There were two flowers blooming, each with its own tale to tell.
Just as Qin Li had guessed, the Zhao Family Young Lady had not only studied the art of war from a young age, but could also apply it flexibly to all sorts of everyday situations—like running away from home. She knew her father had complicated ties with Heyin and was on close terms with both the former and current commandery governors. If she sought refuge in Heyin, it would be no different from walking into a trap. She'd be caught and dragged home within days.
So she put out false information to throw them off her trail.
She deliberately mentioned Heyin to the manager of the carriage company. To make sure he remembered it, she even brought it up two or three extra times.
Under the protection of two short-distance escorts she'd hired, she left the prefectural seat of Tianhai in the dead of night. Then, on the road to Shang Nan, she paid the two men their wages. At first, they refused. According to industry practice, they had to escort her safely to her destination before they could leave.
If they were dismissed midway, they wouldn't receive their full pay.
The Zhao Family Young Lady smiled. "I won't dock your pay. In fact, I'll give you an extra twenty percent in commission. Take that extra money and enjoy yourselves nearby for seven or eight days before heading back to Tianhai. Once you're back, just say you escorted me to my destination."
The two men wavered at the sound of such a good deal.
However—
Out of professional duty and conscience, they still hesitated and warned the young man with the tender, youthful face, "The roads are in chaos, and bandits are everywhere. You might run into trouble