Chapter 664
She did not know how long she could hide relying on these Hidden Guards…
Knowing that the Patrol Camp was here to catch her, instead of being trapped in this Dadu City… living like a caged beast, trembling and hiding, it was better to face the blade head-on. If she lost her life, so be it; she could go to the Netherworld to accompany her father, and perhaps her mother, too. It would be good for the whole family to be together.
Thinking of this, Liu Ruofu decided she did not want to run anymore. She said in a hoarse voice, “Forget it, you can put me down!”
“Commandery Princess?” The Hidden Guard was quite shocked.
“You all should escape!” Liu Ruofu said calmly. “If one of you can escape, that’s one less life to lose. As long as they catch me, the Crown Prince won’t search the entire city. You can go home.”
The Hidden Guard team looked at Liu Ruofu in surprise. “Commandery Princess, we are the Liu family’s death warriors. King Xian ordered… should he be captured or killed, we must recognize you as our master and protect you with our lives to ensure your safe exit from the city.”
The sense of desolation in Liu Ruofu’s heart was as painful as shards of ice cutting into her heart. “Knowing we are already at a dead end, why struggle painfully? If you could truly sacrifice your lives to get me out of the city safely, would we still need to wait here for five days? Surely, the city gates in all directions are being strictly searched. Enough… if such is my fate, then I accept it! You need not die with me!”
Liu Ruofu struggled to stand on the ground, holding onto the arm of the leading Hidden Guard…
The freshly risen moon was bright and white, illuminating Liu Ruofu’s pale, bloodless features. She felt the sticky blood flow under her skirt gushing down in waves. Gritting her teeth, she restrained herself and spoke, “Since you acknowledge me as your master, I order you… not to mind me and to immediately run for your lives. Do not rescue me! From now on… live well! Go! Father is dead, and mother may no longer be here, either. Living has no meaning for me; I’d rather join them.”
The Liu family’s Hidden Guards looked at each other, completely at a loss.
They were trained from childhood as death warriors, meant to sacrifice their lives for their master. Now the master was telling them to each escape without minding her and to live well.
Liu Ruofu heard the sound of the approaching troops growing closer, like rolling thunder. She roared, “This is an order!”
These Liu family Hidden Guards, if they didn’t take her… they all could escape.
The leader of the Hidden Guard team saw Liu Ruofu’s determination to die and noticed her skirt was still bleeding profusely. The bleeding speed… if she fled with them, she might not survive the journey. On the contrary, if captured… the Imperial Court might send someone to treat Liu Ruofu, saving her life, and they could seize the opportunity to break her out later.
The leader of the Hidden Guard team clasped his fists and acknowledged. He gave Liu Ruofu a deep look and said, “Retreat!”
With that, the leader leaped onto the rooftop and vanished into the night.
The remaining Hidden Guards hesitated for a moment before following and disappearing into the night.
Liu Ruofu stood in the courtyard. She saw torches flickering and chaotic flames appearing suddenly outside the earthen-stone wall. The black wooden door, already peeling and unsteady, was kicked open.
The soldiers of the Patrol Camp, drawing their swords, rushed into the courtyard and saw Liu Ruofu standing alone in the yard.
Lu Ping, with his hand on the sword at his waist, looked around and, seeing no ambush, finally set his eyes on Liu Ruofu.
Liu Ruofu’s face bore the calm of one prepared to die. She sneered, “The winner takes all. My father lost… you can take my life as you wish!”
The flames from the torches swayed with the wind, casting Liu Ruofu in fleeting light and shadow. Blood gushed from her, quickly soaking her vermillion skirt into a deep red. Yet, she stood straight, refusing to bend over in pain, not willing to lower her noble head.
“Take her away!” the Commander of the Patrol Camp shouted.
The soldiers stepped forward, mercilessly lifting Liu Ruofu by the arms on both sides and dragging her out. The armed soldiers rushed into the house to search for any of Liu Ruofu’s accomplices.
Lu Ping felt Liu Ruofu’s calm demeanor in the face of death was odd. He scanned the courtyard, feeling something was extremely strange…
Old Fang also sensed something amiss, clenching his fists hidden in his sleeves.
Could it be that there was no one else beside Liu Ruofu, just waiting here to be captured?
Where were the Liu family’s death warriors?
Death warriors always died before their master. They wouldn’t just disappear without reason.
Jiuzhou Alley suddenly became lively. Dogs barked incessantly. The more timid residents peered out from their earthen walls, eager to see what kind of fearsome criminal the officers were capturing in such a show of force. To their surprise, it turned out to be an exceptionally beautiful woman.
The timid ones peered through door cracks, while fearless young children sneaked out from their homes, wielding wooden swords and watching the armed Patrol Camp soldiers with admiration. They were pulled back inside by women in blue cloth gowns, who smacked their bottoms and dragged them back through the yard doors as they cried and fussed.
Lord Xiao, temporarily in command of the Patrol Camp, thanked Old Fang and Lu Ping at the alley entrance.
With Liu Ruofu taken away, Old Fang turned to bid Lu Ping farewell.
Lu Ping quickly bowed deeply in return, watching Old Fang and the patrol soldiers leave.
As Lu Ping prepared to return to report to Bai Qingyan, the black-lacquered door of the house at the front of Jiuchuan Alley opened slowly. A man in a black cloak lifted the hem of his robe and stepped over the threshold. Standing in front of the doorway where the lanterns swayed, he reached up and removed the hood from his head.
Lu Ping was stunned… Li Mingrui?!
Li Mingrui acted as if he had been waiting for Lu Ping, bowing deeply. “Lu Huwei.”
Lu Ping did not put on airs and hurriedly bowed deeply in return. “Vice Minister Li!”
With his hand on the sword at his waist, Lu Ping raised his head with a smile, his gaze sweeping over the old lantern inscribed with the character “Du.” He remarked casually, “What a coincidence… is Vice Minister Li visiting a friend here?”
“It’s not a coincidence. Mingrui has been waiting here specifically for Lu Huwei.” Li Mingrui made no attempt to hide his purpose.
Lu Ping understood. “The information about the Princess of Nandu came from Vice Minister Li? Since Vice Minister Li knew where Liu Ruofu was hiding, why… not report it to the Crown Prince? Wouldn’t it have been better to claim credit alone?”
“The Princess of Nandu, Liu Ruofu, is a gift from Mingrui to the Princess of Zhen. Mingrui hopes Lu Huwei will convey Mingrui’s sincerity and heartfelt request to meet the Princess of Zhen.” Li Mingrui smiled gently, acting the part of a gracious gentleman, and bowed again to Lu Ping.
·
Lu Ping returned to the Princess of Zhen’s mansion and, without delay, changed his clothes and went to the Qinghui Courtyard to report the matter of Li Mingrui to Bai Qingyan.
“However, I did not make any promises. I only said that Eldest Young Lady was gravely injured and unconscious, and when she woke, I would pass on the message!” Lu Ping said.
Bai Qingyan handed the medicine bowl to Chun Tao, took the honey water, rinsed her mouth, and dabbed her lips with a cloth.