Compared to Henan and her guards, Lue Zhen had to keep his journey slower because it was just three days ago that Jie Lan received sword cut on her back.
After four days long journey, they reached another state of Kingdom and the next day they were in a remote village where his parents were living with a different identity.
They warmly welcomed him; Lue Zhen talked to his father about the circumstances.
"If any villager asked us who were both girls?" his mother was little concerned.
Lue Zhen looked out where both sisters were sitting under the bamboo shade and after some thought, he slightly smiled, "Tell them that Jie Lan is the wife of your older son, Lue Zhen." Both parents looked at their son and he looked at them and lowered his eyes.
His mother and father smiled back assuring him, he thanked them and came out.
Wei Lan got away sensing Lue Zhen wanted to talk her sister.
They walked toward another end, slightly off the eyes of others, "I don't thrive to come, please marry someone else, I am going back to search and protect Miss Henan," she could understand his intentions but she did not want to lose him.
"Promise me, you will be back," he clutched his fists. "I can't promise, I have to trade my life to save Miss Henan Zhong," though he said softly Jie Lan could not stop her tears.
He took few steps ahead and heard, "I'll wait for you till the end," he stood rooted to his feet for few moments and rushed to her to catch her falling tears, two big drops of tears fell on his hands and he admonished her softly, "These are precious, please don't shed them again," saying this he wrapped her in his embrace and gently kissed her on her head, wiped her face with his hand and urged her to smile for him.
If he left her crying, he would be able to keep his journey suave, the woman who conquered his heart completely without wielding any weapon; instead, she chose to face the weapon which was aimed at him.
Why would not he love her? This was the highest peak of love to sacrifice precious life to secure someone.
...…..
Prince did not inform anyone and head toward the mansion but he got more panicked to see that mansion was deserted.
He cursed himself, Henan shared most of her concerns with him but he was such coward to share to the truth which revolved around her life.
He tried to recall her possible hints or intentions about her next step.
What would he do if he lost his father? He muddled in his mind with storming queries and rejoinders.
What if Martial Assassins were already sent by his father? Thunderstruck and he could not think any more then he voiced to himself, "No, King has prepared Martial Assassins, did not send yet," at this time he had lost his usual composure.
Thinking something, he stormed toward the direction where Henan left.
He was incomparably faster than fastest War Messenger.
It seemed his life race; the places he crossed were left in chaos only destiny in his mind was Henan Zhong…
.......
From the day Henan started her journey, she knew it was long journey and King might have sent Assassins after her. She never thought that Prince would search for her.
There were many small factions and states in their way, after whole day journey, Henan and her guards were dead tired and they needed to rest for next day long journey, they reached to a remote inn of a small village.
Henan checked for a few rooms and they got four rooms finally for their stay. Few customers were there in service expanse for dinner.
They also sat to order their dinner.
A petit attendant was serving the orders, she was Xue Ren, a sixteen years old girl but wearing male robs and serving as a male attendant.
Her stature was too willowy to be called by appearance.
She was serving this inn for two years because her family had no choice if they wanted to fill their bellies; their eldest daughter had to earn living for them, her mother and younger sister.
Henan and her guards occupied three tables and started waiting for the attendant to receive the order and Xue Ren was serving on another table, she put the tray filled with different pots of dishes. She moved to take orders from new customers nearing this table, the man grabbed her wrist and she hurriedly moved to see.
"Your wrist is too slender as a girl, you should work out and be manly," the man chuckled lightly and released her hand.
She felt pain on her wrist but moved to take orders from Henan and her guards.
They ordered porridge of meat and some rice.
"I bet she is a girl unlike her male robs," a man who was his friend said peering his eyes.
His eyes were moving with the movement of service attendant, he was critically keeping eyes on her. There were four people on that table; their physiques were well built.
One of them who talked with Xue Ren was wearing a handkerchief on his head covering it, another one was wearing metal ring in his ear, and the other two were as bizarre as them in appearance. The man who was keeping an eye on the attendant had a deep scar between his brows.
Henan and her guards heard his bet, and they shook their head thinking people had plenty of time to gossip about others.
Soon their dinner was served.
Hot discussion started on the other table, three men were shouting at each other, one of them said, "No, she is definitely a girl," other one refuted immediately, "He is a teenage boy that's why he is slender."
"Why both of you fucking each other, just pull that lean bastard and strip off his dress, then fuck yourself he or she," the third one was angered at their nonsense squabble, while the fourth one seemed that all their wrangle was none of his business.