Chapter 15: Catching Someone in the Act

Chapter 15: Catching an Affair

"Xiao Yi?" Mu Lan found it even more unbelievable. Shouldn't Xiao Yi be lying unconscious at the campsite after being drugged? How could he be here?

Could it be that he had been tracking her this whole time?

Under the moonlight, Xiao Yi's expression was unreadable, but his tone carried confusion as he spoke first, asking, "Princess, why are you doing this?"

Facing him, Mu Lan felt a momentary sense of guilt and shame. After all, she was currently inhabiting Jin Ning's skin. Her current actions were not just running away from a marriage, but were even an insult to the Xia Liang Kingdom, potentially damaging the diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Especially since the man before her was Jin Ning's beloved. At this moment, he must be incredibly disappointed, right?

"Xiao Yi, you've come at the right time. Go back quickly and notify the Emperor of Dongling that there are hundreds of soldiers ahead setting a trap to harm him." Mu Lan's mind raced as she shifted the topic back to business.

She was Mu Lan, not Jin Ning. She could not be so great as to sacrifice her entire life's freedom and happiness for the sake of the Xia Liang Kingdom. Even if she had to face Xiao Yi's contempt, she would just have to accept it.

"I saw all of that." Xiao Yi continued to look at her with incomprehension. This time, he asked directly, "Princess, are you running away from the marriage?"

Since things had come to this, there was no point in hiding it. Mu Lan simply confessed, "Yes, I don't want to marry into Western Chu."

Even though it was already the truth, Xiao Yi's eyes could not avoid showing surprise and complexity. For the sake of the country, he had endured the pain of watching her marry far away. But to run away halfway through? For a moment, he did not know what to feel—joy, anger, sorrow, or resentment.

"I felt you were very abnormal along the way, but I didn't know you had such plans. Why... didn't you discuss it with me?"

She had long anticipated that as the person who knew Jin Ning best, it was impossible for Xiao Yi not to notice that she was different from the original owner. However, she hadn't expected him to stare at her every move because of it; no wonder he hadn't been affected by the drug.

Mu Lan gripped the reins of her horse secretly, testing him: "Then, are you here to take me back now?"

"You're on guard against me?" Xiao Yi's face showed an unbelievable hurt. "You know very well that I wouldn't stop you, yet you made this decision without even preparing to say goodbye to me? Where are you going, all by yourself?"

Only now did Mu Lan realize how difficult it was to handle a relationship on behalf of someone else, especially since she didn't want to hurt Xiao Yi. But facing his questioning, how could she answer?

"Xiao Yi, it's enough that I am the sinner of the nation. If you go back to report the news now, you can earn a great merit. I expect the Emperor of Dongling won't take his anger out on your people then." Mu Lan used a mix of coaxing and deception: "As for me, once I am settled, I will write to tell you my whereabouts."

*Please, just let me go quickly.*

Xiao Yi gazed at her, his dark and inscrutable eyes making the guilty Mu Lan feel very uneasy.

What did it mean that he was just staring at her without saying a word?

After a long while, as if he had made a certain decision, he said word by word, "Since you have already decided this, then, I can only..."

Only what? Catch her and take her back?

Just as Mu Lan was about to whip her horse and flee at all costs, he took a deep breath and continued, "I can only ensure your safety throughout the journey."

Mu Lan could hardly believe her ears. "You... you mean, you're going to run away with me?"

"Yes." Xiao Yi's tone became firm. "I cannot bear to force you back, nor can I feel at ease letting you go alone. Therefore, I have no choice but to accompany you."

"You..." Mu Lan was shocked by him, but she quickly regained her senses and said resolutely, "No, have you thought about the consequences?"

She at least held the status of a Princess; no matter how angry Jin Yuanfu was, he could at most send people to issue a wanted order for her. But Xiao Yi was merely a general; he had parents and relatives at home, didn't he? Was he not afraid of his family being targeted?

Furthermore, if she fled alone, it could only be considered treasonous desertion. If two people fled together, wouldn't that become elopement?

The figure of Dongling Jue flashed through her mind. Originally, he had agreed to the marriage because of the Soul-Sustaining Grass; so, if she fled, he should be able to let it go. But if she were eloping with someone else, would a man as arrogant and prideful as Dongling Jue let her off easily?

Most importantly, she didn't want an extra burden by her side. Especially a burden who loved her deeply because he thought she was Jin Ning.

"But I also cannot stand by and watch you walk into danger." Xiao Yi had clearly thought of the possible consequences, yet he remained unmoved. "I know you don't want to implicate me, which is why you made this decision alone. But since I know, I can only walk this path with you."

It seemed Xiao Yi had automatically interpreted all her abnormal behavior as her being considerate of him. Mu Lan felt like crying bitter tears; actually, if this followed novel tropes, she should happily agree. After all, in this chaotic ancient era, having a master as a free bodyguard would make her life much more secure.

But this master was abandoning his home and country for the sake of Jin Ning; she could not afford to carry such a debt of affection.

"How about this: I'll find a place to wait for you. You go ahead and deliver the message to the Emperor of Dongling first, and then we will run away together. That way, I will feel a little less guilty." Mu Lan began planning how to shake him off.

Xiao Yi seemed to be deliberating. After a long while, he said, "There will be wild beasts on this wasteland. I won't feel at ease with you alone. We go together."

Mu Lan didn't know if he was truly worried about her safety or if he had seen through her attempt to ditch him. Before she could refuse again, he had already leaped onto the back of her horse.

"Are you all so confident that you can escape from under my nose?" A cold voice rang out from the darkness ahead, every word imbued with imperial majesty.

That... was actually Dongling Jue's voice!

Mu Lan felt as though her heart had undergone several scares tonight and was reaching its limit. Especially when she saw the figure of the man in black ceremonial robes becoming clear under the moonlight, a layer of cold sweat broke out on her back.

This was impossible. She had clearly seen him pass out with her own eyes. Moreover, she had personally stripped him naked and tied him up; how could he have followed them?

Could it be that he woke up as soon as she left? Or was he faking it the whole time!

If it was the former, it would be fine, but if it was the latter, Mu Lan suddenly had a premonition that she had brought this upon herself.

Behind her, Xiao Yi was also shocked by his appearance, and feeling the fear of Mu Lan in his arms, he couldn't help but reach out to hold her.