Tian Heng slipped two silver ingots to the guards at the palace gates and successfully made his way out.
Liaochen and the other three, meanwhile, walked straight out with the token Eunuch Changshun had secretly slipped them.
Once outside the palace gates, the four split into two groups.
Liaochen and Zhong Chengwang followed in the direction the eunuch had gone, while Wu Leyong and Yu Xingmian sprinted straight toward Prince Jing's Residence.
Tian Heng remained extremely cautious the entire way.
Prince Jing's residence was a long distance from the palace. To avoid drawing attention, he darted through narrow alleys all along the way.
The farther he went, the faster his heart beat and the longer his strides became.
He had pleaded unbearable stomach pain and begged a eunuch who was on leave to cover his shift. He risked being discovered at any moment and had to get back as quickly as possible, yet he dared not disregard Prince Jing's orders. All he could do was run for his life.
Suddenly-
A longsword reached out from behind him and pressed firmly against his neck.
A gruff voice immediately followed. "Don't move!"
"G-good sir..." Cold sweat trickled from Tian Heng's temples into his collar, and his teeth chattered. "All my silver is in the pouch at my waist. I-if you don't mind, please just take it!"
"Why waste your breath on him?"
Another voice sounded behind him, and this time, Tian Heng began trembling all over.
This man...
Hadn't made a single sound before speaking!
"Hurry up and tie him up. We still have to go back and report!" With that, the man stuffed an entire piece of cotton cloth into his mouth, gagging him tightly.
The person behind him produced a long rope from somewhere and bound his hands behind his