Leertai glanced at her, his eyes showing approval. "Outside the city."
It seems Tang Zhuyun had already guessed it.
"Just as I thought," Tang Zhuyun said.
She had just thought about it carefully; with so many archers, it would be difficult for them to hide undetected, so she suspected that these people had sneaked in from outside the city.
The question is, how did they get in?
Leertai clearly didn't want to answer her question. He turned and went out, instructing the men at the door, "These two women are extremely cunning. Ignore them no matter what they say or want."
Ren Yingying cried out in exasperation, "I need to relieve myself!"
Outside, only the sound of Leertai's footsteps fading into the distance could be heard.
"Tangbao, look at him..."
"This man is determined and hard-hearted," Tang Zhuyun said. "No need to say more, conserve your energy. It seems his goal is to negotiate with the prince; he won't harm us for now."
Ren Yingying said softly, "Then I take back what I said."
Which sentence?
"Sleeping in the Qu Nian that line."
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
What kind of rubbish is this at a time like this!
"My only fear now is that my family is worried about us," she sighed.
She's fine, but her family must be extremely worried.
"It was all a false alarm, nothing to worry about," Yingying said. "I'm more worried about something else now."
Tang Zhuyun thought Ren Yingying was going to talk about handsome men again, but she didn't expect her to be serious this time.
"Tangbao, what if Leertai uses you to threaten Prince of Jin and force him to surrender?"
This should be Tang Zhuyun's greatest value.
Tang Zhuyun had also considered this possibility.
But she calmly replied, "I don't think so."
"Why?" Ren Yingying asked, puzzled.
"Because I feel that no man here would believe that someone would abandon a city for a woman."
Ren Yingying said, "What you said is true. But if that's the case, why did he kidnap you?"
"I guess they're discussing some terms, but it shouldn't be about withdrawing troops."
"What if—I mean, just in case," Ren Yingying said, "What if Leertai finds out and really uses you to coerce the Prince of Jin into withdrawing his troops?"
Tang Zhuyun replied without hesitation, "I will die."
Ren Yingying's eyes widened. "So ruthless?"
What do you think?
Ren Yingying bit her lip and thought for a moment, "Ptooey, ptooey, I'll just spit it out a couple of times and I'll be fine."
Why did she bring this up?
Tang Zhuyun, however, comforted her instead, "No, it won't come to that. Yingying, we can't just sit here and wait to die."
Ren Yingying said, "We're not just sitting here waiting to die, we're lying down waiting to die."
Two dead dogs.
Tang Zhuyun: "... That's not necessarily true."
As they spoke, Ren Yingying stared in disbelief as the ropes binding her loosened and came off...
Tang Zhuyun made a shushing gesture and quietly came over to help Ren Yingying untie the ropes.
Ren Yingying said in a very low voice, "Tangbao, you can do this too?"
Tang Zhuyun said, "The Prince taught me."
Ren Yingying's eyes widened. "You guys play this?"
Inappropriate scenes for children immediately flashed into my mind...
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
Actually, she was showing off her ability to tie a pirate knot, which earned her a lesson from Prince of Jin, and she never expected to use it today.
This Ren Yingying really needs a re-education; what rubbish is in her head!
She quickly untied the rope and whispered, "We have to find a way out ourselves."
Leertai's words actually revealed several messages.
First, they are useful, so their lives will be spared; second, no one will come in to care whether they live or die.
This gives them the confidence to escape; even if they are caught, they will at most get a beating, but their lives will be safe.
Ren Yingying said, "That's for sure."
She pointed to the small window on the north side.
The window was very high; she couldn't even reach it with her outstretched hand, but it was probably her only way out.
Tang Zhuyun thought so too.
"Tangbao, step on my shoulders and go take a look."
Tang Zhuyun said, "No, you don't have the strength. You go up first and take a look, but be careful not to alert them."
"Okay, don't worry."
Ren Yingying stepped on Tang Zhuyun's shoulders, leaning against the wall as she cautiously peered outside.
After coming down, she said to Tang Zhuyun, "It seems to be halfway up a mountain. There's a forest outside, and I didn't see anyone. The ground below is muddy; I won't die if I jump, but I'm afraid of making noise."
Tang Zhuyun thought for a moment and then said, "It's alright. Leertai instructed them not to come in no matter what happened, lest they be tricked. So when you jumped, I made a big fuss to cover the sound of you jumping."
"No, no, you go, I'll stay!"
"Stop arguing," Tang Zhuyun, looking at the small window. "I'm afraid I can't get through. You should leave."
"Can't get over it? Why can't you get over it?"
Tang Zhuyun said irritably, "I'm older!"
She had been stuck before...
Ren Yingying: "Holy crap!"
At a time like this, to still criticize her—is this a sign of moral decay or the loss of humanity?
"We'll have to wait until tonight."
"Good."
As darkness fell, Ren Yingying said, "I guess they've almost finished fighting outside."
"Don't worry about me after you get out," Tang Zhuyun said. "Just focus on your run."
"Okay." Ren Yingying gritted her teeth and agreed.
"If, I mean if anything happens to me, Yingying, tell the Prince..." Tang Zhuyun trailed off.
"You love him."
"No, tell him to live well. He's not allowed to bring women back to the manor, unless Wuji and the others are over ten years old."
Ren Yingying: "Look at you, so spineless. Just live your life properly, acting like a tyrant and bullying Prince of Jin your whole life! I'm leaving, wait for me!"
She slowly stood up, stepping on Tang Zhuyun's shoulders. Then she reached out and opened the dilapidated little window, pressed her hands against the narrow windowsill, first sticking her head out, then her upper body.
Tang Zhuyun waited for a while, feeling the pressure on her shoulders had noticeably decreased, but it was still there. She couldn't help but whisper, "What's wrong?"
Why is this person dragging their feet? Why aren't they leaving?
"Tangbao, I... I'm stuck..."
She has a great figure too!
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
No matter how Ren Yingying tried, she just couldn't get out.
It's bad enough that she can't get out, but she can't come back either; she's in pain!
"I need to see the person first; otherwise, nothing else matters."
A familiar, heart-wrenching voice came from outside.
But it wasn't the male lead, Prince of Jin, but that scoundrel Qu Nian.
Ren Yingying: "..."
"Of course," Leertai's voice followed immediately, "Someone, open the door."
Ren Yingying: Who am I? Where am I? What am I supposed to do?
Leertai gestured an invitation, and Qu Nian was extremely anxious, did not refuse and strode in.