Reign of the Phoenix

Chapter 21 – Escaping the General Estate
Murong Zhining had just taken Cai Sang one step out of the main entrance when “whoosh whoosh,” two metal gleam flashed and two steel blades blocked them. There were two guards fiercely glaring at them with weapons in their hands.

The two girls thus were hauled back to their small yard. Sitting at the stone table, Cai Sang propped her cheeks in dismay as she looked at Murong Zhining at her opposite. Murong Zhining also propped up her cheeks and looked back at Cai Sang. “I can’t believe I forgot about this. The General Estate entrance would definitely have people guarding. Let’s think of another way. That’s right, we can climb the walls next time.”

Cai Sang vigorously nodded. “Mhm.”

Suddenly, the yard doors were kicked open with a rumble. Cai Sang yelped in fright and shrank to hide herself behind Murong Zhining.

Like an evil fiend from hell, Chiyun Yuexuan strode into the yard with a leather whip in hand. His charming narrow eyes were devoid of any emotions barring the frighteningly sharp glint in them. Several soldiers closely followed him.

Without a word, Chiyun Yuexuan swung up the whip and lashed it at Murong Zhining. With a frightened scream, Cai Sang quickly rushed to the front, wanting to shield Murong Zhining with her body. Chiyun Yuexuan viciously kicked Cai Sang to the ground before a barrage of lashes rained onto Murong Zhining. Cai Sang cried and yelled as she scrambled up to put herself protectively in front of Murong Zhining.

Chiyun Yuexuan retracted the whip, his voice cold to the bones, “This is only a small lesson. If there is a next, this will be your result…” He lashed out the whip to coil around a nearby tree that was as thick as an arm and yanked. The tree was completely uprooted and fell on the ground.

Cai Sang trembled in terror and tightly held onto Murong Zhining. After Chiyun Yuexuan left, Cai Sang applied the ointment on Murong Zhining’s wounds with an aching heart. Fortunately, Chiyun Yuexuan only wanted to frighten them, so he didn’t use much force.

Cai Sang cursed as she applied the medicine, “What a beast! Even His Majesty couldn’t bear to move a finger.” Seeing a whip mark on Murong Zhining’s face, Cai Sang gently caressed her face, and tears kept falling like a string of clear glass beads.

Murong Zhining was not frightened. This only further strengthened her resolve to escape. She told herself, next time she couldn’t be so reckless like this and must make a comprehensive plan in advance.

Murong Zhining spent her next days thinking of a plan. Cai Sang dejectedly looked at her. “How about, let’s not escape? General Chiyun isn’t making it difficult for us when we obediently stay here.”

Murong Zhining’s eyes were resolute. “The most important thing in life is freedom, but there’s one thing even more important than freedom.” Murong Zhining deliberately stopped to keep Cai Sang in suspense, attempting to cheer her up.

Cai Sang was impatient to know the answer, but too lazy to use her brain, so she asked, “What’s that?”

Murong Zhining poked her forehead. “Not telling ya.”

Cai Sang fumed. “You’re just bullying me because I’m illiterate. I can’t believe I even consider you my teacher.”

Murong Zhining’s smile suddenly faded. Her eyes became red as she solemnly looked Cai Sang in the eyes. “It’s dignity. If a person has no dignity, they’d live a life no different than an animal. One with dignity, even when they are stomped to the ground, can still live with their head held high.”

Cai Sang seemed to understand something. She nodded.

Murong Zhining never stopped planning their escape. Her persistence impressed and moved Cai Sang. Several days later, in a night when the stars were dim, Murong Zhining brought Cai Sang to carry out a new operation.

Since the last escape event, the doors to the courtyard had been locked every day. In the last few days, Murong Zhining and Cai Sang had cut their bed sheets and curtains to strips then braided them into a rope ladder. They easily tossed it onto the wall. Since the inner walls weren’t too tall, the two girls reached the main compound without much effort.

The outermost wall wasn’t so easy to cross. Since it was too high, they tossed the ladder several times without success. At this moment, the patrol guards passed by. The girls quickly squatted down and hid themselves behind the bushes.

