Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play-Chapter 944 - 919: Escape
Fang Chuning had long forgotten Du Fang, while Xie Jue vividly remembered the time in Beiman, as if it were yesterday. Perhaps it was because Fang Chuning was in Beiman, and that period was too cherished and sweet for him. The memories were so fresh, constantly surfacing and inevitably reminding him of the people and events of that time.
In fact, the Second Prince, the Second Prince Consort, and the retainers in the manor treated him very well, taking great care of him. They knew he had no family since he left his homeland, and for over a year, they almost regarded him as half a family member. Especially after he married Lan Ningzhen, the Princess even treated him as a brother-in-law. Later, he knew the plans he devised would harm the Second Prince Manor, yet being in his position, certain duties couldn’t be neglected. That’s the helplessness of being a spy; one shouldn’t form emotional attachments. If Fang Chuning hadn’t impersonated Lan Ningzhen, Xie Jue wouldn’t have formed such deep bonds with those in the Second Prince Manor.
"I really connected with Du Fang. He was the best strategist in the Second Prince Manor. Before I went there, Du Fang was the Second Prince’s most trusted advisor. He stood his ground against the Great Prince, having established a foothold in Fox City. The success of the manor’s strategists was substantial. The Second Prince’s nature was simple; he was not skilled in palace intrigue, nor adept at contending with his brothers. Without his strategists, it would have been difficult for him to hold his place during the Great Prince’s prime. When I was unfamiliar with Beiman, I relied entirely on Du Fang and others for help."
Fang Chuning clicked his tongue, feeling inexplicably annoyed, "So you’re going to back these Beiman people? You better think this through. Siding with the Beiman will undoubtedly attract criticism."
"Have I not faced enough criticism? Let others say what they want. I stand on the side of law and justice. How the Beiman are settled was a strategy jointly decided by me and the cabinet. If I find the Beiman being treated unjustly, and I do nothing, I would not be fit to be the Prince of Beining. Beining and Beiman have indeed fought for decades, with losses on both sides. Many of the Xie family’s men died at the hands of Beiman. If we talk about hatred, my enmity with Beiman runs deep as the sea. But once Beiman surrendered and unified, they should be treated equally. I do not expect everyone to let go of their hatred and live in harmony, only that there can be peace where each does not infringe on the other. If the Beiman oppress the citizens after crossing the borders, I will uphold justice for the people, expelling or relocating them." Xie Jue slowly explained, "After the unification of the world, only peaceful coexistence can lead to stable development, allowing citizens to live and work in peace and enjoy a good life."
The Xie family’s original intention in resisting the Beiman was to spare the people from the ravages of war and allow them to live peacefully. Now, it is different paths, same destination. Xie Jue also remembered the night the Marquis Mansion fell apart. The pain was searing, and hatred almost overwhelmed his reason. He hated Yuwen Jing, hated Dugu Jing, hated the Beiman. He dreamed of donning armor and leading troops to charge into Beiman. For those years, his heart was like that of King Yan, a harbinger of death. When did he gradually reconcile with his hatred?
It was after Xie Xun returned from Yangzhou. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞
It was after Ruyi was born.
At that time, he could not fully understand Xie Xun. It wasn’t until he held Ruyi that he slowly found new hope, a new goal. He knew he couldn’t remain in hatred, nor let the child live in hatred. With Beiman’s surrender, the Xie family had to lead by example, treating everyone equally for the citizens to respect their orders.
Xie Jue and Fang Chuning hadn’t yet waited for the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry to arrive from Yun City when the County Magistrate, accompanied by government officers, surrounded the inn. They were alerted by the noise downstairs. Fang Chuning opened the door to see officers filling the ground floor, with one official in a formal robe questioning the shopkeeper if there were two handsome young gentlemen staying at the inn. The officer behind him held two portraits, which Fang Chuning immediately recognized as depicting himself and Xie Jue.
He quickly turned back, closing the door. "Xie Tingfeng, we have to go. The County Magistrate has come to arrest you. This County Magistrate Zhou, accustomed to being a tyrant in Pingnan County, has committed many crimes. If exposed, it would be a grave offense warranting execution of his family. He will surely take desperate measures. We are unfamiliar with Pingnan County, and if caught and jailed by him, our lives will be in danger. Let’s leave first and wait for the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry."
As he spoke, he opened the window. They were on the second floor, not too high. While speaking, Xie Jue had already packed some simple belongings. The two fled the inn through the window. Just as they jumped from the second floor, County Magistrate Zhou led the officers upstairs. Seeing the open window, he rushed to it, and Fang Chuning glanced back, meeting his eyes.
Fang Chuning saw the murderous intent in County Magistrate Zhou’s eyes. Zhou shouted, "There they are on East Street, after them!"
Fang Chuning dragged Xie Jue forward. Pingnan County was not large, with dense housing and many dead ends. Fang Chuning knew very well that they couldn’t outrun officers familiar with the streets.
Most of these officers were locals, regularly patrolling and familiar with every street. Running like this would inevitably lead to getting caught.
Fang Chuning pulled Xie Jue over walls, stealthily entering a three-entry courtyard, hiding in the woodshed. As soon as they entered, two maids came with wooden basins to wash clothes by the well. Fang Chuning pushed Xie Jue into the innermost aisle of the shed, covering him with dried straw to hide him. The straw’s dust made Xie Jue dusty, causing him to glare at Fang Chuning. Fang Chuning smirked, forcefully pushing him in, whispering, "Your Highness, my apologies."
The aisle was flanked by firewood, making it impossible for Xie Jue to move. The straw blocked his vision completely. Just as Xie Jue hid, an officer knocked at the door. It was a dead-end alley, and Fang Chuning and Xie Jue were nowhere to be seen. They must have hidden in a nearby household, so the officers searched house by house.
The homeowner, a middle-aged man, was playing with a son and daughter in the front yard, unaware of Xie Jue and Fang Chuning sneaking in from the backyard.
So many officers barging into a civilian’s home frightened the children, who hid behind their father. The man, both respectful and fearful, hurriedly asked why. After a brief explanation from an officer, the search continued over the man’s objections. He, both reverential and scared, settled the children before repeatedly explaining to the officers that no outsiders had entered his house. The officers pushed him aside tyrannically, searching room by room.
The maids washing clothes by the well were startled by the officers, knowing that the people of Pingnan County feared the government officers. They nervously retreated without daring to interfere with the officers’ duties.
An officer asked, "Did you see any strangers climbing over the wall while washing at the well?"
The maids shook their heads in unison, and others continued the search inside.
Soon they searched the woodshed. Xie Jue heard them kick the door open. Fang Chuning had already flipped up onto a beam, ready to fight if discovered. Xie Jue’s breathing slowed. As the officers inspected the woodshed, they soon arrived at the aisle. One of them thrust a knife into the straw, and Fang Chuning’s expression darkened slightly, with one hand pressing on his sword hilt.
