The night was chaotic and deep.

Wu Yusheng had just left the Ministry of Justice when Shen Jun’s secret guard came to inform Su Jin of the situation in the imperial harem.

Su Jin knew that within a quarter-hour, the entire palace would be sealed off by the Feathered Forest Guards. Though Zhu Nanxian had already left the imperial harem, without someone to respond to him, he probably couldn’t escape from this palace.

After thinking briefly, Su Jin asked: “What about General Zuo’s side?”

The secret guard replied: “In reply to Lord Su, the Twelfth Prince has been poisoned and the Thirteenth Prince is missing. The Guard Station has summoned all the Commander lords who were in the palace today.”

In other words, Zuo Qian’s side was even less free.

Ministry of Justice Principal Wu Jizhi said: “Lord Su, if there’s no other way, let this subordinate provide cover and respond to the Thirteenth Prince first.”

This Wu Jizhi was originally Shen Xi’s planted agent. When Su Jin first came to the Ministry of Justice, he was the only trustworthy person.

“That won’t work.” Su Jin said, “Wu Yusheng must have assigned Feathered Forest Guards to watch me and General Zuo closely. If I leave the Ministry of Justice openly, they will definitely follow secretly.”

At this moment, a junior clerk guarding outside the public hall knocked on the door and reported: “Lord Su, the Fourth Miss from the Qi Manor says she has an urgent matter and requests to see you.”

Hearing this, both the secret guard and Wu Jizhi were shocked. The Fourth Miss of the Qi Manor was a woman—how could she come to the Ministry of Justice?

Wu Jizhi was about to go out on Su Jin’s behalf to see the visitor off, but after thinking for a moment, Su Jin said: “Please show her in.”

Coming with Qiling was also her personal maid. After the two exchanged greetings with Su Jin and were wondering how to begin, they heard Su Jin ask: “Have you come for the Thirteenth Prince?”

Qiling hesitated slightly, responded “yes,” and said: “Ruyu returned from the Spring Outing at Raincloud Lake. Originally, I was waiting in the palace with Elder Sister for the Twelfth Prince. Just now I heard that the Twelfth Prince was poisoned and the Thirteenth Prince also went missing. Therefore, Ruyu took it upon herself to come ask Lord Su whether the Thirteenth Prince needs to leave the Eastern Palace tonight?” She bit her lip slightly. “Is there anywhere Ruyu can help?”

Su Jin silently looked at Qiling. After a moment, she dismissed Wu Jizhi and the secret guard, saying: “Yesterday at Yunhu Mountain, you looked after my younger sister in every way, preventing the Seventh Prince Consort from learning this official’s identity from her mouth. This official has not yet thanked you.”

“Lord Su is too kind.”

“But before thanking you, this official has one more question.” Su Jin stood with hands behind her back, looking at Qiling. “Have you guessed something about this official’s identity?”

Qiling hesitated before saying: “Though Ruyu is not certain, I imagine it’s probably close.” She raised her eyes to glance at Su Jin. “Is Your Lordship a woman?”

Su Jin understood that the more people who knew her female identity, the closer she came to danger. But at this point, only this female body was her best disguise to avoid the Feathered Forest Guards.

With this thought, she removed her hair crown, revealing a head of black hair: “Have your maid come in to exchange clothes with me.”

The Six Ministries’ offices were between Fengtian Gate and Zhengwu Gate.

As soon as Su Jin and Qiling entered Fengtian Gate, they saw that the Feathered Forest Guards had already begun searching various palace patrol guards.

The two avoided into the shadows. Qiling asked: “Since the Feathered Forest Guards have already mobilized, it means the eight palace gates will soon be sealed. Does Your Lordship know how to find His Highness? And once you find His Highness, where will you exit?”

Su Jin had already pondered this question.

Though the eight palace gates were about to be sealed, tomorrow morning the Fourth Prince would set out on campaign. The West Xianchi Gate was still loading provisions and weapons, and the person responsible for loading weapons was precisely the agent Shen Xi had planted in the Ministry of War—Ministry of War Vice Minister He Xian.

Su Jin said: “Earlier I used a bird called ‘A’Fu’ to exchange code words with His Highness. When His Highness comes out of the imperial harem, he will presumably use this as a secret mark to respond to me.”

As she spoke, she looked around and saw a stone vermillion bird carved with spread wings on a platform at the lower right corner of the courtyard steps. Her heart stirred. She walked forward with a lamp and examined the bird inch by inch. Sure enough, she found the character “Fu” written sideways under the tail feathers.

