In the dark night, Su Muyan followed the man and walked in the narrow alley. Even the waning moon in the sky could not shine in here.
It was like walking in thick black ink, and you could only see a dark shadow in front of you, walking straight ahead at a distance that was neither too far nor too near.
"The eldest master said that he is being watched closely now. If he comes along, it will arouse suspicion." The man's voice was already very low, but in such a silent environment, it still seemed a little abrupt.
Hearing his answer, Su Muyan felt a little disappointed and tightened her cloak.
The bluestone slabs under her feet were slippery, so she had to slow down her pace. However, she heard the man in front of her lower his voice and urged, "Miss, you need to walk faster. The city gate is closed. We can only leave the city through the secret passage."
There was no one she was familiar with along the way, only this strange man she had never seen before. Su Muyan began to have doubts in her heart again.
Su Muyan's fingers unconsciously touched the dagger hidden in her sleeve: "Who are you? Why did my brother ask you to pick me up?"
This was the only self-defense item she took with her when she left the Su Mansion.
The man kept walking, his tone tinged with resignation. "Miss, the eldest master said you would ask this question. He told me to tell you that when you were seven years old, he took you to the outskirts of the city to fly a kite. The kite got stuck in an old locust tree. You climbed up to get it, but accidentally fell. Ever since then, you've been afraid of high places."
Su Muyan's heart tightened when she heard this. Her brother actually told this person about this?
She began to trust the strange man in front of her a little more, let down her guard a little, and followed him into a narrower alley.
"The secret passage is in the abandoned rice shop ahead," the man whispered. "Miss, please follow me closely. No matter what you see, don't make a sound."
Su Muyan nodded, but her heartbeat quickened uncontrollably.
She was a girl, and even though she had been a bit naughty when she was in northern Jiangsu, she had never experienced such a dangerous thing.
But she thought that if she didn't escape, she would have to marry that bastard Zhao Ju!
She pursed her lips tightly, suppressing the fear in her heart, and tightened her grip on the package, continuing to move forward.
Finally, I turned out of the deep and narrow alley and saw a not very wide street. Under the cold white light of the waning moon, the sign of an ancient rice shop came into view.
Suddenly, there were the sounds of orderly footsteps and armor colliding coming from the front.
"Not good!" The man suddenly grabbed Su Muyan and dragged her into the shadow of a doorway, whispering, "Don't make a sound, it's the patrol officers."
Su Muyan held her breath and saw in the moonlight that there were about a dozen officers and soldiers in the group. The leading officer was a burly man and was knocking on doors vigorously to search every house.
"We have the order to arrest the spies! Open the door!" The rough voice was particularly harsh in the silent night.
The man leaned close to Su Muyan's ear, his warm breath spraying on her neck: "Miss, we must pretend to be a couple, otherwise it will arouse suspicion."
Before Su Muyan could respond, the light from the torch shone directly at her, causing her to squint.
"Who are you?! What are you doing here so late at night?" The leading officer strode over with his hand on the hilt of his sword.
The man immediately put on a flattering smile and put his arm around Su Muyan's waist: "Forgive me, sir. I'm a clerk at the cloth shop in the south of the city, and this is my wife. I'm late for my parents' home today and I'm in a hurry to get home."
Su Muyan's body stiffened, but she had to cooperate by lowering her head and acting shy.
She could feel the officer's gaze scanning her body, examining and probing her.
"Oh?" the leader sneered, "With your crude appearance, how could you possibly marry such a beautiful woman?"
After saying that, the leading officer raised his hand and reached towards Su Muyan's face.
Su Muyan instinctively took a step back, frowning unhappily at the rough-looking officer in front of her. Her tone was slightly cold: "Your Excellency, I am from a poor family, and I am very lucky to have my husband not abandon me. Although he is plain in appearance, he has a kind heart and treats me very well."
Su Muyan's explanation did not dispel the suspicion of the officer and soldier leader in front of her.
The sharp gaze fell on her, rude and presumptuous.
Then he suddenly grabbed Su Muyan's hand and forcefully pried her palm open.
Su Muyan exclaimed, "How dare you! How can you behave like this under the Emperor's feet..."
Before Su Muyan could finish her scolding, the leader of the officers and soldiers sneered, "Really? You have calluses on your hands that haven't seen any work, but you look like a pampered young lady?"
Su Muyan was startled, and then she heard him suddenly raise his voice: "Search! Search this yard thoroughly inside and out!"
"Sir! We are really good citizens!" The man hurried forward to explain and tried to stop them, but was pushed away.
Su Muyan watched helplessly as several officers and soldiers rushed into the rice shop they were originally going to.
Suddenly, the bundle she had just hidden in the corner was turned out: "Boss! Look at this!"
The bundle was opened, and the gold and silver jewelry inside sparkled under the torches. Each piece was exquisite and extraordinary, and it was obvious that they were valuable items.
The leader of the soldiers picked up a golden and jade hairpin, his sneer turning fierce. "What a 'poor couple'! Take them away! Treat them like spies!"
"It's unfair, sir!" The man was still struggling, but was held down by two soldiers.
Su Muyan's delicate wrists were roughly tied with rough hemp rope. The lady who had always lived a life of luxury had never suffered such torture. Her delicate skin was hurt by the hemp rope.
The leader of the officers and soldiers grasped Su Muyan's smooth and delicate chin with his big hand and said in a cold tone, "Tell me! Who are you?"
The man hurriedly spoke up, "Sir, spare me! I'm telling the truth! This is my young lady. We...we agreed to elope! All that gold, silver, and jewelry is the dowry she brought from the mansion!"
"Oh?" The leader of the officers and soldiers was instantly interested when he heard his words. "Which lady?"
The other officers and soldiers standing by also had sarcastic smiles on their faces.
Su Muyan listened to their laughter and felt that they were mocking her for being so mean and doing such shameless things.
Su Muyan looked at the man angrily and shouted, "Shut up! Don't say anything!"
"You have quite a temper." The leader of the officers and soldiers sneered.
Then he raised the whip in his hand.
"Snap!" A whip lashed out at the man, his tone cold and serious, "You won't tell me? Then I'll start with you, my lover!"
Su Muyan watched helplessly as the man's clothes were torn by the whipping, and bright red blood stained his chest.
She bit her lower lip, a little panicked and not knowing what to do.
If her father knew that she had run away, even her brother would be implicated!
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