Transmigration: From Farmer To Empress-Chapter 2012 - 2020: Gratitude at the Second Watch (1)

It was late at night, the pitch-black sky was dotted with shimmering stars, appearing exceptionally dazzling. A crescent moon hung slanted in the sky, its faint moonlight like a thin gauze, fluttering and scattering on the ground, merging with our firelight. A gentle breeze blew, the bonfire’s flames flickered, occasionally making a "crackling" sound. The grasshoppers and crickets hidden in the grass tirelessly chirped, making this suburban night lively and vivid.

Ever since the coachman said that sentence, my heart hasn’t been at peace for a moment, the old man’s voice kept echoing in my ears: ’This girl is undoubtedly gentle and virtuous, suitable for a home, the Young Master must not miss her...’

Although, I had never thought of her that way before, but after the old man’s words, I suddenly felt that he had a point.

Miss Yanran not only possesses the tenderness and consideration expected of a daughter’s family but also has the strong will and decisiveness of a man. She is resilient, intelligent, with maturity and steadiness beyond her age. At such a young age, under the oppressive watch of tiger-like and wolf-like threats, she managed to survive in such a perilous environment, seize opportunities, and protect her younger brother and wet nurse from the den of tigers and wolves. Isn’t this cunning and ability perfectly suited to be the mistress of a big family clan?

Moreover, most importantly, I do not find her repulsive at all. Unlike those high-born daughters the matchmaker previously mentioned, she is natural, straightforward, with no affectation whatsoever. From top to bottom, there doesn’t seem to be anything I dislike. On the contrary, I admire her new brother’s way of handling things very much...

However, there is a significant age gap between us. She’s only thirteen or fourteen, while I’m already twenty-three or twenty-four. Perhaps, in her eyes, I’m already very old!

I pondered aimlessly, not knowing how I finished dinner. After dinner, I saw her taking her younger brother and Nanny Zhang back to the carriage and pulling down the curtain...

The night grew deeper, and because I kept pondering the old coachman’s words, I couldn’t fall asleep. As it reached almost the second watch, a wave of tiredness finally hit me, and I closed my eyes, ready to enter dreamland.

At this moment, a faint sound of hoofbeats suddenly reached my ears. The sound of hoofbeats was still at some distance from us, but it was clear that the horses were running in our direction, and there were quite a number of them.

In the dead of night, who would be traveling through the mountains and forests?

I abruptly awoke. Years of martial arts training have made my senses much sharper than ordinary people. For instance, now, my intuition tells me that these people are coming for us, and they mean no good!

I swiftly sat up, grabbed the treasured sword placed by my side, mounted my horse, and rode towards the direction of the hoofbeats.

I must intercept them before they get too close. Swords could wound unintentionally, and it wouldn’t be good if they got hurt or frightened during the fight later.

Therefore, I decided to settle them before they approached, to avoid startling or harming Yanran and the others.

The horse ran less than half a mile before I finally saw the group of people. They were a group of rugged men, with shiny big swords slung on their backs, glaring under the moonlight.

The leader was the One-Eyed Dragon, riding at the front. Seeing me coming alone, he pulled the reins and uttered: "Exhale——"

The horse stopped, and the dozen or so horses behind it also halted. The men on horseback looked at me coldly, their faces showing ill intent.

"Boy, are you the one named Mu?" The One-Eyed Dragon looked at me with disdain, his tone full of contempt.

I nodded: "Since you know me, you must be here for me. Did Princess Zhao Qing send you to kill me?"