Chapter 751

Da Wo was stunned on the spot, never expecting He Ya to actually block his way.

These days, He Ya kept trying to find Da Wo, but those fierce black-clad men guarded Da Wo's house so tightly that not even a fly could get in.

Soon the villagers spread the word that the two little brats Da Wo's family had rescued were actually the prince and princess of Southern Qi.

The villagers were simply envious to death—what kind of heaven-sent riches is this!

The chieftain and his son didn't know where they had been taken; in short, it was more ominous than auspicious.

The Da Wo family, previously looked down upon by the villagers, had now become the object of everyone's envy; moreover, word spread that Da Wo would be taken away by the Qian Yuan Emperor to the capital, thereafter to serve as an imperial guard, and perhaps even be ennobled as a king or marquis in the future.

If the villagers felt envy and jealousy, He Ya was the one who regretted it most.

She also hated her own parents to death; if they hadn't urged her to leave Da Wo, she might now be able to follow him to the capital and rise to prominence.

At this point, saying anything is already too late; she only hopes Da Wo will remember their past affection and renew their bond, and that she too can accompany him to the capital, becoming a proper noble lady—this would be the blessing she cultivated in her previous life.

The guards under Ling Feng had all heard about Da Wo and He Ya's affair, and they all despised such a woman.

Disliking poverty and loving wealth is understandable enough, but a good horse does not eat grass it has already passed; now that He Ya has turned back to seek Da Wo again, it seems rather disgusting.

They deliberately sealed off Da Wo's house so tightly that He Ya had no chance to get in, but unexpectedly, at this moment the woman burst out from the bushes and lunged straight at Da Wo.

If Da Wo's horsemanship were not superb, the startled horse would have raised its hooves and trampled He Ya into a pulp.

"He Ya?" Da Wo hastily dismounted and helped He Ya up.

"Da Wo!" He Ya lunged into Da Wo's embrace; Da Wo's face twitched slightly, about to push her away, but He Ya had already grabbed his waist.

Cough cough cough! Yun Duo felt this scene was extremely embarrassing, not something she should see; she hastily took the reins and stepped aside to the side of Gu Jiu Ling's carriage.

Because He Ya suddenly appeared, the entire troop had to halt and wait for Da Wo.

In other words, Da Wo had the standing to make the emperor and empress of Southern Qi wait for him, after all, he was the lifesaver of their children.

After about the time it takes to burn half an incense stick, the troop resumed its slow advance, and Gu Jiu Ling lifted a corner of the curtain and said to Yun Duo, "Yun Duo, come into the carriage."

"Yes!" Yun Duo guessed it was probably about He Ya's matter.

She lifted the curtain, carefully slipped into the carriage, and bowed to Gu Jiu Ling.

"No need for much ceremony," Gu Jiu Ling soothed the two little ones who had fallen asleep in the carriage's partition, thus freeing up time to deal with some miscellaneous matters.

"How was Da Wo handled?" Gu Jiu Ling lifted the tea dregs and took a light sip of tea.

Yun Duo hastily replied, "In response to my lord, Da Wo… has kept He Ya by his side."

"That He Ya is no simpleton; she actually took the opportunity to come in person to pay her respects, wanting to kowtow to you, my lord—hm, it's not really about kowtowing; she probably just wants to get familiar in your presence and then exploit the Da Wo family's name for some advantage."

Gu Jiu Ling nodded, giving Yun Duo an approving glance.

Even this low-emotional-intelligence maid could see He Ya's wolfish ambition; it seems Da Wo is truly quite foolish.

If it were someone else, she wouldn't bother with these matters—there are too many injustices in the world; how could she possibly manage them all?

But Da Wo is different; whenever he thinks of how his children were taken away by the Ma Ma Han father and son in that sandstorm, he feels a lingering fear, enough to break out in a cold sweat just thinking about it.

Yun Duo continued, "However, Commander Ling Feng directly blocked her outside, saying her status was too low—how could she possibly be allowed to casually meet the emperor and empress?"

"Commander Ling also told Da Wo to keep his woman in check; they are following the imperial entourage, and making a mistake could cost them their heads!"

Gu Jiu Ling smiled satisfactorily: "Ling Feng has done a good job."

Yun Duo lowered her voice: "My lord, are we really going to bring that woman along all the way? Moreover, Da Wo will be attending the young master as a guard; I always feel this woman is not easy to get along with—she might stir up trouble."

"My lord, what should we do? Why not have me go out and drive that woman away?"

"No!" Gu Jiu Ling raised her hand to stop Yun Duo's words, then coldly laughed: "Da Wo is honest, but He Ya is too deceitful; at this point, having been persuaded by him, I actually feel this person is kind and values loyalty and righteousness."

"But a person's kindness needs an edge; go find Ling Feng and have him…"

Gu Jiu Ling leaned in to whisper a few words into Yun Duo's ear; Yun Duo quickly nodded and then got down from the carriage.

Gu Jiu Ling placed the teacup on the small table before her, lifted the carriage curtain to look at the setting sun outside, and soon the sky turned completely dark.

Gu Jiu Ling gave a soft laugh and murmured, "Nothing is more sorrowful than a heart that has died."

Soon night fell; this was Mo Bei, and Xiao Yin ordered the troops to set up camp on the spot. Before long, scattered bonfires were lit, the carriages were placed in the center, Xiao Yin and Gu Jiu Ling played with the two children inside the tent, and the off‑duty soldiers gathered in groups of three or five to roast by the fire and rest.

Everything in this mountain valley appeared utterly tranquil and serene.

Suddenly a violent shout rang out, shattering the night's tranquility.

People hurriedly emerged from their tents, only to be astonished to see Ling Feng leading a dozen or so men escorting Da Wo, under arrest, to the front of Xiao Yin and Gu Jiu Ling's tent.

After Da Wo took in He Ya today, he hadn't yet had a chance to report to the emperor and empress.

He also wanted to explain, but Ling Feng said the emperor and empress had already retired.

Upon hearing this, he felt inexplicably anxious.

He and He Ya did have some feelings, even though the one who first betrayed him was also He Ya.

Nevertheless, because of their past affection, Da Wo still decided to give He Ya a chance and bring her to his side.

Ling Feng helped him rig a crude ox cart for He Ya to sit in, so she could follow them to the capital.

Now it was evening, and it wasn't his turn to stand watch.

Da Wo, uneasy about He Ya, secretly carried food and water to the rear of the troop and found her.

He Ya ate the food Da Wo had sent, then began to cry again, and Da Wo instantly panicked.

Her delay lasted an hour.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he returned to his own tent, Ling Feng, who was inside, seized him by the throat on the spot and dragged him straight before Xiao Yin.

Da Wo was completely dazed; logically, he had already sent someone to report to the empress that he needed to bring a woman to the capital.

Moreover, He Ya had been following at the rear of the troop all along, never going elsewhere, and he had no idea what offense he had committed today—yet Ling Feng seized him by the neck and delivered him straight to Xiao Yin.

Xiao Yin and Gu Jiu Ling walked out slowly; Ling Feng forced Da Wo to kneel before the emperor and empress, then drew his blade and pressed it directly to Da Wo's throat.

All around, a gasp rose up at once.

Ling Feng coldly said, "You dare steal Southern Qi's landscape map? You have a lot of nerve!"