Chapter 54 Escape II “Rongrong, let’s wed.”

Chapter 54: Escape (Part 2)

"Rongrong, let's get married."

Yue Rongrong was stunned. "Sister Peilan just arrived and only came to treat your illness. She's never made any enemies. Who would kidnap her?" Her angry expression suddenly froze, her words abruptly cut short.

Master Pan was equally frantic. Seeing her sudden change in expression, he quickly asked, "Have you thought of something, Miss?"

A frightening thought crossed her mind. She instinctively denied it, lowering her voice to ask, "You said you heard a man's voice first, and then the sound of Sister Peilan being kidnapped?"

Master Pan nodded vigorously and asked, "Should we report this to the authorities now?"

Gu Yu immediately said, "Miss, let's inform the Marquis! The criminals are utterly lawless! How dare they commit such crimes right under the Emperor's nose!"

Yue Rongrong's heart raced. Her expression hardened as she looked at Master Pan. "Master Pan, rest assured, I will bring Sister Peilan back."

With that, she turned and left. "To the Ministry of Justice!"

The carriage stopped, and Yue Rongrong stepped out, only to bump into an old man wearing a conical hat. She quickly steadied him, but when he slightly raised his head, she turned pale with shock.

It was Qu Lieshan!

She stood frozen until Hui Yin called out to her, snapping her back to reality.

"Miss, let's go in."

But Yue Rongrong pressed her temples, feigning a headache. "I... I suddenly have a headache. Let's find a physician first."

Hui Yin and Gu Yu immediately helped her back into the carriage and took her to a nearby clinic.

The doctor led her into the consultation room, where she found an excuse to send Hui Yin and Gu Yu away.

She then made another excuse to use the clinic's restroom. When she reached the backyard, she saw Qu Lieshan flash from the side and pull her into an apothecary room.

Before Yue Rongrong could speak, Qu Lieshan grasped her hand urgently. "Rongrong, the Ministry of Justice has discovered my whereabouts. We must leave immediately!"

Despite the desperate situation, Yue Rongrong suddenly became calm.

Seeing her calmness, Qu Lieshan slowly released her hand, looking at her with disappointment as he stepped back.

"After all, you can't bring yourself to leave Shen Jichen, can you? Was the three-day promise just a lie to placate me?" He let out a bitter laugh. "Forget it. You don't have to give up a promising future for me. Leaving with me will never compare to staying with Shen Jichen. I'll leave on my own tonight."

A sharp pain pierced Yue Rongrong's heart. His desolate expression almost killed her. She hurriedly said, "No, it's not that I can't let go. It's just... just that Sister Peilan is missing. Just now, at the Ministry of Justice entrance, I was going to ask him for help to find her."

Qu Lieshan retorted, "You still go to him! How do you know he didn't send people to kidnap Peilan? To control you, just like he controls me to restrain you! Think carefully—has he been acting strangely lately?"

Yue Rongrong's pupils dilated abruptly. She frowned and remained silent.

He continued, "Shen Jichen is despicable and shameless! First, he deceived you, then he kept you under house arrest. After that, his mother's actions toward you and me are too numerous to list! We've suffered so much because of it. Do you still want to stay by his side?"

Yue Rongrong looked at him but asked, "Sister Peilan is missing. Aren't you worried at all?"

Qu Lieshan's expression faltered. He hurriedly explained, "Of course I'm worried. But Peilan has no enemies in the capital. Who would harm her? If Shen Jichen really kidnapped her, she'll be safer once you leave. If it's not because of you, she might just be lost somewhere. After we leave the capital, we can wait nearby for news. Once we confirm she's safe, we can leave the capital for good."

After a long silence, Yue Rongrong looked at him, her gaze calm and distant. Finally, under his increasingly anxious eyes, she nodded.

Qu Lieshan let out a long sigh of relief. "Then we'll leave tonight."

Yue Rongrong said, "I'll ask the Grand Princess for help. She promised to help me leave. With her assistance, we should be able to leave unscathed."