Cai Sang was so nervous she nearly forgot to breathe. She didn’t even dare to imagine the consequences if they were caught again.

After the guards were gone, Cai Sang patted her chest and panted heavily. Murong Zhining shook her head with a smile, then stood up and continued throwing the ladder. Cai Sang inwardly admired her courage and perseverance. Very soon, the ladder hooked onto the upturned cornice outside the wall.

Murong Zhining helped lift Cai Sang up first, afraid that Cai Sang would be scared to be the one behind. When Cai Sang was half way up on the ladder, her nerves got the better of her and her hands loosened. Cai Sang fell with a thud. Just as she was about to groan from the pain, Murong Zhining tightly covered her mouth.

Murong Zhining silently rubbed Cai Sang’s head to encourage her, before getting her on the ladder again. This time, Cai Sang was determined to do a great job. She steadily climbed onto the wall and waved at Murong Zhining.

Murong Zhining didn’t hesitate at all. She also climbed up and sat on the wall like Cai Sang, then tossed the ladder to the other side. When the girls stood at the feet of the wall, they finally realized that they had truly escaped the Genera Estate. They hugged each other, overjoyed, then quickly vanished into the night hand in hand.

The next morning, two young boys with pure white skin appeared at the city gate. They passed the checkpoint with ease and leisurely walked down the main road leading out of the capital, slowly disappearing at the end of the road.

Dressed in male clothing, Murong Zhining and Cai Sang ran wildly in the fields laughing happily. After two years without seeing the outside world, they were like two little birds just freed from their cage. The previous night, they had wandered around the small alleys in the city and stolen some men’s clothes hung outside the houses to disguise themselves, thus successfully fleeing the capital.

Murong Zhining and Cai Sang asked people for directions as they were rowdy all the way until the next afternoon, they really found Lotus Pond Hollow. The small town seemed to have not changed at all in the recent years. From afar, they could see Mrs. Yin’s house on the hillside.

Mrs. Yin was sitting in the courtyard spinning thread when two unfamiliar young boys entered. As a country woman, she felt a bit restrained in front of the strangers. “What can I do for you two little brothers?”

Murong Zhining called out, excited, “Foster mother, I’m Little Ling’er.”

Cai Sang ran to crouch down before her. “Auntie, it’s me, Er’ya !”

Mrs. Yin couldn’t react for a moment and just sat there dumbstruck. She slowly raised her hand and rubbed her eyes, as if wanting to see more clearly. Murong Zhining came over and knelt before her. “Have you forgotten me? It’s me, Little Ling’er, who you picked up outside the village six years ago. Do you remember?”

Mrs. Yin’s emotions were stirring. She grabbed Murong Zhining’s hand. “It’s really you, Little Ling’er.” She also recognized Cai Sang. Hugging Cai Sang, Mrs. Yin choked with sobs. “Good child, my heart aches every time I think of how that disappointing father of yours sold you and your mother. It’s all good, it’s all good now that you’re back.”

Mrs. Yin looked happily at the two girls, rubbing her hands at a loss of what to do. After a while, she said in high spirits, “I’ll find some clothes for you two, then go and make food. When your foster father returns, our family will have a happy, happy meal.”

Mrs. Yin provided Murong Zhining and Cai Sang two sets of rough clothes, which belonged to Mrs. Yin’s daughter before she married out. While they were old and coarse, they were thoroughly cleaned and comfortable to wear. Mrs. Yin looked delighted. “This is what your little big sis Hua used to wear at home. She was married to the neighboring village, her husband is a teacher.”

Murong Zhining remembered clearly that when Mrs. Yin took her in, she already had two children, a girl and a boy.

Mrs. Yin’s mood was high when she went to cook in the kitchen. She killed the old hen and boiled a pot of water.

After changing their clothes, Murong Zhining and Cai Sang helped removing the corn kernels in the courtyard. They teased and playfully called each other a village girl.

At dusk, the butcher came home after he had sold all the meat. Mrs. Yin eagerly welcomed him at the door and whispered, “Little Ling’er and Er’ya have returned.”

