free
It rained heavily all night long.
Qi Qinghe, his mother, and his younger sister were forced to leave due to pressure from the county magistrate and the people in the county.
In exchange, the county magistrate promised not to make things difficult for other people in Bu Zhuang.
A simple carriage drove out from the side door, carrying Qi Qinghe, galloping through the rainy night, leaving the city overnight, refusing to stay even a moment longer.
The county magistrate watched from afar as the carriage disappeared from sight, blending into the dark and boundless night rain. He then waved his hand and said, "Everyone, disperse. They won't be coming back, and nothing will happen to you."
The crowd then dispersed.
The county magistrate returned home holding an oil-paper umbrella. The house was especially quiet on the rainy night.
The county magistrate's brows jumped, and he quickly put away his umbrella and strode towards the main hall.
There was a man standing in the main hall. He was wearing a dark nightgown, a cloak, and a hood on his head. Under the hood was a terrifying mask, which completely hid his face and figure, making it impossible to see clearly.
The county magistrate hurriedly bowed and said, "Look, sir, I have already driven the man out according to your instructions."
The man didn't say anything, but just raised his hand and pointed at the box on the table.
There was some silver in the box, as well as a document and a letter stating that the county magistrate's actions had been exposed and that the county magistrate should be transferred away to keep a low profile and protect himself.
The county magistrate's eyes lit up. This much silver was enough to provide him with food and clothing for the rest of his life. How could he care about anything else at the moment? He nodded hurriedly and bowed to see the distinguished guest off.
Then the county magistrate packed up his belongings without delay and left at night.
As for Qi Qinghe, she had just recovered from a serious illness, and after being caught in the heavy rain, she was exhausted, dizzy and her eyelids drooped as if they weighed a thousand pounds, and she fell asleep.
Qi Xu held her daughter in her arms and touched her forehead. The scorching temperature made her pull her hand back suddenly. She quickly lifted the curtain and asked Qi Qingyu, who was driving, to drive faster.
The carriage sped all the way and finally stopped in Liuye Town, thousands of miles away.
As soon as they arrived in the town and settled down in the inn, Qi Qingyu did not dare to stop for a moment. He hurriedly pulled the waiter to ask where the best doctor in town was.
Qi Qinghe woke up again. It was bright outside and the rain had stopped. She blinked and sat up.
The small room only had a table against the wall next to the door, with an oil lamp on it. The old things gave off a faint smell of dampness and decay.
It was neither a room in the cloth shop nor a bedroom in Yangzhou City.
She rubbed her head, which was a splitting headache. As her mind gradually became clearer, she remembered that the three of them had been driven out of the city by the county magistrate. This was probably an inn.
As she was thinking about it, she was about to get up from the quilt and go out of the room to take a closer look, but she felt weak all over and her steps were unsteady. After taking a few steps, she stumbled and fell to the ground.
At this moment, someone pushed the door open and saw her sitting on the ground. He quickly put down the things in his hands and helped her back to the bed in three or two steps.
Isn’t that exactly what Qi Qingyu said?
Qi Qingyu drove and called for a doctor last night, running around for half the night, so she didn't refuse her aunt and fell into a deep sleep. When she woke up in the morning, it was her aunt's turn to rest, and she asked the waiter to bring up some food.
"Sister, how do you feel now?" Qi Qingyu asked cautiously, took the food, blew on it and handed it to her sister's mouth.
"...I'm fine." After downing half a bowl of porridge, the tiredness receded like a tide. Although he still felt a little weak, he felt much better. He looked around the room, a series of questions spilling out, "Where is this? Where's my mother? Are you okay?"
Qi Qingyu answered them one by one.
Qi Qinghe looked at her younger sister. She looked much thinner, and her beautiful eyes were lifeless and confused.
She finally couldn't help but ask, "Am I really wrong?"
Both escapes could be considered successful, however, he was caught by the prince once and brought back, and the other time he was driven out of the city in a panic.
If she hadn't been so stubborn, her mother and younger sister wouldn't have had to run for their lives with her.
Qi Qingyu put down the bowl and spoon, stared into her sister's eyes, and said seriously and firmly, "This is not your fault, sister."
"Those big shots are so high up in the world, finding and arresting them is as easy as crushing an ant. However, even a clay figure has a temper and can't be manipulated."
"That's not wrong."
Qi Qingyu's words made Qi Qinghe silent.
Of course she knew these principles, but she felt extremely guilty for causing her loved ones to suffer.
"No matter what decision you make." Qi Qingyu seemed to have seen something from her sister's hesitation and gently held her hand. "Sister, I believe in you."
Qi Qinghe forced a smile and told her not to worry.
The sun is shining brightly and the sky is clear blue.
Near noon, in the first-floor hall of the two-story inn, a few people were sitting scattered around, drinking and chatting, with heroic words.
The three members of the Qi family went downstairs together and called for the waiter to bring some wine and food.
"It's all here, sister." Qi Qingyu took out a piece of paper from her sleeve, with black words recording the only silver they had left in their hands.
She was particularly careful when packing her things. She took away everything she could think of, including gold, silver, pearls and jade. She even took the house deed from her sister's room. Even so, they still didn't have much money. The house deed couldn't be sold in a short time, and the prince was holding it hostage. Even if she took it out, it would probably be just a piece of waste paper.
"Good sister, thanks to you." Qi Qinghe took the paper and looked at it carefully. Her eyes were wide open but blurred, so she couldn't see it clearly. She raised her hand to wipe away the tears.
