Murong Jin Yun's eyes trembled, her gaze fixed on Gu Bei Chen's face, a pang of unbearable bitterness rising in her heart. Tears of guilt and gratitude trickled from the corners of her eyes.
Gu Bei Chen's feelings for her ran too deep, so deep that she felt even a fleeting thought of disloyalty would deeply wound him.
If Gu Bei Chen were to know that what she did today was to probe the East Chu's military strength and transmit intelligence back to West Liang, he would surely hate her to the core.
A sudden thought of losing Gu Bei Chen forever bloomed in her mind. In an instant, it felt as though a piece of her heart had been brutally gouged out, leaving it hollow and lifeless. She felt like a walking corpse, consumed by agonizing pain.
"What's wrong? With that expression, did I say something to upset you, to make you sad?"
Stopping the tears, Murong Jin Yun quickly shook her head and threw herself into Gu Bei Chen's arms.
Startled by her sudden embrace, Gu Bei Chen froze, his body stiffening as if afraid to move.
"You are so good to me. This kindness makes me reluctant to leave you."
Gu Bei Chen chuckled softly. "Silly girl, I will never let you leave me."
It had taken three years to find her, to bring her back. He would never let her go.
Murong Jin Yun shook her head vigorously. "Even if I make mistakes in the future, please don't... don't send me away, okay?"
"Okay, I will never send you away again."
It was late when Gu Bei Chen finally saw Murong Jin Yun back.
"Go wash your face properly when you get back. You've cried like a little raccoon cat."
Gu Bei Chen teased, her tear-streaked face still faintly visible.
"I know. Be careful on your way back. I'm going in now."
After Murong Jin Yun had gone, Gu Bei Chen stood there for a long time before finally riding away.
Upon returning to her room, Murong Jin Yun keenly sensed another presence within.
"Who's there? Sneaking around!"
As her voice fell, footsteps echoed from the dark room. Amidst the dim candlelight, Bai Li Xi's face became increasingly clear.
"Why are you here so late at night?"
Seeing who it was, Murong Jin Yun let out a small sigh of relief, though her tone remained displeased.
"Princess, have you truly fallen for him? Princess, don't forget our purpose here. Do you still remember His Majesty's instructions before you left?"
The hand holding the teacup trembled slightly, and Murong Jin Yun's exquisite face was filled with anger.
"My affairs are none of your business. Bai Li Xi, don't you forget, you were once merely a guard by my side. If I hadn't recommended you to my father, you wouldn't be the esteemed general you are today. Have your wings grown strong enough to dictate to me now?"
"Princess, please calm your anger. Your subordinate did not intend to offend you. It is simply that this matter concerns the future destiny of our West Liang for the next fifty years. It is of utmost importance. Please do not let personal affection cloud your judgment!"
As Bai Li Xi spoke, a fleeting hint of unidentifiable jealousy flashed in his eyes.
"I have my own judgment in matters, Princess. You may go down now. Do not enter without my permission."
"Yes, Princess. Your subordinate takes his leave."
Bai Li Xi exited the room. The moment the door closed, his gentle demeanor vanished, replaced by an overwhelming murderous aura.
"General, arrangements have been made. We have also dispatched half of the secret guards to protect the Princess."
A man in black knelt before Bai Li Xi and reported.
"Send men to deal with the heir of the Zhennan Prince, Gu Bei Chen!"
Bai Li Xi was convinced that Murong Jin Yun had become this way solely because of Gu Bei Chen.
If Gu Bei Chen died, Murong Jin Yun would be able to let go of her attachments.
He regretted his momentary soft-heartedness in asking His Majesty to let Murong Jin Yun accompany him. He had his own selfish motives then, hoping to use this opportunity to make Murong Jin Yun give up completely. He knew that the one in Murong Jin Yun's heart was not him, but as long as he could stay by her side, see her smile every day, and hear her call him 'A Xi', he would be content.
"Your subordinate obeys!"
The man in black bowed in assent, and his shadow vanished.
Murong Jin Yun confined herself to her room, drawing the layout of the military camp she had seen that day onto paper.
"Coo coo... coo coo..." The call of a carrier pigeon sounded outside the window.
Murong Jin Yun rose and caught Feng Jin, retrieving the secret letter from its leg. She then held a blank piece of paper over the fire, revealing a line of text: 'How are the East Chu's forces?'
The drawing on the table lay starkly before her. She picked it up, her heart a mixture of emotions, and slowly placed it into the letter tube.
The carrier pigeon flapped its wings twice and soared into the sky, heading towards the moon.
...
"Young General, this carrier pigeon was captured near the post station."
Lu Shi presented the still-living pigeon, a letter tube still attached to its leg.
Ling Mo Han retrieved the folded paper from the tube. Upon opening it, he found a map, but it was an unfamiliar topographical map.
This was a fake map of the military camp's deployment. Why would Murong Jin Yun release a fake map?
"Fake!" Feng Jin immediately recognized something was amiss.
The topographical layout of the military camp was intentionally falsified to prevent spies, but this map was undeniably false compared to the current deployment.
"The West Liang people are truly playing tricks. They even sent a fake map. Are they trying to play some kind of double agent game?"
Feng Jin's mind conjured images of a thrilling double spy drama.
"Double agent game?" Ling Mo Han inquired, his tone rising. Feng Jin always spoke of words he had never heard before.
"It means a spy."
"Young General, what should we do with this carrier pigeon?"
"Let it go back." Ling Mo Han carefully placed the map back into the tube. "Continue to monitor the post station. Report any unusual activity immediately."
"Yes, Young General."
Lu Shi took the carrier pigeon and walked into the courtyard. "Little one, you're lucky this time. If there's a next time, I'll surely roast you into a suckling pigeon!"
As if sensing its fate, the pigeon shivered involuntarily upon hearing this, its wings almost failing to flap. After a few beats, it finally took flight.
Murong Jin Yun sat by the window, her mind filled with thoughts. In her hand, she held the drawn map. In the end, she couldn't bring herself to do it. She didn't want Gu Bei Chen to be punished because of her.
She had used a fake map instead. She had become both disloyal and unfilial. What face did she have to face her father?
She was tired of living caught in the middle, torn between two sides. If she could choose, she would rather be the daughter of a commoner than a princess of the royal family.