Chapter 3: The Escape Plan

Today, the Xu residence was filled with celebration, and the reason was none other than the Yan family’s formal proposal.

Xu Anren and Madam Sun entertained guests in the main hall.

The servants in the house received bonuses and wore joyous expressions, whispering among themselves about the bride of this marriage—the Seventh Miss of the West Courtyard.

“Our lady rarely shows such generosity! A hundred coins is almost half a month’s allowance for me.”

“I have relatives working for the Yan family. I heard they’ve already prepared the betrothal gifts, and it’s quite a sum. Now that Seventh Miss is at home, once the dowry reaches our lady’s hands, she’ll surely take a hefty cut before letting it out. Of course she’d be generous.”

“No wonder. But the Yan family’s young master has a notorious reputation. How could the Second Young Master agree to marry Seventh Miss there?”

“Hmph, the Second Young Master is far away in Chang’an; who knows if he even knows about this. This match was arranged by the Eldest Young Master and our lady.”

“Be careful what you say; the affairs of the noble family are none of our concern. Don’t say the wrong thing and get punished by the housekeeper.”

One warning silenced the crowd, and they dispersed to their tasks.

While the entire household rejoiced, the West Courtyard remained cold and out of place.

“These are all money made by selling off our little lady. Our lady is truly cruel,” Xia He said indignantly.

“Little lady, when are we leaving?” Compared to Xia He, Qiu Lu was much calmer.

“Not yet, in a few days. Did you manage to get the back door key?” Xu Chengyue asked.

“The maidservant got a key and returned the original to Madam Huang,” Qiu Lu replied.

On their last outing with Madam Sun, Qiu Lu noticed a carriage and horse vendor along the way.

After returning, Xu Chengyue instructed Qiu Lu to build a good relationship with Madam Huang, who was in charge of the kitchen’s vegetable purchases, often asking her to buy things from outside, naturally offering plenty of benefits.

Over time, when Madam Huang was busy, Qiu Lu helped buy vegetables for her, and bit by bit, she obtained the back door key.

The back door was chosen because the distance from the West Courtyard to the central gate, and then to the front gate, was quite far, separated by several doors. Female family members and maids were not allowed near the central gate unless they had business outside.

Last time, Xu Chengyue and Madam Sun had gone straight out through the central gate by ox cart.

Having resolved a major concern, Madam Sun’s gait became lighter these days, and she was less harsh with the servants.

Life below improved, and the entire Xu residence was peaceful and harmonious.

One night, around four to five watch, with half an hour left before curfew lifted, the sky was pitch black.

A head stealthily peeked out from the West Courtyard gate, looking around, then withdrew.

Soon, the gate slowly opened just wide enough for one person, and the first figure stepped out, followed by two more.

“Little lady, watch your step, go slowly,” Qiu Lu whispered.

Xu Chengyue deliberately chose this time because Xu Anren had a day off; everyone would rise later than usual.

They dared not light lamps and moved in the dark. Qiu Lu had walked this path many times recently and even drew a map under Xu Chengyue’s guidance.

Even if they couldn’t see clearly, it didn’t matter.

The three were tense, fearful of any mishap that might wake the household.

They reached the back door, and Qiu Lu quietly unlocked it, trying to make as little noise as possible.

After they left, the lock inside could no longer be secured, leaving the door ajar.

But Madam Huang was lazy and often didn’t get up until after the fifth morning drum beat, by which time they had long gone.

Outside, the three sighed in relief.

Then they straightened up—this was just the beginning. Curfew hadn’t lifted yet, and the patrol guards were still on duty inside the ward, so they had to be careful.

They dared not walk openly on the road, avoiding any flickers of light, hiding in a nearby alley closer to the ward’s gate.

Suddenly, a voice called out from the distance.

“Hey, you there! What are you doing out so late? Curfew isn’t over yet!” a robust man shouted.

Xu Chengyue’s heart tightened, thinking quickly about how to bluff their way. She wondered if money might help.

