The woman standing in front of Ji Lingchuan nervously wrung her hands and replied, "Yes, I was just doing the laundry by the well."
"Just now by the well, an old woman sprained her waist. Do you have any impression of that?" Ji Lingchuan asked.
The woman immediately said, "I know. I was right there when the old woman got injured. I even gave her a hand!"
Ji Lingchuan frowned and pondered. "When and how did she sprain her waist?"
The woman was taken aback for a moment. She frowned and recalled, then said, "It was just when the officers came to search our neighborhood. We were about to get up and go home. Maybe the old woman got up too quickly and sprained her waist. The wooden basin and clothes in her hands even fell to the ground."
This was consistent with what the other woman had said just now.
Was he just being over - cautious? An old woman just happened to sprain her waist and apply medicinal wine when they came to search.
"Where is the well?" Ji Lingchuan asked. The woman pointed in a direction. He thanked her, took the leash of a hunting dog from a black - armored soldier, and led the dog towards the well.
The place Ji Lingchuan was searching was not far from the well. After walking a short distance, he saw the towering banyan tree at the end of the alley and the well under it. His eyes carefully scanned the surroundings. Ji Lingchuan loosened the rope in his hand, and the dog lowered its head and started searching on its own.
He stood there with his hands behind his back, waiting quietly. The hunting dogs raised by the black - armored army had extremely sensitive noses. As long as she had sat or passed by this place, the hunting dog could distinguish the subtle smell and catch her trail.
Thinking that she might still be alive, Ji Lingchuan's heart couldn't help but pound violently.
Unexpectedly, a cool sensation suddenly landed on his face. He looked up. Dark clouds were gathering densely above his head, and raindrops were falling from the sky, pattering on the ground.
It was actually raining.
At first, it was just a fine drizzle, but the rain gradually got heavier, and there were even snowflakes mixed in.
He could feel that his clothes were soaked by the rain and snow. The bone - chilling cold seeped into his skin, making his bones ache.
The rain and snow on the ground also diluted the smell on it. The hunting dog walked around the well but found nothing. It came back to Ji Lingchuan and whined aggrievedly.
Ji Lingchuan looked up at the dark clouds in the sky. Frost seemed to form between his eyebrows.
Fu Zhou ran over from behind, raised the umbrella in his hand to shield Ji Lingchuan from the rain and snow, and advised, "My lord, the rain is too heavy. You're all wet. If you stay like this, you'll get sick. Please leave here quickly and go back to change your clothes!"
Ji Lingchuan turned around and walked towards the outside of the alley. He said, "Send people to guard all the exits of this neighborhood. Keep an eye on everyone going in and out, and find out where they're going. After the rain and snow stop, come back with the hunting dogs to search again."
Fu Zhou looked at his side profile and moved his lips as if he wanted to say something.
My lord... Why bother so much?
In the end, Fu Zhou replied, "Yes, I'll give the order right away."
The moment the rain and snow started, Song Yihuan had quietly returned to the small courtyard where she was hiding along a small path.
There was nothing to keep out the cold in the house. The cold seeped in from all directions, making her shiver. She stood in the yard, listening intently to the movement outside. Sure enough, she heard the sound of the black - armored soldiers retreating.
She let out a sigh of relief. When she went back into the house, she found that her back was completely soaked with sweat.
She found some firewood and lit it. She warmed herself by the fire. Thinking of what had just happened, she couldn't help but let out a soft sigh.
Even such a remote neighborhood as Dog's Tail Alley had attracted Ji Lingchuan, who had brought hunting dogs to search. It seemed that her act of jumping off the cliff couldn't deceive him at all. Well, he was so smart, the most proud student of the great scholar Qi. How could he be so easily deceived?
She thought that since he had mobilized so many forces to find her, he must hate her to the core.
No man could stand being played like a fool by a woman. Her existence, every word she said might be a lie. She had even deceived him and the Princess of Ningqin with such an important matter as having an heir.
It was not an overstatement to say that she was extremely guilty.
Although she had deceived the hunting dogs of the black - armored army with medicinal wine today, this was not a long - term solution. With Ji Lingchuan's wisdom and caution, he might come again. She couldn't stay here for long. After the rain stopped, she had to find a way to leave quickly and escape from the capital.
Both Ji Lingchuan and Song Yihuan were waiting for the rain to stop. However, the rain mixed with snow continued to fall for several days. A layer of white snow covered the capital. In this sudden chaos, the New Year was gradually approaching.
In the blink of an eye, it was almost the New Year. Although the weather had been bad recently, every household in the capital had hung up lanterns and colorful silk to celebrate the New Year.
Dog's Tail Alley in Chicken and Dog Workshop.
Song Yihuan and Mrs. Wang were sitting around the charcoal stove, warming themselves by the fire and with their heads close together, fiddling with something.
"Wrong, wrong, sister. You should thread this needle like this. Come out from here and then go down here. Do you understand?"
Song Yihuan was instructing Mrs. Wang on how to sew a new pair of shoes.
She explained it very clearly. After her demonstration, Mrs. Wang immediately understood. She said happily, "I see. Thank you, miss!"
Then she continued to sew the shoes in her hand seriously. Sure enough, it was much smoother than before.
In the past few days, Mrs. Wang would take care of Song Yihuan from time to time. She would step on the tall weeds at the back door to bring food to Song Yihuan. Song Yihuan was very grateful. When she learned that Mrs. Wang was going to sew new clothes and shoes for her family, she offered to teach her embroidery skills. Mrs. Wang readily agreed. Gradually, the two became friends.
"Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. My husband should be back tomorrow. If I can finish embroidering the shoes before he comes back, he can wear new shoes." Mrs. Wang said happily.
Seeing the hidden shyness and expectation on Mrs. Wang's face, Song Yihuan lowered her eyes slightly.
"By the way, miss. You're hiding here alone and have no family to celebrate the New Year with you. Why don't you come and celebrate with us? My husband is a rough man. He definitely won't recognize that you're a young woman." Mrs. Wang invited warmly.
Song Yihuan smiled and said, "No, thank you for your kind invitation. My situation is not good now. I'd better not cause you any trouble. However, I do have a favor to ask of you, sister."
"Just tell me. If I can do it, I will definitely help you." Mrs. Wang said with a smile.
"Tomorrow I plan to go to the City God Temple to offer incense to my dead mother and younger brother. Can you help me get some incense, candles, and paper money?"
Mrs. Wang patted her chest and said, "That's easy. Just wait."
At night, Mrs. Wang braved the wind and snow to bring the things Song Yihuan needed.
Besides the incense, candles, and paper money, there were also some offerings in her hands. It could be seen that she had put a lot of thought into it.
After thanking her, Song Yihuan went back to her room.
Holding the basket of offerings, she tightened her lips.
The New Year was coming, and the best opportunity for her to leave had also arrived.