Chapter 91 Rescue
Once out of the ceremonial guard's sight, Lin Ye sped up like an arrow, no longer taking the flat road, but instead flashing up the artificial hill next to him!
Using the tip of his toes for leverage, he flipped over!
It landed silently, without any pause!
He was familiar with every path in the palace, every shortcut, which was a requirement of the young lady's assessment. All those who entered the palace knew this by heart.
Climb over walls, traverse ridges, and pierce through forests!
His figure moved so fast it almost became a blurry shadow!
Fengzao Palace, a secluded side hall in a remote corner.
The heavy palace doors were tightly shut, and the windows were locked from the outside.
The hall was dimly lit, with only a sliver of the setting sun filtering through the high windows.
Xie Sang stood quietly in the center of the hall. She did not try to knock on the hall door, knowing it would be futile.
Keep her here, and send Ru Chun away...
What's next? Wait for the emperor to personally "rescue" her and solidify her status?
She is waiting.
Waiting for a solution.
She is not a god, nor does she possess divine insight. She cannot predict or see everything clearly. As the saying goes, "He who walks by the river will eventually get his shoes wet," especially in this ruthless imperial society.
She didn't blame herself or suffer internally this time for falling into the trap. There was nothing she could do about it. She had planted so many people in the palace; surely there must be one smart one among them?
Sudden!
A very faint rustling sound came from the window!
It felt like something was gently brushing against the window frame!
Xie Sangning's heart skipped a beat!
She held her breath, her eyes instantly locking onto the source of the sound!
Immediately afterwards—
"Snap!"
The window, which had been locked from the outside, loosened silently, and a crack quietly opened!
A dark figure, like a ghost, silently slipped through the gap!
It landed lightly without making a sound!
The newcomer was dressed in the black light armor of the Imperial Guard; it was none other than Lin Ye!
Seeing Xie Sangning unharmed in the hall, a look of relief flashed in his eyes. Without a word, he knelt on one knee and said in a low voice, "Miss! Eunuch Desheng has sent a message! The side hall of Fengzao Palace! His Majesty's procession is on its way! Please come with me immediately!"
Xie Sangning didn't hesitate at all: "Let's go!"
Lin Ye immediately got up and, without any hesitation, pulled open the window whose outer lock he had broken, leaned out and quickly observed the activity outside.
It was quiet outside; there wasn't a soul in sight.
"Miss, please forgive me!" Lin Ye said in a low voice, extending his arm.
Without hesitation, Xie Sangning grabbed Lin Ye's strong forearm with one hand and lifted the cumbersome hem of her skirt with the other. With his strong support, she nimbly climbed out of the window!
Outside the palace is a secluded corner of the Fengzao Palace's rear garden, where flowers and trees flourish and artificial hills provide shade.
"Time is of the essence! His Majesty's entourage will arrive shortly! Your subordinates will escort the young lady over the west palace wall, where there are gaps in the guard rotations!"
Lin Ye spoke rapidly, his eyes scanning his surroundings warily.
"No way!" Xie Sangning immediately objected. "The ceremonial procession will go through the main gate. The west palace wall is too close to the main gate of Fengzao Palace, and the risk is too great! Besides, you'll be too conspicuous with me, and the noise of you climbing over the wall will be hard to conceal! If we're discovered, neither of us will escape death!"
Her gaze was sharp as lightning, instantly scanning the surrounding environment. Her mind raced: "Lin Ye, go back the way you came! Get back to your post!"
"Remember, once you get back, immediately find a few colleagues on duty and have a casual chat. Make sure at least two or three of them remember that you were near your post the whole time! Create an alibi! Absolutely do not let anyone suspect that you left!"
“But Miss, you…” Lin Ye said anxiously.
"I have a way to escape!"
Xie Sangning interrupted him, her tone resolute, "Staying here will only increase the risk of exposure! Go! That's an order!"
Lin Ye gritted her teeth and nodded emphatically: "Yes! Miss, please be careful!"
Without further hesitation, he flashed forward, just as he had come, silently vaulting over the window again and disappearing behind the artificial hill, then swiftly stealthily making his way back the way he had come.
Xie Sangning didn't pause for a moment. She took a deep breath and fixed her gaze on the vermilion palace wall, which was at least two zhang high, not far away!
There were some pruned dead branches and leaves piled up at the foot of the wall, and next to it was a small Taihu stone rockery.
That's it!
She lifted her skirt and rushed towards the artificial hill without hesitation!
Using the height of the artificial hill as a first stepping stone, they climbed to the top of the artificial hill in just a few moments, using both their hands and feet!
Standing atop the artificial hill, it's still more than half a person's height above the top of the palace wall!
Without the slightest hesitation, Xie Sangning leaped upwards!
He barely managed to grab onto the edge of the palace wall with both hands!
The rough edge of the tile instantly chafed her palm, causing a burning pain!
But she gritted her teeth, strained her waist and abdomen, and forcefully pulled her body upwards!
Finally, her upper body peeked over the palace wall!
The view suddenly opened up, revealing a relatively secluded, narrow passageway outside the wall.
Just as she struggled to lift one leg, preparing to climb over the wall...
"Huh? Who's there?!"
A boy's voice rang out from the other side of the wall!
Xie Sangning's heart sank!
Her movements froze instantly, and she turned her head to look.
Two people were standing outside the wall.
Leading the group was a young man with a noble appearance, dressed in an indigo brocade robe, followed by a servant dressed in the attire of an imperial attendant.
It was none other than the Ninth Prince, Pei Zhi!
Pei Zhi was clearly startled by the woman who suddenly appeared on the top of the palace wall.
He frowned, took a few quick steps forward, and froze when he saw Xie Sangning's face clearly.
"You are... Xie... Princess Jianing?"
Pei Zhi recognized her, after all, the news that Xie Sangning had been granted the title of county princess and summoned by the empress had already spread.
His eyes were filled with confusion. "You...how did you get here? And...and you're still clinging to the wall?"
He simply couldn't understand how this newly promoted county princess, someone whom the Empress had just praised, could appear on the palace wall in such a disheveled state.
This is completely illogical!
Xie Sangning's mind raced!
In a flash, her face was on the verge of tears, her expression one of shock and vulnerability.
Those eyes instantly filled with tears.
"Your...Your Highness..." Her voice was heavy with sobs and trembling, as if she had suffered a great injustice, filled with shock and fear, "Help...Help me! Please, Your Highness, save me!"
Pei Zhi was caught off guard by her sudden tears and instinctively took two steps forward: "Princess Jianing, don't panic! What happened? Why are you here?"
Xie Sangning lay on the cold wall, tears streaming down her face like broken beads, her voice choked with sobs.
"This humble woman...this humble woman doesn't know either! Just now...just now I was changing clothes in Her Majesty the Empress's palace, and somehow I was locked in that side hall! The doors and windows were all locked from the outside! I cried out to heaven and earth, but no one answered!"
"This humble woman...this humble woman was terrified! She thought...she thought something terrible was about to happen! In her panic, she had no choice but to...she had to pry open the window latch and climb out...but...but the wall is too high..."
As she spoke, her body trembled slightly, as if she might collapse from exhaustion at any moment, "This humble woman...this humble woman is so scared...I climbed up...but...but I dare not jump down...Waaah..."
She cried her heart out, perfectly portraying the image of a vulnerable woman filled with fear and helplessness.
Every expression, every tear, perfectly struck a chord with the young prince Pei Zhi's sense of justice and protective instincts.
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