"Where are you from, Miss?" The crown prince asked finally spoke up after a few minutes of silence.
Instantly everyone looked at the man, including the guards and slaves including Ara.
Receiving such a question, Ara stiffened. 'What is the meaning of the question? It's impossible if he suspects me?' Ara thought, guessing.
"Hey, are you deaf?" Bai Jun rebuked Ara who was silent. Confusion appeared on everyone's faces, completely not understanding the man's question.
It was not without reason why Zhang Jiangwu said that, because so far in the Qin kingdom there had never been a woman with such an archery ability, not even a woman of noble descent.
"Speak," said a guard as he kicked the girl's ass and managed to make her wince.
Receiving such treatment, Ara thought hard.
But, "Forget it, take them to the palace and give them a flogging," said the Crown Prince immediately then turned around. Within him, he firmly believed that one of the slaves before him at this time was not a native of the Qin kingdom.
"No do not. What did we do wrong?" said a slave.
"Forgive us, Your Majesty, have mercy on us. We can do whatever you want as long as you don't punish us," cried one of the slaves who was next to the woman, she suddenly prostrated herself begging for mercy.
"How dare! Since when did a slave like you say something like that?" Bai Jun said in a high tone of voice.
"Should His Majesty have any reason to punish you? Hah?"
"N-no Master, Your Majesty please forgive us. Forgive us," said the slave again while crying. It was obvious that she was very frightened.
Bai Jun squeaked disapprovingly.
"Drag them," he said again.
"Wait!" Suddenly Ara shouted.
Hearing that, one of Zhang Jiangwu's eyebrows rose.
"Free them, let me bear it all," said Ara in a loud voice, she just couldn't bear to see the women getting punished again after successfully surviving the wolves.
"What did you say? Who do you think you are to make such a request? Hah?" Bai Jun stared intently at Ara.
"I'm Xiao Ara."
The corners of Bai Jun's lips twitched at the answer of the slave in front of him.
"You still dare to answer?"
"You ask me, sir, of course, I will answer," said Xiao Ara lightly.
"You?" Bai Jun suddenly stepped forward with his fists tightly clenched, currently, he was annoyed.
"Eits, don't hit her in front of His Majesty," Xue Yen said preventing Bai Jun.
While Zhang Jiangwu remained motionless, his eyes never left the slave girl who called herself Xiao Ara.
"Alright, comply with the request. Take her and free them," he said then turned away followed by several guards.
Suddenly all the men who were in the place glanced at each other.
Bai Jun, who heard Zhang Jiangwu's orders, was getting more and more annoyed, he hated that woman.
"You'll see, how long will you last you, lowly woman," said Bai Jun sarcastically then turned around and followed the crown prince.
While the female slaves other than Xiao Ara were now prostrate and grateful, being able to be freed from the torment was an extremely rare thing.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you," said one of the slaves while shouting.
"Thank you, Miss, hopefully, your kindness will not harm you in the future. We will always remember your name, Xiao Ara," she added, turning to the girl.
Ara didn't respond, the girl just nodded in agreement without saying a word.
After that, all of them disbanded and returned to the Royal Capital.
"Your Majesty, so what about the winner of the hunting party just now?" Xue Yen asked, trying to match the position of the horse he was riding with Zhang Jiangwu.
"There is no. This time there is no winner," replied the crown prince in a very flat tone of voice.
"Hmm, what a shame. Okay, there's still next month, "he said then again slowed the pace of the horse and returned to its original place. He had guessed this since earlier.
The journey from the hunting grounds to the city center took almost an hour.