Qu Lieshan suddenly frowned. "The Grand Princess? Can she be trusted? She hurt you so much in the past."

"All she did was to make me leave Shen Jichen. Now that I'm asking to leave willingly, she'll naturally help."

Seeing her determined expression, Qu Lieshan said nothing more. "Then I'll wait for you at the abandoned house."

"You said your whereabouts were discovered. Is the abandoned house still safe?" Yue Rongrong's eyes gleamed as she looked at Qu Lieshan.

Qu Lieshan replied, "They would never expect me to return there, so it's safe."

Outside, the voice of a young female assistant could be heard, likely coming to look for her since she had been gone so long. Yue Rongrong hurried out. "I'm here."

When she got into the carriage, she caught a glimpse of Qu Lieshan in his conical hat flashing by. Her panicked heart finally settled slightly.

"Miss, you still don't look well. Let's ask the imperial physician to see you when we return," Hui Yin said, handing her a cup of tea.

Yue Rongrong shook her head. "No need. I'll be fine after some rest. Don't mention today's events to the Marquis, lest he worry."

Hui Yin and Gu Yu exchanged glances but still said, "Then if you feel unwell, Miss, you must tell us immediately."

Yue Rongrong was distracted and didn't quite catch their words. She nodded absently, still thinking about how to meet the Grand Princess. Going to see her rashly would surely alert Shen Jichen.

Just as she was fretting, the carriage stopped in front of the Marquis's residence. As she stepped out, the gatekeeper hurried forward to inform her, "Miss, the Grand Princess and Miss Meng are here."

Hui Yin immediately looked at Yue Rongrong, who was also stunned.

"Miss, should we avoid them? Let's return after the Marquis is back," Hui Yin suggested. She had seen the Grand Princess's harsh demeanor toward Yue Rongrong and found it truly frightening.

Avoid them? How could they? Yue Rongrong had been worrying about how to see the Grand Princess, and now she had come on her own. Yue Rongrong sighed softly and said with feigned profundity, "You can avoid the first day, but not the fifteenth."

Gu Yu had her own interpretation and brightened. "What the Miss says is right. An ugly daughter-in-law must eventually face her in-laws, let alone someone as beautiful as you."

"......" Yue Rongrong's face darkened. After a moment of silence, she said, "Let's go in."

Entering the front hall, Yue Rongrong saw the Grand Princess seated imposingly at the head of the room. Meng Jiayan sat slightly below her, smiling faintly at Yue Rongrong.

Yue Rongrong stepped forward and, given the presence of others, properly paid her respects to the Grand Princess. She then looked meaningfully at the Grand Princess.

The Grand Princess turned to Meng Jiayan and said gently, "Jia Yan, go to the kitchen and take the medicine we brought. Give careful instructions to the Chef."

Meng Jiayan stood and bowed. "Yes." She turned to Hui Yin and Gu Yu and said, "Please lead the way. I'd also like to instruct the two of you on this matter."

Hui Yin and Gu Yu dared not disobey. They bowed and withdrew.

The Grand Princess looked at Meng Jiayan with admiration. "What do you think of Jia Yan?"

Yue Rongrong understood her implication and replied honestly, "She's very good."

The Grand Princess smiled faintly. "Jia Yan is the legitimate daughter of the Meng family, noble and dignified. She is the one who matches Piao Yao, not you. Once trapped in a lowly status, you would only be a stain on Piao Yao."

Her leisurely words were like a sharp needle piercing Yue Rongrong's heart. She gasped, her face pale, and stared coldly at the Grand Princess. "Then I must thank the Grand Princess. It's all thanks to you."

The Grand Princess smiled gracefully. "I don't understand what you're saying. Do you have something to tell me?" She seemed unwilling to waste words with her.

Yue Rongrong also had no desire to prolong the conversation. "I want to leave tonight."

