Even women who travel through time can become prime ministers and nobles.

Chapter 475 Escape

In the study, Lin Yiyu pushed open the bookshelf, revealing a hidden door behind it. The door was dark, with only stone steps leading down into the room visible.

He took out a tinderbox from his pocket, blew on it, and handed it to Shi Wanxia: "Miss Shi, you take Young Master Cui and Miss Shuyun and go first. I and the remaining guards will cover the rear and will be there shortly."

Shi Wanxia took the tinderbox, nodded, and turned to Cui Yu'an, saying, "Young Master Cui, follow me and watch your step."

Cui Yu'an clung tightly to Shi Wanxia's clothes and followed her into the secret passage.

Cui Zhihao helped Shi Qing follow behind. Shi Qing glanced back at the door of the study and saw that the fire had already reached the doorway. Lin Yiyu was holding his sword and fighting with the man in black.

The secret passage was damp and dark, and the stone steps were covered with moss, making them slippery to walk on.

As summer drew to a close, he slowly walked, the light from the tinderbox reflecting off the moss on the wall, creating an eerie atmosphere.

Shuyun was so frightened that she trembled all over, but dared not make a sound, and just followed closely.

After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a faint light suddenly appeared ahead.

Shi Wanxia was overjoyed and quickened her pace. She reached the end, pushed open the stone slab above, and a breath of fresh air rushed in.

Outside was an abandoned mill outside the city. Half of the mill’s roof had collapsed, and it was overgrown with weeds. There was not a sound to be heard.

She climbed out first, and after confirming it was safe, she turned back and reached out to pull Cui Yu'an: "Shuyun, Young Master Cui, come out quickly, it's safe now."

After Cui Yu'an crawled out, he collapsed onto the grass, panting heavily.

Shuyun helped Shiqing climb out as well. Shiqing leaned against the broken wall of the mill, her face pale and her chest heaving violently—she had rushed through the secret passage, aggravating her wound and causing her to almost faint from the pain.

Not long after, Lin Yiyu and several guards also crawled out of the secret passage. They were covered in sparks and some were injured, obviously having fought with the men in black while covering the rear.

"Young Master Lin, are you alright?" Shi Wanxia quickly stepped forward to ask.

Lin Yiyu shook his head and wiped the ash off his face: "It's nothing, those people just got away."

"When they saw that we had left through the secret passage, they were afraid that things might get complicated if they stayed any longer, so they left."

Cui Zhihao looked towards the distant Chuzhou City, where thick smoke was still rising, and his heart was heavy: "The government office has been burned down. Where do we go next? Those people will definitely come after us."

Lin Yiyu was silent for a moment before saying, "I can't stay in Chuzhou any longer."

“I remember there’s a military camp guarding the border about 50 miles from here. The commander there is one of my father’s old subordinates. We can go there to take refuge temporarily.”

“There are soldiers in the military camp, so even if those people are bold, they wouldn’t dare to break into the camp.”

Shi Wanxia nodded and looked at Cui Yu'an and Shi Qing: "Then let's go to the military camp. Young Master Cui, Shi Qing, are you still able to walk?"

Cui Yu'an stood up and brushed the grass clippings off his clothes: "I'm fine, Miss Shi, let's go."

Shi Qing also stood up, leaning against the broken wall, and gripped the short sword in her hand tightly: "Wherever you go, young lady, I will go."

The group helped each other as they walked towards the military camp.

As the sun set, their shadows stretched long, and the thick smoke over Chuzhou City gradually dissipated, but everyone knew that the chase was not over yet.

As long as the remnants of Rongyang King's forces are not eliminated, they will not have a day of peace.

Thirty miles outside Chuzhou City, a dilapidated mountain god temple stood desolate in the twilight.

Outside the temple, the gnarled branches of the withered trees resembled ghostly claws. The wind that swept across the eaves swirled up dust and made the dilapidated window frames creak, like a sigh hidden in the shadows.

