As Shen Muqing walked all the way to the palace gate, she seemed to still be in a dream. How did she come out so fresh and beautiful? Without asking any questions, she carefully put away the jade pendant, which was indeed very useful, and placed it inside her inner garment.
"Ahe, we're out."
"Yes, they're out."
Song Jinhe gazed at the bustling street in the distance. Today was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and everyone was releasing prayer lanterns. The night market had just begun, and the long-lost sense of human life was back.
She gazed at it greedily; having not left the house for six months, the feeling was both familiar and strange.
"Ahe, what are you standing there for? Come on, let's go play."
Shen Muqing ran ahead, like a lively and active butterfly, flitting about everywhere.
"Wow, he can breathe fire too."
"Ahe, look how beautiful this clay figure is."
"Ahe, come quick, there are candied hawthorns here."
Along the long street, Shen Muqing strolled around, his eyes filled with curiosity. This was much more fun and delicious than those mushrooms.
As night deepened, people on the street carried their bags home, and soon only a few scattered people remained on the street.
"Ahe, let's find an inn to stay at for the night, and go back tomorrow as soon as the palace gates open, okay? That way, no one will know we've come out."
Shen Muqing gave himself a thumbs up for his idea, thinking he was simply Zhuge Liang reincarnated, so incredibly clever.
She didn't notice Song Jinhe's evasive gaze, too busy praising herself.
"Okay, I'll listen to you, Qingqing."
The two found an inn closest to the palace gate so they could return early the next morning. The night's activities had been so strenuous that Shen Muqing fell asleep as soon as she got into bed, muttering to herself:
“Ahe, we need to get up early tomorrow.”
Song Jinhe lay in bed wide awake. She was in excellent spirits, her heart pounding wildly as she waited for the gates of the capital to open tomorrow morning.
In the palace, the banquet ended shortly after Shen Muqing left. Mo Yunjing couldn't wait to return to Luoxia Pavilion, carrying an ice box containing the Ice Jade Mushroom and the Early Autumn Red Jade.
When he arrived at Song Jinhe's room, Bai Zhi was guarding the door. As soon as she saw him, she immediately stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, the concubine asked me to tell you that she went to Tingyu Pavilion to sleep today, and that you do not need to wait for her."
Mo Yunjing's mood instantly plummeted. It was Shen Muqing again. Damn Shen Muqing. It seemed he had to get A Ye to marry her as soon as possible. By then, A Ye would definitely have his own palace outside the palace, so no one would be competing with him for A He.
Outside Tingyu Pavilion, Zhu Qiu, who was dozing off, was startled awake by the wind brought by Mo Yanye. "Greetings, Fifth Prince."
Seeing that it was late, Mo Yanye went straight to the front door. "Is Qingqing asleep?"
"The Crown Princess has already gone to sleep."
Mo Yanye waited for Shen Muqing for a long time at the banquet, but she didn't come back, so he guessed that she must have come back to rest because she was tired.
He was about to push the door open when Zhu Qiu stopped him, saying, "Consort Song is still inside."
She gently reminded him, her expression unchanged, speaking frankly. In any case, the young lady would be back by tomorrow morning at the latest, so she wasn't lying.
Sure enough, Mo Yanye's hand, which was pushing the door open, stopped in mid-air, his face ashen. What did his elder brother mean by not controlling his own woman and coming here to sleep?
"Never mind, we can meet again tomorrow, so one more day won't matter." He withdrew his hand and returned to his residence.
Song Jinhe stayed awake in the inn until dawn. When she estimated it was time to open the door, she tiptoed out of bed and moved very quietly.
She reached into Shen Muqing's arms and indeed felt something hard—the jade pendant that allowed her to pass through without hindrance. If she could leave through the palace gates, then she could leave through the gates of the capital city as well.
She bought a set of casual clothes from the innkeeper before going to bed last night, and they came in handy today.
Song Jinhe gave Shen Muqing one last deep look, her eyes filled with apology. She was sorry, Qingqing didn't want to stay in the palace like a bird without wings.