“Forgive me, guard! My master sent me to buy soup cakes. I was late and would be punished, so I lost track of time and came early.”

“All right, all right, hurry back and don’t do it again.”

“Thank you, guard.”

A close call. Xu Chengyue wiped cold sweat from her brow.

Madam Huang had been scolded severely by the kitchen housekeeper for several late vegetable runs, losing half a month’s allowance and never daring to be late again.

Yawning, she finished washing up, secretly cursing the housekeeper’s meddling—after all, they were all paid servants, yet she acted like a noble.

“Bah.” She spat on the ground and rubbed it with her shoe.

Taking the back door key and a basket, she went to buy vegetables.

“Who opened the door?” Madam Huang exclaimed when she saw the lone lock hanging on the door.

She was about to shout “Intruder!” but suddenly recalled forgetting to lock the door last time.

Could it be she forgot again yesterday?

Her memory was failing with age; she couldn’t quite recall if she locked it the day before.

Anxious and afraid of being blamed by the housekeeper, and fearful that if a thief came in, she’d be held responsible, Madam Huang decided to pretend nothing was amiss.

At the ward gate, a crowd had gathered, though fewer than usual since the masters were resting.

Usually, there’d be many more people.

Proudly, Madam Huang thought the housekeeper wouldn’t blame her today since she woke early and her usual companions were not yet out.

She looked around aimlessly, then spotted three young ladies with veils, the one in the middle clearly leading.

Madam Huang’s approach caught Qiu Lu’s attention.

She clenched her fists, breaking out in cold sweat and trembling slightly.

Leaning close to Xu Chengyue, she whispered tensely, “Little lady, the one in blue is Madam Huang. Has she noticed the door was unlocked? Does she know we escaped?”

Xu Chengyue’s heart raced too. She didn’t move but glanced over.

“Don’t panic. She’s carrying a basket. She must be out buying vegetables.”

Qiu Lu exhaled, but when Madam Huang looked their way, her heart tightened again.

Xu Chengyue was nervous but had to be the pillar of strength for the three, forcing herself to stay calm.

Qiu Lu kept her eyes on Madam Huang, watching her reaction closely.

Suddenly, Madam Huang snorted disdainfully.

Curiosity overtook her as she scrutinized the trio, trying to guess their identities.

The two behind must be maids, but the one in the middle—who was she?

No, Madam Huang rejected the idea of a noble young lady going out so early with only two maids and no cart.

Could she be one of those women summoned by the nobility for companionship, spending the night?

The more she looked, the more she sneered, letting out a cold snort of contempt.

At last, the morning drum beat sounded, and the ward gates opened.

People streamed out.

Xu Chengyue headed straight for the West Market, ignoring the attention she drew, and the three quickened their pace.

Old Wu was a modest horse and carriage dealer, not a big merchant—just buying and selling to make a living.

A few days ago, a young lady came to his shop wanting to buy a horse.

But she didn’t want the horse immediately. She paid half the deposit, and after three days, on the fourth morning, she would pick it up.

The deposit was a single golden hairpin.

Wu was surprised but agreed.

Though Xu Chengyue was trying to regain strength after a long illness, she still couldn’t keep up with ordinary people.

By the time they reached the West Market, she was panting, her throat sore, with a faint metallic taste of blood.

All the shops were tightly closed. Only after the midday drum would they open.

Xu Chengyue knew this rule and had Qiu Lu sneak ahead earlier to alert the shopkeeper.

She forced herself onward to the carriage shop, but the doors were still shut.

“Miss, come around back,” an old man opened a window and said.

Following his direction, Xu Chengyue entered an alley and approached the rear entrance of the carriage shop.

The old man waited there.

“Miss, will you choose one yourself?” Wu asked.

“Old sir, please help me pick one—something sturdy and good for long distances,” Xu Chengyue said, unfamiliar with horses and pressed for time.

The old man didn’t try to cheat her, showing he was trustworthy, so she trusted him.

“How about this one?” Wu pointed to a glossy-coated horse with strong, muscular legs.

