Chapter 33 The Escape Plan slapped him.

Seeing that she was upset, Pei Xiaoyun thought of comforting her, but she didn't appreciate it and shook him so hard that his fingertips went numb.

"It's always like this. You got food poisoning, and you're blaming me?"

The bed dipped slightly, and he lay down as if on its own, his heart filled with displeasure at her arrogance. "Turn around and look at me."

Mingying was still lying on her side, half of her face resting on the pillow, her voice muffled: "Just let me have some peace for one night. I'm already feeling unwell, and seeing you makes me feel even worse."

"Do you believe I'll tie you to the bed?" His deep, cold voice sounded from behind.

Does seeing him make me feel uncomfortable?

Having gone without being punished for many days, she grew bolder and spoke coldly to him as soon as she entered.

Mingying felt a tightness in her chest; she had just vomited so violently that she was dizzy and disoriented, and she was still feeling unwell.

And he said that binding him was indeed something he could do.

She didn't want to confront him directly and suffer the consequences, so she simply turned over to face him and immediately closed her eyes.

The two stubborn rocks collided, neither giving way, producing a dull thud.

Pei Xiaoyun, mindful that she was ill, didn't disturb her. Knowing she wasn't asleep, he looked at her tightly closed eyes and felt a surge of anger rising within him.

Although she was physically with him, her heart belonged to another man.

Just like annoying weeds, even if you tear off their stems and leaves, they will still grow to the heavens and the earth. What is the way to burn the roots of the weeds and make them forget Lin Xian forever?

Neither of them slept well that night.

Mingying kept thinking about the things she hadn't had time to look at under her pillow, eagerly awaiting dawn so he could leave.

Pei Xiaoyun probably guessed that He Lianqing had told her about Lin Xian's illness, which is why she complained to him.

If he could, he would definitely get rid of Lin Xian.

Morning mist filled the air, and frost and dew dampened the window screens.

As soon as Pei Xiaoyun got up to leave, Mingying opened her eyes. She unfolded the small, folded letter and her eyes welled up with tears as she read it.

That was Lin Xian's handwriting; she remembered it.

The letter was full of greetings, such as telling her not to worry, that he was doing well, and to take care of herself, and so on.

She threw the slightly damp letter into the incense burner and burned it. She then immediately picked up her pen, wrote a few words, and asked Yu'er to invite He Lianqing over under the pretext that she was still feeling a little unwell this morning, and entrusted the things to him.

He Lianqing was under Xingwei's watchful eye all day, so passing things around wasn't easy. He knew that Xingwei was unyielding and wouldn't listen to reason. If he was careless and she found out, he might really lose his life.

It took three days before they finally found the opportunity to deliver it to Lin Xian.

Lin Xian's smallpox condition has improved after being treated by He Lianqing. In the past few days, people from the Governor's Office have been sneaking into the prison every few days to discuss escape routes with him.

Upon receiving Mingying's letter, he repeatedly checked the handwriting and noticed a special hook at the end of a character that only they knew about. Only then did he dare to write down the plan and tell her.

In Hangzhou, the only one who can rival Pei Xiaoyun is Shen Chun.

He believed that he would be able to see Ah Ying soon.

Late at night, a courtyard in the Governor's Mansion was brightly lit.

Shen Mingshu was drawing a route map for rescuing people, but it wasn't a map of the suburban prison.

With everything in order on Young Master Lin's side, he was now thinking about how to save his wife.

"Young master, do you really want to save that woman?"

His personal guards also knew that the woman was in the Pei residence, and rescuing her would be no easy task. If they failed, neither of them could be saved.

A glimmer of light appeared in Shen Mingshu's eyes as he said, "Young Master Lin's wife is also a pitiful person. If it can be saved, I would like to try my best."

He learned that Young Master Lin was able to contact his wife through the doctor surnamed He, so he asked Young Master Lin to pass on the message to his wife early in the morning.

He told her to find a way to escape on New Year's Eve and go to the clothing store on West Street. He sent some of his personal guards to the clothing store to meet her, so that he could rescue her successfully.

“My men will only be stationed at the clothing shop for two hours at most, but if Madam Lin doesn’t come out that day, there’s nothing I can do.”

Even their governor's mansion dared not confront Pei Xiaoyun head-on.

He drew out the route for rescuing people on West Street and instructed his guards to make arrangements.

—

For three days in a row, Mingying did not see He Lianqing again. Even when she pretended to be unwell and asked Yu'er to invite him, she was still unable to get him to come.

She understood that Pei Xiaoyun knew they were old acquaintances, so she was wary of them being alone and forbade them from seeing each other frequently.

