Chapter 66 Chapter 66 Prisoner Car, Panic
The official road to Shengjing was covered in snow half a foot deep, making it difficult for carriages and horses to pass. Late in the night, in the bitter cold, the dull clatter of horse hooves broke through the snow, interspersed with the sound of something heavy being dragged.
"Deputy Envoy! The snow is deep and the horses are exhausted. I beg you to stop and rest!"
After a few breaths, the order came from the rear, "Rest nearby and set off in half a quarter of an hour!"
"Understood!"
The three riders in front neighed in response, and the knights jumped off their horses and lay down in the snow together, puffing out clouds of white mist.
These horses were specially selected for their cold-hardiness, and could easily handle ordinary snowy roads. However, strict orders from the capital required them to arrive before the 11th hour. They rode at top speed, expending most of their strength. Furthermore, the newly covered snow doubled the resistance.
Only one hour remained until midnight, yet there was still over thirty miles to go. Time was pressing, but if they didn't rest and recharge, these fine horses would be lost en route before reaching the capital.
The three horse drivers also sat on the snow, feeding the horses and looking at the wheelless carriage behind them through the black veil covering their eyes.
Two glass lamps were hung on it, the dim candlelight flickering in the snow and ice, giving off a bit of warmth, but it was totally inappropriate for the current situation.
In fact, if the people in the carriage had not been so noble that they dared not be negligent and had not delayed for a long time in preparing this vehicle that was impervious to wind and snow and could travel quickly, they might have seen the towering city walls of the capital by now.
This group of people was led by Wang Yinghuan, who was transferred to the northwest half a year ago to serve as the deputy envoy of the Yunzequ Aqueduct section to supervise the construction.
When the Minister of the Chancellery divorced his wife and remarried, they were all on official business in various places, and later took up their new posts. They were already not very well informed about news from the capital, and they worked all day and all night, leaving them no time to pay attention to the private affairs of the court officials. If it weren't for the Deputy Envoy's keen eye, they would have been arrested and interrogated for inaction.
But I couldn't help but wonder: why was this noble lady in Yongfeng Town, dozens of miles from the capital, on New Year's Day? Why was she without a single guard or maidservant? There was no news of the city's government searching for her, and no sign of the Shangshuling's guards along the way.
This strangeness is exactly what Wang Yinghuan suspected.
The training of the past two years has completely eliminated the arrogance and recklessness of a son of an official family, and his temperament has become calm and composed. He dismounted and walked to the carriage window, bowed and said respectfully,
"Please wait a moment, Madam. Have some hot tea. Once the horses have rested, we will surely arrive in the capital before midnight. Then we will escort you safely home and plead our case to Lord Linggong."
The carriage was completely silent. Wang Yinghuan paused, his eyes quickly scanning the surroundings. He had sealed the doors and windows himself, and there were no new traces in the surrounding snow or the path he had taken. He hadn't left her side at all. If he could still miss her despite such strict security, he'd have to be able to fly.
He knew she was angry that he had ignored her wishes and forced her into a car like a prisoner, so she kept silent. However, if she hadn't suddenly appeared on the long street, reacted strangely when he recognized her, and even refused to be escorted, her words would be difficult to justify, and he would not have wanted to treat her like this.
As for leaving her alone, stumbling through the ice and snow, it was absolutely impossible. To protect her safety, I had no choice but to take the risk and force her.
He stood up, his gaze from beneath the black veil sweeping into the darkness like a blade. The snowy wilderness was silent, with only the rising and falling breathing of the men and horses to be heard. Just as he was about to leave, he heard someone inside the carriage speak, their voices tense.
"How far is this place from Miaofeng Mountain?"
He was stunned for a moment, then calmed down and replied, "There are still more than ten miles to go."
There was silence in the car for a moment, and then he said, "Open the window. Don't worry, I'm afraid of the cold and won't jump out of the window. I won't seek hardship in the snow and ice."
