Chapter 155: Escape from Certain Death

Chapter 155: Escape from Certain Death

The room was eerily silent without the sounds of pain. The maid carrying hot water emerged from inside, calmly walking towards him without any rush.

"Has the medicine been boiled?" the maiden asked calmly. "I'll place it outside for now. I'll return after I pour out this water."

"Alright," Ye Jiangbai agreed, even though he didn't understand the connection between pouring water and feeding medicine. Still, he trusted the maiden's judgment and put down the bowl of medicine, waiting in the outer chamber.

However, after a stick of incense had burned, the maiden who went to pour the water showed no sign of returning.

Ye Jiangbai furrowed his brows, sensing that something was amiss. After a moment of thought, he got up to lift the screen dividing the rooms.

The room was empty. A gust of wind blew through the half-open window, swirling around the disheveled bedding before blowing away.

His pupils constricted as Ye Jiangbai called out, "Where is she?!"

No one answered him. Zhao Changnian, who had been writhing in pain just moments ago, had vanished without a sound.

Taking a deep breath, Ye Jiangbai clenched his fists and turned to leave the room.

The small pharmacy was deserted, both in the front and back yards. The basin that the nurse had been holding was now silently placed by the well in the courtyard. The old physician with impaired hearing, who had been in the front hall, had also vanished. The entire clinic was eerily quiet, like a tomb.

Standing in silence for a long time in the front hall, Ye Jiangbai finally let out a mocking laugh.

Very well, very well indeed. Zhao Changnian had deceived him again, tricked him once more! He hadn't been the slightest bit prepared for this cunning escape plan! Not at all!

Was she so confident that he couldn't bear to part with her, so certain that he would fall for this trap?

The medicine bowl on the counter was suddenly swept off and smashed onto the floor with a dull thud, sending medicine residue and fragments flying, creating a thin mist.

Ye Jiangbai's hands trembled, his eyes glowing red. He tried to stride out but stumbled.

"Master!" Liang Ce returned and hurried to support him, frowning as he said, "I've already sent the footman back to send a message. The medicinal ingredients will be here soon. But why did I just see the nurse and physician of this clinic hastily get into a carriage? I called out to them several times, but they pretended not to hear."

"In which direction did they go?" Ye Jiangbai asked coldly.

Liang Ce pointed to the right side of the door. "Towards the West City Gate."

"Send someone to stop that carriage for me!" Ye Jiangbai exclaimed angrily. "If you can't stop it, lock down the Western City Gate!"

"…Yes," Liang Ce replied, still unsure of the situation but obediently carrying out the order.

The desolate street quickly became bustling with activity as soldiers and officials dashed towards the Western City Gate, drawing the attention of the patrons from the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.

"Sir, what's going on?" one of the workers asked.

"We're chasing an escaped criminal!" A familiar officer, who frequently visited the tavern, paused, glanced around, then whispered, "Close up shop early. Don't risk losing everything for a day or two of business. If they don't catch the culprit, your place might be searched too."

Alarmed, the worker hurriedly waved for others to tidy up and slipped a red envelope into the officer's sleeve, smiling apologetically. "The road's already blocked. We'll need your assistance to close up and leave."

"Easy enough," the officer said after weighing the envelope in his sleeve. He waved his hand, allowing those behind him to proceed and then continued, "I'll give you a stick of incense's time to pack up. Follow me when you're done, and I'll escort you out."

"Thank you, sir!"

Chang Nian donned a plain cloth robe and blended in with the kitchen maids, her head lowered as she followed the crowd outside. Qin's brother walked beside her, his voice trembling slightly as he said, "Once we're off this street, you'll have to head for the palace on your own. Can you manage?"

"Please rest assured," Chang Nian replied, pressing her lips together. "I have a plan."

Ye Jiangbai's reaction was swift. Many streets were already under lockdown, making it impossible to exit the city gates. Undoubtedly, there would be troops rushing towards the palace gates as well. Chang Nian had left Delong Street and, with her face covered by a headscarf, leisurely made her way towards Ding Guo Marquis's residence.

Beitang Miao's injuries had healed, but after multiple assassination attempts during his city patrols, Mu Shufang forbade him from going up to the watchtowers anymore. Today, they received a message from Qin Dacheng, instructing them to wait at the side gate of the Beitang Mansion, without specifying the reason. So, Mu Shufang set up a tea stall and began brewing tea for Beitang Miao.

Steam rose from the hot tea, filling the air with an alluring aroma. Mu Shufang elegantly tilted the teapot, her delicate features soft, and her fair wrists like frosty snow.

Beitang Miao thought that if not for the tea being too bitter, he wouldn't mind staying a bit longer.

"It's getting late," he said, rising to his feet. "If we don't receive any news, I'll have to return to the palace."

Mu Shufang looked up at him gently but sternly. "Finish this cup before you leave."

"No need," he replied. "The city is in turmoil. It's not the time for us to idle away drinking tea."

Putting down the teapot, Mu Shufang crossed her arms and lifted her chin. "Do you know how expensive this tea is? Wasting even one cup could feed a group of refugees for half a month! Can a general just leave with a clear conscience?"

Beitang Miao: "…"

So, did she have a clear conscience for brewing such precious tea into something so unpalatable?

Faced with the standoff, Beitang Miao eventually yielded, sitting down and lifting his teacup, frowning as he sipped.

"Mao Shufang, I asked you to drink tea, not wine. Why are you chugging it like that?" Mu Shufang pursed her lips. "Don't you know how to appreciate tea?"

Beitang Miao gave her a look of mixed emotions. "After drinking your Highness's tea last time, I didn't have an appetite for three days."

"Oh?" Mu Shufang was pleased. "Did I brew it too well?"

"No," Beitang Miao frowned without mercy. "It was too bitter."

Women in the capital generally preferred light and fragrant teas, but this one had a peculiar taste for bitter brews. No matter if it was Tieguanyin, Pu'er, or Biluochun, she steeped them all to the point of being unbearably bitter.

Mu Shufang harrumphed softly. "General lacks appreciation. Tea is best when it's bitter. The more bitter it is, the sweeter the aftertaste."

Beitang Miao shook his head, dismissing her reasoning. He set down the teacup, about to leave, when a servant hurriedly entered from outside, whispering, "Young Miss, there's someone acting suspiciously around the side gate. They've been circling twice."

Both occupants of the room tensed up, exchanging a glance before rising to head outside.

Seeing movement at the side gate, Chang Nian breathed a sigh of relief and stepped forward, only to catch sight of Lin Mao and his men approaching from the corner of her eye.

A thud echoed in Chang Nian's heart as she clutched her headscarf tightly and rushed towards the side entrance with her eyes closed.

"Stop!" Lin Mao bellowed, charging forward with his sword drawn.

Beitang Miao had just stepped out and was greeted with this scene. He glanced at the strangely dressed woman and, without hesitation, positioned himself protectively in front of her, facing off against Lin Mao.

"What are you doing, Commander Lin?" he asked coldly.

Behind Lin Mao were over a hundred men, fiercely surrounding the side gate as he sternly declared, "We are here under the Duke of Guo's orders to apprehend a fugitive. I advise General Beitang not to interfere!"