Therefore, she never received a second letter from Lin Xian.

She was like an ant on a hot pan, caught in a dilemma. On one hand, she anxiously awaited a reply, and on the other hand, she couldn't resist Pei Xiaoyun's coercion and took the initiative to go to him.

Like a taut string, it will break apart if pulled, so we can only take it one step at a time.

As usual, she arrived at his study and saw that the lights were on as bright as day and the air was filled with the smell of herbs. She seemed to have guessed what was going on.

She remembered that he had been poisoned.

Pei Xiaoyun's poison flared up again, so she called He Lianqing to come and take the newly prepared medicine, which finally relieved her breathing difficulties.

He Lianqing was already used to it, but when she took his pulse, she frowned and asked, "You took that contraceptive pill?"

No wonder this attack was more dangerous than usual.

Mingying was about to step across the threshold when she suddenly stopped. Upon hearing He Lianqing's words, her fingertips trembled slightly.

Kuding pills are a medicine for preventing childbirth.

In an instant, his threatening words and playful expression echoed in his mind, and what had she done because of his repeated urging...

It's as if a sharp blade pierces her chest, digs out her already riddled heart, and still exposes it to the sunlight, mocking and trampling it with footprints.

Her blood was frozen, but her face was burning hot.

He shamelessly forced her, humiliated and abused her, while simultaneously taking contraceptive pills.

She sneered. Countless nights, did he watch her struggling to endure, mocking her in his heart again and again, thinking she was nothing but dust and mud, utterly worthless?

Why treat her like this? Why humiliate and fool her like this?

"I won't eat it anymore."

Inside the room, Pei Xiaoyun seemed completely unconcerned, her tone as if she were tired after playing with cats and dogs, and she lightly brushed it off with a smile.

He said to He Lianqing, "If you dare to say another word, I'll cut out your tongue."

He Lianqing glanced at him, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

As I passed the landscape screen by the entrance, I saw Mingying and paused for a moment.

Her expression was different from usual; her clear, indifferent eyes held a lifeless yet sharp light, a pure and unadulterated hatred.

He didn't dare to say much to her, and as he brushed past her, he gave her what he was carrying.

Mingying received the item, and only blinked her already dry eyes, the stinging pain in her eyes preventing her from moving.

She deliberately waited until He Lianqing was far away before walking in expressionlessly, like a wandering soul.

Pei Xiaoyun was dozing off, his forehead propped up. Light and shadow fell on his face, creating a mottled and indistinct effect, yet his handsomeness and charm were indescribable.

Hearing the light and familiar footsteps, he looked up and saw her walking slowly towards him in a thin dress.

Since their argument that night, tonight is the first time she's come to see him.

Seeing her impatient manner, he found it quite amusing.

However, the contraceptive pill slightly counteracted the remaining poison in his body, so he could no longer use it.

I wonder how many more times she will take the initiative like this in the future?

Fine, once she gets pregnant, he'll take her back to the capital. Then they'll have both a son and a daughter, and plenty of time to enjoy each other's company.

He pointed at her silhouette, his fingertips barely touching her face, and said with a soft smile, "Why are you wearing your hair up? You look better with your hair down."

His tone was sarcastic, his gaze sweeping over her as if she were admiring a beautiful toy from head to toe.

Mingying walked to the desk, her steps heavy.

Why? Why did he treat her like this?

She ignored his outstretched hand, raised her palm, and slapped him across the face.

In an instant, the candlelight in the room dimmed for a few moments.

Pei Xiaoyun tilted her head slightly, her features filled with disbelief.

Once his thoughts returned to normal, his eyes were bloodshot with rage, a crimson gleam fueled by fury. Like a roaring beast breaking free of its physical constraints, it opened its blood-red maw, ready to devour the oblivious woman before it.

He pressed her down on the table, his strong wrists showing visible veins, and grabbed her delicate neck, his voice terribly hoarse.

"Are you crazy?"

She dared to hit him, just because he hid Lin Xian's illness from her?

His cat no longer vents its frustration by pushing his hand away; it now bites him hard.

Mingying's neck was being squeezed by his strength, and she couldn't utter a single word. Blood and foam choked in her throat, and the taste of rust spread into her mouth, sealing away the only trace of freshness in her breath.

Pei Xiaoyun was filled with overwhelming rage at this moment.

No one had ever dared to treat him like this before; he controlled the affairs of the country and was second only to the emperor.

No one dared to disobey him.

Yet she dared to challenge his patience time and time again, trampling his inviolable authority underfoot.

