Even before the end of the first lunar month, the weather in the capital was still cold, and it would be even colder traveling north at this time.
Jiang Zhan’s expression was even colder.
The Princess of Northern Qi had entangled Fourth Sister in a whirlpool of rumors, and he didn’t know how Fourth Sister was faring now.
To make matters worse, he had to escort this troublesome princess to Northern Qi at this very moment.
The carriage suddenly stopped, and the curtain was lifted, revealing a beautiful face with a hint of heroic spirit.
“Jiang Zhan,” Lu Chuchu called out.
Jiang Zhan frowned and said sternly, “Address me as General Jiang. We’re not that familiar.”
Lu Chuchu rolled her eyes and raised her eyebrows, saying, “I have abdominal pain. Let the convoy stop for a moment.”
Jiang Zhan, sitting astride his horse, sneered upon hearing this, “Princess, you’d better behave. Don’t think about escaping again!”
Lu Chuchu’s willow-like eyebrows furrowed in anger, “Who wants to escape? I have abdominal pain.”
This bastard wasn’t nearly as lovable as his sister!
At the same time, Jiang Zhan was thinking: Thankfully, his sister was gentle, considerate, and sensible. If she were like this Northern Qi Princess, he would have beaten her countless times when they were young.
“Not escaping? Wasn’t it the Princess who tried to escape under the pretext of needing to urinate the other day?”
Lu Chuchu’s face reddened as she spat, “Since it didn’t work, of course, I won’t waste effort trying again.”
As she spoke, her face contorted in pain, “Hurry and stop. I have abdominal pain.”
Jiang Zhan looked at her suspiciously, hesitated for a moment, then nodded, “Alright, but this time, Princess, don’t try to be clever.”
Lu Chuchu jumped down from the carriage, ignoring the two Great Zhou maids hurriedly following behind her, and walked past the numerous guards towards a spot behind some rocks.
Jiang Zhan leisurely followed.
Lu Chuchu turned back angrily, gritting her teeth, “General Jiang, have some shame!”
Jiang Zhan casually leaned against the rock face, smiling brightly, “If you run away, my life won’t be spared. What use is shame?”
“You—” Lu Chuchu was truly getting anxious.
This time she wasn’t lying, but how could she manage with a grown man standing guard?
“Princess, please hurry. It’s cold. Even if you can bear it, the soldiers will suffer.”
Jiang Zhan had a very poor impression of Lu Chuchu.
Not only had this girl caused trouble for his sister, but she was also willful and tried to escape. If she managed to escape, wouldn’t it cost the soldiers their lives?
Lu Chuchu really couldn’t hold it anymore. She glared fiercely at Jiang Zhan and gave up arguing.
After a while, Lu Chuchu came out, her clothes neatly arranged. She didn’t even look at Jiang Zhan as she walked towards the carriage.
Earlier, she couldn’t afford to argue with this stubborn man, but now she was too embarrassed to look at him again.
Jiang Zhan followed with an impassive face.
The convoy traveled for a while before stopping again.
“What’s wrong?” Lu Chuchu poked her head out.
Jiang Zhan held the reins, gazing into the distance with a grave expression, “The bridge is broken.”
Before them lay a wide river. The once broad bridge had collapsed, with one end plunging into the river, frozen together with the icy water.
After a brief consideration, Jiang Zhan ordered the convoy to cross the river on the ice.
“For safety, please alight from the carriage, Princess.”
Lu Chuchu got down and stood on the bank with a serious expression, “Are you sure getting out of the carriage is safer?”
Based on her experience, she was about to encounter misfortune again.
“The old woman will carry the Princess across the river. You’ll be in the middle of the convoy, ensuring your absolute safety.”
Jiang Zhan was surprised inwardly.
His impression of the Northern Qi Princess was that of a bold and willful girl, yet she was being cautious now.
Soon, the long convoy began crossing the river on the ice.
Jiang Zhan walked right in front of Lu Chuchu, constantly observing the ice conditions.
The more he observed, the more at ease he felt.
The ice layer was quite thick.
Lu Chuchu obediently lay on the old woman’s back but remained vigilant.
Even though she was on the old woman’s back, if something went wrong, who knew who would fall in first?
As she was pondering this, a shout suddenly came from the front, “The ice is cracking!”
Jiang Zhan immediately spread his arms to shield Lu Chuchu, shouting, “Retreat!”
Lu Chuchu’s first reaction was to jump off the old woman’s back.
The old woman, nervous, slipped on her feet, and the person on her back flew off, sliding straight into an ice hole.