To the right of the Prince of Han’s Residence was a small gate.

Exiting through the small gate, first turn left, then turn right, walk all the way to the end of the alley—there was a large residence.

This residence was very close to the moat. From outside it appeared imposing and grand, but push open the door and enter—weeds grew wildly, an eerie ghostly atmosphere. It simply wasn’t a place where people could live.

However, at this moment, in a certain room of this residence, late at night, the fragrance of food actually wafted out.

As the saying goes, the most dangerous place is the safest place.

Who could have imagined that the four people who had vanished from the separate residence were now in the residence Dong Xiao had left to Yan Sanhe, working together to eat a roasted duck?

“What this young master will miss most is this taste.”

Young Master Pei sucked on several oil-stained fingers, sighing with deep feeling: “Won’t be able to eat it in the future.”

“Don’t be so ignorant.”

Li Buyan looked disdainfully at the duck leg in her hand.

“This thing can merely be eaten. When you get to our place, within a month, I guarantee you’ll gain eight jin.”

“Just keep bragging!”

Pei Xiao thought to himself that bragging doesn’t require paying taxes anyway.

In the dark night, a person dropped down from the wall—it was Lu Da.

Lu Da entered the room.

“Young mistress, just received news—the Crown Prince entered the capital without summons. He was stripped of command of his three guards and will guard the imperial mausoleum for three years.”

With one sentence, not only was Yan Sanhe shocked—the others were all stunned.

The new Emperor’s hand against his own son was truly ruthless!

Another person dropped down from the wall—it was Xue Zhao.

“Miss Yan, the guards at the city gates are as usual. The Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters shows no changes. The Five Cities personnel are all performing their duties.”

Yan Sanhe looked at the sky outside, then looked at Xie Zhifei.

Xie Zhifei nodded lightly.

Yan Sanhe immediately decided: “Xue Zhao, notify Han Xu—proceed with the original plan immediately.”

“Yes!”

Li Buyan nudged Pei Xiao with her foot: “Wash your dirty hands and prepare to depart.”

Pei Xiao: “I won’t wash them. I want to carry this roasted duck smell as I wander the world.” Along with my beloved girl.

“How uncouth!”

Li Buyan rolled her eyes at him, stood up, opened a bundle, and took out five human skin masks. “When putting this thing on, hands must be absolutely clean.”

Pei Xiao: “…”

Clean hands, one by one putting on masks before the bronze mirror.

After Xie Zhifei put on his mask, he became an unremarkable middle-aged man.

Li Buyan became a somewhat attractive middle-aged woman.

Young Master Pei became a refined scholar.

Yan Sanhe, with her hair tied up, became the refined scholar’s younger brother.

Whether Lu Da wore a mask or not, he always looked like a loyal servant.

Li Buyan’s mischief overflowed as she deliberately took advantage of Young Master Pei: “Son, call me ‘Mother’ to hear?”

Young Master Pei complied readily: “Mother…”

Li Buyan’s eyes and brows smiled open. “So obedient!”

Just as the word “obedient” hadn’t left her mouth, Young Master Pei’s drawn-out tone suddenly cut off, barely audibly biting out another character: “…fucker.”

Li Buyan’s smile froze on her face: “…”

He turned it around and took advantage of her instead?

Xie Zhifei touched the human skin on his face. “Yan Sanhe, how does Han Xu have so many human skin masks?”

Yan Sanhe: “You’ll know in the future.”

Pei Xiao: “Don’t say ‘in the future’—tell us now.”

“Son, escaping is urgent!”

Li Buyan grabbed his arm and pulled him outside. “Your little mouth must shut tight immediately.”

“Yes, Mother… fucker!”

—

Down into the dry well, following the secret passage deeper. The passage was very small—even Yan Sanhe, the smallest in stature, could only walk hunched over.

Fortunately, the path wasn’t long. After walking about a hundred zhang, they heard the sound of the moat’s water.

Who could have imagined that the escape route Dong Chengfeng had originally planned would ultimately be used by Yan Sanhe and the others?

Was this predetermined by fate?

Who knows!

The night was dark as ink, starless and moonless.

Lu Da was the first to emerge. He carefully looked around several times. After confirming no one was there, he waved to those in the secret passage.

Xie Zhifei, holding Yan Sanhe’s hand, quickly dove into the culvert.

Pei Xiao and Li Buyan followed one after another.

Lu Da efficiently sealed the secret passage opening with brick and stone, then also dove into the culvert with a swift movement.

Following the culvert outward for over ten li would safely bring them outside the Four-Nine City. Han Xu, having received the message, would be waiting at the culvert’s exit.

The Han Family Stronghold had recently accepted a convoy protection task—protecting a batch of antiques. The original destination was west.

Because the antiques were extremely valuable, Stronghold Master Han Xu personally led the convoy and decided to first go south, taking a roundabout route west.

Why take such a large detour?

Because Zhu Yuanmo had calculated that southwest was the auspicious direction for Yan Sanhe, Li Buyan, Third Master, and Young Master Pei. Going there, they would not only be safe and sound but also prosper financially.

When the direction was calculated, Young Master Pei had curiously asked: How come all four of us share the same auspicious direction?

Zhu Yuanmo thought to himself, how would I know? That’s what the divination showed.

But he still retorted: Previously you three were all in great danger together!

Danger together, fortune together—Heaven wants to bind us four together!

Young Master Pei was satisfied and obediently shut up.

—

The ten-plus li of culvert took a full two hours to traverse.

When they emerged from the culvert, the sky had grown faintly bright.

Seven or eight wagons completely blocked the culvert opening.

The convoy guards followed Stronghold Master Han sleeping and dozing in the distance. Only one middle-aged man newly hired by Stronghold Master Han, named Xue Zhao, guarded this end.

Seeing people emerge, Xue Zhao tossed two bundles—one to Li Buyan, one to Xie Zhifei.

Li Buyan helped Yan Sanhe onto a wagon.

Xie Zhifei opened the bundle, took out clothes and shoes, gave Pei Xiao a set, gave Lu Da a set. The two changed clothes right beside the wagon.

Everything was ready.

Xue Zhao stuffed the five people’s wet clothes and shoes into the bundle, tied it to himself, then pointed at the last wagon.

The five understood and silently climbed into the wagon.

Only then did Xue Zhao clear his throat and shout loudly: “Stronghold Master Han, it’s about time.”

Han Xu opened his eyes, stretched lazily, then blew a loud whistle. “Brothers, depart! Two hundred li to the next rest stop.”

Five days later, they reached the first Han Family way station.

Everyone stopped the wagons to eat, bathe, change clothes, and rest.

After waking, the family of five originally mixed into the convoy departed, and four siblings were added, plus an old father.

—

They continued on the road.

Continuing southwest.

They reached the next Han Family way station.

The old father with his children thanked Stronghold Master Han and departed. The next day, the convoy added two young married couples plus a fortune-telling blind man.

One young couple was quite loving.

The man’s gaze constantly stayed on the woman. That woman was also obedient, nestling in the man’s embrace without moving for long periods.

The other couple was somewhat difficult to describe.

The man said one sentence, the woman retorted. The man said another sentence, the woman retorted again—arguing until people’s heads ached.

Sometimes when the argument grew heated, the woman would even strike him.

Yet that man was also cheap—within half an hour of being beaten, he’d sidle over again with a shameless grin, coaxing with “wife this, wife that.”

How could someone be so spineless?

Tsk.

Really brought shame to all men!

As for that fortune-telling blind man—from start to finish, too lazy to say even one word, forever huddled in a corner sleeping.