She's just a plaything, yet she dares to defy him; she's really giving him too much credit.

She should be hung on the city wall and bled like those people, then she'll be terrified and beg him for mercy.

He overturned the table, spilling ink, paper, and inkstone all over the floor, and Mingying rolled around in the mess.

"Get out."

Mingying coughed and gasped for breath, her body covered in ink stains.

The fear of death left her terrified, and she ran out, her clothes disheveled.

Back in her room, she was trembling all over, her vision was blurry, and she was still immersed in the illusion of being on the verge of death.

After a while, she opened the small wad of paper again. The neat handwriting came into view. After seeing it clearly, she couldn't suppress the throbbing in her heart and bit her lower lip tightly.

The text above contained the escape plan that Lin Xian had told her.

She was in a state of emotional turmoil, stumbling towards the incense burner and throwing the things inside.

As the paper was swallowed by the sparks and turned to ashes, a chilling black shadow kicked open the door and burst in.

Mingying watched him stride towards her, feeling as if her tail had been stepped on, her fingertips turning icy cold.

Pei Xiaoyun's face bore a bright red handprint. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Why should he let her go like that and tell her to get out? Who knows, she might be lying on the bed longing for her lover again.

Why should he give her a chance? If he's not having a good time, he'll make sure she doesn't have a good time either.

Before Mingying could react, he swept her up and carried her to the bed.

With a loud crash, the incense burner was knocked over by the sling of a robe, releasing a strong, pungent aroma.

The wafting fragrance stirred up one's thoughts, making one restless and irritable.

"Don't come any closer!"

Pei Xiaoyun sneered and approached. Mingying panicked and scrambled into the tent, kicking his firm abdomen, but he pulled her ankle so hard it hurt.

Pei Xiaoyun was furious. He dragged her to the edge of the bed and, ignoring her resistance, began to move violently.

He wanted to show her what would happen if she angered him.

His angry punishment made Mingying feel like her body was being split in two. When the raging wave subsided, she was as miserable as a weak cat on its last legs, and it was unclear whether she had fallen asleep or died.

Pei Xiaoyun didn't call for water or give her a chance to wipe herself. He wrapped her tightly in the blanket, preventing her from moving, and fell asleep just like that.

The next day, when she opened her eyes and saw the bright daylight, Mingying was grateful that she was still alive.

Pei Xiaoyun had already gotten up and ordered a group of maids to search the room. The room was turned upside down, and finally they found the porcelain bottle she had hidden inside an antique vase. Inside was a contraceptive pill.

Pei Xiaoyun played with the bottle, sneering repeatedly, and left with the words: "If you dare to trick me into eating this kind of thing again, I'll chop off your hand."

He would never allow her to have another chance to take birth control pills. He wanted her to get pregnant, give up any thoughts of pregnancy, and obediently stay by his side.

Mingying's dark eyes flashed with a cold light as she watched him leave. She got up and went to the small couch by the window, took out another bottle of medicine hidden among several layers of mattresses, and immediately poured out a pill and swallowed it.

Fearing he would find out, she divided the medicine into two bottles and hid them in two different places. Luckily, he didn't find this bottle.

She gripped the bottle tightly, a sharp glint appearing in her eyes.

He's delusional!

She will never have any more of his children in her life.

—

For several days after that incident, Pei Xiaoyun didn't want to see her, nor did he send anyone to inquire about her condition.

Without his disturbance, Mingying felt much better, spending her days eating and sleeping, and her energy and vitality were greatly restored.

Yu'er brought in a bunch of winter plum blossoms and placed them on the windowsill. The snow melted into dew and clung to the petals, making the flowers even more delicate and beautiful.

Only in the twelfth lunar month do plum blossoms bloom in all their splendor.

Looking at the bunch of winter plum blossoms, Mingying suddenly remembered that today was the 25th of the twelfth lunar month, and there were only a few days left until New Year's Eve.

The letter mentioned clothing shops on West Street, so she needed to find a way to get out.

Now she and Pei Xiaoyun are facing each other with cold expressions. If this continues, how will they find a chance to get out?

After a long silence, she sighed and decided to take another gamble.

She took out a box of lip rouge from the carved ebony vanity case, dipped her fingertip in it, and applied it to her lips in front of the mirror.

She was already beautiful, with a small, round face and almond-shaped eyes, as delicate and lovely as a lotus emerging from the water. With a little makeup, she was even more beautiful than the flowers on the window.

"Miss, you really seem like a lady from a wealthy family. I think that the master has been so good to you and has never married, perhaps because he wants to save the position of his principal wife for you."

