Chapter 3: Dark Moon, High Wind, and High Night

Chu Si paid no attention to the pile of firewood and walked towards the depths of the forest, her rough hands hanging by her side.

As the sky darkened, the once quiet forest became lively. Two shadowy figures cautiously made their way to the designated spot, only to find no one there.

"Where is she?"

"Could that old nun be playing us?" one of them exclaimed angrily.

The other shook his head. "Doesn't seem likely." He looked down at the ground and smirked. "Look, she probably doesn't even know where she's gone to feed the wild wolves."

Observing the footprints in the snow, the two men exchanged a knowing smile and followed the trail.

Chu Si walked in the direction of her memory and soon spotted a flicker of candlelight deep in the jungle. She glanced back and smiled knowingly.

Approaching the door, the person inside sounded surprised. "Who's there?"

Chu Si listened to the voice of a woman inside and softly replied, "I am from the Shuiyun An, lost in the woods. Could you accommodate me for the night?"

The woman inside cautiously opened the door a crack and peered out. Seeing only Chu Si, she opened the door wider. "Are you practicing at Shuiyun An?" she asked.

Chu Si looked at her. The woman, with half of her hair already turned white, appeared to be around forty years old. Despite her plain attire, she exuded an air of nobility that was not to be trifled with.

As Chu Si assessed her, the woman also observed Chu Si. The thin and ill-fitting old cotton clothes made her look frail and vulnerable, yet her posture was straight, her gaze sharp and somewhat timid.

"Are you Chu Si?" the woman asked first.

Chu Si was slightly surprised. She had never met this woman before her rebirth, but she had learned about her after entering the palace. The old emperor had a lover hidden here, named Zhen Niang. Later, she joined the camp of the Carefree King, who indeed had some skills.

"Yes," Chu Si replied, her eyes misting with a hint of emotion.

Seeing her reaction, Zhen Niang finally showed a hint of a smile. "Come in."

Chu Si stepped inside and saw the room neatly arranged. On the exquisite huanghuali wood table sat a delicately carved incense burner, emitting the fragrance of autumn laurel. Although the room appeared simple, the items within were of the highest quality. Chu Si thought to herself that there must be imperial guards around.

"It's getting late. Rest for now, and we'll head back when the snow stops tomorrow," Zhen Niang said gently, handing Chu Si a cup of hot tea and settling her on a warm couch before extinguishing the candle.

Chu Si nodded slightly. She knew that Zhen Niang did not want to meddle in her affairs. Since she recognized her, she must also know her identity. Yet, she did not inquire why Chu Si had gotten lost in the deep forest in the middle of the night.

However...

Chu Si looked up and smiled at Zhen Niang. She had to get involved in this matter; otherwise, how could she return to the Prime Minister's residence to "settle the score" as soon as possible!

Outside, two men followed the footprints and arrived at a small thatched hut. "I never expected there would be a household hidden here after all these years," one of them remarked.

"It must be a shelter built by a villager. That stinky girl must have hidden inside. It's good that she's come to us on her own, rather than us seeking her out," the other said with a lecherous grin. They exchanged a knowing look, then armed with knives, they pried open the door. Unbeknownst to them, a dark figure had already launched an attack from behind, and soon, there were two muffled groans followed by silence.