escape failed

At the beginning of the Yin hour, Lao Xiang, who was rowing the boat, moored the melon-skin boat at the Juzhou Ferry on the Xiang River. After paying two taels of silver for the boat fare, Xichun jumped off the boat.

"Young lady, the boat to Fengzhou won't arrive until this afternoon. You can rest for half a day at Lanji Inn by the dock. Mention my name, Old Xiang, and you'll get a discount," the boatman kindly advised.

Xi Chun smiled sweetly at him and said, "I understand. Thank you, Mr. Xiang. Have a safe journey home."

She had met Old Xiang five days ago at a teahouse. After getting rid of Shui Xian, she paid a deposit of one tael of silver to reserve her trip for today. Old Xiang kept his promise and waited for her at Xiliu Ferry on the Dongyang River all afternoon. They boarded the boat at the beginning of Shenshi (3-5 PM), and Old Xiang rushed her to this Juzhou Ferry without stopping.

Xi Chun's claim of going to Fengzhou was just a casual remark; her real destination was Lu'an. However, Shui Xian knew about Lan Xiang's situation, and she feared Shui Xian might reveal it to Wei Qiao. Therefore, she planned to stay somewhere else for a year or two before heading to Lu'an. Currently directionless and only wanting to leave as quickly as possible, she decided to go wherever the first ship that arrived that day was headed.

It was still early before dawn, and it wasn't safe for her to be out alone, so she went to the Lanji Inn that Lao Xiang had mentioned.

"The first boat of the day won't arrive until 9 AM, so don't worry, young lady. I'll wake you up when the boat arrives." The proprietress, wearing a silver hairpin shaped like an orchid, told Xichun about the boats coming to the dock while giving her change.

Xichun booked a medium-sized room. She had been worried about this plan for days and hadn't had a good night's sleep. Today, she had been traveling all afternoon and was now exhausted and sleepy. She fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Wei Qiao dispatched his troops to search all the city gates of the capital to no avail. The soldiers guarding the city saw so many people every day that they had no recollection of Xi Chun. Wei Qiao rode his horse and led his personal guards out of the south gate. When he arrived at Shili Post Station outside the south gate and looked at the road ahead that disappeared into the darkness, he felt extremely agitated.

She hated him so much, yet she insisted on leaving him. What was so good about Miao Wendao that made her so infatuated, that even after becoming her woman, she still tried every means to be with him?

Not knowing where she had gone, Wei Qiao could only ride his horse south to search for her. This was the only way to leave the capital and go to Shu, and she would definitely have to take this route if she wanted to find Miao Wendao.

After riding along the official road for another twenty li, Wei Qiao heard the incessant crowing of roosters from nearby farmhouses. Only then did he rein in his horse, remembering a place he had overlooked.

Ah Gui walked up to him from behind and, seeing him stop, hurriedly asked, "Your Highness, what's wrong? Are you about to head back home?"

Last time, it was understandable that the Prince took Miss Xichun away from Lantai County, but today, on his own wedding night, leaving his bride alone at the manor, Agui felt uneasy. Fearing the Prince might regret it later, he had been trying to persuade him to return home. If Miss Xichun truly wanted to leave, even if the Prince found her, he couldn't keep her. Why do something so hurtful to the newly arrived Princess on such a special day?

Listening to the distant babbling of the water, Wei Qiao became even more certain of his earlier thought: she would definitely choose the waterway this time. Land was too slow; she was in a hurry to leave him, so she would surely choose the faster waterway. Thinking of this, a bitter smile crept onto his face.

"A-Gui, give the order to divide the guards into three teams and search along the various ferry crossings of the Dongyang River."

In Prince Zhao's residence, Ming Chuqing had already heard the news that Xichun had disappeared and that Wei Qiao had gone to look for her. She lifted her veil, removed her phoenix crown, and drank the entire bottle of nuptial wine on the red silk table by herself. What a Jiang Xichun! What a Wei Qiao! He actually left her alone in her wedding night!

Seeing her young mistress being ignored by the prince like this, Cuiju felt very bad and said angrily, "Miss, that woman named Jiang Xichun is doing this on purpose. She deliberately chose your happy day to cause such a mess. I think she is just jealous that you are going to become a princess!"

Ming Chuqing snorted coldly. What was a woman without a title anyway? She didn't need to bother with her. Besides, she didn't even like Wei Qiao that much.

"No need to say anything more, just help me wash up." She couldn't be a woman devotedly waiting for her husband. She'd get a good night's sleep and deal with those two tomorrow.

Xi Chun was sleeping soundly in Lan Ji Inn when she suddenly heard a knocking sound at the door. Thinking it was the landlady coming to remind her that the passenger ship had docked, she immediately got out of bed and hurried to the door to open it for her.

"Boss lady..." Before Xichun could finish speaking, the apologetic-looking boss lady moved aside, and then a tall, familiar figure appeared in front of her. Xichun's heart sank. He... why was he here?

Seeing her terrified expression, Wei Qiao felt a bitter pang in his heart; she was indeed avoiding him.

"What, you haven't seen me for a while, and Xichun doesn't recognize me?" Wei Qiao sneered.

"I...I won't go back with you." Xichun said, trying to close the door and stop him from leaving.

Wei Qiao flashed into the room, grabbed her wrist tightly, and said in a chilling voice, "Jiang Xichun, this is not up to you."

On the return journey in the carriage, Xichun looked at Wei Qiao beside her, whose face was ashen, and felt extremely angry. He had already married his favorite Ming Chuqing, so why wouldn't he let her go?

Seeing her glare at him resentfully, Wei Qiao lowered his head and pinched her chin. "Are you angry? Jiang Xichun, you asked for this. I told you before to stay by my side, why didn't you listen? You want to go find Miao Wendao? Let me tell you, no way!"

