Chapter 0268: Crawling Through the Dog Hole Xie Chengze, Successfully Flees the City and Soars Free

Since the fire at Cheng Huan Palace, many palace attendants had been withdrawn.

However, none of the retainers kept in the rear courtyard had left. After all, these retainers were utterly loyal and, according to propriety, were required to observe mourning for their lord. Depending on their closeness to him, the mourning period ranged from several months to as long as three years.

Cheng Huan Palace was already hung with funeral banners. Because they could not conflict with the late emperor’s state funeral and the Prince Regent’s body had not been found, only an empty coffin containing his robes and headdress was placed in the main hall, with retainers taking turns keeping vigil.

These retainers were quite diligent. Having been long supported by Xie Chengze in the rear courtyard, enjoying fine food and drink with little work to do, they were very responsible during the vigil. They knelt in rows before the coffin, and some even cried until their eyes were red, wailing to the heavens, “Heaven envies talent! Your Highness, why did you leave so early, leaving your servant alone in this world, how lonely!” before fainting.

Xie Chengze, who had crawled into Cheng Huan Palace through a dog hole, twitched his mouth at the mournful wails coming from the main hall.

Well, their sugar daddy had run off—that was certainly worth crying about.

As for the dog hole, thankfully, when Xie Zimiao had crawled in to see him last time, he had asked out of caution and curiosity where exactly it was.

Standing up, Xie Chengze hurried toward the rear courtyard.

“Hu Lai! Hu Lai! Hu Lai, where are you!”

“Wuhen! Wuji!”

A wooden door was pushed open with a clatter, and Hu Lai, covered in ink stains and with a greasy face, stumbled out. Sporting two large dark circles under his eyes, he exclaimed, “Your Highness? Is it really you? Your servant isn’t dreaming, is he? Weren’t you kidnapped by the Crown Prince?”

“I escaped!” Xie Chengze rushed toward him. “What happened to you?”

At this, Hu Lai couldn’t help but shoot a resentful look at Xie Chengze. “I wonder who ordered this servant to write one storybook a day.”

The culprit: …

Xie Chengze coughed lightly. “Let’s not talk about that! Hurry and pack your Gold Cakes! We’re escaping with me!”

Upon hearing the order, Hu Lai’s feet moved instinctively. Only after gathering all his belongings did he gradually realize something was amiss. “Your Highness! You’re not planning to spend your servant’s money to escape, are you!”

“You’ve got it wrong,” Xie Chengze said gravely. “The four of us are escaping, and we’ll be spending your money alone.”

Hu Lai immediately let out a groundhog-like scream: Ah—!

“Where are Wuhen and Wuji?” Xie Chengze turned his head, growing anxious as the two failed to appear for a long time. “They didn’t go to Taiji Hall to rescue me, did they?”

Hu Lai hoisted his pack and nodded. “Most likely, yes.”

“Tch, without them, how are we going to leave Jingcheng?”

Hu Lai understood. “Your Highness, you were planning to have Wuhen and Wuji use their qinggong to carry us out of Jingcheng?”

Xie Chengze nodded.

“No problem!” Hu Lai waved his hand. “Among your retainers, there are those who know qinggong. I’ll call them over right away!”

“Alright then.” Xie Chengze figured that since Hu Lai thought it was feasible, it probably was. Moreover, these retainers were indeed trustworthy for now.

Hu Lai soon returned with two men. Upon seeing Xie Chengze, the two retainers were stunned, then immediately knelt upon regaining their senses. “Your Highness! You’re actually alive—this is wonderful!”

“Please rise quickly, both of you.” Xie Chengze promptly reached out to help the two men up. “Change into ordinary clothes immediately. I’ll leave a few letters behind, then you two escort me and Hu Lai out of the city.”

“Your Highness is only bringing Minister Hu?” The two retainers exchanged glances. “With Lord Wuhen and Lord Wuji absent, how can you not keep a single martial official by your side for protection?”

“It’s fine. Those two will definitely return. When they do, give them the letters. They’ll know where to find me,” Xie Chengze said.

Hearing this, the two retainers could only nod in agreement.

Since Xie Chengze wrote slowly, he had Hu Lai leave letters—one for Wuhen and Wuji specifying the meeting location, and others for Shen Yuan and Zhang Yuheng.

After some thought, worried that Xie Jinyu might recklessly kill people in the palace, he also left a letter for Xie Jinyu, filled with coaxing promises that he would return after handling his affairs.

The two retainers changed into plain clothes and packed a money pouch, thrusting it into Hu Lai’s hands with earnest admonishment: “This is our saved silver, Minister Hu. You must protect His Highness at all costs outside!”

They added uneasily, “When Lords Wuhen and Wuji aren’t around, don’t drag His Highness into any shady schemes! Neither of you know martial arts—you’ll get beaten up!”

Hu Lai: …

You’re the shady one! Your whole family is shady! He’d explained repeatedly that he tailored strategies to circumstances—he was no villainous official!

——

With the help of the two retainers, Xie Chengze and Hu Lai successfully exited the city.

Carrying one person each, they moved swiftly using light body techniques until midway they encountered a merchant caravan hiring security escorts. Learning the caravan was delivering goods to southeastern Jizhou, the retainers paid the merchants silver to safely transport the two to the city.

“Young master, take care on your journey,” the retainers addressed him differently outside the palace. “Let Hu Lai handle matters when needed, and even when not. Please don’t expose yourself. Once things stabilize at home, we’ll find ways to send word to Minister Hu.”

Xie Chengze nodded. “You two must also avoid drawing attention. Stay quietly at home. I’ll return after resolving matters over there.”

Hearing this, the two retainers tearfully nodded.

Truth be told, most retainers of Cheng Huan Palace were personally selected by the Second Prince. They weren’t from Jingcheng, and their talents might not match those of other princes’ retainers. Some had endured prolonged bullying in academies, others contemplated suicide after failing imperial exams. The martial officials among them suffered worse—when discriminated against, they usually received heavier beatings.

Yet the Second Prince had chosen them, providing generous salaries to support their families. He earnestly learned court affairs from them each time—though His Highness had mediocre aptitude in this area, he never gave up.

They found the Second Prince admirable. Though a bit greedy for money, he meant no harm.

Now was even better—though he’d stopped studying diligently, he no longer mingled with corrupt officials either.

“Young master, take care of your health!”

The two retainers bowed with clasped hands, watching from afar as they called out to the departing merchant carriage.

Xie Chengze waved before withdrawing his head from the carriage window.

Hu Lai was counting the Gold Cakes and Silver Cakes in the money pouch. “Young master, how long do we plan to stay in Pingcheng?”

He needed to calculate—he’d spend the two retainers’ money first.

Xie Chengze glanced at him, expression grave. “Probably… for a long time.”

Without assistance from the palace, protecting Pingcheng’s citizens from the major earthquake would clearly be a massive undertaking. If Shen Yuan and Zhang Yuheng encountered difficulties, he would have to organize the evacuation alone.

Xie Chengze’s concern didn’t stem from doubting Shen Yuan’s capabilities, but rather from believing that everything required a Plan B to ensure complete success.

His eyes shifting thoughtfully, Xie Chengze suddenly asked Hu Lai, “Do any of your twenty-eight concubines reside in Pingcheng?”