Zisu was better at reading people's expressions than Yuechan, and she always had a sweet tongue. She praised Mingying, who was doing her hair.

Mingying remained calm, only twitching the corner of her mouth: "Don't say such things. What is my status, and what is your master's status?"

Is that what it means to be good to her?

What she wanted was not to be his caged bird behind closed doors, or to remain a maidservant at his mercy!

Although he appeared respectable, only she knew that he was a despicable and shameless beast. Despite his glamorous appearance, she had seen him at his lowest point.

There's nothing noble about it.

Even if he were the emperor, if she didn't want him, he was just daydreaming.

Zisu was speechless after being choked, her face turning red and then pale. She was quite embarrassed and was about to leave when Mingying told her to go and find out if Pei Xiaoyun would be back tonight.

After a while, Zisu returned with a smile and said, "He will probably come back. I heard that the master has been staying in the outer room of the library these past few nights."

Mingying nodded to indicate that she understood.

When the sun's shadow hung over the western wall and the sky was shrouded in darkness, she went to the library ahead of time.

Although her freedom was restricted and she could not leave the mansion, she could still wander around freely within the mansion, only with two tall and burly guards following her every step of the way.

Pei Xiaoyun clearly intended to trap her and kill her.

The mansion's library was enormous, occupying an entire courtyard in the north wing.

She pushed open the door, and two maids who were tidying up books were slightly surprised to see her. They came over and asked, "What brings you here, young lady?"

"I'm here to find two books to read." Mingying went straight in.

The two maids looked embarrassed, secretly despising them: "They call me 'Miss' so nicely, but we were just born servants. How many words can we possibly know?"

But they understood that Mingying was quite beautiful and had served the master for many years. Even if she was a servant, she was different from them, so they dared not forcibly stop her.

“Young lady, the master said that no one is allowed to enter the library without his order.”

Mingying abandoned her usual friendly demeanor, her words becoming distant: "I'm tired from walking around, so I came in to rest. If you're offended, sir, I'll explain. You may leave now."

The two maids looked at each other and left reluctantly.

The library was filled with the scent of ink and paper. Mingying went up the stairs to the second floor, but she had no interest in reading the complicated books, so she sat on the steps to rest.

The old drunkard's heart was not in the wine.

She came here specifically to wait for Pei Xiaoyun.

The sun was dimly lit, and the library was dark until the door was pushed open, allowing a ray of last sunlight to shine in.

For several days in a row, Pei Xiaoyun searched for information about the mountains and landscapes of Qingshui Bay in Hangzhou in the library.

Clearwater Bay is a crucial ferry crossing with complex terrain, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.

If Shen Chun were to first have someone draw a topographical map and hide the Kong Chan Sect's hideout here, destroying it would not only require venturing deep into the area, but would be even more difficult than climbing to heaven.

He knew that Lin Xian would never agree to cooperate with him; the remaining painters were all useless.

He must find a way as soon as possible to understand the terrain and take the lead.

Even after searching for several days, finding a few mountain range maps that were recorded was extremely difficult without accurate sketches.

His forehead throbbed with pain. The moment he opened the door, he saw a slender and graceful figure. In the dim light of the day, he could make out her rosy lips and alabaster skin.

When his eyes met hers again, he was surprised and agitated, and looked away.

Her reckless behavior that night was still vivid in my mind, and in an instant, it shattered the delicate woman who had intruded into my life.

"How dare you! Who let you in?"

"Feeling bored, I'll find some books to read." Mingying remained seated on the steps, her skirt trailing on the ground like a blooming flower, her embroidered shoes dangling in the air, casting swaying shadows.

Pei Xiaoyun frowned and sneered, "How many words do you know? Can you even understand this?"

Mingying gritted her teeth inwardly, ignoring the situation and showing no emotion. She casually picked up a book and flipped through a few pages.

"Get out, or I'll have to do it myself." Pei Xiaoyun continued searching for books, her voice as cold as ice. "Trespassing in the library is punishable by death."

Mingying raised her eyes, tossed aside the book, stood up, straightened her clothes, glanced at the height of the steps, and then leaped down towards his position.

Pei Xiaoyun sensed a gentle breeze carrying a faint fragrance as it approached. A pink skirt unfurled larger and larger before his eyes. With quick reflexes, he stretched out his long arm and caught her steadily.

"Are you looking for death?"

Falling from such a height, does he really not want to live?

Mingying felt his chest rise and fall as he spoke, her cheeks flushing slightly, but her tone remained indifferent: "Then kill me."

