bestfiction Chapter 246 Lin 5 ran away
Chapter 246 Lin 5 ran away
The first month of the lunar year hadn't even ended yet, and according to past tradition, Xichunlou would have been bustling with activity. But now, with the war in the north, everyone in Shengjing felt threatened, and no one was in the mood to go out for drinks or to watch opera.
There were only a few tables of guests in the huge Xichun Tower.
In the private room upstairs, Lin Wantang was supporting her chin with one hand and curling her feet, listening to the opera singing of the Hua Dan in the middle of the hall downstairs, with a row of maids standing behind her.
She moved a little, and the maids stared at her nervously.
On the Lantern Festival in the palace, Emperor Jingde arranged for her to be married to Prince Su on the spot. That night, when she returned home, she picked up her package and tried to escape over the wall.
She had only run a few steps away and before she even reached the street corner, she was taken back by someone ordered by Mrs. Lin. She also sent more than a dozen maids and servants to watch her and not let her leave the room.
After that, she climbed over the wall twice, crawled through a dog hole three times, and even tried to dive out of the mansion's canal once, but she was caught each time.
Today, she was allowed to go out because of the invitation from Xu Jing of Yong'an Marquis Mansion, but she still sent a group of maids to follow her.
"Miss, Miss Xu is here."
At the door, an experienced maid reported.
Upon hearing this, Lin Wantang quickly straightened up and sat up straight, instantly regaining her dignified demeanor as a lady from a noble family.
"Sister Xu."
Lin Wantang greeted politely.
Xu Jing came in with a smile on her face, and reached out to hold Lin Wantang's hands.
"Fifth sister, I fell in love with you the first time I saw you at the Lantern Festival banquet that day, and I've been wanting to talk to you. Finally, we've made the appointment today."
Lin Wantang smiled dignifiedly and elegantly, pulling Xu Jing to sit next to her like good sisters.
"My dear sister, I also liked you at first sight. Today, we two sisters must have a good chat. Madam Zhou, please go and get two pots of the best fruit wine. Only you know my taste."
Upon hearing this, the experienced Nanny Zhou at the door bowed respectfully. As she left, she signaled to the row of maids to keep a close eye on their mistress.
As soon as Nanny Zhou left, Lin Wantang couldn't sit still anymore. Pulling Xu Jing over, he couldn't wait to ask softly:
"Sister Xu, do you really have a way to help me escape?"
Xu Jing gave her a look, signaling her to calm down. Then she pulled Lin Wantang up and walked out the door, saying as she walked:
"Just when I walked in, I happened to meet a sister. She said they were having a poetry gathering at Chunfeng Pavilion. Fifth sister, why don't you join us?"
"Okay, okay!" Lin Wantang couldn't wait any longer.
"Miss!"
The maidservant at the door reached out to stop her in embarrassment, "Madame Zhou said that the young lady can't go anywhere. If the young lady wants to go out, why not wait for Madame Zhou to come back and go together?"
Lin Wantang frowned and said:
"Madame Zhou, Madame Zhou, why do I have to follow Madame Zhou wherever I go? Besides, Chunfeng Tower is right in the backyard, just a few steps away. With so many of you following me, where can I run?"
After saying that, he pouted, pulled Xu Jing downstairs and walked towards Chunfeng Pavilion.
The back garden of Xichun Tower was filled with winding paths, pavilions, terraces, and rockeries, each three steps a scene, and every ten steps a painting. In Chunfeng Pavilion, several noble ladies chatted and laughed, enjoying the scenery and reciting poems. Seeing Xu Jing and her group arrive, the group of young women instantly joined in the fun.
Seeing that their mistress was having fun, the maids in the Lin Mansion stopped staring at her and scattered around to watch from afar.
"How about we play hide and seek?"
I don't know who proposed it, but it instantly attracted the response of the girls. After a burst of laughter, everyone in the pavilion dispersed.
Xu Jing took Lin Wantang and chose the deep, narrow and difficult path to go through. The maids in the Lin Mansion hurriedly followed.
"Go further away. Such a long group is following me. Are they afraid that I won't be found?" Lin Wantang was unhappy.
