"Pin 'er, what are you dawdling for? Hurry up and follow me. If we're discovered, we won't be able to get out!”A young man dressed like a eunuch frowned and urged another eunuch behind him.
"Your Highness, are we really going to sneak out of the palace?”The eunuch following behind looked timid and asked in a low voice," If we are discovered, we will really have to bear the consequences.”
"With this princess protecting you, what are you worried about? Hurry up and pack your bags and follow closely!" The slightly older youth in front was very dissatisfied with the latter's sloppiness.
These two people were Jiu Ran Ling, who was disguised as a man and was preparing to sneak out of the palace, and her personal maid Pin 'er.
The two of them walked stealthily for a long time before they crawled out from a remote dog hole. After finding a secluded place to change into men's clothes, Jiuran Ling held a jade fan in her hand, looking like a graceful young master. Even Pin 'er had delicate features.
The two of them strolled down the street. However, because he was afraid of meeting any familiar faces, he chose to walk on the path with few people.
"Young…Young Master, Old Master will be worried if you run out like this.”Pin 'er brought her luggage and trotted behind the seemingly leisurely Jiuran Plume.
"Humph. Father was simply bewitched by that woman Lan Feili. If he wanted to worry, then let him worry.”
"But Young Master, Old Master really dotes on you. Otherwise, if the other young masters were so…disrespectful in front of the master," Pin 'er deliberated her words," I'm afraid that the master would have chopped him up long ago."”
"Pin 'er, you're exaggerating. Do you think father is unreasonable?" Jiuran Ling laughed loudly and then looked in the direction of the Imperial Palace. There, separated by layers of palaces, was her Phoenix Feather Palace.
Phoenix feathers symbolized the nobility of a phoenix spreading its wings. In this palace, those who were worthy of the Phoenix Feather Palace were the most honorable women. However, the one who lived in Feng Ling Palace was not the Empress Dowager, the Empress, or the concubines. It was the Emperor's only daughter, Jiu Ranling. This action was enough to show the Emperor's love for Jiu Ran Ling.
Perhaps her father really did treat her especially and doted on her. However, who knew if this was a form of apology?
Twelve years ago, the Phoenix Feather Palace was the palace where the Empress Dowager lived.
Twelve years ago, she and Brother Qing lived in the Cairong Palace next to the Phoenix Feather Palace.
It was also twelve years ago that the Empress Dowager moved out of Phoenix Feather Palace and into Tranquil Longevity Palace. Feng Ling Palace became her and Brother Qing's residence.
That year, too many things remained the same but people had changed.
"Young Master, Young Master?" Pin 'er's call pulled Jiu Ran Ling back from the memory fragments. She frowned and said,""What's wrong?"
"Young Master, if you run out, what about Fourth Master? Wouldn't that annoy Princess Lan Yu to death?”
"Otherwise." Jiu Ranling knocked her son's head with her jade fan, her face full of confidence." Fourth Brother is staying in Mingyou Palace because it's convenient for me to find him. If I'm not in the Phoenix Feather Palace, I'm afraid he'll avoid the palace like a snake or scorpion, so he might as well live in the meeting hall. Father couldn't ask him to put down his official duties and return to the palace to accompany Lan Yu. This is called retreating in order to advance."
"When the princess leaves, I'm afraid that the palace will be in chaos. How can we care about that princess?”Pin 'er continued Jiuranling's unfinished words.
"Smart." Jiu Ran Ling looked at Pin 'er with admiration. It was only today that she realized that her little servant girl was still able to understand everything with just a little bit of knowledge.
"Young Master, where are we going?”Pin 'er asked curiously.
"Go to Jinzhou to find Brother Qing. It had been almost ten years since he left the palace. She had not seen him for a long time. She really missed him.”A gentle light appeared in Jiu Ran Ling's eyes.
"Oh right, Second Master has also lived in Jinzhou for almost ten years.”Pin 'er was puzzled." Why did he move out later?”
"Because…this palace looks like a sturdy golden cage, but in reality, no one can lock anyone up. They couldn't lock up the rebellious me, the desireless Brother Qing, or the indifferent Fourth Brother. Only those who were willing to indulge in luxury and desire for power could be locked up.”Jiu Ran Ling stopped smiling and sighed with a complicated expression.
"Young Master?" Pin 'er looked at Jiu Ran Ling with a half-understanding expression.
"Haha, it's fine." Jiu Ran Ling smiled. It was better for her little servant girl not to understand these things.
Jiu Ranling turned around and saw a familiar person walking out from the back door of a certain mansion. She paused and pulled Pin 'er into the small alley.
"What's wrong, Young Master?" Pin 'er didn't understand why Jiu Ran Ling looked like she had seen a ghost.
Jiu Ran Ling stared at the man for a while before leaving carefully. "It's really strange. Why would he come here?" she asked softly.”
He thought for a moment and the corners of his mouth curled up.
"Ha, I got something on you.”
Jiu Ran Ling turned around proudly and ran into darkness. Suddenly, he felt a pain in his neck and immediately fell into chaos.
Before she lost consciousness, she only heard Pin 'er's scream beside her.
————
Slowly waking up from her coma, Jiu Ran Ling rubbed her neck subconsciously.
It didn't hurt.
Weird, didn't one's neck ache after being knocked unconscious? Could it be that it had been a few days since she was ambushed?
She widened her eyes and looked around. Two stone walls and two wooden fences. The straw on the ground was piled up into piles. Although she had never been to the imperial capital's imperial prison, she knew that this was a place for criminals.
At first, she thought that she had been kidnapped by human traffickers, but now it seemed that things were not that simple. Pin 'er wasn't by her side, but she didn't expect the person who kidnapped her to let Pin' er go. Otherwise, once Pin 'er returned to the palace and caused a ruckus, her father and fourth brother would have already laid down an inescapable net to look for her.
She looked at the room on the right. There seemed to be a person locked up. His hair was unkempt and his face dirty. He lowered his head and his white unlined garment was stained with blood. He was in a very sorry state.
Jiu Ran Ling was not afraid at all. She moved to the side and asked the man,""Excuse me, how many days is it today?”
The man raised his head. His face was covered in scars and black soot, making it impossible to see his face clearly. "April 17th," he answered lightly.”
She didn't know what he looked like, but his voice was as pleasant as a clear stream.
"Seventeen?" Jiuran Ling was shocked, but she did not show it on her face.""In this dark place, how did you know?”
"How did I know?" That person smiled lightly."Because every day and every moment is counted.”
It seemed that she had really been unconscious for five days.
"Then may I ask, where is this place?" She continued to ask. She had to quickly grasp the situation here so that she could respond in time.
"Tian Prefecture." That person's tone was still indifferent.
"Tianzhou." Jiu Ran Ling whispered," It seems like it's a five-day ride. That's really far enough."”
It was as if Jiu Ran Ling's attitude had piqued the man's interest. He actually took the initiative to ask,""Aren't you afraid?"
"Of course I'm scared." Jiuran Ling leaned against the wooden railing and sat down." After all, this is an unknown place, and there might be unknown dangers.”
"Why don't I see any signs of fear on your face?”The man grinned and looked at her as if she was new.
Jiu Ranling smiled and didn't answer, but she tilted her head and sized him up.""I'm very curious. From your manner of speaking, you don't seem like someone who would be imprisoned here. Who exactly are you?"
The man looked at her in surprise. When he met her pitch-black eyes, they were so clear that they seemed to have a bewitching charm. After a moment, he looked away.”
Jiu Ran Ling was shocked and blurted out unconsciously,"" You're from the Mei Luo family?!"
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