After Jiang Yuanxi got into the carriage, Madam Wang’s expression quickly turned cold.

She exchanged a glance with the knife-wielding escort beside her.

Then she smiled and said, “We’ve been traveling for a long time. Let’s stop for a bit and let the horses rest while we have some biscuits.”

Tan Liuzi and Sanqiao readily agreed. They had been traveling nonstop for half a day and didn’t dare to take a break.

Now, their backsides were going numb, so they were glad to stretch their legs.

As the two men stepped behind the bushes, Madam Wang raised an eyebrow at the escort beside her.

Meanwhile, in the imperial city, upon learning of Jiang Yuanxi’s sudden disappearance, the emperor personally ordered the imperial guards to search for her.

Everywhere in Shengjing, soldiers’ shadows could be seen.

A few noble youths who had been playing with Jiang Yuancheng, along with Wang Hanqi, were lined up in front of the Golden Throne Hall.

With their pants removed, they lay face down on wooden benches, awaiting punishment from the emperor.

The Grand Duke of the Nation was furious, spitting as he scolded Wang Hanqi.

“You’re still young, yet you dared to go to a gambling house! And you lost Princess Xihe!”

“You’ve really made me proud!”

For the first time, Wang Hanqi didn’t dare talk back to his father.

That little girl was indeed annoying, but she had a sharp tongue, and he somewhat admired her.

Just this morning, she had predicted she’d have a misfortune involving blood. And sure enough, by afternoon, she had disappeared.

“Father, we didn’t mean to lose her. That place was full of all kinds of people—she might’ve just wandered off somewhere.”

The Grand Duke’s face turned red with anger. “So you knew that place was full of all kinds of people? If something happens to Princess Xihe, you’ll see how I deal with you!”

“Father, come on, it’s not that serious. I’m your only son, the heir of our household.”

The Grand Duke snorted. “Your mother is pregnant.”

Wang Hanqi: “…”

Beside him, Jiang Yuancheng was filled with regret, his tears soaking the bench.

It was his fault for not keeping an eye on his sister. His fault for gambling. He had left her behind in such a place.

If their parents found out she was missing, they would be heartbroken.

At this moment, back at the Jiang household, Chen Xinwan and Jiang Fengyuan were not resting for a second.

Madam Chen shut down all of their businesses in Shengjing, using every employee to search for Jiang Yuanxi.

Even several government officials sent out their people to help. The Duke of Han’s household even dispatched the Han Family Army.

Jiang Yuanwu, upon hearing that his sister was missing, felt overwhelming guilt.

If he hadn’t entrusted Yuanxi to Jiang Yuancheng, she wouldn’t have disappeared.

---

Meanwhile, in a small village on the outskirts of the capital…

The carriage came to a slow stop.

Madam Wang lifted the curtain and spoke roughly.

“Get down, all of you! You’ve been whining and crying the whole way—what, mourning for the dead?”

The girls in the carriage obediently got off and huddled together.

Only Jiang Yuanxi remained sitting on the edge, looking down.

Madam Wang was enraged. This little brat was disobedient.

“Didn’t you hear me? Get down!”

Jiang Yuanxi looked up, her little face full of grievance. “I can’t get down.”

Madam Wang clicked her tongue in annoyance.

She stepped forward and picked the child up.

“Granny, where are those two uncles?”

Madam Wang sneered, trying to scare her. “They didn’t listen, so the tigers in the mountains took them away. If you don’t listen, I’ll feed you to the tigers too, understand?”

Jiang Yuanxi pretended to be terrified.

She had noticed that Madam Wang had two more lines of karmic fate on her head.

Adding to the twenty she already had, that made twenty-two now.

Madam Wang locked them up in separate rooms.

Jiang Yuanxi and Mu Liuyun were placed in the same one.

There were already others who had been imprisoned earlier.

Mu Liuyun had taken care of Jiang Yuanxi the entire journey.

She had lost a younger sister two years ago. Seeing this little girl reminded her of her own.

“Little sister, what’s your name?” Mu Liuyun asked.

“Yuanxi.”

Jiang Yuanxi casually pulled a piece of dried meat from her sleeve.

The other girls looked at her with admiration.

A girl in a pale lotus-colored dress remarked, “Being young and naive can sometimes be a weapon.”

At least here, she was the only one who wasn’t scared, who could still sit down and eat calmly.

“A weapon? More like stupidity,” Ye Zhi sneered.

Mu Liuyun frowned and shielded Jiang Yuanxi behind her.

“She’s just a child. Mind your words.”

“Hah, am I wrong?”

Before Mu Liuyun could respond, Jiang Yuanxi put away her dried meat.

“My teeth finally stopped itching.”

Everyone: …

So the whole time, this little one was just teething?

Jiang Yuanxi walked up to Ye Zhi.

She gave a bright smile. Just as Ye Zhi thought she was about to say something serious, Jiang Yuanxi opened her mouth.

“Sis, I’m hungry. I want milk.”

“Pfft.”

Someone couldn’t hold back their laughter.

Ye Zhi’s face turned red with embarrassment.

“You… you…” She pointed at Jiang Yuanxi, speechless.

“Stupid brat, get lost!”

Jiang Yuanxi’s gaze shifted to the others. The girls hurriedly looked down.

One by one, they covered their chests and turned away.

Half embarrassed, half resigned to their fate.

Finally, Jiang Yuanxi’s eyes landed on Mu Liuyun.

Mu Liuyun’s face turned crimson. She was still unmarried.

She stammered, “Y-Yuanxi, I… I can’t help you with that.”

Jiang Yuanxi let out a long sigh.

Since no one would help her ask for milk, she would have to do it herself.

The little girl walked to the door and knocked loudly.

The guards had just barely gotten some rest when the noise woke them up.

“Who the hell is knocking in the middle of the night?!”

One guard, Qin San, grabbed his machete and stomped toward the sound.

“Who was it? Who knocked?!” He was furious.

The moonlight gleamed on his blade, casting a chilling glow.

Inside the room, the girls huddled together in fear.

Jiang Yuanxi stood straight. “Me.”

The guard didn’t see anyone. He swung his machete toward the room. “Who is it? Get out here!”

The girls trembled.

“Look down.”

Qin San looked down.

Under the moonlight, he finally saw the tiny figure in front of him.

A child barely reaching his knees.

His mouth twitched.

Madam Wang must be insane, kidnapping someone this small.

What could such a tiny thing even do? She wouldn’t even be able to pour tea properly.

“You… what do you want?”

Jiang Yuanxi’s stomach rumbled. “Hungry. Want milk.”

Inside, the girls silently lit a candle for her in their hearts.

This girl was too naive. Asking these monsters for food? That was basically asking for death.

Mu Liuyun clenched her fists.

Qin San’s thick black eyebrows knitted together, his face showing traces of murderous intent.

“Damn it, where am I supposed to find milk for you in the middle of nowhere?”

Jiang Yuanxi looked at him seriously.

“Give me milk, and I’ll save you.”

Qin San burst into laughter.

“You? Save me?”

But then… her words struck something in him.

“Only by walking through death can you find a way out.”

His laughter faded.

He stared at the tiny girl.

Under the moonlight, her eyes shone like the stars.

No—brighter than the stars.

And yet, her face remained emotionless.

Qin San was momentarily dazed.

For some reason, a deep respect formed in his heart.