Fake Daughter Is the Real Legend novel · Chapter 11 of 24
Chapter 11: Jingzhao
The doorman at the Marquis of Anping's gate would not let a convict through.
"Names," he said, without opening the postern. "Business. And take off that hood. The house is holding a betrothal banquet tonight."
"Qiao Ruyun," said Ruyun. "Going home."
There was a pause behind the wood.
Twelve days on the road had bruised her to the bone.
She wore the gray hemp coat from the camp, with the washhouse stain at the cuff.
Beside her sat the old steward, white-faced and out of breath, and behind her sat the sergeant and four soldiers from Ironwall who had insisted on coming.
"We have been told to bring her in one piece," the sergeant had said at the camp gate.
"By whom?" she had asked.
"By the Commander."
The postern opened a crack.
The doorman's eyes went over her and widened.
"You are the one who was sent north. The false girl."
"I am the one who served her sentence."
"There was an order. My lord the Marquis said, if the false girl ever comes to this door, I am to say she has no door."
"Then he said it to the wrong gate."
She reached into her sleeve and took out the bronze half-tally.
Shen Zhuo had pressed it back into her palm at dawn, at the camp gate, in front of the whole line.
"It was never contraband," he had said, loud enough for them to hear. "I only held it for the owner."
She held it up now in the morning light.
The plum blossom on the side caught the sun.
"This is the Grand Princess's Guard tally," she said. "She gave it to me. I am going to the Princess Court, and I would like the door."
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