Chapter 2338: The Thought of Retreating from the Torrent

And that red thread was cut by the Mò people, it has nothing to do with her, right? As Ye Zhao, a spy of the Heavenly Palace, watching from the side, he saw it clearly and carefully, didn't he?

Ye Zhao said the bandits were Mò people, which is either not baseless or he didn't realize they were using her as bait—was the Heavenly Palace trying to lure out these Mò people?

Although Méi Wuniang's strategy was risky, it went very smoothly.

She obtained the dagger she used to attack the bandit leader from Jiǔyōu Dàdì; the bandit leader, upon grabbing this dagger, could see the red thread on her body. She then verbally guided him to cut the red thread, thus transferring the consequence of angering the Heavenly God to him.

Moreover, as she was about to leak the Heavenly Palace's major secret to the Mò people, the red thread happened to be cut at that moment, so the Heavenly God could no longer track Tóng Yīyī. Once the Mò people escaped Ye Zhao's surveillance, they wouldn't be able to tell whether Tóng Yīyī had actually leaked the secret.

How can this be!

So, Ye Zhao, who had previously watched her being kidnapped with cold eyes, upon receiving the Heavenly God's order this time, had no choice but to act.

However, that surnamed Ye is no pushover either—on the second move, he wanted to kill her.

Méi Wuniang absentmindedly forgot that the best way to prevent the Heavenly Palace's major secret from leaking is still to kill to silence.

Fortunately, she took advantage of the two tigers fighting each other and escaped. The plan formulated beforehand had already succeeded.

Whether Ye Zhao won or the Mò people won, it had nothing to do with her anymore—goodbye, you two.

Méi Wuniang exerted her movement technique and fled twenty li; ahead was a town. She couldn't help but spit out two mouthfuls of blood—after all, her injuries were not light.

She had no choice but to find a mountain cave, first stuff herself with two pills, then change into a set of coarse hemp clothing, and wrap her head with a cloth.

She had observed beforehand that this was the attire of local women.

Then she took out a soft leather mask and carefully put it on.

After putting it on, she became an ordinary farmwoman with a sallow complexion, drooping eyelids, and swollen lower eyelids. She once again sank her qi into her shoulders, making all her bones crackle, and she actually compressed her own height by a head, shoulders sloping, back slightly hunched, head thrust forward.

This physique now had nothing to do with "Tóng Yīyī" anymore.

Her face is actually a bit rough, not up to close scrutiny, but such an appearance and spirit of a farmwoman are very common in the nearby villages and towns, utterly forgettable, so others couldn't be bothered to give her a proper glance.

After this incident, Méi Wuniang no longer intends to return to the Heavenly Palace, but she certainly cannot walk the outside world with her original appearance.

Her beauty is too conspicuous; even if it doesn't attract the Heavenly Palace's attention, it will still invite unnecessary trouble.

Thereafter, she took out paper and brush, wrote down the newly obtained major intelligence in code, sealed it, and sent it to the nearest Tuōxiāng via courier.

Foreign relay stations handle only official documents; commoners wanting to send letters to distant relatives mostly have to rely on merchant caravans, with no guarantee of safety or timeliness; but Bèijiā's courier system is especially developed—civilians, whether sending letters or small parcels of local specialties, can go to the relay station to entrust dedicated mail carts.

Even in such a small place as Tuōxiāng, there are collection points in the market.

Méi Wuniang also specially paid extra for express delivery; a flock of blackbirds, when flying south, would carry these express items past.

After sending the letter, she finally felt her whole body relax, then went to find a small inn, washed off the dust on her body, and ordered a large bowl of chicken egg persimmon soy sauce noodles.

Only after eating her fill did she have the energy to regulate her breath and nurture her injuries.

That was truly a huge bowl; she slurped her noodles with a gurgling sound, anyway, her current disguise had no image to speak of.

Méi Wuniang had never told anyone she loved slurping noodles, but in the Heavenly Palace she could only eat small bites, maintaining the etiquette of a first-class maidservant.

To hell with the Heavenly Palace.

This grandma will never go back again!

She raised her hand and asked the attendant for a whole clove of sugar garlic.

This is a delicacy below—unique flavor but removed the garlic's pungent kick, commonly seen as a side dish around Lingxū City, since sugar and honey are the most common seasonings here; but on the Jīnjīn Plains over twenty years ago, only wealthy families could afford sugar.

Her father, as a former high official of Zhāoguó, loved sweets, and she followed her father.

Méi Wuniang took three mouthfuls of noodles with one mouthful of sugar garlic; shortly after, her body warmed up and she gained strength.

She poked the noodles with her bamboo chopsticks, suddenly wanting to know what expression Jiǔyōu Dàdì would have if he learned these several important pieces of intelligence.

That person always had the demeanor of being unflappable and assured, Méi Wuniang had long grown tired of his attitude.

Would a few major pieces of news finally make him show other expressions?

Thinking of this, Méi Wuniang wanted to laugh, and couldn't help but feel two parts proud.

Having unearthed such a heaven-shaking secret, how should Jiǔyōu thank her?

When the time comes, if she doesn't properly demand some credit, she wouldn't be Méi Wuniang.

At this moment, a yellow-eyed white cat suddenly appeared from somewhere, dirty and skinny, as if a gust of wind would blow it over, its right hind leg lame, meowing at her.

Méi Wuniang then picked out the egg and meat shreds from the noodles and threw them on the ground for it. Watching the cat eat mouthful after mouthful with choked sobs.

This little cat truly resembles her when she was young.

Méi Wuniang again thought, after finishing her Heavenly Palace mission, what should she do?

Eh, retire?

These seven years of espionage life, walking on thin ice, highly tense—although she liked it, she was also somewhat tired and weary.

Especially, she didn't like the personality of "Tóng Yīyī"—the room for expression was too small. Even if she were a double agent, she still wanted to display her talents.

Should she return to Cāngyàn to live in seclusion, like before Jiǔyōu found her, living the life of an ordinary person? During these years of her missions, her properties in Cāngyàn had been managed by dedicated people, apparently earning quite a bit. After returning, she could be a lavish boss lady, enjoying a life of paper and gold in peace.

When she grows weary of the bustle of human life, she can still come out to find something to do.

Cāngyàn and Mòguó, plus so many rich heirs waiting to be deceived by her.

She stroked the head of the cat that had come over, and smiled.

Right, if life gets too boring, she can still keep a cat.

……

Unbeknownst to her, the night deepened.

Méi Wuniang completed three small heavenly circuits with her breath regulation, feeling her internal injuries had greatly recovered and her body lightened. If it were seven or eight years ago, she wouldn't have dared imagine she could achieve today's level.

However, as soon as she opened her eyes, she thrust out a punch wind to push the door, but she herself leapt toward the window in the opposite direction.

The restriction she had placed on the roof before entering meditation was triggered, indicating someone had stealthily approached!

Méi Wuniang also wanted to use earth-escape technique to flee, but couldn't—outside seemed to have been laid with a ban-escape barrier.

Her movements were swift and light, showing that these years of diligent study and hard practice were not in vain.

However, Méi Wuniang soon turned from the door back into the room, with two people following behind her—

She was forced in here, with a knife held to her neck.

Outside there were many more shadows, the whole inn was surrounded.

Mei Wuniang was about to speak when the other party spoke first:

"Miss Tong, your beauty is heavenly, why must you hide behind such an ugly mask?"