The Grand Princess laughed softly. "I heard Qu Lieshan has escaped. I thought you might come to me for help." She lifted her eyes to Yue Rongrong, the smile fading from her gaze as she stared coldly at her. "Have you decided? To leave?"

"Yes," Yue Rongrong said resolutely.

For some reason, hearing her so resolute, the Grand Princess felt a strange surge of anger—an anger born out of indignation for her Piao Yao. Her Piao Yao was utterly devoted to this woman, yet she was so heartless and ungrateful. Though she was the one who most desired Yue Rongrong to leave Piao Yao, she still found herself furious at this moment.

But it was only a fleeting emotion. She quickly regained her composure and laid out a thorough plan: "Tonight, someone will be waiting inside the estate to assist you. You need not worry about anything; just follow him. He will safely escort you and Qu Lieshan out of the capital."

Yue Rongrong asked uncertainly, "Can I trust you?"

The Grand Princess laughed. "What a foolish question. If it were Jia Yan, she would never ask such a thing. To rescue Qu Lieshan, what other choice do you have but to trust me? Even if I were to use this to harm you, what could you do about it?"

Indeed, what could she do? Yue Rongrong was at the point of no return—she had no choice but to trust her. Yet, she felt a pang of frustration that the Grand Princess took the opportunity to praise Meng Jiayan once again.

Everything seemed prepared. She did not bid farewell to Zhong Yu, partly because Zhong Yu was in the palace and difficult to meet, and partly because meeting her before leaving might implicate her unnecessarily. Instead, she wrote a farewell letter, detailing the entire story from beginning to end—the causes and consequences. She went to Jinxiu Tower and handed it to Aunt Ming, asking her to pass it on to Zhong Yu.

Aunt Ming looked at her and said, "I knew you wouldn't stay long in the capital."

Aunt Ming had long seen through the ways of the world and held no attachments to anyone or anything. Even though she had once saved Yue Rongrong and helped her, learning now that she was leaving, Aunt Ming remained indifferent.

Yue Rongrong did not meet anyone else, including Mr. Jimo and Xue Yubai. She did not want to cause them trouble or let more people notice anything amiss and complicate matters.

She returned to the Marquis' estate and waited for Shen Jichen to come back. She tried to act as usual, but when the moon rose and Shen Jichen still hadn't returned, she grew anxious and sent Hui Yin to check at the Ministry of Justice several times. Each time, Hui Yin returned with the same report: the marquis was still busy.

Yue Rongrong couldn't wait any longer. Afraid she might not see Shen Jichen before leaving, she thought of going to the Ministry of Justice to find him. But as she reached the gate, she worried that leaving might cause her to miss the person arranged by the Grand Princess. Her heart was in her throat, torn between advancing and retreating.

Just then, she heard the servants greeting someone. Her dim eyes instantly brightened, as if stars had poured into them, and she saw Shen Jichen walking into the courtyard. Moonlight spilled behind him, cold and reserved.

He saw her and stopped, standing tall and gazing at her from a distance, lost in thought. Yue Rongrong suppressed the sorrow in her heart and rushed over, stopping just before him. Only when he opened his arms did her nose sting with emotion. She stepped forward and embraced him. He was tall, and her head only reached his chest. Hearing his steady heartbeat, her eyes welled up with tears.

"Why are you back so late?" she cooed, just like she used to.

He held her and asked softly, "Something came up. Did you have something to tell me?"

Yue Rongrong's smile stiffened. She shook her head. "I was just worried about your health."

Shen Jichen fell silent. After a moment, Yue Rongrong asked softly, "I haven't eaten yet. Have you?"

He took her hand and led her to the flower hall.

They sat at the table, the atmosphere somewhat stagnant. Yue Rongrong said playfully, "It's all because you came back so late. The food has gone cold."

Shen Jichen looked at her and asked, "Are you sure there's nothing you want to tell me?"

Yue Rongrong paused. "What?" she feigned innocence. "There's nothing."

