Inside the carriage heading towards the Song Mansion, the King of Jin held the hand of Concubine Song affectionately. Looking at her, he sighed and said, "I've wronged you this time."
Concubine Song squeezed his hand in return. Leaning into the King of Jin's arms, she shook her head gently and whispered, "As long as Your Highness is safe, I'm willing to do anything."
Shen Qing, who had been drugged with the muscle - numbing powder, was sitting on the other side of the carriage. Watching the loving display between the King of Jin and Concubine Song, she couldn't help but think to herself that Concubine Song was truly a natural in the battles within the inner chambers. If she didn't know Concubine Song's real plans all along, she would have thought that Concubine Song was truly deeply in love with the King of Jin.
Although at the beginning she had taught Concubine Song some ways to capture a man's heart, she never expected that Concubine Song could understand and apply them so well.
Look at the King of Jin now. Isn't he just hooked like a dog?
With such a strong will and the ability to understand, what couldn't she do well?
Concubine Song noticed Shen Qing's slightly teasing look and blushed quietly. To prevent the King of Jin from noticing their communication, she snuggled deeper into the King of Jin's arms, burying her face more firmly.
In the King of Jin's eyes, she was just shy.
Shen Qing let out a soft "tsk" sound and closed her eyes, as if she couldn't bear to watch.
The King of Jin seemed to just realize that there was someone else in the carriage. He coughed lightly, let go of Concubine Song, and sat up straight in a rather obvious attempt to cover up.
Where the King of Jin couldn't see, Concubine Song quietly exchanged a look with Shen Qing.
Everything in the Song Mansion had been arranged properly. They would never let him escape.
Xu Mansion.
"Your Lordship, Concubine Song suddenly took a carriage back to her natal home, and there's also some movement near the secret passage of the Song Mansion."
Xu Yanchi was looking at the information sent by the informant. He fell into deep thought.
Since the news that Ji Junye's troops were approaching the city, he had been unable to sleep. The King of Jin was now at a complete disadvantage. Ji Junye hated him to the core. It was very likely that he would be the first one to be punished after Ji Junye took the city.
He had to plan his escape route in advance.
So when the King of Jin asked him to check out the secret passage earlier, he took the opportunity to place one of his own men there.
Xu Yanchi waved his hand, signaling the man to leave.
It was already quite strange for Concubine Song to return to her natal home at this time, and now there was movement in the secret passage. Even if Ji Junye took the city, he wouldn't go after a childless concubine. So Xu Yanchi guessed that the person who was going to use the secret passage to leave must be the King of Jin.
After figuring this out, he immediately packed his things and quietly left the mansion with Xu Chenghui.
...
Meanwhile, the camps thirty miles outside Hongzhou City had already put out their lights.
But the tent of Ji Junye was still brightly lit.
Zhuo Yun brought the latest information sent back by the informant to Ji Junye. After the last incident, they had bribed a medium - sized family in Hongzhou City. This piece of information was sent by the Wang family.
"Send someone to keep a close eye on the movements of the Song family."
In the candlelight, Ji Junye's expression was gloomy, adding a bit more darkness to his whole demeanor.
Xu Yanchi arrived at the Song Mansion but was blocked outside by the gatekeeper.
"It's already quite late. Our master has already gone to bed. It's really inconvenient to receive guests. If Your Lordship has something to discuss, please send a visiting card tomorrow."
Xu Yanchi said, "I have something urgent to discuss with your master. Please go and inform him again."
The servant looked embarrassed. "Your Lordship, it's not that I'm trying to stop you. At this hour, our master has really gone to bed. Please go back."
Saying this, the servant was about to close the main gate.
"Wait!"
Xu Yanchi quickly shouted, "I really have something very important, a matter of life and death. If you go and inform your master, he will surely see me."
As he said this, Xu Yanchi stuffed a silver ingot into the gatekeeper's hand.
He rarely had to humble himself to others, especially just a gatekeeper, but he had no other choice. If he didn't leave tonight, he might not be able to leave tomorrow.
There must be Ji Junye's men guarding outside the city. If he went out, he would surely die.
Now the secret passage of the Song family was his only way out.
The servant had no choice. These were troubled times. It wasn't a good idea to let Xu Yanchi stay at the gate of the Song Mansion all the time. So he turned around and went in to inform.
Of course, the head of the Song family wasn't asleep. How could he sleep after what happened tonight?
The King of Jin and Shen Qing had returned disguised as Concubine Song's attendants. At this moment, the head of the Song family had just opened the entrance to the secret passage under the bed when a servant outside the door said that Xu Yanchi was asking to see him.
Hearing this, the King of Jin frowned. "What is he doing here at this time?"
The head of the Song family said, "Lord Xu has come here in the middle of the night. He must have something very important to say."
But the King of Jin thought what could be so important to Xu Yanchi? He just wanted to do the same as him.
But how could he possibly agree?
If Xu Yanchi followed, it would mean that he knew the whole process of his desertion. Concubine Song was his woman, and the Song family would naturally be loyal to him and not dare to act rashly. But Xu Yanchi was different. He had only joined him halfway, and he was quite ambitious. There was no guarantee that he wouldn't turn against him in the future.
Moreover, there was no value in keeping him. He would only be a burden.
As for Shen Qing, the King of Jin planned to kill her after he was safe, so he didn't count Shen Qing in.
At this time, Concubine Song said, "Uncle, Lord Xu staying at the gate of the Song Mansion like this will surely attract attention. Why don't you go and try to calm him down first? I'll accompany Your Highness."
The head of the Song family looked at her and hesitated. "Can you handle it alone?"
These words were not only asking Concubine Song but also seeking the King of Jin's opinion.
Seeing that the King of Jin had no objections, Concubine Song smiled and said, "Uncle, have you forgotten that this secret passage was told to me by my father before he passed away? I'm naturally familiar with it."
Only then did the head of the Song family say, "Alright. Be careful on your way, you and His Highness."
"Okay."
After the head of the Song family left, Concubine Song turned to the King of Jin. "Your Highness, let's go."
The King of Jin nodded but didn't move.
Concubine Song understood his meaning. She took a candle and went down first. Then the King of Jin followed, and then Shen Qing, who was being watched by the secret guards.
In the front hall of the Song Mansion.
The head of the Song family came late after a while.
"Lord Xu has come here in the middle of the night. What's the matter?"
There was a man standing behind Xu Yanchi, holding the sleeping Xu Chenghui in his arms.
This kind of behavior made it hard not to guess what he wanted to do.
After some pleasantries, Xu Yanchi said, "Head of the Song family, to be honest, I'd like to use the secret passage of the Song family."
"Secret passage? What are you talking about, Lord Xu? I don't quite understand."
Xu Yanchi's face stiffened. He had guessed that the head of the Song family might not agree so readily, but he never expected that the head of the Song family would just play dumb.
"Head of the Song family, we're not strangers. There's no need to beat around the bush. As long as you make an exception for me, I'll always remember your kindness."
Both of them tacitly didn't mention the King of Jin.
The head of the Song family stroked his beard. "I'm afraid I'll disappoint you, Lord Xu. There's really no secret passage in my Song family."
Xu Yanchi suddenly stood up. "Aren't you afraid that I'll spread this matter around? Everyone in Hongzhou City is in panic now. If they know that the Song family has a secret passage, they might dig the whole place up to break into the Song Mansion to seek safety."