Chapter 544 Investigation

Lin Changning spurred his horse and galloped towards the city, but he was still worried about Qi Rong's injuries. He turned a corner halfway, handed the man over to Shi Lang, and then quickly led his men towards Taiyuan City.

Not long after Ji Chang'an entered the city, he received news that reinforcements from outside the city had arrived. They had already entered the city, and if he turned back, he would inevitably run into the King of Chu's army.

Ji Chang'an said to his father almost without thinking, "Go find them! As long as we find Princess Chu and Li Mingshu, we can use them as hostages. We won't have to worry about not being able to escape!"

Lord Ji had already lost his composure upon hearing the news of the arrival of reinforcements, but upon hearing his son's words, he nodded hastily and said, "Good!"

The two of them went directly to the Lin residence and the various city gates in separate groups.

When Lord Ji arrived at the Lin residence, he found it empty again.

Upon learning that the West Gate had been breached, Chang Zhiyuan quickly arranged for the Princess Consort, the young princess, and his family members to board a carriage, disguised themselves, and prepared to leave the city through the South Gate.

However, upon arriving at the South Gate, they discovered that the two sides were engaged in fierce fighting. Fearing that their families might be accidentally injured, they first parked the carriages in a secluded spot in the alley.

There is a path at the south gate that leads to the mountains and forests outside the city.

However, there are usually guards on most days. Now, soldiers from both sides are fighting fiercely on the small road on the side of the south gate. Chang Zhiyuan is anxious and pacing around, but he still dares not risk his family.

Not long after, Ji Chang'an led his men to the south gate. After looking around but not finding anyone leaving the city, he felt increasingly uneasy.

He's neither at the Prince's residence nor at his husband's home. He's already searched through several city gates, but hasn't seen anyone leave. He must still be in the city.

Ji Chang'an gritted his teeth. If they wanted to escape, they probably wouldn't be far from the city gate.

"Men, split into three groups and search around each city gate! Those who haven't left the city must be hiding somewhere near the city gate!"

Chang Zhiyuan, who was hiding in the shadows and watching, felt a sudden unease. He quickly returned to the carriage, knowing that there must be guards in all the residences of the Lin family and the Prince's Mansion. Going back now would be tantamount to walking into a trap.

Thinking of this, Chang Zhiyuan looked at Lin's mother and the princess and said, "Their target is the princess. Mother, later you take the princess and Mr. Zheng to the embroidery shop via a side road. You must not go back to the house or the palace. Second brother, you take your sister-in-law and the little princess to the pastry shop of Shilang's wife via another road."

Lin's mother nodded in the carriage: "Yue'er and your younger brother and sister-in-law?"

Chang Zhiyuan patted Lin's mother's hand: "My sister-in-law is still unconscious. Yue'er's hair is too eye-catching. There is a hidden compartment in the carriage for Yue'er to hide in. I will take my sister-in-law to the market. There is a poetry gathering in Taiyuan. The place is remote and not easy to find. I will drive through the alleys to take my sister-in-law there."

Princess Chu, now dressed in coarse linen, nodded at the striking resemblance between Chang Zhiyuan and Lin Changning: "I entrust Yue'er and Shu'er to you. Children, as long as we survive, the Prince and I will repay you handsomely in the future."

Chang Zhiyuan cupped his hands, his refined and handsome face neither humble nor arrogant: "What are you saying, Your Highness? It's all what Zhiyuan should do. Time is short, so let's leave in batches now."

After finishing speaking, Chang Zhiyuan got out of the car first. After checking the area around the alley and making sure it was safe, he called down Lin's second brother and the princess.

The carriage remained where it was, and Chang Zhiyuan instructed, "Try to stay along the side of the street. If you bump into someone, hide in the alleys on either side. There are many alleys here, and they are complicated. It will take a while to search them all."

