Chapter 23

She woke up to the sound of Mao Guanglie knocking on the door. She rolled off the bed, her legs were sore, and her stomach felt tight, but luckily her wounds from the whipping were still doing ok. She opened the door, looking like a beggar. Her hair was wild, and she was unwashed. Mao Guanglie stared at her for a moment, wondering how such a girl could exist, then let her know to get ready to head off. Shortly after he left, a woman came in dropped off a new set of clothes. Liang Lia Jiao was ecstatic to see that they were men's clothes, and she wouldn't need to be constricted. They were smaller than the Prince's clothes and fit her much better.

She came down the stairs looking refreshed and clean, but her hair was messily twisted in a bun on her head still wet. Even so, she still somehow managed to look mesmerizing. Zhao Gui had spent half the night thinking about her. When he saw her now, his breath hitched. His heart raced a little, and he felt himself blush. This was the first time in his twenty-two years of living that he thought this foolish. He quickly turned away from her, afraid that he would get caught staring at her.

Prince Yi Feng glanced at her. He was eating and couldn't bother caring about what she looked like. He pointed to the table, telling her to sit. She greeted him with a deep bow, then quickly joined him at the table. She stacked her bowl with vegetables and rice and didn't pay attention to anything else besides eating.

"Today, we'll gather the Shaoding regiment and draw them into our fold. That should give us close to fifty thousand troops near the Capital. It won't be long now," the Prince eyed Liang Lia Jiao as he spoke gauging her expression. She could care less about what he was saying. Her mind was on Xianger. She wanted to go out and check on him. Prince Yi Feng hoped that her disinterest was genuine and not a ruse. He kept the actual number of troops a secret. If he counted the total of soldiers in the bordering towns within the Shaoding regiment, it was closer to a hundred thousand. If his intel was accurate, his brother had amassed close to hundred-fifty-thousand troops.

He needed to keep a low profile for now. Even if everyone knew that he was amassing and arranging his own troops, they couldn't do anything about it until he actually strikes. When they finished eating, they headed to the stable. A servant had already gotten the horses prepared and ready for their journey. It would take about a day to get to Shaoding. They had ridden close to eighty miles yesterday over nine hours. They were about a third of the way from Runyang to Shaoding.

Liang Lia Jiao was excited to see that the servant had spent some time grooming Xianger and thanked him thoroughly. The stable hand wasn't used to being thanked for doing his job and denied her praise humbly.

When the Prince and guards were on their horses, Liang Lia Jiao had only just led out Xianger. She stood next to him, looking up with uncertainty.

"Get on, let's go," Prince Yi Feng said impatiently.

Lia Jiao jumped on XIanger and steadied herself. She had never ridden a horse on her own, she wasn't exactly sure what do do, luckily Xianger was a pro. He followed the other horses with relative ease. The rush of the wind as she rode was freeing. She raised her arms and let out a little shout in excitement. This was a feeling she could get used to. Prince Yi Feng looked back at her, hearing her shout and puzzled his brows. She was staring up at the sky with her hands raised in the air, a big stupid smile on her face.

Zhao Gui looked back; his eyes were bright, and his lips were stretched in a smile from one side to the next. Mao Guanglie and Qin Weimin both looked back then quickly turned away, just hoping the foolish girl wouldn't fall off the horse and cause an issue.

Lia Jiao leaned forward and whispered in Xianger's ear, telling him how happy she was and how proud of him she was. Her joy was suddenly interrupted by the sound of Xiang-Xiang crying loudly from above her. She looked up, he was circling in tight circles. He was very nervous.

"Prince Yi Feng," She called out, speeding up Xianger until she was riding next to him. "There is an issue ahead of us. We should be cautious." His guards grew serious, even though they weren't sure if she was right or not. Their main priority was the Prince.

Prince Yi Feng slowed his horse down and stared at Lia Jiao. He wasn't sure if he wanted to trust her words or not. For all, he knew she was setting up a trap of her own. He looked her over. She was staring in the distance, her eyes squinted, and intense look on her face.

"Xiang-Xiang is anxious. He wouldn't be this panicked unless he sensed serious danger and killing intent." She kept her gaze forward. Xiang-Xiang continued to call out every once in a while with loud piercing calls. She lifted her fingers to her lips and let out a loud whistle. Xiang-Xiang flew, bringing everything into a sudden stillness. "Xiang-Jiao must be ahead somewhere."

Prince Yi Feng assumed these were the names of her birds. He looked in the direction she was looking. He was still hesitant but leaning towards believing her. He motioned to Mao Guanglie, "Be quick," he ordered.

Mao Guanglie nodded his head and kicked his horse. He was quickly out of sight. Mao Guanglie rode in the direction that Lia Jiao indicated. When he rode back, he jumped off his horse and knelled in front of Prince Yi Feng.

"Say it," Prince Yi Feng sad calmly.

"Defectors, at least three hundred. They are holding the banner of your brothers Wen Guo regiment, but wearing the armor of the Liping regiment."

Another shriek pierced the stillness. Liang Lia Jiao froze, then turned the horse around and glared. "More from that way." She had trained her birds to notify her of danger. She'd offered treats and rewards for nearly a year until they started to understand what she wanted from them. After that, they became vital to her. They were her eyes, able to see far into the distance. They had a natural instinct towards danger and were as good as a warning bell. She knew that there was in grave danger.

"Your orders?" Mao Guanglie said, staring at Prince Yi Feng with worry.

Lia Jiao let out two short whistles followed by a pause then another short whistle. Xiang-Xiang flew into the distance heading towards the West. When he came back, he circled then headed West again. "That way, she said."

Prince Yi Feng was at an impasse. To trust or not to trust. If she was lying and West was where the real trap lay, there was a good chance they would die. "West!" He decided. He kicked his horse and headed off.

They forced the horses into exhaustion. Xianger was having the hardest time. Lia Jiao didn't care if she had to run for the rest of her life, but she was worried that Xianger was going to get hurt from the exertion.