099 Another Secret Passage Appears

What is time? Time is a blade, one that carves the marks of age into a face, cut by cut. Yet time is also a medicine, able to cure all manner of difficult and obscure ailments.

Before an enemy, even a moment can feel like ten thousand years. But before the one you love, even ten thousand years can seem no more than a heartbeat.

“Still no news of You Huan?” Du Juan had recovered somewhat, though she was still not fit to leave her bed. Worried for You Huan, she asked Chen Yage every day for word of his whereabouts.

Chen Yage let out a soft sigh. “Perhaps Brother Bai was right. We should go to Zhongnan Hall. Huanhuan may have been locked up there.”

“Then let’s go now.” Du Juan rose in alarm, only for Chen Yage to hurry and stop her. Li Bai said, “Your wounds haven’t healed yet. When you are better, we will go then. Don’t be too anxious. I know you are worried about him, but I believe he would not want to see you dragging a sick body out to look for him.”

Du Fu was also in full agreement with Li Bai. “Brother Li is right. Miss Du Juan, you should rest and recover first. When you are well, we will go look for Brother You together.”

Since everyone’s opinion was the same, Du Juan no longer insisted. Chen Yage took her hand tightly. Seeing that Chen Yage seemed to want to ask something but held it back, Du Juan said, “Sister Yage, if you have something to ask, then ask. As long as I know, I will answer honestly.”

“How did you and Huanhuan end up here?” This question had long puzzled Chen Yage.

“We were captured by Wang Zhiguo’s men.”

“How could Wang Zhiguo have had you brought here? What about your father? Didn’t he care what happened to you?” Du Juan’s answer only deepened Chen Yage’s confusion. Du Juan was the daughter of Xu Yushi. How could Wang Zhiguo have had such audacity?

“I... I and...” Du Juan faltered, her gaze flickering uncertainly. Li Bai immediately understood. Judging from Du Juan’s concern for You Huan, he guessed the rough truth. Chen Yage, however, did not catch on and pressed her further. “What exactly happened? Hurry up and say it.”

“My father... my father opposed my being with You Huan. So we secretly left the Xu residence. We had planned to go to Chang’an, but on the way we ran into Wang Zhiguo, who was also heading to Chang’an. After that, he handed us over to the soldiers, and specifically ordered them never to let us escape. That was why those soldiers watched me and him so closely.”

“Bastard.” Chen Yage cursed aloud. “If I ever get the chance to return to Xiangyang, I will never let him off lightly.”

Seeing Chen Yage so agitated, Du Juan grew curious. Li Bai said, “Yage was harmed by Wang Zhiguo’s people as well.”

Five days passed in the blink of an eye. Du Juan’s body gradually recovered. Princess Yuzhen had not appeared in these past few days, and Chen Yage’s group decided to go look for You Huan. But in deference to Yuzhen’s life-saving kindness, they needed to bid farewell first, so Chen Yage and Li Bai went together to Yuzhen’s room, only to find no one there.

They searched the entire nunnery, but found no one besides themselves. They could not help feeling puzzled, and even more uneasy.

“Someone was clearly here in the nunnery yesterday. Why is there not a soul to be seen today?” Du Fu, who had remained silent for a long while, finally spoke. He leaned against a large tree in the courtyard. Its branches were thick with leaves, covering half the sky. Sunlight filtered through the foliage, casting mottled shadows upon the ground.

In the courtyard there was an old well and a stone table. Du Juan had just sat down at the table when an arrow suddenly shot into it. She sprang to her feet in shock, and everyone else was startled as well. Du Fu, being the closest to her, seized Du Juan and pulled her away.

Before they could even speak, arrows came flying in from beyond the wall like a sudden rain. Li Bai shielded Chen Yage, while Du Fu protected Du Juan as they all kept retreating, until they were forced into Yuzhen’s room.

They still had no idea what had happened. Barely recovered from the fright, they saw dozens of dark figures leap into the nunnery. Through the window, Li Bai watched the black-clad men advancing step by step outside, and cold sweat broke out in his palm.

“Du Juan, hide quickly!” Seeing that the situation was bad, Chen Yage could only tell Du Juan to conceal herself first. Du Juan looked left and right. Yuzhen’s room was not very large. It contained a carved bed, a round wooden table, a dressing table, and a folding screen. There was nothing unusual about it, like the boudoir of an ordinary young woman.

The sound of footsteps outside drew nearer and nearer. Du Juan was frantic. A painting on the wall, depicting green pines, white cranes, and frolicking in water, suddenly caught her eye. She reached out and touched it. With a rumbling sound, the painting slowly moved aside, revealing a door behind it.

No one had expected a hidden mechanism in Yuzhen’s room. But on second thought, it made sense. After all, she was a princess. Her safety concerned the lives and deaths of many. It was only natural for there to be other routes in the place where she lived.

As the black-clad men drew ever closer, there was no time to think. Du Fu pushed Du Juan and Chen Yage through the secret door, and Li Bai quickly followed them inside.

What lay beyond was not a hidden chamber, but a secret passage.

The four of them exchanged glances. Chen Yage and Li Bai seemed to feel some familiarity with such a passage. Seeing it, both of them thought at once of the pitch-black tunnel they had used when entering Taoyuan, and could not help but smile.

“Let’s go in,” Du Fu said, taking the lead. Du Juan followed behind him. Li Bai and Chen Yage brought up the rear, walking hand in hand.

“Thanks to Du Juan for finding this hidden passage,” Chen Yage said sincerely. “Why are there so many men in black? Has anyone here offended someone?”

Chen Yage turned her gaze to Du Juan. Du Juan shook her head repeatedly. “I grew up in Taoyuan. During these days at the Xu residence, I barely had any contact with anyone else. How could I have made an enemy?”

Chen Yage thought that made sense, so she shifted her eyes to Du Fu. Du Fu argued, “Don’t forget, this is my first time coming to Chang’an. Besides, weren’t you traveling with me all along? During this journey, have you ever seen me quarrel with anyone?”

Chen Yage shook her head. Then she looked at Li Bai. Before Li Bai could speak, Chen Yage answered for herself. “It definitely can’t be Brother Bai. Brother Bai upholds justice, punishes the wicked, and protects the innocent. Everyone is grateful to you. How could you possibly have enemies?”

When she finished, Du Juan and Du Fu both turned to look at Li Bai. Du Juan stared at him and said, “Brother Bai, if you uphold justice and champion righteousness, wouldn’t that offend a great many people?”

“The men in black may not necessarily be here for us,” Chen Yage said, stepping in front of Li Bai and forcing Du Juan’s gaze back. “Today the nunnery feels strangely wrong. Everyone here suddenly vanished. These black-clad men may not be after us. If they were from the authorities, there would be no need for them to dress in black.”

“Then they must be here for the people in the nunnery,” Du Fu said with certainty. “For now, we need to get out of here first. We do not know where this passage leads. How about Brother Li and I go ahead to scout the way? Yage, you and Du Juan stay here and wait for us. Would that be all right?”