Chapter 36: The Death Escape Succeeds

That day, the Cheng family women went to labor just like the other prisoners, and only returned in the evening.

After a full day of toil, the few of them were utterly exhausted; they ate dinner in haste and went straight to bed.

In the dead of night, five men in black slipped soundlessly into the silent courtyard.

By the light of the moon, the five exchanged glances. The one in the middle flashed two hand signs, and the other four immediately split up, two approaching each room, smashing through the windows.

The black-clad man who had given the order walked into the main hall to wait.

In no time, a series of soft thuds rang out.

Soon, the other four black-clad men arrived at the main hall carrying blood-dripping blades.

The five had just completed their task and were about to leave.

Suddenly, several broken jars were hurled in from outside, rolling to their feet, thick smoke billowing from the mouths.

"Not good—cover your mouths and noses, get out of here now!"

One of the black-clad men shouted, but it was already too late. The moment he finished, his eyes rolled back and he dropped backwards rigid as a board.

After that man fell, the other four quickly followed and passed out as well.

Two men with their faces covered ran in from outside; one of them nudged a black-clad man's shin with his foot.

"Lady Da's knockout drug really is something."

"Enough, let's get on with the real business."

That's right—these two were none other than Cheng Feng and Cheng Huo.

The two doused the inside and outside of the courtyard with tung oil, then set it ablaze. Only after the fire had fully taken hold did they stride away.

The blaze raged for a long time. By the time it was discovered, the people inside had already been charred beyond recognition.

The next morning, the whole of Beihuang City was buzzing about one thing.

On just their second day in Beihuang City, all the Cheng family women had perished in a sea of fire.

Soon another report came in from outside the city: the two Jiedai who had left the city the day before to return to the capital and report back had run into bandits on the road, been hacked to death, and their bodies thrown off a cliff.

But the Cheng family women had already left that courtyard through an underground passage the night before, and were now in the City Lord's Manor.

It really did fulfill what Wang Erniu had said the day before—they had indeed moved into the City Lord's Manor.

And as honored guests, no less, respectfully welcomed in by the Chen father and son.

Chen Ying's father, Chen Delin, was helped over by the steward to stand before Cheng Old Madam, dropped straight to his knees, and wept into his hands.

"Old Madam, when the Pingnan Marquis Residence met with disaster, this subordinate could not be of any help—I am truly, truly ashamed!"

Seeing his father's action, Chen Ying also knelt.

Cheng Old Madam hurriedly helped the father and son to their feet.

"Please, rise quickly. That the two of you could extend a helping hand and aid our escape is already an immense kindness to the Cheng family."

"You mustn't say such things. One day a soldier of the Cheng Family Army, a lifetime a soldier of the Cheng family!"

In his agitation, Chen Delin's blood rushed to his head; he felt dizzy and his vision went black. Clutching his head, he nearly toppled over.

"Father, be careful!"

Chen Ying was greatly alarmed and, face tight with worry, helped him to a seat nearby.

Then he turned and ordered the steward loudly.

"Go fetch an Imperial Physician at once!"

Meng Shi stepped forward after receiving a signal from her Pomo.

"If the two of you don't mind, may I take a look at Chen Old Gentleman?"

Chen Ying nodded rapidly.

"I've long heard that the Pingnan Marquis's Wife's medical skill is superb. This couldn't be better—thank you for your trouble."

Meng Shi gave a wry smile and shook her head.

"The Marquis Residence is gone. I've long ceased to be the Pingnan Marquis's Wife."

Then she reached out to take Chen Delin's pulse, her brow furrowing deeper and deeper.

"You suffer frequent headaches, and the moment you move suddenly you feel dizzy?"

Chen Delin nodded.

Meng Shi let out a sigh.

"It is indeed a pattern of ascendant liver yang."

Hearing her words, An Luo thought for a moment—the symptoms did sound familiar. To be safe, she opened Baidu and searched again.

"Ascendant liver yang? Isn't that just… high blood pressure?"

She hurried to the bedroom, rummaged out the medicine chest, and found the antihypertensive.

"Yu'an, put your hands behind your back first. Elder Sister is going to give you something—let's be sneaky, don't let anyone else notice."

The little fellow pressed his small lips together, gave an almost imperceptible nod, shuffled his tiny feet bit by bit, and tiptoed back to his mother and aunts.

Hiding behind his mother—because Fairy Sister had said to be sneaky, and not let anyone discover him.

Yu'an dared not make any large movements. His little head stayed perfectly straight, not a hairsbreadth of wobble, and his big dark eyes darted left, then right. Only when he saw no one was paying him any attention did he let out a long breath.

In truth, how could no one have seen? The Cheng family now watched over little Xiao Yu'an even more closely than before—especially after the earlier abduction.

It could be said the Cheng family could not let the little fellow out of their sight for a single moment; someone had to be watching him at all times.

Didn't Tian Qin and Cheng Qiuluo, the sisters, keep peeking at him—glancing away to look at something else just before being caught—until their eyes were nearly twitching out of their heads?

Enough. If the little fellow didn't want them to notice, then they would pretend they hadn't seen.

And the little Xiao Yu'an, who thought he was hiding it beautifully, stood with both small hands behind his back, fingers slightly spread, his tiny body ramrod straight, his face working hard to put on an air of nonchalance—looking utterly adorable.

【Fairy Sister, Yu'an is ready!】

An Luo transmitted a small medicine bottle over.

Xiao Yu'an only felt something appear in his hand, quickly gripped it tight, then secretly brought it in front of him.

He didn't expect the medicine bottle to shake, letting out a clattering sound.

The little fellow was so startled his small body jolted; he hurriedly raised his head and looked left and right, the baby fat on his cheeks trembling along with him.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

What else could Tian Qin do? She could only help him cover it up.

She covered her lips and coughed softly twice.

The little fellow looked at her with worry.

"What's wrong with Mother?"

Tian Qin smiled and shook her head.

"Mother's fine, just choked on saliva."

The Cheng Qiuruo sisters pressed their lips together, desperately holding back laughter.

Choked on saliva? That excuse Eldest Sister-in-law came up with is really…

Brilliant!

Hearing that Mother was fine, Yu'an set his mind at ease and focused on fiddling with the little medicine bottle in his hand.

【Fairy Sister, what should Yu'an do?】

"Yu'an, quietly tell your Grandmother that this medicine can relieve Chen Old Gentleman's illness. Take one piece first, no more than two pieces a day, with five hours between each dose."

The little fellow nodded in his dazed, half-understanding way, then toddled on his short little legs to his own Grandmother's side and tugged at her sleeve.

"Grandmother, Yu'an wants to whisper something to you."

The little fellow pulled his Grandmother to a corner and took out the medicine bottle.

Listening to the milky, childish voice in her ear, Meng Shi hesitated and looked toward Cheng Old Madam beside her.

Cheng Old Madam gave her an imperceptible slight nod.

Only then did Meng Shi pour out one piece of medicine and return to the Chen Family father and son.

"This is… a miraculous medicine I happened to obtain. It works wonders for the condition of liver-yang ascending hyperactivity."

Chen Ying's eyes flickered. Before he could say anything, Chen's father had already reached out to take it.

But one hand was faster than his.

With a sharp *smack*, Meng Shi's hand was slapped bright red, and the pill fell to the ground.

"Hold it! Who are you? Do you understand medicine? And you dare give Old Master Chen random medicine to eat?!"