A strange feeling washed over Liu Yan. Although the core of his fear ran deep, he also felt a burgeoning sense of hope and excitement. Zhao Hua had gone too far, long ago. She had openly shown that she cared neither for him nor for his life.
He watched as Xinxin, her fingers trembling, first freed the girl from the window frame and then took off her clothes, while Liu Yan stood by and made sure no one happened to pass by.
But the remaining employees celebrated the family's absence with a lavish party. They were even bold enough to use the main hall for this purpose and would stay away from their usual desolate dormitories for a while.
Xinxin sweated and panted as she heaved the bodies out of the window. Liu Yan caught them with a bamboo mat and dragged them across the still-icy sidewalk to the neglected courtyard at the very back.
Xinxin wiped up the bloodstains, making sure that some could still be found after a thorough search, and hung some of her fabric and a scrap of Liu Yan's hanfu on the broken window frame. Then she wiped the knife and crept back to the kitchen, where she placed it with all the others.
Liu Yan had dumped the two bodies in the courtyard in the meantime, scattering scraps of their clothing here and there along the way. When Xinxin joined him, she handed him some sparklers and instructed him to scrape the black powder off them and scatter it over the two bodies. He did as she said, while she left footprints in the snow and muddy earth with different shoes.
Their plan was to make it look as if some servants had taken their pranks too far. Tian Liu Yan and Luo Xinxin would have fallen victim to them, and to cover their tracks, they would burn the two bodies.
Even if the Zhao family allowed high-ranking investigators to take care of the case, they would only find two unidentifiable bodies. One male and one female. Blood and a few scraps of fabric.
The employees would accuse each other, and in all the ensuing chaos, they would hopefully be long gone.
Liu Yan buried the two chopsticks deep in the ground when he had finished spreading the black powder. He didn't expect the Zhao family to make a big deal out of the incident anyway. With Prince Weiye's engagement just around the corner, they would probably sweep the tragic accident under the rug.
When they were done with the courtyard and the clues that explained Xinxin's disappearance, they set about preparing Liu Yan's room. They ransacked the room, knocked over shelves, and scattered the parchments he had so carefully rewritten all over the room and on the stairs.
A trail of ink and paper led to the courtyard. By the time they were done, the night was already well advanced.
"Now!" Xinxin had taken the lead. She probably thought Liu Yan was still too weak physically and might change his mind. But he just nodded.
They knocked over the charcoal bowl, moistening the floor slightly so it wouldn't catch fire immediately, and placed some candles on the dead bodies. Once these had burned down, the last spark would set the two of them ablaze.
If Xinxin's reasoning was correct, the employees, still intoxicated from their celebration, would not notice anything for a while. That would give them enough time to escape.
It would take some time before they realized that something was wrong and actually went to get help. Because they would first have to cover up their own misdeeds.
Liu Yan couldn't help but admire Xinxin's cold-bloodedness. Although her hand was warm and her eyes shone feverishly, she did everything with a calmness and conscientiousness that made him doubt that this was her first time doing something like this. But he didn't ask.
In order not to attract attention, they took nothing with them but the clothes on their backs and some jewelry that Xinxin had stolen from Yi Chang's private collection.
Actually, it was to prove to Zhao Hua that she wasn't the thief, but after realizing that the first young lady didn't value honesty and sincerity, she simply kept it.
They threw a cloth over their heads as they carefully crept out of the servants' entrance. Liu Yan glanced back. Light shimmered from the main hall and music and laughter could be heard.
No one had noticed anything, and even if some of them withdrew from the party, no one would think to look for their rooms or the old courtyard.
Xinxin slipped through the door. Her warm hand wrapped around his as she pulled him out with her. The feeling when he set foot outside the estate was exhilarating. He had never moved away from the prison assigned to him.
The streets glistened with moisture and lay in darkness. Only a few lanterns illuminated the silence of the city. Without another word, they darted through the shadows, Liu Yan admiring the buildings and streets. In fact, he had only seen the interior of the imperial court and the Zhao estate, nothing more.
When they reached the city walls, there were two soldiers in front of the gate. One had slumped against the wall and was obviously asleep. The other paced restlessly back and forth. Xinxin put a finger to her lips and motioned for Liu Yan to be quiet.
She let go of his hand and, after pushing him firmly into the shadows, she crept away. An uneasy feeling spread through him. Had he relied on her too much? The sudden loneliness in the silence drowned the euphoric feeling inside him in familiar despair.
Suddenly, there was a dull rumbling. A cat screamed and a rooster crowed. The restless guard immediately reached for his sword. Hesitantly, he briefly considered whether he should wake his colleague, but then a barrel rolled across the street of the alley and he gathered all his courage and ran into the darkness.
"Hello?" he called, braver than he looked.
Shortly thereafter, Liu Yan was grabbed by the arm, Xinxin pulled him up and hurriedly pushed him toward the gate.
She was covered in mud and several rooster feathers were stuck in the folds of her dress. Liu Yan didn't ask any questions.
He let her drag him to the gate, while she took great care not to make a sound. The second guard was snoring and leaning a few inches to the side. Next to him stood a jug of liquor, and the smell of alcohol was overwhelming.
Liu Yan wrinkled his nose. The defenses of the city, where some of the richest and most influential noble families had settled, left much to be desired.
Xinxin took the keys from the man and unlocked the small door set into the massive wall. Then she hung the keys back on the man's hip and motioned for Liu Yan to follow her.
They slipped through and closed the door behind them. When Liu Yan turned around, he could no longer see his hand in front of his eyes. Everything was shrouded in deep, impenetrable darkness. A few well-trodden paths led away from the wall.
