Chapter 503 — Each Reveals Their Own
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 3 of 4
"That's right! Since there's no way to patch things up now, what is there left to fear? If you and the young master are in danger, do you think the likes of us can slip away? If not for you just now, my lady, we would already be dead under the crossbows!"
"At worst we stake our lives once more! Even if we die, we'll drag someone down with us!"
"When the time comes, my lady, send word to our families that not one of us who went out brought shame to Zhending!"
Tears brimmed on Dou Yan's lashes, her breast so filled with nameless feeling that she felt strength in every limb. "Good! Then we shall fight them a round, and I will not believe we cannot beat these men who hide their heads and tails. At the worst I shall lead you to Tianjin; the heir still has a dockyard there!"
That last sentence, which she had thought of on the spur of the moment, raised everyone's spirits even higher.
Dou Yan said, "If they dare act so, they must be at the pass of life and death. What worries me most now is that something has changed on the heir's side as well. I fear they will use our safety to cozen him and make him break faith with the Crown Prince. Then we shall have lost on both counts. We must find a way to reach the heir!"
Someone still had to break out and carry word to Song Yan.
Perhaps because the present crisis touched on upheaval in the court, and so made the guards feel they were laboring for the altars of state and soil, not one of them hesitated. Several stepped forward at once, and another said, "Why not split into two parties, one in the open and one in the dark? Whoever gets out will find a way to reach the heir."
It was the best plan they could think of for the moment.
Duan Bing said, "Leave a few men with me to guard the lady and the young master here; the rest of you slip out by different ways."
Chen Lanxu gazed at Duan Bing for a long while.
If they failed, those men would very likely vent their rage on Dou Zhiwei's guards. Duan Bing would be in great danger. If they succeeded, Duan Bing would only have done a guard's duty, and his merit would seem slight indeed.
Duan Bing knew this as well as anyone. He smiled and clapped Chen Lanxu on the shoulder. "I am old, and I only wish to stay at the lady's side. You are still young. Go and make your fortunes!"
Chen Lanxu's eyes grew moist. He turned his head and said to the others, "Is everyone ready?"
"Ready!" They dared not speak loudly, but their looks were utterly resolute.
Chen Lanxu nodded.
They split into groups of two or three and slipped out one after another.
In the space of a few breaths, someone was discovered.
The other side shouted "Halt!" and shot him down without mercy.
A shrill scream like tearing silk rang out at their ears; a figure dropped from the top of the wall, limbs twitching, and lay at the foot of the wall, and soon there was no sound from him at all.
Dou Yan's vision blurred at once.
Chen Lanxu's voice, by contrast, grew colder and clearer: "Your turn. Be careful."
Three guards nodded and slipped out the window without a sound.
Grandmother gripped Yuanheng's hand tight and held it fast.
Another muffled thud.
Outside the room came Song Han's pig-slaughtering howl: "Help! I am the second young master of the Yingzhenguo Estate... Sister-in-law, it's the Prince of Liao who wants to carry you off. You'd best not put up any futile resistance. The Prince of Liao entered the palace in secret long ago, under arrangements made by the Empress's ceremonial office..."
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In the palace.
Song Yan was on duty today.
The bed was too hard, the blanket reeked of some indefinable smell, and the food was boiled and dressed with nothing but salt. He could only pray for dawn to come quickly, so he could go home and rest for a day.
But the night was long, and there was truly nothing to do in the palace. Returning from his rounds, he simply picked up a brush and began practicing his calligraphy.