The butcher was also dumbstruck for a long time before regaining his wits. He laughed heartily as he entered the courtyard, then kept gazing at the girls with a simple and honest smile.

The four sat around a small table, eating as they chatted about what happened in the past few years. Mrs. Yin looked at Murong Zhining. “That year, when I returned after delivering the meat and didn’t see you anywhere, I thought you’ve gone off to play and didn’t care. After some time, someone told me that a young woman took you away. I wanted to give chase, but that person said you were on a horse carriage and had already gone far away.”

Murong Zhining felt that it wasn’t necessary to tell Mrs. Yin about her true experience as it would frighten her, who was only a normal peasant woman. She touched Mrs. Yin’s hand and told a white lie, “I was transported to the capital by the human traffickers and sold to an official’s estate as a maid. Er’ya happened to be there as well, so we got to know each other. Then, the official was appointed to work elsewhere, so the family sent off all of us maids.”

Mrs. Yin repeatedly nodded. “That’s great. It’s good that there have been no hardships. I will help you two find a husband so that you can lead a peaceful life.”

Cai Sang sneakily made a stupid face to Murong Zhining, the two girls then smiled at each other.

Murong Zhining asked Mrs. Yin, “Why don’t I see big brother?”

Mrs. Yin smiled. “A’Niu went to enlist as a soldier in the city two years ago. He sent letters saying he was doing well.” Then, Mrs. Yin turned to Cai Sang. “Your good-for-nothing father was beaten in the leg by the debt collector last year. One of his legs is crippled now, his life is very hard. I often bring some food to him. If you have time, go check on him. If anything, he’s still your father.”

Cai Sang’s eyes brimmed over with tears. “I’ll do as you say, aunt.”

Cai Sang took out a gold ingot from her chest and gave it to Mrs. Yin. “This is the reward for Me and Ning’er when we left the official’s house. Please take it, auntie, this is for our living fees.”

Mrs. Yin pushed it back. “You’re all my children. How much can you eat anyway? Keep the money for your future dowry. Stay here at ease.”

Cai Sang obstinately stuffed the gold ingot in her hand. “Auntie, if you don’t take it, we’ll leave right here and now.”

Mrs. Yin hastily accepted the gold ingot. Never having seen so much money in her life, Mrs. Yin rubbed her hands helplessly. “I’ll keep it for you for the time being.”

In the evening, Murong Zhining and Cai Sang lay in bed, covering up themselves in the blanket to chat. The room was very simple, but they had never felt so warm and at peace.

Murong Zhining lay on her side to face Cai Sang and looked at her in the eyes. “Where did you get so much money?”

Cai Sang blinked her eyes craftily. “I stole it.”

Muron Zhining slightly scratched Cai Sang’s nose. “A fool like you would starve to death if you’re really a thief.”

Cai Sang laughed. “It’s all thanks to you actually, His Majesty rewarded it to me. One time, he secretly came to me and asked what your favorite thing was. I told him you liked to eat tangerines. I didn’t expect that His Majesty would be so happy and reward me a gold ingot. I was scared that you’d tell me off for being greedy, so I didn’t dare to tell you.”

Murong Zhining suddenly remembered an event. One time, Yan Feng had people send over a basket of tangerines, but they shouldn’t be available in the season at all. She guessed that Yan Feng must have ordered people to ride a fast horse to buy them from a very far away area.

Seeing Murong Zhining’s eyes turn red, Cai Sang asked, “Do you miss His Majesty? If you are his concubine, he’ll definitely dote on you very much.”

Murong Zhining shook her head. “I just don’t have that kind of blessing, and I don’t want to be tied down by the palace. Oh, right, your Brother A’Niu is actually my brother!”

Cai Sang blushed red and revealed a shy expression.

The two girls went wild as they ran in the mountains outside the village. The past several days after escaping the General Estate was the happiest time of their lives in years. They went to pick flowers, then pluck some wild fruits as they noisily headed towards the back of the mountain. The farm men and women working nearby all stopped to watch the two happy young girls with envy and admiration. Cai Sang and Murong Zhining were going to climb over the hill and visit Cai Sang’s father in another village.