Wang Yinghuan was silent for a moment, without asking any more questions, he took out a knife and pried off the flat wooden block that was blocking the right window.
"I wonder if Madam has any other instructions?"
"If you can speed up your departure later, please try to get to Miaofeng Mountain as quickly as possible."
Wang Yinghuan frowned slightly, his heart doubting but he kept silent. He replied, "Yes." He lowered his eyes and waited for a moment. There was no movement in the car, and the window remained closed.
By this time, the men and horses had rested, preparing to pack up and set off. He summoned two men, said "apology" to the inside of the carriage, and ordered them to buckle the front and back of the carriage and lift it up. He then swung his long sword and struck the floor with great force. His arms and wrists shook slightly, and the frozen snow fell down with a thud.
After five or six cuts, the board was as smooth as before. He swung the knife again, sending snowflakes flying until a thin layer of snow covered the bottom of the board, and then he sheathed the knife.
The carriage landed safely on the snow. Wang Yinghuan ordered his men to mount their horses and bowed toward the carriage, "Madam, please sit tight."
Then he shouted, "Let's go!"
"Understood!"
The clatter of horses continued, and the official road was no longer silent. Inside the carriage, a charcoal fire burned brightly, thick blankets lay beneath the seats, and she was wrapped in a dry, soft cotton coat and cloak, yet Lan Nongnong still felt cold, a chill that chilled her to the very core.
She hugged herself and huddled by the fire, eyes closed. She should have been concentrating on how to get her aunts out of this situation, how to deal with his anger, and how to face...
But those negative emotions that had been suppressed for so long were like a flood that broke through the dam. Taking advantage of her momentary relaxation of her defenses, they broke through the shackles, raged in her mind, and dragged her into the bottomless abyss of regret, guilt and resentment!
She regretted getting off the carriage so early. If she had ridden the carriage all the way to the owner's house before getting off, she wouldn't have been spotted en route. If she had paid a little more attention to Yingzi's sister and brother's appearance, she could have recognized them in time and avoided them!
The aunts risked their lives to prepare a foolproof plan for her to help her escape, and even made sure the way ahead was safe. However, because of her momentary carelessness, everyone's several days of hard work was ruined!
What’s even more tragic is that she had already failed, but her aunts were completely unaware of it and still had to bear the consequences.
By this time, he must have already noticed it and might have already asked his aunts harshly!
Lan Nongnong suddenly lowered her head and bit down on her sleeve, tearing through the tough, thick fabric. At this moment, she hated herself immensely. Why hadn't she returned immediately upon waking? Why had she accepted her aunts' arrangements, ignoring the inevitable consequences and responsibilities?
She was clearly extremely selfish. In order to seek freedom and fulfill her own wishes, she dragged her unrelated aunts into the quagmire!
She had the chance to make amends and keep everything as it was, but she chose to weigh the pros and cons, thinking that the opportunity must not be missed, and became a complete coward!
And Wang Yinghuan, they had only met once, she was wrapped up so tightly that only her eyes were visible, and it was snowing, so how could he still recognize her? And he was so arrogant and self-righteous, he took her back like a prisoner without regard for her wishes!
The sleeve of her dress had been torn almost in half due to her excitement. Her teeth were numb and sore from being hurt, her mouth was filled with a fishy smell, and her nails were turned outward and bleeding from excessive force.
Lan Nongnong was awakened by the sharp pain. Her fingers loosened, her teeth loosened, and her rapid breathing finally became smooth, but it was so heavy that it made her dizzy. Her body swayed and she fell to the ground.
Fortunately, the negative emotions swirling in her mind were interrupted. She took a deep breath to suppress her emotions, slowly sat up, wiped her face, and let the burning pain from her fingertips pierce her heart.
She was obsessed with it.
If I didn't get off the bus in advance, it would be even harder to escape near the owner's house where there were so many people watching. If I were discovered, the situation would only escalate, implicating my aunt and the reputation of the nunnery.
