Can They Really Escape?
Kingdom of Jin border, Hanford Wharf.
This is the wharf closest to the border between the Kingdom of Jin and the Kingdom of Chu. Although the two countries have been at war for many years, ordinary people still have to make a living, so trade between the two nations has never ceased.
Hanford Wharf is not only situated at the junction of the two countries, but it’s also where four major rivers meet, making water routes accessible in all directions. Thanks to these geographical advantages, it has become the central hub for trade between the two nations—a bustling place. The nearby Hanford Town is equally prosperous.
Though it’s called a town, it’s actually bigger and wealthier than some cities.
At this moment, dawn was just breaking, and the dockworkers at Hanford Wharf were welcoming the first batch of ships of the day.
Every day, thousands of boats dock at Hanford Wharf. These laborers make their living by unloading cargo from the ships—hard work, just enough to put food on the table.
Among this batch of docked vessels, there was a small, inconspicuous cargo boat carrying mountain delicacies, blending into the crowd.
Maybe it was because the boat was too small, or the owner lacked the means, but it didn’t get priority to dock. The little cargo boat was squeezed into a remote spot, far from the main wharf, waiting its turn until all the bigger ships had unloaded and sailed off.
But no one would have guessed that inside the cramped cabin of this unremarkable little cargo boat were two people who had shaken the entire Kingdom of Jin.
Princess May, widow of Prince Ling and now a fugitive, had long since changed out of her silk robes. She wore the plain garb of a boatwoman, her hair pinned up simply, and her face dusted with dark powder to mask her striking beauty. At a glance, she looked like any other inconspicuous boatwoman—her true identity hidden beneath layers of disguise and desperation.
Sharing the cramped cabin with Princess May was a man dressed in coarse linen—a look that masked his real status. This was Gregory Gu Jr., Imperial Grand Tutor, now forced into hiding as her unlikely ally and fellow fugitive.
His face was buried beneath a thick, unruly beard, his skin darkened with clever makeup—none other than Gregory Gu Jr., Imperial Grand Tutor, now a master of disguise. Every detail was calculated to help him vanish into the crowd.
At this moment, Princess May and Gregory Gu Jr. were pretending to be a married couple running the boat, hidden away in the deepest, most shadowy corner of the tiny cargo ship’s cabin. Every heartbeat seemed to echo the danger lurking just beyond the thin walls.
No one else on board suspected their true identities. To the crew, they were just an ordinary couple hitching a ride. The boat owner, lured by silver, arranged a small cabin for them—unaware of the peril and intrigue swirling beneath the surface.
Princess May’s fingers twisted anxiously in her lap. She turned to Gregory Gu Jr., her voice barely above a whisper: "Imperial Grand Tutor Gu, this is the last wharf at the border of Jin and Chu. We’ve been on the run for days—knowing how sharp Alexander Hayes and Lily Evans are, they must have already uncovered my poisoning and our escape. I’m certain they’ve cast a net across the land to hunt us down. Tell me honestly—do we stand any chance of slipping out of the Kingdom of Jin alive?"
Gregory Gu Jr. met her gaze, his own eyes shadowed with fatigue but still glinting with cunning. He offered a wry, reassuring smile—a flash of the old Imperial Grand Tutor’s wit. "Princess May, you’ve underestimated your own cleverness. Eight teams of decoys are already scattered across the river, each one a mirror image of us. If Alexander Hayes and Lily Evans want to catch us, they’ll have to chase shadows all night."
Princess May pressed her lips together, her nerves stretched taut. She forced a laugh, trying to mask her dread. "I only hope our luck holds, Imperial Grand Tutor. If Alexander Hayes and Lily Evans catch even a whiff of our trail, we’ll be trapped like fish in a net."
Before Gregory Gu Jr. could reply, heavy footsteps thundered on the deck above. The door to their cabin rattled—the sound of officers approaching, each step a drumbeat of impending doom.