Not long after, Song Wanchu heard a man's voice say, "You may leave."
The tension in her body eased a bit, and her breathing became more relaxed.
As soon as the group got out of the city, the city gate closed behind them.
Song Wanchu's heart still hung in the air. Leaving the city didn't mean they were out of the crown prince's control.
They still had to travel another twenty miles and pass Guyun Pavilion before they could truly leave Yunzhou and escape to safety.
Guyun Pavilion was still heavily guarded by the guards.
They went through the same inspection.
These people even had a portrait of Song Wanchu in their hands.
Thanks to Liang Yuzhou's ingenious design, even if these people had sharp eyes, they would never have guessed that the coffin was double - layered.
The coffin that they thought was empty actually hid a living person at the bottom.
The crown prince's guards let them pass.
Hearing the rattling sound of the wheels, Song Wanchu let out a long sigh of relief.
She had finally left Yunzhou.
Among the crown prince's guards, a young guard hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward to report to the leader.
"General, just now I saw a familiar face in the group. I find it suspicious," he said.
The leader's name was Xie Zheng, a seventh - rank都尉 in the crown prince's service.
He came from a humble background. It was his sharp insight and the courage to charge into battle for the crown prince that had enabled him to rise step by step to become a close subject of the crown prince.
Hearing what his subordinate said, his alertness immediately increased several times. "Who are you talking about?"
"The Taoist priest in the cyan Taoist robe. I think he looks very much like Liang Yuzhou, the former young master of the Duke's Mansion."
"Liang Yuzhou?" Xie Zheng's suspicion deepened.
Although he had never met Liang Yuzhou, this man was well - known in the capital for his talent and ability in both literature and martial arts at a young age.
What was even more talked about was that he had cut off his hair, severed ties with his family on his wedding day, and become a Taoist priest for Song Wanchu, the noble concubine who had left the Duke's Mansion!
Just now, he had also noticed the young Taoist priest in the group.
He had a noble and outstanding aura that was unforgettable.
If that Taoist priest was really Liang Yuzhou, then Song Wanchu's disappearance must have something to do with him!
Even if Song Wanchu wasn't hidden in the group, he might very well leave Yunzhou under the cover of night to meet up with Song Wanchu and help her escape from Yunzhou!
Having figured this out, Xie Zheng clapped the guard on the shoulder heavily.
"Good job, brother! Our chance to make a great contribution has come!"
Traveling at night was slow and difficult.
"Boss, the brothers are all tired. There's a post station up ahead. Let's rest there for the night and then continue our journey," one of the people from the escort agency said.
Everyone in the escort agency thought that they had already left Yunzhou's territory and that the crown prince's men hadn't caught up with them, so the crisis was over.
Liang Yuzhou had his own plan.
"Shi Luohan, you continue escorting the goods as usual. Wanchu and I will take another route."
Since Wanchu had already been secretly transported out of the city, there was no need for her to continue hiding in the coffin.
Shi Luohan understood that it was time for them to go their separate ways.
This parting wasn't a permanent one, but it might be a long time before he saw Wanchu again.
He was reluctant to let her go, but he had no choice.
When they reached the post station, the coffin was unloaded, and the horses were led away to graze and rest.
Song Wanchu got out of the coffin.
Liang Yuzhou put a black hooded cloak on her and pulled the hood over her face, covering it tightly.
"Wanchu, I'm afraid you'll have to endure a bit more. We have to continue on our journey," he said.
He couldn't underestimate the enemy. The crown prince was a very smart man. Hiding a person in a coffin could only work for a while.
With the crown prince's intelligence, he would soon figure it out.
They had to get far enough away before the crown prince and his men caught up with them.
Liang Yuzhou had already prepared a carriage at the post station.
When she got into the carriage, Song Wanchu found that there was even a carpet on the floor, and soft pillows and quilts were placed inside.
Every step of his plan was well - organized, and he was extremely meticulous.
Knowing that she had a heart condition and couldn't ride a horse for a long time because she was afraid of the bumpy ride, he had prepared a carriage for her.
Even the small items inside the carriage were carefully chosen.
Song Wanchu felt a warmth in her heart.
Zhou Yan drove the carriage, and Zhou Sheng followed on horseback.
Inside the carriage, Liang Yuzhou wrapped the quilt around Song Wanchu.
"Where are we going?"
It was late at night and the dew was heavy, but Song Wanchu leaned against Liang Yuzhou's shoulder and didn't feel cold at all.
Liang Yuzhou tightened his arm around her waist, and his chin rested on her forehead. The two of them hugged each other tightly.
In the cold night, they exchanged each other's breath, feeling steady and warm.
"Inside Qingzhou's territory, there's a Yuping Mountain. At the foot of the mountain, it's like spring all year round, and there are many natural hot springs. I bought a mansion at the foot of the mountain. There are peonies planted in the front yard, and you can soak in the hot springs in the backyard. You can see the green mountains and clear waters as soon as you open the door," Liang Yuzhou whispered.
A dreamy scene unfolded in Song Wanchu's mind.
She was very longing for it.
Liang Yuzhou understood her. Every word he said hit her heart.
"When did you buy it?"
"A year ago."
Song Wanchu's heart ached slightly.
A year ago, she had stabbed Liang Yuzhou with a sword and left resolutely.
But he had chased all the way to the south of the Yangtze River. Before even seeing her, he had already chosen a place that she would surely like and bought a mansion that she would surely love.
It was as if he had an unwavering belief that he could win her heart back.
He had spent a whole year carefully weaving a gentle net, and she had finally inevitably fallen into this net and was once again trapped.
She rubbed her face against his neck a few times, finding the most comfortable position.
The place where she rubbed felt like a spark had ignited a prairie fire, instantly becoming hot.
Liang Yuzhou felt a wild joy of being trusted again.
His lips slid down from her forehead, across her nose, and lingered on her red lips.
The carriage bumped slightly, and their bodies bumped and rubbed against each other from time to time.
This silent kiss lasted for a long time, until Song Wanchu noticed that Liang Yuzhou's breathing was heavy and his body was extremely tense.
Blushing, she pushed him away a bit so that she could breathe in some fresh air.
Apparently not satisfied, Liang Yuzhou placed his big hand on her face, pressed her body down, and kissed her again.
"Liang Yuzhou, this is not the time!"
Had this man forgotten that they were on the run? How could he still have such thoughts?
"If this isn't the time, then when is? Wife, give me a definite answer," Liang Yuzhou's voice was hoarse, filled with strong desire.
Song Wanchu bit her red lips and glared at him angrily.
The words she had blurted out just now seemed to be hinting to Liang Yuzhou that she had already agreed to reconcile with him.
If he interpreted it more ambiguously, it would be an invitation to him...
"Wanchu, stop torturing me. I've waited for too long," Liang Yuzhou said shamelessly.
It was as if a fire had been lit in Song Wanchu's chest, and her cheeks were instantly flushed with heat.
Liang Yuzhou let out a happy laugh from his chest.
He wasn't a brute. How could he torment the woman he loved most in a carriage on a cold night?
They had a long future ahead of them.
"Master, we're being followed!" Zhou Sheng's voice came through the carriage curtain and into the carriage.
The amorous atmosphere inside the carriage disappeared in an instant.
Liang Yuzhou's deep eyes suddenly turned cold. "Who are they?"