Shen Jichen's deep, unfathomable eyes fixed on her. "Do you know why I was late tonight?"

"...Why?"

He said calmly, "Qu Lieshan has disappeared."

Yue Rongrong accidentally knocked over the wine cup beside her. Flustered for a moment, she realized her reaction was inappropriate and immediately grew tense. "How could he disappear? Wasn't he locked up in prison?"

Shen Jichen, suppressing his emotions to the extreme, said, "He might come looking for you. If you see him, tell me, Rongrong. After all, he saved you. I won't make things difficult for him." He added, "I will find a good place for him, ensuring he lives worry-free for the rest of his life."

Yue Rongrong was almost moved, nearly blurting out the truth. But in the end, she lowered her eyes, forced a smile, and looked up with curved eyes. "Yes, if he comes to me, I'll tell you." She didn't even realize how off her attitude was, only wanting to go along with what Shen Jichen said.

Shen Jichen's heart sank bit by bit, as if falling into an icy abyss. He looked at the wine cup Yue Rongrong handed him, laughed lightly to hide the mockery in his eyes, took the cup, and gazed at her. Softly, he said, "Rongrong, let's get married."

Yue Rongrong was stunned.

Shen Jichen looked deeply into her eyes and said, "I will ask the emperor to bestow us a marriage. Rongrong, you will be my only wife."

Like a gambler who had staked everything and lost it all, Yue Rongrong felt her heart wrench with despair. As if afraid she might waver, she desperately thought of Qu Lieshan—his situation, the suffering he had endured all these years. She raised her wine cup to Shen Jichen and said with a charming smile, "Then let's toast, alright?"

Shen Jichen's hand, which had been reaching for his waist, paused. There, against his body, lay his most precious possession. In the end, he moved his hand away, looked at Yue Rongrong, and drained his cup expressionlessly.

The harsh wine felt like a blade slicing through his throat, cutting through his organs, bringing unbearable pain.

Yue Rongrong watched Shen Jichen's sleeping face, and the tears she had been holding back finally streamed down. She quickly wiped them away. She and Shen Jichen were ultimately not meant to be. He said he wanted to marry her as his only wife, and she was overjoyed, but she knew the Grand Princess would never accept her. She couldn't abandon Qu Lieshan either, and there was also Sister Peilan... The Grand Princess was right. Shen Jichen's wife could be any noble lady, but not a woman who had once been of low status, no matter how innocent she was.

She looked at Shen Jichen, leaned down, and gently pressed her lips to his. Closing her eyes, she rose resolutely and left without looking back.

The moment she closed the door, Shen Jichen slowly opened his eyes, coldness filling them. He got up, brushed away a tear from the corner of his eye, and his expression turned icy and determined. Wen Song appeared in the room somehow and stood silently by his side.

＊＊

The Grand Princess had indeed made thorough preparations. The Grand Princess's agent met up with her and Qu Lieshan and smoothly saw them out of the city.

Everything went surprisingly smoothly, unnervingly calm.

The Grand Princess's agent took them to a post station thirty li (about 15 kilometers) outside the city. He said the drug would keep the marquis asleep until noon the next day, and no one would expect them to boldly stay at a post station.

Seeing Yue Rongrong looking exhausted and pale, Qu Lieshan couldn't bear to make her travel through the night. They decided to rest at the post station and leave at daybreak.

But Yue Rongrong asked him, "Aren't we going to hide and wait for news from Sister Peilan?"

They sat in the room, candlelight illuminating their faces, familiar yet strangely distant.

Qu Lieshan looked at her. "Peilan will be fine. Shen Jichen wants to use her to threaten you; he won't harm her."

Yue Rongrong said softly, "Piao Yao naturally wouldn't harm her, because you were the one who captured Sister Peilan."

Qu Lieshan's face stiffened, and he suddenly grew angry. "Who told you that? Was it Shen Jichen? He's framing me!"

