Po Lang and Luo Feng acted immediately, leaping out quickly after everyone had left the tomb. Luo Feng took out a packet of poison from her bosom, administering it while reminding everyone, "Everyone must cover your mouths and noses. This poison is extremely potent; once inhaled, even the antidote will be ineffective."
Everyone quickly covered their mouths and noses with their clothes or handkerchiefs.
Luo Feng lit a tinderbox, threw the flame into the poison packet, and then threw the packet deep into the tomb.
In an instant, the tomb was filled with poisonous smoke, accompanied by one shrill scream after another.
These screams, penetrating the thick tomb walls, sent chills down one's spine even in broad daylight.
A chill ran through Gu Qinlan's heart. In her past life, she had never taken a life with her own hands. But in this life, she had ordered the deaths of no fewer than a hundred people.
But she showed no remorse.
Ever since those so-called refugees stormed into the capital and started the riots, they have ceased to be refugees, but rather thugs and thieves, even if they were forced into it.
But what did the common people of Jindu do wrong?
What crimes did she, the Zheng family, and other families commit?
Those thugs wanted to take their lives; if she continued to feign benevolence, that would be truly foolish.
Soon, the tomb fell silent again.
Apart from Po Lang and Luo Feng, no one else dared to investigate the situation.
Gu Qinlan looked around and said to the panicked servants, "Let's go into the mountains and hide there for a while."
Today, Jindu has been occupied by rioters, and refugees from surrounding cities are flocking here.
As they descended the mountain, they encountered a group of refugees fleeing the disaster.
Fortunately, they had made preparations in advance, instructing all the servants in the house to prepare two large bags, each carrying a heavy sack of grain on their shoulder.
The household had a total of over 150 servants, each carrying at least 20 jin (10 kg) of grain, while the male servants carried an even heavier burden.
Roughly calculated, the total weight is no less than four thousand jin, enough to support them through a difficult period.
A group of people proceeded in an orderly fashion into the depths of the mountains and forests.
The mountainous area where the Zheng family ancestral graves are located is extremely rugged, with bare mountains covered in hard rocks, clearly not an ideal hiding place.
They must cross this mountain to explore the deeper interior.
Gu Qinlan's ankle was in excruciating pain, making the climb up the rugged mountain path an immense challenge for her.
Hongye stepped forward and said with concern, "Miss, let me carry you."
Gu Qinlan gently shook her head: "If it were flat ground, I would accept your help, but on this treacherous mountain path, it would be difficult for you to walk if you carried me. If we were to slip, we would both tumble down the ravine."
Fuyu paced anxiously in circles: "But Miss's foot injury is so serious. Continuing to walk on the mountain path will only worsen the injury. If only there were a stretcher."
Gu Qinlan calmly replied, "Even with a stretcher, I wouldn't easily attempt it on this kind of mountain road."
The area where the Zheng family ancestral tombs are located is relatively flat, but as you climb higher, the mountain path becomes increasingly rugged and difficult to traverse. Even highly skilled experts like Po Lang found it extremely strenuous to lead the group through such a mountain path.
She pondered for a moment, then turned to Luo Feng and asked, "Miss Luo Feng, do you have any way to make me temporarily forget this pain?"
After carefully examining her ankle, Luo Feng said, "The bones are fine, only the tendons are damaged. I can temporarily relieve your pain, but afterwards, the pain will worsen..."
Gu Qinlan said firmly, "Then I'll have to trouble you."
Luo Feng said with some concern, "It will really hurt a lot, even a strong man would find it hard to bear. Have you really thought this through?"
Gu Qinlan nodded: "The most important thing right now is to escape. Only by saving our lives can we have the energy to consider other things."
Luo Feng glanced at her with admiration, then took out a few silver needles and gently inserted them into Gu Qinlan's ankle.
Surprisingly, the ankle, which had been in excruciating pain, suddenly lost all feeling, as if the pain had been magically dispelled.
As Luo Feng spoke casually, she slowly said, "I have temporarily sealed the acupoints on this side of your body with fine needles. You may not feel any pain now, but the wounds are still hidden under your skin and will gradually worsen with every step you take. Once I release the acupoints, the pain will surge like a tidal wave."
Fuyu asked, looking bewildered, "Then can we keep the acupoint sealed to prevent the pain from recurring?"
Luo Feng replied firmly, "Unless you, Madam, are willing to give up this leg."
Fuyu's eyes instantly reddened, and she said anxiously, "Miss, let me help you walk. Try not to put too much weight on this foot."
"Alright, let's leave it at that for now. I'll go on my own when it's absolutely necessary."
Gu Qinlan did not try to be too strong; she had several maids take turns supporting her.
When there was nowhere else to help, Hongye offered a freshly cut branch: "Girl, take this branch as a walking stick."
Gu Qinlan took the branch, tried it out, and found it quite easy to use. So she leaned on her cane and began to climb the steep mountain.
Although the acupoints were blocked, Gu Qinlan could still feel a slight stinging pain during the climb, but fortunately it was still within a tolerable range.
Not wanting to worry her maids, she remained silent and steadfastly moved forward.
Finally, she crossed the treacherous mountain peak, having to stop and rest many times along the way.
Fortunately, she finally succeeded in traveling through time.
As night fell, the group stopped in front of a valley.
Princess Duan pointed to the valley and said, "The valley ahead should be the refuge valley that my mother-in-law mentioned. It is easy to defend and difficult to attack. Even if it is refugees or enemy troops, it will not be easy for them to break in."
Sang Qian put Zheng Fengyun down and led several guards to investigate the situation in the valley.
After a long while, they returned.
"Madam, Madam, there is shelter in the valley, and there are caves that can accommodate us."
Gu Qinlan finally felt relieved, never expecting that the Zheng family's elders would be so thoughtful.
After entering the valley, the team quickly found the cave.
These caves were formed naturally and were later carved out by humans, dividing them into several chambers.
Gu Qinlan made the decision, assigning the maids to the two largest stone chambers, while the Zheng and Jiang families occupied the two smaller ones. Of the remaining three smallest cave chambers, one was given to Polang and Luofeng, one was used as a storeroom, and the other was reserved solely for Luofeng.
Because Luo Feng needs to prepare poisons, which is their only means of survival.
The male servants were settled in the natural stone chamber outside.
Although it was a bit crowded, it was big enough to accommodate everyone.
Night had fallen, and everyone was exhausted from a long day's journey. They quickly ate some dry rations and then found places to rest.
Gu Qinlan then went to Luofeng's stone chamber.
Luo Feng handed her a thick handkerchief: "Bite it down so you don't bite your tongue in pain later."
Gu Qinlan took the handkerchief and bit it tightly in her mouth.
Luo Feng quickly took out silver needles and pricked Gu Qinlan's ankle several times.
Almost instantly, a heart-wrenching pain surged through her like a tidal wave. Gu Qinlan groaned in agony and fainted.
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