The journey continued with the group riding in uneasy silence, the weight of the ambush hanging over them. The skies had darkened, heavy clouds looming ominously, as if nature itself was mirroring the growing tension in the empire. Li Yuhua glanced at her guards, some of whom nursed minor wounds from the attack. They were loyal and determined, but even they could feel the shadows closing in around them.
As they rode, Li Yuhua's thoughts swirled with a single realization: someone in the capital had tipped off Fang Wei's forces. The ambush had been too well-timed, too precise. There was no way they would have known her route unless they had been given inside information. The realization sent a chill down her spine.
Who could have betrayed her?
---
Later that afternoon, they stopped at a small village nestled by a river, seeking rest and supplies. The village seemed peaceful, untouched by the chaos brewing in the empire. Children played by the water, and farmers went about their work, oblivious to the greater political struggles taking place beyond their fields.
Li Yuhua dismounted her horse, her legs stiff from the long ride. She noticed Lady Zhen was pale, though the noblewoman tried to hide her discomfort.
"We should stay here for the night," Li Yuhua suggested. "The men need rest, and so do we."
Lady Zhen nodded, clearly relieved. "I'll arrange for food and lodgings."
Li Yuhua watched her walk off toward the village elders, her mind still troubled by the ambush. Fang Wei's reach was long, but someone within their own ranks was helping him. She couldn't shake the thought. There had been too many coincidences, too many close calls. Every move she made seemed to be anticipated.
Her mind flashed back to the palace—conversations in darkened halls, fleeting glances exchanged among courtiers. Who could have access to the sensitive information? Was it someone close to the emperor? Or perhaps someone she had trusted?
The thought gnawed at her as the sun began to set, casting long shadows over the village.
---
That evening, they gathered in a small inn by the river. The inn was modest, with wooden beams darkened by years of use and a fireplace crackling warmly. The guards took turns standing watch outside while the others ate quietly. Lady Zhen, though exhausted, maintained her composure, discussing the next leg of their journey with Li Yuhua in hushed tones.
As they talked, a young village girl brought them tea, her eyes wide with curiosity at the noble ladies seated before her. Li Yuhua offered the girl a kind smile, though her thoughts were elsewhere.
"We must be prepared for more attacks," Lady Zhen said, her voice low. "Fang Wei will not stop until he's sure we are out of the way."
Li Yuhua nodded. "I know. But we must also consider that someone is feeding him information."
Lady Zhen froze, her cup halfway to her lips. "Do you believe there's a traitor in our midst?"
Li Yuhua's gaze drifted toward the window, where the moonlight illuminated the dark landscape beyond. "I don't know who it is yet, but someone betrayed us. The ambush was too well planned."
Lady Zhen set her cup down, her expression troubled. "If you're right, then we're in more danger than we thought."
Li Yuhua leaned forward, her voice barely a whisper. "We must be careful. Until we know who it is, we can't trust anyone."
---
Later that night, Li Yuhua found herself unable to sleep. She lay on her simple mat in the corner of the room, staring up at the ceiling, her mind racing. The betrayal weighed heavily on her. She had to find out who it was before they made their next move, or everything she had worked for would be lost.
A faint rustling sound drew her attention. She sat up slowly, her hand instinctively reaching for the dagger she kept by her side. The room was dimly lit by the moonlight filtering through the window, but she could make out a figure moving silently toward the door.
It was one of the guards, a man named Chao, who had been with them since they left the capital. He moved with a strange urgency, as if he didn't want to be seen. Li Yuhua's instincts flared.
Without making a sound, she rose to her feet and followed him into the night.
---
Outside, the village was silent, the only sounds the soft lapping of the river and the distant chirping of insects. Li Yuhua kept her distance, watching as Chao disappeared into a nearby grove of trees. She followed, her heart pounding in her chest.
As she approached the grove, she heard voices—Chao's and someone else's. She crept closer, hiding behind a tree as she listened.
"I delivered the information, just like you asked," Chao whispered urgently. "But they're getting suspicious. Lady Li is no fool."
A second voice, cold and calculating, responded. "It doesn't matter. Fang Wei already knows their route. They won't make it to the southern provinces alive."
Li Yuhua's blood ran cold.
Chao was the traitor.
Her mind raced as she considered her options. She could confront him now, but that would risk alerting Fang Wei's agents. No, she had to be smart. She had to use this information to her advantage.
Slowly, she backed away from the grove, her heart pounding. She had the proof she needed, but now she had to act carefully. Chao couldn't know that she had overheard the conversation. Not yet.
---
Back at the inn, Li Yuhua slipped into her room unnoticed. She sat on the edge of her mat, her mind racing. Now that she knew Chao was the traitor, she had to find a way to outmaneuver him. But she couldn't act alone.
She needed allies.
Lady Zhen.
Lady Zhen had proven herself time and time again, and Li Yuhua knew she could be trusted. Tomorrow, she would tell her what she had discovered, and together, they would devise a plan to turn the tables on Fang Wei's agents.
For now, all she could do was wait. The storm was coming, and Li Yuhua knew that the road ahead would be even more dangerous than before.
But she was ready.
---
End of Chapter 13
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