All arrangements were made.
One mistress and one maid, disguised in palace eunuch attire, their faces smeared with herbal medicine, turning a sickly yellow, resembling sickly young eunuchs, eliciting immediate pity at first glance.
Coupled with their large, watery eyes, the disguise was all the more convincing.
Yun Xiao’s disguise served two purposes: to evade the palace guards and to conceal themselves from a pair of watchful eyes.
Murong Chong was as elusive as ever; who knew which corner he was lurking in, observing them. If they appeared as young eunuchs, he would surely pay them no mind.
With so many eunuchs coming and going in Jinhua Palace, would he really pay attention to a single eunuch? Hence, her elaborate plan.
Everything prepared, Yun Xiao and Wanwan each carried a bundle. These contained their civilian clothes for after they left the palace, as eunuch robes were far too conspicuous.
“Let’s go.”
The two cautiously slipped out of the inner chambers. Not a soul was present outside the palace gate. The eunuchs were stationed in the outer chambers, unaware that their mistress and servant were stealing away in the night…
The moonlit night was cold and clear. The two figures, like wisps of wandering spirits, headed towards the imperial kitchens, carefully avoiding anyone they encountered.
However, it was late at night, and the weather was cold. The occasional eunuchs and palace maids they met were all from the imperial kitchens, and who would bother with two young eunuchs? Thus, they slipped to the rear without incident.
The imperial kitchens, though not the Hall of Supreme Harmony, were still a crucial area within the palace. The emperor and his concubines’ dietary needs were of paramount importance. If this checkpoint failed, everyone would likely face the same fate.
Death.
Therefore, the imperial kitchens were heavily guarded. Guards were seen patrolling frequently, and over a dozen eunuchs, with watchful eyes, ensured not a single mistake occurred. However, once the goods were unloaded, their vigilance slackened.
Yun Xiao and Wanwan lay hidden, awaiting their opportunity…
Seven or eight carriages were neatly parked in front of the warehouse where the goods were stored. The chief eunuch of the imperial kitchens invited the delivery personnel for tea, and the boisterous laughter and conversation of both parties could be heard from the side rooms.
The goods were unloaded, the warehouse door locked, and even the guards had become lax, retreating to the side to enjoy their tea. The night grew deeper.
As the night deepened and the dew settled, Yun Xiao and Wanwan’s hands and feet grew numb with cold. They kept exhaling warm air onto their hands and rubbing them. They saw that there was no one in front or behind the carriages.
Seizing their chance, the two stooped low, using the cover of the moonlight, and nimbly climbed into the rearmost carriage.
The carriage was empty and spacious, containing five or six large wicker baskets.
The two cleared a small space and huddled behind a large basket, their hands clasped tightly together for mutual comfort.
“I hope we can leave the palace safely.”
A soft sigh echoed in the dim light.
Wanwan knew her mistress must be uncomfortable. She quickly squeezed Yun Xiao’s hand and whispered, “Your Highness, don’t be sad. We will succeed in leaving the palace.”
“Mm,” Yun Xiao said no more. Compared to the freedom outside the palace, her heart felt much more at ease. It was just so cold. When would these fellows who were drinking tea finally finish?
However, her worries were short-lived, as she heard voices approaching.
The imperial palace had a curfew. After the ninth watch of the night, no one was permitted to enter or leave the palace. The delivery personnel, oblivious to this, had finished their tea early and left, still talking and laughing.
The seven or eight carriages began to move slowly.
They traveled, stopping and starting, with occasional checks.
Yun Xiao and Wanwan’s hearts pounded, their clasped hands slick with cold sweat.
However, the guards at the palace gate did not conduct thorough searches. They merely shone their lanterns briefly towards the back of the carriages. These were carriages that passed daily, so their vigilance was much lower.
The journey was incredibly smooth.
At the hour of the rat, they exited the imperial palace and did not stop again. The two quietly removed the bamboo baskets from their heads and peered out through the swaying carriage curtains. The moon had shifted west, and dawn was breaking. If not now, then when?
Though neither possessed martial arts skills, their agility was not that of ordinary women. They leaped down.
The carriage jolted slightly. The driver, feeling a bit tired, raised an eyebrow in confusion and murmured.
“What happened? The carriage just jolted.”
“It’s nothing, let’s go quickly. I’m so tired, and I need to get home to sleep.”
Someone else urged him on. The carriage driver fell silent, and the seven or eight carriages sped away down the street, heading towards their respective homes.
Yun Xiao and Wanwan landed on the street. They looked up at the night sky. The dark night sky was dotted with stars, like gold flecks adorning a glazed screen, truly beautiful.
They took deep breaths of the free, fresh air, an indescribable sense of relief washing over them, their moods inexplicably lifting.
A rustling sound reached their ears. They turned to see Wanwan shaking out a pile of jewelry from her chest, along with some gold ingots and silver pieces. Yun Xiao stared, dumbfounded. This girl was incredible! No wonder she had felt a bit bloated earlier; she had been hiding so many treasures.
“Your Highness, look! When we travel, we always need money. These ornaments and some gold and silver pieces can be exchanged for a lot of cash. We won’t have to worry now.”
After speaking, Wanwan squatted down to pick up the scattered items.
Yun Xiao also squatted down, helping her gather them and put them into their bundles.
Indeed, with these items, they would not have to worry about food, drink, and necessities for a long time. Wanwan had thought of everything. Yun Xiao couldn’t help but smile.
The longer she spent with this girl, the more she realized how insightful she had been to recognize a gem from the start. She was truly worth it.
“It’s getting late, let’s change these clothes quickly.”
Yun Xiao pulled Wanwan to a quiet spot to change out of their eunuch attire. With dawn approaching, the eunuch clothes were far too attention-grabbing.
Just as the two finished changing, they suddenly heard several crying sounds.
The cries, weaving through the cold night, lent an eerie, spectral quality that chilled the bone.
Despite her fearlessness, Wanwan was terrified of ghost stories. Startled, she leaped towards Yun Xiao, holding her freshly changed clothes in one hand and gripping Yun Xiao’s arm tightly with the other, trembling as she spoke.
“Your Highness, there are ghosts.”
Yun Xiao listened closely. It was indeed crying. Where were the ghosts? She was an atheist by nature and didn’t believe in such things. She couldn’t help but tap Wanwan on the head. “Someone is crying. Where are the ghosts?”
Wanwan’s eyes widened. Listening intently, she faintly discerned the crying. The sound was mournful, as if they were enduring immense torment.
The two exchanged glances, their tension rising. “Could someone be suffering inhuman treatment? Quickly, let’s go see!”
They rushed out one after the other, their clothes already on. The eunuch uniforms were casually discarded.
Wanwan did not forget to carry her bundle. Besides the gold and silver jewelry, it contained some of her mistress’s medicinal herbs, gloves, iodine, and other items. Although she didn’t know their purpose, she carried them because her mistress had instructed her to.