Xi Chun pinched his hand hard, and he released it in pain. Xi Chun immediately tried to move away; she didn't want to be near Wei Qiao at all. Wei Qiao stretched out his long arm and pulled her back to his side, sitting her on his lap. The scent of her hair calmed his anger considerably. Thinking that he had deliberately ignored her recently, causing her to be sad and want to leave, his desire to punish her vanished instantly.

Wei Qiao rested his head on her shoulder and said in a low voice with a hint of reproach, "Do you know I looked for you all night last night?"

"I didn't ask you to come find me," Xi Chun muttered unhappily. If it weren't for Wei Qiao, she would already be on a passenger ship heading to another place, soon starting a new life.

Wei Qiao kissed her cheek. "You heartless little thing, I abandoned the princess to find you last night, but all you thought about was leaving me."

"You..." It was clearly him who was heartless, and now he was blaming her. Xi Chun was about to retort when he kissed her red lips.

Since their unpleasant parting that day, Wei Qiao hadn't been close to her for a long time. Now, tasting her sweetness, he only wanted to meld her into his very bones.

Xi Chun stubbornly refused to respond to him, so he used all his charms to try to make her submit. In the end, Xi Chun couldn't resist him and he succeeded.

After a long kiss, Wei Qiao felt much better and gently stroked her hand.

“After we get back, I will submit a memorial to request that you be made a concubine. From now on, we can be together openly and honestly. Is that alright?” Wei Qiao said gently.

Xi Chun turned her head to look into his eyes and said calmly, "I don't want to be your concubine. Wei Qiao, I want to leave. Let me go, I promise you I won't go to Brother Miao."

Seeing that her resolve to leave remained firm, anger surged in his dark eyes once more. She wanted to leave him? Absolutely not! She could only belong to him.

Looking at her rosy lips, he ignored what she had just said; he had something else he wanted to do.

Wei Qiao stroked her back with his large hand and whispered in her ear, "You ruined my wedding night yesterday, and now I want you to make up for it."

His hands moved swiftly and smoothly to unbutton her clothes. Xichun immediately understood what he was about to do and quickly grabbed his hand. "Wei Qiao, this is a carriage. We can't do this."

He grasped her hand in return. "It's okay, let's keep our voices down, no one will know."

The carriage traveled onward, entering the capital through the south gate before noon. Hearing the bustling sounds of the streets outside, Xichun was so embarrassed she wanted to disappear into a hole. How could Wei Qiao dare to pester her to do such a thing in broad daylight, especially on a carriage?

After having her again, Wei Qiao was completely satisfied. Seeing her blushing and turning red, he found her even more adorable.

Gently lifting a corner of the carriage curtain, the carriage had already entered Zhuque Street. Knowing that she was very shy, Wei Qiao personally tidied her clothes and hair.

Another half hour passed, and the carriage stopped at the west gate of Prince Zhao's residence. Seeing the two vermilion gates, Xichun felt a tightness in her chest.

Seeing that she hesitated at the door and refused to go in, Wei Qiao stepped forward, took her hand, and pulled her into Chaoxia Courtyard.

"Miss, you're back!" Shui Xian had been sitting on the stone steps in Chaoxia Courtyard all night waiting for news of Xi Chun. Now that she saw her return, she excitedly ran towards her. She looked her up and down for a while, and only felt relieved after confirming that she was alright.

Wei Qiao escorted the person to Chaoxia Courtyard, then returned to Ming'an Hall. After washing up and changing his clothes, he headed towards Yunhe Hall.

On the way, Wei Qiao remembered Xi Chun's stubborn expression earlier that day and feared that she would try to escape again when he wasn't looking. He instructed A Gui, "From now on, Xi Chun is not allowed to leave the palace without my permission."

Inside Yunhe Hall, Ming Chuqing, dressed in an apricot-yellow floral-patterned dress, was sitting on a daybed drinking tea. Upon hearing the maid outside announce the arrival of the prince, she gracefully rose from the daybed and curtsied to Wei Qiao, saying, "This concubine greets Your Highness."

Ming Chuqing had an oval face, and her bright eyes always held a gentle smile. Her demeanor clearly indicated that she came from a distinguished family.

“Your Highness, there’s no need for such formality.” Wei Qiao quickly helped her up and apologized to her, “I was impolite last night, and I hope Your Highness will forgive me.”

Ming Chuqing smiled gently at her and served him fresh tea. "Your Highness, why say that? I didn't take last night's events to heart. Has that young lady returned to the manor now?"

Wei Qiao took a sip of tea and nodded. After a while, he said, "Xi Chun has been with me for quite some time now. Tomorrow I will submit a memorial to the palace requesting that she be made a concubine. She comes from a humble background and is not well-versed in etiquette. If she is ever impolite in the future, I hope Your Highness will not hold it against her."

"Your Highness is too kind. It is truly wonderful that my sister has won Your Highness's favor. Once your investiture is finalized, I will send you a congratulatory gift."

Wei Qiao had not expected Ming Chuqing to be so understanding. Indeed, he had not misjudged her; a woman as sensible as her was the only choice for his princess consort.

"Now that the Princess Consort has entered the household, all affairs of the inner quarters of the Prince's residence will be handled by her. I will have Ah Gui hand over the key and other items in the residence to you shortly."

Hearing Wei Qiao entrust her with the management, Ming Chuqing smiled even more sincerely, "Thank you, Your Highness. I will certainly live up to your trust and manage the manor well for you."

Wei Qiao reached out and patted her hand, smiling gently at her. "I trust my princess. I will stay at Yunhe Hall tonight."