, I was in the shadows, not only watching over you, but also keeping an eye on the movements of the First Prince and his entourage."

The group of people who came from the capital to accompany the First Prince used swords that were different from the others; I could see that clearly.

The reason I didn't say anything before was because I was worried that I might have misjudged the situation and caused conflict between the Crown Prince, the Princess, and the Prince. I really can't understand why the Crown Prince would be so determined to kill us after we've all been exiled, sending people to hunt us down—and even trying to capture us alive. What is he really up to?"

Ji Yunshu's thoughts raced. Combining Xie Mu's words with her own, she quickly realized that the people chasing Xie Mu and Xie Mohuan were likely the Crown Prince's men.

After all, the team was only so big, and the only one in the team with the ability and skill to send out assassins was the First Prince. However, he probably didn't expect that Xie Mohuan had secret guards protecting her.

"Yes, I understand. You've all worked hard these past few days. It's safe here now, and I'll investigate the rest. You can stay here tonight, and tomorrow morning, I'll take you back to the group to find the Prince and the Old Princess."

This time, Xie Mu doesn't need to stay hidden anymore. He can go with Mo Huan—your identity has already been exposed. The First Prince and the Second Prince both know that Mo Huan has someone like you by his side. There's no point in hiding any longer.

"Alright, Your Highness, we'll do as you say. However, Your Highness, we only took part of the things you gave us in the bundle; the rest are still in the Second Prince's carriage."

"The prince said those things must not be discovered by anyone else, but now they've fallen into the hands of the second prince. I'm worried that he'll come looking for us with those things again. What will we do then?"

Those things were too strange; anyone would probably want to find out their origins and obtain more. He was worried that if he got entangled with the Second Prince, it would be too difficult to escape.

Ji Yunshu pursed her lips, thought for a moment, and said calmly, "It's okay, I'll find a way to get those things back later."

At this point, she seemed to realize something was amiss: "How about this, you two stay here for now and don't go out. After all, Chu Jingrui saw you take these things out with your own eyes. Don't meet with him for the time being. Wait until he leaves the group before you return."

"Once we reach the Northwest, where the mountains are high and the emperor is far away, we can expand our influence. By then, even if he wanted to harm you two, he wouldn't have the chance."

She had been too naive before. Now that she thought about it, Chu Jingrui was ruthless. Now that he knew Xie Mohuan had bodyguards protecting her, he definitely wouldn't let it go.