“Head west.” Su Jin said.

Going west from Fengtian Hall, there were successively the West Palace Office, Minghua Front Palace, Weiyang Palace, and Qintai Pavilion.

The two walked to a palace building and were searching inward from the palace courtyard when they suddenly heard the shallow grass stir slightly behind them. Zhu Nanxian emerged from behind a dark wall, first calling out: “Miss Qi Four.” His gaze fell on the maid beside her: “You…”

He had changed into palace servant clothing at some point. Walking closer two steps, he said: “Ayu?”

Su Jin was brief and to the point: “Miss Four and I will escort Your Highness to West Xianchi Gate.”

Zhu Nanxian knew that not a moment could be wasted. He nodded: “Good.”

It was nearly midnight. The closer they got to Xianchi Gate, the noisier it became. Presumably, with Zhu Yushen’s dawn departure on campaign, the provisions and weapons to be loaded had reached the final counting stage.

The three circled around a long path when they suddenly saw two dark shadows walking ahead. Looking carefully, they were actually Feathered Forest Guards.

Su Jin thought this was bad. The Feathered Forest Guards coming here meant they were going to seal off this last Xianchi Gate as well.

At this moment, Zhu Nanxian said in a low voice: “Hairpin.”

Before Qiling could react, Su Jin had already pulled out a silver hairpin from her head and handed it to Zhu Nanxian: “Your Highness, be careful.”

Zhu Nanxian nodded once. His steps flew like the wind, his form quick as lightning yet silent as shadow. In a flash he had caught up with the two Feathered Forest Guards. His right elbow circled around one person’s neck and twisted violently. His left hand stabbed the silver hairpin into the neck of the other Feathered Forest Guard who had turned around.

He looked back at Su Jin and Qiling, tilting his head slightly to signal them to follow. For the moment, the three couldn’t bother hiding the bodies and headed straight for Xianchi Gate.

Xianchi Gate was brightly lit. A guard saw Qiling and came over from afar, cupping his hands to her: “Miss Qi Four, the Fourth Prince departs on campaign tomorrow. The Ministry of War is counting provisions and weapons here. No one may pass. If Miss wishes to leave the palace, please depart from another palace gate.”

Qiling said: “But Lord Su from the Ministry of Justice said the Qi Manor carriage is outside Xianchi Gate, and said that Lord He knows about this. Could this soldier please go ask Lord He?”

Before long, Ministry of War Vice Minister He Xian came over holding a torch. Before he and Qiling could exchange greetings, he heard the maid beside her call out: “Lord He, it’s me.”

The firelight suddenly illuminated Su Jin’s face, actually reflecting an extremely refined female countenance.

However, He Xian was only stunned for an instant. Then, still holding the torch, he glanced at Zhu Nanxian beside her who was wearing palace servant clothing, and said in a low voice: “Your Highness and Your Lordship can rest assured. This subordinate knows what to do.” Saying this, he turned back and led the three toward the outside of Xianchi Gate.

Outside Xianchi Gate, there was indeed a single-horse carriage waiting, but it wasn’t from the Qi Manor—it was from the Ministry of War.

With an apologetic expression, He Xian said to Qiling: “Dudu Zuo’s carriage hasn’t arrived yet. Since Miss Four is in a hurry to return to the manor, please take this official’s carriage.”

Qiling bowed slightly: “Thank you for your trouble, Lord He.”

A whip cracked in the dark night, and the carriage rumbled into motion.

Zhu Nanxian sat at the carriage shaft driving. Su Jin lifted the rear curtain to look—the lights outside Xianchi Gate grew brighter and brighter, the clamor even louder than before. Presumably Wu Yusheng had arrived with a crowd of Feathered Forest Guards.

Since the Feathered Forest Guards had found this place, how could they not pursue?

With this thought, Su Jin gritted her teeth, lifted the carriage curtain and said to Zhu Nanxian: “Your Highness, fleeing like this is not a solution. Those two dead Feathered Forest Guards must have already been discovered. Within a quarter-hour, Wu Yusheng will dispatch more forces to search all of the western city. They ride swift horses, but this carriage carries three people. Sooner or later we’ll be caught up to. The only plan now is to unhitch the horse and have you go alone.”

Zhu Nanxian was silent for a moment, unwilling to rein in: “If I leave, what will you do?”

Su Jin said: “Your Highness, rest assured. I’ve already instructed Zhao Lin to respond to me. I just need to hide in these alleys for a while.” After a pause she added, “If Your Highness cannot escape, tonight you and I will only die together here, and perhaps even implicate Miss Four.”

