Chapter 293: “You Dare to Stop My People?”
The three of them returned to the small courtyard, where Zhang Hu and Wu Er distributed the packed meals among their brothers as a midnight snack. Since they were all rough men who had endured days of hardship, Yu Luo didn’t interfere and even bought a few jugs of wine to let them enjoy themselves.
Before dawn, the group prepared their horses and carriages for departure. Since the courtyard needed to be maintained, Yu Luo left behind a young man skilled in martial arts, named Xiao Hai, to guard it. She also gave him some silver to restock the supplies and remain on standby for their next return.
Meanwhile, Lu Yi, who had been secretly watching the courtyard, hurried back to the inn to report to Ye Lu.
“You’re certain they’re leaving?”
“Yes, Master.”
Hearing this, Ye Lu’s eyes gleamed with excitement, and his lips curled into a sly smile.
“Heh… So this is my chance to find out where that girl is from! In that case, there’s no need to visit Feng City anymore. I’ll have plenty of opportunities to see her again. Besides, I’m running low on silver—it’s best to hold off on unnecessary spending.
“Pack up immediately. We’ll leave the city with them and follow from a distance. Make sure they don’t notice us.”
And so, the moment Yu Luo’s group left the city, Ye Lu’s party tailed them from over a kilometer away, using light footwork instead of horses to stay undetected.
Even though this was the return trip, Yu Luo was eager to get home quickly and prepare for the next shipment. However, since they had thirty-something people, there was a chance they could be stopped at the checkpoint.
Thinking her fake identity might still be useful, Yu Luo decided to stay with them until they cleared the border post, after which she would use light footwork to rush back ahead of them.
They departed early in the morning, arriving at the border town by the afternoon. After a simple meal, they waited for nightfall to pass through the checkpoint.
Everything seemed to be going smoothly, and though they almost got ambushed by bandits again, their previous experience paid off. The moment the mountain thieves appeared, Yu Luo’s men swiftly countered with crossbows, leaving the bandits no chance to react before they were quickly subdued and the convoy moved on.
Unfortunately, things took a turn at the checkpoint.
Yu Luo’s fake identity, which had worked before, was suddenly rejected.
“These people—we let them through last time. Now you claim they’re your subordinates?” The head guard sneered. “Heh… Looks like your identity is fake after all. You dare to impersonate someone from the Xia Hou family? Do you have a death wish?!”
Yu Luo had not expected her forged identity to backfire like this.
Just as she was about to offer some silver to smooth things over, a patrol squad approached.
Seeing a group of thirty men, a woman, and ten carriages at the border post, the patrol leader instantly grew suspicious.
“It’s already dark. You’re still trying to cross?”
“Sir, we were rushing all day but couldn’t reach the border before nightfall. Look at us—we’re all covered in dust. We didn’t want to travel at night either.”
“Fine. Show me your travel permits.”
“Uh… We ran into bandits on the road, and the documents were lost during the fight. But we are from the Xia Hou family—”
Wu Er explained calmly, his expression unchanging despite the lie.
Even Yu Luo was impressed by his composure.
Wu Er was gambling on the fact that some of these guards had taken bribes from them last time. If they exposed them, it would also reveal their own corruption, and they’d face military punishment.
The lead officer smirked mockingly.
“Heh… Lost your papers? Then go back and get them reissued! No permits, no passage. Otherwise, we arrest all of you—or kill you on the spot if you resist!”
The men stiffened at the threat. They could fight their way through, but if they forced their way past, the border would only tighten security in the future—which would ruin their trade routes.
Just as Yu Luo was about to press her luck, flashing her forged Xia Hou identity again, the lead guard’s expression changed. He scanned her face carefully, seemingly hesitant.
Before he could speak, a dark figure suddenly appeared, landing gracefully beside him.
“You dare to stop my people?”
Ye Lu had arrived.
He never expected that Yu Luo’s “return home” would lead her into the Wasteland Lands.
Originally, he had no plans to visit Feng City, but after tailing her all this way, he found himself standing at the border of exile.
Seeing Yu Luo and her people stuck at the checkpoint, he couldn’t resist stepping in.
He ignored Ah Zan’s warnings and leaped forward with light footwork.
Ye Lu flashed a command token, tossing it at the lead officer.
The guard, initially furious at the intrusion, froze in shock when he recognized the insignia.
His expression instantly turned respectful, and he dropped to one knee.
“Your Highness! Forgive me—I failed to recognize you!”
Your Highness?!
Yu Luo and her subordinates stiffened.
All eyes locked onto Ye Lu.
Even though she was furious at being tailed, she hadn’t expected this man to be a prince of Dongfeng Kingdom!
Before Yu Luo could react, the kneeling officer spoke again.
“I’ve never seen Lady Xia Hou Yuan Wei before. I never imagined she was actually a woman…
“But since she is Your Highness’s fiancée, then there is no mistake! I will personally grant them passage!”
Yu Luo: …
Ye Lu: …
As the lead guard rushed to open the gates, the two locked eyes.
Ye Lu’s initial shock slowly faded, replaced by a mischievous smirk.
Yu Luo, on the other hand, wanted to slap herself.
She had paid a forger in Feng City to create a fake identity—one that would let her pass through checkpoints easily.
But never in her wildest dreams did she expect the forged identity to be that of Ye Lu’s fiancée!
Even after passing the checkpoint, Yu Luo couldn’t contain her frustration.
She turned to Ye Lu, who was leisurely walking beside her.
“I didn’t do it on purpose. I just needed travel papers, so I had one forged. I had no idea they’d make me your fiancée!”
Ye Lu, who had never seen Yu Luo so flustered, was absolutely delighted.
For the first time, she wasn’t glaring at him coldly.
