The concubine was charming and alluring, and the ruthless prince coaxed her day and night.

Chapter 97 Rewarding the Servant with a Bite of Rice

Xu Jiaojiao choked up, feeling both amused and exasperated.

"Perhaps it's because I ate and slept all day while being confined, that I gained weight..."

Lianye chuckled and said, "It's alright. When you return from the hunting grounds, I'll make you some imperial herbal tea."

This tea is made from high-quality tea leaves, perilla leaves, calamus, alisma, hawthorn strips, and other herbs in appropriate amounts. It can help with weight loss and fat reduction, and is also fragrant and delicious, without causing any discomfort.

Xu Jiaojiao was surprised.

Look, Lianye is so straightforward and kind; she always thinks of her.

She hadn't told anyone about the changes in her body, it's amazing that Lianye was so observant as to notice her subtle "weight gain"...

After Lianye tied her clothes and dressed her properly, Xu Jiaojiao grabbed Lianye's hand, which was about to be pulled back, and gently held it in her palm.

"Both the Prince and Princess are not at the residence today; I'm afraid some malicious people might make things difficult for our courtyard..."

Lianye stared blankly at Xu Jiaojiao, bewildered.

These past few days, she had been thinking about her master's secret departure from Yuhua Courtyard to the hunting grounds. She hadn't really thought that anyone would make things difficult for Yuhua Courtyard while the prince was away.

Reminded by her mistress, Lianye immediately became alert: "Yes, how could I not have thought of that? If someone finds out you're not here, there will probably be a lot of trouble. I need to think of a way to cover it up and not let anyone find out you're not here!"

Xu Jiaojiao's raven feathers trembled, and her eyes involuntarily reddened.

Silly Lotus Leaf only considered her situation, never imagining what would happen to her if the truth came out.

She pulled Lianye down to sit with her: "Do you remember the Red Ulcer Pill I asked the doctor for last time?"

Lianye nodded: "I remember, it's in the hidden compartment of the bookshelf."

After taking this Red Ulcer Pill, red rashes and ulcers will appear all over the body, but this is only a symptom and does not actually harm the user. Moreover, these ulcers and rashes are not painful or itchy and will not leave scars. They will all disappear after the effects of the medicine wear off. Xu Jiaojiao keeps it on hand in case of any unforeseen circumstances.

Seeing that Lianye knew, Xu Jiaojiao continued, "You are calm and composed, and you won't easily lose your composure. When it's dawn, have Tonghua take the Red Ulcer Pill, lie in bed and pretend to be me. Then go to the guard at the gate and tell him that I have fallen seriously ill and need to call a doctor."

Lianye nodded: "This servant understands."

Xu Jiaojiao: "After the doctor arrives, lower the bed curtains and have Tonghua extend one hand for the doctor to see. The doctor will then prescribe medicine."

These are not common illnesses, and the household usually does not keep medicine on hand. It is necessary to leave the mansion to purchase medicine. At that time, you can use the excuse that I am in urgent need of medicine and take Tonghua with you to leave the mansion to purchase medicine.

If you have medicine in the manor, wait two or three hours, then tell the guards that the medicine is ineffective and you need to go out and fetch a doctor.

Lianye understood the gist of it.

The master's implication was that she and Tonghua should leave the manor.

But why?

The lotus leaf looked somewhat bewildered and paused in surprise.

Xu Jiaojiao continued, "After leaving the manor, you will stay near the west gate of Kyoto and keep a close eye on the movements coming from the hunting grounds."

When I pass through the West Gate on my way back to the capital, I will wear a red flower in my hair. If you see me, you should immediately return to your residence.

But if you hear news of my accident, you and Kiri should immediately flee Kyoto…”

Upon hearing this, the clever Lianye immediately guessed Xu Jiaojiao's thoughts.

She shook her head in alarm: "Master, please don't do anything foolish!"