Zhu Nanxian cracked the whip again on the horse. The carriage carried the three around a deep alley but showed no signs of slowing.

He said: “Then I’ll escort you to meet Tan Zhaolin.”

The spring night wind scraped rapidly past Su Jin’s cheeks. She thought for a moment and said: “Does Your Highness still remember what you said to Ayu that day at Zhaojue Temple, when you told Ayu to leave?”

Without you, I cannot live either.

Su Jin smiled quietly: “For Ayu, it’s the same.”

Zhu Nanxian’s eyelashes trembled slightly.

Su Jin continued: “If Ayu stays, there’s still a thread of hope for survival. But if Your Highness continues driving this carriage, there will only be a dead end.”

Hearing this, Zhu Nanxian finally gritted his teeth hard and reined in the carriage to a stop.

Su Jin jumped down from the carriage without stopping for a moment. While untying the horse rope, she said: “Qin Sang is waiting for Your Highness just outside Yingtian City’s main west gate. As soon as Your Highness exits, you’ll be able to see them. However, going from the main west gate toward Nanchang will definitely require a detour through the city outskirts. The Feathered Forest Guards will definitely split forces to block the road from the south gate. Your Highness must…”

Zhu Nanxian pressed down on her hand, interrupting: “Will Tan Zhaolin truly bring people to respond to you?”

Su Jin looked into his eyes: “When has Ayu ever deceived Your Highness?”

Qiling approached and bowed slightly: “Your Highness, rest assured. Before Guard Tan arrives, Ruyu will use the Qi family’s name… to help Your Highness and protect Lord Su.”

Zhu Nanxian said nothing more. His Adam’s apple bobbed. He took the horse rope and untied it in no time at all, mounted the horse, turned back to look at Su Jin once, and finally said: “Wait for me to return.”

After Zhu Nanxian’s figure disappeared at the end of the alley, Su Jin immediately said to Qiling: “Go!”

Qiling followed Su Jin for two steps and asked: “Where will Guard Tan respond to Your Lordship?”

“He won’t come.”

Tan Zhaolin had already been sent by her to protect Shen Xi.

Tonight the Imperial Noble Consort went mad with frequent incidents, so much so that by now the entire palace was sealed. Even the Gold Guard couldn’t get out. Being here alone, she was a cornered beast.

Qiling said in shock: “Your Lordship is… risking your life to save His Highness?”

Su Jin didn’t answer but continued walking rapidly toward the end of the alley.

Even as a cornered beast, she must make a cornered beast’s struggle. As long as there was a thread of hope for survival, she couldn’t give up.

Her hand was suddenly pulled from behind. Qiling pulled out a gold hairpin from her head and handed it to Su Jin: “Inside this hairpin is hidden a small knife. The blade is poisoned. My elder brother had someone make it for me. Your Lordship, keep it for self-defense.”

Su Jin said in surprise: “What about you?”

Qiling said: “I’ll stay. Your Lordship, go quickly. I’m from the Qi Manor. The Feathered Forest Guards won’t dare hurt me. I’ll go guard by the carriage and delay them for Your Lordship as long as possible.”

Xianchi Gate had been thrown open. Outside the dark alley, horse hooves were already clamoring. Su Jin took the hairpin and held it in her hand, saying: “Great kindness needs no words of thanks.” Then she turned into a narrow alley.

Past midnight, the western part of Yingtian City had long closed its doors. Su Jin had intended to knock on a household door to hide for a moment, but unfortunately, the narrow alley she was in was actually a back street with only high walls on either side.

The alley ended deeply. Zhu Zhaowei’s people came much faster than she had imagined. Before long, a Feathered Forest Guard holding a torch appeared at the alley entrance ahead.

Su Jin quickly pressed herself against a recessed part of the wall.

But this Feathered Forest Guard seemed to have seen her figure and actually held the torch and stubbornly walked into the narrow alley.

The firelight blazed. Even pressing herself into the recess, she couldn’t avoid the illumination of this burning fire.

Before the Feathered Forest Guard even reached her, he had already seen her. Just as he was about to call out for people, he suddenly saw a slender, jade-like hand reach out from behind the firelight. A blade between the fingers lightly drew across the Feathered Forest Guard’s neck. A shallow, pale blood mark appeared and immediately turned dark purple.

The Feathered Forest Guard fell forward silently. Standing behind him was none other than the expressionless Liu Chaoming.