“Young... Young Palace Mistress,” Xiao Guo’er stammered instinctively the moment she saw Nan Muxue. “Still...”
Nan Muxue stood with her hands behind her back, her expression unreadable. “If you haven’t found her, keep looking.”
“Yes!” the girl scrambled to answer before rushing out.
Seeing this, Fenghuang chuckled. “My, you’re letting her leave without even asking for details?”
“If she had been found, she wouldn’t look like that. Why ask the obvious?”
“I can tell just from that how much you usually terrify her. Her legs were shaking when she walked in.”
Nan Muxue didn’t deign to respond. At this moment, she had no heart for such trifles.
***
“Sister A-Yue,” Xiao Guo’er said as she ran into A-Yue. “Any news?”
A-Yue shook her head. “She’s hiding from us on purpose. She won’t be found that easily.”
“But... but we clearly followed the tracks. We asked so many people and searched the village in secret. If we still can’t find her, do you think... do you think the Young Palace Mistress will beat me to death?”
A-Yue sighed. “If the Young Palace Mistress intended to punish you, she would have done it at the start.”
Hearing this, Xiao Guo’er felt even more overwhelmed by shame. “It’s all my fault. I’m stupid, I have no brains, I deserve to die! I should be beaten!”
As she spoke, Xiao Guo’er raised her hand to actually slap herself, but A-Yue caught her arm. “Why do something so foolish? As long as we find Chu Ruo and bring her back, everything will be fine.”
“This whole thing is my fault...”
“Now is not the time for that. The Young Palace Mistress said we can’t make a scene. We must search carefully. I’ll go with you.”
“But you just got back—”
“It doesn’t matter. Staying here only makes me more anxious. It’s better to go out and ask around; maybe we’ll find a lead.” A-Yue spoke as they walked. “Don’t be fooled by the Young Palace Mistress’s calm exterior. She’s actually the most worried about Chu Ruo. Haven’t we seen enough of how she acts whenever something happens to that girl? Sigh, I thought coming here meant they could finally be together in peace. Who knew this would happen?”
“That Chu Ruo is something else, too. The Young Palace Mistress did it for her own good, yet she... she actually ran away!”
A-Yue shook her head again. “On the contrary, she’s also very worried about the Young Palace Mistress. Otherwise, why would she leave? You, on the other hand, need to be sharper next time. You’ve been with Chu Ruo since she first entered the Palace; don’t you know her temperament by now? You must never trust her so easily again.”
“Yes, I know. Once I find her this time, I won’t let her slip away again.”
***
A few more days passed...
Fenghuang and Old Lady Hua went to see Nan Muxue. Her hand was still wrapped in white cloth—an injury she had inflicted on herself in a fit of rage the day she discovered Chu Ruo was gone. Even after all this time, it hadn’t fully healed, which showed just how much force she had used that day.
“What is it?” Nan Muxue asked.
Fenghuang spoke up. “We’ve searched this village for so long. Have you considered that she might have already left?”
“She hasn’t.”
“Oh? You’re so sure? I don’t mean to look down on her, but her martial arts are sealed and she’s blind. With her current abilities, if she were still here, we would have found her by now.”
“She wouldn’t leave.”
Old Lady Hua took a puff of her tobacco pipe. “What if she did? She wanted to hide from you, after all.”
“The most dangerous place is the safest,” Nan Muxue said, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. “I taught her that. I know my Ruo’er better than anyone.” In truth, it was more than that; she knew Chu Ruo was so anxious about her that she would never truly go far.
Fenghuang’s smile turned teasing. “Is that so? Doesn’t seem like it, or she wouldn’t have run...”
“It’s time for you to leave.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Nan Muxue simply stroked the jade bracelet on her wrist—the one Chu Ruo had given her. “It means you should depart.”
“Kicking me out? Don’t forget, you’re the one who invited me here.”
“You don’t want to stay here either, do you?”
Old Lady Hua, looking like someone who had seen it all, smacked her lips on her pipe and said, “Are you trying to trick that girl into coming out?”
Nan Muxue neither confirmed nor denied it, but Fenghuang was left confused. “What does that mean?”
Old Lady Hua laughed. “You haven’t lived through enough to understand. Why did that girl leave in the first place?”
“Because of the eye transplant...” Fenghuang suddenly realized. “You mean, she doesn’t want the transplant, so she’s hiding and waiting for me to leave?”
“Exactly! You can’t stay here forever. She wants to wait us out.”
“Oh~” Fenghuang’s expression turned playful again. “Maybe not. Who knows, maybe she went to find her little soulmate. That girl... oh, I remember now, Bai Zhi’er. If it were me, I’d go find her too. She’s gentle, kind, and doesn’t have a temper. Sigh, Chu Ruo certainly has unique taste...”
A sleeve blade whistled through the air. Fenghuang dodged it nimbly. “What’s this? Lost your martial arts, so you’re relying on hidden weapons?”
*Swish, swish, swish!* Three more were fired in rapid succession, all easily avoided. Fenghuang wasn’t angry. “You’re no fun at all. You’re like a powder keg—one spark and you explode. This place is boring anyway. If you don’t want me here, I’ll go. This lady is leaving tomorrow. Hmph.”
Old Lady Hua chuckled. “You two... I don’t know what to say. You do everything for her, and she does everything for you. Ah, to be young is a wonderful thing.”
***
That night.
“Miss A-Ruo,” a voice whispered.
“Stop calling me 'Miss' this and 'Miss' that. Tell me, is there any news from my sister’s side?”
