Arriving at the destination, Wu Caiwei was the first to dismount from the carriage. She then opened the carriage door, intending to help him down. However, Wu Ye looked at her with a worried expression and whispered, "Are you serious about this? I thought you were just putting on a show. I'm a man, and the doctor will know as soon as they feel my pulse. We'll be exposed!"
Wu Caiwei smiled and said, "As I said before, trust me."
With that, she applied a little force and pulled him out of the carriage. Wu Ye was astonished to find that he, a grown man, was no match for a seemingly weak woman. He struggled, but couldn't break free.
Reluctantly standing behind Wu Caiwei, he listened as she spun a tale to the doctor: "My young lady has been frail since birth. We heard you are a renowned physician, so we traveled from the countryside. Could you please prescribe some medicine to alleviate her suffering?"
The doctor gestured for them to sit on the stools nearby, took out a handkerchief, and indicated for Wu Ye to extend his hand.
Wu Ye looked at the doctor, his face filled with panic, cold sweat beading on his forehead. Although he trusted the young lady implicitly, he knew that his charade would be over the moment the doctor took his pulse.
Jing'er quickly took his hand and held it out for the doctor to examine. "Our poor young lady has been taking medicine since childhood. She trembles all over and gets terrified just hearing about seeing a doctor. If she has an illness, who else should she see if not a doctor?" Wu Caiwei looked at him with feigned concern, embodying the role of a devoted servant.
With the situation escalated to this point, Wu Ye knew that not cooperating would only draw more suspicion. As Jing'er grabbed his hand, he went along with it, adopting a resigned posture, as if his fate were sealed.
The doctor meticulously felt his pulse and then smiled, "Young lady, there's no need to worry. I have just examined your pulse. While you do have a condition of weakness, your years of careful management have clearly improved your health significantly. As long as you continue to take the medicine as prescribed, your lifespan will not be affected."
Wu Ye's mouth fell open, staring at the doctor in disbelief. Wu Caiwei, however, exclaimed happily, "Miss, did you hear that? You're getting better!"
The doctor smiled and shook his head, quickly going to prepare their medicine. Seeing the young lady stunned into silence, he assumed she was simply overwhelmed with joy.
Once Jing'er had the medicine in hand, they happily left the clinic. Wu Ye still found it hard to believe.
As soon as they returned to the inn, they encountered the innkeeper. Seeing Wu Ye's cheerful demeanor and the medicine in his hand, the innkeeper smiled and said, "You seem so happy. Has your illness improved considerably?"
Wu Caiwei heartily gave a thumbs-up, praising, "The innkeeper is truly a prophet."
Watching their retreating figures, the innkeeper felt he might have been overthinking things. He wondered if it was his imagination, but he felt a subtle difference between the people he had seen in the room just now and the way they appeared when they first arrived. He couldn't quite pinpoint what was different. To avoid any trouble, he had remained silent then, but to be safe, he had kept a close eye on their every move, fearing they might cause problems for his inn.
However, after observing them for a while, these people clearly seemed to be seeking medical treatment in the capital. Perhaps he hadn't slept well last night and had too many guests to remember clearly today, leading to a mix-up.
As night fell, Liu Gui finally ate his first meal of the day. However, he had no appetite. He had failed to complete the Eldest Madam's orders. Today, he and the county magistrate had primarily searched inns, while their notices were delivered to common households, informing them that they were searching for six fugitives and offering a substantial reward for any clues.
Unfortunately, their message seemed to have vanished into thin air. Lying on his bed, Liu Gui repeatedly pondered where they might have gone and recalled everyone he had seen that day.
For some inexplicable reason, his suspicions ultimately fell on the man he had encountered that day. A strange sense of familiarity tugged at his heart, as if he would face terrible misfortune if he let the man go.
He had always trusted his instincts. In past endeavors, his gut feelings had helped him evade numerous dangers. Regardless, he decided to apprehend the man and interrogate him thoroughly.
Without delay, he immediately summoned his men and headed for the inn. Upon hearing their request, the innkeeper exclaimed in shock, "But they have already left."
Liu Gui felt as though he had been struck by lightning. He was on the verge of tears. He had finally found a lead, only for it to be cut off again. The innkeeper mentioned they had headed towards the southern part of the city. He quickly borrowed some men from the county magistrate and dispatched them in various directions to search.
Meanwhile, Wu Caiwei was driving the carriage towards the capital. When she announced her intention to return to the capital, they were, to be honest, surprised. However, they reasoned that the most dangerous place was often the safest. No one would have expected them, who should have fled south, to appear on the road heading north.
The journey was smooth and unimpeded. Upon entering the capital, she presented her true identity documents, and no one obstructed them. After all, the Zhou family was an inconspicuous presence in the capital. Recently, Zhou Jiayang had brought them some attention. She didn't believe the Eldest Madam and the Master would openly mention Liu Yanyu's name, especially with Liu Master orchestrating matters and many classmates involved. If they were to learn of this matter, it would surely lead to complications. Moreover, what family, when encountering such a situation, wouldn't try to conceal it rather than publicize it, which would inevitably raise suspicions?
Especially at a time when the Emperor was about to bestow a marriage upon them, he wouldn't want anything to affect such an important event.
They openly found an inn in the capital and rested for a night. Of course, in the dead of night, Wu Caiwei donned her night-traveling attire and quietly made her way to the Zhou family's storeroom. After a while, she departed as silently as she had arrived, without alarming anyone.
The next day, when they were preparing to leave, they were surprised to find that the young lady's luggage had increased considerably. The most conspicuous item was a moderately sized chest. Although they hadn't been with the young lady for long, they always felt she held many secrets. There were too many questions they wanted to ask, yet this particular matter seemed unremarkable among them.
Having pledged their allegiance to her, Wu Ye was prepared to fulfill his duties as a servant and help the young lady move the chest onto the carriage. However, Wu Caiwei refused to let them help.
From a secluded corner, unnoticed by anyone, she drove the carriage and departed from the west gate of the capital. After traveling about a hundred li, she felt a sense of relief, like a bird soaring freely in the vast sky.
In the days that followed, they no longer felt the pressure of being on the run. They traveled leisurely, stopping to admire the scenery along the way, not rushing their journey. They would only proceed in a certain direction after inquiring about the next town or city. Over time, they came to understand that the large wooden chest the young lady carried was filled with gold and various other precious jewels.