SFS Chapter 676: Zhen Yurao's Disappearance
Chapter 676: Zhen Yurao's Disappearance
Zhen Huan nodded, a hint of tenderness flashing in her eyes.
"Many people come to worship Buddha on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month. Please avoid these two days and go to Lingyun Peak for me."
"If you can see Yu Rao, please give her my regards and tell her that everything is fine here and that she doesn't need to worry."
The enemy who killed my parents is in the palace, so don’t tell anyone and make Yu Rao worry.
"Lingyun Peak will be covered with snow in winter. When you go there, bring some supplements and travel light. If you can't make it back on the same day, just stay outside for a night."
"Slave, thank you for your consideration, Master."
Baizhi returned to her residence and while embroidering a purse, she was struggling over whether to take the opportunity to escape.
The longer she stayed with Zhen Huan, the more she knew what kind of punishment the people around her would face after her actions were exposed.
As her confidant, I at least concealed the fact that Zhen Huan had an affair with Prince Guo, and I cannot escape the blame for this.
Baizhi tossed and turned in bed at night, and when the time came, she went to the kitchen to get the food.
On the way back, she thought of what Baoge had said, and tears welled up in her eyes.
Even an outsider like the Imperial Noble Consort noticed the clues, but Zhen Yuandao repeatedly treated her as an ordinary palace maid beside Zhen Huan and did not notice it at all.
When they were about to turn into Zhongcui Palace, Baizhi quietly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
A simple and honest face appeared in her mind. That person once said that he would always wait for her.
I wonder if this is true or false?
Bai Zhi accidentally discovered that Cui Jinxi sprinkled water on the supplements stored in the warehouse. She was shocked and secretly observed for a few days. Finally, she made up her mind to escape from the palace.
"Master, news has come from Zhongcui Palace that the supplements in the storeroom have accidentally become damp. Concubine Zhen has punished Cui Jinxi, who is guarding the storeroom, by making her kneel outside the palace gate for an hour."
An Lingrong put down the white porcelain bowl of pear soup and asked calmly.
"But Zhen Huan discovered Cui Jinxi's betrayal?"
It was so cold outside in winter that it could freeze people to death. Zhen Huan made Cui Jinxi kneel outside for an hour, which was simply a way to kill her.
"My Lord, Bai Zhi didn't say it explicitly. I remember she mentioned that she would leave a big gift for Cui Jinxi before she left."
"Bai Zhi and Cui Jinxi don't get along. I guess Concubine Zhen doesn't know much."
An Lingrong nodded thoughtfully. Concubine Zhen was a ruthless person with a lot of scheming. If she knew that Cui Jinxi was a spy planted by someone else, she would definitely take her life without making a sound.
"The capital city is really cold in winter. Find a chance to give Bai Zhi two hundred taels of silver notes, so that she can at least have a place to stay."
Baizhi faked her own death and escaped, and will not be seen in public for a short period of time.
She didn't want to go to the farm and cause trouble for herself, so An Lingrong could only give her more money to support herself.
Bai Zhi returned to her residence and noticed something unusual under her pillow as soon as she lay down.
She reached over carefully and touched a simple purse.
After seeing what was inside in the moonlight, she was shocked and covered her head with the quilt, trembling slightly.
The night before leaving, Baizhi lit a yellow candle that was only half the length of her thumb, picked up a pen and wrote page after page of letters. After patiently blowing them dry, she folded them up and stuffed them under a loose brick under the bed.
She has no way to repay the Imperial Noble Consort's kindness, and hopes that this letter can come in handy at a critical moment.
On the seventeenth day of the winter month, before dawn, Bai Zhi instructed two young eunuchs to transport the two boxes to Shenwu Gate.
Before the eunuch guarding the gate checked, she secretly slipped a purse over.
"Father, I'm so sorry to bother you checking the boxes in this freezing weather. Please take this wine and warm yourself."
The middle-aged eunuch took the purse, squeezed it, and found that it contained small change.
Then he put on a smile and asked, "Aunt Baizhi, are you going to Ganlu Temple to visit someone again this time?"
"My Lord, you are truly foresighted. My Master said that it is cold in winter and asked me to bring some warm clothes to the people."
Baizhi took the initiative to turn out her thick coat for people to see.
The eunuch glanced casually and told the person at the door to let him in.
"Aunt Baizhi, if you leave the palace next time, please come find me again."
The gatekeeper liked the generous young lady and the housekeeper the most. He also diligently helped Baizhi load the things onto the carriage.
Bai Zhi looked back at the palace shrouded in darkness and took a deep breath.
After being in the palace for more than ten years by accident, he finally gained his freedom.
The carriage drove into the busy street. Bai Zhi bought two hot buns and forced the other one into the hands of the old man driving the carriage.
"Old man, I'm going to a very far place, you should eat something first."
The old man, who was always willing to accept favors from others, waited outside Ganlu Temple until mid-afternoon, and only drove back to the city when no one came out.
Later, when someone came to the house, they learned that the kind-hearted girl had met with an accident in the mountains.
Of course, this is a story for later.
As usual, Baizhi asked a young nun to go to a nearby village to find someone to help move the boxes.
There were a lot of things in the box, but she only packed out a small bag.
The road to Lingyun Peak was difficult to travel, and Zhuzi was afraid of disturbing her, so he asked Baizhi to hold the other side of the stick.
After turning into a valley, Bai Zhi stopped.
"Zhu Zi, did you hear..."
"There are wolves in the mountains. In winter, when animals can't find food, they run away from the mountains."
Zhuzi didn't care about the difference between men and women, and pulled Baizhi downstairs.
She heard the noise getting louder and louder, and she made a quick decision to throw the small bag on her back into the ravine.
Zhen Huan waited in the palace for three days, but did not see Bai Zhi.
She became increasingly uneasy, so she sent a reliable eunuch to go to Lingyun Peak to check.
Three days later, the dusty young eunuch knelt in the main hall to report.
"Your Majesty, I have climbed all the way to Lingyun Peak, but have not seen any trace of the Second Young Lady or Aunt Baizhi. I heard from the villagers collecting firewood nearby that on the day Aunt Baizhi went up Lingyun Peak, there were wolves howling in the mountains."
As he spoke, he handed over a bloodstained bundle.
"This was discovered by someone I had searching the mountains."
Zhen Huan touched the familiar stitching on the handkerchief, her hands trembling slightly.
This was embroidered by her for Yu Rao, and she specifically instructed Bai Zhi to make sure to send this handkerchief to the top of the mountain.
"My Lady, according to the speculation of experienced hunters, Miss Baizhi is very likely to have met with an accident."
"Okay, I understand. You can go down first."
Zhen Huan waved her hand weakly.
She once lived on Lingyun Peak and often heard the howling of animals in winter.
During those frightening days, the three of them, master and servant, often had to squeeze into a meditation room to fall asleep.
It was not until Yunli took Ajin to dig traps near the top of the mountain and hunted several ferocious beasts that they gained a brief peace.
Yu Rao is stubborn and won't let anyone accompany her.
Zhen Huan shed tears silently, feeling extremely regretful. She should have asked Yunli to take care of Yurao.