Chapter Forty-Three: Bandits on the Road

The caravan continued southward, traversing unknown village roads, and was about to cross a mountain. This mountain, it was said, was often plagued by bandits. The Crown Prince had instructed everyone to remain vigilant at all times; for the sake of safety, there would be no rest, and they must hurry through the mountain.

Gu Li sat inside the carriage, lifting the curtain to gaze outside. At the front of the procession, the veiled lady rode her steed alongside the Crown Prince and General Chang'an. Gu Li had heard from her elder brother, the Crown Prince, that the woman was called Yu Yang.

Gu Li watched as Yu Yang chatted idly with General Chang'an and scoffed inwardly. So much for her aloofness—when faced with a handsome man, it seemed all pretenses faded into insignificance.

Fixing her gaze on Yu Yang’s back, Gu Li wished she could bore holes into the deep blue silhouette astride the horse. She glanced at her brother, the Crown Prince, whose smile was as gentle as spring sunshine, then bitterly let the curtain fall.

Hmph, there is only one more leg of the journey. Once they descend the mountain, their paths will diverge. Let’s see how she manages to follow us then.

The mountain road remained rough and jarring. Gu Li, battered by the bumps within the carriage, ached all over, her head spinning.

Finally, they stopped, and suddenly, all was quiet. Gu Li sensed something was wrong. She flung aside the curtain and looked out—sure enough, a gang of bandits blocked the caravan’s path. Each brandished a broadsword, faces fierce and menacing.

At the forefront stood a bald brute, clearly their leader, with an ugly scar slashing across his face to the corner of his eye, giving him a terrifying appearance.

The Crown Prince, wary of their intentions but always preferring diplomacy before violence, greeted them with cupped hands and a smile from atop his horse. “Gentlemen, we are but a small caravan passing through, with no wish to disturb. Might you grant us safe passage?”

The bandit chief, seasoned from years in these mountains, recognized the noble bearing of the two men leading the group—clearly not ordinary people. Such caravans might very well be transporting treasures.

He scrutinized the wagons behind them, pointing at the thickly covered loads and demanded, “What are you carrying?”

The Crown Prince smiled, “Just some worthless ceramics, nothing of value.”

The bandit chief signaled to a burly, bearded henchman. Obeying, the man led several others to the wagons and lifted the covers. Inside, tightly packed wooden crates revealed nothing but decorative ceramic vases, all trivial and worthless.

The bearded man called out, “Boss, it’s really just ceramics!”

Gu Li, seated in the carriage, patted her chest in relief. Fortunately, her brother had been prepared for such an eventuality.

Still dissatisfied, the bandit chief inspected every wagon himself. As expected, all were filled with nothing but unremarkable ceramic jars. Frustrated, he raised his broadsword and smashed a vase, venting his anger.

He had hoped to net a big catch, only to find a haul of goods unworthy of notice.

Grinding his teeth, he signaled to his men blocking the path, “Let them through!”

“Boss!” The bearded henchman protested, sidling up to whisper, “Even if their cargo isn’t valuable, there’s a delicate beauty among them—we could seize her as a bride for the stronghold.”

The bandit chief glanced at the veiled woman on horseback. Although her features were hidden, her ethereal bearing hinted at exquisite beauty. Yet the chief had no interest.