Chapter 467: Chapter 431: Escape
Hua Qianmian entered through the main gate of the Prime Minister’s Mansion with the invisible Sang Que. The butler of the mansion immediately came up to greet them. After exchanging a few sentences, Sang Que saw He Buning hastily approaching. Upon seeing Hua Qianmian, He Buning was first taken aback, then his eyes narrowed slightly.
Hua Qianmian asked the butler to leave first, saying he wanted to talk to He Buning alone.
He Buning discreetly led the way to the study, and once inside, Sang Que removed her invisibility.
He Buning knew everything that happened yesterday. He also knew that the Zuo Jin he saw in the city yesterday was a fake. However, upon meeting today, he didn’t expect Hua Qianmian’s disguise to be so convincing that he initially thought his father had really returned.
Originally, He Buning wanted to help at the Evil Suppression Bureau yesterday, but Sang Que insisted that He Buning stay at the Prime Minister’s Mansion to ensure their escape route was secure, which was why he didn’t get involved.
"What’s the situation now?" He Buning asked.
Sang Que told He Buning everything that happened from yesterday to today. Hearing that the person held in the Evil Ghost Bureau was a fake, the color drained from He Buning’s face, and a ringing buzzed in his ears.
He Buning didn’t expect his father would use him to pass on false information to Sang Que.
If not for Hua Qianmian’s quick thinking, everything would have proceeded according to his father’s plan, and the assassin would have successfully infiltrated Sang Que’s side as his father’s hidden line.
He Buning sat down and, after a while, said, "I’ll arrange for your escape from the city immediately. The person is probably only known to be imprisoned by him, so give up on rescuing him."
Sang Que clenched her fists secretly; she had promised Cheng Ge and the people of Yunzhou. If she didn’t bring the Old Gu Master back, she wouldn’t be able to account to them.
Sang Que was about to speak when He Buning interrupted her, "I will help you rescue the person, but it requires careful planning. However, I can only guarantee helping you rescue the Old Gu Master. As for the storyteller Mo Yan Shu, his hatred for my father is deep. To kill my father, he acts recklessly. From a personal standpoint, it’s best for everyone if he remains imprisoned temporarily."
He Buning stood up and walked to the desk to grind ink. "There’s no time for hesitation. Qiu Wanjun must have some means of communication. Though Tibet is far from Jingzhou, if he travels with all haste, he might return to Shengjing in two to three days. Once he returns, escape will be impossible."
Sang Que exchanged a glance with Hua Qianmian; both had the intention to give up.
Sang Que walked over to help He Buning grind ink. He Buning quickly wrote several orders in Zuo Jinye’s handwriting, ordering the lifting of the lockdown at the Eight Gates and directing the Imperial Guard and Wuhou Shop personnel to clear out the foreign merchant caravans in the city within three days.
Amidst the chaotic mix of people, it would be easier for Sang Que and the others to evade subsequent pursuits.
The Prime Minister’s official seal wasn’t in the study, so He Buning found an old private seal. After drying the ink, he handed the paper to Hua Qianmian.
"You can personally deliver the orders to the gate guards in the guise of my father. Even with just the private seal, they won’t suspect and will not dare to disobey. My father wouldn’t have expected you to impersonate him, which led to this oversight. You better leave now."
Sang Que told Hua Qianmian, "Go inform the others first. Wait for me at the old place; I’ll catch up right away."
Hua Qianmian nodded, resumed the appearance of Zuo Jinye, and left.
"Why did the assassin join him?"
As soon as Hua Qianmian left, Sang Que asked He Buning. Like Hua Qianmian mentioned, she was also confused about the assassin’s motives. Thinking carefully, back at the Evil Ghost Bureau, it would have been easy for the assassin to stop her and Hua Qianmian. They had torches, and shadows were visible on the ground.
Mo Yan Shu, such a cunning person, could get captured by the assassin. Sang Que always felt she and Hua Qianmian escaped too easily.
So she wanted to understand this; she wanted to decide whether to kill or spare the assassin if he appeared before her again.
He Buning shook his head, "I’m not privy to the specific details. If Mo Yan Shu hadn’t been captured, I wouldn’t even know the assassin was by my father’s side."
Sang Que sighed, "Then I’ll leave. Can you manage on your side?"
He Buning smiled slightly, an unusual gentleness, "After all, I am his son. No matter what mistakes I make, he would only confine me for a while, not kill me."