Cui Zhihao leaned the long sword at his waist against a pillar. His gray-blue outfit was stained with mud, but it couldn't hide the resolute look in his eyes.

He glanced down at Cui Jiu, who was leaning against the wall. Cui Jiu's face was as pale as paper, and his right hand was pressed tightly against his left rib. The bandage there was stained with dark red blood, an old wound inflicted by the traitors when he protected Shi Wanxia from danger.

Fang Wen,

Cui Zhihao's voice was low but carried an undeniable determination: "Take Miss Shi and Cui Jiu to the military camp in the west of the city first. Meng Feng's men are camped there, which will at least ensure your safety."

"I'll sneak back to the government office to confirm whether Military Advisor Zhang and the others are still alive, and to make sure that the evidence we collected, which was left in the study, doesn't fall into the hands of Prince Rongyang."

As soon as she finished speaking, Shi Wanxia suddenly raised her head.

She was wearing a plain-colored ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), the hem of which was torn in several places, revealing her ankles covered in mud. But her almond-shaped eyes shone brightly, filled with anxiety.

She stepped forward, grabbed Cui Zhihao's sleeve, her fingertips turning white from the force: "Brother Cui, you can't go! Have you forgotten how audacious they are, how those people hunted us down? They received a death order from the Prince of Rongyang, and they want my life. You are my right-hand man, and they would love to get rid of you to cut off my escape route!"

She turned to look at Cui Jiu, her voice softening but becoming even more urgent: "Cui Jiu's injuries haven't healed yet. I saw when I changed the dressing yesterday, the wounds hadn't scabbed over yet. This journey has been bumpy enough, if we go back..."

She paused, her throat tightening, "The government office is a trap now. If you go there, won't you be walking into a snare? We might as well wait until General Meng's men have rested before making any plans."

Cui Zhihao felt a warmth in his heart when he saw Shi Wanxia's reddened eyes, but he still gently pushed her hand away.

He reached out and gently tidied her wind-blown hair, his tone softening: "Wanwan, I know you're worried about me, but Zhang Canjun and the others have risked their lives with us, I can't just abandon them."

"There is a secret letter inside that contains evidence of Rongyang King's collusion with the Northern Di. If he finds it, not only will we not survive, but the entire population of Chuzhou will suffer."

He looked at Cui Jiu, who was gritting his teeth, trying to stand up by leaning against the wall, but he groaned because the movement aggravated his wound.

Cui Zhihao frowned: "With your injuries like this, following me will only be a burden. Go to the military base to recover and protect Master Shi and the young master. That's how you help me."

"Young master, I can do it!"

Cui Jiu said urgently, but was interrupted by Lin Yiyu who was standing to the side.

Lin Yiyu was dressed in a moon-white long robe. Although he looked travel-worn, he still appeared gentle and refined.

He fiddled with a jade thumb ring in his hand, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's as he scanned the commotion outside the temple before speaking: "Brother Cui, Sister Shi is right. The government office is dangerous, and it would be too risky for you to go alone."

"How about this—Cui Jiu, Lord Shi, and Young Master Cui go to the military camp first. With Cui Jiu and Young Master Cui escorting them, there should be no problem."

“I will accompany you back to the government office. I am familiar with the layout of the government office. Besides, my attire is not as conspicuous as yours, so I might be able to help.”

Cui Zhihao was stunned for a moment, then understood Lin Yiyu's thoughts.

Lin Yiyu is a man of the martial arts world. He traveled around Chuzhou in his early years and is indeed familiar with the streets and alleys here. Moreover, he is exceptionally skilled, so having him with me certainly provides an extra layer of protection.

He was about to nod when he heard a series of very light footsteps outside the temple—not the rustling of leaves in the wind, but the crunching of shoes on gravel, fine and orderly, clearly the sound of well-trained people.

"not good!

Lin Yiyu's expression changed drastically, and he shoved Shi Wanxia behind a pillar. "It's an assassin! Hide!"

Before he could finish speaking, the temple door was kicked open with a bang, and seven or eight masked men in black rushed in.