Chapter 174 - The Group Grows

"Sister Gao!" Shi Lu Wen waved her hand excitedly.

On the other side, Wei Liuying was looking at the two of them with dumbfounded expression. Sister? Shi Lu Wen has become Gao Ling's sister? Why didn't that stingy and annoying strategist told her about this, ah?

While Wei Liuying was grumbling at the information that Yang Xian withheld from her, Gao Ling had already stepped forward and begun to chat merrily with Shi Lu Wen. It seemed that the two girls were close to each other.

"Soldier Ling."

"Yes?" Wei Liuying turned her head to the back. She could see a man stood behind her. He had large built and was far taller than her. Donned in an armor, he looked even more menacing, but she knew for sure that he was not used to stay on the limelight like this.

She had seen him before. His name was Du Min, a servant who usually guarded Prince Ji Sheng from the shadow. This time, Ji Sheng asked him to be Gao Ling's escort to make sure that there was nothing wrong.

"is there anything I can help, Soldier Min?"

"Lady Gao will be staying here for the time being. We should head to a different place to guard them." Du Min pointed to the tree.

Wei Liuying nodded and followed him. They settled on top of the tree and leaned back. With their martial arts, it was not a big problem to stay outside in the winter night. If they couldn't even handle this, they would be punished greatly by a certain prince and strategist.

"Lady Gao and Miss Lu Wen are sisters?" Wei Liuying asked.

"Yes. The two of them agreed to call each other as sisters because of their past relationship."

"I see."

Wei Liuying watched as Gao Ling and Shi Lu Wen spent the dinner together. They looked so happy together as if they were meeting a long lost friend after a long time not meeting each other. Seeing the sight, Wei Liuying faintly remembered her uncle, whom she hadn't met for a long time.

She hoped that he was fine.

"Would you like to stroll around the city, Soldier Ying?"

"There's no need for that," Wei Liuying replied unhurriedly. Her dark iris was still staring straight to the house. "My task is to protect Lady Gao no matter what. I can't possibly leave her alone."

"I understand, Soldier Ying."

Du Min peered at Wei Liuying, but he didn't say anything more. Prince Ji Sheng sent three soldiers to accompany Gao Ling here, including him. However, he was the only one who knew Wei Liuying's real identity because he had been following Prince Ji Sheng ever since a very long time ago.

The sight of Wei Liuying entering the group so seamlessly and got accepted so quickly made him baffled back then. But when she started to shine, he understood why Prince Ji Sheng wanted her so much.

She had the talent and skill.

"They're going to rest. We'll take turns, Du Min."

"Yes, Soldier Ying."

The night passed quietly. This was not the first time Wei Liuying spent her time outside and slept on top of the tree. When she was sick of her servants whom her mother sent to her fake attitude, she would climb tree silently at night and spent her time gazing on the stars. The night wind was cool, and it made her feel much more comfortable when she spent her time on top of the tree.

Maybe, it was because there was always nothing but silence around her when she was on top of the tree. At the same time, there was no need for her to keep on using the fake expression on her face all the time.

As the sun rise, Wei Liuying climbed down the tree. "We should eat."

"Yes."

They grouped with the soldiers again and ate their meal before they waited for Gao Ling to come out. However, they were dumbfounded when they saw Shi Lu Wen also came out with a small bag behind her.

"Lu Wen will be coming with me," Gao Ling said with a grin. "It's not a problem, right?"

"Lady Gao, please act with caution. It's hard for us to protect the two of you if you insist on bringing Miss Lu Wen."

"Yes, please think about this again!"

The soldiers were begging Gao Ling. They didn't want to have to protect two people all at once. It was clear that they would be in for a much harder task if they tried to protect two people all at once.

"Why not? It's not like it'll be such a dangerous journey for us." Gao Ling protested. "We're going to the temple and it'll be hard for me without having someone to chat with since you're all so rigid."

The soldiers: "…"

After a few more time debating, Shi Lu Wen finally could enter the same carriage with Gao Ling. The soldiers chose to pretend that they didn't see anything and didn't know about anything. If they thought about it, they would be feeling so indignant.

Du Min silently sent message to Prince Ji Sheng about this development. It would be better for him to know that Gao Ling was asking for someone else to follow her to the temple rather than keeping it a secret from everyone. 

"I can't believe that you have to go to the temple this time, Sister Gao," Shi Lu Wen said inside the carriage.

Gao Ling waved her hand lightly. "It's just the same as usual. But I'll hate it if they arrange someone to be my teacher and teach me about the etiquette again."

Shi Lu Wen giggled. "it's necessary for you to learn a lot of things, Lady Gao. If you didn't learn, you might end up embarrass yourself as Prince Ji Sheng's fiancée in front of other young ladies."

Gao Ling didn't reply again. She still knew the basic, but she also understood that the battle for women would not be that easy. Standing at the top meant that no one would dare to blatantly refute her, but she would be under heavy surveillance. Everyone would be waiting for her to make a mistake if they wished to be able to bring her down.

It would be a very tiring battle.

"The men are busy fighting at the frontline, but we have to stay on the back and fight our own battles," Gao Ling said with a smile. "And of course, I'll not let anyone speak ill about my future husband."

Shi Lu Wen giggled. She knew how much these two liked each other. It was to the point that no one could possibly separate them no matter what happen.

"What is your plan in the temple, Lady Gao?"

"I just have to stay there and probably copy some scripture. I only hope that it won't be that boring."

"Would you like to have some other friends, Lady Gao?" Shi Lu Wen's eyes sparkled with mischievous glint. It was clear that she had some naughty plan.

"What kind of friends?"

"Those whom your soldiers might fear."

Gao Ling blinked her eyes. She rubbed her chin. "As long as this will not result in bad reputation for Prince Ji Sheng, I don't mind. What kind of plan do you have, Lu Wen?"

"Just wait."

Shi Lu Wen took out a small flute and put it near her mouth. Before long, melodious song rang out from the carriage, startling the soldiers. Because flute was uncommon, most noble ladies were not used to play it. Only some people would learn how to play it.

Gao Ling couldn't play the instrument, but Shi Lu Wen was proficient in it.

"Why is Miss Lu Wen playing the flute?"

"Maybe Lady Gao wished for her to play the flute?"

Wei Liuying listened while watching her surroundings carefully. The song was fast in tempo and sounded cheerful. At the same time, there seemed to be a message that was conveyed through the melodious song.

*rustle*

"What's that?" The soldiers quickly raised their swords and be on their guards. They could hear the rustling of leaves on the forest as they walked. Since they have been going to the south, the terrain had long changed to that of forest and no longer the harsh dry lands anymore.

"I don't know."

Swish!

A large man appeared before them. He had large body with his clothes partially ripped. At the same time, he brought a large saber on his back. His eyes looked dangerously to the carriage and soldiers before him.

Several other men followed him from behind. Each of them wore ragged clothing, but their menacing aura was clear.

"They're…"

"Bandits," Wei Liuying muttered. She had heard that Shi Yan was acquaintance with the bandits, but from the way it looked like, the one who knew them would be Shi Lu Wen and not Shi Yan. She needed more clear explanation when they met each other later.

"Miss Lu Wen," the large man at the front, Shan Yi, called out.

Shi Lu Wen peeked her head from the carriage. "What are you doing here, Shan Yi?"