Chapter 34. Leave him!

Leave him!

Since the thought first appeared, it has grown like wild grass, impossible to suppress any longer.

The carriage moved slowly forward, its wheels making a "clattering" sound as they rolled on the stone pavement. Occasionally, glimpses of the street scene were seen through the gently swaying curtains.

Mingwu sat upright on the bench, her hands, neatly placed on her knees, clasped tightly together. Her white knuckles betrayed her inner struggle.

If we leave like this...

The incident happened so suddenly that she was completely unprepared. Moreover, the female household registration document was still in Lu Yuan's hands.

Without proper documentation, how could she leave the city? And even if she managed to escape, how would she survive as an undocumented resident?

Mingwu lifted the carriage curtain with one hand, and the dazzling sunlight poured in.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Lu Yuan was not present; only the coachman and a few servants accompanied him. Perhaps he was on his way to the Prince of Ning's residence for a birthday banquet, as Lu Yuan hadn't even brought any guards.

If we don't seize this opportunity...

Upon returning to the Prime Minister's residence, she was immediately confined to the heavily guarded back courtyard. Even leaving the residence was extremely difficult for her.

Moreover, Lu Yuan had already taken the document.

If he discovers her purpose, she might not even have the freedom to leave, let alone leave.

No, she was confident that Lu Yuan liked her and couldn't live without her.

Rather, she understood Lu Yuan.

He is a person with an extremely strong desire for control.

He could do without her, he could abandon her. But he would never allow her to leave him voluntarily.

This is also why Mingwu wanted to escape and didn't mention divorce.

Although she couldn't understand Lu Yuan's twisted mentality, unfortunately, that was the reality.

Before I knew it, the carriage had arrived at the main street in the south of the city.

Watching the passersby, Mingwu felt a slight urge and stopped the carriage.

He casually pointed to a shop by the roadside: "I'm going to buy some things." With that, he got off the carriage.

The servants dared not stop her, but they were all worried about letting Mingwu go alone and insisted on going with her, even though Mingwu presented the order from the mistress of the house.

"I'm going to buy some things; you don't need to come with me."

One of the older servants bowed to Mingwu and said, "If Madam doesn't like a crowd, then I will accompany you alone. There are too many people here, and I don't want anyone to offend you."

"No one needs to follow."

Mingwu took a few steps forward, and the servant ignored her and followed her step by step.

Mingwu's face darkened with displeasure: "How dare you! You disobey my orders?!"

"Please forgive me, Madam, this is the Prime Minister's order."

Mingwu clenched her fist tightly inside her sleeve.

These servants are from the East Courtyard; they are Lu Yuan's men.

Although she was the Prime Minister's wife, she had no power over them. In their eyes, she was probably nothing more than a substitute who could be replaced at any time.

Their true wife was Qi Lan.

A sharp, piercing pain welled up in Mingwu's heart. Even though she already knew that he had never loved her, never considered her his wife.

But facing this reality still hurts her heart.

After being married for more than half a year, she had poured all her emotions into the marriage, only to be treated as a "Prime Minister's wife" who was not even respected by the servants.

Mingwu felt that her marriage was a complete joke.

The thought of leaving was stronger than ever before.

Mingwu took a deep breath, gave the servant a cold look, and turned to walk quickly forward.

The servant was taken aback for a moment, then followed.

Mingwu walked faster and faster, and just as the servant was about to catch up, she slipped away and disappeared into a shop.

"Second sister-in-law?"

A familiar voice rang out, and Mingwu looked up.

It is Lu Cang.

He was wearing a dark blue brocade robe, a departure from his usual pale white robes, and a gold and jade crown on his head. He was emerging from behind the curtain.

He was taken aback when he saw Mingwu, but then joy spread across his face like a lake.

She strode over: "Second Sister-in-law, is that really you? What... are you doing here?"

Towards the end, his eyes darted around, and he seemed somewhat uneasy.

Mingwu then realized that this was a dance hall. Because it was daytime, it seemed particularly deserted.

Lu Cang hurriedly explained, "Second sister-in-law, please don't misunderstand, I came here just..."

Out of the corner of her eye, Mingwu saw that the servant had found the other side and was about to come this way.

She grabbed Lu Cang's sleeve and cried out, "Lu Cang, help me!"

Lu Cang was overjoyed to see Ming Wu, but then panicked, fearing she might misunderstand. He hurriedly explained, but she didn't seem to care at all.

I couldn't help but feel disappointed.

Yes, she is his brother's wife. She was never someone he could even dream of.

Darkness enveloped him. Yet, it was because of one of her actions, one of her words.

All the disappointment vanished in an instant. A heart full of joy, like blooming flowers, burst forth in my chest.

"good."

After understanding the general situation, Lu Cang suppressed the despicable smugness that kept rising in his heart.

They summoned a woman whose figure was similar to Mingwu's and had her wear Mingwu's clothes to distract the servant who was about to come looking for them.

He then led Mingwu, who had changed into ordinary clothes, toward the back door.

