Chapter 220 - 218. Escape Plan I

Third-person POV

Just like what they said, they departed from Shu Huatuo's place together with Shu Bian Que and his wife at midnight. Although the defense at the border and the city was still tight, at least it was better than before.

Everyone except Shu Bian Que and his wife was completely wrapped in gauze with fake blood splattered on a few spots to make it looks like real wounds. Then they got into coffins that Shu Bian Que had prepared beforehand. The ones that have a petite figure, fitted 3 people into one coffin.

While the ones with the average-sized body, it could only fit 2 people a coffin. And if the person has a body build like Xu Tingfeng, then only one person could fit in it. Shu Bian Que was driving the most front carriage with several carriages steadily following him.

As they were getting near the city's gate, several guards blocked their path. Shu Bian Que remains calm despite the glares that they sent him.

"His Majesty Emperor had sent us an order to forbid anyone from passing the gate." A guard firmly spoke.

"Hm? Why?" Shu Bian Que asked with a calm voice.

His hazel eyes shone brightly in the dark of the night and caused the hairs on their body to rise. They instantly recognize those hazel eyes, the "free pass eyes". However, they had received an order from higher-up to prevent anyone to enter or exit from this very city.

They braved themselves and replied politely, "Great General Xu has rebelled and yet to be found. Due to all respect, please retreat to your residence."

"Hhmm, this would be hard…" Shu Bian Que knitted his brows whilst brushing his beard with his hand as if he was mulling over something extremely important.

"Is something the matter, Lord Shu?" the guard asked.

"Yes. This matters the lives of the whole citizens." Shu Bian Que said with a firm voice.

The guards' eyes immediately went wide from hearing Shu Bian Que's statement.

"What is it?" the guard questioned.

"Recently, I just found these dead bodies near the slum and they have the same symptoms of an unknown disease. My father and I had done several examinations on them and found out the disease was spread through the air. So before it reaches the Royal Palace, I decided to dispose of the corpses in an isolated area." Shu Bian Que explained fluidly without a hint of hesitation.

Shu Bian Que glanced at the guards and noticed their ghastly expression.

'They believe it,' Shu Bian Que smiled slyly in his heart.

However, the guards were still hesitant to let Shu Bian Que and his group leave the capital city. They glanced at the carriages and nodded their heads to their friends.

"We have to check the carriages before you pass this gate or else we can't let you pass." the guard said sternly.

"Hhmm, fine then. Open the carriages!" Shu Bian Que ordered the other coachmen.

Shu Bian Que's wife was one of the coachmen, she got down from her seat and opened the door. Dozens of coffins were stacked and filled the carriage to the brim. The coffins were nailed as tight as possible that even air was impossible to get in there.

Just when the guards were about to take out one of the coffins, Shu Bian Que's wife grabbed his hand and stared at him with her tranquil eyes.

"Don't open it. Didn't my husband say that the disease spread through the air? " she said with a smile.

"But we have to check the content inside the coffin," the guard insistently replied.

Shu Bian Que's wife sighed and passed them a few handkerchiefs.

"If you insist. Cover your mouth and nose with this, don't inhale the smell. I will only open it for a few seconds, look carefully. And tell your subordinates to not open the other, one at here is enough." Shu Bian Que's wife reminded them.

The captain of the guards signaled the other to not open the coffin. Two of his subordinates stepped out with a cat's paw in their hand. They carefully pulled out the nails one by one and after they finished with all the nails, they glanced at Shu Bian Que's wife and waited for their captain's next command.

(A/N: Cat's paw is the tool that you use to pull out a nail.)

"Open it." the captain ordered.

Shu Bian Que's wife slide the cover to the side and immediately, a rotten smell that stink to high heaven escaped from the coffin. The guards swiftly took a few steps back and pinched their nose. They caught a glimpse of 3 bodies wrapped in blood-stained gauze laying lifelessly in the coffin.

Shu Bian Que's wife quickly closed the lid and ordered the guards to nail the coffin back. The captain waved his hand in front of his nose trying to disperse the lingering odor from the corpses. Under her veil, a sly grin crept up Shu Bian Que's wife's lips.

"You saw it right? The body and the odor will be harder to dispose of if you keep us here too long." Shu Bian Que said from his carriage.

The captain contemplated for a while before he waved his hand to them as a sign that they could pass the gate.

"Thank you for your hard work. If you still don't believe us, you can ask His Majesty Emperor himself. There is a report regarding this disease that we just relay to him." Shu Bian Que took off after he said those few sentences.

The captain bowed to Shu Bian Que while watching the carriages pass by him. After traveling for about one hour, they stopped at a secluded place which was one of their secret bases to check on Bai Huiqing's condition.

The three persons that got their coffin opened, quickly changed their clothes to a new one. They thought they were going to die from smelling that pungent odor for an hour.

It was Shu Bian Que who told them to spray a stinky perfume that he created on their bodies. With the pungent odor hit the guards' noses, they probably would refuse to examine the body. Therefore, it would decrease the chances that their identity and whereabouts to be exposed.

And to make it worse, he made sure that at least two coffins in each carriage to spray the perfume on their bodies. The victims of the foul smell silently sobbed at the corner. If it is not because they were trained in the worst situation and places, they definitely won't survive staying in that coffin.

Xu Tingfeng stared at the sleeping Bai Huiqing with guilt-filled eyes, he gently brushed his fingers on her cheek and warmed her body with his Qi.

"How long will it take to get to Chang An?" Xu Tingfeng asked without looking behind him.

"Since we couldn't move very fast, I estimated that it would take us about 5 weeks." Shu Bian Que replied while passing a cup of hot tea to Xu Tingfeng.

"That long?" Xu Tingfeng asked.

"En. You don't want her wound re-open right? We can't rush this thing. The sooner she regains her consciousness, the better it is." Shu Bian Que sipped his hot tea.

"En. I understand." Xu Tingfeng sighed in disappointment.

Shu Bian Que glanced at Xu Tingfeng and pitied him. Same as Xu Tingfeng, he also worried about Shu Zhiruo that was staying at Chang An. Shu Zhiruo has been very close to Hong er since childhood, they were basically sisters. So if anything happened to Hong er, it meant it would also entail Shu Zhiruo in it.

Shu Bian Que rose from his seat and patted Xu Tingfeng's shoulder.

"Let's depart now. I want to see my daughter sooner." Shu Bian Que smiled and created a thin line on his eyes.

"En." Xu Tingfeng nodded his head.

They went back into their coffins and laid down for hours. They kept using this method to get a permit to leave the city until they made sure that the city that they were passing didn't have tight security.

5 weeks later, they arrived at Chang An but Bai Huiqing was still in a coma.