Yutai Bi

Chapter 286 Escape
With the sound of cloth rubbing against the wind, Cen Sanniang in a white dress walked slowly and stood behind the incense table.

Two teams of Habayashi guards rushed in with long spears in their hands and lined up with wild goose wings.An internal servant held the imperial decree in his hand, before entering the mansion, the voice came first: "Duke Cai's mansion accepts the decree!"

Cen Sanniang flicked her skirt and knelt down.

Du Xifu also knelt down.

The main gate of the Duke's Mansion was wide open, only the two people who were alone kneeling behind the incense case... the official of the Ministry of Criminal Affairs and the captain of the Habayashi Army who stepped into the courtyard after the servant were stunned.

Behind the smoke curling up from the incense sticks is a woman kneeling with her head bowed and wearing a white mourning gown with large sleeves and a veil.Beside him is a man who is also dressed in filial piety.

The crisp chirping of sparrows could be heard under the eaves, making Nuo Da's mansion extremely quiet.What about the rest of the government?

"Where are the people from the Duke's Mansion?" the Minister of Punishment asked in a low voice.

The captain of Habayashi Military Academy waved his hand: "Search!"

Du Xifu raised his head and said with a smile: "No need! The Duke's Mansion has already dismissed all the servants. The younger one is the manager of the Duke's Mansion, and he specially accompanied Madam to receive the order here."

Everyone was stunned.The servant only delivered the decree and didn't care about arresting people. When he saw Mrs. Cai Guogong kneeling behind the incense case, he said calmly, "The master is still here. Mrs. Cai Guogong accepts the order!"

He was about to read the imperial decree when a voice came from behind: "Wait!"

The servant turned around, and saw that the person who stopped him was a member of the sixth grade Yuanwailang behind the servant of the Ministry of punishment.The servant stayed in the palace for a long time, so he recognized at a glance that it was Cui Jidong, the second son of the Founding Marquis Mansion who had been stripped of his title.He snorted and thought to himself, the queen has been abolished.Do you think you are still a relative of the emperor?He said in a high-pitched voice unhappily: "The old lady of Cai Guogong's mansion has passed away. The head of the mansion is only Cai Guogong's wife. It is not our family's business to arrest criminals. Our family only cares about the decree. Cui Waiyuan Lang interrupted our family , what is the intention?"

Knowing that he was looked down upon by the servant, Cui Jidong concealed his hatred, and said softly to the servant of the Ministry of Punishment: "My lord, one of Du Yansui's three sons died young, where are the other two?"

The servant of the Ministry of Punishment was startled, and the servants of the Duke's Mansion can slowly arrest him.The most important thing is Cai Guogong's wife and children.Mrs. Cai Guogong is nothing more than a woman.Running away from his son will surely be a curse in the future.

"Mrs. Du! Where are your two sons?" The servant of the Ministry of Punishment stepped forward and shouted sharply.

"There are only me and Mr. Du in the Duke's Mansion." A deep voice came from behind the incense case.

The servant of the Ministry of Punishment stomped his feet fiercely, and said to Lieutenant Habayashi: "Hurry up and notify the city gate guards, and strictly investigate those who take babies out of the city!"

"You're not Cen Sanniang!" Cui Jidong heard the wrong voice, narrowed his eyes, rushed over, kicked over the incense table, stretched out his hand and pulled the woman kneeling on the ground up.

Xia Chu tore off the veil, shook off his hand forcefully, and said contemptuously, "Yes, I am not."

"Where is Cen Sanniang?" Cui Jidong was furious.

Du Xifu smiled slightly: "The Duke's mansion was framed by someone, so naturally my master will not just sit and wait for death. Otherwise, he will go to the prison of the Ministry of Criminal Justice and die unjustly, and there is no way for the Duke to recover from his injustice. The master will not do such a stupid thing of."

"Search the house!" Lieutenant Habayashi gave the order.

Watching teams of Habayashi troops rushing into the Duke's mansion to search and arrest them wantonly.Cui Jidong quickly pulled out a knife from the waist of a Habayashi soldier, and pointed at the two with red eyes: "Tell me! Where are Cen Sanniang and her son hiding? Don't tell me now. When we get to the prison, I will tell you." Some are tricks to make you tell the truth! I don’t think you two would want to taste the 36 punishments of the Ministry of Criminal Justice!”

At this time, the mother should carry the little son and run away, right?Du Xifu thought quietly, the hands crossed on his waist clenched the dagger in his sleeve, and suddenly stabbed towards Cui Jidong.

Cui Jidong tilted his body, and the knife in his hand slashed down.

"Miss Xiachu!" Du Xifu shouted, and hugged Cui Jidong forcefully.

He hugged her so tightly that Cui Jidong couldn't shake it off, and he was anxious and shouted: "Don't let her commit suicide! She must be caught alive!"

Manager Du was buying time for her... Xia Chu gritted his teeth, and the sharp hairpin pierced his chest.

Breathing hard, she fell to her knees on the ground.Every breath brought endless pain.She smiled and looked at the blue sky, her lips parted slightly.

Du Xifu was already dead, Cui Jidong kicked him away forcefully, raised Xia Chu in two steps at a time, and put his ear to her lips.

"..."

"Where is Cen Sanniang?! Where is her son?!"

Unable to hear Xia Chu's voice, Cui Jidong shook her crazily.

