This consumptive young gentleman Qin Yining wore a thin disguise on her face. Her appearance was ordinary and extremely gaunt, no different from those typical wealthy young masters who frequented pleasure quarters and indulged in wine and meat.

Ji Yun and Bingtang were dressed quite garishly, styled with married women’s hair ornaments and makeup, clinging intimately to Qin Yining’s sides—truly appearing as two beautiful concubines seeking favor through their looks.

Jingzhe and the Elite Tiger Guards were all disguised as farmhands, while Liao Zhibing and Manager Zhong posed as two elderly masters of the household.

The carriage in front carried the master, while the cart behind dragged household belongings. The entire group swaggered openly toward the city gate.

With martial law in the city these past two days, Li Qitian had ordered the capture of the princess consort, so the guards at the city gate were particularly vigilant. Seeing such a long procession approaching, they immediately surrounded them and blocked their way: “Stop! What’s your business! Why are you leaving the city at this hour!”

Tianji Zi immediately jumped down from the cart behind and trotted over, smiling: “Oh my, officers, officers, we’re returning to our northern hometown. Here are our documents.”

She pulled out officially stamped travel permits from her bosom, clearly stating the origins of this group—how many people, how many horses, all detailed explicitly.

Seeing the complete official seals, the gate guards then went to inspect the people in the carriage.

Qin Yining was reclining in the carriage, embracing two “beautiful concubines” in intimate conversation. When the deep blue cotton curtain was lifted, she startled and looked up.

“Hey, what are you doing!” Ji Yun glared, speaking in authentic northern dialect and playing the role of an arrogant concubine to perfection.

The city officials carefully examined Qin Yining, discovering this young gentleman had an Adam’s apple and a very ordinary face. Looking at the two concubines, they were half-convinced.

However, when they saw two infants in the carriage, they became suspicious again.

Tianji Zi hurried over: “Officers, our young master was born weak and has always had difficulty with offspring. The old master arranged for over twenty concubines for him, and only managed to get two surviving children—both girls. Officers, please be merciful. We’re rushing out of the city to find lodging in a neighboring northern town, or we’ll have to sleep in the wilderness on this snowy night.”

Both girls?

The gate official had the wet nurses open the swaddling clothes for inspection.

Qin Yining nervously watched, clenching her fists.

But when the swaddling was opened, there were indeed two girls.

She didn’t know how Xie Yue had managed it, but Xuan Ge’er showed no signs of being detected.

Only then were the guards completely convinced. Even if the princess consort wanted to escape in disguise, she wouldn’t abandon her children. Prince Zhongshun had one son and one daughter, not two girls.

Tianji Zi smoothly slipped the guards a piece of silver: “It’s freezing cold—officers, buy some wine to warm yourselves.”

The guards naturally wouldn’t be polite with Tianji Zi. They caught the silver, tossed it, and returned the travel permit to Tianji Zi: “Alright, you may go.”

“Ah, thank you, officers!”

Tianji Zi immediately returned to the carriage, and the group swaggered out through the city gate, heading north through the wind and snow.

Only when the north gate was hidden in the blizzard and could no longer be seen did everyone’s taut nerves quietly relax. Jingzhe and the other guards slowly moved their hands away from the bundles and straw mats concealing weapons.

Qin Yining quickly checked the swaddling and discovered Xie Yue had made something like a human skin mask to attach to Xuan Ge’er. Actually, looking closely from another angle, one could spot the deception, but as Tianji Zi had said, the guards at this time were most impatient and lacked the patience for careful examination, so naturally they hadn’t noticed anything amiss.

Qin Yining couldn’t help but laugh softly: “I never thought Master Xie would even change the children’s gender.”

Tianji Zi, sitting outside the carriage, snorted: “That’s only thanks to this fairy maiden.”

Qin Yining smiled: “Yes, thanks to the fairy maiden.”

Tianji Zi smiled smugly.

Gradually moving away from the city gate, night also gradually fell. They planned to stay at Liu Family Village outside the city tonight, so the group—those walking on foot and those riding in carriages—maintained their pace without slowing.

Leaving the capital, everyone felt lighthearted.

Qin Yining leaned against soft pillows to rest, and with the swaying motion of the carriage, her breathing gradually became slow and steady.

Seeing Qin Yining asleep, Bingtang and Ji Yun also stopped talking, quietly soothing the children. The wheels rolling over snow made creaking sounds, making the surrounding atmosphere even more peaceful.

Tianji Zi pulled out an oiled paper package from her bosom. Opening it revealed flatbread with smoked meat. She grabbed one and began eating.

The driver was one of the Elite Tiger Guards. These past few days, he’d seen Tianji Zi eating constantly everywhere, so he couldn’t help smiling: “Your appetite is really good, old lady.”

Tianji Zi chewed the bread and said unclearly: “In this life, eating and drinking are paramount. When you have time and opportunity to eat, you must eat well.”

The Elite Tiger Guard found this amusing and nodded repeatedly: “You’re right.”

Tianji Zi ate two flatbreads with meat and burped. Just as she reached for a third one, Jingzhe’s voice suddenly came from the cart at the rear of the procession.

