Imperial Consort Yi reclined on the couch, not in a hurry to ask the person waiting for her. Instead, she had Qing 'er brew a cup of tea and slowly sipped it.
After a while, she said, "What is it?"
The person then replied, "Imperial consort, Princess Anle is missing."
The hand holding the teacup trembled and the hot tea poured down, wetting Imperial Consort Yi's flowery dress. Qing 'er hurriedly took the teacup and asked, "Imperial consort, are you scalded?"
Imperial Consort Yi frowned and pushed Qing 'er away. Her voice didn't have the usual laziness as she asked coldly, "Missing? What do you mean missing?"
The person's back was covered in cold sweat, "The day before yesterday, the spies in the palace came to report. At that time, this subordinate thought that the princess had discovered our people and was hiding. This subordinate didn't pay much attention to it. This subordinate only realized that something had happened when the princess was still nowhere to be seen."
"The day before yesterday, the report only came today!" Imperial Consort Yi angrily rebuked. She picked up the teacup that Qing 'er had just put away and threw it at the person's head. The person didn't dodge. The porcelain shards mixed with tea powder fell on his forehead and dark red blood slowly seeped out from his hair.
Qing 'er's face paled, but she still went forward to persuade, "Imperial consort, don't be angry and harm your health."
"There are so many people in the palace watching. How could they lose sight of a little girl?!" Imperial Consort Yi's voice became shrill.
"Princess Anle plays every day. It was Imperial consort who said …" The person hesitated, "There's no need to report."
Imperial Consort Yi was angry. After a while, she asked, "What's the situation now?"
"His Highness Cheng Wang has already sent people to look for her. However, the Duan Of Silla also sent people."
"Huan Zhuo!" Imperial Consort Yi said this name through gritted teeth, as if she wanted to eat him alive.
After a while, Imperial Consort Yi said, "Since it's like this, send people to secretly search the palace to see if the imperial jade seal is still there."
The subordinate cupped his fist and accepted the order. He cautiously asked, "Does Your Highness have any other instructions?"
Imperial Consort Yi was about to ask him to leave when she suddenly remembered something, "Is Gu Yan in the capital?"
The servant immediately replied, "Madam Pingyang caught a cold a few days ago and has been in the mansion all this time. Her personal maidservant comes in and out every day to serve her."
"Sick?" The Imperial Consort Yi said, "Keep a close eye on the General's Mansion and report any changes immediately."
After the guest left the hall, the Imperial Consort Yi slumped against the couch. "An Le, I still underestimated her."
Beside her, Qing 'er said, "Niangniang, there's no need to worry. His Highness Cheng Wang will definitely catch her and bring her back. What can a woman like her accomplish?"
Imperial Concubine Yi didn't reply. Her gaze was heavy, and no one knew what she was thinking.
— — —
Snow had already started to fall in Yin Province in November. The number of guards at the city gate had also increased abruptly. There was a long queue of people exiting the city gate.
The imperial guards were holding a portrait in their hands. All the women exiting the city were carefully examined.
In the queue, a dark-skinned peasant woman dressed in coarse linen clothes was slowly moving with the queue while listening to the two people behind her talk.
"I don't know what happened, but there's suddenly a strict inspection."
"I heard that something was lost in the capital by a female thief."
"Really? That's incredible. I wonder what was lost."
"It must be priceless."
While they were talking, it was already the peasant woman's turn. The imperial guard stopped her and carefully examined her face. He asked, "Why are you leaving the city?"
"To see a man." When she spoke, she actually had a southern accent. The peasant woman secretly glanced at the portrait in the imperial guard's hand and asked curiously, "Big brother, what happened? Oh, I heard the two big brothers behind me say that something was lost. What was lost? “
The imperial guard impatiently waved his hand, "Hurry up and leave. Don't talk nonsense."
The peasant woman had no choice but to quickly leave the city.
Past Yin Province was the territory of the Fuyu Prefecture. North to Kuanbian Pass was the northernmost border of Hokuin.
The peasant woman left the city and walked along the official road for a while before turning into a small path. She used a handkerchief to wipe away the black dust on her face, revealing a fair and delicate face. She was the Madam of Pingyang, Gu Yan.
Half a month before Princess An Le left the palace, Gu Yan claimed that she was ill. In fact, she quietly left the capital two days later.
She was many days earlier than Princess An Le. She hired a carriage to head north and arrived at Yin Province. After arriving at Yin Province, the inspection suddenly increased. It seemed that Princess An Le had been discovered to have left the palace. She secretly thought.
The road ahead would be even more difficult to walk.
Gu Yan walked along the small path until the afternoon. She felt that the soles of her feet were burning and her mouth was dry. The cloth bag was wrapped with a few dry rations bought in Yin Province. The water bag had long been empty.
The mountain forest was quiet. Occasionally, there was the sound of birds chirping. In the distance, she could hear the sound of flowing water. She walked in the direction of the flowing water. Sure enough, in the distance, she saw a small stream meandering through the forest like a silver ribbon.
When she reached the water, she filled the water bag and took off her shoes and socks. The soles of her feet were already blistered. Gu Yan frowned. She found a sharp stone at the bottom of the water and popped the blisters on the soles of her feet. Pus flowed out along with the stinging pain. Gu Yan gritted her teeth and squeezed the blisters. Only when the pus flowed out did she let out a sigh of relief. Then, she put her feet in the water.
The cold water gently surrounded her scarred feet. It was so comfortable that she sighed. After resting for a while, Gu Yan decided to walk a bit more. She wanted to find a place to stay before nightfall.
Dusk was everywhere. The sunset was like exquisite silk, enshrouding the horizon.
Gu Yan walked for a day and was already exhausted. She stopped and looked into the distance. She could faintly see a few wisps of smoke rising in spirals. Where there was smoke, there must be people. Thinking of this, Gu Yan forced herself to be alert and walked in the direction of the smoke.
Finally, before sunset, she found a house to stay in.
It was a dreamless night. When Gu Yan woke up, it was almost noon. She heard the sound of an old woman feeding a chicken in the courtyard.
She pushed the door open and saw the old woman holding a dustpan in one hand and scattering chicken feed with the other. She was also cooing. When she saw Gu Yan come out, she put down the things in her hands and clapped her hands. "Miss, you're up. Did you sleep well?"
Gu Yan nodded and smiled: "Thank you, old woman. I slept very well."
The old woman brought some water and said to Gu Yan: "Miss, please wash up first. We'll eat in a while."
Gu Yan smiled and took the water. She asked: "Old woman, we're not far from Bai Zhou, right?"
"Bai Zhou is still three days away. Miss, are you going to Bai Zhou to find someone?"
Gu Yan nodded. "Yes."
"There's someone in the village who happens to be delivering goods to Bai Zhou. He might leave tomorrow. Miss, why don't you go together? You can look after each other."
Gu Yan was pleasantly surprised. "Really? That's great."
The old woman quickly discussed for Gu Yan. Early the next morning, she followed the delivery team and set off north.
The wind at night began to become bitingly cold. Gu Yan and the others stopped in the forest to rest.
The men were busy cutting some branches and building a bonfire.
Gu Yan sat on the side and watched. A young girl walked over to her and sat down. She looked at her and asked curiously: "What's your name?"
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