Adam Spencer replied, “Because I believe that anyone bold enough to attempt to assassinate the Tang Empire’s Fourth Princess is definitely not as idiotic as that woman, and would have more than a few contingency plans.”

Lily Spencer hesitated, then reminded him, “You… should speak to her more politely.”

“I know her true identity.” Adam Spencer raised his eyebrows slightly and said mockingly, “So what if she’s a princess? Back in Weicheng, I already said she’s just an idiot princess.”

Chapter Eight: Outside Beishan Road, An Arrow Comes from the South

“Even if you’re arranging for someone to meet you, the choice of location is very important. If it were up to me, I’d rather set the rendezvous on a main road than at Pinecone Ridge.”

Adam Spencer looked at the prominent ink mark he had just made on the hand-drawn map and said, “They chose to go via Beishan Road, but didn’t consider that although it’s a single road, both sides of the seven-li stretch are dense forest, making it very easy to set up an ambush.”

After saying this, he fell silent for a moment, put the hand-drawn map inside his clothes, shook his head and said self-mockingly, “It seems that the so-called guide, apart from leading them into Beishan Road, is mostly just trying to confuse the enemy. That idiot princess never trusted General Ma, and naturally wouldn’t trust me either.”

“An idiot leading a group of idiots.” Thinking of the possible ambushes in Beishan Road, and the support troops that might or might not be there, his mood grew heavier and more despondent. He lowered his voice and said harshly, “After nearly a year on the grasslands, she still hasn’t gotten any smarter. I really don’t know where her reputation for wisdom comes from.”

With a metallic sound, Adam Spencer drew three knives from their sheaths, still bearing traces of rust, unscrewed his water pouch to wet the whetstone, and began silently sharpening the blades. There might be bloody battles ahead after entering Beishan Road; sharpening his knives now might be a bit late, but at least it calmed his mind.

“If you separate from them as soon as you enter Beishan Road, what about the questions you wanted to ask that old gentleman?” Lily Spencer asked somewhat blankly.

“Staying alive is most important.” Adam Spencer lowered his head, sharpening the knife with slow, powerful, and determined movements. “As long as we can make it to Chang’an alive, there will always be a chance to learn those things. If the two of us put our lives in the hands of this group of idiots, there won’t be any chance at all.”

The further south they went, the warmer the climate became. In theory, the scenery outside the carriage windows should have grown more vibrant and lush, but as the group entered the vast Min Mountains and the terrain rose, the green grass around the convoy gradually disappeared, replaced by tall trees lining the road. The leaves were not yet fully green and flourishing, still carrying the bleakness accumulated from last autumn and winter.

As the temperature in the world dropped slightly, a tense and oppressive atmosphere also enveloped the entire convoy. Everyone knew that the powerful figure in Chang’an who dared to plot against Her Highness the Princess—if he wanted to prevent her safe return to the capital—then the Min Mountains, between the border and the prefectures, would be his last chance.

Amidst tense vigilance and searching, the convoy traveled for several days and finally reached the outskirts of Beishan Road. Looking at the dense forest that blocked out the sky, most people in the group did not show the same worried expression as Adam Spencer; instead, they seemed much more relaxed.

The delicate maid had spent much less time chatting with Lily Spencer these days, staying mostly in the second carriage. When she got out that evening, there was even a faint smile on her face.

When she decided to leave the grasslands, she had already sent a messenger ahead into the empire. Although it was impossible to reach Chang’an in time to have the court dispatch a large army to meet them, the messenger had enough time to contact her loyal subordinates.

Ten days ago, after receiving an urgent reply from Gushan County, she had decided without hesitation to head straight into Beishan Road, because she believed that the young commandant of Gushan County, William Hill, should already be leading his personal guard to the southern exit of Beishan Road.

She had been away from the Tang Empire for only a year, and she firmly believed that those loyal to her would remain loyal. Even if some had been bought off by that woman in the palace, William Hill would never be swayed, because… the way he looked at her was always so gentle.

With about thirty li left to the rendezvous point, the convoy began to make camp at dusk. Traveling through dense forest at night was risky from any perspective; some guards even suggested that the group simply wait outside the entrance to Beishan Road until William Hill’s troops arrived.

She was still considering this suggestion, but no matter how she looked at it, she and Xiao Man were now very safe. So a smile returned to her delicate face, and the laughter and joy that had been suppressed for days returned to the camp.

In the twilight, a simple tent stood alone on the edge of the circular carriage formation. The princess’s chief guard had questioned this arrangement, but the tent’s owner insisted, refusing to move into the formation made up of five carriages and chests.

“If we’re not far from their carriage formation, how will we have time to run if something happens?”

Adam Spencer explained with a hint of mockery. He tied up the big black umbrella with a grass rope, had Lily Spencer carry it, and then tied the knot into a very pretty little flower.

Lily Spencer looked up at his chin, now showing a faint stubble, and asked, “If we run away, what will happen to them?”

Adam Spencer was checking the bowstring for dampness. Hearing this, he turned to look at the little maid’s dark face, and after a long silence, said seriously, “You may have forgotten what happened when you were little, but I haven’t.”