In fact, just as Nan Muxue had suspected, Chu Ruo hadn’t left. Although she had deliberately left footprints to mislead them into thinking she had gone to the neighboring town or deep into the mountains, she hadn’t moved a single step away. She was hiding in a place that had surprised everyone—the home of the wealthy squire’s son who had taken a liking to the "Little Scorpion."
Chu Ruo hadn’t known where to hide at first, but she had happened to run into the lad. He was honest and loyal; without a second thought, he had invited Chu Ruo to his home. He kept his word and didn't tell a soul, nor did he go to the Little Scorpion to snitch. Not bad at all.
The squire’s family was named Qian, and the son was called Qian Tong—a name quite fitting for a wealthy family. He replied, “Auntie Gui and Auntie Shen bought a lot of chicken, duck, and fish. It sounds like they’re preparing a farewell feast.”
“A farewell? For whom?”
“I’m not sure. They just said the person had only been here a couple of days and was leaving. They also said your sister is frantic looking for you. Maybe you should just go back? I’m not trying to kick you out, but you two are sisters. You should talk things out. Why hide and sulk?”
As for why she had left, Chu Ruo naturally said nothing. She patted his shoulder. “You don’t understand. Anyway, I can’t go out yet.”
Qian Tong scratched his head. “Didn’t you say to watch your sister’s side, and that once someone left, you could come out?”
Chu Ruo shook her head solemnly. “No, no. This is a trap. If I go now, I’ll be walking right into her hands.”
“Huh?”
“You don’t get it?”
He nodded, then remembering she couldn't see, quickly added, “Yeah.”
“She’s doing it on purpose. Her goal is to trick me into showing myself. Making such a big show of sending someone off... she must take me for a total fool. Regardless, I can’t go out yet.”
“Oh.”
“Anyway, you’re a good person. I’ve troubled you for so long. Here, take these banknotes, or I’ll feel bad.”
“No, no! It was just a small favor. Miss A-Ruo, you’re being too polite.”
“I’ve tried to give these to you for days and you keep refusing. Just take them. I don’t want to owe you any favors.” *After all, we’re technically love rivals,* she thought as she forced the money into his hand. “Listen, even though you helped me, I can’t help you with my sis... my sister. I told you from the start, she doesn’t like you.”
Qian Tong rubbed his head bashfully again. “It’s alright. Your sister is so exceptional; it’s normal that she wouldn’t look at someone like me. I didn’t help you for any other reason. Don’t misunderstand. Just consider us friends.”
“You’re a decent guy.” Chu Ruo pondered whether she should introduce him to Xiao Guo’er or teach him a few moves. Her internal energy was sealed, but she could still teach basic physical techniques. That would make him her disciple, wouldn't it? *Hehe, let’s see you try to hit on the Little Scorpion then.* “Forget it, forget it. Do me one more favor.”
“Name it.”
“Prepare a carriage for me. Tonight, I’m leaving this place.”
“What?!”
***
In the middle of the night, a carriage cautiously rolled out from the back gate of the squire’s estate. The driver looked around nervously, maintaining a steady speed while trying not to jostle the passenger inside. They reached the village entrance and entered a quiet forest, where the horse suddenly slowed to a halt.
In the pitch-black woods, anyone would have been frightened. The driver broke into a cold sweat as a blurry figure approached from the distance. His heart leaped into his throat. *Whinny!* He let out a long breath of relief. It was a person—several people on horseback.
The women dismounted and rushed toward the carriage without a word. After the terrifying moment he'd just had, the driver didn't even have time to react before the lead woman threw the carriage door open.
“Gotcha—” Her voice faltered, replaced by shock. “Chu Ruo? Where is Chu Ruo?!”
Qian Tong, dressed in Chu Ruo’s usual white male attire, looked dazed. What was going on? Why did Miss A-Ruo have men’s clothing, and why did she want him to dress up as her? “I...”
He was dragged out of the carriage. Xiao Guo’er was fuming. “Speak! Where is Chu Ruo?!”
“She... she already left.”
***
Meanwhile, Chu Ruo was carrying a small bundle and using a long staff to navigate as she hurried forward. A bit further into the forest was a cave—secluded enough that no one usually went there. She had scouted this spot earlier and even prepared supplies: food, clothes, and bedding. She had even used medicinal powder to drive away snakes and insects. Since the Little Scorpion had staged Fenghuang’s departure, it meant she had guessed where Chu Ruo was hiding. Chu Ruo had to make it look like she was leaving. *Hmph, after being played by you so many times, I’d be a real idiot if I hadn’t learned a thing or two.*
She reached the cave entrance without incident. Feeling her way inside, she cheered inwardly. *Great, I’ll stay here for a while. Sigh, Little Scorpion, I haven't seen you in days. I miss you.*
Wait. Something was wrong!
Chu Ruo was about to sit down when she sensed another person’s presence in the cave. Her heart sank. She cursed her own stupidity.
“Have you had enough fun yet?” a voice asked.
*Fun? More like I’m finished.* She tried to back away, but she had already been exposed. She let out a forced laugh, her mind racing to see if she could use her familiarity with the terrain to escape into the night. However, the voices of Fenghuang and Old Lady Hua coming from outside the cave blocked that exit entirely.
“Heh... hehe,” Chu Ruo’s smile looked a thousand times more painful than a sob. “Xue’er, I... I was just playing a joke on you.”
The other woman’s tone remained unchanged. “Just how much further do you plan to run wild?”
*Oh boy.* This time, she suspected even kneeling on a washboard wouldn't be enough to save her.
***
