The Zhu Family's Second Young Lady Couldn't Take It Anymore, She Climbed Over the Wall and Left Tonight

Zhu Zhuqing stood before the table, the engagement token resting in her palm.

Outside the wooden door, footsteps approached.

The maidservant stopped at the threshold and delivered the message exactly as instructed.

"The Eldest Miss told me to relay this to the Second Miss: the engagement is a rule between the Zhu Family and the Dai Family. Recognize your place and stop dreaming."

There was no reply from inside the room.

The maidservant waited a moment, then added another sentence.

"The Eldest Miss also said that even if that person in Soto City is living comfortably out there, it is not for the Second Miss to ask about. The Zhu Family raised you to win, not to throw tantrums."

Zhu Zhuqing closed the copy of her diary and placed it into the innermost secret compartment.

The maidservant remained standing outside the door.

"Second Miss, the Eldest Miss expects you at the backyard trials tomorrow morning as usual. If you are late, the family rules will be enforced."

Zhu Zhuqing finally spoke.

"I understand."

Having received her answer, the maidservant turned and left.

The courtyard fell silent once more.

She picked up the engagement token from the table; the thin silk thread pressed against her fingers, already worn with age.

She did not look at it a second time. A short blade flashed, and the thread snapped instantly.

Half remained in her palm.

Half fell onto the table.

Zhu Zhuqing pushed the half-token on the table under the lamplight. Her movements were light, but her intent was clear.

From this night on, this object belonged to the Zhu Family.

She would only take her own path.

The cabinet door opened to reveal few belongings.

A set of spare clothes.

A few Gold Soul Coins.

A short dagger.

Healing ointment.

She tucked the diary copy close to her body, taking nothing else.

She had never liked being burdened.

The sound of the wind outside swept over the eaves.

Zhu Zhuqing pushed open the back window and first checked the night watch route of the side courtyard.

The Zhu Family guards had fixed times for changing shifts.

She knew this better than anyone.

Beside the dwarf tree in the corner of the wall, there was just enough of a gap.

She stepped onto the window ledge, leaped, and landed silently in the shadows of the courtyard.

Nether Civet possessed her.

Her cat ears pricked up, her tail swayed gently behind her, and her speed increased to its limit.

She swept along the base of the wall, avoiding the main gate, and headed straight for the west wall of the side courtyard.

But just as she reached the wall, a low shout rang out from the distance.

"Who's there?"

The night watch guard had detected movement.

Zhu Zhuqing did not stop.

She tapped her toes against the bricks, vaulted half a zhang into the air, gripped the top of the wall, and used the momentum to flip over.

Someone chased to the base of the wall behind her.

"The Second Miss climbed the wall!"

"Go report to the Eldest Miss!"

"Fengxi Alley."

After landing, Zhu Zhuqing did not look back, racing along the outer wall of the Zhu Family estate and through the alleyways.

She knew clearly that if she were delayed, she would not be able to leave tonight.

In the main courtyard of the Zhu Family, Zhu Zhuyun had just taken off her cloak when a guard hurried over and knelt.

"Eldest Miss, the Second Miss has run away."

Zhu Zhuyun paused her movements.

"She ran?"

The guard kept his head lowered.

"The Second Miss climbed over the west wall of the side courtyard and left half of the engagement token on the table."

Zhu Zhuyun chuckled softly.

"She has certainly grown some backbone."

She pushed the teacup on the table aside, her voice steady and controlled.

"Take men to pursue her and bring her back."

The guard immediately acknowledged the order.

Zhu Zhuyun added one more instruction.

"Do not cause a scene in the public eye of the Imperial Family, and do not alert Dai Davis. The Zhu Family cannot afford to lose face like that."

"Also, if she heads for the main road, intercept her."

"She is clever; she will likely take the back roads."

The guard received his orders and withdrew.

Zhu Zhuyun walked to the window and looked toward the side courtyard.

"Zhuqing, do you think that by climbing over a wall, you can change the outcome of this game?"

At the same time, in the backyard of the post house, Ning Rongrong sat on her bed clutching a copy of the diary.

She finished reading the latest page and tapped on the wall.

"Xiao Wu, are you asleep yet?"

There was movement from the next room immediately.

"Not yet. What do you want now?"

Ning Rongrong pulled the door open and leaned half her body out.

"I think Zhu Zhuqing is going to run away early."

Xiao Wu opened her door as well, her hair still loose.

"I was thinking the same thing."

Ning Rongrong was taken aback.

"For once, you actually thought the same as me."

Xiao Wu snorted and leaned against the doorframe with her arms crossed.

