His voice was cold, inexplicably terrifying.
Ye Luan struggled in his arms, pouting in dissatisfaction. "I haven't agreed to go back with you yet, and you're trying to abduct me again?"
"What?" he sneered. "Do you want the Bai family to be buried with you?"
An unpredictable lunatic!
She softened her tone. "Fu Dai and the others are still at the manor. I need to go back. You can pick me up tonight."
Xiao Chizhan tightened his grip around her waist and leaned close to her ear. "You'd better behave yourself and not play any tricks. If you dare to run, this prince will do as I say!"
His sinister and ruthless words only made Ye Luan hate him more. He was always like this, always threatening her.
"Understood."
Xiao Chizhan sent her back to the manor and then left on horseback.
Perhaps he was sure she wouldn't dare to escape, as no secret guards followed her.
Ye Luan watched his receding back, her face darkening.
Xiao Chizhan, may we never see each other again in this lifetime!
She scaled the wall and returned to the Ye manor, heading straight for Yue Ya Garden.
"Miss, Miss, you're finally back! His Lordship has been looking for you several times," Fu Dai rushed forward as soon as she saw her.
Ye Luan pulled her and Granny Fang into the room.
"Hurry and pack your things. Change into men's clothes, and we'll leave in the afternoon."
Now?
So soon?
Both of them knew her plan and asked nothing, quickly going to pack.
Ye Luan went to the desk to write a letter, and after finishing, handed it to Granny Fang.
"You go to the Bai manor first and personally deliver this letter to the young lord. Come back as soon as possible."
"Yes."
After packing her own luggage, Ye Luan changed into men's clothes and applied the medicine she had refined earlier to her face.
Soon, her face was covered in dark spots, obscuring her exquisite beauty.
"Ah, Miss, has your face been ruined?"
Fu Dai watched the scene in astonishment, her mouth agape.
Miss was so beautiful, what a shame if her face was ruined!
"No, it's just to disguise myself."
There were too many checkpoints along the way, and her appearance was too conspicuous. It was better to be ordinary and low-key.
After finishing, she also tidied up Fu Dai, making her look like a man, before nodding with relief.
The city gate was filled with Xiao Chizhan's men. If anyone tipped them off, she would be caught and sent back.
They disguised themselves as merchants and headed for Liangzhou, as far from the capital as possible.
With the emperor far away, Xiao Chizhan was busy with official duties. Perhaps he would get tired of her and, after a few days of chasing her, would forget about her.
When the coast was clear, she would find a small town, open a restaurant, and enjoy herself in this ancient era.
Granny Fang returned after bribing the servants guarding the back gate.
The three of them, carrying their bundles, left through the small gate, bought a carriage in the market, and, with Fu Dai driving, headed for the city gate.
Ye Luan sat in the carriage, lifting the curtain, and took a deep breath as she looked at the bustling street.
"Miss, this old servant has inquired. The city gate guards are not very strict lately. Don't worry."
"Mmm."
Xiao Chizhan wanted to catch people from Northern Qi, so he naturally let them in, intending to trap them.
Tonight, the capital would be in chaos, and he would surely be too preoccupied to deal with her. By the time he realized, she would have already left the capital.
When the situation was less tense, she would find a small town and open a restaurant, to live her life in this ancient world.
Granny Fang returned and bribed the servants guarding the back gate.
The three of them, carrying their bundles, left through the small gate, bought a carriage in the market, and, with Fu Dai driving, headed for the city gate.
Ye Luan sat in the carriage, lifting the curtain, and took a deep breath as she looked at the bustling street.
"Miss, this old servant has inquired. The city gate guards are not very strict lately. Don't worry."
"Mmm."
Xiao Chizhan wanted to catch people from Northern Qi, so he naturally let them in, intending to trap them.
Tonight, the capital would be in chaos, and he would surely be too preoccupied to deal with her. By the time he realized, she would have already left the capital.
"Stop the carriage."