Pei Xiaoyun's gaze was fixed on her face, and those narrow, red lips seemed to utter cold, sharp words. A hint of panic lingered in her beautiful eyes, and her delicate cheeks flushed crimson.

He wanted nothing more than to pinch her hard, squeeze her until she was dripping with juice, and make her beg for mercy.

"I haven't punished you enough yet. Wouldn't it be too easy for you to just beat you to death?"

He tightened his grip on her waist, as if still venting his frustration from that day, "What brings you here today?"

Is she dressed like this to beg for peace, or to seduce him?

If you dare to be stubborn with him, won't you eventually lose your composure?

Mingying's long eyelashes fluttered, and her silence was an admission of his guess.

Pei Xiaoyun smiled mockingly and indeed reached out to pinch her face, his fingertips rubbing her tender cheeks, as if in retaliation or deliberately toying with her.

"Ah!" Mingying's right cheek immediately turned as red as a plum blossom petal, and her eyes were filled with tears.

Pei Xiaoyun carried her, kicked open the door of the library, and headed straight outside.

The servants in the courtyard all bowed their heads and went about their business.

Once they reached the study, the warm breeze from the charcoal fire allowed him to put her down.

"I'll give you a chance to repent and admit your mistakes, and I'll reluctantly let you go."

Mingying was indeed in pain. She covered half of her red face and shed tears: "Do you think I'm not in pain? We're even now."

"We're even?" Pei Xiaoyun moved closer to her, as if he had heard something extremely funny, and looked up, "Who said we're even?"

He was her master, and she had to endure whatever beatings or punishments he wanted. She couldn't disobey him, not even in the slightest.

She came to apologize because she was afraid he would hurt Lin Xian, right?

The thought of this made his chest feel sour, and the taste spread to the back of his tongue, making him restless and uneasy.

Mingying's purpose in coming to him was not to confront him head-on.

He asked her to admit her mistake, and she did, saying a few words without feeling any financial pain.

"I was wrong. I was ungrateful and heartless. Punish me if you want."

Is she ungrateful? Is she heartless? Is she treacherous?

He's a beast worse than a pig or a dog, a despicable and filthy scoundrel, and he even blames others.

She silently mocked him in her heart, then changed the words she spoke, making them all insults directed at him.

If it weren't for the tears that added a touch of sincerity, Pei Xiaoyun would have really thought she was just dryly reciting scriptures.

"Keep talking." He made her stand there and keep talking, while he went to deal with the memorials from Jiangnan Road.

Mingying repeated this sentence over and over all night. She was tired of cursing and her mouth was dry. She went to drink some water, but he glared at her again.

"If you don't talk until you're satisfied, you can talk all night."

It wasn't until the wee hours of the morning, after he finished his official duties, that Mingying's tongue went numb from talking so much that she could barely speak.

Finally, with his approval, I stopped talking.

She washed his inkstone and helped him change his clothes, then he led her to the bed.

"Since you're trying to seduce me, let me see your sincerity."

In an effort to make peace, Mingying lowered his guard and made him feel more at ease, so she took the initiative to serve him.

That night, the red silk rippled like waves, as if fish were in water.

It ended with Pei Xiaoyun giving her a kiss on the lips, and as he left, he even bit her lip until it bled.

Under the bright sunshine, the icicles clinging to the trees melted in the sunlight, and raindrops dripped down with a soft, rhythmic sound.

Mingying was awakened by the slight noise. She moved her body slightly. She had been stripped down to only a small garment. The cold wind sneaked in and clung to her skin, making her shiver.

Because of her initiative in serving him last night, Pei Xiaoyun felt refreshed and temporarily suppressed his anger, holding her body down to prevent her from moving.

As the year draws to a close, Lunar New Year's Eve is approaching.

He gazed into her dreamy eyes, his warm breath brushing against her ear: "On New Year's Eve, I'll hire a troupe of actors to liven things up."

They haven't spent Chinese New Year together for three years now.

For those three years, he even forgot about the holidays and seasons, repeating the same bland and monotonous days.

It wasn't until she was by his side that he remembered the New Year holidays.

This holiday is meant to be celebrated with people.

"What's so interesting about a theatrical troupe?"

Mingying blinked lazily, her voice slightly hoarse.

Pei Xiaoyun twirled a strand of her hair between his fingers, staring intently at her: "So what do you want to do?"

Mingying instantly snapped awake, her sleepy eyes blinking as she thought about what was on her mind: "Didn't you say there would be lantern festivals on the streets on New Year's Eve?"

-----------------------

Author's Note: Countdown to escape begins! [doge emoji]