Xu Jiaojiao knew that Lianye was wholeheartedly devoted to her, and that the moment had come when she had no choice but to act, so she no longer needed to hide it from Lianye.

She smiled with a sense of relief and nonchalance: "Lianye, Prince Chen has already abandoned me. I don't want to be imprisoned in this courtyard and spend the rest of my life here..."

Seeing her smile like that, Lianye's eyes immediately welled up with tears: "But how will you live without this courtyard..."

Xu Jiaojiao glanced at the still dimly lit sky outside the window: "The world is vast, there will always be a place that suits me, a place that can accommodate my tiny, dust-like body."

Having spent so much time with her master, Lianye could tell that her master longed for freedom.

Even so, she still dared not imagine how many malicious people would covet her, a delicate and beautiful woman, in this world.

Suddenly, Lianye looked at Xu Jiaojiao with a determined expression: "Master, if you want to escape, this servant will escape with you!"

She sniffed, her eyes resolute: "This servant has no one to rely on in this world. I can't find any other way to make a living if I leave the palace. If I follow you, we can take care of each other!"

Furthermore, with your intelligence and business acumen, I'm sure I'll live a good life by following you!

"My lord, please take me with you and give me a meal!"

Xu Jiaojiao was stunned.

I didn't expect Lianye to be so direct.

However, since Lianye had already said that, she really couldn't find a reason to refuse.

Looking into Lianye's mischievous eyes, Xu Jiaojiao couldn't help but laugh.

That silly girl, she said that on purpose.

She took out two one-hundred-tael silver notes from her sleeve and handed them to Lianye: "Alright, the original plan remains unchanged. If you hear that I am in trouble, find an inn near the West Gate to stay temporarily. Once I have escaped safely, I will come to find you immediately!"

As for Tonghua, after the incident, give her one hundred taels of silver and let her find her own way to survive.

Lianye accepted the silver and nodded solemnly.

Xu Jiaojiao looked out the window and breathed a sigh of relief.

At that time, it's inevitable that Jin Gang, Da Li, Granny Li, and Lu Hai will suffer some physical pain, but they are all Prince Chen's own people, so their lives shouldn't be in danger...

With her worries gone, Xu Jiaojiao's determination to escape became even stronger.

After getting dressed and having a simple snack to fill her stomach, Xu Jiaojiao went outside and waved to the guards who were perched in the tree.

The guard jumped down from the tree, silently grabbed Xu Jiaojiao's waist, leaped out of the courtyard, and then used unpredictable movements to lead Xu Jiaojiao away from the Prince Chen's residence.

At first, Xu Jiaojiao was a little scared and clung tightly to the guard's neck.

Later, as the vast Prince Chen's mansion receded into the distance, Xu Jiaojiao felt only joy and no longer felt any fear.

There were many experts in the palace, and it would be difficult for the secret guards to avoid them quietly with Xu Jiaojiao. So after leaving the Prince Chen's mansion, the secret guards settled Xu Jiaojiao in an inn near the imperial city gate.

At the stroke of dawn, the royal procession, heading to the hunting grounds, emerged from the palace in a grand procession.

Prince Zhao Yunzheng, clad in silver armor, led the Imperial Guards at the very front of the procession. He was truly a peerless gentleman, as handsome as jade. Even Xu Jiaojiao, who was used to seeing Zhao Yunzheng's appearance, was amazed and stared at him for a moment.

After the procession had traveled some distance, Jia Rong lifted the carriage curtain and gave a few instructions to the maidservant accompanying the carriage. The maidservant nodded slightly and left the procession.

When the maid returned, her face was covered with a veil, and her posture was slightly different from before.

"Ahem, Your Highness, the chestnut cake you requested has arrived. Would you like to eat it while it's hot?"

Inside the carriage, upon hearing Xu Jiaojiao's voice, Jia Rong immediately lifted the curtain: "Come on up, let this princess have a taste of the chestnut cake."