"We should stick to the road if we want to remain inconspicuous," whispered Xinxin, panting with exertion.
"Let's get a ride from a caravan or a merchant on the way."
"This isn't your first time doing this," Liu Yan remarked after they had been on the road for a while. His voice sounded rough but firm. Xinxin sighed.
"Yes, it is, in a way," she admitted.
"I knew about the guard because I was still half conscious when they brought me to the city. A man was scolding the guard because he was very drunk. They threatened to replace him soon. I had hoped to just get past the drunk man, but luckily the newcomer was easy to trick," she said with relief.
They walked along the rough road of hard-packed earth, Xinxin still holding his hand. Liu Yan didn't resist; his legs were weak and he probably wouldn't get very far on his own.
Xinxin adjusted to his pace. She didn't urge him to walk faster or snap at him angrily. They were both tense and lost in their thoughts.
As dawn began to break, the road became livelier. A few merchants and farmers on their way to the city passed them. Liu Yan and Xinxin kept their heads down and only nodded occasionally in polite greeting.
No one knew them, and if all went well, no one would be looking for them with wanted posters, as they would be presumed dead.
They walked almost the entire morning, but then Liu Yan had to rest. He was in poor health, had never traveled far in his life, and had been permanently imprisoned.
Xinxin was also panting and wiped the sweat from her forehead. By now, she had passed several forks and intersections.
"You look completely exhausted," said a friendly voice.
The two turned around. An elderly lady was leaning on a cane. A bundle was tied to her back and her eyes looked at the two with compassion.
Liu Yan was alert. His gaze was cool and distant. He used Xinxin as a shield and hid behind her.
"Young people these days," the woman shook her head and gave them a water hose. Xinxin took it and sniffed it briefly when the lady wasn't looking.
The lady took out a piece of dry bread and handed it to her. Xinxin, who had tasted the water, handed the hose to Liu Yan. He drank greedily until Xinxin took the hose back from him and looked at him reproachfully.
"Not all of it," she whispered. But the older woman just laughed.
"No, no, drink if you're thirsty. I don't live far from here."
Liu Yan took the hose back from Xinxin and drank it dry. Then he grabbed some of the bread she was holding in her hand and bit into it.
It was dry and dusty, but not spoiled. He was hungry. This time he couldn't hide somewhere and stare at the wall. He had walked for miles and they hadn't even had a last meal before they fled.
The woman smiled conspiratorially at them.
"You are a truly lovely couple," she said cheerfully. Liu Yan raised an eyebrow.
"Uh, yes," Xinxin evaded her. Suddenly, the old lady's expression turned serious. She looked around attentively before leaning down toward Xinxin.
"Stay away from the forest," she whispered dramatically, nodding emphatically at Xinxin.
Xinxin leaned back as far as she could until she bumped into Liu Yan and tried to smile, unsuccessfully. Liu Yan turned around and Xinxin almost fell backwards off the rock they were sitting on.
"Yes, uh, thank you," she said quickly, shooing Liu Yan back up. They hurried on, the strange woman keeping her eyes on them.
"Where are we going?" Liu Yan asked, still chewing on the piece of bread.
"Into the forest," she replied curtly.
"Weren't we just warned not to go there?" he asked skeptically. Xinxin stopped and turned around. The woman had disappeared from view.
"It seems that people are afraid of the forest. That means we won't run into anyone there."
"There must be a reason for their fear," Liu Yan pointed out, breaking free from her. He was tired of being led around like a dog on a leash. He was free now. Xinxin let him go, and to his annoyance, he realized that he didn't like that either.
"People are often afraid of things they don't know. You are the best example of that," she explained.
"I know my way around forests and know which plants, berries, and roots are edible and which paths are passable. I'm less afraid of a forest than I am of the nearest town. As long as we're still in your father's country, we shouldn't feel too safe," she explained sternly.
Liu Yan's anger subsided somewhat; she was right. They had to leave the country and everything far behind. Besides, he only had Xinxin to rely on right now. He wouldn't survive out here alone.
So he just nodded and followed her obediently as they continued on their way.
Noon passed and the afternoon began as they reached the edge of the forest. The roads that had once led here had dried up some time ago. No one had entered this forest for a long time.
Xinxin took a deep breath, her determination gradually wavering. Liu Yan felt the nausea rising in him again, the surge of fever and chills. A thoroughly unpleasant feeling came over him. Should he warn Xinxin?
The last time he had felt this way, two people had died. Not that he mourned them; they had been his chance to make a difference. But he didn't want to be the next victim.
But Xinxin had made her choice. She strode forward and soon disappeared behind the border of dense trees and tangled roots. Liu Yan shuddered as he followed her.
A high-pitched whistling sound filled his ears and an icy chill ran over his skin. There were definitely reasons to avoid this forest, and he suspected they would soon find out why.
It was getting darker and colder when Xinxin suddenly stopped dead in her tracks. Liu Yan caught up with her and followed her gaze.
A large, shimmering flower grew on a mighty root that rose from the earth. Its purple petals hung like a curtain over the root, revealing the inside. But instead of a calyx, a human skull sat in the center.
Liu Yan suppressed the nausea rising within him. He wasn't afraid; it was the corrupt karma within him that was causing such a stir.
"We really shouldn't have come here," Xinxin whispered, swallowing hard. Liu Yan shot her an angry sideways glance.
"You think so?" he remarked dryly.
"Those are miasma flowers," Xinxin said quietly, instructing him to crouch down. A rustling and whispering sound penetrated the forest, and a cruel laugh echoed from afar. Liu Yan turned to her and looked at Xinxin questioningly. Xinxin's determined gaze gave way to doubt and a hint of fear.
"This is the territory of a demon!"