Crying again, he recalled that the Pure Concubine had said, “the real traitor is right in front of us,” before being strangled to death by the Empress Dowager in front of the Emperor. She had previously instructed that if anything happened to her, a way must be found to notify Yi Wang and tell him to escape quickly.
Si Zhan lowered his head, his face dark and gloomy. After a long pause, he asked, “What was the situation in the palace when you left?”
“The palace gates have been sealed by the Empress Dowager and Crown Prince. I escaped through a dog hole. The Emperor’s life and death are unknown.”
Si Zhan’s expression turned solemn. “Yuan Bi siblings, listen to my orders!”
Yuan Zhu and Yuan Bi cupped their fists and shouted, “Yes!”
“Immediately escort the Princess out of the city to Qian Nan.”
Ning Wan Wan, concerned, grabbed Si Zhan’s sleeve and asked, “What about you?”
Si Zhan turned and cupped her shoulders, speaking with seriousness: “This is an opportunity. If we seize it, we can turn the tables, so I want to stay and fight.”
Si Zhan embraced Ning Wan Wan tightly, his low voice carrying a hint of pleading, “Don’t cause trouble, be good. You’re now carrying our child, and it’s no longer just your fate. Do this for me.”
“…Okay.” Ning Wan Wan rested her chin on his shoulder and closed her eyes.
Si Zhan then asked, “Do you still have the smoke signal arrow that Mi Yue gave you last time?”
“Yes.”
“When the time comes, release it, and someone will escort you out of the city to Qian Nan.”
Ning Wan Wan looked at him with determination, “I can agree to leave the city, but you must promise me one thing.”
“Go ahead.”
“Take Yuan Bi with you, and come back alive.”
Si Zhan’s lips curved slightly, and he nodded heavily, “Okay, I promise.”
He paused for a moment before adding, “…I understand. The situation is unclear right now. Luhming Pavilion is temporarily closed. Take the remaining sisters and find a place to lay low.”
“Mm.”
When Mi Yue opened the door, she saw Ning Wan Wan in the courtyard and smiled, holding her hand while chatting about her belly without mentioning their previous conversation.
