Chapter 289: Night Escape

Chapter 289: Night Escape

An invisible weight pressed down on Cheng Ge's entire body like ice water, and a dull ache spread across his chest.

Just then, with a loud crash, the window slammed open, and a dark figure stumbled and rolled in, crashing heavily to the ground!

"Wufeng?!" Cheng Ge and Lü Rou exclaimed simultaneously.

Wufeng's face was deathly pale, his lips drained of color, and he was pressing his hand tightly against his abdomen.

Dark red blood seeped through his fingers, soaking a large area of his robe.

"Master..." Wufeng's breath was weak, his eyes filled with anxiety and guilt.

"The secret letter that was sent out... at Black Wind Gorge thirty li outside the city... was intercepted..."

Cheng Ge's heart sank heavily. He quickly stepped forward to support Wufeng and said in a low, urgent voice to the physician, "Quick! Treat his wounds!"

He forced himself to stay calm, trying to reassure both Wufeng and himself: "It's alright, the secret letter was intercepted, but we still have the imperial express.

I sent that crucial evidence directly to the capital via the eight-hundred-li express."

However, upon hearing this, Wufeng shook his head weakly: "Master, the imperial express should have had a reply three days ago...

Just now I received definite news that the courier responsible for the express, along with his horse, disappeared for no reason... They say it was the work of bandits!"

Cheng Ge felt a chill shoot through him from head to toe, and his vision suddenly went dark.

His body swayed, almost unable to stand, and he gritted his teeth: "How dare they!"

The imperial express! That's the emperor's own communication line—tampering with it is treason!

Since ancient times, no one's dared to mess with it unless they want their whole family wiped out! This Lian Wujing is simply insane! Lawless!

Lü Rou hurried forward to support Cheng Ge, her voice trembling: "Cheng Ge, what should we do now?"

Cheng Ge took a few deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down. We can't stay in Yuanzhou any longer.

Since Lian Wujing dared to tamper with the imperial express, he wouldn't hesitate to kill me. Staying would only lead to death.

He swept his sharp gaze across the room and quickly made a decision: "Lü Rou, pack all the key evidence and documents, travel light! We'll leave Yuanzhou tonight and make for Yingzhou next!"

Yingzhou is Song Yunzhi's territory. Although it cannot be guaranteed to be foolproof, at least we won't be alone and without backup.

He still has the evidence, plus the witnesses we've been protecting in Weixian!

As long as we can safely reach Yingzhou and find a way to deliver the evidence to the emperor, then Lian Wujing is done for!

......

A fierce winter blizzard plunged Yuanzhou into chaos. Three carriages with thick green canvas covers were traveling on the official road.

Cheng Ge had changed into a cotton robe worn by ordinary merchants, wrapped in a half-worn sheepskin jacket, with the brim of his hat pulled low, covering most of his face.

He sat on the driver's seat of the second carriage, curled up as if dozing in the cold wind, but in fact every nerve in his body was like a drawn bowstring, alert to any sign of movement around him.

The carriages traveled through streets silent except for the howling wind and falling snow, carefully avoiding the main roads and detouring toward the west gate.

Goose-feather snowflakes whipped by the fierce wind stung their faces with bone-chilling cold.

The carriage struggled through the snow-covered road, the wheels grinding out a grating "creak—creak—" that carried far into the dead, silent, snowy night.

Cheng Ge lifted his gaze slightly and saw the torches blazing on the city gate tower, illuminating the guards, who were far more numerous than usual.

They held spears and carried swords, patrolling back and forth in the snow, their breath forming white puffs in the air.

At the city gate, several mule carts loaded with firewood were being inspected.

The guards not only carefully checked the travel permits but also repeatedly prodded the bundles of firewood with their spears, conducting an extremely thorough inspection.

"Halt! Travel permit!" A cold-faced squad leader blocked the path of the convoy, his gaze sweeping over the three plain-looking carriages.

Ling Feng, disguised as the steward, quickly jumped down from the carriage and pulled out a travel permit stamped with the seal of "Fenglong Warehouse" from inside his coat.

With a practiced, ingratiating smile that merchants often use, he bowed slightly and said:

"Greetings, Officer. I'm the steward of Fenglong Warehouse. The boss is in a hurry before the New Year—we have a batch of mountain goods that need to be delivered to a shop in Yingzhou. Can't afford delays on the road. I'd appreciate your help."

As he spoke, he discreetly slipped a small piece of silver into the squad leader's hand.

The squad leader weighed the silver in his hand, then examined the travel permit carefully by the torchlight. The date and seals were all correct.

He looked up, his gaze once again sweeping over Cheng Ge, who raised his head at just the right moment, offering a weary, cautious smile that spoke of a long journey.

"Fenglong Warehouse? I haven't heard about a large shipment leaving the city tonight." The squad leader's tone still carried suspicion. He tapped the carriage shaft with the scabbard of his sword. "What's in here? Open it up!"

Ling Feng's face showed reluctance: "Officer, it's just some dried mushrooms and furs—afraid they'll get spoiled by the snow and dampness..."

Just as the atmosphere grew tense, a soldier stationed at the city gate trotted over and whispered a few words in the squad leader's ear.

The squad leader's brow twitched, almost imperceptibly. He took another look at Cheng Ge and his group, glanced again at the travel permit, and his cold demeanor seemed to soften slightly.

He waved his hand and said in a still indifferent tone: "Alright, the snow is heavy and the road is slippery—hurry along! Don't block the gate!"

The heavy city gate creaked open, just wide enough for the carriages to pass through.

The three carriages slowly filed out, the wheels groaning "clunk" as they rolled over the gate's threshold.

Cheng Ge kept his hands in his sleeves, his fingertips feeling a chill.

He coughed several times and buried his chin into his collar.

As the carriage slowly passed the squad leader, his gaze swept over the man's face without any show of intent.

At that moment, the squad leader happened to look up too, and their eyes met briefly.

A barely noticeable, peculiar flicker flashed in the man's eyes, but it was only for an instant. The man then turned his head away as if nothing had happened, as if it were just a casual glance.

That single glance sent an indescribable surge of unease through Cheng Ge's chest.

Something's wrong… but what? He couldn't pin it down, yet the feeling was real and unmistakable.

The carriage swayed and jolted, finally passing through the city gate entirely, leaving the towering shadow of Yuanzhou City behind.

However, instead of feeling any relief, a suffocating weight settled even heavier in Cheng Ge's chest.

The heavy snow intensified, and the howling wind nearly threatened to overturn the carriage.

Leaning against the carriage shaft, the cold wood pressing against his back, his mind uncontrollably replayed the moments of leaving the city.

That travel permit, which had come too "conveniently," the subtle change after the squad leader received the whisper, and especially that last meaningful glance...

Too smooth—so smooth it felt like a meticulously arranged play.

Given Lian Wujing's nature, how could he have let Cheng Ge leave Yuanzhou so easily?