Chapter 34 Saving People
Zheng Nianru nervously clutched Xing Yu’s sleeve, stepping back.
"Xing Yu, shall we go back?" Zheng Nianru did not want to take risks, not feeling at all dishonored by her inconsistency. She did not expect to rescue anyone from this place and thought it very likely that she herself might end up in danger.
Xing Yu nodded as well, and the two of them slowly retreated. Suddenly, there was another noise from inside the cave, which made Zheng Nianru’s legs give out, and she slipped. Xing Yu hurriedly reached out to help her.
"Commandery Princess, are you all right?" Xing Yu checked Zheng Nianru’s ankle. Nanny Yun had just brought back a handful of firewood when she saw Zheng Nianru fall and hurried over, about to scold someone, but Xing Yu quickly covered Nanny Yun’s mouth and pointed to the cave.
"How can there be someone? Go and take a look, Xing Yu." The Commandery Princess had sneaked out; it would be troublesome if they were discovered.
Xing Yu looked at Zheng Nianru, who also nodded. Since the matter was already in front of them, there was no longer reason to be afraid.
Xing Yu crept back once more, parting the grass at the entrance of the cave. The shadow inside was still motionless, its breath extremely faint.
"Is it dead?"
Zheng Nianru nodded in agreement. The three of them, taking bigger steps and gaining courage, approached the cave entrance. Seeing that their loud noises did not prompt the figure on the ground to lift its head, Zheng Nianru became even less afraid.
"Xing Yu, go and take a closer look," said Zheng Nianru. As they pushed aside the grass at the entrance, light shone into the cave, and Zheng Nianru saw a vague figure lying prone, not in royal garments. Could it be a villager from the mountains?
That seemed unlikely, for the mountains near the Traveling Palace were within the Royal Family’s hunting grounds, heavily guarded. Outsiders couldn’t easily trespass. The shadowy figure was very tall and extremely thin.