When Yan Chi said to wait a quarter-hour, he meant exactly that.
After a quarter hour, Yan Chi led Qin Wan out of the room in the West Courtyard.
In the right-wing room, ten Imperial Guards and the matron in charge of watching Qin Wan were all unconscious.
The North Courtyard was remote. Yan Chi led Qin Wan westward from the North Courtyard. The Empress’s palace was to the east, and the entire western area had only Shou Kang Palace as its main palace. Though Shou Kang Palace was heavily guarded, other areas were quite secluded. Seeing their direction, Qin Wan asked, “Are we leaving through the West Gate?”
At this time, the Wu Men Gate was crowded with people, and the Imperial Guards were only letting people in, not out. With Qin Wan in tow, they naturally couldn’t leave through the main gate.
Yan Chi nodded, gripping Qin Wan’s hand tightly, “Everything has been arranged.”
Qin Wan felt reassured. The group took about the time of one incense stick to reach the West Gate.
The West Gate was a side entrance to the imperial city, normally used by palace servants running errands, so it wasn’t heavily guarded. In the deep night, the Imperial Guards stationed at the West Gate were startled to see a group approaching – over twenty Imperial Guards escorting two people, and upon closer look, it was Princess Yongci.
Qin Wan was a frequent palace visitor, and since she wasn’t in disguise today, she was immediately recognizable.
The guard captain dared not be negligent and hurried forward, “Princess Yongci! This humble officer pays respects to the Princess! Today… today is Your Highness’s wedding day, why have you entered the palace?”
Prince Rui and Princess Yongci’s wedding was known throughout the city, and this guard captain naturally knew of it. The people guarding Qin Wan were Lin Zhang’s confidants, but other Imperial Guards didn’t know Qin Wan had been tricked into the palace and imprisoned. Qin Wan wore a hood, her face cold and stern, carrying an intimidating air. Though the man asked, Qin Wan didn’t answer.
Bai Feng stepped forward, “Late tonight, the Empress Dowager’s condition suddenly worsened. His Majesty commanded the Princess to enter the palace to treat the Empress Dowager. Now the Princess needs to leave the palace. Just open the gate; the snow is heavy tonight, and we’ll return after escorting the Princess.”
The guard captain nodded, about to open the gate, but then felt something strange, “When the Princess came, surely she used the Wu Men Gate. Why leave through the West Gate now?”
Bai Feng frowned, “You don’t know yet – urgent military reports have come from Ying Zhou. The Imperial Guards from the outer city have all been recalled. The Wu Men Gate is now sealed, allowing entry but not exit. The officials summoned by His Majesty are all waiting at the gate for orders. It’s naturally closer for the Princess to leave this way from Shou Kang Palace.”
The guard captain knew nothing of the military situation and was startled by this news. Seeing the large number of Imperial Guards escorting Qin Wan, he dared not be careless and quickly ordered the palace gates opened. As the gates opened, Bai Feng led the way out.
Qin Wan’s heart was slightly raised, but she hadn’t expected leaving the palace would be so smooth. Moreover, she hadn’t expected military reports from Ying Zhou!
If what Bai Feng said was true, could the Northern Territory Army be about to attack the capital?
Walking out of the palace gate, Qin Wan took a deep breath. The military report came at a perfect time. Now the entire palace was overshadowed by the military situation, with His Majesty summoning many people and recalling the Imperial Guards, giving them the chance to leave in the chaos—
Though the street outside the West Gate was empty, in the western civilian alley turning left after leaving the gate, people were already waiting!
A large carriage stood still, with over ten black-clad guards each holding two horses. As soon as Yan Chi’s group approached, the carriage door was pushed open from inside – it was Fu Ling. Upon seeing Qin Wan, Fu Ling immediately jumped down from the carriage with reddened eyes.
“Miss… Princess! Wuwuwu your servant was so scared, Princess…”
Fu Ling didn’t bother with formalities, running a few steps to embrace Qin Wan.
The wind and snow still howled. Seeing Fu Ling, Qin Wan’s eyes also grew warm. While imprisoned, she knew nothing of outside events, but Fu Ling was her greatest concern. Now seeing her here, her heart finally settled—
Time was pressing. Yan Chi said gravely, “Get in the carriage first, we’ll leave the city immediately!”
Only then did Fu Ling wipe her eyes and bow to Yan Chi. Hearing this, Qin Wan didn’t ask questions and hurried to the carriage.
Bai Ying and Fu Ling both mounted horses, leaving only men outside. Yan Chi mounted first, and the others followed. A man in his fifties stepped out from the crowd, “Your Highness, everything is arranged at the South Gate.”
Yan Chi nodded, “How about the mansion?”
The man quickly replied, “Imperial Guards surrounded the mansion, but they left for the palace moments ago. Only about twenty men remain on guard now.”
Yan Chi narrowed his eyes, glanced toward the palace, and commanded firmly, “Go!”
With a crack of the whip, the group of several dozen quickly formed up. Under cover of wind, snow, and night, they escorted Qin Wan’s carriage toward the South Gate.
Inside the carriage, Fu Ling cried, “After the Princess left, the Prince didn’t return, but soon Guard Zhong came back, saying Vice Commander Zhao needed the Prince for something. The guard said the Prince was worried about the Princess and told Guard Bai to find the white fox cloak meant for the Princess to wear in two days and send it to her in the palace. Guard Bai was still handling the wedding banquet aftermath, but hearing this, his expression immediately changed. He told your servant to pack things, saying I only had the time of one incense stick.”
“Wuwuwu your servant had no idea what was happening. Guard Bai only said the mansion would be confiscated if we were late. Your servant… your servant had never experienced such things, so I just grabbed the most important items – the Princess’s dowry, the Princess’s daggers, the easiest-to-carry banknotes, and the Princess’s usual medicines. Couldn’t take anything else. Guard Bai said if we couldn’t take it, leave it, and then took your servant down to a cellar…”
“When your servant left, the mansion was still in chaos, the front court’s wedding banquet not yet cleaned up, but when your servant entered the cellar, it was packed with people. Your servant was terrified and then was handed over to Brother Chen. These carriages were all prepared early. Your servant has been outside the imperial city for so long, so afraid the Princess couldn’t get out wuwuwu…”
The carriage had a small stove, showing that even with sudden changes, Yan Chi was well-prepared. Fu Ling gripped Qin Wan’s hand tightly, “Princess, what exactly is happening? Why… isn’t the Empress Dowager ill? Where are we going…”
Qin Wan sighed and held Fu Ling close. Though she didn’t know exactly what was happening outside, Fu Ling’s words had cleared up much. She patted Fu Ling’s shoulder, “The mansion is viewed with suspicion by His Majesty. His Majesty won’t tolerate us, so tonight we must leave the capital. Fu Ling, are you afraid?”
Fu Ling was startled, tears falling like rain. After a moment, she hugged Qin Wan tightly, “Your servant is afraid. Please don’t leave your servant behind, Miss!”