Chapter Eighteen: The Orphaned Girl

Yoqing spoke but immediately fell silent again, mindful that they were still outside and wary of eavesdroppers.

“Let’s go back.”

Su Zhinian rose, and the others quickly followed.

Once aboard the carriage, they traveled to a secluded spot before Yoqing began whispering about what he had just witnessed.

“I heard that His Majesty dealt with a spy by tying the person behind a horse and ordering the rider to gallop swiftly, dragging the victim back and forth along three long streets until they were literally torn apart alive!”

“The bloodstains on those streets were truly horrifying to see!”

“Good heavens, that is utterly cruel.”

Yushu covered her mouth in horror.

Su Zhinian remained expressionless; she was well acquainted with the emperor’s ruthless methods.

The pain of having flesh carved from her own body in a previous life still lingered faintly, causing her shoulders to tremble involuntarily.

Seeing this, Yushu mistakenly thought Su Zhinian was frightened and scolded Yoqing sharply, “Look what you’ve done—scared Miss into such a state!”

Yoqing, driving the carriage, glanced anxiously inside upon hearing this.

“Careful!” Yushu suddenly cried out.

“Whoa—” Yoqing pulled the reins abruptly but was too late.

“It’s over, we’ve hit someone!”

The carriage came to a halt. They were on a rarely traveled path Yoqing had deliberately chosen, and he hadn’t expected someone to suddenly appear.

Yoqing’s face turned pale as he hurried out to check.

“Miss, she’s still alive!”

The young girl was ragged and covered in blood; after nervously checking her breathing, Yoqing let out a slight sigh of relief.

Upon hearing this, Su Zhinian instructed, “Help her onto the carriage; we’ll take her to the clinic.”

Quickly, Yoqing lifted the girl aboard, his face heavy with guilt.

“Miss, sorry for the trouble.”

“Enough nonsense. She’s badly hurt,” Su Zhinian said, scrutinizing the girl carefully. Her hair was tangled and messy, her complexion pale as paper, and her face bore multiple wounds that did not seem consistent with a carriage accident.

Her clothes were tattered, and she curled up in agonizing pain as if enduring immense suffering.

“Miss, she’s so pitiful!” Yushu’s eyes brimmed with sympathy.

So young, forced to beg for survival, and now further burdened by this accident—truly a cruel fate.

As they spoke, the girl curled in the center of the carriage suddenly opened her eyes. Her irises were amber, but instead of fear or surprise, they revealed alertness and... a glint of deadly intent.

Su Zhinian frowned; the girl was strikingly beautiful and carried an air far from that of an ordinary beggar.

“Awake?” Yushu exclaimed joyfully, offering her a cup of water.

“Who are you?” The girl struggled to sit up but refused the water, eyeing the two warily.

“Don’t worry. Our carriage accidentally hit you, and we’re taking you to the clinic,” Yushu explained patiently.

But upon hearing “clinic,” the girl grew agitated, attempting to stand but hindered by a twisted ankle.

“I won’t go to the clinic!”

“Let me down!”

She tried to flee the carriage, determined to jump off.

“What are you doing? Your injuries are severe! Without treatment, you’ll die!”

Yushu reached out to stop her but was slapped away. The carriage slowed, and Yoqing asked, “What’s going on?”

“She wants to leave. What if we can’t stop her?”

Yushu anxiously explained the situation and looked to Su Zhinian for guidance.

“Miss, what should we do?”

“Give her some silver and let her go,” Su Zhinian replied unexpectedly.

“But…”

The girl’s injuries truly looked grave. Was it safe to let her go?

“Fine.” Seeing no intention from Su Zhinian to keep the girl, Yushu said no more.

She handed over a pouch of silver, speaking gently, “Take this money and find a clinic to treat your wounds.”

“Where do you live? We can take you home.”

“No need.”

The girl snatched the pouch, limped off the carriage, and disappeared down the alley.

“Ah, I really should blame myself!” Yoqing frowned as he watched the girl’s pitiful figure vanish.

“Alright, let’s go,” Su Zhinian said softly, casting a lingering glance at the fading silhouette.

As the carriage resumed its journey, Yushu carefully studied her mistress.

Though Su Zhinian was no saint, she was hardly so cold and unfeeling.

After all, they had caused this girl’s injuries—why let her go just like that?

The wounds seemed severe… could it be that living with the general had made her hardhearted and indifferent?

She sighed deeply.

“Are you wondering why I didn’t save her?” Su Zhinian suddenly spoke, and Yushu nodded instinctively.

“Yes!”

Then, with wide eyes, she covered her mouth in shock and looked at Su Zhinian.

Su Zhinian smiled faintly and pressed her lips together. “That girl is no beggar. Her wounds aren’t mere scrapes but more like cuts from blades.”

“Ah? Knife wounds? No wonder she reacted so strongly to ‘clinic’!” Yushu’s eyes lit with admiration for her mistress’s keen perception.

“How did you tell?”

“She has amber eyes, but deep eye sockets, a high nose bridge, and curly hair—all traits of the Northern Rong people.”

“Northern Rong!” Yushu’s heart skipped a beat.

“The spy dealt with today was said to be Northern Rong!”

So that girl was very likely a Northern Rong spy being hunted!

Fortunately, Miss saw through her disguise. It’s said the Northern Rong are vicious and ruthless, eating raw meat and as fierce as beasts.

It would be disastrous if she harmed Miss.

“But aren’t Northern Rong people all heterochromatic?”

Yoqing recalled the girl’s eyes—they were no different from theirs.

“Perhaps she’s an exception,” Yushu said, fully trusting Su Zhinian.

“Enough, don’t mention it again,” Su Zhinian shook her head.

Having traveled with her mother since childhood, accompanying merchant caravans and experiencing various cultures, she had met many Northern Rong.

Some mingled with Han people, and their children did not always have heterochromatic eyes.

Before the current emperor’s reign, the Northern Rong and Fengqi Kingdom still traded.

Now, all ties were severed, and the two nations were bitter enemies.

Su Zhinian closed her eyes, feigning sleep, but her mind raced with plans for the road ahead.

Every step had to be taken with utmost caution, lest a single misstep lead to irreversible ruin.

Upon returning to the general’s mansion, an uneasy atmosphere greeted her.

“Madam, you’ve finally returned. Palace envoys have arrived; the Empress requests your presence inside!”