Chapter 24

Chapter 24

From then on, I hid in the underground tunnel of Ci’en Temple.

It was pitch black here, making it impossible to tell the time.

I didn’t know exactly how long had passed, but it must have been several days.

During this time, Meng Huaiqing went out several times.

Each time he returned, he brought me hot water and food, and updated me on the situation outside.

Cheng Wei and the people from the Marquis Manor were still searching the vicinity. They had already scoured Ci’en Temple inside and out several times.

…

One day, I was sleeping when I was suddenly shaken awake.

The candlelight was blinding.

Meng Huaiqing was half-kneeling before me. Seeing that I was awake, he handed me a water skin.

“Madam, we have to leave.”

I took a sip of water, feeling my body warm up significantly, and asked him, “How long have I been here?”

Meng Huaiqing helped me sit up and replied, “Four days and one night.”

“That long?” I rubbed my eyes. “Then next, we should be leaving the Capital City, right?”

Meng Huaiqing shook his head. “No, you must return to Chang’an.”

I was stunned, resisting the idea from the bottom of my heart. “Why? Wouldn’t going back be like walking straight into the lion’s den?”

Meng Huaiqing smiled. He turned around and pulled out a bundle, taking out some old clothes and a grey-haired wig. He looked at me and said, “No, this is called finding life in the midst of death.”

“The Marquis and Lord Cheng would never imagine you’d dare return to Chang’an. I rented a house in Yankang Ward in the west of the city a while ago; I originally intended to bring my mother there to live. It’s right next to the West Market, filled with merchants and outsiders. Trade is booming, and the soldiers don’t go there.”

“Most importantly…” Meng Huaiqing arched an eyebrow. “The Marquis has a grudge against the Chang’an County Captain, Song Yan. If he tries to search for someone in Yankang Ward with great fanfare, he’ll bound to alarm Song Yan and won’t get any advantage.”

Song Yan?

That name sounded so familiar, as if I had heard it somewhere before.

Meng Huaiqing asked, “How about it, Madam? Can we leave now?”

I thought it over carefully. Relying on myself, I likely would have been caught the very day I tried to run. It was only because of Meng Huaiqing that I had successfully escaped and survived these extra days.

There was no better choice at the moment, so I decided to take a gamble and trust Meng Huaiqing.

“Fine! We go back to Chang’an!”