Listen well everyone. The authorities are searching for a dangerous criminal. Anyone who dares to shelter an enemy of the imperial court will be executed without mercy. Those who provide information will receive a generous reward.
The leading official shouted loudly as he struck a gong.
Walking ahead of him was a man of striking appearance.
He had a fair, handsome face and wore robes of fine silk, carrying himself with extraordinary grace and dignity.
Shen Ying glanced at him only once before quickly looking away and turning to slip into a nearby alley.
It was none other than an Embroidered Uniform Guard.
The Embroidered Uniform Guard held a special position within the capital, possessing the authority to execute first and report afterward. They rarely left the city, so why had one appeared in this remote small town? Could it be because of the young prince?
For a moment, Shen Ying held the child in her arms tightly, not daring even to breathe too loudly.
Wei Jinhu watched the scene unfold, frowning slightly. What is this all about?
Shen Ying shot him a sharp look. Curiosity kills the cat. If you still wish to have enough to eat and warm clothes to wear, keep your mouth shut. Remember this well: no matter what happens, even if the sky falls down, this child is yours.
Wei Jinhu looked utterly confused, yet nodded instinctively.
Shen Ying placed the young prince into his arms without hesitation. We will separate and go our own ways for now. Listen carefully: return to our small courtyard immediately. If anyone asks about me, tell them I have run off with a lover.
Before she could finish speaking, seeing that the group of people in the distance were drawing ever closer, she turned and ran off in the opposite direction.
Wei Jinhu stood there holding the young prince, gazing at Shen Ying’s retreating figure and sinking deep into thought.
After a long while, Chunya spoke up in a cautious voice. Let us leave first. Those people are coming this way again.
Though she was still very young, she did not fully understand what was happening, she could clearly tell that these were people not to be trifled with.
Wei Jinhu snapped back to his senses. The sight of these armed men made his body tense up involuntarily; after all, he had blood on his hands from past deeds, and the mere presence of government officials naturally filled him with fear.
He forced himself to remain calm and cleared his throat. Remember this: if you want to have enough food, warm clothing, and never go hungry or suffer from the cold, you had better behave yourselves.
After issuing this warning, he turned and walked away in another direction while still holding the child.
Meanwhile, Shen Ying hid in a concealed spot, watching as Wei Jinhu and the Embroidered Uniform Guard passed by one another without incident. Only then did she let out a long breath of relief.
What should she do now?
She had met this man only once before, by chance.
She had no way of knowing whether he had come here specifically to search for the young prince.
Yet if they were to come face to face, he would surely discover that the young prince was within the boundaries of this county town.
No, that must not happen. The Imperial Noble Consort had once saved her life, and she must protect the young prince at all costs.
What was her next move?
She would have to leave the city first.
Even if these men had come for the sole purpose of finding the young prince, leading them away from the city would still be a worthwhile move.
Having made up her mind, Shen Ying put on her veil and turned to head toward another city gate.
At present, anyone entering or leaving the town was required to pay a fee.
Spotting two beggars not far away, her eyes lit up with an idea. She hurried toward them, deliberately stumbling as she passed through a patch of muddy ground, covering her clothes and body in dirt and grime.
Inside the alley, a group of beggars had gathered together, discussing where they should go next to beg for food.
When Shen Ying suddenly appeared before them, all of them looked over at her with wary expressions.
Please do not misunderstand me. I have been left with no other choice. I used to be a servant girl in a wealthy household, but now my masters intend to beat me to death. I wish to leave the town, yet I have no money. Is there any other way you can help me?
Leave the town.
Upon hearing those words, the beggars looked at her with undisguised disdain.
Have you lost your mind, girl? The lands outside these walls are filled with refugees. With your delicate skin and soft frame, you will surely be captured and sold into servitude the moment you step outside. You would do well to think this through carefully.
That is exactly right. You have spent your days working in the homes of the wealthy and know nothing of the hardships of ordinary life. Everywhere you look now there are displaced people struggling to survive, and you will never make it out there on your own.
Though their words were rough, their meaning was true and sensible.
It was clear they were speaking out of concern for Shen Ying’s safety.
