Chen Rong watched the departing carriage for quite some time before she turned around and walked to the Chen estate’s entrance.
It only took her a few steps by the time a black shadow hurtled out from the roadside ditch.
Startled, Chen Rong was about to scream when this shadow raised his clasped hands and said to her, “Are you Ah Rong of the Chen house? General Sun has asked me to wait here for you.”
Sun Yan? Chen Rong recovered herself and inquired, “Where is he?”
“After slashing the two advisors sent by the prince, General Sun has moved out of the city on Wang Qilang’s advice.” He paused. “General Sun was worried about you, so he told me to stand here and wait. Now that you’ve come home, I’ll take my leave.” He again raised his clasped hands to Ah Rong and turned away. When his figure disappeared from the ditch, Chen Rong noticed other shadows joining him as they all left together.
The surroundings resumed their frightening silence when he was no longer with her, and she hastily ran toward the gate.
The iron gate creaked wide open the moment she got to the front. Two doormen gave her a bow as they said in unison, “You’ve come back, miss!”
Chen Rong nodded, knowing these people must’ve heard the noises outside and had been waiting behind the door. She hurried inside and to her own courtyard.
It was late; besides a few scattered lanterns hung for decoration, there only existed the chirping of insects at the Chen estate.
Chen Rong’s pace quickened, rushing to her courtyard. When she got to the door, she pounded on it and called: “Old Shang, Nurse Ping, I’m back, open the door for me.”
Her loud call was resounding in the silent night. She hadn’t detected any movement inside her courtyard while a candle had already lit up in Chen Wei’s courtyard.
Chen Rong quickly hushed herself and just desperately continued to knock on the door.