Yu Nanqing was not without a history of killing maids, even though those maids were deliberately placed by Emperor Yuanhe to serve him.

If we want to use this incident to punish Yu Nanqing, then we need Marquis Yuanning to investigate Su Wanyan's disappearance.

Emperor Yuanhe knew that Su Wanyan was a pawn discarded by Marquis Yuanning, so he didn't need to worry that Marquis Yuanning would refuse her.

As for Marquis Yuanning, he was already in the wrong for deceiving his superiors and subordinates by switching the bride in the arranged marriage, so he had no reason to refuse Emperor Yuanhe's request.

More importantly, just as Emperor Yuanhe thought, he really had no feelings for his daughter, Su Wanyan.

Even before Emperor Yuanhe bestowed a marriage upon his son Su Muqing, he didn't know that he had such a daughter in his household.

"Yes, Your Majesty understands." Marquis Yuanning did not say much and simply agreed.

Seeing his respectful attitude, Emperor Yuanhe's anger dissipated. Seeing that he was still kneeling, he waved his hand and said, "Go down."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I shall take my leave."

At this moment, inside a small carriage on the street, Su Wanyan had already changed her clothes and was preparing to leave the city with the little beggar under Wang Zhang's arrangement.

The little beggar had also changed into clean clothes, and his somewhat thin face, after being cleaned up, looked even better than Su Wanyan had imagined.

However, Su Wanyan was somewhat absent-minded at the moment. As the carriage slowly moved forward on the street, she couldn't help but ask, "Master Wang, what will Yu Nanqing do if someone discovers that I've run away?"

The fact that he went to such lengths to get her out of the city shows that Emperor Yuanhe was keeping a close watch on him.

Wang Zhang, who was driving the carriage, had already disguised himself. Upon hearing Su Wanyan's words, he replied in a hoarse voice, "Your Majesty need not worry. His Highness... has certainly made preparations to deal with this."

He spoke hesitantly.

How could Su Wanyan not understand that Yu Nanqing was now a useless person lying in bed, completely at the mercy of others? What could he possibly do to deal with it?

She might have barely left the city when Emperor Yuanhe used her disappearance to make a big fuss...

Thinking of this, she suddenly clenched her fists. How could she have forgotten that she had a good father, Marquis Yuanning?

If Emperor Yuanhe intends to use her disappearance as a pretext, he will definitely join forces with Marquis Yuanning to make things difficult for Yu Nanqing. If Marquis Yuanning insists on pursuing the matter to the end, then Yu Nanqing...

Su Wanyan swallowed hard, then asked uncertainly, "Then, Master Wang and you, will you be alright after you send me out of the city?"

They've been hiding for so long, and just because she left the city and suddenly reappeared, will Emperor Yuanhe's search uncover their entire hideout?

"Your Majesty need not worry. After we send you out of the city, we will also leave." At least he can no longer return to his craftsman's shop, and the locations of the other people who handled his business will also need to be changed.

Su Wanyan's heart tightened slightly. Just as she had thought, once she left, Yu Nanqing and Master Wang would likely be in grave danger.

With the immense power of ancient emperors and Yu Nanqing having lost power, how could he possibly stand against Emperor Yuanhe?

Su Wanyan hesitated. Was it really necessary to bring so many people in just for her sake?

That's too high a price to pay.

Oh no! What should she do?

She couldn't leave because of her conscience, but she was also genuinely afraid if she didn't!

She lived in constant fear and anxiety, constantly having to outwit and outmaneuver others; she didn't know how much longer she could live.

Wang Zhang assumed Su Wanyan was worried about not being able to leave, and comforted her, "Your Majesty, please rest assured, we are almost at the city gate. Today is market day, so the city guards won't be checking people's identities. We've also arranged for people to meet you outside the city. Once you leave the city, Your Majesty will be safe."

Hearing Wang Zhang say this, Su Wanyan became even more anxious.

After much deliberation and hesitation, she finally gritted her teeth and said, "Master Wang, let's go back! I'm not leaving!"

Wang Zhang was stunned for a moment, thinking he had misheard: "What?"

"I'm not going anymore, let's go back."

“This…” Wang Zhang frowned, looking troubled: “Your Highness, the Prince instructed in his letter to safely escort you out of the city and ensure your well-being. I am sorry that I cannot disobey the Prince’s orders.”

Moreover, we are already on the verge of giving up. The city gate is right in front of us, and we can get out of the city in just a hundred meters. How can we just give up?

"If I leave now, your prince will definitely not survive tonight!" Su Wanyan said anxiously.

Wang Zhang's hand gripping the reins trembled, causing the carriage to slow down.

"Believe me, if I leave now, your prince will definitely not survive!"

Wang Zhang's hands trembled involuntarily, and after a long while, his hoarse voice finally rang out again: "That is precisely why I must ensure Your Highness's safe passage out of the capital!"

Only by safely escorting the Empress out of the capital could he fulfill the Prince's trust.

Su Wanyan's eyes widened; it turned out that all these people were determined to die.

At that moment, Su Wanyan was moved, but she didn't have time to think. She clenched her fist and said, "If I leave now, the Emperor will definitely use this as an excuse to harm your prince. At that time, your prince will have to bear the infamy for a lifetime, even in death."

"You fought so many battles with your prince, guarded the territory of the Great Jin, and made so many military achievements, but in the end you did not die on the battlefield, but died in the intrigue of the court. After your death, you will be accused of a crime without your consent, and you may not even have a tombstone. Do you really think this is a good thing?"

"..."

Wang Zhang pursed his lips in silence, a deep hatred rising in his weathered eyes. The veins on his left hand, which gripped the reins, bulged as if he wanted to break them.

"If I don't leave, the Emperor won't be able to find fault with your prince. If he can't find fault, he can't be punished. Even if he dies, your prince will die a clean and glorious death, won't he?"

Wang Zhang's tense nerves began to relax as he saw the city gate right in front of him.

Su Wanyan added, "I will leave, but not now. If you don't care about your prince's life or death, then I'll leave it to you."

Wang Zhang tightened his grip on the reins, and when they were still a dozen meters from the city gate, he gritted his teeth and immediately turned the horse around, taking a side road.

Su Wanyan breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this.

But at the same time, a wave of regret washed over her, and she frantically covered her face with her hands. Ugh! So annoying!

She didn't take such a good opportunity; she didn't know if she could even leave the capital on her own in the future. She was truly ashamed of herself!

Why be such a pushover!

The little beggar was stunned by this sight: "Sister?"

Su Wanyan looked up and calmed herself down. "Forget it, I've made my decision. There's no going back. I can only take it one step at a time."

“Your Majesty…” came Wang Zhang’s trembling voice from outside the carriage, filled with guilt and endless apology.