After hesitating for a long time, Lu Cang finally asked, "Are you going to leave your brother?"

Mingwu nodded: "Mm."

Lu Cang opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing.

When they arrived at the back gate, the driver had just brought an inconspicuous blue cloth cart to a stop.

Lu Cang stuffed a bag of silver into Ming Wu's hand and said somewhat apologetically, "Time was tight, and I didn't have time to prepare travel expenses."

Mingwu glanced down at the silver in her hand and did not refuse.

Thank you.

She had left in a hurry and hadn't brought much money with her, so this saved her from her immediate crisis.

“The coachman is one of my men, I trust him. He will take you out of the city… Second Sister-in-law.” Lu Cang’s voice trailed off, his face filled with worry. “If my brother finds out… the consequences will be unimaginable.”

Mingwu pursed her lips: "I have to go."

After saying that, she stopped looking at him and quickly got into the car.

The coarse cloth of her dress rubbed against her skin, causing a slight itch. She clutched the bag of silver tightly in her hand; the hard texture hurt her palm, yet it brought a strange sense of security.

The carriage swayed gently and glided silently out of the back alley.

She left behind all the hustle and bustle of the street, the title of "Prime Minister's Wife," and the man's omnipresent, suffocating control.

Mingwu leaned against the car wall and closed her eyes.

My heart is still pounding.

She could hardly believe it; she had actually... escaped.

The carriage had just smoothly passed two intersections when its speed suddenly slowed down.

The coachman's hushed voice, tinged with barely concealed nervousness, drifted in: "Madam, there seems to be a tail behind us. They look like people from the Prime Minister's residence."

Mingwu's heart jumped into her throat instantly.

We've been discovered? So quickly?!

A chill ran up my spine from my feet.

Just then, there was a gentle knock on the car window, and Lu Cang's suppressed voice came through.

"Don't panic. I've arranged for some people to create some chaos at the intersection ahead. You guys use that opportunity to rush through! Hurry!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a huge commotion erupted not far ahead, like a shelf collapsing, accompanied by screams and curses from the crowd, instantly blocking half the street.

The carriage suddenly accelerated and, taking advantage of the chaos, turned into another alley.

Mingwu quietly lifted the carriage curtain and glanced at the chaotic street corner.

She secretly rejoiced that she had met Lu Cang. Otherwise, alone, she probably wouldn't have even been able to walk a single street before being caught and brought back, let alone leave Lin'an City.

-

"Madam, we've arrived at the South Gate," the coachman's voice rang out from outside the carriage.

Mingwu tightened her grip on the bundle.

Through the swaying carriage curtain, one could see the open city gate, like a bright entrance to an unknown world.

Mingwu took a deep breath, trying to suppress the sob in her throat.

It's just one step away.

Once you step out of this door...

"Stop the car and check it."

The carriage slowly came to a stop. Mingwu sat inside, listening to the driver talking to the soldiers guarding the city gate.

Although documents are required to leave the city, some rules can be changed for the powerful and wealthy.

After the soldier saw the waist tag given to him by the coachman, he let them pass.

Mingwu breathed a sigh of relief; the most difficult hurdle was finally over.

Just as the carriage started moving, a voice shouted, "Wait!"

Immediately afterwards, the carriage curtain was rudely lifted by a hand.

"Little sister? It's you?"

Ming Wangzu had noticed the inconspicuous carriage long ago, and through the curtain lifted by the wind, he caught a glimpse of the blurry figure of a young woman.

Then he had an idea.

He overheard the coachman bribing the soldiers. So he stopped the carriage, intending to flirt with the beautiful woman and demand some more benefits.

Unexpectedly, the woman in the carriage was his younger sister, Ming Wu, the wife of the current prime minister.

Mingwang's ancestor panicked, fearing that Mingwu would tell Prime Minister Lu about his demand for benefits. After all, he was a supervisor at the South Gate.

It was given to him by his brother-in-law.

Just as he was about to say something flattering, he noticed that Mingwu was dressed in a shabby cloth outfit.

His face darkened, and he scolded, "Why are you dressed like this? Something's not right..." Realizing something was amiss, he asked suspiciously, "Little sister, where are you going out of town?"

Ming Wu was surprised to run into Ming Wangzu here, noticing that he was dressed in a blue ninth-rank official robe. She was puzzled but didn't ask any further questions.

"I have some things to take care of, brother, go ahead and do your work."

Having said that, he lowered the carriage curtain.

When the carriage curtain was halfway down, Ming Wangzu seemed to remember something, and suddenly lifted the curtain and squeezed into the carriage.

Mingwu glared at him angrily: "What does elder brother intend to do?"

Ming Wangzu's gaze, sharp as a searchlight, scrutinized Ming Wu from head to toe. He stroked his chin and asked.

"You're dressed like that, sneaking out of town. You wouldn't be planning to meet some random guy behind your brother-in-law's back, would you?"

Ming Wu was furious: "Ming Wangzu!"

Ming Wangzu crossed his arms, looking smug: "What? Did I hit the nail on the head? Are you getting angry now?"

