Zhao Zhi limped and struggled to escape through the woods.
As she fled for her life, she kept looking back, afraid that the man she had slept with the night before would wake up and come after her.
She glanced at Qinglian Temple, then at the bruises covering her body, and sighed.
In this disheveled state, I certainly can't go back to the temple.
Zhao Zhi touched the silver in her hand and made plans in her mind. She needed to go down the mountain to find a clothing shop to change her clothes, and then find a pharmacy to buy abortion pills. She couldn't take the abortion pills at home; she had to rent an inn.
This place is still dozens of miles away from Lingyang. She is too weak after the miscarriage to walk back, so she will have to hire a carriage.
After some calculation, she realized that the silver ingots she had were not enough.
"We need to think of a way to get some more money."
The morning bell of Qinglian Temple rang, startling a flock of birds into flight.
Zhao Zhi reached up and touched her head, only to find that the hairpin had fallen off sometime during the day.
She broke off a tree branch, casually tied up her disheveled hair, and, using the slowly rising sun to determine her direction, ran towards the north of Qinglian Temple.
To the north of Qinglian Temple is Shangluo Mountain, and at the foot of Shangluo Mountain is the official road.
Once she reached the official road, she would find a way to hitch a ride in the carriage of some nobleman back to Lingyang City, the capital of their Great Sheng Dynasty.
After discovering that Zhao Zhi was missing at Qinglian Temple, Liu Yun sat alone in his room for half the night.
Finally, dawn broke, and she pretended to knock on Zhao Zhi's door. She knocked for a long time, but no one answered. When she opened the door, Zhao Zhi was indeed not there. She was both scared and nervous. She hoped that something had happened to Zhao Zhi, but she was also afraid that something really had happened to her.
As Liu Yun left Zhao Zhi's room, she turned around and saw Zhao Yun standing outside, coldly staring at her. A cold sweat broke out on her back.
She lowered her head, feeling uneasy, and nervously clutched her handkerchief in her hands.
"Aunt Liu, did she secretly run away?" Zhao Yun asked gently.
It was just Zhao Zhi's childhood name. Normally, only her elder sister Zhao Yun, the matriarch Zhang Wan, and the chief minister Zhao Shouzhen were qualified to call her that.
Liu Yun suddenly looked up, surprised, at Zhao Yun. In an instant, she realized that Zhao Yun and her younger sister had always been at odds, and Zhao Yun was trying to save face for her. She hurriedly replied, "Yes, yes, the second young lady isn't in her room; she probably ran out to play."
Neither of them believed this. As for why Zhao Zhi had suddenly disappeared, they each had their own ulterior motives.
Last night, when Liu Yun and the monk dragged Zhao Zhi away, Zhao Yun witnessed it all.
However, Liu Yun didn't see her, and she didn't want to expose the two of them.
Anyway, she was just an observer; if Zhao Zhizhen got into trouble, it wouldn't concern her. On the contrary, she was the one who benefited the most.
“Let’s go back too. That way, Mother won’t scold us,” Zhao Yun said gently.
In front of Liu Yun, she still had to put on a show of being close and loving sisters.
"Alright, alright, I'll go wake Rou'er up right away, and we'll set off back to Lingyang immediately."
Liu Yun turned and left, a cold smile playing on his lips. "Those two bitches have been fighting since they were kids. Humph! Zhao Yun always puts on airs; she's no better!"
When Zhao Rou heard Liu Yun say that Zhao Zhi was missing, she snorted coldly, "In our manor, only this second young lady acts lawlessly and doesn't get punished by Father and Mother."
She tugged at Liu Yun's arm and pleaded, "Auntie, the Emperor has arranged a marriage between Zhao Zhi and Prince Rui. Prince Rui, Shen Hanshan, is the only prince of a different surname in our Great Sheng Dynasty! Auntie! Please go and beg Father to arrange a good marriage for your daughter as well, okay?"
Liu Yun affectionately poked her forehead and patiently explained, "Although Shen Hanshan is a prince, he is quite handsome."
But he was a womanizer; what respectable family in Lingyang would marry him? Zhao Yun didn't understand these things. She only felt that she and the Second Miss were siblings, yet the Emperor had betrothed the Second Miss to a prince, while she was betrothed to the heir of the Duke's mansion, Li. She was resentful and constantly opposed the Second Miss. Knowing the difference, why would you still envy the Second Miss?
Aunt Liu's words were like a sudden awakening for Zhao Rou.
Because of the marriage, Zhao Yun felt even more strongly that her parents favored Zhao Zhi.
Liu Yun urged her daughter to pack her things quickly and set off for Lingyang immediately. They needed to return to the mansion before Zhao Zhi.
When it rains, it pours.
As soon as Zhao Zhi reached the foot of the mountain, he encountered a group of robbers.
There were several people lying on the ground, but no one was injured. It seemed they only robbed people and didn't harm anyone. Zhao Zhi breathed a sigh of relief.
The one in the lead was tall and had a full beard; he was clearly the boss.
Zhao Zhi had no time to dodge. Seeing her extraordinary attire, the bandits swarmed forward, grabbed her arms, and pushed her to the man, saying, "Boss, this girl is quite pretty. How about we take her back as our chieftain's wife?"
Zhao Zhi looked calmly at the bandits, her mind racing.
She does know a little martial arts, but she was drugged last night and caused a ruckus all night. Even with two fists, she can't fight four hands; she definitely has no chance in a physical contest. There's no other way but to outsmart her.
“Brothers, if you want money, I can write to my family and ask them to send the ransom.” She spoke cautiously.
"Little girl, we're going to make an exception this time. We won't rob you of your money, we'll just take your body." A short, thin man raised his hand to touch Zhao Zhishui's tender little face.
"Don't you want your head hanging off your neck anymore?" the leader shouted angrily, and the short man hurriedly withdrew his hand with a fawning smile.
"Young lady, my name is Li Yong, and I am the leader of Shangluo Mountain. I wonder what brings you to such a remote place?" the leader introduced himself.
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