Chapter 752

Da Wo's face turned pale, he looked blankly at the emperor and empress before him, a stark contrast to their previous kindness.

He couldn't help feeling a slight twitch in his heart; this was probably the sovereign's angerless majesty, but he was an honest man, and although he had been elevated to a high position, he could still keep his original intentions.

He was certainly not the sort who steals chickens and dogs; he stepped forward and knelt before Xiao Yin and Gu Jiu Ling.

He spoke frankly, with a touch of candid bearing, raised his eyes and explained: "Your Majesty, Empress, this humble subject has been with Miss He Ya all along; I brought her some food and water, we chatted awhile, and it is utterly impossible for me to have run to another tent to steal the map of mountains and rivers."

"This humble subject knows that map is a military defense map, extremely important; if lost, it's not just a matter of losing one's head, it's also detrimental to the nation's military defense."

"This humble subject would never dare commit such a grave treason! If Your Majesty doubts, let Commander Ling search my person; truly, the map is not on me."

Xiao Yin's face hardened as he coldly said: "Men! Drag him out! Behead him!"

As Xiao Yin's words fell, a chorus of gasps rose from the surroundings.

Previously he had greatly valued this benefactor; how could he turn face so quickly?

Da Wo's face instantly turned ashen, his eyes brimming with tears; he threw himself to the ground, kowtowing to Xiao Yin and Gu Jiu Ling: "Your Majesty, this humble subject is truly wronged; I really did not take the map of mountains and rivers."

"Although the imperial command cannot be defied, I still have elderly parents and an aged grandmother at home; I beg Your Majesty not to trouble them, and this humble subject is willing to die to make my intentions clear."

Having said that, Da Wo rose and lunged at the side sword Ling Feng held; Ling Feng, what a swordsman, how could he let him touch the blade? He raised his hand, flourished the sword, and the blade was already sheathed.

Da Wo lunged at nothing, instantly all hope lost, even seeking death proved impossible.

Gu Jiu Ling watched the scene before her and felt unable to bear it; she stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, surely the map of mountains and rivers is not in his hand; he said he was just with Miss He Ya a moment ago, didn't he?"

"Men! Fetch Miss He Ya to confront him; if what he says is true, then spare him today's punishment!"

"Yes!" Yun Duo hurriedly took the order and went to the rear to find He Ya.

The incident of Da Wo stealing the map had already spread throughout the camp; He Ya's status meant she could not reside in the main commander's tent, so she only knew half of what was going on there.

Upon hearing that Da Wo had provoked the Emperor's wrath and was about to be dragged out for execution, her heart leapt into her throat; she felt terribly unlucky, as if even drinking cold water would get stuck in her teeth.

Yet she could not openly go forward to look, and besides, the guards here were so tight, layer upon layer of checkpoints, making the core area inaccessible.

In her modest tent, small and cold, it was almost unbearable; she could not endure it any longer, so she lifted the tent flap and stepped out.

She lived in this area together with the women responsible for cooking and washing; a group of women gathered inevitably gossiped.

He Ya heard low voices from around the corner; her steps faltered slightly, she darted to the side of a box and listened closely.

"Have you heard? The commotion is quite serious; the Emperor intends to drag that barbarian out and behead him!"

"My goodness, does he not consider the benefactor's status?"

"Heh! Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger; what does being a benefactor matter?"

"He's basically an illiterate barbarian savage; how could he be heavily relied upon?"

"Even if this incident is cleared up, he won't escape punishment—either death or a flogging."

"Heh heh, I thought he was some new upstart we needed to curry favor with, but turns out he's just an embroidered pillow—good‑looking but useless, hahaha!"

The latter remarks made He Ya uncomfortable to hear further; she felt a tightness in her chest, having waited so long, finally managed to sneak a moment to meet Da Wo.

She had thought following him to Shang Jing would bring her fame and fortune, never expecting to end up like this.

If Da Wo truly fell out of favor with the Emperor, how could she possibly gain any benefit?

The urgent matter now is to avoid that jinx, but she also cannot simply run away; fleeing might cause even more trouble.

"Damn fool! Immense wealth and honor have come your way, yet you can't even hold onto it—worthless, what good are you?"

He Ya couldn't help but mutter a curse under her breath.

Just as she was at her wit's end, suddenly a hurried footsteps sounded not far away, heading toward her tent; He Ya poked her head out and saw a tall figure approach her tent.

In the moonlight, that person's face was indistinct.

He Ya's heart pounded; she didn't know what to do.

That person seemed to be looking for her; after waiting a moment, seeing she wasn't in the tent, he turned and left.

Among these people, He Ya only got along well with Da Wo; besides having seen a few others, especially the men here, she really had no idea what that person wanted from her.

He Ya felt staying outside wasn't safe either; she hurriedly and carefully walked back to her dwelling; better to leave now.

Fortunately the tribe isn't far; returning then won't be embarrassing.

Or alternatively go straight to Wan Chuan City to find her uncle, then make plans later.

She had just turned to go back and get her bundle when a hand with prominent knuckles and rough skin reached out from behind her, clamping over her mouth.

He Ya cried out, but her mouth was tightly covered, so the cry came out muffled.

She wanted to turn her face to see who was trying to harm her, but the person's arm clamped like an iron vise, locking her arm tight; she couldn't break free.

"Don't move! Come with me!"

The person grabbed He Ya's arm and actually brought her back to the previous shabby tent.

She caught her breath, turned around, and discovered the man before her was extraordinarily handsome; one could tell he was the scion of an aristocratic family.

He wore the uniform of the imperial guards; his brows and eyes bore a touch of suave charm, and this time he was actually looking at her with a grin.

He Ya also knew that the imperial guards weren't a position just anyone could hold; many are scions of aristocratic families, serving near the emperor just to gild their résumé, later they can seek fame and influence, which goes without saying.

He Ya actually blushed from being looked at by this youth; her voice unconsciously gained a few deliberate, flirtatious tones.

"Sir, who exactly are you? I, a lowly girl, have never offended you; yet you behave so frivolously toward me?"

As the word "frivolous" left He Ya's lips, the man's brow twitched slightly, and a fleeting hint of dislike flashed in his eyes.

He stepped back, bowed with clasped hands toward He Ya; though he appeared refined and genteel, his words carried a hint of sternness.

"Miss, I have come today to discuss a possible cooperation with you."

He Ya froze on the spot.