Chapter 80 Exit
Pei Ji stood stiffly where he was, his lips moving slightly, but his throat was completely blocked by the deafening crying.
In the end, he said nothing more, and was unable to utter any words of comfort.
He just took a deep look at the curled up figure that seemed to be coughing out its heart and lungs, and its muddy boots turned very slowly on the spot.
Take a step forward.
The back figure was determined, as if blending into the thicker darkness deep in the mansion, which symbolized death and the end.
…
Tick.
The cold water droplets fell on Pei Ji's furrowed brows, suddenly cutting off the heart-wrenching cry.
In the thick darkness beneath the dry well, he suddenly shuddered and struggled to free himself from the quagmire of memories.
In addition to the smell of earth, there was also a strong, fresh smell of blood lingering in his nostrils - the blood from his own bitten tongue and forcefully coughed out.
The last scene of the previous life that was brought up by questioning the injustices of the previous life in the chaos just now was like sea water being thrown into boiling oil, violently churning and boiling.
Dream? !
Luo Zhaohan just said that it wasn't a dream? That was her memory from a past life?!
First meeting in front of the Imperial College.
On a rainy afternoon, he stood beneath the archway, reviewing old files. Suddenly, a female student dodged a galloping horse. He instinctively reached out to support her. The woman raised her head—
Their eyes met in an instant!
He felt a sudden pain deep in his mind, as if a huge bell in an ancient temple, sealed for thousands of years, had suddenly rung for no reason!
The look that flashed across the woman's eyes was not simply one of panic and fear, but one of extreme horror and disbelief! It was as if she had seen a ghost in broad daylight!
I was puzzled at that time, but at this moment, in a flash, the last figure curled up in the corner of General Luo’s mansion in the previous life suddenly overlapped with the figure of the neatly dressed girl in front of the Imperial College!
Yes!
She recognized him! She remembered him! Hadn't she thought their past life encounters were only a memory vestige? So the horror in her eyes at that moment was because she saw an "old friend" who was supposed to be trapped in the abyss?
And that old friend was himself!
She carries the immense hatred of having her entire family overthrown and suffered injustice in her previous life.
The huge guilt, like magma erupting from the ground, instantly burned and drowned Luo Zhaohan's heart.
The last memory she had in her previous life was Pei Ji's resolute departure - heading towards a doomed death!
And in this life... he was standing in front of her alive again.
Even when she was in danger and lost her mind and fell into madness, he still stubbornly wanted to protect her!
What terrible price must he have paid for her hopeless family in his previous life?
In the darkness, Luo Zhaohan took a sharp breath. The breath was heavily salty and bitter, as if he had inhaled a cold mist of tears.
Her arms shot up suddenly.
Without hesitation or pause, she opened her arms with a desperate strength like grabbing a piece of driftwood, and directly hugged the body in front of her that was trembling silently in great pain in the darkness.
Pei Ji was so startled by her sudden action that his whole body trembled violently.
He almost thought it was an illusion! But the unusually clear and warm feeling of tears on his back and the firm embrace of his arms were like real fire.
"Pei Ji..." Luo Zhaohan's voice, thick with nasal sounds and tears, rang muffled behind his ears, "Hold on... Don't die..."
She folded her arms, as if to channel all her strength and faith.
"Wait until you get out..."
Her voice trembled slightly, but it carried an unprecedented firmness and strength.
"I'll tell you everything..."
"My dream... and everything!"
boom!
It was like a thunderclap, or like an epiphany.
Dream!
She was talking about her "dream"! That is, her past life experience!
So she had an amazing intuition about certain impending disasters, as if she had predicted them beforehand.
This is not a magical power! It is not a coincidence!
All she did was struggle!
She carries a heavy past and deep hatred that ordinary people cannot imagine!
She had been walking alone in the darkness for so long...
They have different paths but the same destination!
Her hatred, his obsession!
Her struggle, his perseverance!
What they are fighting against is the same dark mountain!
What else was there to ask? Was there any need to force her to reveal the details of the injustice that had torn her apart in a past life?
How can I have the nerve to retreat and escape out of guilt?
Was she to remain alone in this life, carrying the burden alone in the darkness, facing the monstrous web that was about to devour her and her family?
"Hmm..." Pei Ji took a deep breath.
He reached back and tightly grasped Luo Zhaohan's hand, which was still wrapped around his waist and covered in cold sweat and tears.
In the darkness, he struggled to turn around and face her vague, trembling outline. The pain made his voice tremble, but every word was nailed to the dark earth wall by a strong will and a heavy determination:
"Let's..." He gasped, his voice broken but clear, "Let's go out together..."
…
Deep in the secret passage, darkness was as thick as ink, oppressing every inch of space.