With a whinny, the carriage came to a halt.
At the city gate, soldiers were meticulously searching.
The carriage door was opened, and a sword-wielding soldier glanced at them before taking out several portraits to compare.
Ye Luan's expression remained unchanged as she calmly allowed him to examine her.
"Let them pass."
With that, the three of them breathed a sigh of relief.
Just as Ye Luan was about to close the carriage door, a familiar figure caught her eye.
"Giddy up!"
A black steed galloped towards them with snow-white hooves, followed by several soldiers in armor.
They rode at full speed, like lightning, passing through the city gate and kicking up clouds of yellow sand.
The man in the lead caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye, suddenly reined in his horse, and stopped with a whinny.
"General, what is it?"
Tantai Ye frowned as he watched the simple carriage trundle away. Had he just seen Ye Luan?
He beckoned to the guard at the city gate.
"Who is in that carriage?"
"Reporting to the General, it's two traveling merchants and an attendant old woman."
Upon hearing this, Tantai Ye turned and rode his horse into the city.
Inside the carriage.
Ye Luan patted her chest, heart pounding.
She was so cunning, noticing her even in disguise.
Fortunately, she had closed the curtain quickly. If Tantai Ye had discovered she was escaping, knowing his character, he would have taken her back to Xiao Chizhan.
At that point, she would have been finished.
"Miss, have some pastries."
Granny Fang took out peach blossom pastries wrapped in oil paper from the bundle and placed them before her.
After Ye Luan had a bite, she lifted the curtain and glanced back. The city gate of the capital was far behind, slowly shrinking into a dot.
She breathed a sigh of relief.
Ye Luan did not take the main road, but deliberately took the secluded paths.
Night fell, and a crescent moon hung in the sky.
Exhausted, they stopped in a dim grove to rest.
Ye Luan gathered firewood and started a fire for warmth.
Fu Dai happily ate a flatbread. "Miss, according to our itinerary, we should reach Qizhou Prefecture tomorrow night."
"Mmm, we'll set off earlier tomorrow and not delay."
Ye Luan knew that if she escaped like this, Xiao Chizhan would be furious. If he sent troops to chase her, they would surely be caught.
Their dilapidated carriage was no match for well-trained army horses.
She only hoped he wouldn't pursue her too relentlessly.
"Miss, you rest in the carriage. This old servant will stand guard."
Ye Luan shook her head. "You and Fu Dai eat and then rest. I'll stand guard outside."
Both of them obeyed, ate, and then found an empty spot to lean against a tree and sleep.
Ye Luan did not sleep. She looked around but found no signs of any animals. Then, she leaped onto a large tree, crossed her arms, and lay down.
At Xuanwu Gate in the capital, on the city wall.
Xiao Chizhan, clad in his python robe and court attire, watched the fighting below the city wall with icy eyes, a bloodthirsty smile playing on his lips.
Just then, Long Tian suddenly appeared and knelt on the ground.
"My Lord, Miss Ye is not in the manor!"
Xiao Chizhan's smile instantly froze. He turned back, his eyes ferocious. "Where is she?"
Long Tian's back stiffened. He prostrated himself on the ground. "Your subordinate searched the entire Ye manor. According to Ye Wensong, Miss Ye never returned to the manor."
As soon as he finished speaking, a kick sent him flying. Blood gushed from his throat, and he knelt down again, clutching his stomach in fear.
"You mean, she ran away?!"
Long Tian, hearing the terrifying voice, trembled and dared not speak.
"Chizhan, such a temper?"
Not far away, Liu Rongruo, dressed in a white fox fur coat, strode over through the moonlight.
Xiao Chizhan's face was terrifyingly grim. He touched the Buddhist beads on his wrist, as if enveloped in blood, his eyes filled with a chilling coldness.
"Immediately surround the Ye manor and the Bai manor. Bring her back dead or alive!"
Long Tian immediately stood up. "Yes."