The last thing I needed was for Renshu to have another reason to keep me close.
"Just ride on my horse. I can help you up once I've mounted," he insisted.
"No… really, I can ride alone. It's fine. Just help me up," I replied quickly.
With both his hands pressed against my back, he gave a firm push, and—
Finally! I managed to get up. Though, perhaps it was best to ignore the fact that my legs were still trembling.
---
Back in the comfort of my soft bed near midnight, I found myself wondering who would accompany us on this expedition, which commanders, which colonels.
Everything felt so rushed. What exactly was Renshu doing? In one night, had he truly decided who would go on such a long journey?
But Gao Ming and Wei Fang had already seemed prepared, as though they had known from the start. Perhaps Renshu had told them the plans beforehand...
Either way, that wasn't my concern. My only task was to identify that plant and ensure it was still there. It was a good thing my father had taught me how to extract them too. He was brilliant… unfortunately, there was no denying that.
For the next six weeks, there would be no Shuyin, no letters sent to the mansion. Hopefully, Shuyin or Bao Qin would write one on my behalf.
---
"Meilina, wake up!"
A loud banging on the door shattered my sleep. Definitely not the best way to start the morning.
Oh right. Today was the day.
"Is everything prepared?" I asked Renshu as I stepped out of my room, still half-dazed.
"Yes, of course. Finish your breakfast, and we'll leave immediately," he replied curtly.
Straightening my posture, I ate quickly and followed him out.
"We're departing from the southwest gate," he explained as we rode through unfamiliar paths. "The horses and supplies are already prepared there."
"Meilina," he continued as we approached the city's edge, "we'll take the Grand Canal to reach Wuhan. From there, we'll travel by foot to Yunnan. If the weather holds, we might reach it in twelve nights."
"That's good," I said simply, though I wasn't sure if I meant it.
The chilly wind bit against my face, whispering that perhaps I shouldn't go. The pale, colorless leaves rustled above— a reminder of the harsh, cold journey ahead. Still, I chose this path. Complaining would be useless now.
After a while, a cluster of horses and familiar faces came into view.
Gao Ming… and Rong Xu?!
Wait— they were coming too?
I wasn't sure how to feel about that.
"Good morning, Aryan! Hopefully, this poison you've prepared will last long enough to endure six weeks of torture," Rong Xu joked as I approached.
I glanced toward the wide, glimmering river— the Grand Canal. Soldiers moved about efficiently, loading supplies and horses onto flat-bottomed boats. Some of the vessels even had small wooden cabins on them.
"We'll carry the horses with us along the canal and then switch to the Yangtze River," Rong Xu said enthusiastically. "I won't lie— this is the grandest canal ever built!"
He seemed almost too excited about the journey. Then again, Rong Xu had always been talkative— even more so to me after the kidnapping incident.
We chatted briefly while the last of the supplies were loaded.
"By the looks of it," I asked, "it's you, me, Colonel Gao Ming, and General Renshu traveling together. But I see more than four horses, who else is joining us?"
"Well," he said, counting on his fingers, "we've got two advisors, three chief strategists, and another colonel— not sure from which department."
"So… ten of us in total?"
"Yes, if you exclude the men steering the boats—"
"Everyone, let's go!"
A commanding voice rang out from the riverbank. Of course, it was Renshu.
---
The boat was surprisingly clean, with just enough room for sleeping.
I sighed inwardly, realizing that I'd have to sleep with my makeup on for the next several nights. Each boat held two to three people. Renshu would probably get his own, naturally, being the general—
"Alright," he said abruptly, "Mei— Aryan will stay with me in this boat. The rest of you, divide yourselves among the others."
Wow. How generous of him.
The boat began to move, gliding over the calm water. The long, harsh journey had officially begun. Still, since we were heading south, perhaps it would grow warmer along the way. Hopefully.
"Meilina, come with me," Renshu said suddenly.
I followed him reluctantly into the cabin.
It was spacious compared to the others— as expected of the general's quarters— but still smaller than my room back home. And now, I'd have to share it with him...
I really hoped he wouldn't do anything strange.
"Why do you look so concerned?" Renshu asked, his sharp eyes catching mine. "The poison is fine, right?"
"I— yes, of course," I stammered, my thoughts tripping over themselves.
"Good. Listen, Meilina—" His tone shifted, the way it always did when things turned serious. "You need to stop being so friendly with that man, Rong Xu."
"What?! Why?"
"Because he isn't trustworthy."
"How are you so sure?"
"If you trust him so much," he said coolly, "would you tell him that you're a woman?"
My words froze in my throat.
"No—" I admitted softly.
Renshu's expression didn't waver.
What was going on with him? Why did he dislike Rong Xu so much?
Before I could ask further, someone called out for him from outside, interrupting the moment.
It was almost funny, in a way. No matter what happened, there was always someone to interrupt us— a maid, Shuyin, Bao Qin— always someone.
I slipped out of the cabin, leaving Renshu behind.
The boat had picked up speed, the steady current carrying us forward. The wind was stronger now, cool and biting, yet somehow comforting.
I closed my eyes and let it brush against my face.
The journey ahead would be long, cold, and uncertain— but as the river carried us south, I couldn't help but feel that something far greater awaited me beyond those distant shores.
---