Feng Qian looked at the two maids with a choked voice. It was worth it for her to have truly cared for them. However, she had feelings for them and couldn't bear to see them punished. If she disappeared, her mother would not forgive them.
"Don't worry, the Empress won't kill them. At most, she'll just give them a beating."
The Emperor is seriously ill, and a marriage alliance between the two countries is arranged. The Empress will not kill anyone, but she will inevitably suffer.
"Princess, we are not afraid."
“Alright, it’s settled then,” Hai Ling said decisively, then said loudly, “Xiao Ke, Lian Yi, it’s getting late. Help the princess back to the palace. If she doesn’t go back soon, the Empress will scold her.”
Hai Ling said these words so that A Gu and the others nearby could hear them, lest the news leak out and be discovered by Feng Zi Xiao, which would ruin their plan.
Xiao Ke and Lian Yi quickly helped the swaying Feng Qian and prepared to leave. While supporting the princess, they persuaded her, "Princess, please stop drinking. We're going back. Princess, we're going back."
Hai Ling then instructed Rouge, who was standing not far away, "Escort the princess out of Qin Fang Courtyard."
"Yes, miss."
Rouge saw Feng Qian off, and Hailing went into her room and instructed Lühe and the others, "It's late, go to sleep."
“Yes,” Green Lotus and the others left. Hai Ling stayed in the room and waited for Rouge to return before immediately telling her what to do next. Rouge’s expression changed slightly, full of worry: “Miss, this is too risky. If someone finds out, you’ll be in trouble.”
"I will be careful."
With her current skills, as long as she is careful, nothing will happen: "Tomorrow morning, we will pretend to leave the city and go to the temple outside the city to pray for blessings. By then, the royal family should not have discovered that the princess is missing."
"Miss."
"Go and get ready,"
Hai Ling urged her on, and Yan Zhi had no choice but to follow her instructions and find a set of black clothes for her to change into. Seeing that her young mistress was about to leave, she still couldn't help but worry: "Miss, where are Guard Agu and the others outside?"
"I know how to avoid them."
Her Fiery Cloud Boots were genuine, and she knew how to avoid them, so she would be fine.
Hai Ling summoned the Fiery Cloud Boots from the Seven Star Glazed Bracelet and disappeared in the blink of an eye. A black light flashed in the night, as fast as a shooting star. Those who were guarding in the shadows, such as Agu, had no idea that the Crown Princess had left the General's Mansion and was chasing after Princess Chang Le's carriage.
The night was pitch black, and a luxurious carriage sped past on the street.
Feng Qian, inside the carriage, was tense and uneasy, glancing outside from time to time. She had been so focused on listening to Hai Ling's ideas that she had forgotten one thing: Did Hai Ling know martial arts? Even if she did, she was probably just like her. How could she possibly catch up with this carriage, and how could she possibly leave the palace?
Seeing the princess's unease, Xiao Ke and Lian Yi gently comforted her: "Princess, don't worry. Since the Crown Princess said she would help you, she definitely will. Don't fret."
"Yes, Princess, don't worry."
As the master and servant were talking, suddenly, the wind blew the carriage curtain, the carriage swayed slightly, and there was another person inside. Who else could it be but Hailin?
The three people in the carriage were speechless, staring wide-eyed at the person who had fallen from the sky. It was incredible! How did she manage to catch up with their carriage without batting an eye?
Hailin put away her Fire Cloud Boots and looked at the three people with amusement: "What's wrong? You don't recognize me after such a short time, do you?"
"No, how did you do that?"
Feng Qian asked in a low voice, so as not to be overheard by those outside.
"I have a brilliant plan; you just need to trust me."
Seeing her, Feng Qian felt relieved and reached out to hold Hai Ling tightly. Seeing her, hope rose in her heart.
The carriage headed towards the palace, followed by a large entourage of royal guards, who were completely unaware that there was already an extra person inside the carriage.
At the palace gates, a routine check was conducted. The guards handed over their tokens, and the carriages were allowed to pass. The carriages then proceeded to the Misty Cloud Palace, where the princess resided.
Midway through, taking advantage of the guards' inattention, Hailing quickly jumped off the carriage and followed closely behind them, all the way into the Misty Cloud Palace.
The bedroom.
"Xiao Ke, Lian Yi, remember, one of you guard outside, and the other hides inside. No one is allowed to disturb the princess's rest. Even tomorrow morning, don't let anyone in. Delay as long as you can. I will send the princess out of the city."
"Yes, Your Highness, we obey your command."
The two palace maids nodded, glanced at the princess, and felt very sad at the thought of not being able to serve her anymore; their eyes welled up with tears.
"Princess, please take care."
"Xiao Ke, Lian Yi, thank you. Once I've settled in, I will definitely bring you out of the palace."
The thought of making the two of them take the blame for her made Feng Qian feel terrible. However, she was truly unwilling to be married off to the Northern Dynasty. Marrying a man she had never met, whom she did not know or like, was not what she wanted. So she could only make things difficult for Xiao Ke and Lian Yi. As long as she was settled outside, she would come back to pick them up.
"Yes, we servants will wait."
Xiao Ke and Lian Yi nodded, and Hai Ling pulled Feng Qian away from the palace in the Misty Cloud Palace. The two of them walked out of the Misty Cloud Palace.
Feng Qian was naturally very familiar with the palace, and with Hai Ling's Fire Cloud Boots, the two of them traveled through the night and quickly left the palace. Then, they entered the Qin Fang Courtyard of the General's Mansion under the cover of night.
It was already very late at night.
Hailing gestured for the princess to rest for a while, and to leave the capital early the next morning.
But Feng Qian couldn't sleep. Anyway, it was almost dawn. She pulled Hai Ling aside to talk. Thinking about leaving the palace, Feng Qian was happy but also reluctant and uneasy about the future.
“Feng Qian, you must be careful in everything you do outside. If you really can’t stand it, come back. By then, the marriage between the two countries will be arranged, and I think the Empress will forgive you.”
In fact, Hai Ling knew that the Empress loved Feng Qian very much, but with internal and external troubles at present, as the Empress, she could only do this.
"Yes, I know."
Feng Qian nodded, then looked at Hai Ling: "Actually, I wholeheartedly hoped that you would marry my brother, but what about him?"