Zhou Sheng said, "They're following at a distance. It's hard to see clearly. Judging from the sound of the horses' hooves, there are about seven or eight of them."
Liang Yuzhou made a prompt decision. "Stop the carriage. Pretend to take a break. You go quietly and find out what's going on."
As soon as he finished speaking, it was as if a gust of wind had swept by. Zhou Sheng was extremely skilled in lightness kung fu. In a moment, he disappeared into the darkness.
The carriage came to a halt. Zhou Yan drew his sword and warily circled around the carriage.
Less than a quarter of an hour later, Zhou Sheng returned.
"Master, when we stopped, so did those people. I saw clearly. The leader is that seventh - rank military officer who was on guard and inspected the coffin at Guyun Pavilion just now."
Song Wanchu felt as if a basin of cold water had been poured over her heart. It was bone - chillingly cold.
"Has the Crown Prince's guard discovered us?"
"Not only that. These people are the ones keeping watch. The main force of the Crown Prince's troops should be in hot pursuit."
Liang Yuzhou's eyes were heavy. "We've been exposed. Maybe someone in the guard recognized either me or Shi Luohan. They followed us all the way and saw you getting out of the coffin at the post station. That's why they've been following us closely."
Zhou Sheng tightened his grip on the sword in his hand, his eyes filled with killing intent.
"Master, you take Madam and leave. There aren't many of them. Zhou Yan and I will finish them off quickly."
Since they're just keeping watch, just kill them!
If the vanguard is wiped out, they won't be able to leave marks for the main force.
The main force will be like headless flies and won't know which direction to pursue.
Liang Yuzhou frowned tightly. "No. The people around the Crown Prince are all top - notch experts. It's too risky for the two of you to fight against so many!"
Zhou Sheng took it as his bounden duty. "Master, my brother and I aren't that afraid of death. For you and Madam, we're willing to take the risk!"
Zhou Yan also chimed in. "Master, what my brother said is the best way to get out of this predicament. You and Madam don't hesitate any longer!"
"No!"
This time, it was Song Wanchu who spoke.
She looked at the determined faces of the two brothers. "Although you call Liang Yuzhou master, he regards you as brothers. A brother's life isn't meant to be sacrificed. Do you think Liang Yuzhou is such a selfish person that he would let you go into danger just so that we can escape?"
Both Zhou Sheng and Zhou Yan fell silent.
A gratified smile spread across Liang Yuzhou's face. "Wanchu understands my heart."
"Master, then what should we do?"
Zhou Yan was straightforward and could only think of the most direct way.
Liang Yuzhou closed his eyes tightly and fell into deep thought.
"Create a diversion," Song Wanchu said.
Liang Yuzhou suddenly opened his eyes. His sharp eyes were as bright as if they had been washed, extremely dazzling.
Wanchu's words reminded him.
He helped Song Wanchu out of the carriage and extinguished the torch.
There was no moon tonight. With the only source of light gone, the deep forest was left in endless darkness.
The people following behind were afraid of exposing themselves, so they didn't light torches.
When they saw the torch on this side go out, they would get closer for fear of losing their target.
Sure enough, after a while, the rustling sound of footsteps got closer. But if you didn't listen carefully, you would miss these sounds in the wind.
Xie Zheng saw that not far ahead, the torch was lit again.
The carriage left in another direction.
And a tall man in a Taoist robe, holding a cloaked person, rode a horse and took a small path to escape.
Xie Zheng waved to the people behind him. "Hurry, catch up with those two on horseback!"
They were trying to separate and create a diversion!
But they must not have expected that their clothing and appearance had already exposed their identities!
The carriage galloped for a while, and then its speed gradually slowed down.
Zhou Yan and Zhou Sheng exchanged clothes with them and deliberately lit torches so that the Crown Prince's guard could clearly see their outfits.
The pursuers were successfully lured away.
Without a doubt, the main force of the Crown Prince's troops would also be lured away.
