Don't Provoke the Black Lotus O [Transmigration Novel] - Chapter 54

54: Escape

Mo Sanqi came and went without a trace, and her appearance did not bring any changes.

As for the guards who had been knocked out, Jiang Ci had no choice but to take the blame. After all, she had done this sort of thing many times before when attempting to escape.

She had spent several days slowly digging a hole in the wall, hiding it well. Since she was thin, she could barely squeeze through.

However, this only allowed her to leave the courtyard. She had no idea what the situation was like in the rest of the mansion or how many guards were stationed there. In her plan, it might take several days of exploration to find a route that would allow her to escape unnoticed, which would be time-consuming and labor-intensive.

Jiang Ci had been racking her brains but couldn’t come up with a good solution until that day, when Huang Fu’s appearance gave her new hope.

She had been under house arrest for a month, and this was the first time she had openly seen someone from the outside.

“Miss Jiang…” Huang Fu felt a bit awkward as she spoke, “How have you been recently?”

She had returned with Xi Lingxue from outside. Xi Lingxue had gone to bathe and change clothes, but the woman had relented and allowed Huang Fu to visit Jiang Ci, probably worried that Jiang Ci would be too bored being confined to the mansion.

Jiang Ci was currently walking in the courtyard, pondering her escape route. When she suddenly saw Huang Fu, she was momentarily surprised, but within two seconds, she regained her composure and curled her lips into a mocking smile.

“What do you think, Sister Fu?”

The term “Sister Fu” was deliberately used by Jiang Ci. Back when she had transmigrated into Gao Yi’s body, she and Huang Fu had referred to each other as sisters.

Jiang Ci guessed that Huang Fu already knew her true identity.

Sure enough, Huang Fu showed no surprise upon hearing this. She only sighed, her expression filled with helplessness and a hint of bitterness, as if she wanted to say something but held back.

In the same mansion, ten years ago, Gao Yi had placed Xi Lingxue under house arrest. Ten years later, Xi Lingxue had done the same to Jiang Ci.

Both were cases of unrequited love.

Huang Fu naturally didn’t agree with Xi Lingxue’s actions either and had tried to persuade her a few times, but it was all in vain. Instead, it only provoked Xi Lingxue’s anger.

“Miss Jiang, Her Highness loves you deeply,” Huang Fu could only advise. “Don’t do anything rash. Just hold on for a few more days. Once the Liang Kingdom’s envoy leaves, Her Highness will release you.”

“And how many days is that?” Jiang Ci sneered. “If Helian Ping doesn’t leave for a year, does that mean I’ll be stuck here for a year?”

Huang Fu was momentarily speechless. The answer was obvious. After a while, she added, “Miss Jiang, Her Highness is doing this for your own good. We can’t let Helian Ping really take you to the Liang Kingdom. The internal forces in Liang are crumbling, and even as a princess, she might not be able to protect herself.”

“So what? Does that give you the right to control my choices and interfere with my life?”

Jiang Ci hated the phrase “doing this for your own good.”

It seemed that as long as this phrase was used, any excessive behavior could be justified.

“Her Highness doesn’t mean it that way…”

“Sister Fu,” Jiang Ci interrupted, her expression cold, “if you’re just here to be a messenger, then don’t bother coming to see me again. I don’t want to hear it.”

With that, she turned to go back to her room.

“No, Miss Jiang!” Huang Fu quickly called out to her, lowering her voice. “I… I can’t betray the Princess. But under this premise, if you have any needs, I will do my best to help you. This is what I owe you…”

She owed her current position to Jiang Ci’s help, and Huang Fu had never forgotten that.

Jiang Ci stopped in her tracks. She thought for a moment, then suddenly turned back. “Are you serious?”

“I am.”

Jiang Ci didn’t hold back. “I want to know Xi Lingxue’s schedule. It doesn’t have to be detailed. Just tell me when she leaves the mansion and for how long.”

Huang Fu’s expression turned troubled upon hearing this.

“This doesn’t count as betrayal, right? Isn’t it normal for people to ask about each other’s daily lives? What someone ate, where they’re going tomorrow—it’s all just casual conversation, isn’t it?”

