Chapter Four: Night Raid in the Rain

Early spring, and the rains grew more frequent.

The caravan of migrants moving from Luoyang to Chang'an had been on the road for nearly three days. The drizzle had started yesterday and showed no signs of stopping.

Within the massive crowd of refugees, two unassuming figures stood out—or rather, failed to. One was a burly, brawny man, and the other appeared to be a youth. Both were dressed in simple, tattered hempen clothes and wore conical bamboo hats. Unlike the surrounding commoners, who were weighed down by bundles and crates of household goods, these two carried only a single, modest pack each. This inevitably drew curious glances from those nearby.

The two were Liu Xie and Fu Hu, the bodyguard assigned to him by Empress Fu Shou. Fu Hu was a hulking figure; according to Fu Shou, he was one of the finest guards of the Fu family, rumored to possess the strength to lift a cauldron and the prowess to take on a hundred men. This only caused Liu Xie to grumble internally about his "cheap" father, Liu Hong—even his wife had a top-tier bodyguard, yet he, the Emperor of the realm, had not a single personal guard to his name.

Noticing the strange looks from the refugees, Liu Xie rubbed his nose in embarrassment and nudged Fu Hu with his elbow. "Hu-zi, why are they staring at us? Is that disguise technique of yours actually working?"

Fu Hu swept his gaze across the crowd. The sharp, icy glint that flashed within his eyes beneath the rim of his hat was enough to make the surrounding people quickly look away.

Fu Hu gave a simple, honest grin. "Your Maj—"

Startled, Liu Xie quickly clamped a hand over Fu Hu’s mouth and hissed, "Don't call me that here! I don't want to die yet!"

Fu Hu nodded, looking a bit aggrieved. "Then what should I call you?"

Liu Xie thought for a moment. "Call me Young Master!"

"Understood, Young Master!" Fu Hu replied formally, and only then did Liu Xie release his hand, satisfied.

"Don't worry, the disguise is definitely working. It's just... Young Master, we forgot to bring rations," Fu Hu said, scratching the back of his head. Liu Xie nearly tripped into the mud upon hearing this.

Liu Xie adjusted his hat and asked, "You didn't bring any food when we left?" When he had departed, he assumed his guards would have taken care of everything, but it seemed his assumption was wrong.

"No..." Hu-zi scratched his head and gave a sheepish smile.

Liu Xie felt a vein throbbing in his forehead. He looked up at the sky; it was growing dark, and the rain was intensifying. Turning back to retrieve supplies was clearly impossible. He would have to go hungry tonight, and with the rain continuing, even finding a place to sleep would be a challenge.

As he rubbed his temples, trying to figure out how to solve his predicament, the flow of people in front began to slow to a halt. Nearby, commoners were already erecting crude shelters; the caravan stopped to rest at this time every day before continuing at dawn.

"Young Master, what shall we do tonight?" Fu Hu asked blankly.

Liu Xie wanted to smack him on the head, but he couldn't reach.

"You two, would you like to come and rest with us?" A soft, melodic voice like heavenly music rang out from behind them.

Liu Xie turned to see a large, sturdy carriage parked behind them, followed by a small convoy. It lacked ostentatious decorations, yet it clearly belonged to a wealthy family. In these times, merchant families were restricted by imperial policy and could not officially use carriages, but in this age of chaos, such regulations had long been forgotten.

This was not the time for Liu Xie to concern himself with legalities. Just as he was fretting over food and shelter, warmth had arrived.

Once they boarded, they realized the carriage was quite spacious. It lacked excessive finery, furnished only with a low table and a few mats. After removing their hats, Liu Xie noticed a few people inside: an elderly couple, a handsome young man, and a young girl of about fourteen or fifteen.

It was the girl who had invited them. She had peach-blossom eyes and a fresh, delicate face—a budding beauty. Beside her, the young man watched Liu Xie with similar curiosity; clearly