At this moment, the voices of those sitting nearby grew louder, drowning out the two girls. "Over at Luoxia Mountain, someone is secretly raising personal soldiers with the intention of assassination and rebellion. You've all heard about it, right? Let me say, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is incredibly bold, daring to barge in alone. Tsk, tsk, tsk, he's got a lucky break."
In remote towns, there is definitely no rule that prohibits mentioning the court.
Even so, the man's companion quickly covered his mouth, looked around, put on a smile, and lowered his voice to scold the man, "That's His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, how dare you say that? Are you really going to kill yourself?"
"What are you afraid of? It's said that the prince was seriously injured and his life is in danger after this incident. How could he care about these things?" The man said nonchalantly, and when he saw that his companions and brothers were a little shy, he changed his words and talked about something else.
Hearing the title of the prince, Qi Qinghe poked at her bowl and chopsticks and immediately lost her appetite. She just stared at the food in a daze, and even when her mother picked up food for her or talked to her, she seemed unaware.
In the afternoon, golden sunlight shone through the window, dispelling the musty smell in the house.
The three members of the Qi family sat opposite each other.
Qi Xu seemed to have sensed something, and she looked at Qi Qingyu and remained silent.
Qi Qinghe carefully considered her words and spoke softly, "I want to return to Yangzhou City. What do you think, my dear sister?"
Returning to Yangzhou City means returning to the prince and becoming his subordinate.
It means that all previous plans to escape are invalid.
Qi Qingyu lowered her head and said nothing. She had already talked to her sister today, so there was no need to say anything more now.
Qi Xu opened her mouth but couldn't utter a word for a long time. Her eyes were filled with tears. Her hands trembled as she held her daughter down and nodded uncontrollably.
After seeing off A Niang and little sister, Qi Qinghe lay on the bed, looking at the bright sunlight outside the window, his expression dazed.
Since the Crown Prince was still alive, it must be the Third Prince who was defeated, she guessed secretly, still uncertain in her heart. She decided to wait and see, and only go to Yangzhou City after making sure.
As I was thinking, a belated sleepiness swept over my body and I closed my eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
It was not until someone pushed him that he slowly woke up, and the face of his younger sister Qi Qingyu came into his sight.
Qi Qingyu had a strange look on her face. She pointed downstairs with her slender, white finger and spoke hesitantly, "Sister, go downstairs and take a look."
Qi Qinghe was confused. He stood up, dressed, and hurried downstairs.
Qi Qingyu followed closely behind.
The hall, which was quite bustling at noon, was now silent, and even no one could be seen. The waiter who was coming and going to greet people was nowhere to be found.
Outside the inn, there were circles of soldiers, all armed to the teeth, guarding the inn and preventing anyone from entering or leaving.
Qi Qinghe raised her long, thin eyebrows slightly, and was about to walk out, but was stopped as expected.
The officers and soldiers crossed their spears and blocked the entrance to the inn. "Your Highness has ordered that no one is allowed to leave the inn."
Qi Qinghe blinked, then slowed down her tone and said softly, "Which prince is it?"
"Don't bother with anything." The soldiers guarding the door saw that the girl was a weak and frail little girl, so they didn't say anything and raised the spear in their hands to intimidate her.
Qi Qingyu hurriedly pulled her sister back.
Qi Qinghe's face instantly darkened. The prince was seriously injured and there was no way he could come here at this time.
Could it be the Third Prince?
She turned around and was about to leave, pulling her younger sister back to the room to discuss how to get back to Yangzhou.
At this moment, an urgent voice sounded from behind, calling her.
"My Lady, wait a minute..." Cheng Xi looked at the person from a distance, and ran closer, shouting from a distance, his face flushed with anxiety, "My Lady, please don't worry, please listen to me,"
The guarding officers and soldiers were obviously familiar with her and did not stop her. They just raised their eyes quietly and looked at the girl with curiosity.
Seeing him like this, Qi Qinghe felt relieved, but at the same time, she felt a little angry that this was indeed the case.
Whatever the prince said about letting her go free was just to coax her, and she couldn't believe a word of it.
After a while, Cheng Xi drank two cups of tea before his expression finally softened. "I heard that the Empress was driven out of the city. His Highness was very worried, so he sent me to protect the Empress and take her back to Yangzhou City."
Qi Qinghe remained silent and said nothing. It was true that she also wanted to return to Yangzhou City and travel with the prince, but this was not the way it should be. No matter where she went, there would be people watching her.
She thought she was smart enough to escape, but in fact it was the tacit consent of others. It had always been like this and she had no choice.
Cheng Xi felt uneasy in the silence. After a long while, she pondered the Empress's thoughts and tentatively explained, "Your Highness may have acted inappropriately in the past, but at least he protected me and helped you. Now that His Highness's life is in danger, could you really have the heart to not even look at him?"
Hearing this, Qi Qinghe sneered, "If that's the case, then there's nothing to say."
After saying this, he stood up and saw the guest off.
Cheng Xi cleared his throat a few times and twitched his lips lightly. "My words slipped, please don't blame me, Your Majesty. However, I think Your Majesty knows in her heart that being with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is the best policy."
Being with the prince, she lived a life of luxury, with fine clothes and delicious food, and was served by special people whenever she went out, without having to complain.
It's nothing like these days. I've been running around and can't find peace.
Cheng Xi sighed inwardly. He had said everything he should and shouldn't have said today. If the Empress was still determined to leave, the Crown Prince would probably fulfill his promise and set her free...
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