Only the sound of footsteps echoed hollowly between the slippery stone walls, and the cold air with moisture penetrated into the bone marrow.
Luo Zhaohan supported Pei Ji as they trudged through the darkness. Most of his weight rested on her shoulders, his left arm wrapped around the back of her neck, his body pressed against hers, a heavy yet irreplaceable support.
At the corner ahead, a glimmer of light suddenly cut through the thick darkness and flickered faintly.
Both of them subconsciously stopped, their tense nerves making their breathing lighter.
Luo Zhaohan unconsciously tightened his grip on Pei Ji's arm.
The next moment, two figures holding lights walked out from behind the corner - the first one was holding a windproof glass lantern, and the faint but steady halo of light enveloped his gray beard and slightly surprised face. It was the imperial teacher, Master Chu.
One step behind him, the burly guard Jiang Xi held up a burning pine oil torch. The jumping flames instantly dispelled the darkness near the corner, and also clearly illuminated the sudden surprise on the faces of Old Chu and himself.
The gazes of Old Chu and Jiang Xi suddenly froze when they saw the two people walking together, especially when they saw Pei Ji's intimate posture of almost completely relying on Luo Zhaohan.
The air seemed to freeze instantly. Mr. Chu opened his mouth, the light and shadow of the lantern dancing rapidly in his eyes.
Jiang Xi's hand holding the torch paused slightly, and his eyes as big as copper bells were full of disbelief.
This gaze was like a hot iron, instantly burning the back of Luo Zhaohan's hand as he supported Pei Ji's arm.
A surge of blood rushed to her head! Panic, embarrassment, and the panic of having their secret exposed instantly tightened her heart. It was almost an instinctive reaction without any thought—she suddenly pulled back the hand that was holding Pei Ji's arm as if it had been burned by a burning ember.
"Well!"
Pei Ji's steps, already weak due to his injuries and darkness, relied entirely on her for support.
His arm suddenly lost its support, his left leg felt a sharp pain and lost its strength. He toppled over like a heavy puppet whose support had been suddenly pulled away! With a dull thud, his forehead and shoulders slammed heavily against the cold, hard stone wall.
"Ji'er!" Elder Chu woke up as if from a dream, terrified. His voice was filled with genuine care and concern. He practically rushed forward, the light of the glass lantern shaking violently. "What's wrong? Where did you hit? Let me take a look!"
Jiang Xi reacted even faster. As Pei Ji groaned as he hit the wall, he silently swooped over to Pei Ji's side like a cheetah. He stretched out his long arm and steadily supported his falling body. His other hand quickly took Luo Zhaohan's place and firmly supported his shaking upper body.
The situation changed suddenly.
Luo Zhaohan froze in place, the warmth of his previous grip lingering on his fingertips, his cheeks burning like fire, and he didn't dare look at anyone. The rough touch of the stone wall and Pei Ji's suppressed groan of pain were clearly imprinted on his senses.
Elder Chu nervously looked up and down at Pei Ji, who was being held firmly by Jiang Xi, muttering, "Be careful, Jiang Xi! Hold on! Hold on!"
Pei Ji was hit so hard that his forehead turned purple instantly, and the pain in his shoulder blade was even more excruciating.
He forced his eyes open, his vision a little blurry. Looking at Mr. Chu's anxious face, he wanted to speak, but only a low and hoarse breath escaped: "Teacher...it's okay..." His breathing was heavy, and cold sweat trickled down his temples.
"With Jiang Xi here, there's no need to trouble Miss Luo." Old Chu stood up panting, his eyes falling on Luo Zhaohan who had retreated into the shadows. He spoke to Jiang Xi, but his eyes were once again firmly locked on her.
That gaze was full of scrutiny, revealing no disguising of inquiry, speculation, or even a subtle hint of reproach. Luo Zhaohan felt the weight of that gaze weighing heavily on her, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.
"Let's go! Get out first! Ji'er's injury can't be delayed!" Old Chu finally shifted his gaze from Luo Zhaohan, picked up the lantern again, turned around and quickly led the way. Although he walked quickly, he was obviously struggling, his back slightly hunched.
The team rearranged itself.
Mr. Chu held up the only bright glass lantern and led the way.
Jiang Xi half-supported and half-carried Pei Ji closely behind him, his tall and burly body becoming the most solid support.
Luo Zhaohan followed silently at the end, taking the initiative to pick up the pine oil torch that Jiang Xi had hastily put down. The dancing flames made her shadow on the stone wall waver, just like her chaotic mood at the moment.
She could clearly feel that although Mr. Chu, who was walking in front of her, did not stop, he could not help but look back frequently. His inquiring gaze was like a substance, sweeping over her body again and again, as if he was weighing something over and over again.
