Chapter 93 Escape
Granny Gui screamed and was kicked to the ground like a broken sack. She rolled twice before stopping, spitting out a mouthful of blood. She curled up on the ground, but she dared not faint and forced herself to reply.
"This servant...this servant truly doesn't know...the doors and windows...are all locked...there are people watching outside...but...but the princess...she...she's really gone...please spare me...Your Majesty, please spare me..."
Pei Yan's chest heaved violently, clearly he was furious!
He suddenly looked up, his gaze fixed on Empress Xiao Fengyi, who was right behind him and whose face was also deathly pale!
"Empress!" Pei Yan's voice was icy, filled with anger. "Is this the good deed you've done for me?! Right under your nose! In your own palace! Just vanished without a trace?! Tell me! What kind of logic is this?!"
Xiao Fengyi never expected that such a meticulous plan would fail at the last moment!
Xie Sangning! How did she escape?! This is impossible! Granny Gui is her most trusted confidante; she would never dare to betray her! The doors and windows were locked, and there were guards outside…
There's no way she, a woman, could have broken through the doors and windows to escape! Even if she had, the people guarding outside aren't deaf; how could they not hear her!
Facing the emperor's almost murderous gaze, Xiao Fengyi suppressed the anger of being fooled. Her face instantly filled with panic, self-blame, and grievance. She knelt down with a thud, her voice trembling:
"Your Majesty, please calm down! Your Majesty, please calm down! It's all my fault! I failed to manage my subordinates properly! I failed to protect the Princess! I am guilty! I deserve to die ten thousand times over!"
She kowtowed deeply, her posture extremely humble, "But...but I...I really don't know...how could the princess...she..."
She raised her head, her eyes brimming with tears, and looked at the enraged emperor. Her voice was filled with urgency and worry: "Your Majesty! The most urgent matter is to find the County Princess immediately! She's a frail woman, and to suddenly disappear in this deep palace... what if... what if something terrible happened to her..."
"Then...then I would rather die a hundred times than atone for it! I cannot face the General of the State and the people of the world! I beg Your Majesty to immediately issue an edict to seal the palace gates and thoroughly investigate the palace! You must...you must ensure that the Princess is safe and sound!"
These words, seemingly heartfelt and expressing concern for the county princess's safety, were actually telling the emperor that as long as they went to find her now, and as long as Xie Sangning hadn't left the palace, there was still a chance!
Upon hearing this, Pei Yan's anger subsided.
"Hmph!" Pei Yan snorted coldly, then abruptly flicked his sleeves and roared at the guards behind him:
"Are you all deaf?! Didn't you hear the Empress?! Immediately seal all palace gates! No one is allowed to enter or leave! Mobilize all Imperial Guards and Imperial Bodyguards!"
"Search every inch of the palace, inside and out! Also, every palace and hall, every suspicious corner—leave no stone unturned! Find her for me! Now! Immediately!"
"As you command!" The guard commander immediately obeyed and left.
After making the arrangements, Pei Yan's face was gloomy. He paced back and forth anxiously at the entrance of the side hall, his hands behind his back.
The cooked duck just flew away like that!
While chaos reigned in the palace, outside the palace gates, beside the Xihua Gate...
Under the protection of Pei Zhi and his servant Xiao Anzi, Xie Sangning avoided several groups of hurried palace servants and arrived at the relatively secluded Xihua Gate without any major incidents.
The guards were somewhat surprised to see the Ninth Prince personally escorting a woman out, but they dared not ask any questions or obstruct the process. They respectfully opened the side door.
"Princess, please get in the carriage." Xiao Anzi cleverly lifted the carriage curtain.
Xie Sangning stopped and turned around to face the young prince before her.
She slightly bent her knees and gave Pei Zhi a deep bow, her posture dignified and solemn.
"Your subject thanks Sang Ning and Your Highness for saving my life today! If it weren't for Your Highness's chivalrous heart and timely assistance, I would probably be in grave danger today."
She paused, her voice tinged with lingering fear, "Your Highness's kindness is like a second life. I will forever remember this kindness and righteousness!"
Pei Zhi was a little embarrassed by Xie Sangning's earnest thanks. Two blushes appeared on his handsome face. He quickly waved his hand, trying to appear mature and composed, but the youthful spirit in his tone was impossible to hide.
"Your Highness, you flatter me! It is the true nature of a man to help those in need when he sees injustice! Especially not with such... such despicable tricks!"
He recalled the incident of the side hall being locked, and was still indignant. "Princess, rest assured, I will definitely report this matter to my father and get justice for you! We must not let those villains get away with it!"
Xie Sangning chuckled inwardly. "Going after your father? He's probably furious by now."
Seeing Pei Zhi's heroic demeanor, as if he would shoulder any burden even if the sky were to fall, Xie Sangning understood that this Ninth Prince was kind-hearted.
In this cannibalistic era, this is truly rare.
She sighed inwardly, a grateful smile appearing on her face, and curtsied again: "Your Highness's noble character is truly admirable."
"However... this matter involves the inner palace, and Your Highness's status is extremely high. I earnestly hope that Your Highness... will prioritize your own safety and not offend those who should not be offended because of my daughter..."
Her words were brief and to the point.
Hearing these words of concern, Pei Zhi felt even warmer inside, feeling that his chivalrous act today was absolutely right!
He straightened his chest and said loudly, "Princess, there's no need to worry about me! I know what I'm doing! You should go back to your residence and calm your nerves. Another day... another day, this prince will visit you again to see if you are well!"
The boy's thoughts carried a hint of intimacy that he himself was unaware of.
"Your Highness's kindness is deeply appreciated by this humble woman."
Xie Sangning bowed again, and then, with Xiao Anzi's help, gracefully and swiftly boarded the carriage.
Before the carriage curtain fell, she took one last look at the figures of the master and servant outside the palace gate, nodded slightly to Pei Zhi, and looked at him with complicated emotions.
"Take care, Your Highness," she said softly.
"Princess, please slow down!"
Pei Zhi smiled and waved, watching the carriage slowly start and drive into the streets outside the palace as dusk deepened, disappearing from sight.
He stood there, savoring the heroic act of rescuing the damsel in distress, feeling a surge of pride in his heart, as if he had truly become a chivalrous young knight-errant from a storybook, and even the cold wind felt exceptionally refreshing.
"Your Highness, shall we go back too?" Xiao Anzi whispered a reminder, also feeling that it was not advisable to stay here any longer.
"Um!"
Pei Zhi responded with high spirits, then turned and walked towards his own palace with Xiao Anzi in tow. His steps were light and quick, and he was completely unaware that he had ruined his father's plan!
Phoenix Palace.
Time ticked by, grinding against everyone's nerves.
Teams of guards wandered around the palace like headless flies, searching, questioning, and searching everywhere.
The palace maids and eunuchs were gathered together and kept under guard; they were all ashen-faced.
The atmosphere at the entrance of the side hall was extremely oppressive.
Pei Yan's face grew increasingly gloomy.
His patience is running out quickly!
"Useless! A bunch of useless trash!"
"The entire palace is only so big! A living person! Could she just vanish into thin air?! Keep searching! Dig three feet into the ground and find her! If you can't find her, you will all come to me with your heads!"
"Yes...yes! Your Majesty!" The guard was so frightened that he scrambled out of the room.
Just then, a young eunuch appeared beside Granny Gui and whispered a few words quickly into her ear.
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