As for being recognized, now that she thought about it, on a festive day like New Year's Day, in such weather, a woman walking alone would have been conspicuous. And after all, Wang Yinghuan and the others had good intentions, thinking she needed help.
She didn't recognize the person, but anyone sent on a business trip must have some special qualities, and identifying a person by sight was probably just a common tactic. She was just unlucky.
Her breathing calmed down completely, and the heat from her excitement dissipated, and the coldness crept in again. Lan Nongnong shuddered violently, moved closer to the heater, and suddenly let out a wry smile.
She was just too impatient and had a glimmer of hope.
Although her cold symptoms were gradually getting better, she had lived in a greenhouse for a long time and her body had not yet adapted to the temperature difference.
The words in my aunt's letter are still fresh in my mind: if you want to deceive others, you must first deceive yourself. Only by taking others by surprise can you succeed.
This was true, but she had overestimated her current physical condition. Her hasty, unplanned escape had left her feeling even more uncertain.
She could only think positively. Although today's mission had failed and alerted the enemy, it was not entirely without gain. If she could get through this hurdle safely, she would first need to take good care of herself, avoid winter activities, and make all necessary preparations.
At least, the two sets of household registrations and money prepared by the aunts have not been exposed yet...
After an unknown amount of time, a sudden scream rang out from outside the car. Lan Nongnong's eyes snapped open, her entire body tensing. Her fingertips pressed against the window pane, but she didn't push. She waited for a few breaths, but there was no more disturbing movement outside.
Just as she was about to let go, she suddenly heard the words "mountain" and "fire" blasting into her ears! She suddenly widened her eyes, her mind went blank for a moment, and her hand involuntarily pushed open the window.
She couldn't hear who was talking, so she just looked out desperately, even leaning half of her body out of the window to stop it from closing.
The cold wind blew down on her head, but she was completely unaware of it. All she could see was a column of black smoke in front of her right, which was particularly glaring in the snowy night!
"...Where is that?"
Lan Nongnong looked at her in astonishment. She had a vague feeling but was unwilling to admit it. She suddenly grabbed the arm of the person walking by the window. When she turned back, her eyes were already filled with tears. She asked with a choked sob,
"...You said, that's not Miaofeng Mountain, right?"
She just wanted to get a reassuring answer from others, but she didn't know how heartbreaking her appearance would be in the eyes of others.
After nearly two years, Wang Yinghuan finally saw the face of the girl he had cherished so deeply in his heart. He had no time to discern if she had changed at all. In that moment, he simply wished they had never met again! Then, she would still be the carefree, lively, and bright girl he remembered, instead of the sorrowful, blood-stained, grief-stricken face before him.
He was so shocked that he forgot to answer until her crazy move of wanting to jump out of the car window and climb onto the horse frightened him to pieces! He no longer cared about etiquette, grabbed her arms, grabbed her shoulders and forced her back into the car, then drove the horse close, blocking the window with his strong body.
"Mrs. Lan--!"
He hastily changed his words, his voice hoarse and rapid from the shock he had just experienced. "Madam, please calm down! The carriage was moving at a rapid speed, and there was no one in control. If you were not careful, you would be seriously injured! It is simply too dangerous! Please wait patiently, and I will find out the truth for you!"
After saying this, he immediately looked towards the source of the black smoke.
Although the night was dark, we could still make out the general direction from the shadows of the mountains, and it was indeed the direction of Miaofeng Mountain.
His heart suddenly sank. It was snowing heavily tonight, and everything along the way was covered in ice and snow. Even if he intended to start a fire in such weather, it would be difficult. Miaofeng Mountain had caught fire in such damp and cold conditions, and the smoke was black, clearly not caused by vegetation. If his guess was correct, the tung oil on the painted house must have ignited it, a deliberate act.
This place is still nearly ten miles away from Miaofeng Mountain, and the smoke and fire are so fierce that I am afraid that everyone and everything in the mountain is in great danger.
