Chapter 21 The Mob
As he spoke, the tabby cat walked to the door of the cell, twitched his pointed ears, and said:
"There are guards patrolling outside. From what I've observed today, the palace guards change shifts approximately every hour. I imagine the same is true for the prison sentries. There's a short break between shifts. We can take advantage of the changing of guards to go out."
Lin Qingyue nodded: "Your observation is correct, the shifts are indeed changed every hour."
The tabby cat continued, "Given your abilities, it's not advisable to fight them head-on, but escaping tonight shouldn't be a problem. However, these guards are well-trained and should quickly discover your escape. A city-wide search will certainly be launched."
"After much thought, I think the best path for you is to join the Xuanjing Division!"
"Me? Go to Xuanjingsi?" Lin Qingyue was amused by his suggestion.
The tabby cat nodded seriously and rationally analyzed the situation for her, "Although you hold the title of Princess of Jin, Dongfang Yan hasn't granted you any of the authority a princess should have. And the Changning Marquisate treats you as a tool for a marriage alliance. Even if you return, they'll send you back. Therefore, you must find another way."
"Those noble and famous people look down on the Xuanjing Division, considering it a mob. But 'mob' precisely represents the willingness to employ people regardless of their background. Women are forbidden from entering the imperial court, but in the Xuanjing Division, as long as they have the ability, women can be hired regardless of their background..."
This was something he personally formulated when he was still the crown prince, in order to quickly expand the scale of the Xuanjing Division and recruit a wide range of talents.
"Xiao Hui... Although Xie Shouzheng has many flaws, he is upright and values talent. As long as you enter the Xuanjing Division, you will be able to obtain a formal official status. Then, if Dongfang Yan wants to cause trouble for you again, it will no longer be a family matter."
His analysis was very logical and it was indeed the most suitable path for Lin Qingyue so far.
When he said this, the tabby cat's ears twitched: "The timing is perfect, let's go out first!"
Then it quickly came to the door of the cell and chanted, "Open sesame, open sesame!"
As the words fell, the black iron lock opened with a "click".
Lin Qingyue was stunned: "Your codeword is too simple."
The tabby cat said, "We want the unexpected. Let's go!"
In this way, the man and the cat escaped from the dungeon easily.
The tabby cat had excellent hearing and could hear footsteps in the distance early on, allowing it to avoid the patrolling guards outside and easily leave the Prince of Jin's Mansion.
On the way, the tabby cat warned Lin Qingyue: "Don't tell anyone my identity. Including Xie Shouzheng."
Lin Qingyue asked him, "You don't trust the Xuanjing Division?"
The tabby cat said, "When I was on patrol that day, I also brought a few experts from the Xuanjing Division with me just in case. But later, when I got into trouble, they disappeared. So I suspect that there may be a mole in the Xuanjing Division. If you can successfully join the Xuanjing Division, I can also blend in and get a feel for the situation."
"Why go to so much trouble?" Lin Qingyue asked, "Once your identity is restored, you can issue an order to kill all the suspicious individuals. Wouldn't that be easy?"
After hearing this, the tabby cat's pupils trembled for a moment, clearly shocked by Lin Qingyue's words: "This is the behavior of a tyrant, absolutely not allowed!"
Lin Qingyue narrowed her eyes: "Are you scolding me?"
"What?" The tabby cat didn't understand what she meant.
Lin Qingyue snorted disdainfully, "To be soft-hearted is a cardinal sin for an emperor! Little Prince, you still need to be tempered."
The tabby cat said, "If you become an emperor and cannot distinguish right from wrong and kill people at will, you'd better not be an emperor!"
"Interesting, you are much more interesting than that Dongfang Yan."
Although Lin Qingyue was just teasing him, she herself had really been a tyrant, and she had wiped out the five major immortal sects in a single thought.
I don't know if it's because my sins are too deep, but after traveling through time, I became a weak chicken. Alas!
At this time, a burst of footsteps came from the front. Xie Shouzheng, wearing official uniform, was limping from the dark street corner, supported by his subordinates.
His official robe was covered in stains, and his arms were bruised. He looked extremely disheveled, but a boastful voice could be heard from afar:
"Little brats, have you witnessed my power today? Humph, a mere snake demon spirit dares to cause trouble on my territory?"
"My lord, you are so powerful! With one blow of the Blood Thorn Whip, the snake demon rolled on the ground!"
"Yes, yes. Otherwise, how could he become the chief officer of our Xuanjing Division?"
"Your Excellency's bravery is truly a role model for us! But next time, please watch your step. It's a bit embarrassing to trip over your own whip after a fight!"
"Damn you, Da Mi! Don't think I can't hear you mocking me! Do you believe I'll bring a cat to raise in the Xuanjing Division tomorrow?"
"Oh, no, no, I'm most afraid of cats. There must not be any cats in the Xuanjing Division!"
At this moment, Xie Shouzheng saw Lin Qingyue. "Hey, Princess, why are you here? I don't need your help. I've already dispersed the remaining spirit of the snake demon myself!"
Lin Qingyue said straight to the point: "Thank you, sir. I would like to join the Xuanjing Division."
Xie Shouzheng was overjoyed: "Really?"
The Xuanjing Division was short on manpower, let alone someone as enigmatic as Lin Qingyue. If they could get her help, future missions would be even more powerful.
"But that's not right. You're the princess. Would your prince agree to you mixing with us?"
Lin Qingyue smiled faintly: "I escaped... So, Sir Xie, do you dare to take me in?"
A quarter of an hour later, inside the Xuanjingsi government office.
The gavel clattered loudly, and Xie Shouzheng angrily cursed, "Prince Jin is really going too far! How could he jail his legitimately married princess for a fake daughter?"
Lin Qingyue immediately grasped the key point in his words: "You actually know Lin Ruzhen's background?"
In the past, the Lin family went to great lengths to keep this secret!
"Uh, this..." Xie Shouzheng scratched his head and smiled guiltily.
"Since you will be one of us from now on, I will not hide anything from you. Although our office is not valued by the powerful and noble, it is full of talented people. Rice——"
He shouted, and became puzzled again: "It was here just now. Rice, rice——"
"Are you looking for him?" Lin Qingyue lifted the tablecloth and saw a thin man with a pointed face squatting underneath. "This rat demon is called Rice? Why not Xiaomi?"
"Because he likes to eat rice." Xie Shouzheng said as he pulled the rat demon out from under the table and scolded him, "You're not a dog, why are you crawling under the table?"
The rat demon named Da Mi pointed at the tabby cat beside Lin Qingyue and said tremblingly, "Cat... there is a cat~ My lord, you promised me that you wouldn't keep a cat... You can't lie to me, my lord!"
"It really brings shame to our Xuanjing Division!"
Xie Shouzheng kicked him awkwardly and explained to Lin Qingyue:
"Princess, don't underestimate this timid boy. He is the backbone of our Xuanjing Division, specializing in gathering information. His brothers are spread across every household, from the upper classes to the lower classes. They are everywhere and know everything!"
As he was speaking, a few mice ran towards him from the corner of the wall and squeaked a few times in Da Mi's ears.
Da Mi nodded, took some rice out of his pocket and scattered it to the mice. The mice ate the rice and scurried away along the wall.
Da Mi looked up and said to Xie Shouzheng, "Sir, the people in Prince Jin's Mansion have discovered that the princess has escaped and are searching everywhere for her."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
