Granny Fang blamed herself, "It's all my fault. He must have recognized this old woman."
She was advanced in age, making her most recognizable.
"It's not your fault. Our unauthorized escape from Qizhou must have been exposed." After a pause, Ye Luan's brow twitched, and she muttered, "Perhaps, from the very beginning, the north was a conspiracy."
Suddenly, she slapped her thigh.
Indeed.
The search by the northern soldiers was noticeably lax, designed to make her lower her guard.
How could she have been so foolish?
But if she went south, with such stringent searches, she would still be caught.
The world was vast, yet there was no place for her.
She couldn't travel by water, and the land routes were strictly searched in every city. She had managed to evade the soldiers and hide in the mountains, finding a small village, only to be discovered again.
She was trapped with no escape!
"Miss, the rain is so heavy, and we've lost the carriage. Should we take shelter in the mountains first?"
Ye Luan was soaked. She looked at the two of them, drenched like drowned rats, and sighed, "Let's head deeper into the mountains. We'll look for a cave."
Since Li Qiongyu had found her, the road down the mountain must be blocked, and they might even seal off the mountain.
She had to find a way.
The three of them walked into the depths of the mountains, and after a long search, they finally found a cave.
It was eerie inside.
Ye Luan found some firewood and started a fire, which made them feel a lot warmer.
When she jumped off the carriage, Granny Fang had brought the bundle with her, which contained dry food and medicine.
"You two, take off your clothes and dry them. Don't catch a chill."
Saying that, she searched the surroundings and found a few rusty pots and bowls.
Fu Dai smiled, "Perhaps this is a cave frequented by hunters from the village below. Look, there's so much dry grass here."
Ye Luan rummaged through everything and went outside to collect rainwater to wash the pots and bowls.
Granny Fang was drying her clothes and said, "Miss, hurry and dry your clothes. Don't bother with other things."
"It's alright. You do what you need to do."
Granny Fang was old. Following her and enduring the rain for so long, her body must not be able to handle it. If she caught a chill at night, it would be life-threatening!
Fu Dai quickly put on her half-dry clothes and came to help her.
After Ye Luan started boiling the medicine, she sat by the fire to dry her clothes, her gaze slightly distant.
Fu Dai mumbled, "Miss, with such heavy rain, they shouldn't be chasing us anymore, right?"
"No, but the road down the mountain must be blocked. Perhaps once the rain stops, they will search the mountain."
"Ah, then what should we do?"
Ye Luan lowered her eyes, "Let's split up."
Granny Fang sat up with a jolt, "Miss wants to separate from us?"
"Yes." Ye Luan took out a map and looked at the two of them, "I'll go with him. You wait until the soldiers at the foot of the mountain have withdrawn, and then take the bundle and wait for me at the Changhe Village ahead."
"Miss is going to lure them away?"
Yes, she was desperate.
She could only risk her life.
Granny Fang said fearfully, "But this is too dangerous."
"Don't worry about me. I'll find a way to reunite with you."
Dealing with only one Li Qiongyu, she still had hope of escaping.
The desolate raindrops drifted in. In the cave, a faint medicinal scent wafted out, bubbling and simmering.
Fu Dai and Granny Fang sat quietly, an irrepressible sadness appearing on their faces.
"Miss, can we really escape?"
The prince's frantic pursuit of Miss was truly unheard of.
Such a paranoid and terrifying person, how could he give up so easily?
Ye Luan remained silent, handing them the medicine.
"Drink the medicine, eat something, and get some rest early."
Tomorrow, when the rain stopped, who knew what would happen.
Ye Luan was very tired and couldn't afford to think too much.
She lay down on the grass-covered stone bed and soon fell asleep.
The autumn rain dripped incessantly, like silver needles, falling into the desolate night. Gradually, it lessened.
Inside the cave.
Ye Luan, in her sleep, was covered in sweat, her brows furrowed tightly as if she were trapped in a nightmare. Her pale hands clutched the dry grass beneath her.
Pale, terrifying.
"Xiao Chizhan!"
Suddenly, a shrill cry woke the other two.
"Miss, what's wrong?"
Ye Luan's face was filled with terror, her eyes a little dazed. Shaken hard by Fu Dai, she snapped back to reality.
She swallowed, glanced around, and her brow twitched fiercely.
What was wrong with her?
Why had she dreamt that Xiao Chizhan was dead?
The panic and sense of impending death in her dream enveloped her, making it suffocatingly difficult to breathe.
Granny Fang asked with concern, "Miss, are you alright?"
Ye Luan lowered her eyes, "I'm fine. I was being an idiot."
"Ah--"
The two of them looked at her suspiciously.
Just then, there was a sudden noise from outside.
Ye Luan trembled and immediately got up and walked outside.
The sky was dimly lit.
Faintly, the figures of several soldiers could be seen searching around.
The rain hadn't stopped, yet they were here to capture her.
"Miss, they're here."
Ye Luan looked back, "You two stay hidden here. I'll go out with them. As soon as the soldiers withdraw, you hurry to Changhe Village."
Granny Fang worried about her, but Fu Dai held back her words and nodded heavily.
"Don't worry, Miss. I will take good care of Granny and wait for you."
Ye Luan patted her head and smiled faintly.
She took two porcelain bottles from the bundle, tucked them into her embrace, and then left the cave.
She walked out brazenly.
Before long, the searching soldiers noticed her and surrounded her.
Li Qiongyu was waiting at the foot of the mountain, smiling with an amorous expression.
The road down the mountain was blocked, she couldn't escape.
Heh heh.
He was truly a clever one. "Young Master, look, isn't that Miss Ye?"
Reminded by the attendant beside him, Li Qiongyu, who was sitting on a low stool sipping tea, immediately looked up. The woman, dressed in simple clothes and a hairpin, was calmly descending the mountain with the soldiers.
Seeing Ye Luan, Li Qiongyu clicked his tongue.
Even in a simple dress and hairpin, she couldn't conceal her stunning beauty. No wonder Xiao Chizhan was searching for her like a madman.
He got up to meet her, his amorous peach blossom eyes full of a smile, "Ye Luan, why are you running? I won't eat you."
Yesterday, she had disguised herself as an old woman. He hadn't recognized her at first.
"Hey, why aren't you speaking?"
Ye Luan swept him a cold glance, "Aren't you going to take me back? What is there for me to say to you?"
Li Qiongyu sheepishly touched his nose and followed her.
"Don't be angry. When Xiao Chizhan arrives, if you soften your stance with him, he won't do anything to you. Wouldn't it be better if we were like we used to be?"
Hearing this, a glint flashed in Ye Luan's eyes. She turned back and glanced at him, "Where is Xiao Chizhan?"
"That guy hasn't eaten or slept properly since he couldn't see you, and he's looking for you everywhere."
"Where is he?"
Sensing her tone deepen, Li Qiongyu said apologetically, "He's gone to Youzhou. He's probably at the Luzhou waterline now. I've already sent a carrier pigeon, and he'll be here soon."
Luzhou?
Not far from here. He would arrive within three days.
She had to hurry.