Ye luan hid behind the wall, listening to the words of the few big men drinking tea, her face turned cold.
The south was so heavily guarded, and the water routes were completely blocked. She had been trapped in Qizhou Commandery, and within a few days, she would surely be found.
Since Tantai Ye had come south to catch her, perhaps Xiao Chizhan had also come.
She clenched her fists, and a flash of white light crossed her mind.
If you don't enter the tiger's den, how can you catch its cub?
If she went north to Youzhou, that was Xiao Chizhan's territory.
He would never have imagined she would go to such a dangerous place.
After this commotion died down, she would leave Youzhou.
"Miss, what should we do?"
"Let's go back to the inn first."
The three of them walked discreetly towards the inn, but suddenly, countless armored soldiers walked orderly ahead, separating the common people.
In the middle of the avenue, a man in brocade robes was surrounded by officials.
Ye luan was startled and quickly pulled the other two to hide behind a wonton stall.
The man was Tantai Ye.
He rode a fine horse, his handsome face expressionless. Behind him followed a large group of officials from Qizhou Commandery, all bowing subserviently.
"The Prince has ordered a thorough search of all villages, commanderies, and prefectural offices. Anyone caught will be rewarded with ten thousand taels of gold and promoted in rank."
The man's proud voice, like an eagle's, was carried by the cold wind into the ears of the Prefect of Qizhou.
The Prefect of Qizhou watched the departing figure on horseback and quickly bowed and said with a smile.
"Your subordinate accepts the decree."
Fu Dai, terrified, tightly grasped Ye luan's arm, her teeth chattering. "Miss, even the general is here, can we still escape?"
Ye luan's expression was calm, but her hand hidden in her sleeve was tightly clenched.
The madman's methods were indeed incomparable to normal people.
What sin had she committed to offend such a possessive fellow?
Was he mad?
To cause such a large military operation to catch her.
She couldn't help but shiver all over. What would this madman do to torture her if he caught her?
Imprisonment? Or kill her directly?
Terrifying, so terrifying.
"He is determined to take me back."
Granny Fang secretly wiped away tears, "The Prince's power is immense, Miss is no match for him."
Ye luan swallowed, suppressing her hatred, and led them back to the inn.
The city gates were forbidden to exit, and searches were conducted house by house, especially in the inns, where they were strictly checked and registered.
Ye luan feared her fake travel permits would be discovered and dared not delay.
She bribed a merchant caravan and, with the other two, exited Qizhou Commandery from the west gate.
"Hurry, hurry, don't delay, or my head will fall off if the superiors find out." The guarding general at the city gate urged them.
The鏢師 (courier) gave them money, spoke a few flattering words, and then quickly drove the carriage out of the city gates.
"Oh dear, Old Biao Tou, if we hadn't bribed the superiors this time, this business would have failed again."
"Who isn't saying that? I wonder if it's because of an upcoming war that the security is so tight?"
Ye luan sat in the bumpy carriage, not clearly hearing what they were discussing. After they had traveled some distance, she finally lifted the carriage curtain.
They were traveling on the official road, and everywhere around them were searching soldiers.
The checkpoints were extremely strict. They would ask where you came from, where you were going, and could even investigate your ancestors up to eight generations.
"Brother, just drop us off in the woods ahead."
When the鏢師 heard her words, he drove the carriage and dropped them off in front, even giving them a carriage.
"Alright, farewell."
Ye luan smiled and nodded, saying nothing.
Granny Fang patted her chest in lingering fear, "We're finally out."
"Miss, are we really going to Youzhou?"
Ye luan sighed, "The south is too strict, with soldiers everywhere. I'm afraid the Prince has also gone south. Let's head north to Youzhou and hide for a year or a half."
"Alright, we'll do as you say, Miss."
They drove the carriage for several days. The further north they went, the more lax the searches became.
Ye luan gradually breathed a sigh of relief.
Jizhou Governor's Mansion.
Xiao Chizhan, dressed in a snow-white robe with a black fox fur cloak, strode into the council hall.
The Jizhou officials lined up on both sides immediately rose and knelt to greet him.
"Your subordinate greets the Prince, long live the Prince."
"Rise."
Xiao Chizhan's voice was cold. He sat on the main seat, his imposing aura making everyone present tremble with fear.
They could clearly sense that this lord was in a very bad mood!
Especially the Governor of Jizhou, who was afraid that the Prince of Dingbei would be displeased and dismiss him. Before he could be questioned, he stood up and spoke.
"The Great General personally went south and dispatched tens of thousands of troops, but they found no trace of the person."
"All commanderies and prefectures under my jurisdiction are undergoing intensive investigations. Two days ago, a caravan transporting goods from Qizhou Commandery and attempting to escape was apprehended."
"After thorough investigation and interrogation, it was revealed that three villagers from Xiahe Village had bribed them and secretly slipped out of Qizhou Commandery."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Governor of Jizhou waved his hand, and someone presented the portraits of the three people.
"These individuals are considered suspicious. Your subordinate has already sent people to notify the Prefect of Gaozhou Prefecture. All prefectural offices in the northern regions are searching, and pursuing them along the way."
Xiao Chizhan's pupils turned red as he looked at the portraits on the table, a cold, thin smile on his lips.
Xue Ren secretly swallowed as he looked at his lord's expression.
The Prince had deliberately made a big show of going south and dispatching troops to confuse people, so that Miss Ye would not dare to go south. The places far from the capital must be the northern prefectures.
The searches in the north were very lax, and people were secretly dispatched to search everywhere. As long as Miss Ye showed herself in the north, the people sent by Young Master Li would track her down.
"Are their routes clear?"
The Governor of Jizhou quickly and respectfully replied, "They were interrogated, and they said they were unclear. They went towards Zhongbo when they separated."
Zhongbo?!
Xiao Chizhan coldly tapped the table, then suddenly smiled.
Zhongbo in the north, the thirteen capitals of Youzhou!
Very good!
At this moment, another official stood up and cupped his fists, "Your Highness, should we continue to increase troops in various regions?"
Xiao Chizhan stood up, put his hands on his hips, and walked down.
"Set sail tonight. I will personally go to Youzhou."
"Yes."
As he exited the hall, Xiao Chizhan had just descended the stone steps when a woman in a fur coat below the corridor quickly ran up to greet him.
"Your humble servant Yu Huarao greets the Prince."
The adults behind her followed.
The Governor of Jizhou saw his daughter stopping the Prince and his heart tightened. However, seeing that the Prince did not get angry, the thought of climbing the dragon and clinging to the phoenix instantly surged.
He had long heard from officials in the capital that the person being apprehended this time was the Prince's woman.
Men, once they had tasted it, how could they refuse a beauty who threw herself into their arms?
Xiao Chizhan lowered his gaze, staring at the woman's娇滴滴 (sweet and tender) eyes, his cold, thin lips curving slightly.
He extended a hand as cold as ice and grasped the woman's chin, forcing her to look up.
What met his eyes was a pair of seductive, foxy eyes.
Yu Huarao looked at the devilishly handsome face before her, her heart pounding.
This was the Prince of Dingbei, who held the power of life and death over the world.
As long as she could cling to him, she would enjoy endless glory and wealth for the rest of her life.
Seeing the man staring at her eyes in a daze, Yu Huarao delicately pinched her handkerchief and said softly, "Your Highness, it hurts."