Without lingering, she left the inn, just as the innkeeper opened the door. "Miss, are you going out so early?"
"Hmm." Song Jinhe took out some silver coins and placed them on the table. "This is the money for the second room on the left on the second floor. Please wake up the person in the room in half an hour for any extra money. Consider this a reward for you."
"Okay, no problem." The waiter, who had just woken up and received a tip, grinned from ear to ear and readily agreed.
Song Jinhe had been preparing for this day for a long time. She had hidden some money in advance for any eventuality, and she quickly walked towards the city gate.
It was too early in the morning, and she stood out conspicuously by herself. Even the soldiers on guard duty gave her a second glance. "Pass."
Song Jinhe took out a piece of black jade, and the soldier took it in his hand and saw that it was indeed engraved with the character "Ye". "So you are one of the Fifth Prince's men. May I ask where you went so early in the morning, young lady?"
"Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask." Song Jinhe was used to having a cold face, and now she was deliberately putting on airs, which made her seem quite convincing.
The soldiers realized they had talked too much, and that it was none of their business to concern themselves with the affairs of the Fifth Prince, so they said no more and let Song Jinhe leave the capital.
As soon as she stepped out of the city gate, Song Jinhe breathed a sigh of relief. She had finally escaped. The sun had just risen, and a ray of morning sunlight shone on her face, carrying the scent of freedom.
Because it was so early, Song Jinhe didn't encounter any pedestrians on the road and had to walk. She didn't dare to stop for a moment and kept walking forward.
Half an hour later, the waiter knocked on Shen Muqing's door on time and called out from outside, "Miss, it's time."
After calling "waiter" several times without getting a response, he finally knocked heavily, "Miss?"
Then a faint voice came from inside, "Okay." It had a thick nasal tone.
Shen Muqing responded impatiently from the bed. She was too tired and went to bed too late last night, so she was very sleepy. She didn't know what was making noise outside the door, so she just answered "okay" without paying attention.
The waiter stopped what he was doing after receiving a reply. He had already shouted, so he felt he could keep the money without feeling guilty. Besides, the girl had only told him to shout, not that he had to wake the person inside.
Shen Muqing didn't open his eyes until an hour later.
Outside Tingyu Pavilion, Zhu Qiu had not slept all night. It was almost time for the morning court session to end, and His Highness the Crown Prince would surely come to see Consort Song. However, they had not returned yet. What should she do?
She paced anxiously, constantly praying that Shen Muqing would return with Song Jinhe in the next second.
As expected, Mo Yunjing went straight to Tingyu Pavilion after court. "Are the Crown Princess and the others still sleeping?"
Zhu Qiu wiped her sweat and humbly replied, "Yes."
"Go and wake them up."
Zhu Qiu remained motionless, which aroused Mo Yun Jing's suspicion. "What's wrong?"
"No...it's alright, Your Highness. This servant will go and wake up the Crown Princess and the concubine."
She had no choice but to bite the bullet and push the door open, but the room was empty. Mo Yunjing waited outside for a long time but Zhu Qiu did not come out, so she couldn't help but step inside.
Upon entering, there wasn't a sound. He asked in a sinister tone, "Where are the Crown Princess and the concubine? Think carefully before you answer."
Mo Yunjing's face darkened considerably as he pressed Zhu Qiu for answers.
Zhu Qiu immediately knelt on the ground and kowtowed, "Your Highness, spare my life! Your Highness, spare my life!"
"Tell me, where did they go?"
"I've left the palace," Zhu Qiu said, her voice trembling as she knelt on the ground.
"When did you leave the palace, and how did you leave?"
"Yesterday at 7 PM, the Fifth Prince gave the Crown Princess a jade pendant. The Crown Princess took the pendant and went out with the concubine."
"Fine, very well, Shen Muqing!" He gritted his teeth, his dislike for Shen Muqing reaching its peak. He suspected that Shen Muqing was sent by heaven to bring him misfortune.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com