Chapter 294 - Broke Crossing

Chun Hua opened her eyes and immediately frowned when she was faced with the tattered roof of the shack. She silently sighed and then glanced to the side to see Bao Zhun crouched down looking through the cracks of the window with a hand on the hilt of his sword, on high alert.

They had crossed into Zou kingdom four days ago and just when they had thought they were safe, they quickly discovered that they were also considered fugitives here. Not only were the posters of the Chun siblings all about, but there were also bounties on their heads. 

Chun Hai quickly decided that they were going to return to Jiu country and he asked Bao Zhun to depart with his men. As long as Bao Zhun denied every knowledge of the affair, his father would help him, so he would be fine. Moreover, it would be easier for him and his sister to maneuver their way unnoticed, a crowd sought attention. 

But Bao Zhun refused, saying he could not deny anything. After all, it was he who ordered his men to attack. More importantly, he felt that he could not leave Chun Hua stranded here. So Bao Zhun agreed to send his men away but insisted on escorting them to Jiu county.

The Chun siblings did not argue and the three stole some horses and rode nonstop south of the border disguising themselves as travelers from a northern tribe. 

They then purchased horses and rode nonstop south of the border disguising themselves as regular travelers until they arrived at this port town where Chun Hai had connections and could get them on a ship departing for Jiu country no questions asked. 

Chun Hua had tried to persuade her brother to find a way to contact Prince Houyi so he could help them. She also needed to tell him about the deal with Prince Yi. Even if she failed to kill the Long Emperor, it would not be considered a total loss, and most importantly, if she were a fugitive how would she marry a prince! - This last issue she kept to herself.

But her stubborn brother insisted that if she really "needed" to, she could contact Prince Houyi once they had safely returned to Jiu country. He left the morning before to secure their ship passes, leaving orders for them not to leave this shack, saying he would be back by nightfall with food. 

A whole day had passed and another was ending but he was not back and they had heard nothing. Chun Hua let out an irritated breath and sat up, she hated all this. 

Bao Zhun promptly turned over to her with a smile, "You're awake...Um, are you hungry?" He immediately frowned after asking that, there was no more food here and he was not comfortable with leaving her here alone. 

Chun Hua sighed, "I guess he got himself captured -"

"...I'm sure he's fine." Bao Zhun responded with a reassuringly smile, even though he himself did not believe those words.

"If you think he's fine then why are you behaving as if you're expecting the army to come storming through? Have you even slept?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

Bao Zhun awkwardly blinked and then sat down and relaxed, "I'm just bored..."

The two sat quietly for a while, each with their own thoughts. It was not like Chun Hai to be late. Given the situation, neither of them were sure what to do if he really were captured.

Chun Hua finally broke the silence and said, "If he's not back by tonight then we'-"

Suddenly there was a sound from outside and they both reached for their swords, ready to fight. But then the door opened and Chun Hai, the long-awaited son returned and swiftly apologized, "Sorry about the delay. There was increased security around the town so I had to be careful..."

Chun Hua inwardly let out a sigh of relief but she frowned at her brother, still showing her disagreement with this move. Chun Hai glanced at her and simply ignored her, she had been pouting this entire time. If he had not threatened to kill himself if she left to go find Prince Houyi, she would have long left.

It was sad that this was what their relationship had come to but at the very least, it was good to know she still considered more important than her confused "feelings" for Prince Houyi.

"See, I knew he would be fine. You had us worried..." Bao Zhun said with a little laugh, trying to cut the tension between the two siblings. 

Chun Hai smiled at Bao Zhun and handed him parcel in his hand, "I brought some food...eat up. There's a ship tonight so we need to move soon."

Bao Zhun took the parcel and went over to Chun Hua with it. While, Chun Hai went over to the side, laid down, and closed his eyes to rest. 

Bao Zhun crouched down next to Chun Hua, put the parcel down and opened it to find a roasted chicken and a few buns.

"I still think we should go to Houyi..." Chun Hua said growing at her brother. 

"If he wants to, he can come to you in Jiu..." Chun Hai dismissively responded, turning his back to them. 

Chun Hua glared at his back and Bao Zhun glanced between the two siblings and then said to her, "Just eat for now...we can discuss after he's rested...okay?" He swiftly put a chicken leg and bun in her. Chun Hua sighed and then proceeded to nibble on it, she was not happy but definitely hungry. 

