Warm medicine emits fragrance

During this time, whenever Fan Liuer came to the kitchen to cook, she would share some meat pies with the gatekeeper. The gatekeeper had gotten used to it and would happily accept the meat pies, saying, "Thank you for the reward, Madam."

Fan Liuer stared at him, "Try it. I haven't made this in a long time, I don't know if my skills have deteriorated."

Under Fan Liuer's watchful gaze, the gatekeeper took a big bite.

The aroma of the meat pie had been making his mouth water for a long time.

However, the meat patty looked delicious, but the taste was quite different. The meat filling had an indescribable taste that was both bitter and astringent.

Fan Liuer looked at him with a smile, "How does it taste?"

The goalkeeper forced a smile and exclaimed, "Delicious, really delicious!"

"If it's delicious, then eat more."

The goalkeeper could only grit his teeth and force the rest of the flatbread into his stomach.

Fan Liuer waited for him until he finished eating before turning back to the kitchen to wait.

About fifteen minutes later, she peeked out from the kitchen doorway and, sure enough, the gatekeeper had collapsed in front of the door.

Fan Liuer, abandoning her previous gentle and composed demeanor, immediately turned around, picked up the packaged meat pie, and quickly walked to the back door.

He looked around and, seeing that no one was around, opened the door and peeked out.

The streets outside were narrow and deserted; there wasn't a soul in sight, not even a ghost.

She had already scouted out this timeframe beforehand.

This mansion is guarded both inside and outside. Only at this time of day, when the two shifts change, is there a quarter of an hour when it is unguarded.

She had to escape within those fifteen minutes.

After waiting a moment and confirming that there was no movement outside, Fan Liuer slipped out of the back door and ran wildly toward the South City.

She needed to reach the escort agency where Siqing's cousin worked before dawn.

Xingzhou is a large city; it takes almost half an hour to travel from the north to the south by carriage, let alone on foot.

Fan Liuer hurried along the way, and by the time she arrived at Nanshi, the sky was already turning light, and there were vendors and pedestrians moving around.

She stopped a woman carrying a vegetable basket and asked, panting.

"Madam, do you know how to get to Anda Escort Agency?"

"Look, just go straight to the end of this road, then turn the corner and you'll get there," the old woman told her.

When Fan Liuer found Anda Escort Agency, she was so exhausted that she couldn't speak.

She was never this tired when she was pulled out of the water last year.

The Anda Escort Agency was already open, with people coming and going, and various boxes and bags piled up in front of the door.

Everyone was in a hurry and didn't notice that there was an extra person at the door.

Fan Liuer was completely exhausted and squatted at the door, panting.

As a result, she blocked the way of a bodyguard, who was standing beside her carrying a large box in one hand and spoke up to warn her.

"Madam, could you please move aside?"

Fan Liuer was too weak to get up, so she squatted down and moved to the ground.

The bodyguard passed by her, carrying his luggage towards the carriage parked not far outside the door.

Fan Liuer squatted for a while, and after regaining some strength, she supported herself and stood up.

Just as I steadied myself, I heard someone shout, "Feng Ji! There's another box here, don't forget it."

The name immediately made Fan Liuer perk up and look towards the person who spoke.

It was a middle-aged man, and he was shouting towards the carriage in the distance.

Fan Liuer turned her head to look at the carriage again, and saw the bodyguard from before answer, "Here we are."

On her way here, Fan Liuer was worried about what would happen if Siqing's cousin wasn't there. She never expected that she would be so lucky.

It seems even God is on her side to run away.

She quickly walked over to Feng Ji. "Brother Feng, my name is Fan Liuer. Siqing should have mentioned me to you, right?"

She introduced herself and explained her purpose directly.

Feng Ji looked at her with some surprise. He hadn't expected that the person his cousin had asked him to wait for would be this person in front of him.

Although her hair accessories were simple and her face was plain, the cloak she wore was no ordinary item. Coupled with her good looks, even without the enhancement of hair accessories and makeup, one could still see her noble air.

She looks like a pampered lady from a wealthy family.

He initially thought it was a guest's family member, but he never expected it to be the friend Siqing had mentioned who had treated her so well.

How did Siqing end up making friends with someone like that?

Although he was curious, he had been instructed by his cousin. Regardless of her identity, which was none of his business, since Siqing had received her care, it was only natural for him to repay her.

"You must be Madam Fan. Siqing mentioned you to me. I thought you weren't coming. The rebels are about to enter the city, and if we're any later, we won't be able to leave."

"I know, I was worried you'd leave too."

"You're in luck. We'll load everything up and leave now."

Looking at the carriage, which was almost fully loaded, Fan Liuer asked anxiously, "Approximately how much longer?"

She's been out for almost two hours now. Li Chenbi should know about her escape by now, and he might have already started searching for her all over the city.

She needs to leave the city as soon as possible; the longer she delays, the worse it will be for her.

Seeing her anxious expression, Feng Ji's suspicions deepened.

"It will probably take another 45 minutes."

25 minutes...

Fan Liuer pursed her lips and thought for a moment. If Li Chenbi wanted to find her, he would definitely send someone to guard the city gate. Even if she got on the escort agency's car, she might not be able to escape Li Chenbi's people.

She has to hide.

She looked up at Feng Ji. The man in front of her had a calm and composed appearance and was also Si Qing's cousin, so she should be able to trust him.

She beckoned to Feng Ji, led the group to a corner, and whispered, "Did Siqing tell you my identity?"

Feng Ji shook his head. "She only said you were her good friend."

Fan Liuer glanced around and lowered her voice, "To be honest, I am a wealthy merchant's concubine. He usually beats and scolds me. This time, when the rebels attacked, he was reluctant to leave and even planned to offer me to the rebel leader after the rebels entered the city in exchange for his safety."

"Brother Feng, I'm really driven to the brink of desperation. Please help me. Find a way to hide me later and don't let that person find me. If he does, I'm afraid I won't be able to save my life."

Feng Ji was taken aback, not because he was surprised by the story—he had heard and seen many similar stories, and it was nothing new. Many wealthy people didn't even consider people like them from the lower class as human beings.

To his surprise, the person in front of him had an extremely pleasant appearance, the kind that made people feel good at first glance, and in his eyes, a destiny of great wealth and honor.

Would someone like that also encounter such a thing?

While feeling a pang of sadness, he remembered something else.

Siqing worked at the Li residence, specifically in the north courtyard.

In the north courtyard of the Li family mansion, everyone in Xingzhou City knows that it is the courtyard of Li Chenbi, the second master of the Li family.

The woman in front of me said she was the concubine of a wealthy businessman.

Could it be... that she is Li Chenbi's concubine?

Yes, otherwise, if Siqing stayed in the Li residence all day, how would she have the opportunity to get to know people from other residences?

Feng Ji originally wanted to repay Fan Liuer and thank her for taking care of Si Qing.

But when she thought about the person behind her being Li Chenbi, she hesitated.