"Excuse me, Princess, if this one is presumptuous... but since when did you become proficient in martial arts and swordplay?" Jimin asked, his voice hesitant but full of curiosity.
Lu Chen, hearing this question, immediately fell silent, a little panicked and flustered. "E-eh... t-that... actually, I, um, secretly learned martial arts and swordplay, yeah... like that, Jimin," he replied awkwardly, scratching his nose, which wasn't itchy at all.
Jimin stared in surprise. "Really, Princess? So this whole time, Princess, you've been training without anyone knowing? Wow... that's amazing. This one never even saw any signs of you training."
Lu Chen just smiled faintly. "Hehe... well, I didn't want many people to know. I just wanted to be able to protect myself, not always rely on others."
Jimin nodded, his face showing relief. "Thank goodness, Princess. If that's the case, this one feels much more at ease now. I'm always worried if something happens, at least now you can take care of yourself."
"Hmm, yes," Lu Chen replied, short but cool as always. Inwardly, she was grateful that her maid didn't ask further. If she had, she wouldn't have known how to answer.
After that, Lu Chen put on her veil. The soft green veil matched the hanfu she was wearing, making her appear elegant and mysterious.
As Lu Chen was about to leave for the capital, Jimin insisted on coming along. "Princess, please allow this servant to accompany you. This servant won't be at ease if you go alone to such a crowded place. Moreover, you haven't left the residence for a while."
Lu Chen looked at her flatly. "No need, Jimin. I just want to walk around and see the outside world without anyone bothering me. You don't need to worry, I can take care of myself."
"But, Princess…" Jimin continued to coax her anxiously. "What if there are bad people on the way? Or… or you get lost in the vast city of Chang'an?"
Lu Chen held back a chuckle, but kept his voice even. "Jimin, I'm not a child who gets lost easily. Besides, I'm not the weak woman you think. I can run, fight, and defend myself if necessary."
"Alright then," Jimin finally relented, but her expression remained worried. "At least I'll be waiting in the pavilion. Be careful on your way, princess."
Lu Chen nodded curtly and stepped out. He was excited—today he was truly going to experience life in the ancient world.
Chang'an City, Capital of the Lu Empire.
"Huh, I'm finally here," Lu Chen said with a long sigh. "So Chang'an is quite far away, huh? But never mind, all the effort was worth it. Hahaha… time for a big shopping spree!"
She chuckled behind her veil, her excitement surging.
As soon as she entered the city, her eyes widened in amazement. "Wow… amazing! I never thought an ancient city could be this grand. Just look! Everyone is bustling about, some selling things, some chatting, and some looking like royalty. Amazing!"
He continued walking, gazing around. People milled about, some casting curious glances at the woman in the green veil. But Lu Chen paid them no attention. He was too busy enjoying the bustling atmosphere of the ancient market.
"This is truly fascinating! I don't even know where to start. Should I buy some silk first? Or maybe some jewelry? Hmm…" he muttered, looking left and right.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up. "Ah, looks like I should buy some new clothes first. Lu Mei's clothes are so worn out, they're no longer fit to wear." He snorted softly and headed towards the clothing store.
But because he was so busy looking left and right, he didn't notice the road ahead. He stopped when he heard someone shout.
"Help! Help! My money was stolen! Catch the thief! Help!" shouted a middle-aged woman, running frantically after a shabby-clothed man carrying a cloth bag.
Lu Chen raised an eyebrow, his expression impassive. He muttered to himself, "Hmm, that woman looks like royalty, but why doesn't she have any bodyguards? Or maybe all her bodyguards were taken down by the thief? But from the robber's appearance, he doesn't seem that strong."
Seeing that none of the villagers were willing to help, Lu Chen sighed softly. "Hmph, what a coward. Alright, it looks like this great general will have to take matters into his own hands," he muttered under his breath, his tone lazy yet sharp. "It's been a long time since I've taken action... let's see how quickly I can deal with this."
She stepped quickly forward and blocked the robber's path. As soon as the robber saw her, his face immediately turned angry.
"Move! Don't block my way, woman!" the robber snapped roughly.
Lu Chen remained silent, staring at her blankly. The wind blew gently, making the edges of her veil flutter gently.
"I said move!" the robber shouted again, louder now.
Lu Chen raised his chin slightly. His voice was calm but cold as ice. "If I don't want to, are you going to force me, huh?"
Some people nearby began whispering.
"That woman is crazy! Doesn't she know who she's facing?" a young woman said in a panicked tone.
"That's right! That robber is very strong! Many people have tried to fight him and failed. That woman will definitely be knocked down any minute," said another.
"But… why is she wearing a veil? Is she ugly? Or is she hiding her face?" a man quipped with a loud laugh.
"Ahahaha! Who knows, she might be so ugly she's embarrassed to show her face!" another chimed in, making everyone burst out laughing.
Lu Chen snickered softly behind her veil. "You idiots. You can only talk without knowing the truth," she muttered under her breath.
The robber raised his knife and stepped forward. "You have no sense! A woman like you should be afraid, not brazen! If you don't move aside, I won't hesitate to hurt you!"
Lu Chen smiled coldly. "Try it, if you're fast enough," he replied casually.
The robber immediately lunged, but in an instant, Lu Chen's body moved as fast as lightning. One light movement twisted the robber's hand.
"Aaaargh!" the robber screamed in pain.
Lu Chen stared at her expressionlessly. "I told you, I'm not a weak woman."
The crowd fell silent. No one dared to speak.
The middle-aged woman who had been robbed approached with a shocked expression. "Princess… thank you! You saved me! If it weren't for you, my money would have been gone!"
Lu Chen turned slowly. "No need for thanks. I just can't stand seeing someone like him roaming around freely."
The woman bowed respectfully. "Still, I owe you a favor. If you ever need anything, please come to the Fang family home in the eastern district. I will always welcome you with open arms."
Lu Chen nodded curtly. "Very well. I will remember that."
The crowd that had been laughing at him now froze, some even lowered their heads in shame. One of the men who had been mocking him whispered, "She… was so fast. Her movements were invisible."
"Who exactly is that veiled woman?" asked another.