6
Soon, the carriage arrived at the bank of the Eternal River.
The heavy snow from a few days ago had frozen the river’s surface, but the ice was thin, with visible cracks everywhere. Some parts weren’t frozen at all, the water still flowing.
A few mischievous children were throwing rocks onto the ice, delighting in the way they created new holes.
One of them misthrew a rock, and it hit my
age.
Feigning alarm, I stepped out to investigate. I ordered my servants to go and find out which of the children was responsible.
Once they were a safe distance away, I discreetly moved to the edge of the bridge, pretended to slip, and fell backward into the river.
The icy water instantly engulfed me.
I clenched my jaw, quickly shedding my heavy outer coat, and held my breath, swimming downstream.
Winter swimming had been a hobby of mine back on Earth. Though this body was weaker, I pushed through.
After I fell in, my servants who could swim, along with a few
a few men on the bank, jumped in to rescue me. But of course, there aren’t that many good Samaritans willing to brave a frozen river. The men I had hired deliberately got in my servants‘ way.
I swam as far as I could in one breath. When I finally surfaced, away from the chaos, I was able to take a deep, gasping breath.
A small boat, hidden in the reeds, immediately pulled up. I was hauled aboard, and we quickly paddled downstream.
I drew the curtain, changed out of my wet clothes into a simple, coarse linen outfit, and removed the jewels from my
hair.
“Madam,” the boatman whispered from cutside. “My sister owes her life to you. We will never forget your kindness. Take this bund- le. The world is a dangerous place. Keep your wealth hidden.”
I nodded, feeling the oilskin–wrapped banknotes tied around my waist. The weight was reassuring.
When we docked, I was cold and exhausted, wanting only to find an inn and rest. change. Flashing a gold ingot or a large banknote would surely attract u
But then I realized I hadn’t prepared any small Nanted attention.
I opened the bundle to get some of my gold melon seeds, only to find that in addition to my gold, Autumn had packed a bag of silv- er coins and another of copper.
Her thoughtfulness warmed my heart.
I hid out in the inn for two days. On the third day, I checked out early and headed for the Azure Cloud Temple.
I had visited the temple often when I was being neglected at the General’s residence, not for prayer, but because the deserted place, with its handful of monks, seemed like the perfect spot for a staged death. I had been laying the groundwork for months.
In a secluded corner, I dug up the jewelry I had buried earlier. After packing it away, I waited for two hours.
Finally, I saw Selena, dressed in her finest, running towards the temple in a panic.
I quickly pulled her into an empty room and began efficiently stripping off her clothes.
She just stood there, stunned, letting me work.
I gave her a firm smack on the behind. “What are you doing? Don’t you want to escape?”
Chapter 2
13.16
She grabbed my hand, her eyes filled with worry. “I want to, but I think there’s something I need to tell you first.”
I froze. “You’re pregnant?”
She rolled her eyes. “I just wanted to tell you that your General Thorne has been searching for you like a madman. He jumped into the river himself, over and over. They say he’s fallen gravely ill, on the verge of death. And you know how bad the medicine is in this era…”
I thought of his inexhaustible energy the other night. I was sick for a month and didn’t die, I thought. He’ll be fine.
I suppressed the flutter of concern in my chest and said flatly, “What’s it to me? A good horse doesn’t go back to its old pasture.”
Seeing my resolve, Selena seemed relieved and started to undress.
“As long as you don’t regret it.”
“I was thinking, if you did have regrets, I wouldn’t leave. I’d help you with the divorce.”
could help you get a divorce eight times over and still find you the best husband in the world!”
I crossed my arms.““…It’s not you who’s having second thoughts, is it?”
A flicker of panic crossed her face.