The maids looked embarrassed:
"Miss, this is really inappropriate!"
"What's wrong? You just need to guard the entrances and exits of the garden. How can I escape underground?"
After saying that, he pulled Xu Jing into the fake cave.
After turning a corner and seeing no one around, Xu Jing said with a serious expression:
"Sister, there's a small door here that leads directly to the back door. Please go quickly."
Lin Wantang's face lit up with joy, "Good sister, what will you do if I leave?"
Xu Jing said, "Don't worry. Since I've decided to help you, I've already thought of a foolproof plan. Sister, there's no time to say more. My carriage is parked at the back door. I've prepared your belongings and luggage in it."
"Good sister! I will repay your kindness tomorrow."
Lin Wantang lifted her skirt, called her personal maid, and ducked out through the small door at the side.
Xu Jing pretended to be serious and continued to lead her maid into the secluded flowers and rockery. The maids in the Lin Mansion stood on tiptoe to see what was going on, but with so many people in the garden, how could they tell who was who?
Here, Lin Wantang and her maid got on the carriage.
Sure enough, there were several packages on the carriage. In addition to a change of clothes, there was also a bag of small change and a travel pass. It can be said that every aspect was taken into consideration.
"Miss, we have only met Miss Xu once. I didn't expect that she could help you so much. Miss Xu is such a good person!" said the maid Qingshuang.
Lin Wantang curled his lips and flicked Qingshuang's forehead.
"Silly girl, do you know the saying that those who show kindness without any reason are either treacherous or thieves?"
"what?"
Qingshuang rubbed her forehead. "Miss, are you saying that Miss Xu has other intentions? How could that be? We have no money and no power, so how can we gain anything from her? And yet she's giving us so much!"
Lin Wantang smiled but said nothing.
Who says there are no benefits?
Isn’t her identity as Princess Junsu the biggest advantage?
However, honey to one person may be poison to another. She didn't want to be the Princess of Su, nor did she want to be trapped behind high walls for the rest of her life.
Whoever wants to be the Princess Su can be the Princess.
Now she is free to go out and play.
"Let's go! Let's go."
"Miss, where are we going?"
"The north is no good because there's a war going on. Let's go south. It's warmer and more beautiful there."
The driver whipped the horse and the carriage rushed towards the city gate.
At the same time, Xichun Tower was in an uproar.
Nanny Zhou took the maids to look for Lin Wantang, but there was no sign of her anywhere. She was so angry that her face turned green.
"If anything happens to the young lady, be careful of yourselves. Hurry and report back to the Lin Mansion!"
On the side, Xu Jing was wiping her tears with a handkerchief.
"Madame Zhou, the moment I turned around, Fifth Sister disappeared. I thought she was following me. Madame Zhou, Fifth Sister, is nothing going to happen to her?"
"Ms. Xu, my daughter is blessed by heaven, and nothing will happen to her. But you..."
Nanny Zhou glanced at Xu Jing with resentment in her eyes.
Xu Jing looked so frail, and even more pitiful when she cried. But at this moment, Nanny Zhou felt uncomfortable no matter how she looked at her, but she had no basis for her suspicions. Even though she had some guesses in her heart, she swallowed them back.
"Miss Xu, goodbye!"
Watching Nanny Zhou and her group leave in a hurry, Xu Jing wiped her tears, a cold light flashing in the corner of her eyes.
"Have you arranged everything for the trip?"
Shuanghong said timidly:
"Don't worry, young lady. The driver took our money and promised to find a secluded place to give the person away once we're out of the city... and then pretend they were robbed."
She stretched out her hand and wiped her neck, then asked doubtfully:
"But, Miss, Miss Lin Wu has already left, why do we need to do this? If we are discovered, will we be in trouble?"
Xu Jing took out a small mirror and calmly touched up her makeup.
"What are you afraid of? The war has already started in the north, and there are more and more refugees and bandits outside the city. Isn't it normal for a delicate young lady like her to be robbed and killed outside?"
"Lin Wu, you don't want to be the Princess Su, but run away. Now that you've run away, don't come back. Dying outside is the best thing to do!"