Chapter 7: The Little Wimp Has Grown Bold and Escaped over the Wall

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Upon hearing this, Chu Li appeared unusually calm.
A living person who disappeared for an entire day without a trace—Fu Heng would find out sooner or later; it was impossible to keep it hidden.
By now, that man had probably already searched her room and seen everything he wanted to see.
She wondered what his feelings would be once he realized she had planned to run away, rather than being kidnapped.
But soon, Chu Li gave a self-mocking smile.
No, that fellow was taking a concubine today; he would have company tonight to share his bed. Why would he care about a rebellious woman like her?
Chu Li stopped thinking about the man who troubled her and comforted Qiu Yi:
“Don’t worry. After a couple of days’ rest, we’ll leave the city. With my disguise talisman, it’s easy to fool them. Just don’t get nervous and slip up.”
“Prince, he cares so much about the lady. He will search everywhere for her. The whole world belongs to the prince, so I fear he will track her inch by inch until he finds her.”
If they found her, she’d surely be condemned. After all, how could a woman abandon her husband in this world?
Given the prince’s noble status, if the lady left the capital without permission, abandoning the prince, she wouldn’t just be labeled disloyal or unchaste; she could be accused of disrespecting the royal family.
Even if the prince chose not to pursue it, the royal court might impose severe punishment on her.
Chu Li pressed her hand against her belly and struggled to sit up, her eyes filled only with resolve, not fear.
“My actions are indeed rebellious. It’s inevitable that rumors will spread, but there’s no need to worry too much. I know what kind of man Fu Heng is at his core. At most, he’ll look for me for a few months but won’t persist forever.”
Fu Heng was aloof and proud by nature. He wouldn’t tolerate a woman betraying him, nor would he allow the world to know that his legitimate wife had abandoned him of her own accord.
The letter she left in the wardrobe clearly stated that if he wrote a formal divorce and announced it, she wouldn’t spread rumors and would accept whatever accusations he placed on her.
A woman’s reputation was crucial in ancient times, but to Chu Li, reputation meant nothing; she did not care.
As long as she endured those first few months of his fury, things would eventually settle.
By voluntarily returning the position of legitimate wife, she had acted with utmost loyalty. If Fu Heng still cared for his face, he wouldn’t entangle her excessively.
A formal divorce would put an end to everything.

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In the study of the You Royal Mansion, Fu Heng repeatedly rubbed his fingertip over the blurred words on the letter.
The letter was crumpled and worn, clearly having been unfolded and smoothed out many times.
Fu Heng’s face was somber as he read the contents repeatedly, unable to control his emotions whenever his eyes passed over the words “once loved.”
Li’er, if you once loved me, why did you leave without a word or a glance back?
Was their love so fragile it couldn’t withstand a single storm?
Pain gradually darkened Fu Heng’s expression. He was no playboy who knew how to sweet-talk or romance; he was straightforward and unrefined.
All he knew was that Chu Li was the only woman he loved in this life. Even when stationed at distant battlefronts, his heart was always with his gentle little wife at home.
But now, the little wife had grown wings, climbed over the wall, and abandoned him...
“Your Highness, we’ve found some clues.”
At that moment, a voice called from outside the study—Black Feather.
Among the shadow guards, those with the surname Hei were Fu Heng’s closest confidants. Black Sha, the chief shadow guard, was severely punished and bedridden, so Black Feather had taken his place.
When Black Feather entered, he clearly saw the prince’s eyes reddened and moist at the corners. His mind went blank, and he bowed his head, unwilling to look on.
The prince had never appeared so vulnerable and disheveled. Even when surrounded by enemies on the battlefield and grievously wounded, he never furrowed his brow.
It seemed the princess’s sudden disappearance had dealt him a severe blow. Yet, the investigation results he was about to hear might wound him even more...
“What have you found?” Fu Heng masked his sorrow and returned to his usual cold, distant war god demeanor.
Black Feather knew he had no choice but to report and braced himself to relay the findings.
“The mansion’s physician and Nurse Hong investigated the princess’s medications and diet, finding nothing unusual. But Nurse Hong, being meticulous, noticed that on the mornings after Your Highness’s overnight stays in the capital, the princess would quietly send a little maid to buy supplies outside...”
“Buy what?” Fu Heng’s voice grew eight degrees colder, his knuckles whitening from the tension.
Black Feather took a deep breath. “She bought contraceptive soup, all prepared secretly at an external apothecary.”
Black Feather glanced quickly at the prince, who, despite a darkened expression, showed no sign of fury, so the report continued.
“There has been no loss from any treasury within the mansion; even the princess’s private funds remain intact.”

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“There have been no outsiders in close contact with the princess in the capital, and she has not left the mansion for nearly half a year, rarely even stepping beyond her own courtyard.”
This information came from Black Sha himself, who said the princess was the most homebound woman he had ever seen. Her sudden flight was unexpected.
“Furthermore, as for signs of escape... the princess apparently left through the back gate shortly after Your Highness returned to the study last night...”
At that time, the prince had just parted with the princess, and Black Sha had not yet returned to guard outside, so no one noticed.
In fact, there were many shadow guards around the mansion last night, so it seemed impossible for the princess to leave silently.
However, everyone tacitly understood that when the prince entered the princess’s room, being a loving married couple alone together, intimate sounds would inevitably be heard.
To avoid disturbing their lord and hearing inappropriate noises, they would keep their distance.
Especially someone like Black Sha, whose profound inner strength gave him sharper hearing than the others, would retreat even further.
All this was known and accepted by the prince.
Who would have thought the princess would exploit this gap and successfully escape?
Fu Heng waved for Black Feather to leave. As the door closed, his aura turned fierce and terrifying.
So it was all premeditated—she had long intended to leave!
Taking contraceptive soup after every night together? Chu Li, were you so reluctant to bear my child?
The passionate cries during lovemaking that made his whole body tingle—was it all perfunctory? All an act?
“Chu Li, what kind of woman are you? I have never truly understood you...”
Meanwhile, in a secluded courtyard of the mansion, Fang Siyao, upon hearing the words from a maid accompanying the dowry, suddenly gasped in surprise.
“The princess is missing? Kidnapped by villains?”
Though she asked this, no worry showed on Fang Siyao’s face; instead, she was filled with excitement and anticipation.
No matter who was responsible, if something happened to the princess—especially if she died—wouldn’t that clear the way for her to take that position?