Mingwu's eyes blazed with fury, and she gritted her teeth: "Get down here!"

"Little sister, I'm your older brother. How dare you talk to me like that? You have no manners at all. If Mother finds out, you'll be in big trouble."

Mingwu could no longer hold back and shouted angrily, "Get out!"

"Little sister, why are you so angry? If others find out that the Prime Minister's wife dressed like this and sneaked out of the city, what do you think..."

Ming Wangzu stopped speaking at this point. The threat was self-evident.

Mingwu clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug deep into her flesh. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and forcefully suppressed the urge to hit someone.

He opened his eyes and looked coldly at Ming Wangzu.

"Tell me, what do you want?"

"This job as a city gate inspector is no good. It's too tiring and there's no extra pay. Ask your brother-in-law to find me a better one."

Mingwu rolled her eyes inwardly. Was she buying groceries? Why was she being so picky? Did she even know her own worth or whether she had the ability to do it?

Being able to serve as a gatekeeper is already a great honor.

But they were still not satisfied.

Indeed, human greed is insatiable.

"My requirements aren't high, just a minor official position in the Ministry of Revenue."

Mingwu almost rolled her eyes to the heavens.

He's still a junior official in the Ministry of Revenue? Why doesn't he just fly to the moon?

Ming Wangzu was oblivious to Ming Wu's impatience and continued to ramble on.

“A while ago, my mother took a fancy to the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Jibei’s family, but the Marquis of Jibei’s family looked down on my Ming family because we are a merchant family.”

"And they even said I was just a dog guarding the city gate."

Ming Wangzu slammed his fist hard on the car seat, gritting his teeth in hatred.

"What are they, the Marquis of Jibei's mansion! A fallen, dilapidated marquis's mansion. My brother-in-law is the current prime minister; even the emperor has to listen to him..."

As Ming Wu listened to Ming Wangzu proudly boasting about Lu Yuan's power, she sneered inwardly but gave a perfunctory reply.

"Okay, I understand. You may leave."

Ming Wangzu was very satisfied with Ming Wu's straightforwardness. Before getting out of the car, he didn't forget to repeat his old advice and urge Ming Wu to win Lu Yuan's favor.

After Ming Wangzu left, Ming Wu stared at the hanging curtain, motionless.

It looks like a petrified statue.

Even strangers would lend her a hand, but her own brother only cared about his official position.

Mingwu closed her eyes, and a tear slid down her cheek.

Thankfully, she's about to leave, about to break free from these cages that bind her.

I don't know how much time passed, but suddenly, a sharp pain came from the inside of my left forearm, as if a fire had been lit and was burning my skin.

It burns into the bones.

Countless fine needles pierced the bone marrow at the same time.

"Well……"

Mingwu's face turned deathly pale, and she collapsed to the ground in pain, curling up in agony.

My fingernails dug deep into my palms, and large beads of cold sweat appeared on my forehead. My vision began to spin, and the scene in front of me became blurry and distant.

Darkness surged in like a tidal wave.

In a daze, she saw Lu Yuan's tall figure running towards her...

“Awu.”

-

Mingwu woke up to a familiar scent of ebony.

Even though we've escaped the city, I still dream about him.

What bad luck!

wrong!

Mingwu suddenly opened her eyes, and what came into view was a magnificent brocade curtain. The intricate patterns were like a huge net, covering her head.

This is an unfamiliar room.

Was it the coachman who saved her? This is... an inn?

Mingwu tried to sit up, but found that her whole body was limp and she had no strength at all, as if she had been through a long torture.

"woke up."

A voice rang out.

It was so calm that there wasn't a ripple, like ice that had frozen on the surface of a deep pool, smooth, cold, and unable to reflect any light.

The sound pierced the deathly silence of the room and instantly shattered Mingwu's barely cobbled-together hope.

It's him, Lu Yuan!

Mingwu turned her head stiffly and extremely slowly.

Lu Yuan sat on the pear wood armchair by the bed.

It must be dusk outside the window; the light of the setting sun struggles to seep in through the half-open window frame, but it cannot illuminate the shadow where he is.

Most of his face was hidden in the dim light, with only a sharp, hard jawline visible.

His slender fingers gently stroked the black jade thumb ring on his thumb.

The room was eerily quiet.

Mingwu could clearly hear her own rapid breathing and the pounding of her heart that felt like it was about to burst out of her chest.

Lu Yuan was not angry. He did not immediately question him. He did not even approach him.

Just sitting quietly like this.

However, the invisible, immense pressure suffocated her more than ever before.

The air seemed to freeze, so thick it couldn't be dissolved.

Time slipped by second in this desperate silence.

Finally, he slowly raised his eyes.

Those unfathomable eyes locked onto her precisely in the shadows.

There was no anger, no blame, not even a trace of warmth. Only an endless darkness.

Like the calmest, most desolate sea before a storm, capable of swallowing everything.

He looked at her, his gaze tracing her features, her pale, trembling lips, her stubborn, tense jaw...

Then he spoke.

"Awu."

"tell me."

"Why?"