“Something’s wrong—I think I hear hoofbeats!”

Everyone’s hearts jumped, and they quickly stopped the carriage, holding their breath to listen carefully.

Qin Yining was also awakened by the jolt when the carriage stopped. She looked up at Ji Yun and Bingtang, and before she could speak, she faintly heard the creaking sound of hooves treading through snow.

Tianji Zi’s expression became grave. She stopped eating and pointed to the roadside forest: “Quick, into the woods! It’s pursuing troops! Hide what should be hidden, those who can fight should set up ambushes!”

Everyone immediately sprang into action. No one questioned whether Tianji Zi’s command was correct. The situation was urgent—clearly the guards at the city gate had discovered something suspicious about their group and sent pursuers after them.

Qin Yining, the wet nurses holding children, Manager Zhong, and Xie Yue were surrounded and escorted to retreat into the depths of the forest. Tianji Zi crouched beside Qin Yining, directing the dozen or so men she’d brought to go out and join the Elite Tiger Guards in battle.

Soon, scattered points of firelight flickered in the night. Torches arranged in formation gradually approached—over fifty people!

“The carriage is here! There are footprints on the ground—they definitely haven’t gone far!”

“They must be hiding in the forest. Search! Search thoroughly!”

The pursuers were from the Capital Guards camp. Originally they hadn’t known Qin Yining’s group’s direction, but they’d just passed by the city gate and asked a question. Hearing there were two children in the carriage, even though the guards said they were two girls, they became suspicious. Thinking it better to kill wrongly than let anyone escape, they gave chase.

Unexpectedly, arriving here, they indeed found the abandoned carriage. With a forest nearby, they naturally guessed what had happened.

Qin Yining’s heart rose to her throat, fearing the two children would start crying and draw people over.

Just then, a piercing scream of “Ah!” came from outside. The Elite Tiger Guards, secret agents, Azure Sky Alliance members, and Tianji Zi’s people had already engaged the Capital Guards head-on.

Qin Yining held her breath, eyes wide as she stared at the battle outside.

Beside her, only Ji Yun had martial arts skills; the others were ordinary people. Two wet nurses held two infants—who knew if the children might suddenly be frightened into crying. Xie Yue and Manager Zhong watched the outside situation, anxiously stamping their feet.

“What should we do?” Manager Zhong lowered his voice. “They outnumber us—we might not be their match!”

Tianji Zi also whispered: “Now we must fight whether we want to or not. Not fighting means death. Our people will fight desperately. The numbers aren’t too different, and with different motivations, we should be able to prevail.”

Qin Yining nodded: “The fairy maiden is right. We shouldn’t panic—just wait and see.”

Outside, shouts of battle echoed across the entire empty wilderness. Snow-laden trees were shaken until snow fluttered down. Distant mountains even had faint echoing vibrations.

Qin Yining worriedly reminded the wet nurses behind her: “Cover Ge’er and Jie’er’s ears.”

But just as she finished speaking, Xuan Ge’er opened his big, round eyes like black grapes, curiously looking around.

The wet nurse’s body immediately stiffened.

Qin Yining quickly reached out to gently pat the swaddling, soothingly humming a few bars of a lullaby.

Xuan Ge’er seemed to sense safety. His little mouth smacked once, then he closed his eyes again and slept in the wet nurse’s arms.

Qin Yining quietly sighed in relief.

Meanwhile, Jingzhe and the others were fighting with all their might.

They knew they couldn’t retreat even half a step. Once they retreated, not only would they die, but none of the princess consort and others they were protecting could survive!

In prison, they had already experienced enough of that helpless feeling—being able only to watch the princess consort being taken away while completely unable to save her. That feeling was truly too despairing. Now they only wanted to protect the safety of the princess consort, young master, and little miss. They absolutely couldn’t let Qin Yining face danger again.

So each of them exerted all their strength.

What surprised them was that the dozen or so men Tianji Zi brought were all skilled martial artists, their abilities matching those of the Elite Tiger Guards.

Fighting together, they matched the Capital Guards evenly, successfully blocking this group.

But Tianji Zi wasn’t optimistic. She twisted her short, thick fingers and frowned: “There are more pursuers coming. We need to leave quickly.”

Qin Yining looked at Tianji Zi questioningly.

Tianji Zi grabbed Qin Yining’s arm and headed southeast: “This way is the gate of life!”

After a moment’s hesitation, Xie Yue, Manager Zhong and others also followed. Ji Yun and Bingtang guarded the two wet nurses, stumbling through deep snow in the forest toward the southwest direction.

They had only run about twenty zhang when more firelight approached from outside the forest. It was indeed another group of horsemen—over twenty men on horses, holding bows!

Ji Yun glanced back and was so frightened her face went white. She whispered: “They have bows!”

Tianji Zi urged: “Quick, quick, go southwest—there’s a gate of life there, hurry!”

“What about Jingzhe and the others?” Qin Yining looked back while running, but Tianji Zi grabbed her wrist and yanked her forward another large step.

“Stop your nagging and think about yourself first! If you can’t escape, everyone’s doomed!”