Yue Rongrong said calmly, "I didn't tell Piao Yao that Sister Peilan was missing. That day, when I went to the Ministry of Justice, it was just for show. I wanted to see if you would come out to stop me."

Qu Lieshan looked at her in disbelief. "You were testing me? Rongrong, you were testing me? You don't trust me?" He was deeply hurt. "If that's the case, why did you still leave with me?"

"Because I don't want anything to happen to Sister Peilan, and I don't want anything to happen to you either." Yue Rongrong looked at him sorrowfully. "Master Pan said he heard a man's voice, followed by the sound of dishes breaking, but he never heard Sister Peilan call for help. I suspected it might be someone she knew."

She looked at Qu Lieshan. "Sister Peilan doesn't know any outsiders in the capital. She hasn't even met Shen Jichen. Every time Peilan was mentioned, your expression changed. When you found out I was going to bid her farewell, she disappeared. Brother Qu, you didn't want Sister Peilan to know I was leaving with you because you were afraid she might tell me something she shouldn't, right?"

Since meeting Ge Peilan, Yue Rongrong had felt she always had something left unsaid around her. With Qu Lieshan acting this way, she couldn't help but overthink.

Qu Lieshan took a deep breath, his expression grave, as if recalling something from long ago. After a long while, he said solemnly, "Rongrong, I did all this for you." He continued calmly, "Ge Peilan isn't as good as you think. Back then, she approached you under the Grand Princess's orders. They wanted to completely ruin you. But don't worry, even so, I let Ge Peilan go because you care about her. I'm not like Shen Jichen; I would never do anything to hurt you."

Yue Rongrong was confused. "If Sister Peilan works for the Grand Princess, why didn't she seek the Grand Princess's help when she came to the capital? If she works for the Grand Princess, how could she not know Shen Jichen? She even advised me to let go of the past and live well. Isn't that contradictory?"

Qu Lieshan looked at her, his eyes dim. "I don't know what tricks she's playing now, Rongrong. I know you don't want to leave. Now that we're out of the capital, if you want to return, I won't stop you."

These words stirred Yue Rongrong's guilt again. She quickly explained, "I'm not reluctant. Since we've left, let's go together."

A smile appeared in Qu Lieshan's eyes. "Just like before, we'll rely on each other for survival. Rongrong, I've sacrificed so much for you, only to keep you away from those who would harm you and ensure your safety and peace."

The word "sacrifice" pinned Yue Rongrong down. She owed Qu Lieshan for a lifetime, and she only hoped he could live peacefully for the rest of his days. She smiled brightly and said, "Then, Brother Qu, let's find a place with beautiful mountains and clear waters to settle down, and then find you a wife."

There it was again—the same words she had playfully said when he took her away from Hangzhou. As if finding him a wife would erase her guilt, her remorse, and set her free.

Qu Lieshan smiled. "Rest early. We'll leave at daybreak."

He did not leave, stood guard outside Yue Rongrong's door all night.

Before daybreak, he knocked and woke Yue Rongrong. They hurried to the lobby to check out and leave, only to find the courtyard an eerie quiet—even the waitstaff and stablehands were nowhere to be seen. Passing the kitchen, they saw not a soul, only steam rising from the stoves and the aroma of food drifting through the air.

Qu Lieshan's heart sank with a sense of foreboding. Gripping Yue Rongrong's hand, he quickened his pace. When they reached the lobby, both froze in shock.

The once bustling hall was now dead silent; the esteemed official guests from the day before stood trembling off to the side. A group of soldiers in fitted uniforms had surrounded the entire room.

Holding Yue Rongrong's hand, Qu Lieshan slowly walked forward, his wary gaze sweeping over each soldier before finally landing on Shen Jichen's face—cold and stern—as he sat upright in the main hall.

Shen Jichen's eyes were fixed on their intertwined hands, his gaze bone-chillingly cold.

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Author's note: Shen Jichen vs. Qu Lieshan: It's kill or be killed.