Chapter 498

Tuan Tuan looked up and exclaimed: "Snack auntie!"

It was Xie Yunshu, the boss of Qiaosu Pavilion and the head of the Yunque Merchant Association.

Xiao Ningyuan clasped his hands toward Xie Yunshu and said: "Boss Xie, our people are all here; as for leaving Jingcheng, we will have to rely on you."

Xie Yunshu scanned the crowd, first gave a bow, and said: "You are either imperial relatives or high-ranking officials of the court."

"But since I am the one planning this trip, please follow my arrangements; please excuse my rudeness."

The crowd hastily returned the salute: "No problem, we'll all follow Boss Xie."

Xie Yunshu nodded: "The Yunque Merchant Association has many caravans entering and leaving Jingcheng each day; now that our numbers are large, we can only break up into groups and leave Jingcheng in batches."

The crowd nodded in agreement.

She walked up to Feng Zhou, sizing him up from head to toe, making Feng Zhou feel uneasy.

"This Official Feng, you have a kind face."

Feng Zhou let out a sigh of relief.

"How about this: put on a beard, pose as an accountant, stoop a bit when walking, and mix in with the medicinal herbs purchasing caravan to get out."

Feng Zhou nodded: "Good."

Xie Yunshu then walked over to Noble Consort De and Xiao Jin: "This mother-son pair seems they cannot be separated."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jin immediately clung to his mother: "Mm-hmm! Mother Consort must stay with me!"

Xie Yunshu smiled slightly: "That's also easy to arrange."

She turned to look at Eunuch Cheng: "Sir, if you don't mind, I plan to have you pose as mourners escorting a coffin."

Eunuch Cheng shook his head repeatedly, hastily saying: "No problem, no problem; at my age, that day will come sooner or later."

Xie Yunshu gave a slight nod: "Then we'll send you out under the guise of my merchant association's old manager who just passed away."

"I will assign extra personnel so that this mother-son pair and Tuan Tuan can blend into the funeral procession and leave the city together."

"That way, the women and children won't stand out."

Tuan Tuan clapped her little hands: "Wow! Snack auntie, you're so smart!"

Xie Yunshu smiled and patted her little head: "Too bad, we're pressed for time; auntie didn't have a chance to bring you the snacks you love."

Xiao Er stepped forward, clasped his hands, and said: "Boss Xie, may I join them?"

"The Prince ordered me not to leave the young lady, and since they are all elders, women, and children, having me with them ensures we can stay safe if anything happens."

Xie Yunshu thought: "Then you can carry the coffin; the gate guards have all received favors from my Yunque Merchant Association, and being filial sons and grandsons escorting a funeral, they surely won't make things difficult."

"Good!"

She then looked at Xiao Ze, Xiao Ningyuan, Lu Qi, and the five guards: "You are the last group, many and all strong men; let me think."

After pondering for a long while, her eyes lit up: "Recently, my merchant association happened to obtain a statue of the Three Pure Ones."

"Since you're all strong men, why not pose as those carrying the statue and send it to Xuanqiong Temple?"

"But once we get there, how will we explain things to Master Xuanqing..."

"Xuanqiong Temple?"

Lu Qi, upon hearing this, hurriedly said: "No problem; Master Xuanqing has seen me before; when I go see him, he will surely help."

Xie Yunshu rejoiced: "Then there will be no loopholes left."

After thinking, she added: "When you reach the city gate, try not to speak at all."

"Leave everything to my merchant association's people; they are familiar with the guards and can handle it."

Tuan Tuan looked up at her, face full of surprise: "Auntie, how do you have so many people!"

Xie Yunshu lowered her head to look at her: "This is all thanks to you!"

"Your Nüzi Jian indeed has many talents; when I send you out of the city tomorrow, I will place them all there."

"These people have all received your great kindness; they will surely serve diligently and get you out safely."

"Ah, my Nüzi Jian!" Tuan Tuan then realized she herself was the Jiziu of the Nüzi Jian!

"Too bad, there's no time to go back and have a look."

Xiao Ze clasped his hands toward Xie Yunshu: "Boss Xie, you are most thoughtful."

"The city gate must be sealed by now, but the merchant association's purchasing, filial sons escorting funerals, and transporting the statue are things they won't block."

"As long as nothing goes wrong then, we will surely leave the city smoothly."

Xie Yunshu nodded: "Then I'll go back to make arrangements; tomorrow morning, you will leave Jingcheng in batches."

"But my people can only get you out of the city; after that, how to reach Xibei smoothly is beyond my help."

Xiao Ningyuan clasped his hands: "Later we have our own ways; just getting out of Jingcheng already leaves us deeply grateful."

"Young Master Xiao, you flatter me." Having said that, Xie Yunshu performed a salute and took her leave.

Xiao Ningyuan couldn't help but sigh: "No wonder Boss Xie, though just a woman, can manage the Yunque Merchant Association so shrewdly and capably—many men fall short of her."

Tuan Tuan looked at her brother: "Big brother, how will we return to Xibei? It's still so far away!"

Lu Qi laughed: "Don't worry, Miss; I've already had the brothers of Tianji Pavilion contact the brothers of the Canal Gang."

"After we leave Jingcheng we'll meet up, just like last time, taking the water route to Jiangnan first, then detouring back to Xibei—it'll only take a few evenings."

"Prince Chen and Prince Wang, hum, let their men foolishly guard the road from Jingcheng to Xibei; they won't even catch a hair!"

Upon hearing this, Tuan Tuan gleeful, she bounced over to Xiao Jin, took his hand, and said: "Let's go, Twelve, let's go have fun—this place is great!"

Seeing the two little hands clasped together running into the garden, the adults all laughed.

In Taiji Hall.

Officials gathered, music and dance filled the air, a scene of peace and harmony.

Prince Chen and Prince Wang sat at either side of the dragon throne, forcing smiles as they toasted with the officials.

"When His Majesty's dragon body is healthy, with the two princes present, our Lie State will surely endure for eternity, its foundation everlasting!"

Yeah, His Majesty is young; fortunately, the two Highnesses are serving as regents and assisting—this is a blessing for the state!

When His Majesty takes charge, we will surely remember the two Highnesses' assisting merit—this will be a fine tale recorded in history!

These words normally sound very pleasing to the ear.

But today, Prince Chen and Prince Qing, while drinking, felt utterly stifled inside; they wanted to lash out but couldn't, and still had to put on a smiling face—it was unbearable.

After three rounds of wine, an Imperial Guard quietly walked up to Prince Qing and whispered a few words in his ear.

Prince Qing's anger could no longer be contained; he slowly rose and said, 'I am weary, I cannot hold my liquor; please, continue drinking.'

Having said that, he turned and withdrew into the inner hall.

Prince Chen furrowed his brow, gestured, and the Imperial Guard hurried over.

Prince Chen asked in a low voice, 'What's wrong?'

The Imperial Guard bowed his head and whispered, 'On the embankment beside the Official Road River, His Majesty's and the Empress Dowager's clothing and hair crown were found, and there are drag marks on the ground—it seems… someone has seized them.'

And, and there's more…

What else? Speak!

His Majesty's and the Empress Dowager's belongings have been scattered along the way; many commoners have seen them, and the news… the news may be impossible to contain.

With a clang, Prince Chen's wine cup slammed heavily onto the table.