Chapter 303: Eloping
Sun Wei could only travel by carriage.
Although it was not as fast as a horse, Huan Lingxian had no choice but to ride in a carriage. Even if he went ahead, he would not be much faster than her.
Huan Lingxian left secretly.
Yu Yi was in the office every day, and the people there were inevitably lazy, so no one knew about it. However, Sun Wei had sent people to monitor the Yu Mansion and learned about Huan Lingxian's movements before Yu Yi did.
Although what happened today was unexpected, it was also within expectations.
Sun Wei thought that today was a good time to lure the snake out of its hole. She had to know who was supporting Huan Lingxian in the capital.
The carriage drove towards the pier.
It was dusk, and the city gates were about to close. The guards, seeing that it was the Princess of Yuzhang, did not dare to stop her.
When we arrived at the dock, we saw a large ship anchored on the river in the distance, with torches lit on the shore and people boarding the ship.
When they had reached him, Sun Wei was just about to order Zeng Fang to lead his men to arrest Huan Lingxian when he heard someone on the boat shout, "Princess, are you well?"
Sun Wei looked up and saw many archers appearing on the boat, drawing their bows and arrows and aiming at this side.
The person who spoke was Lu Qiuyan, who had been missing for many days.
This was something Sun Wei had not expected.
Firstly, she concluded that Lu Qiuyan had helpers in Jiankang City, so he didn't have to show up in person; secondly, there were many people who wanted to kill him, so he would definitely not go into danger alone.
But he showed up here.
Sun Wei ordered Zeng Fang to step back and got off the carriage himself.
"It turned out to be the Lüqiu Chief Secretary," she said. "The Chief Secretary is indeed in Jiankang."
There was still a gentle smile on Lu Qiuyan's face.
"Thanks to the princess, I am no longer the chief secretary." Lu Qiuyan said, "I was passing through Jiankang and unexpectedly met the princess."
Sun Wei sneered, "Since it's a way, why did you take advantage of it and take Lady Huan with you? I wonder if the Chief Secretary discussed taking Lady Huan away with him before asking Madam Yu to do so?"
There was no trace of anger on Lu Qiuyan's face. She said, "Princess, you are always so straightforward when you speak. It's a pity that I can't stay for long, and it's inconvenient to say more. Farewell."
After he said that, he was about to give the order to set sail.
Sun Wei saw Huan Lingxian right behind Lü Qiuyan and hurriedly said to her, "Lady Huan! Please think of Madam Yu. She just lost her husband and needs companionship right now. How could you bear to abandon her?"
"None of your business is my family's business!" Huan Lingxian shouted. "I don't want to be away from my mother either. Isn't all this thanks to you? If it weren't for you, why would my mother have confined me? Why would she have tried so hard to prevent me from interacting with the Chief Secretary? Why would I have been forced into this desperate situation?"
"I advise you to think twice before you act," Sun Wei said. "Are you really going to abandon your family for Lü Qiuyan? Don't forget, it was he who killed the Duke of Nanjun, and he's also responsible for the death of Young Master Huan. You have an irreconcilable feud with him!"
"Shut up!" Huan Lingxian shouted. "You killed my grandfather, and Huan An killed my father. You, the Prince of Yuzhang, aided and abetted the tyrant and shielded Huan An. You deserve to be cut into pieces!"
She became more and more excited as she spoke and wanted to curse again, but Lu Qiuyan stood in front of her.
"Lingxian," he said gently, "don't fall for this provocation. The princess is discussing this with you not to argue right or wrong, but to buy time until reinforcements arrive. Therefore, we cannot linger any longer and must leave immediately."
Huan Lingxian seemed to have just woken up from a dream and said, "That's quite true."
After that, she no longer paid attention to Sun Wei and gave the order to set off.
Seeing the boat about to leave, Sun Wei became anxious and asked Zeng Fang, "Is there any news from Master Yu and the Crown Prince?"
