The Butterfly remained silent. She continued to look, but the moment the cloth bag was pulled down to reveal the woman's head, she was so frightened that she almost let out a scream. The Butterfly was quick - witted and covered Ji Feiyu's mouth with his hand. He whispered in her ear, "This is the wife of the man outside. She's just asleep. I stole her. Don't worry. They'll be fine. They'll be released after this is over."
Ji Feiyu immediately understood his plan of substituting the false for the true and exclaimed, "Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant!"
He just covered the woman with the quilt and then hurriedly pulled Ji Feiyu out through the place where he had come in. "Hurry! We don't have much time!"
"Okay." Ji Feiyu followed him and crawled out through the opening at the back of the tent. Just then, they heard Yong Yaxuan clearly say in front of the tent, "So, you're sure she's in my tent?"
The trouble - maker outside said anxiously, "My lord, just let me take a look. If she's not here, I'll take the punishment for breaking into the military camp today."
"How dare you! The tent of the imperial envoy is not a place you can just barge into!"
"..."
The Butterfly pulled Ji Feiyu around to the place where the horses were tied. The noisy voices were already faintly inaudible.
The Butterfly untied two ropes and helped Ji Feiyu onto one of the horses. He mounted the other one himself. Ji Feiyu tightly held the reins and nodded at him. Then he whipped the hind - leg of Ji Feiyu's horse.
The two horses galloped towards the exit of the military camp at the same time, causing a commotion.
"Not good! Someone's stealing the horses!"
Then Ji Feiyu faintly heard a wail, "Wife! It's really you! What have you dog - officials done to my wife?"
"Not good! We've been tricked!" Yong Yaxuan's deep voice came out amidst the chaos. Then there were the messy footsteps of many people running and the neighing of horses being led. It was estimated that someone was going to chase them.
She and the Butterfly galloped away on their horses and didn't relax even when they got on the main road.
Stealing the horses today was really the only option. Otherwise, with that man's innocent trouble - making and Yong Yaxuan's shrewdness, it would have been easy for them to find something wrong and chase after them. After all, the Butterfly only had two legs and had to take someone with him, while there were so many fast horses in the military camp...
While riding the horse, the Butterfly sighed, "Yu'er, your man is really as shrewd as a fox. I think I must be more careful in the future."
Ji Feiyu gave him a disdainful look when she saw his timid look. "Are you regretting it now? It's too late!"
But the Butterfly laughed heartily, "I'm used to doing as I please. Since I've taken on this matter for you, there's no way I'll regret it."
Ji Feiyu praised, "I knew you're the most loyal."
The rapid hoof - beats sounded in the quiet night. Ahead was the dark mountain road. No one knew what their fate would be in the next moment.
The hoof - beats behind them were getting closer. Even though there was still a certain distance, they didn't have the mood to talk.
Until—
"Yu'er, there's a fork in the road ahead. You go left and I'll go right. We'll split up their forces. If it gets really bad, you can abandon the horse and hide. Try to get into Lotus Town tomorrow. I'll wait for you there."
"Okay." Ji Feiyu replied briefly. Then she saw the fork and changed positions with him. She whipped her horse and galloped to the left.
"Take care!" The Butterfly whipped his horse hard and galloped to the right.
Dust rose in the night, adding a layer of haziness to it.
Ji Feiyu galloped alone on the left fork of the road, not knowing where she was going.
Wasn't he chasing after her? She would never forgive him! But why was she running away? It was clearly his fault!
The rushing wind made it difficult for Ji Feiyu to breathe. She simply gave up the chaotic thoughts in her mind and galloped along the horse - path beside the fields.
Suddenly, a voice sounded behind her. Although it was far away, it made her flustered.
"Ji Feiyu, stop for me! What on earth do you want?"
It was Yong Yaxuan! He had actually chased after her himself and chosen the right road to come to Ji Feiyu's side. Could this really be the unbreakable bond between them? Just like when they met in Apricot Blossom Village four months after she left...
Ji Feiyu shook her head, getting rid of her self - indulgent thoughts. She whipped the horse hard again and shouted, "Giddy - up!"
It had been a long time, really a long time since she had galloped like this. The uncertainty about the future had become an excitement she hadn't felt for a long time. Ji Feiyu even felt her blood boiling.
Galloping was the freest flight. This was what she had wanted from the beginning!
Just as Ji Feiyu was enjoying the pleasure of speed, Yong Yaxuan got a bit closer and shouted at her, "Ji Feiyu, listen clearly. If you don't stop, I'll never forgive you when I catch you!"
Hearing this, Ji Feiyu quickly whipped the horse and said, "My lord, I beg you not to chase me. I'm not the person you're looking for!"
He was furious behind her. "If you're not Ji Feiyu, then who are you? Why are you running away?"
Ji Feiyu said helplessly, "Since you're chasing me, I naturally have to run. But I'm not Ji Feiyu, and I have nothing to do with the current empress!"
Just after she said this, there was a loud thunder in the sky. Dark clouds were gathering on the horizon as if even the sky couldn't bear to watch.
Ji Feiyu couldn't help but cough lightly. God, this really wasn't her fault!
Sure enough, upon hearing this, Yong Yaxuan's mood was as gloomy as the dark clouds. "Are you really so heartless?!"
Ji Feiyu took a deep breath and continued to shout, "My lord, you've really mistaken me for someone else."
He was so angry that he shouted from behind, "Do you know why I've spent so much effort to bring you into the palace? And now you just run away. Have you ever thought about me even a little bit?"
Oh no, Ji Feiyu felt that his voice was getting closer.
Ji Feiyu whipped the horse again and continued to speed up. She would never admit it even if she was beaten to death. "My lord, it's useless for you to say so much to me. We're like a chicken and a duck talking. I'm just a country woman."
"You..." He was so angry that he couldn't say a word.
But Ji Feiyu still added recklessly, "Moreover... if you're suffering from delusions, you should go to a doctor as soon as possible. If the emperor hears you talking like this, he'll surely convict you of treason and execute your whole family..."
Hearing this, Yong Yaxuan finally erupted in rage. "Ji Feiyu! I will never let you go!"
Just then, the world was suddenly illuminated by a flash of light. It was a lightning bolt streaking across the empty sky. No one had expected that on this originally clear and crisp autumn day, it was going to rain in the middle of the night.
Regardless of Yong Yaxuan's mood, Ji Feiyu continued to whip the horse faster, only hoping to get rid of him quickly and then find a quiet place to spend the rest of her life. But unexpectedly, he kept chasing after her. With his excellent horse - riding skills, he seemed about to catch up with her.
Ji Feiyu closed her eyes and galloped again, thinking that she must not be caught today. Otherwise, she would surely die a miserable death. Wuwuwu...