Xia Chu couldn't see him, and Hei Qi's voice sounded in his ears: "If I didn't die, I would marry you. You can go. I can't leave Young Madam behind."

"Remember to marry me..." Xia Chu murmured, closing his eyes.

Cui Jidong took two steps back, and hurriedly said to the Minister of Criminal Affairs: "My lord, the officials have already put eyeliner around the city gates. So far, Cen Sanniang has not been seen leaving the city. Please ask the city gate guards to help arrest her!" Then issue the arrest document at sea, as long as she is still in Chang'an City, she will be hard to fly!"

"Yuan Wai Lang did a good job! When Mrs. Cai Guogong is captured, I will ask for an order for you to remember!" The servant of the punishment department praised and breathed a sigh of relief.He said helplessly to the servant, "Elder-in-law, you can only go back to the palace to revive the order!" Pointing to Director Du and Xia Chu on the ground, he said to Lieutenant Yulin Military Academy, "Throw those two into the mass grave!"

The Habayashi Army who searched returned without success.The Duke's Mansion is already an empty house.In a blink of an eye, people walked away cleanly.

The blocked streets of Fangshi were withdrawn.The lively people rushed in, watching the people from the Ministry of Punishments seal the door of the Duke's Mansion with a seal, discussing a lot.

Cen Zhilin, who was crowded in the crowd, watched silently as a cart pulled away the bodies of Mr. Du and Xia Chu, his eyes gradually filled with tears: "Ah Fu, go buy incense paper money."

Two new graves have been added to mass graves in the suburbs of Beijing.Cen Zhilin spilled a glass of water and wine: "Let's go."

Cen Sanniang wakes up leisurely.She touched the back of her neck, and her memory slowly came back.Sitting on the Arhat couch in Guiyanju, the back of her neck was touched... At this moment, she saw clearly that she was lying on a couch with an oil lamp burning in the corner.

"Are you awake?" Hei Qi came from the shadows, holding a bowl of soup in his hand.

"What's this place? Where's Chu Xia?" Cen Sanniang sat up.

Hei Qi put the soup on the small table beside the couch: "Your body is weak, no matter what you do, put it down first, let's take care of your body."

Cen Sanniang picked up the bowl, and the aroma of the chicken soup was tangy. After she finished drinking, she heard the noise outside, and asked again: "What place is this?"

"Dongshi, it's not far from our residence. I took you out of the secret passage." Hei Qi replied flatly.

At this time, the sound of soldiers searching came from the next door.Cen Sanniang was startled: "Have they found the secret entrance?"

Hei Qi walked to the closed window, gently opened it, and the sunlight came in.

"The next door is the exit of the secret passage. The arrangement is a cover-up. They won't think that we are hiding next door. It was arranged when the old Duke was alive. It is very safe here. Don't think about anything right now, and take care of yourself."

Cen Sanniang stared at him, and asked softly, "Did Xia Chu go to receive the order for me?"

Hei Qi straightened his back, and said calmly: "The soldiers came too fast, it was too late to leave through the back door."

Cen Sanniang said angrily, "Why don't you take her along the secret path?"

Hei Qi said indifferently: "The secret road was built by the old man when he founded the Duke's Mansion. This is the last way for the master of the Duke's Mansion to escape. It cannot be used unless it is absolutely necessary. You don't use the secret road. Even if me and Xia Chu Even death is useless."

"I was asking why you didn't bring Xia Chu with you!"

Hei Qi was silent for a while, then mechanically said: "The yard I live in is too remote. There is snow on the road, and the footprints cannot be covered. The footprints need to be erased. There is no one in the mansion to block them, and they will quickly follow the footprints to find me. The yard where I live."

"Chu Xia!" Cen Sanniang couldn't help crying, "Why didn't you tell me in advance? If the snow has been cleared earlier, it won't harm Xia Chu!"

"Don't cry!" Hei Qi suddenly reprimanded.

Cen Sanniang was stunned.

"You moved to the flower hall to give birth. I haven't been back to the yard for a long time. It has been snowing a lot these days, and there are many people talking in the mansion. If you clean it up deliberately, it will reveal the secret." Hei Qi has already turned and walked outside. So far, this is the first time to use this secret passage. It is very safe here, wait for a few days, and you recover your health before finding a way to leave Chang'an. I will go find out the news."

Cen Sanniang took a deep breath, wiped the tears from her eyes, and lay down.Black Seven is right.It won't help if she cries any more.It's useless to think about Xia Chu and his son.She had to nourish her physical strength and her spirit before she could figure out the next step.

The search next door gradually faded away, and the sound of buying and selling in the street shops in front could be vaguely heard.Cen Sanniang fainted from exhaustion.

For five consecutive days, she ate and slept, slept and ate.The body is getting better every day.

Cen Sanniang stood by the window and quietly lifted a corner of the curtain.

This is a wing room on the second floor.The line of sight is excellent.From a high place, I can clearly see the opposite yard and the bustling market outside the yard.It must be the layout of the front shop and the back shop.In the yard, Hei Qi was talking with a man who refused to dress up, took the food box in his hand and hurried upstairs.

Hearing a light knock on the door, Cen Sanniang lowered the curtain and turned around: "Come in."

"Let's eat." Hei Qi put the food on the table, and without any surprise, there was a bowl of thickly stewed chicken soup.

Cen Sanniang was very grateful for being able to take care of her in every possible way while fleeing.She was also polite, sat down and ate.

(End of this chapter)