Zeng Fang said, "I have sent someone to inform Attendant Cao. He knows the seriousness of the matter and will not delay. However, there is no news yet."
Sun Wei was extremely anxious, but she remained calm.
She looked at Lü Qiuyan, who was turning back to the boathouse, and continued, "Does the Chief Secretary think that we can escape unscathed once we reach Jiankang?"
Lu Qiuyan turned around and looked at her.
"Princess, are you saying that the Crown Prince is already waiting for me with his troops ahead?" He smiled. "The Crown Prince has been very busy since returning to the capital this afternoon. He first went to Tang Garden and just went to the Princess's Residence. I'm afraid he won't be able to fulfill your wish."
Sun Wei was startled and just as he was wondering, he heard someone shouting behind him, "Lü Qiuyan, where are you taking my daughter?"
Looking back, he saw a group of people and horses galloping towards him with Yu Fu's carriage.
Before the carriage was stable, Huan Lingxian's mother, Yu, had already lifted the curtain and got out of the carriage.
Yu Yi followed closely behind on horseback and quickly dismounted to help her.
Everyone was shocked.
When Huan Lingxian saw Yu, his face turned pale and he looked frightened.
"Lüqiuyan!" Yu pointed at Lüqiuyan beside Huan Lingxian and cursed, "You heartless beast! My family has treated you well, yet you dared to seduce Lingxian and ruin her reputation? I won't forgive you!"
Lü Qiuyan, with a serious expression, bowed to Lady Yu from afar on the boat and said, "Madam, please understand! I am loyal to Lady Huan and the Lady, and have never done anything wrong. Unfortunately, villains in this world are rampant, confusing right and wrong, causing Lady to suffer endless oppression! I could not bear to sit idly by, so I took bold action. Everything I did was for the Lady, and I beg your forgiveness!"
Hearing this, the hesitation on Huan Lingxian's face immediately disappeared and his expression became firm.
Her eyes were red as she looked at Yu and bowed from a distance, saying, "Mother, I am unfilial! From now on, I will not be able to serve you. Please take care of yourself."
Yu was both angry and anxious, but could do nothing as she watched the boat leave the shore.
She shook off Yu Yi's grasp and ran after the boat, shouting, "Get off! You are the eldest daughter of the Huan family, with a bright future ahead of you. Why would you run away with someone?"
Huan Lingxian tearfully said, "Mother, I don't care about being the eldest daughter of the Huan family. I just want to marry the man I love. I will definitely live a good life with him. Please rest assured, mother."
Yu was furious. She beat her chest and stamped her feet, shouting, "How could you be so foolish? You eloped with him, and he has nothing. How can you have a good life? Get off the boat first and talk things over. Your mother can decide for you which man you want to marry. In this vast world, can't you find a husband who suits you?"
Huan Lingxian looked at her, wanting to say something but stopping herself. But in the end, she didn't say anything.
After bowing again, Huan Lingxian resolutely turned around and walked into the boat house with Lu Qiuyan.
The boat was already in the water, going faster and faster.
Yu shouted Huan Lingxian's name and almost fell into the water if Yu Yi hadn't pulled her back.
Sun Wei watched the boat's direction and said to Yu Yi, "This boat is going upstream. If it hadn't stopped, it would have passed through Yuzhou. Why not ask Governor Yu to set up an ambush in Yuzhou?"
Upon hearing this, Yu wiped away her tears and said to Yu Yi, "That's absolutely true! Send a fast horse to inform your uncle and ask him to take action!"
Yu Yi said, "Don't worry, aunt. I have just sent someone to inform your uncle. However, Lu Qiuyan knows this and I'm afraid he won't pass through Yuzhou."
After hearing this, Madam Yu sat down on the ground and started crying: "What should I do?"
As he was speaking, someone came galloping towards him from a distance.
It was gradually getting dark. When the man got off the horse, Sun Wei could see clearly that it was Yin Wen.
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