Even at a few steps' distance and amidst the swaying light and shadow, the immense pressure of the scrutiny still made her back tense, and every step felt like a thorn in her side. She could only lower her head and focus on the damp, slippery stone steps beneath her feet.
The secret passage was not long, but it was agonizing, as if it had taken a long time.
At the end of the darkness ahead, a faint ray of skylight mixed with another more stable artificial light source seeped in through a hole the size of a bowl, bringing a faint warmth.
Following closely was a sound of voices and footsteps, with a vague noise of human life.
"We're here! Give me a hand! Hurry!" Old Chu's voice was filled with fatigue that was hard to conceal, but more of joy. He turned around and urged Jiang Xi.
The entrance of the cave was quickly cleared and enlarged by people outside.
With the help of several hands reaching out from the cave entrance, Jiang Xi carefully carried Pei Ji, who was leaning against him and almost in a semi-conscious state, out. Amidst the chaos, several steady shouts rang out: "Your Highness, be careful!"
“I caught it!”
Pei Ji's tall figure disappeared at the cave entrance and was quickly and gently transferred.
Luo Zhaohan was the last person to climb out of the well.
Bitter cold air suddenly rushed into my nostrils. I suddenly returned from the cramped darkness of the underground to the open ground, and above my head was the gray-blue dome of the sky.
She stood still with her feet on the solid, cold but flat stone slabs and closed her eyes slightly to adjust to the light.
The voices beside my ears became clearer.
Beyond the wellhead lay a small, heavily guarded courtyard, brightly lit. Windproof lanterns hung from the eaves, illuminating the surroundings like daylight. Guards, dressed in dark brown uniforms and bearing a commanding presence, stood in awe. Several imperial physicians, their faces solemn and carrying medicine boxes, hurried about the courtyard. The atmosphere was tense yet efficient, clearly a state of preparedness.
She looked up in the direction of the crowd.
The first thing that caught the eye was the graceful crimson-purple figure standing at the highest point of the eaves, guarded by countless lanterns and candles.
The woman wore a gorgeous palace dress embroidered with a pattern of a phoenix and a thick cloak trimmed with black fox. She stood straight, her demeanor calm and imbued with an insurmountable dignity and majesty.
The warm light under the eaves outlined her face clearly - her eyebrows were like distant mountains, her eyes were like dots of ink, and the years had left shallow wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, but they added to her majesty.
At this moment, she was not paying attention to Pei Ji, who had just been carried away and was being nervously surrounded by the crowd and walked towards the inner room. Instead, her eyes passed through the gaps between the figures and fell directly on Luo Zhaohan, the last one to climb out of the well, who was still standing in the shadows in the yard with a look of shock and confusion on his face.
It was none other than Princess Jieyou, who was extremely powerful and held an important position in the court!
In an instant, a flash of lightning seemed to flash through Luo Zhaohan's mind!
All the fragmented questions and speculations were instantly strung together like a string of beads thrown into boiling water.
The eldest princess! It was actually the eldest princess! It turned out that the driving force and support behind this thrilling escape was actually this powerful highness in the royal family!
Luo Zhaohan only felt a chill mixed with a huge shock rushing straight to his head, and his hands and feet felt a little numb.
Princess Jieyou's eyes met Luo Zhaohan's astonished gaze briefly in the cold air.
The originally solemn and dignified expression on the eldest princess's face slowly and extremely subtly relaxed the moment she met Luo Zhaohan's gaze. The corners of her lips lifted up, revealing a smile that was so gentle that it was shocking and extremely friendly.
That smile was definitely not just a perfunctory courtesy from a superior; there was even a hint of undisguised interest in the depths of his eyes?
"Miss Luo?" Elder Chu's voice rang out, breaking the silent standoff. He had quietly walked to a spot beside Luo Zhaohan, his face strangely calm. "It's cold underground, don't stand here for long in the wind. Follow me to the front hall's warm room and have some hot tea to warm yourself."
Mr. Chu's tone was extremely natural, as if he was just inviting a younger generation who had been away for a long time to return home.
Luo Zhaohan's heartstrings suddenly tightened.
The eldest princess, standing gracefully under the eaves, hadn't moved a step, only gazing over with a smile. This invitation was clearly an order.
"Yes, thank you, Imperial Master." Luo Zhaohan suppressed the turmoil in his heart and tried to maintain his composure on the surface, his voice carrying a barely perceptible dryness.
She forced herself to move her legs, which felt like they were filled with lead, and followed behind Mr. Chu.
The warm room was not far from the wellhead. Elder Chu led the way, the door lintel lowered, and a thick cotton curtain was lifted. A wave of warm air, tinged with the faint scent of agarwood, rushed towards us, instantly enveloping our cold limbs.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