Song Wanchu heard intermittent coughing sounds from outside the carriage. Her heart suddenly tightened.
Liang Yuzhou's lung disease had never fully recovered.
Driving the carriage at night, the cold air entered his body, triggering the cough.
Waiting for no response from Liang Yuzhou, Song Wanchu lifted the curtain of the carriage and anxiously wanted to check on his condition.
The night was deep. She couldn't see Liang Yuzhou's face clearly. She could only see his tall and straight figure blurring into a mass in the darkness.
"It's okay. It's cold outside. Get in quickly."
Liang Yuzhou took out the small medicine bottle he carried with him, poured out a pill, and swallowed it.
This was the prescription left by Taoist Qiu to suppress coughing.
After taking the pill, his lungs felt moist and slightly warm, driving away the cold air.
His throat also felt much better.
Suddenly, a soft body hugged him from behind.
"Liang Yuzhou, promise me that when we get to Yuping Mountain, you'll take good care of your illness."
Liang Yuzhou knew that only when he was well could he give Wanchu the greatest sense of security.
He held Song Wanchu's wrist, tilted his head to look at her, his eyes shining like stars.
"Naturally. Otherwise, do you think I chose a place with hot springs just for fun?"
His lips approached Song Wanchu's ear and let out a puff of warm air. "You don't think it's just for a lovers' bath, do you?"
Song Wanchu suddenly blushed.
At a time like this, he was still thinking about such improper things!
Liang Yuzhou let out a contented chuckle, soothingly kissed Wanchu's lips, and sent her back into the carriage.
Song Wanchu didn't know what Liang Yuzhou was thinking at this moment.
Liang Yuzhou felt that as long as Wanchu was by his side, even fleeing for his life was a kind of happiness.
The carriage drove at a steady pace.
Breaking through the darkness, there was a faint dawn in the distance.
If everything went smoothly, they could reach Qingzhou City at noon.
Song Wanchu was extremely tired and sleepy. Hugging the brocade quilt and leaning on the soft pillow, she was on the verge of falling asleep.
Suddenly, the carriage stopped.
It was eerily quiet all around.
"Liang Yuzhou, what's going on?" Song Wanchu was sleepy - eyed.
"Something's wrong," Liang Yuzhou murmured.
He had profound internal energy and his hearing was beyond ordinary people.
He could feel the ground trembling slightly.
Only a large number of horses running on the ground could make such a sound.
Behind them, a large number of troops were catching up!
"Wanchu, the Crown Prince is catching up. Sit tight!"
The carriage galloped on the not - very - wide path.
The sound of the horses' hooves hit Song Wanchu's chest heavily. Her heart was pounding wildly.
Wasn't the main force of the Crown Prince's troops lured away? How could they catch up so quickly?
Liang Yuzhou's horse had run all night and was already exhausted, while the Crown Prince's cavalry were traveling light.
Soon, Song Wanchu heard the thunderous sound of horses' hooves getting closer and closer.
"Liang Yuzhou, you can't escape. Hand over Wanchu!"
It was the Crown Prince's voice, like a death knell. Song Wanchu felt as if her throat was being choked, filled with a suffocating sense of fear.
"Whoosh", it was the sound of an arrow cutting through the air.
The arrow seemed to land right beside Song Wanchu's ear, making a menacing tremor.
Then, there were more "whooshing" sounds, cutting through the sky.
Sitting inside the carriage, she didn't have to worry about being hurt by the arrows. But Liang Yuzhou, who was driving the carriage, was completely exposed to the sight of the cavalry!
Song Wanchu's heart felt like it was being fried in a pan, painful and tormented. But she didn't dare to make a sound for fear of distracting Liang Yuzhou.
She heard Shi Minglang shouting again. "Your Highness, don't shoot the arrows. You'll hurt someone!"
The Crown Prince's cold voice was getting closer and closer. "Liang Yuzhou, no mercy!"