At this point, He Buning paused, understanding now that his father had no trust in him whatsoever. It was likely that the rewards from Empress Dowager Yu would only grant him a desk job later on.
He Buning had foreseen this; among the people who came with him from Qinzhou to Shengjing, those with skills had already sought higher positions. He had arranged as much as possible for those without means.
Except for Xiao Liu and Qin Ze, who insisted on staying by his side.
"Take Qin Ze with you; after taking over the Corpse Recovery Man, he’s become more of a reckless chap, losing his previous maturity and poise. Now he just lives day by day. He’s not suited for the officialdom. Having Xiao Liu by my side is enough."
He Buning knew Xiao Liu’s intentions; Xiao Liu wanted to fulfill Xiao Wu’s last wish and would not leave.
Sang Que didn’t force it, "Alright then, I’ll leave some things for you in the backyard of Meng Lian’s house, the Wuhou Team Captain, in the west part of the city, including my Five Ghosts Token. Have Qin Ze come find me there as soon as possible. Take care!"
After speaking, Sang Que left, quickly returning to the Meng Family after turning invisible.
When she arrived, Hua Qianmian had already gathered everyone and briefly explained the situation.
Cheng Ge, though worried about the Old Gu Master’s situation, trusted that Sang Que had tried her best. He was still willing to believe that Sang Que was a trustworthy person who wouldn’t break her promise.
Sang Que collected her belongings, as usual, letting everyone enter the painting, with only her and Hua Qianmian staying outside.
When Qin Ze arrived at the Meng Mansion, seeing Sang Que, he didn’t even have time to be surprised. After understanding the situation, he was also promptly invited into the painting by Sang Que.
Qin Ze did not resist; He Buning had instructed him to follow Sang Que and protect her.
Qiu Wanjun and the assassin were both imprisoned in the Evil Ghost Bureau, with most Evil Suppression Bureau personnel still standing guard outside.
Hua Qianmian, disguised as Zuo Jinye, encountered Qiu Siming while leaving the city by carriage. Fearlessly, Hua Qianmian had someone stop the carriage and called Qiu Siming over to scold him with a few words.
The guards at the West City Gate, upon seeing Hua Qianmian, quickly expedited his passage after a simple inspection, and promptly executed the orders issued in Zuo Jinye’s name to lift the lockdown and notify the various merchants stalled in the city to leave Shengjing within three days.
For a while, the eight city gates were bustling with traffic, with teams of merchants filling every official road outside the city, returning home in the heavy snowfall.
At the rear of a merchant convoy, two old men with felt hats huddled with their necks shrunk, driving a cart laden with goods, chatting quietly as they followed the people ahead.
"Mulan, you’re planning to head to the Ghost God Realm next, right?"
The old man driving the cart was Hua Qianmian, and beside her, the other old man was Sang Que. After entering the fifth layer, Hua Qianmian no longer needed to peel a human skin but could temporarily ’paint’ someone into another person.
To portray Zuo Jinye, Sang Que had shared many things with Hua Qianmian, who understood Sang Que’s plans well.
Sang Que responded affirmatively, "That’s the idea, but I feel uneasy. After all, Zuo Jinye himself didn’t fully succeed in entering the Ghost God Realm, and no one has ever succeeded throughout history."
Hua Qianmian flicked the whip, the cold wind and snow reddening her nose.
"I’ve thought about it a lot, especially as I increasingly delve into Zuo Jinye’s character, realizing how complex and unfathomable he is, always meticulous in his actions. So, I have a suggestion: Can you find another way first? Don’t resort to using the heart unless absolutely necessary, or thoroughly examine it to ensure there are no issues before merging with the Yin Child."
Sang Que’s expression deepened. Hua Qianmian’s concern wasn’t unfounded, and the unease in her heart also stemmed from this aspect. Thus, no matter how agitated the Yin Child was, she hadn’t given him the object yet, not even unwrapping the outer red cloth.
"Sigh!" Sang Que sighed, "It feels like a wasted trip."
Hua Qianmian chuckled at her words, "How can it be a waste? Didn’t you gain a fifth-layer Painting Skin Expert and that Corpse Recovery Man? Otherwise, in light of you helping me advance, I’ll waive the ten thousand gold we agreed upon. To express my gratitude, I’ll work for you for free for the next year, then you can start paying me monthly salary. Does this make you feel like you gained?"
Sang Que chuckled, comforted by Hua Qianmian.
