Li Chengqian's voice rang out above his head, "A few days ago I heard you were ill, and I was so anxious that I lost all appetite. However, those old fellows in the palace kept a tight leash on me. Only today did I manage to escape. Are you feeling better now?"

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I am better now," Duan Yunzai replied, bowing.

Li Chengqian said happily, "That's good to hear. I just went to your chamber and only then did I realize you have to stay up so late. I'm sneaking out of the palace tonight, you should come with me!"

Duan Yunzai felt a surge of joy inside and quickly glanced up at Li Chengqian. He thought that if he could take the opportunity to escape, even a lifetime of wandering would be worth it. With this thought, he said, "Thank you, Crown Prince."

"I knew you would be pleased. If you like it, I will take you with me every time I go out in the future. Don't worry about your teachings here, I will speak for you," Li Chengqian stepped forward, grabbed his hand, and started to walk outside.

Duan Yunzai struggled to break free, "Your Highness, someone of your noble status should not act in such a way."

After he spoke these words, Li Chengqian did not respond for a long time. He pondered for a moment, then lifted his head and met Li Chengqian's smiling eyes. "If you don't like me holding your hand, I won't hold it. Let's go, let's go, the night is short!"

Duan Yunzai slightly relaxed. This was his first time out of the palace in the three years since he had entered the Music Bureau, and his excitement was indescribable.

Li Chengqian, true to his reputation of frequently slipping out of the palace, led him almost unobstructed all the way.

Duan Yunzai quietly memorized these routes in his heart, thinking that if he did not find an opportunity to flee today, he could look for a chance on another day.

As soon as the two left the palace, they raced like runaway wild horses, rushing to a deserted area where Li Chengqian burst into laughter, his delight unrestrained. Duan Yunzai, looking up at the moonlight, the vast infinite night sky, and the surrounding pastoral scenery, couldn't help but laugh aloud as well.

Li Chengqian lay down on the grass, looking at Duan Yunzai, and suddenly said, "How wonderful it would be if you could always stay by my side like this."

Duan Yunzai's laughter abruptly ceased, and he replied respectfully, "You jest, Your Highness."

"I am not joking. Every day without seeing you feels unbearable. This past month has truly seemed like years." Li Chengqian stared intently at him. "I think I have fallen for you."

...

Duan Yunzai stared at him, dumbstruck and speechless for a moment.

Seeing his dumbfounded expression, Li Chengqian grew more delighted. He stood up, pulled him into his arms, and kissed him on the lips without further ado.

Before this, Li Chengqian had never kissed a man. At first, aside from genuinely feeling moved, he was also driven by a curiosity; however, once he really kissed him, he felt increasingly unable to extricate himself.

Duan Yunzai felt as if he had been struck by lightning, his mind went blank for a moment. Coming to his senses, he fiercely punched Li Chengqian.

The punch landed on Li Chengqian's cheek, instantly swelling up half of his face.

...

The joy of escaping the palace was suddenly overwhelmed by fear.

Years later, An Jin could no longer recall what he felt at that moment, but he remembered that he was almost ready to run away when he saw Li Chengqian wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth and saying, "Let's go to East Market."

He said, "I am sorry, I just lost control for a moment..."

Li Chengqian said many things to explain, which An Jin could no longer clearly remember, but the shock that Li Chengqian brought him still remained vivid in his memory.

He should have been the favored child of heaven, an incredibly esteemed figure, yet he humbled himself so.

Shock was plenty, but fear also accompanied it. All of Li Chengqian's behaviors brought nothing but tremors of trepidation.

...

The fierce sun was overhead, and the wind carried a hint of mugginess.

Ran Yan saw An Jin using a book to cover his face, uncertain if he was pondering or asleep.

Once Ran Yan figured out the whole story, she didn't speak further, silently calculating how to escape. This wasn't her first time being kidnapped, so she felt relatively calm, analyzing that the current situation wasn't the worst.

At least, An Jin's mood wasn't too violent, she should still have some time.

Ran Yan thought and sat up from the couch, saying, "I'll join you for this last game."

After a moment of silence, An Jin's mood had stabilized. He tossed the book in his hand onto the couch. Ran Yan glanced down and saw it was "Strategies of the Warring States."

"Do you really believe I wouldn't kill you, Lady Liang?" An Jin's voice was somewhat hoarse.

"You said, I have your gratitude, and you won't repay kindness with malice. But to kill or not is all in a thought of yours." Ran Yan slightly pursed her lips, she had to prepare for both possibilities.

She couldn't just wait for someone to rescue her. An Jin was the mastermind behind this case, and it would be best if he could be captured alive, but if her life was at risk, she must also be prepared to fight to the death.

Moreover, An Jin appeared normal, but he was actually mad. If Ran Yan was not wrong, An Jin had successfully kidnapped her because he had set a trap for the officials at the Ministry of Justice. To capture her, he had killed one or two officials. Everything the Ministry of Justice would do was within his expectations, even the path he knew they would take in their haste.

The poison that had been on Ran Yan was gone, obviously taken by An Jin. However, she still had silver needles hidden in her hair, she could feel that the needles were still there. In the pocket of her left sleeve, there was also a handkerchief soaked with poison.

These two items were not suitable for use in a direct confrontation but better for a surprise attack. Yet, the extent of An Jin's Martial Arts was still an unknown; even if she got close, what were her odds?

The shadow of the sun moved westward.

All the guards within the palace had been mobilized, searching everywhere.

Particularly, the Ministry of Justice was thoroughly inspected, no palace large or small was overlooked.

In the courtyard, Ran Yan could faintly hear voices from outside, which seemed not far from where she was, yet for some reason, no one had discovered them. Thus, Ran Yan thought the door she had seen before was a mere illusion; her current location was not entered through that door.

Ran Yan was thinking about how to move the silver needle from her hair to her sleeve pocket when she heard a flapping sound followed by cooing.

She turned her head and saw a pigeon had landed on An Jin's hand. He removed a small bamboo tube from the pigeon's leg, pulled out a tiny paper strip, read it, then, with a slight curve of his lips, handed it to her, "Assistant Minister Xiao does know the time of day."

Ran Yan unfolded the note, not written by Xiao Song, but she could guess from the content that it was a message from Prince Wei's mansion: they had received the letter hidden by the Xiao family, but the map was not found.

A map? Ran Yan didn't know what that meant and didn't plan to inquire directly.

"You had countless opportunities to kill Li Chengqian, yet you chose such a roundabout way, and ultimately, without taking his life yourself, do you find meaning in this?" Ran Yan put down the note and asked.

"I thought about killing him, because all originated from him; otherwise, I wouldn't have those fawning people send me off to the Eastern Palace!" An Jin's handsome face became very stiff as he mentioned "cleansed" (To be continued. If you like this work, we invite you to vote for it with a recommendation ticket or monthly ticket at Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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