Please Call Me Your Highness (GL) - Chapter 16

When a person senses danger, their hidden potential often ignites in an instant. By the time Dong Xiaoning regained her senses, she had already carried Xiao Fu up into the hills behind the cabin.

It was still summer—lush with dense foliage. Towering trees, vines, and shrubs obscured the natural terrain, making it easy to hide.

Judging by the sounds, the mounted group had already stopped in front of the cabin.

Peering through the gaps in the vines, Dong Xiaoning caught a glimpse of the newcomers. They wore plain clothes but carried swords, and their mounts were far from ordinary—clearly not common folk. She guessed they were government soldiers, but something felt off.

The mountain was eerily silent, and since Dong Xiaoning and Xiao Fu hadn’t gotten far, they could vaguely make out the conversation among the riders.

“I told you this trip would be a waste of time. Cabins like this are mostly used by locals for overnight stays, or by physicians harvesting herbs in the mountains.”

“But the bedding is still warm—someone was here recently. We arrive, and they’re gone. Isn’t that suspicious?”

“Suspicious? We’ve seen countless suspicious people and events on this journey. What’s come of them? All false alarms. I say the person we’re looking for probably never left the capital. Maybe we’ll find her corpse somewhere near the city.”

“How can you say that? We were sent by Her Majesty the Empress to track down the Fourth Princess. We’ve found nothing—how do we report back?”

Hearing this, Dong Xiaoning instinctively covered her mouth to stifle any sound. She glanced at Xiao Fu, who looked much better than during the night, though her face was flushed, and her eyes filled with alertness.

The men outside continued bickering.

“I say we don’t waste more time. Let’s return and report. This is a vast country—it’s near impossible to find one person. For all we know, she’s already dead.”

“I agree. With so many refugees lately, even local officials are overwhelmed. It wouldn’t be hard for someone to slip through. And we’re just a handful of people—like fishing in the sea.”

“You lot clearly don’t care about this task and just want to fob it off.”

“Don’t say that. Think about it—we’ve been roughing it outside the capital, sleeping in the open, suffering on this errand for Her Majesty. But since we can’t reveal our identities, we’re not even afforded basic hospitality—treated like rats. I say we report what we found here and await Her Majesty’s orders.”

“I agree. Besides, Xiangbang Prefecture isn’t far. Let’s go rest there. If we stumble upon good news, that’s a bonus.”

“Yes, yes, let’s go.”

As the voices and hoofbeats faded into the distance, Dong Xiaoning finally exhaled. She hadn’t expected to overhear such useful information—an unexpected stroke of luck.

From the conversation, she gathered that Empress Ming had dispatched people to search for her, but it wasn’t a large, public operation. The agents clearly felt stifled and had grown discontent with their assignment. Their casual complaints suggested that the Empress hadn’t put much weight behind this mission from the start.

Of course, the men themselves might simply be incompetent.

Dong Xiaoning didn’t know how to feel—uncomfortable was the only word that came to mind. She should have expected this, yet now that it had happened, she was bitterly disappointed. She couldn’t tell whether this disappointment stemmed from the original body’s lingering emotions or her own—or perhaps both.

Noticing her mood, Xiao Fu gently held her hand.

“I’m fine,” Dong Xiaoning whispered. Xiao Fu was still sick—she had to stay strong. “Do you think… those men, going to Xiangbang Prefecture… could it mean—”

She didn’t finish. This was a matter of trust between Han Congxuan and Xiao Fu.

“They won’t,” Xiao Fu said firmly. “Physician Han is a woman of high ethics. Now that she knows our identities and our choice, she would never betray us. Besides, those men clearly stumbled here by accident.”

Dong Xiaoning fell silent. Overhearing key plot developments like this usually only happened to protagonists. If she was the protagonist now… just how strong was her plot armor?

“We’ll wait a bit longer before going back.”

“Alright.”

Xiangbang Prefecture.

Han Congxuan owned a residence in the city. Though renowned for her medical skill, she had little interest in courting the powerful. Still, no one lives in complete isolation—everyone has friends, pursuits, and needs.

As a physician, Han Congxuan had her own needs—for instance, acquiring rare and precious herbs. Thus, she still had to interact with various people.

“Doctor Han, you’re back.” The elders chatting beneath the large tree at the alley’s entrance greeted her warmly.

Han Congxuan nodded in reply. She had returned late last night, nearly after the city gates had closed. Entering her home quietly, she hadn’t disturbed anyone. Now, leaving at dawn, she inevitably ran into familiar faces.

Exiting the alley without delay, Han Congxuan went straight to her regular herbal supplier to collect the necessary ingredients. The merchant, seeing her, offered up the items without hesitation.