After giving his instructions, seeing Lin's second brother leading his children and family to the side, and Lin's mother leading the princess in another direction, Chang Zhiyuan quickly got into the carriage, patted Yue'er's head and said gently, "Yue'er, be good, hide in the secret compartment first, your uncle will take you and your mother to the poetry gathering."

The moon obediently covered her mouth and slipped into the hidden compartment in the carriage.

Having been given the drug, Li Mingshu, still unconscious, was jostled uncomfortably by the swaying carriage. She opened her eyes in a daze and found herself in a small, dilapidated carriage.

Having grown up in a royal palace and spent several difficult years in the capital, she was far more vigilant than the average person, and sensed something was wrong the moment she woke up.

A few days ago, she discovered that her family was hiding something from her, and this time she fell ill and was sick for a long time, with her body always feeling weak in waves.

She actually had some suspicions in her mind, but she didn't want her family to worry, so she kept quiet.

Seeing the current situation, she knew that Taiyuan was probably doomed. With her mother and family on her mind, Li Mingshu slowly sat up, lifted the curtain, and looked at the slender and tall figure outside for a moment.

When Chang Zhiyuan turned around, Li Mingshu came to her senses and looked at his refined face. She asked, "Brother? Where are we? Where are my mother and mother-in-law?"

Chang Zhiyuan nodded to the person and reassured them, "Princess, don't worry. The enemy has broken through the city and is checking at the city gates. I'll have my aunt take the Princess to the shop to avoid trouble. There's a cellar in the shop, so hiding for five or six days won't be a problem. Little Princess and your sisters-in-law, go to Third Sister's shop. We'll go to the poetry gathering. The place is remote and not easy to find. Once things calm down, I'll go out and investigate, and then I'll take you out of the city."

Li Mingshu felt a pang of anxiety, then nodded: "Then I'll leave it to you, brother."

Chang Zhiyuan pulled the curtain back up and said softly, "Princess, you're still not fully recovered, so it's best if you don't get chilled."

Li Mingshu nodded, and after returning to the carriage, she heard a sound from the hidden compartment. She opened the compartment and saw Yue'er, who was obediently covering her mouth and squatting inside. Her eyes crinkled into a smile.

He pinched his daughter's round cheeks with his hand.

As the carriage reached the bend of an alley, it bumped into a soldier who had come out and found his way out of the way. Chang Zhiyuan immediately perked up, driving the carriage with one hand while slowly reaching for a long sword beside him with the other.

It's obvious these aren't soldiers from Taiyuan.

After fastening his trousers, the soldier who had been looking for a place to relieve himself turned around and met Chang Zhiyuan's gaze. Seeing Chang Zhiyuan's face and glancing at the slightly dilapidated carriage behind him, he drew his knife and prepared to charge forward.

Chang Zhiyuan had learned a few moves from the eldest and second sons of the Ma family at home. Without thinking, he jumped off the carriage, parried the soldier's slash with his long sword, and then stabbed the soldier in the stomach.

The soldier looked at Chang Zhiyuan, who appeared refined and scholarly, with some disbelief.

Chang Zhiyuan forcefully twisted the hilt of the knife he had plunged into the soldier's body until the soldier lost his strength and knelt on the ground. His phoenix eyes were like a deep pool, rippling with a faint ripple, but his face remained calm and emotionless. Just like that, he took a man's life.

Chang Zhiyuan sheathed his sword, wiped the blood off his hands with a silk cloth he carried, and sighed softly as he looked at the bloodstains on his body.

As he turned and got into the carriage to continue his journey, he saw several soldiers emerge from the alleyway again.

"Liu Er? Does it take you this long to pee?"

"Hey, Liu Er, is that you?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he met the eyes of Chang Zhiyuan, who was covered in blood.

The moment the two sides met, the opposing soldier pointed at Chang Zhiyuan and shouted, "There's someone here! They killed our men! Help! Help!!!"

Chang Zhiyuan's pupils contracted, his expression changed drastically, and the next moment he quickly spurred his horse and rushed out of the alley.