Chapter 100: Eavesdropping, Bargaining

“Someone’s coming!”

The child sprang to her feet and brushed the dust from her clothes. She was just about to call Shadow Butterfly away when Shadow Butterfly gave a low warning and crouched down like a stalking beast.

By the city gate stood a man in fitted clothes, with no needless ornament about him. His hair was gathered into a neat high crown, and the air about him was not only brisk but also sharp and capable.

“It’s him!” Chu Junhan narrowed her eyes, certainty in her voice. She could not have mistaken him.

Shadow Butterfly looked baffled. She racked her memory for a long while, yet the face before her did not match anyone she knew. “You know him, Young Master?”

“He’s one of the Seventh Prince of Qiande Kingdom’s men.” Chu Junhan clenched her small fist, grinding her teeth. How could she not know him? The man before her was the very swindler who had staged that fine little act with her third brother!

Shadow Butterfly tilted her head, unable to understand when her young mistress had ever met the Seventh Prince.

Well, her young mistress not only knew him; they were sworn brothers.

“Go!” Chu Junhan called softly, keeping low as she moved toward Changming City.

“Young Master, what are we doing?” Shadow Butterfly’s voice carried a trace of fear, and she too kept herself very low as she followed Chu Junhan.

Behind them, the Chu family soldiers trailed after them in a line, each one sneaking along on tiptoe.

Chu Junhan looked up at the towering city wall and took out a grappling hook, then gave a low instruction. “Wait here and cover me. Don’t worry, I’ll be careful.”

Her third brother’s people had arrived. How could she not go and meet them?

Who would have thought that on the heavily guarded walls of Changming City, a child would be crawling forward on hands and knees?

The child was nimble and quick. With several leaps and rolls, she slipped past the soldiers’ watchful eyes, stealthily reached a blind spot, and then used the rope to descend along the wall.

At the same time, Fang Meng was not idle either. The moment she entered the military camp, she began searching at once.

The small figure followed the base of the wall, keeping herself as low as possible, ears alert to everything around her, eyes sharp as an eagle’s, watching all directions with vigilance.

After glancing left and right, she somersaulted to another corner, then crouched half-low and pressed herself to the wall as she continued forward.

“How much?”

A man’s voice struck Chu Junhan’s ears. She stopped immediately and crept toward the source of the sound.

“And how much does your honored self intend to ask?” Before she had gotten close, another masculine voice answered, rougher and more feral.

So they were bargaining right beneath the city wall? Why not invite my third brother’s men inside for tea while they were at it?

Ino folded his arms and looked the man over with open contempt. “Does the Seventh Prince truly have the treasure page?”

The man in fitted clothes was courteous in manner, yet there was a hard edge of cruelty beneath it. “I hope you understand this clearly. It is your master who wants it, which is why our young master sent me to negotiate with you. It is not as though my young master cannot wait to sell it. And for that matter... I hear you have lost several cities in a row. Don’t tell me you are counting on this scrap of paper to reverse the fate of your nation?”

Ino’s face flushed scarlet with rage, and he panted hard. “You’re taking advantage of a disaster!”

“Five million taels of silver. Not a single coin less, or there is nothing to discuss.” The man dipped his chin slightly and regarded Ino with arrogance.

Ino trembled with fury. After a long moment, he pointed at the man and said, “Just you wait! I’m going to get the money right now!”

Chu Junhan watched with a sly grin. Her eyes rolled quickly twice before she smiled wickedly and tiptoed after Ino.

The farther in she went, the more soldiers there were, and the fewer blind spots remained.

Just as the child found herself torn between advancing and retreating, a young woman looked about furtively and came toward her as if she were a thief. From the shadows, the child reached out and pulled the young woman close.

“My lord?”

Fang Meng’s mouth fell open in astonishment.