So they transformed themselves into peddlers who roamed the streets and alleys.
Pushing a cart full of goods, they walked towards the manor gate.
The guards stopped them and conducted a routine inspection of the goods.
Night Owl calmly took several bolts of fine silk from the carriage, stuffed them into the guard's hands, and said with a beaming smile:
"Thank you for your hard work, brothers. This is just a small token of my appreciation."
The guard took the silk, weighed it in his hand, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
They glanced at the goods briefly and then let them pass.
Night Owl and his men successfully entered the manor and secretly observed the situation there.
This further confirmed their hypothesis:
Princess Mingyue is very likely imprisoned here.
As night deepened, the manor gradually quieted down.
The number of patrolling guards has also been greatly reduced.
Night Owl decided to sneak into the manor at night, so he leaped onto the roof.
The figure moved through the night like a ghost.
His superb lightness skill made him as light as a feather, landing silently.
He evaded the patrolling guards and carefully searched for Princess Mingyue's whereabouts.
Finally, in a secluded room, Night Owl discovered Princess Mingyue, who was being held captive.
Princess Mingyue was dressed in plain clothes and looked haggard.
He was sitting by the window, lost in thought, his eyes vacant.
Hearing the noise, Princess Mingyue turned around abruptly.
Upon seeing the night owl, she was first stunned, then overjoyed, and tears welled up in her eyes.
"Night Owl! It really is you!"
Princess Mingyue choked up as she spoke, her voice trembling.
Night Owl walked up to Princess Bright Moon and asked with concern:
"Your Highness, are you alright?"
Princess Mingyue shook her head, tears streaming down her face:
"I'm fine, it's just...it's just...I really want to go home..."
Princess Mingyue tearfully recounted her ordeal to Night Owl.
It turned out that Liu An had sent men to kidnap Lu Yan in order to control her.
He then used this to coerce her into cooperating with his plan, forcing her to write a letter to the King of Beixiang.
He falsely claimed that he had been humiliated by Lu Yan in order to provoke a war between the two countries.
Night Owl frowned, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
He comforted him:
"Your Highness, rest assured, I will ensure your safe return to Shannan Prefecture."
Princess Mingyue nodded, a glimmer of hope igniting in her eyes.
"Let's go!"
Night Owl took Princess Bright Moon's hand.
Princess Mingyue gently pulled away from Night Owl's hand and whispered:
"Wait a minute, I need to take this with me."
She walked to the dressing table, opened a hidden compartment, and took out a small brocade box.
The owl observed the room's furnishings: a simple wooden table.
The bed was simple, with nothing else besides a dressing table.
He walked to the window, gently pushed it open a crack, and observed the situation outside.
Two guards were standing not far away, talking in hushed tones. One of them yawned and rubbed his eyes.
Princess Mingyue carefully placed the brocade box into her bosom and walked to Night Owl's side.
Following his gaze to the window, she said softly:
"This is a letter Liu An asked me to write to my father; it bears my seal. I'm afraid..."
Night Owl withdrew his gaze, looked at Princess Bright Moon, and said firmly:
"Princess, rest assured, I understand. We'll be on our way now."
He looked around to make sure nothing else was missing, then quietly left the room with Princess Mingyue.
In the backyard of the manor, under a tall locust tree.
Standing there were two men in black, Night Owl's subordinates—Shadow One and Shadow Two.
Upon seeing Night Owl and Princess Bright Moon, Shadow One immediately stepped forward to greet them.
He lowered his voice and asked:
"My lord, is everything going smoothly?"
The owl nodded:
"Everything is going well, we need to get out of here as soon as possible."
Shadow Two pointed to several bundles of hay piled in the corner and said:
"My lord, we are ready. This will cover our tracks."
Princess Mingyue glanced at the dry grass in the corner, frowned slightly, and whispered:
"Will this... work?"
Night Owl gently patted Princess Bright Moon's shoulder, comforting her:
"Princess, rest assured, this is a method we often use, and it will not leave any trace."
The two Shadows set the dry grass ablaze, and the fire spread rapidly.
Thick smoke billowed, obscuring a large area of the manor's backyard.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Night Owl led Princess Bright Moon and two subordinates.
They silently scaled the wall and disappeared into the night.
Inside the manor, flames soared into the sky, and thick smoke filled the air.
The guards frantically tried to put out the fire, creating chaos.
After leaving the manor, Night Owl and his group quickly passed through a dense forest.
A branch grazed Princess Mingyue's cheek, leaving a small bloodstain.
She ignored the pain and just clung tightly to the hem of Night Owl's clothes.
The owl sensed her nervousness, slowed its pace, and whispered words of comfort:
"Your Highness, don't be afraid, we are safe now."
Princess Mingyue took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart, and nodded gently.
They walked through the woods and arrived at the foot of the mountain, which they had agreed to meet beforehand.
Several fine horses were already waiting there, and the grooms paced anxiously back and forth.
Upon seeing Night Owl and his group appear, they immediately went to greet them.
"Lord Ye, you're finally back! The manor is ablaze, what happened?"
"We'll talk about it on the way. Let's get out of here first."
After saying this, he helped Princess Mingyue mount her horse.
Princess Mingyue lost her balance and nearly fell off her horse.
The owl reacted quickly, catching her and asking with concern:
"Your Highness, are you alright?" Ming
Princess Yue's face was pale. She shook her head and whispered:
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