The two arrived at Qu Tai Palace. Xia Yun drew water from the well and poured it into a basin with a wooden bucket.
“You clean your wound first, I’ll go find some medicine.”
Chi You sat beneath the peach tree and smiled, “Thank you, Brother Yun.”
Xia Yun looked at her smile, his cheeks flushing. He scratched his head and ran out.
“Wait for me here, don’t wander off.”
Chi You quickly hummed in agreement. As soon as his figure disappeared, she squatted down and used a cloth to clean the dirt and pebbles from her hands.
Under the night sky, with a sliver of moon hanging high, in the dilapidated palace grounds, only the chirping of insects could be heard.
After cleaning the dirt, the person still hadn’t returned.
Chi You found a clean stone under the tree and sat down.
Her mind involuntarily drifted back to the scene just now, her eyes welling up with moisture, waves of heat surging outwards.
She bit her lip tightly, trying to stop the tears, but they fell uncontrollably.
Brother really didn’t seem to like her; it was she who had been clinging to him.
He was about to get married, and he didn't want her anymore.
A cold wind blew, and the surroundings were desolate and bleak.
A dull ache spread through her chest.
The more Chi You thought about it, the more distressed she became. She quickly wiped away her tears, calming the pain in her heart.
When Xia Yun returned with the supplies, he saw her leaning against the peach tree in the moonlight, her arms wrapped around her knees, her eyes vacant, her eyes red at the corners. It was clear she had been crying hard.
He walked over with the bundle and beckoned to her.
“Awu, come here.”
Hearing his voice, Chi You immediately wiped her tears and stood up.
“Brother Yun, what did you bring?”
The two sat at the stone table under the tree. Peach petals fluttered down, adding a touch of fragrance to the desolate and bleak palace grounds.
“I found this in my master’s chest. I saw him use it last time; it stops bleeding. I’ll use it to bandage your wound.”
“Sit.”
Chi You obediently sat down beside him and extended her hand.
Xia Yun looked at the scratches on her palm and asked while applying the medicine, “How did you get hurt?”
“I fell on the ground and was scraped by stones.”
“Your skin is too delicate; it gets hurt easily. Unlike us rough fellows. Be careful in the future.”
Chi You nodded diligently.
“Can we leave the palace?”
Xia Yun, hearing her soft and curious voice, replied, “The palace gates are heavily guarded, but the imperial kitchen has special personnel who go into the common folk to purchase ingredients. I’ll find a way to see if we can sneak out.”
He had only learned after entering the palace that besides tribute from various regions and produce from royal farms, the imperial kitchen also had people who procured ingredients from the common people.
If he built good relationships, perhaps he could sneak out with them.
“Once we're out of the palace, I’ll take you to Nanjiang.”
“Really?”
Chi You looked at him with surprise.
Xia Yun nodded, “If someone goes missing in the palace, they are beheaded, especially since you are a concubine. If we don’t hide very, very far away, we’ll be caught and it will be a dead end.”
Chi You looked at him with bewilderment, feeling that it was very dangerous.
“Even if I tell you, you wouldn’t understand.”
Xia Yun sighed. Helping her escape meant certain death if they were caught.
But this palace was no place for people to stay.
He couldn’t stay any longer and wanted to run far, far away.
“Just follow me, no matter what.”
Chi You asked, “When can we leave?”
Xia Yun finished bandaging her wound and tied a knot before speaking.
“There are many things to prepare. We’ll see if we can disguise ourselves as kitchen eunuchs and leave through Guangwu Gate with the procurement team. Just wait for my news.”
Such a dangerous act as sneaking out of the palace required careful planning. He needed to gather information properly, lest they fail to leave the palace and lose their lives, which would be too much of a waste.
“Here, your stomach was rumbling on the way. I secretly took this from the kitchen for you to eat.”
As he spoke, he took out a chicken leg wrapped in oil paper from the bundle and handed it to her.
Chi You smelled the aroma, and her hunger intensified. She smiled and thanked him, then began to eat it in small bites.
The moonlight illuminated the barren palace halls. The two sat under the peach tree, chatting idly.
“You’re a saintess from Nanjiang, how can you be so naive?”
Xia Yun had been curious for a long time. Royals shouldn’t be this simple.
Why would Nanjiang send her for a political marriage? It was probably a deception because she was naive.
After all, the person sent for a political marriage could be killed at any time.
“I don’t know.”
“Ah, forget it. Perhaps you were wronged, and that’s why you’re so foolish. If you can’t find your family later, I’ll take you traveling. I’ve heard it’s very fun outside the border; I’ve never been before.”
He had always been a wanderer. His father had sold him into service and received enough money for the rest of his life, so he didn’t need to go back to be filial.
Besides, if he slipped away, going back would only cause trouble for his father and bring about a fatal disaster.
He was better off thinking about how to survive and then enjoy himself freely.
Chi You glanced sideways at him.
“I don’t remember.”
Xia Yun glanced at her and curved his lips.
The moonlight reflected in his smiling, squinting eyes, making them exceptionally bright.
“It’s fine if you don’t remember. With your personality, you really need someone to protect you.”
Chi You lowered her head and slowly ate the chicken leg in her hand.
Xia Yun looked at her profile, and his mood lightened slightly.
This palace was full of deceit and treachery. Only when he was with her could he relax.
The two chatted for a while longer. Seeing that it was getting late, Xia Yun left the medicine for her and got up to bid farewell.
Chi You stood up and spoke with concern.
“Did you steal your master’s medicine? Will he hit you?”
“It’s alright, he doesn’t know it was me. I’ll come tomorrow to bring you food. Stay here obediently and don’t wander off.”
There was a chance someone might bully her with ill intentions and injure her further, which would be painful.
Chi You nodded obediently. “Brother Yun, tell me when you figure out how to leave the palace. I don’t want to stay here anymore.”
Hearing her eager voice, Xia Yun turned back with a smile and teased, “If you leave, don’t you dare come back crying to the Prime Minister.”
Chi You’s heart ached, and she dejectedly lowered her head, kicking a pebble at her feet.
“Brother is getting married.”
“Yes, it’s been the talk of the town these past few days. I heard that the Prime Minister spent a fortune on Jinlǚ Pavilion years ago for this woman, but the young lady was away for several years. Now that she’s returned, the Prime Minister has finally gotten his wish.”
Xia Yun said, patting her head, and comforted her.
“If you like the Prime Minister, it’s best to give up on him early. It’s impossible between you two.”
Chi You lowered her gaze. “I want to go home.”
Xia Yun, afraid she would be too naive, cautioned, “Absolutely do not mention your desire to leave to anyone. It’s a capital offense.”
Seeing his solemn expression, Chi You nodded heavily.
“I won’t.”
“Then I’ll be going. You should rest early.”
The cold wind howled around, chilling and silent.
Chi You watched his departing figure wistfully, then looked at the dark palace grounds. She couldn’t help but curl her arms.
This place was practically a cold palace, with hardly any palace lanterns. As the wind blew, the leaves rustled.
It was eerily quiet, and sinister.
In the past, she would have gone to bed early and slept soundly until morning. She had never been alone this late before.
“Awu, are you scared?”
Suddenly, Xia Yun, who had walked to the doorway, turned and looked at her.
Chi You’s heart warmed. She ran towards him and said, “It’s too dark.”