Shen Ying pressed her handkerchief to the corner of her eyes, and with the help of a strong dose of ginger juice, tears began to flow freely at will. I truly have no other choice. The young master of the house tried to force me to become his concubine, and the young mistress wishes to kill me. If I do not run away now, I will surely lose my life. I do have some money with me. I beg you, please help me. I dare not pass through the official city gates, for I fear the young mistress’s men will catch me and drag me back.
Trembling slightly, she pulled out several strings of copper coins from her clothing and held them out.
As long as you help me leave the town, any path will do, no matter how hidden or difficult. Once I am safely out, all of this money will be yours.
The copper coins clinked together, producing a sound that was pleasing to the ear.
The eyes of the beggars lit up with a bright, eager light.
Are you certain you are willing to give all of this to us?
Of course I am. There were too many beggars in the area I just came from, and I worried there would not be enough to share among them. But there are only four of you here, which is just right. Each of you will receive one hundred copper coins.
The four beggars glanced at one another, exchanging silent looks of understanding.
Very well, we will take you out. But let us make this clear: the path we will take is a secret tunnel we dug ourselves, and you must never speak of it to anyone else.
That is wonderful news! I finally have a chance to survive. I beg you, please take me there at once.
A secret tunnel.
No one could have known just how overjoyed Shen Ying felt upon hearing those words.
Every group in society has its own hidden ways and means of getting things done, and she had clearly chosen the right people to turn to.
Though these beggars appeared to be the lowest and most despised people in the entire county town, they had their own methods of staying alive; otherwise, they would never have managed to survive through these troubled times.
In fact, these four beggars were people she had carefully selected.
Though their clothing was tattered and worn, their eyes were bright and alert, and most importantly, they had strong, sturdy builds.
It was obvious at a glance that they were no ordinary beggars.
Shen Ying followed closely behind them as they twisted and turned through the streets, eventually arriving before the ruins of an old, abandoned residence.
They pushed open the courtyard gate, revealing a yard overgrown with wild weeds and grass.
One of the beggars walked to the front of the group, moving with practiced familiarity as he approached the remains of an old well. I will go first, and the two of you will bring up the rear…
With those words, he jumped straight down into the well.
Shen Ying stepped forward to look inside and realized that this was actually a dry well, only tall enough to reach the height of an average person.
Just as she had suspected.
Shen Ying put on an expression of fear and trepidation, allowing the two beggars to support her as she jumped down into the well as well.
Who would have imagined that beneath the open sky in this dilapidated courtyard lay such a hidden and carefully crafted passage?
Beneath the old well stretched a long secret tunnel, and hidden mechanisms had been installed all along its length.
As if worried that Shen Ying might doubt their words, one of the beggars muttered in a tone of annoyance. Members of my family have been skilled in this kind of work for generations. We put in tremendous effort and hard work to build this passage. You had better listen closely: if you dare to tell anyone else about this place, we will make sure you pay with your life.
We beggars also want to stay alive. We built this because we worry that one day the county magistrate might suddenly decide to round up and kill every beggar in the area. You had better not let your mind wander to other ideas.
The beggars spoke one after another, their explanations vague and lacking in detail.
In their eyes, Shen Ying was nothing more than a simple servant girl from a wealthy household, lacking in experience and knowledge, and easy to deceive with just a few words.
Shen Ying’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, and just as they had expected, her body trembled visibly, appearing completely terrified. She dared not ask any more questions, instead following silently behind them in silence.
This tunnel seemed to stretch on endlessly.
All around them was pitch black darkness, so deep that one could not see their own hand held out in front of their face.
Along the way, Shen Ying could only make her way forward with great difficulty, relying on the walls of the tunnel to guide her steps. She did not know how much time had passed, but just as she was on the verge of complete exhaustion, a faint glimmer of light finally appeared in the distance.
We have finally made it out. It has been ages since anyone walked through this tunnel, and I am completely worn out.
One by one, the group emerged from the secret passage.
The sudden burst of bright light made it difficult for Shen Ying to adjust her vision immediately, and she instinctively closed her eyes for a moment.