"Sleep soundly, all of you. Don't overthink it. Since he is here tonight, we can rest easy. However, we must wake up at Yinshi tomorrow and leave stealthily, avoiding them."
Qingyao's starlit eyes flickered. She knew Murong Liu Zhao would definitely guard the main hall tonight to prevent them from slipping away.
She would deliberately defy his intentions, sleeping soundly in the room. They would leave when he was most tired, just before dawn.
"Yes," Mei Xin and Mo Chou responded. They helped their young lady wash up and get into bed. Mo Chou and Mei Xin also washed and went to sleep.
The dark night was silent, everything immersed in dreams.
As Yinshi struck, there were two light knocks on the door, and the people inside woke up. Mo You slipped in. Mo Chou and Mei Xin immediately tidied themselves, then attended to their mistress getting up. The group efficiently packed their belongings and opened the window.
In the cold, pre-dawn sky, the moon hung low in the west. The sky was gradually brightening, still holding a trace of darkness. A thin layer of mist shrouded the entire mountain range, blurring the surroundings.
Mo Chou scanned the area, confirming no one was below, before turning back to report to her mistress.
"No one. Let's go."
"Alright," Qingyao nodded, not forgetting to instruct Mo Chou, "Leave the inn's money on the table. It's not easy running a small business."
"Yes, Mistress," Mo Chou replied, she hadn't forgotten.
The height of the two-story building was child's play for their skills. Mo You led Mei Xin, Mo Chou carried the baggage, and Qingyao held Mao Xueqiu. In an instant, the group leaped from the second floor to the street.
On the quiet street, not a soul was in sight. In the thin mist, several people got into a carriage, but the carriage remained motionless for a long time. Qingyao frowned in confusion, "Mo You, why aren't we moving?"
"Mistress, someone is there?"
Qingyao's eyebrows twitched, her expression turning cold. Could it be that ubiquitous Murong Liu Zhao? She lifted the curtain and looked out. In the mist, a solitary figure stood tall, quietly blocking their path.
"Murong Liu Zhao, what do you want?"
Qingyao's attack was sudden. Her black eyes flashed with overwhelming arrogance. She already felt wronged enough; getting up early instead of sleeping to sneak away, what more did he want?
Murong Liu Zhao clasped his hands, his deep and steady voice ringing out, "Qingyao, go back."
As soon as his words fell, Qingyao abruptly shot out of the carriage like a dragon emerging from water, exuding a chilling dominance. She flipped in mid-air and landed before Murong Liu Zhao.
With a raise of her hand, she delivered a loud, clear slap, accompanied by her immensely arrogant words.
"I told you, don't mention that place again. I will get angry."
Mo Chou and Mo You were aghast. They never expected their mistress to actually slap the Prince of Nan'an in her anger. Who was the Prince of Nan'an? He was a royal prince, and notoriously cold. Fearing their mistress would suffer, the two quickly leaped to her side, shielding her.
Murong Liu Zhao's more than a dozen guards also witnessed the prince being slapped. Their expressions changed drastically, and they rushed forward, quickly surrounding Qingyao and her companions. Over a dozen swords were all pointed at them.
"How dare you! You actually hit our prince, seeking death?"
These guards had no idea who the person before them was, and thus only felt indignant.
Murong Liu Zhao's expression remained unchanged, his pupils chillingly sharp. He glared at the dozen men and commanded with arrogance, "Stand down."
"Your Highness?"
The dozen men were bewildered. What was wrong with their prince? He had spent three days tirelessly searching for this woman, and now he wasn't resisting even after being slapped. Could this woman be the prince's beloved? The crowd speculated in confusion and retreated to the side in panic.
Qingyao glared coldly at Murong Liu Zhao. She had been furious moments ago and slapped the Prince of Nan'an in her rage.
However, she hadn't expected him not to dodge, to endure her slap. She knew that with her skills, if he hadn't willingly taken that slap, she wouldn't have even been able to touch his sleeve.
"What exactly do you want?"
"Qingyao, I won't let you leave," Murong Liu Zhao stated resolutely, making his stance clear. Either she returned to the palace with him, or he would follow her.
Qingyao ignored him, leading her two subordinates into the carriage. She coldly commanded Mo You, "Go. If anyone else blocks the carriage, ram them. I'll take responsibility if they die."
"Yes, Mistress,"
Mo You accepted the order, mounted the horse, and flicked the reins. The carriage sped away like a gust of wind, paying no heed to the people behind them. However, the others did not hesitate. The Prince of Nan'an waved his hand and issued a cold command, "Mount up, and follow the carriage ahead."
As a result, this group became quite lively, a grand procession that attracted attention wherever it went. Coupled with the two leading figures, their exceptional appearances were striking.
The taller one was cold and radiated a bloodthirsty masculine aura, while the shorter one was handsome and unrestrained. Wherever they passed, women couldn't help but gaze enviously.
Qingyao had always wanted to shake them off. Despite trying many methods, none succeeded. In the end, she could only give up.
Through their encounters along the journey, she discovered that while the Prince of Nan'an was cold, he was also very considerate and meticulous, not a brute. She realized that escaping his grasp would not be easy, unless someone helped her.
Since they had been following her, she no longer rushed her journey. She truly began to enjoy the scenery and travel, letting the man handle all expenses for food, lodging, and travel. Whoever wanted to follow her had to be her wallet.
Of course, the Prince of Nan'an's purse was deep, and he didn't care about her spending. Moreover, no matter what she wanted to do or how unreasonably she acted, he ignored it. On the contrary, whatever she desired or liked, he bought it for her, eventually making her feel uneasy.
One day, the group arrived at Fufeng City.
It wasn't far from Huaicheng, perhaps two or three more days until Huaicheng. However, calculating the time, it seemed they would arrive around the New Year.
Fufeng City was bustling with crowds. The cries of street vendors overlapped.
With the New Year approaching, the streets were filled with festive cheer. Many shops had hung bright red lanterns in front of their doors. As far as the eye could see, the entire city was adorned in vibrant red, auspicious and joyful.
On the main street, carriages were parked one after another. Many wealthy families were buying New Year's goods, and laughter occasionally drifted past. During such times, merchants were the happiest, with wealth pouring in. If they didn't earn now, when would they? Perhaps the entire year's hard work was for the New Year's profits, so how could they not be happy.
Qingyao sat in the carriage, her eyes closed, resting. Mei Xin and Mo Chou lifted the curtain to gaze at Fufeng City, occasionally exclaiming in admiration.
"Miss, it's so lively here! And many vendors are selling couplets, firecrackers, and festive decorations, all essentials for the New Year. It's good that we're almost to Huaicheng, and we'll be able to reunite with Aunt Suge."
Mei Xin said happily, while Qingyao's gaze dimmed slightly.