“Fine, I’ll pay the rest with this,” Xu Chengyue said, producing the golden hairpin.

Carriages were usually custom-made and not sold at the shop, but seeing their urgency, Wu lent them his own carriage.

With the deal done, the three climbed in to leave.

“Miss, may I ask, aren’t you worried I’d take your deposit and run?” Wu asked.

“The old sir wants to build a lasting business and must be reputable. Besides...” Xu Chengyue smiled wryly, “I can only place my bet.”

Wu stepped back, watching them settle into the carriage, cracked his whip, and set off.

He cupped his hands and called out cheerfully, “Wish you a smooth journey, miss!”

Xu Chengyue lifted the curtain on the window and smiled calmly, “Thank you, old sir!”

The carriage sped off, its sound fading into the wind.

A small bird broke free from its cage, flying toward distant mountains and rivers—its story was only just beginning.

Meanwhile, back at the Xu residence, the servants were terrified.

“How can a living person vanish into thin air? Are all the people in the house dead?” Xu Anren thundered, furious enough to smash his teacup, shedding his usual calm and gentle facade.

Madam Sun’s face turned pale. She never imagined that the seemingly gentle, dignified, and obedient Seventh Miss would dare to run away.

“Now is not the time to be angry, send people to search immediately! We must report it to the authorities, saying the second young master’s imperial gift was stolen by a lowly servant,” Madam Sun urged anxiously.

She had pushed for the marriage between Seventh Miss and the Yan family single-handedly. If anything went wrong, she would be implicated.

“Report to the authorities? Are you asking to be ridiculed? It would be better if she had married already. Now that she’s missing, how can I face the Second Young Master?” Xu Anren was enraged.

Madam Sun, forgetting Xu Anren’s pride, grit her teeth and ordered the housekeeper, “Send men to guard the West City Gate quickly and bring Seventh Miss back.”

“No, all four city gates must have guards posted. Hurry,” she added, thinking again.

Seventh Miss was cunning to an almost supernatural degree, able to pretend so long under her watch; she wouldn’t act predictably and might head toward Chang’an through the West Gate.

That little wretch had ruined her son’s marriage. When she caught her, she’d see how she was dealt with.

She really was ungrateful. If not for feeding her and getting her doctors, she’d have died long ago. Giving her some face, she thought this madam was easy to deal with.

Madam Sun sneered inwardly, wishing to see Xu Chengyue torn limb from limb.

“Write to the Second Young Master, tell him we treated Seventh Miss well, gave her everything she wanted, but she believed slander and ran away secretly. The marriage is agreed; if she returns, have him send her back.”

Her father wouldn’t protect her; even back in Chang’an, she’d have to marry.

Did she think she could live well without her family’s shelter? Too naive.

If she wasn’t kidnapped and sold to a brothel, that’d be lucky.

The Xu servants hurried on horseback to the four city gates.

Madam Sun’s guess was correct: Xu Chengyue had gone through the North Gate and had no intention of going to Chang’an—that would be a trap.

When the riders reached the North Gate, Xu Chengyue’s carriage had long blended into the crowd leaving the city.

“Little lady, are we going back to Chang’an?” Qiu Lu asked uncertainly.

“No, we’re going to Luoyang.”

They couldn’t return to Chang’an. With her original father’s character, he’d force her to marry.

Xu Chengyue wanted to return to her old profession and couldn’t go to some remote impoverished place—Luoyang was the best choice.

Finally free from the small prison that bound her, Xu Chengyue enjoyed the scenery along the way—the fragrance of flowers, the greenness of grass, the air fresher than in the Xu residence.

She quietly planned for the future.

First, rent a house in Luoyang; she didn’t have much money, so buying was out of the question.

Then, she would write her book. She didn’t ask for much—just enough to support herself. The first book was already decided: "The Divine Doctor’s Poisonous Consort."

It wasn’t that she had a special fondness for melodramatic novels, but such sensational themes strongly stimulated the senses.

Even in the later era of web novels, these genres remained popular, holding a place by adapting to readers’ tastes with new packaging.