"The one who escaped the marriage first went off to live it up in Soto City, leaving her behind in the Zhu Family to bear the brunt of the rules. If it were me, I'd run too."

Ning Rongrong nodded quickly.

"Exactly. I was just thinking, Dai Mubai is too outrageous. He slipped away first; what nerve does he have to expect Zhu Zhuqing to honor the engagement?"

Xiao Wu immediately chimed in.

"And he calls himself a prince. Who is he putting on that princely air for?"

Ning Rongrong looked at her for a moment and suddenly laughed.

"Bunny, this is the first time we've stood on the same side."

Xiao Wu didn't snap back.

"You aren't wrong this time."

In the main room, Su Hang had already spread out a map.

Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu entered one after the other, too preoccupied to even bicker.

Ning Rongrong spoke first.

"Su Hang, could Zhu Zhuqing have already made her move?"

Xiao Wu added, "If she really is running, which path would she take?"

Su Hang pressed his fingertip onto several lines outside of Soto City.

"The main road is the most stable, but it is also where the Zhu Family would most easily block her."

Ning Rongrong leaned in closer.

"Then she won't take the main road."

Su Hang nodded.

"If she wants to change her fate, she will take the small paths."

Xiao Wu stared at the map for a long time.

"Can both of these routes lead to Soto?"

Su Hang circled two of the paths.

"One winds around the forest; it's longer, but it avoids the Zhu Family's sentry posts."

"The other hugs the mountain ridge; it's shorter and dangerous, and you're likely to run into nocturnal soul beasts."

Ning Rongrong propped her hands on the edge of the table.

"She's in such a hurry, she'll most likely choose the shortcut."

Xiao Wu chimed in bluntly.

"She already dared to climb over the wall, so she definitely won't be dawdling along the long way around."

Su Hang pushed the map forward half an inch.

"Exactly, which is why the Zhu Family's pursuers will also guess that she's taking the shortcut."

The room fell silent for a moment.

Ning Rongrong was the first to press the Seven Treasures Token back against her waist.

"So, should we head over there tomorrow morning?"

Xiao Wu immediately looked at Su Hang.

"Brother Su Hang."

Su Hang folded up the map.

"Rest first."

Ning Rongrong was immediately dissatisfied.

"We're still resting?"

Su Hang glanced at her.

"You can't even recognize the roads around Soto yet; if you go out in the middle of the night, you'll get lost first."

Xiao Wu nodded quickly.

"I agree with that; she would definitely get lost."

Ning Rongrong lifted her chin.

"This young lady just hasn't been here before, that doesn't mean I'm stupid."

Xiao Wu gave a soft huff.

"Then recite those two lines from the map just now."

Ning Rongrong faltered for a second, then turned on Su Hang.

"You did that on purpose so I wouldn't memorize them."

Su Hang dimmed the lamp wick.

"The Zhu Family will pursue her tonight first. The more people there are, the more chaotic it will be. We'll move tomorrow morning when the path is clearer."

Ning Rongrong thought about it and ultimately didn't argue back.

"Fine, then I'll sleep first, but don't keep Zhu Zhuqing's trail a secret from me."

Xiao Wu followed her toward the door.

"Brother Su Hang, wake me up tomorrow morning."

"Alright."

As the two reached the doorway, Ning Rongrong suddenly stopped.

"Rabbit."

Xiao Wu looked back at her.

"What?"

Ning Rongrong clutched her copy of the map, looking uncharacteristically serious.

"If Zhu Zhuqing really does make it out, don't start a fight with her right away."

Xiao Wu curled her lip.

"I don't fight with just anyone."

Ning Rongrong immediately called her bluff.

"You fight with me every single day."

Xiao Wu tilted her chin up.

"That's because you're asking for it."

The two bickered for a moment before heading off to their respective rooms.

The lights in the main room went completely dark.

At this moment, outside Star Luo City, Zhu Zhuqing had already passed through the final stretch of low woods beyond the outer city walls.

There were torches ahead on the main road.

Behind her, the footsteps of pursuers drew near.

She stopped on the slope and cast a glance back at the towering city walls.

That was the Zhu Family, the betrothal, and the layers of rules that had weighed down upon her.

They were also the things she had personally cast aside this night.

As the wind brushed through her hair, she left behind a low murmur.

"I am not going back."

With those words, she turned and darted toward the darker mountain path.

A moment later, the pursuers reached the bottom of the slope.

"There are footprints here."

"She didn't take the main road."

"The Eldest Miss guessed correctly; the Second Miss has switched to the treacherous path leading to Soto."