The Demon Lords

Chapter 1093: Chapter 263: Call Me Brother

The next day,

the fugitive party that had originally been just two people became four.

Jiang Hu had a pack horse over there, loaded with some things, and the two women walked on either side of the pack horse, moving along with it.

Up front,

Jiang Hu opened the way, and Zheng Fan followed behind him to provide support.

They walked like this for pretty much the whole day, and only at dusk did everyone stop to prepare camp.

The princess’s ability to adapt was very strong; by now she could already bear this level of strain. Gongsun Ling had looked soft and fragile last night, but deep down she was quite tenacious as well, and she gritted her teeth and made it through.

When they made camp, Jiang Hu went to the perimeter to set some traps and whistles for vigilance, while Gongsun Ling started a fire.

Lord Zheng took a piece of smoked meat and walked to a stream up ahead to wash it.

The princess also walked over and went a bit upstream to draw water.

"So, how is it? With Jiang Hu opening the way, doesn’t it feel a lot easier?"

The princess, after all, was a young lady; clever, no question about that—truly clever—but she still carried a trace of childishness.

In Zheng Fan’s eyes, her aptitude was actually about the same as the County Princess’s; what she lacked was still in terms of experience.

The County Princess was someone who, at a young age, could lead the Northern Garrison Army wandering in the desert and casually annihilate entire tribes,

while the princess had always lived deep within the palace.

The former was indeed outstanding, but the latter still had a great deal of room to grow.

"Your Green Python is probably quite famous, isn’t it?" Zheng Fan asked as he washed the smoked meat.

"Yeah, why? When I first lured it to my side, it caused a huge stir; even my father praised me as remarkable."

"So famous, and you even handed it over to the Imperial Beast Bureau to be trained. Jiang Hu may not bear the Gongsun surname, but he’s been with the Imperial Beast Bureau for years. It’s normal that he might not recognize you;

but not recognize your Green Python?"

The princess blinked twice and said, "You mean he actually already recognized who we are a long time ago?"

"More or less. Also, look at how we, as fugitives, behave: when we see someone calling for help, we just send her off with an arrow and give her relief;

Jiang Hu and Gongsun Ling are fugitives too, yet when they face someone in need of rescue, what they do is bring us back for a late-night supper and a rest.

Or,

maybe we’re just too wicked? Too bad?

And they’re the kind ones?"

"So, what you’re saying is that he actually wanted to bargain with us from the very beginning, and to make that easier, he pretended not to know us at first?"

"If that really is the case, then I’m actually relieved."

Bargaining—one plays the good cop and one plays the bad cop; that’s normal.

Lord Zheng wasn’t afraid of people having demands; each side takes what they need, that’s just everyone trying to reach their own goals.

"Then what else might they do?"

"They’re not the same as you and me. Your reputation is already ruined."

"..." The princess.

"As for me, I’m a count of the Yan State. Even if your brother gave me high office and rich rewards, honestly, as a surrendered man, the best outcome would be to hang me up like a plaque and put me on display. That would be far less easy, free, and comfortable than my life in the Yan State.

So, you and I—we’re both at the point of no return; we’re never going to be willing to stay in the Chu State.

But they’re different.

The Clan Gongsun helped the Eldest Prince move against your brother, and your brother suppressed them. As the victor, I think your brother has that sort of magnanimity.

If they were to capture the two of us and deliver us to your brother, he would definitely pardon them and reinstate their official posts. It’d be no big deal."

The princess’s expression instantly grew heavy. She had just been secretly pleased with her performance last night, yet she hadn’t considered this layer at all.

In fact, at the very beginning last night, Lord Zheng hadn’t thought this far either, but as he lay down to sleep, he started to mull it over.

In the end, it still came down to Lord Zheng, from the bottom of his heart, being unwilling to trust others. Even earlier, back at home, he had to match wits and courage with those demon kings.

"So aren’t we in great danger now?"

Clearly, the princess was like Lord Zheng in that she disliked the feeling of her life and death being in someone else’s hands.

"There are ways."

...

Time to eat,

still smoked meat with starch noodles.

Gongsun Ling clearly didn’t know how to cook; she still liked to throw everything in and stew it together.

But since they were fleeing for their lives right now, everyone just made do.

While they ate,

Zheng Fan spoke first:

"Actually, when you think about it, staying in the Chu State wouldn’t be bad. The Chu State has good mountains, good waters, and beautiful scenery."

Gongsun Ling flattered him, saying:

"If Lord Zheng stayed in the Chu State, I imagine the Regent would greatly value you, my lord."

"He probably would, but he wouldn’t dare give me any real power, right? Most likely he’d just keep me by his side, set me up like an ornamental archway, or have me play chess and chat with him, serve as a close attendant."

Hearing this, Jiang Hu’s expression paused ever so slightly.

The princess then said, "This time I did something like this—running off with another man on my wedding day—if my royal brother catches me, he’ll definitely lock me up in a dark room like he did when we were kids."

Gongsun Ling said, "Your Highness is, after all, the Regent’s own younger sister. No matter what Your Highness has done, no matter what mistakes you’ve made, the Regent will never truly be angry with you."

At these words, the princess smiled, wrapped an arm around Zheng Fan’s shoulder, and said:

"You can put it that way, but I don’t regret it. I just took a fancy to him—same as Brother Tiger taking a fancy to Sister Ah Ling. When two people see eye to eye, it’s just like in those storybooks: on ordinary days you don’t see it, can’t touch it, but once the time comes, it really has to be him and no one else."

Ah Ling glanced at Jiang Hu, and a smile also appeared on her face.