“Rabbit Slope is different from other river pirates…”
Qin Ming trailed off there, suddenly lifting his head to steal a glance at the Ninth Princess.
“Oh? How so?”
The Ninth Princess asked.
But not of Qin Ming; she turned to the first squad leader instead. “Do you know of Rabbit Slope pirates?”
“Of course,” the first squad leader said proudly. “Sir had us guard the waterways, so I made a point of inquiring about all the river pirates along the route.”
“Then, hero, could you tell me about them?”
“No problem at all. I am Niu Ben. Your Highness, no need for ‘hero’; call me Big Ox or Big Ben like the brothers do.”
The first squad leader said, “Rabbit Slope was originally a fishing village, a whole clan too. But taxes grew too heavy; unable to pay, the entire village turned bandit…”
Qin’er grasped at once why Qin Ming had stopped midway.
Speaking of heavy taxes before the Ninth Princess was not cursing the court?
At the thought, Qin’er shot the first squad leader a warning look, urging him to hold his tongue.
But the first squad leader was a proper thick-headed oaf; how could he read her glance?
Seeing her signal, he took it as praise for his tale.
Thus he grew more excited, gesturing wildly as he went on. “Speaking of Rabbit Slope pirates, they are no ordinary lot. They never rob fishermen, only salt merchants and such merchant ships. After looting, they even aid folk down on their luck. Sir said…”
“Enough, stop!”
Seeing signals ignored and his words veering further off, Qin’er cut in directly.
“Why stop?” The first squad leader scratched his head in confusion.
“Yes, why?” The Ninth Princess asked. “What did your sir say?”
“Sir said Rabbit Slope pirates differ from others. They turned bandit out of necessity. If we meet them, do not make it too hard; just drive them off.”
The first squad leader sighed. “Truth is, Rabbit Slope pirates have always steered clear of us. We never crossed paths before. Who knew we would at the end.”
The Ninth Princess had fully regained her usual calm, her face betraying no emotion, merely a slight nod. Then she asked, “Did you learn who sent them to assassinate me?”
“Yes. Of the two Qin’er girl caught, one is a bandit. They took the Rabbit Slope pirates’ families hostage, forcing the assassination. He came with them to oversee.”
Qin Ming replied. “By his account, he answers to a man named Feng Sheng.”
“Feng Sheng?” The Ninth Princess pondered, certain she had never heard the name, and frowned slightly. “Who is this Feng Sheng, and why assassinate me?”
“Feng Sheng is a local bandit chief in Jinchuan…”
The first squad leader recounted Feng Sheng’s background to the Ninth Princess, then added, “As for why he targets Your Highness, that I do not know.”
“You said just now, not long ago, Feng Sheng besieged Mu Lan somewhere?”
Court ministers spoke in circles, hinting sideways; the Ninth Princess, versed in memorials, was adept at seizing the crux.
The first squad leader’s words barely ended when she pinpointed the most suspicious point.
“Yes, but Your Highness, rest easy. This morning Brother Zhuzi said Sir himself set out with Guangyuan’s garrison troops to rescue Miss Mu Lan.”
The first squad leader said, “With Sir’s skill, Miss Mu Lan will be fine for sure.”
“Jin Mister took Guangyuan’s garrison?…”
The Ninth Princess fell thoughtful, then asked, “Big Ox, how long to Jinchuan Ferry from here?”
The lifeboat had drifted who knew where; unable to board the cargo ship now, they must go overland to the ferry.
“With the rain stopped, walking briskly, one or two hours.”
The first squad leader answered.
“How many paths to the ferry?”
“Few roads in the hills; just the one official way.”
“Any trails?”
“There are, but rough going…”
“We take the trail!”
The Ninth Princess decided before he finished.
“Your Highness, the trail saves little over the official road and means entering the mountains.”
The first squad leader said. “Recent rains have not let up; the hills will be flooded. Entering now is too perilous.”
“Mountain road!” The Ninth Princess repeated.
Qin Ming, grateful to the first squad leader for pulling him ashore earlier, saw he still did not grasp it and asked, “Your Highness, have you noticed something?”
“No, just a sense something is amiss.”
The Ninth Princess shook her head. “From Big Ox’s description, Feng Sheng is cunning. Such men plan in layers. He may well ambush the official road.”
“Makes sense.” Qin Ming nodded slightly.
Their guard team now numbered only four, armour lost. Facing a large bandit force would indeed be dire.
“Your Highness, Jinchuan’s bandits are cleared. Now in Jinchuan bounds, no one would dare ambush!”
The first squad leader dismissed it.
“Her Highness says trail, so trail!”
Qin’er shot him a fierce glare. “Babble more, and I will cut your tongue for fish bait?”
“Trail it is, no need to snap!”
The first squad leader muttered, leading the escorts ahead.
One had to say, the Ninth Princess’s instincts were spot on.
Along the official road from the incident to Jinchuan Ferry lurked a large bandit band in the woods.
In Jinchuan nowadays, such big groups were unseen. They had boated down the Jialing River to evade local notice.
A bandit in a rain cape slipped into the woods to find the chief.
“Fourth Boss, the river has splintered wood aplenty, and folk clinging to planks drifting down!”
This bandit, posted by the river to watch, hurried to report on seeing people afloat.
“That must mean Rabbit Slope pirates succeeded. Brothers, ready up. The fat sheep will come soon.”
The bandit chief said. “Archers especially: take down the woman first!”
“Fourth Boss, a woman cannot fight. Why waste arrows?” A bandit asked.
“Mind not why; Feng Mister so ordered. We obey, that is all!”
The chief said. “Do this pretty, and all get rewards. But I warn you: botch it, and I turn merciless!”
“Yes!”
The bandits perked up, eyes fixed on the official road beyond the woods.
Yet they waited over half an hour, and the road stayed silent.
The fat sheep they sought had already taken the trail into the hills.
The mountain path was rugged. The first squad leader, hailing from the Jialing River banks, knew the area well. They walked till mid-afternoon without mishap.
“Your Highness, through this wood ahead, then half an hour more, and we reach the ferry.”
The first squad leader pointed at the forest before them. “After that, all flat easy ground, no more climbing.”
The Ninth Princess opened her mouth to speak, but Qin’er suddenly darted in front, shielding her.
