Chapter 5

Jin Se was also a Hua household maidservant. Unlike Tao Se who was a child of maidservant in Hua household, Jin Se was bought on street. Hua Zhu Yu was only five years old at that time. She went out to take a walk on the street with her grandmother. They saw a few rogues were whipping a little girl. That little girl was around six or seven years old. She wore ragged clothing, her hair was unkempt and there were bruises on her face and body. She was then bought by Hua Zhu Yu’s grandmother from the rogues and brought back to Hua’s residence. Because she did not tell her name or anything about herself, grandmother then named her Jin Se and let her became Hua Zhu Yu’s personal maidservant. They both grew up together and had a close relationship. After Hua Zhu Yu left Hua’s residence, Jin Se was then serving her grandmother. All these years when Hua Zhu Yu was away, and a young lady of Hua family was required to attend banquets, Hua Zhu Yu’s grandmother would let Jin Se disguised as Hua Zhu Yu. Thus, Jin Se had been very low key. However, this unexpectedly led to Hua Zhu Yu’s reputation as a nameless, lack of talent and no virtue young lady.

Jin Se believed and blamed herself that this led Hua Zhu Yu into current situation. Hua Zhu Yu, of course did not blame Jin Se, this had nothing to do with her. Seeing her so sad, Hua Zhu Yu lied to her that she paint an ugly birthmark on her left face and that scared Ji Feng Li.

From Jin Se, Hua Zhu Yu finally got news of her father and grandmother. Her grandmother already knew she was going to marry the crown prince of Northern Kingdom. Her grandmother was very sad and worried that she sent Jin Se to take care of Hua Zhu Yu. Hua Zhu Yu’s father might not have known about this marriage yet. After he sent Hua Zhu Yu off to marry Ji Feng Li, he immediately left for west border under emperor’s decree.

Tao Se was so stubborn that she was unwilling to return to capital and left Hua Zhu Yu. Hua Zhu Yu had Jin Se tied Tao Se up and then asked Xian w.a.n.g¹ of Northern Kingdom to let Ministry of Rites Sergeant to sent Tao Se back to capital. She did not want Tao Se to suffer with her in Northern Kingdom since it was uncivilized territory and had a frigid weather. Actually, she wanted to send both Tao Se and Jin Se back but now she was powerless and having no one to accompany her would not be good. Although Jin Se was not highly skilled in martial arts but it was still better than Tao Se who had no martial art skills at all.

¹ This how brother of Northern Kingdom’s emperor was called. He was the crown prince’s uncle.

After half a month, they finally arrived at Yu Mount, a boundary between Southern Kingdom and Northern Kingdom. The five hundred soldiers of Southern Kingdom only escorted Hua Zhu Yu up to this point, and then they went back to capital.

Based on her personality, Hua Zhu Yu would have fled partway to Northern Kingdom. However, she could not afford to do that, her father and grandmother would be implicated. Moreover, her martial arts was not recovered yet so she was not be able to escape. Jin Se had tried to unseal her internal force many times but always failed. She suspected this was caused by the poisoned wine that she drank. She really hated Ji Feng Li for this.

After walking for almost one day, Northern Kingdom’s envoys decided to camp in the mountain. They were going to cross the mountain tomorrow early in the morning. After crossing the mountain, then they would be in Northern Kingdom. That night, It was extremely quiet there. Hua Zhu Yu had an uneasy feeling that something terrible was going to happen. Formerly she would not feel afraid. Perhaps, that because her internal force was sealed and she was still in weak state.

She told Jin Se to lift the carriage curtain. She took a look at the surrounding area and she felt cold in her heart. In military perspective, apparently, this place was most suitable for an ambush. Surely, this marriage was not so simple just a marriage, but it was a conspiracy. This was game of chess. She was part of it, an important p.a.w.n necessary in this game.