Thinking of this, Wang Yinghuan felt his heart sink. He hadn't been in Beijing for the past two years, and he had no idea what had happened in the mountains, or what it had to do with her. Yet, she seemed to be obsessed with that place, practically mad.
He didn't dare to imagine how she could bear such a tragic scene!
Lan Nongnong was already so frightened that she kept muttering to herself and banging on the car window frantically as if in a state of stress.
Wang Yinghuan was controlling the horse while also trying to prevent the carriage from derailing. He almost couldn't stop it! He saw blood seeping from her fingers out of the corner of his eye, and he didn't dare to take it lightly. He just shouted "Stop".
From inside the car, she screamed, almost at the top of her lungs: "Don't stop!"
The force of pushing the window increased sharply at the same time: "Go there! To Miaofeng Mountain! To Qingyun Temple! I want to go! Take me there quickly! I don't want to take a car! Take me there on horseback! Please! Take me there! I want to go!"
Wang Yinghuan was frightened by her tearful screams, so how could he take her on the ride?
The cold wind he encountered as he rode was biting, but his throat felt like it was on fire, swollen and painful. Fearing that his throat was also injured, he hurriedly shouted, "Turn to Miaofeng Mountain! Ride faster!"
He immediately let go and clasped the window frame to steady the carriage. He said in a deep voice, "I've already diverted the carriage. Madam, if you want to arrive quickly, please sit tight and calm down! If you continue to get excited, the carriage might lose control and cause damage! The journey will be long and snowy. How will you get there?"
His voice immediately softened as he tried to soothe her, "The snowy weather is damp, so the fire won't spread. It will probably be out soon. Madam, please stay calm and don't overthink it! I promise I'll get you there within a quarter of an hour!"
She seemed to have heard these words, and her stiff body, which was half-extended, suddenly relaxed and slowly slid into the car.
Wang Yinghuan breathed a sigh of relief. He wanted to remind her to put on more clothes to keep warm, but he knew she was too busy to care for herself. Glancing at the fire still burning, he felt a sense of relief. With a few gentle words of comfort, he closed the car window, locked it, and shut out her current state of distress.
The group raced against the wind, the clatter of horses' hooves a chaotic cacophony, dragging any sound behind them. The three people in front didn't pay much attention, only the faint sound of wooden boards colliding and a few muffled shouts, unable to make out any details.
However, they were already pressed for time, and now they had to change their route at the last minute. This delay would definitely make them miss the deadline. Out of concern for the people in the carriage, the three of them did not dare to complain. Just as they were about to turn around and ask for instructions, they heard a loud voice saying,
"One person returns to the capital to report! The rest of you follow orders and hurry on your way without delay! I'll be solely responsible for any accidents!"
The three men felt relieved. When they reached the fork in the road, one of them untied the reins and threw them backwards. Seeing Wang Yinghuan grabbing the reins, he immediately drove his horse away from the team and galloped towards the capital.
The remaining two men rode their horses closer, turned around and galloped towards Miaofeng Mountain.
A quarter of an hour is fifteen minutes, nine hundred breaths. Every breath counts down.
By the time she took her 300th breath, she would be there.
Nine hundred seconds goes by quickly, and three hundred breaths is also short.
There's snow everywhere inside and outside the nunnery, so the fire won't start. The aunts usually don't go to bed until after midnight, so they must have reached a safe place and everything will be fine.
Lan Nongnong murmured repeatedly as if to hypnotize herself, and suddenly began to breathe heavily, even speeding up the frequency involuntarily, as if this could force time to pass faster.
But she made a really stupid mistake. Breathing too quickly only made her dizzy and short of oxygen, making it difficult for her to breathe. Her body had already been frozen to the point of losing consciousness and she was shivering non-stop.
The spiritual fortress that was built with great effort collapsed at this moment.
Thousands of emotions surged like a bursting dam, fiercely dragging her into endless darkness.
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