“Doctor Han, will you be staying in the city for a while?”

“Yes, but not for long.”

“Planning to travel afterward?”

“Indeed.”

To these questions, Han Congxuan gave affirmative yet intentionally vague answers. Now that she knew Dong Xiaoning’s identity, she understood that their whereabouts could not be casually revealed.

After purchasing a few other items, Han Congxuan left the city. Once she was sure no one was following her, she hastened back toward the mountain cabin.

Dong Xiaoning had prepared lunch using the ingredients in the cabin, all the while keeping a close watch on the surroundings. The moment Han Congxuan’s figure appeared, she noticed.

She hadn’t brought anyone with her.

Dong Xiaoning quietly let out a breath of relief, though her face remained composed as she went out to greet her.

“I need to prepare medicine for Xiao Fu; it’ll take a little time. Stay with her. If she starts running a fever again, give her this.” Han Congxuan handed Dong Xiaoning a pitch-black pill. “Dissolve it in warm water and have her take it.”

“Understood.”

After some hesitation, Dong Xiaoning decided to tell Han Congxuan about what had happened at dawn.

“My place here is remote—aside from woodcutters, it’s rare to see anyone. Lucky them, stumbling upon it.” Han Congxuan sneered, “That means it’s no longer safe. Once I finish preparing the medicine, you should leave as soon as possible—head toward the coast. The open sea is perilous, yes, but no less full of opportunities than the land.”

That aligned with Dong Xiaoning’s previous plans, and she expressed her gratitude again.

However, Xiao Fu’s condition was far worse than expected. The recurring fevers left her frequently unconscious, forcing Dong Xiaoning and Han Congxuan to take turns watching over her. It wasn’t until several days later that Xiao Fu finally began to improve.

That day, the cabin’s medicine supplies had run out. Han Congxuan said, “I’ll make a trip to the prefecture, and while I’m there, I’ll get you some supplies for the road.”

“Thank you, Doctor Han.”

“It’s no trouble.”

With that, Han Congxuan left the cabin, following the mountain trail to the dirt road and then toward the main road. Near Xiangbang Prefecture, she noticed more soldiers than usual—and some of them clearly came from the capital. A sense of unease crept in.

As expected, she was stopped for questioning at the city gate. From the surrounding murmurs, she learned the imperial court had sent a force to search for the Fourth Princess, and that the Second Princess, Dong Yanning, was currently in the city.

Her unease solidified into reality. Feigning calm, Han Congxuan passed the inspection and entered the city. The streets were swarming with soldiers; clearly, the search was concentrated here for now. But it was uncertain whether they’d soon spread out to the countryside.

As order gradually returned, refugees were being sent back to their home provinces. In the countryside, any unfamiliar face would surely attract suspicion. She had to find a way to send Dong Xiaoning and Xiao Fu away immediately. Walking wouldn’t do—they needed another solution.

Han Congxuan quickly gathered what she needed. She had planned to buy two horses, but none were available. Changing her plan, she bought a mule, claiming it was for carrying goods on her upcoming journey. The excuse helped her avoid further questioning at the gate.

Just after Han Congxuan left the city, a group of riders galloped out—uniformed, but not in official attire—and clashed with the gate guards.

“Who are you?” Dong Yanning appeared at the scene, and the group’s leader immediately bowed to her.

“It’s you,” Dong Yanning recognized the man as a servant close to Empress Ming, and they spoke in hushed tones.

“Your Highness, I was sent by Her Majesty to find a doctor named Han Congxuan. Her medical skill is extraordinary—some say she can even bring the dead back to life.”

“She’s not in the city?”

“I had reliable information that she was, but she was preparing to travel. We hurried here and just learned she bought a mule and left. We meant no offense to Your Highness in our haste.”

“In that case, go about your task.”

“Thank you, Your Highness!”

As the group departed, Dong Yanning stood in place, pondering. Then she turned to a local official. “Is this Han Congxuan really as skilled as they say?”

The official, eager to please, replied, “Absolutely. She’s especially known for treating fertility-related issues.”

Dong Yanning frowned, and in that moment, she understood why Empress Ming had sent people to find Han Congxuan. Such matters were supposed to be secret, yet that servant had revealed it outright—intentionally or not, it was suspicious.

“Let’s go—catch up with those men.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Dong Yanning mounted her horse. Her thoughts were chaotic; she didn’t want them to find Han Congxuan, but she also felt her thinking was selfish. Still, she decided to pursue them. Deep inside, something compelled her—like an invisible force pushing her to act.

She had a feeling—something was about to happen.