As the evening came, Chun Hai got up and said it was time to move. Before they left he told Bao Zhun that he can still return home. There was no reason for him to leave his country. But as expected, Bao Zhun declined again.

Chun Hai inwardly sighed, wondering what his sister did to make this man so obsessed with her. He glanced over at Chun Hua, who read his expression and narrowed her eyes at him before walking past him. Bao Zhun quickly followed and Chun Hai sighed and went along.

{...I truly don't understand her...}

The trio made it to the town harbor just in time to board the ship.

As they approached the ship, a man suddenly approached them and blocked their way, the trio moved to avoid him but the man promptly bowed and quietly said, "Prince Houyi sent us to retrieve you..."

Chun Hua's face lit up but before she could speak, Chun Hai frowned, "No need...Move." He said as he grabbed Chun Hua's wrist and sidestepped the man, with Bao Zhun following behind staring the man down.

They had barely taken a step, when another three men blocked their way and ten other men around the dock who appeared to be random people hanging around the harbor, also stepped forward purposely. 

It was clear, they were surrounded. 

The man behind them then said in the same polite tone, "It is best for you to come with us quietly. It won't do for anyone else to become aware of your presence here...Prince Houyi has already made arrangements for your safety. Please come with us...quietly."

Chun Hai frowned, feeling conflicted and debating his next move. Could they fight their way through and make it unto the ship? But then given that Prince Houyi was involved, he doubted that the ship would even move.

{...But then if we go...Can Houyi be trusted?...}

But before he could make his decision, Chun Hua made the choice for them. She violently shook her brother's hand off and turned around and said, "Lead the way..." And proceeded to walk off. 

{...I knew there was no way Houyi would abandon us...Should have gone to him from the start...}

Bao Zhun hesitated and quietly asked Chun Hai, "What should we do?" He was not close to Prince Houyi but everyone said he was a cold-hearted person, what if this was a trick to claim the glory of capturing them?

"Chun Hai...let's go." Chun Hua called, glaring at her brother's back. Chun Hai sighed and then turned around and followed.

With the way things stood, there was not much of a choice. if their fate was to be captured, then Prince Houyi was the only chance they had to get out of it. The only one they had in this country to speak for them. 

There was also their uncle to consider, they had been trying not to think about him. But considering they were wanted fugitives, he was probably already jailed in the Zou's capital. So perhaps this way, they would be able to save their uncle too.

Chun Hai sighed, he did not trust Prince Houyi anymore. The last time he saw Prince Houyi was when he was blowing at him for sending Chun Hua to Long country on this fool's mission. This was not the ideal position he wanted to be in during their next meeting.

But he truly hoped that maybe he felt guilty about getting them into this mess...and would hopefully help them. 

***

They were taken an inn in the city and as Chun Hai was led away from the other two, he stopped in his tracks and protested it. But the mouthpiece in their escort group spoke up again and explained, "Prince Houyi has some matters he would like to discuss with you... matters of a private nature. Do not worry, they will perfectly safe and would be in a room just down the hall waiting for you."

Chun Hai inwardly sighed and nodded. It was best to cooperate now so he entered the room as he was bade and entered the room to find Prince Houyi relaxing and drinking. When he saw Chun Hai, he immediately sat up with a smile, "You took longer than expected to arrive here..."

"How did you know we would come here?" Chun Hai asked with a frown.

Prince Houyi snorted, "We've known each other for most of our lives, I know you about as well as I know myself...but that's of no issue today. Come sit and drink, are you hungry?"

Chun Hai did not move and sighed, "Let us go..." He simply said, completely unamused.

Prince Houyi paused and then knit his brows "You don't think I would really hand you over to be imprisoned, do you?"

"Won't you?" Chun Hai asked with a skeptical eyebrow.

Prince Houyi looked at him for a bit and then sighed, "how disappointing..." He said as he looked down to refill his cup, "I won't...After all, we are best of friends, aren't we?" He finished glancing up at Chun Hai.

"Stop the games. What do you want?" Chun Hai asked irritated. He was not stupid, if this was a friendly conversation, there was no reason to exclude Chun Hua from it. Prince Houyi was also not the sort to do something for nothing either. 

Prince Houyi sighed and leaned back in his seat, "I have many things I want...But I guess we should start from the story of your escape. I have heard some interesting things about it...that raised some interesting questions in my mind...But let me hear directly from you first, how did you disappear?" He asked, narrowing his eyes at Chun Hai.