C22 Myriad temple

Madame Cao dragged the palace maid's hand inside. The fine gauze and white cloth wrapped around her neck was incompatible with her silk and brocade dress of golden butterflies, red flowers, and red makeup.

"Greetings, esteemed imperial concubine." When Yan Chongshan turned to bow, Xiao Ruo Ao had already rushed to Madame Cao's side. She whispered with concern: "Didn't I tell you to rest early? Why didn't you listen to me?"

Madame Cao stroked the gauze around her neck, a bone-deep hatred appearing in her eyes. "How could chenqie still be able to sleep after thinking about Mu Qianxue escaping!"

For the sake of Xiao Ruo's great cause, she had endured it for four years. It was not easy for her to lift her eyebrows and give herself up, but not only did she let Mu Qianxue escape, she also injured her. The imperial physician said that the cut was very deep, and that even if she used the best medicine, it might leave behind a scar.

Xiao Ruo grasped her wrist, "You don't have to worry, even if she escapes to the ends of the earth, I will capture her and bring her back."

Mistress Cao looked at Yan Chongshan who was kneeling on the ground and said lightly, "Your Majesty does have the heart, but it's a pity that the people around you cannot help Your Majesty split his worries."

Yan Chongshan's old face was flushed red. Of course, he knew that Madame Cao was referring to him as she lowered her head and said, "This subject is to blame for being careless. Having been tricked by the Mu Clan, Empress, you can rest assured that this subject will defend this time and will not allow the Mu Clan and the rest of the convicts to leave West Chu."

Mistress Cao's gaze was like ice needles piercing Yan Chongshan's red face, "Chief Yan, do you take my words as wind?"

Yan Chongshan heard her tone and quickly lowered his head, "This subject doesn't dare!"

"I made it very clear just now that going to the North Zhou is not just blocking the way to Swallow Gate. What's the use of you guarding the gate with your life?"

Yan Chong Shan tried to probe, "Empress, you mean the Mu family will take the risk to leave from this cliff? "Although none of the people who came to save her were weak, the Mu Clan itself is extremely weak. I'm afraid they won't be able to walk this path."

Mrs Cao sneered, "Chief Yan, this means that you have already determined the north. Could it be that the east can't do it?"

Xiao Ruo Ao also had the same thought in her heart as she slowly said: "Using the Eastern Region of Qi to return to the Northern Zhou would be much safer and more covert than directly leaving from the Northern Region. With Mu Qianxue's thoughts, it's impossible for her to not think of this." After saying that, he frowned again, "However, the Eastern Region is different from the Northern Territory. That is the plain, and besides the city gates, there are also many other places that are connected to the Qi Kingdom. It will not be easy to capture them at such a long border."

Madame Cao's gaze flickered as a faint smile appeared on her lips. "Your Majesty, chenqie has thought of a way."

Xiao Ruo Ao's eyes lit up, and said: "What method is this, quickly say it!"

"Although the Southern Wasteland Imperial Family is destroyed, there are still many clansmen who are alive in different places and are more or less related to the Imperial Family. As long as Your Majesty uses these people well, there's no need to worry about not capturing Mu Qianxue."

Although Madame Cao's words were unclear, how could Xiao Ruo Ao not understand her? After thinking for a while, he nodded and said, "This is indeed a good method."

"It's a pity that Mu Linfeng isn't in our hands. Otherwise, the effect would have been even better." Mrs Cao said with some regret.

Xiao Ruo Ao sneered: "With those people, it's more or less over."

After giving a detailed instruction, Xiao Ruo Ao's eyes turned cold as she said: "We have already paved a path for you. If you let Mu Qianxue escape, there's no need to keep the head on your neck anymore."

Yan Zhongshan hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, don't worry. This subject will definitely capture and bring back the Mu clan and a group of criminals to the capital. I'll hand them over to Your Majesty and the Imperial Concubine!"

"That's for the best, get down!"

It was only when he stepped out of the Myriad Temple that he dared to direct his body. A gust of night wind blew, causing goosebumps to rise all over his body. It was only at this moment that Yan Zhongshan realized that he was already drenched in cold sweat and his undergarments were tightly stuck to his body.

Accompanying a monarch like a tiger was completely correct.

After wiping away the cold sweat on his forehead, he quickly left the palace city to handle the matters that Xiao Ruo Ao had instructed him to do.

As for Mu Qianxue and her group, they immediately left the run-down temple at daybreak, and headed towards the east. They did their best to find the desolate mountains and plains, but they did not meet any pursuers, so they were still considered peaceful; however, it was unknown if Xia Yue and Nineteen were in the wrong as they often quarreled over a small matter, and did not like each other.

Along the way, they would occasionally bump into a few hunters who would occasionally visit houses or abandoned temples in the mountains; however, most of the time, they could only sleep in the wilderness. Fortunately, after entering the fifth month, it was getting warmer every day, so sleeping outside wasn't too difficult for them; it was just that Mu Qianxue, who had suffered greatly because she had escaped from RuoAo's poisons for the past four years, had become extremely weak and would occasionally be exposed to the wind and would cough for half a day; every night, even though she was covered with a few pieces of clothing, she would still cough all night long.

Dongfang Zhi was afraid that she wouldn't be able to hold on. He wanted to find a doctor in the city several times, but he was stopped by Mu Qianxue, so he didn't want to take the risk and reveal his whereabouts.

"Cough, cough!" Although Mu Qianxue had already done her best to suppress her coughing, it was still heard by Eastern Sou who was sitting behind her. "It's cold?"

"No, it's just that my throat is a little itchy, so it's not tight." Before she could finish her sentence, a black satin cloak was draped over her body, "It will be better this way."

Mu Qianxue smiled sinisterly. Every time she heard her coughing, Dongfang Yan would do the same thing. This happened every time, without exception.

"It looks like we're going to sleep out in the wild tonight. It's just that I'm afraid it's going to rain when I look at the sky." Mu Qianxue stared at the winding mountain road in front of her, which had no end in sight, and she couldn't help but feel a lingering sense of exhaustion. Even though she was protected by the East, riding a horse was still an extremely exhausting task for her.

Dongfang looked up at the dark sky and said, "It won't rain for a while, let's keep going. Maybe we can find somewhere to rest."

After walking for three to four miles, they found a small house that was built on the side of the mountain. It should have been left behind by a hunter.

Taking advantage of the time that they were packing, Xia Yue went to look for water. Not long later, she arrived in front of Mu Qianxue, who was standing under a tree with a fresh jade-green lotus leaf in her hand.

"Do you have lotus leaves here?"

Xia Yue pointed in the direction they had come from and said, "That's right, more than a mile away from here, there's a small stream. Walking along the stream for about 50 or 60 steps, one can see a small pond with many lotus flowers growing in it. Halfway through speaking, Xia Yue realized that something wasn't right. She quickly stopped herself and said uneasily: "This servant shouldn't have said these things."