Huang Fu couldn’t find any words to refute this. She knew she was in the wrong and still felt guilty about deceiving Jiang Ci ten years ago, so she reluctantly agreed.

As soon as Xi Lingxue finished bathing, she hurried to see Jiang Ci. Her hair was still damp, her skin as smooth as jade, radiant and elegant.

From a distance, she saw Jiang Ci smile.

It was a relaxed, joyful smile.

Xi Lingxue hadn’t seen Jiang Ci smile like that in a long time.

The woman stepped into the courtyard, her expression gentle. “A Ci, what were you talking about that made you so happy?”

Jiang Ci didn’t turn around upon hearing this. She simply suppressed her smile and replied indifferently, “Nothing.”

Huang Fu, watching the two of them, forced an awkward smile.

With the Princess here, it was naturally inappropriate for her to stay and disturb them, so she excused herself and left.

Jiang Ci didn’t want to go back to her room and continued to wander around the courtyard.

Xi Lingxue followed her, trying to take her hand, but Jiang Ci silently avoided her.

The woman pursed her lips, hiding the sorrow in her eyes.

Even though Jiang Ci was right beside her, it felt like she was drifting further away.

“A Ci, I know you’ve been angry… Just wait a little longer, okay? After this is over, we’ll get married. You’ll be my consort, and I’ll be your wife.”

Jiang Ci frowned slightly, her heart filled with complexity.

Ten years ago, she had longed to be a true couple with Xi Lingxue, without any contracts. Now that it was finally happening, she no longer wanted it.

At least, not under these circumstances.

Was marriage the real issue?

No.

“Xi Lingxue, do you really understand love?”

The autumn sun was warm and gentle, the trees golden and shimmering.

Jiang Ci stood under a tree, catching a falling leaf in her hand.

“A Ci,” the woman gazed at her, a sudden wave of loneliness washing over her, “I was wrong back then. I refused to admit it… but I love you. Only you.”

Is this how you love me?

How many times have we argued about this?

Jiang Ci didn’t say anything more. She simply turned her hand over, letting the leaf slip quietly from her palm.

…

From that day on, Huang Fu would come to talk with her every day. Xi Lingxue spent most of her time in the mansion, and even when she went out, she would return quickly, making it difficult for Jiang Ci to find an opportunity to escape.

It wasn’t until later, as the Double Ninth Festival approached, that the palace prepared to host another banquet.

Helian Ping was still stubbornly staying with the Liang Kingdom’s envoy, and Xi Tingyue had no choice but to invite her.

Jiang Ci sometimes admired Helian Ping’s persistence—she had managed to linger for an entire autumn.

Thanks to her, Xi Lingxue hadn’t been able to hold the wedding.

On the surface, the woman appeared calm and composed, her beauty cold and aloof. But whenever she saw Helian Ping, her eyes seemed to want to cut her down on the spot.

Helian Ping, of course, wasn’t one to back down either, seizing every opportunity to throw subtle jabs.

What had started as a friendly marriage alliance had nearly worsened the relationship between the two countries.

In truth, everyone knew about Jiang Ci’s disappearance, but no one had the authority or the courage to search the Princess’s mansion.

The envoys from Liang were skilled in martial arts and could have launched a night raid to investigate, but Helian Ping had no control over them. These people answered only to the Empress Dowager and were there solely to monitor her.

And so, the stalemate continued.

Jiang Ci didn’t rely on anyone else. She had her own plan for escape.

According to Huang Fu, Xi Lingxue would also be attending the palace banquet, and she would be gone for a considerable amount of time.

The cover of night would be the perfect opportunity to make her move.

Jiang Ci packed a set of clothes she often wore and asked Huang Fu to deliver them to Cao Ya.

Huang Fu didn’t inspect the package, only giving it a quick feel. It didn’t seem to contain any hidden items.

Of course, even if it did, it wouldn’t matter.

Cao Ya knew Jiang Ci was trapped in the Princess’s mansion, but there was nothing he could do to save her.

