Chapter 173 Citywide Lockdown

Chapter 173 Citywide Lockdown

However, when he returned to the Prince Jing's residence, before he even entered the gate, the gatekeeper told him...

“Princess Jing took your token and led away the young prince and the people in her courtyard.”

Xie Yan rushed to her courtyard in a panic. It was already dawn, and the flowers and plants in the courtyard were still there, as were the birds in the cages.

However, Cheng'er and his aunt were nowhere to be seen in the courtyard, nor was Qinghe.

Even the maids in her courtyard were nowhere to be found.

He ran into her room, where the painting he insisted on replacing was still hanging on the wall.

He stood side by side with her, Xie Chengze between them, holding Cheng'er's hand firmly.

They were all smiling, and seemed to be getting along very well.

Only he knew that he had forced all of this upon himself.

Looking around, everything in the house was as before, as if she had just taken Cheng'er on a trip and would be back later.

Actually, she didn't want anything; she threw him away too!

Xie Yan suddenly felt empty and slumped down in the chair.

She didn't believe him, nor was she willing to wait for him; perhaps she didn't care about his explanation at all.

It was just his one-sided guilt and the feelings that were gradually growing inside him.

He seemed to suddenly understand her previous sharpness and eccentricity.

A girl full of love married him, thinking it would lead to a beautiful marriage.

Little did she know it was an endless abyss. His neglect and hatred made her days feel like they were being slowly tortured by sharp knives.

But their marriage was arranged by fate, and they had no choice but to accept it.

Xie Yan looked at her little world and said to the guards waiting outside the courtyard, "Search the whole city for Princess Jing and the young prince."

"Yes!" The guard acknowledged the order and left.

Wuying walked over from afar: "Your Highness, it's time to return to the palace! Today is your big day!"

Xie Yan looked at Wu Ying and said, "Wu Ying, I always thought you were loyal to me, but I didn't expect you to be loyal to others as well."

Wuying's face turned pale, and he hurriedly knelt down on one knee. "Your Highness, Wuying has always been loyal to you and has never had any ulterior motives."

"Your Highness is also single-mindedly focused on helping you ascend to the supreme throne as soon as possible."

"Is that so?" Xie Yan stood with his hands behind his back, gazing intently at him.

"Wuying, I know you are devoted to me. From now on, you will get everything you want."

Wu Ying's brow twitched. "Your Highness, I only wish you well, nothing more."

"Everyone has seven emotions and six desires in this life. You have been by my side for so many years, and I will not treat you unfairly."

After saying that, Xie Yan walked out of the courtyard.

Wu Ying stared at his retreating figure. So, His Highness knew everything.

My heart was filled with fear.

I have a feeling that His Highness is breaking things off with him.

*

As dawn broke, the entire city of Luoyang began to awaken.

The morning drums sounded, and the curfew ended.

People seeking a living gradually emerged from the streets.

Inside a carriage, Shen Nanzi changed into a plain white dress. She couldn't wear mourning clothes for her brother, so this was the only way.

She couldn't let her sister-in-law find out, otherwise she would break down, and Shen Nanzi was worried that her sister-in-law wouldn't be able to endure the rest of the journey.

So she planned to keep it a secret from everyone, not even revealing her emotions.

In the morning, I returned to the Prince Jing's residence and told the people in the courtyard that they were leaving the residence for the border.

She only wanted to take her great-aunt and Qinghe with her.

She originally did not want to take Xie Chengze's two guards and four maids with her.

But they all knelt before her, vowing to follow her to the death.

Shen Nanzi thought that her sister-in-law would probably need more people, so she gritted her teeth and brought them all.

At this moment, in the passageway of the North Gate, there was a dense crowd of people and carriages, lined up in order, waiting to leave.

Qinghe jumped onto the carriage. "Your Highness, the city gates are still closed. They say they won't open them until the new emperor ascends the throne."

The ascension of a new emperor is an emergency enthronement following the death of the previous emperor. The ceremony is relatively simple and can be completed in about half a day.

The morning drums have just sounded; we still have to wait several hours.

"Don't call me Princess anymore, just call me Madam," Shen Nanzi reminded her.

At this point, she was worried about whether she would be able to leave the city smoothly.

"Xiao Wen! Xiao Wu!" Shen Nanzi called out to the outside of the curtain.

Xiao Wen and Xiao Wu are Xie Chengze's bodyguards, both seventeen or eighteen years old, and now they have to take on multiple roles.

"Go and investigate to see if there's anything else unusual."

"Yes." The two acknowledged the order and left.

My aunt asked worriedly, "I wonder if our credentials will be enough to leave the city?"

This was also what Shen Nanzi was worried about. They could have used their royal status to enter through the main gate, which was reserved for the royal family.

However, after Qinghe went to investigate, she found that the area was heavily guarded, and combined with what Ye Shuyin had said, they couldn't get out of that gate.

She had previously made a fake exit pass. Shen Nanzi knew that if the fake pass was discovered, she would be imprisoned in the dungeon.

Now, with Xie Yan ascending the throne again, the inspections will undoubtedly be even more stringent.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have kept sending Qinghe out to inquire.

She fumbled for the fake token at her waist. They could no longer use this token; Lie Feng must have already told Xie Yan about it.

"Come on, have some steamed buns." Ye Shuyin's voice came from outside the carriage.

"Thank you!" Qinghe took the steamed bun, lifted the curtain in front of her, and handed it in.

The aunt took them, handed one to Xie Chengze, and then handed one to Shen Nanzi.

The steaming hot buns were emitting a meaty aroma, but Shen Nanzi couldn't eat them.

She couldn't bear to think about her brother; the mere thought would bring tears to her eyes.

"There are many more soldiers patrolling outside. I inquired and found out they are looking for Princess Jing and the young prince," Ye Shuyin's voice came from outside the carriage curtain behind her.

The voice wasn't loud, just loud enough for her to hear.

Shen Nanzi's eyes flickered slightly. He had already killed her brother. He was trying to eliminate them completely, leaving no way for the mother and son to survive.

“Your credentials definitely won’t allow you to leave the city. Once they’re discovered, there’ll be no way out.” Ye Shuyin leaned against the outer wall of the carriage, munching on a steamed bun.

"If you agree to my request, I will definitely take you to the border and ensure the safety of you and your sister-in-law's family."

At this moment, Xiaowen and Xiaowu also rushed back and reported from outside.

"Madam, I have inquired and found that portraits of you and the young prince have been received at each exit. Many soldiers are now searching with these portraits in hand."

Shen Nanzi's brow twitched. Luoyang City was already impregnable; if they tried to get out through the city gates, she and Cheng'er would definitely not be able to.

She thought about Ye Shuyin's words, "Tell me your request, and if I can do it, I can help you."

Ye Shuyin, leaning against the carriage outside, had a slight smile on her lips. She was beautiful, and her casual smile was like a flower in full bloom, stunningly beautiful.

This caused the women outside to frequently turn around and look back.

Ye Shuyin glanced at those gazes and said, "I need to get in the car to talk."

Auntie looked up in surprise and said with displeasure, "You lecherous scoundrel, how can a man ride in my lady's carriage!"

Ye Shuyin chuckled softly, "I can take you out! If you can't even get on a carriage under these conditions, then what comes next is even more unacceptable!"