No one could save Jiang Ci.

That night, Xi Lingxue changed into a deep red palace gown, her skin like ice, her beauty unparalleled.

Before leaving, she went to the study to see Jiang Ci one last time, her heart filled with an inexplicable unease.

Lately, Jiang Ci had been spending most of her time in her room, studying medical texts alone and speaking very little.

“A Ci,” the woman’s gaze was filled with longing, her voice soft, as if afraid of disturbing her, “I’m going to the banquet. I’ll be back soon to keep you company.”

Jiang Ci, holding a book, responded as usual with a simple “Mm.”

Xi Lingxue stared at her for a while longer before finally leaving.

Jiang Ci estimated the time. Not long after, she put down the book and left the study.

Then, in full view of everyone, she suddenly attacked the guards and rushed out of the courtyard.

This immediately alarmed those nearby, and they quickly moved to capture Jiang Ci.

Jiang Ci swiftly took down a few guards. Taking advantage of the darkness for cover, she slipped back into the courtyard through the hole in the wall before more pursuers could arrive.

The guards, thinking she had fled the courtyard, all rushed outside to chase her.

Jiang Ci avoided them and quietly returned to the study, hiding in a secret room.

Inside the secret room, she had prepared water and dried rations, enough to last her for a while.

Just like that, a living person had vanished into thin air, and the guards couldn’t find Jiang Ci anywhere.

By the time Xi Lingxue returned, the mansion was in complete chaos.

The woman hurriedly pushed open the study door. The candles were still burning, the book was still on the table—everything was exactly as she had left it, except for the missing person.

For a moment, it felt as if history had repeated itself from ten years ago.

Xi Lingxue’s eyes reddened, and she nearly collapsed, but Jin Yu, standing beside her, caught her.

“Where’s A Ci?” the woman’s voice trembled.

The guards stationed in the courtyard knelt in fear. “Y-Your Highness, Miss Jiang left the courtyard and disappeared… We’ve searched the entire mansion but couldn’t find her…”

Xi Lingxue’s fingers turned white from clenching. “With so many of you, you couldn’t keep an eye on one person?!”

“Keep searching! Even if you have to dig three feet into the ground, find her!”

But after a night of searching, there was still no sign of Jiang Ci.

Huang Fu was also summoned for questioning. When she learned what had happened, she was shocked.

How had Jiang Ci managed to evade so many people?

How could she have done it?!

But Huang Fu had a vague feeling that if it was Jiang Ci, perhaps she really could…

Just like how she had founded Huang Runfa, earning more in a single day than a grocery store made in a month. Back then, who could have imagined it?

Jiang Ci always managed to surprise people.

It seemed like there was nothing impossible when it came to her.

Xi Lingxue stayed up all night. With no sign of Jiang Ci in the mansion, she had no choice but to expand the search to the entire capital, sending out all her people and even mobilizing Huang Runfa’s spies.

By noon, a spy reported a possible sighting of Jiang Ci outside the city. The clothing and physical characteristics matched.

Everyone was astonished. How had Miss Jiang managed to slip out of the capital without anyone noticing?

Only Huang Fu, recalling the clothes Jiang Ci had asked her to deliver earlier, felt that something was off.

But Xi Lingxue couldn’t wait to confirm. She wouldn’t let go of any potential lead, just as she had spent the past ten years searching.

“Send out my orders—stop her!”

The woman’s eyes were red, still wearing the palace gown from the previous night. She immediately mounted a horse and led the pursuit herself.

Little did she know, it was only after everyone had left the mansion that Jiang Ci emerged from the secret room.

Now, escaping would be as easy as turning her hand.

Jiang Ci gathered the things she needed and disguised herself.

Before leaving, she took one last look back.

She knew that Xi Lingxue must have been frantic that night. She had heard the commotion from the secret room and had also stayed up all night…

But staying would do neither of them any good.

Before love turned to hatred, they needed to separate, to calm down and think carefully about their relationship.

Jiang Ci understood this well. She clutched her chest, forcing herself to make a decision.

Go. She had already made her choice.