After eating and drinking her fill, and with a warm blanket keeping the underground cellar cosy, Leng Yiyao had a restful and undisturbed sleep. By the time she woke up the next day, she felt completely refreshed.
The street outside didn’t seem too far away. Though she couldn’t make out exactly what the passersby were saying, the frequency of their chatter indicated that despite the citywide lockdown, the daily lives of the residents hadn’t been completely disrupted.
She walked over to the water basin, washing up while keeping an ear out for any useful information.
Faintly, she heard the click of a key turning in the lock. Her lips curled into a smile as she calmly looked toward the door. As expected, the man from last night walked in, carrying a bundle.
“Here are some fresh clothes. You’ve been wearing a man’s robe all this time—it’s not exactly appropriate.” He seemed to smile slightly as he handed the bundle to her, then casually passed her a small bottle. “This contains medicine for your wounds. There’s gauze by the bedside. Do you need my help, or…?”
“I can manage on my own.” Leng Yiyao accepted the items with a bright smile, her eyes briefly flickering to the still-open door.
Following her gaze, the man glanced back as well.
In that brief moment, the bustling sounds from outside drifted in.
—”I heard something big happened last night! Robbers actually broke into the palace!”
—”Does this still need to be said? Haven’t you seen the police stationed at every intersection? Getting out of the city now is just a dream!”
—”I also heard that two bodies were found in an old house nearby. No one knows who killed them!”
—”Shh! Keep your voice down! You don’t want to be arrested for knowing too much!”
The man noticed her gaze subtly lingering on the door and suddenly chuckled. “Want to take a walk outside?”
…Huh?
Yesterday, he had acted so cautious, making it sound like the city was drowning in bloodshed. And now, just like that, he was offering to take her out for a stroll?
Leng Yiyao touched her face, confirming that she was indeed awake and not dreaming.
“The cellar is damp and cold. Staying here too long won’t be good for your injuries,” he said, tapping the bundle lightly. “There’s a veil inside. Make sure to wear it when we go out—it’ll make moving around easier.”
Convenience was one thing, but the real reason was obvious: to conceal her identity.
Just now, he had changed his mind.
No matter where this woman came from, keeping her locked in the cellar wouldn’t get him any answers. She was stubborn, and forcing her to talk would be useless. Instead, taking advantage of the lockdown to observe her reactions along the way might reveal something interesting. If she really had accomplices…
Leng Yiyao rested her chin on her hand, staring at the man.
Did he have nothing better to do? No responsibilities? Was he making it his personal mission to mess with her?
As far as she knew, aside from nobles, regular people in this city didn’t have the luxury of so much free time.
“Sure, why not!” No reason to refuse a free outing.
She unfolded the bundle, finding inside a plain, inconspicuous black dress and a matching veil.
“You see, there’s no dressing room here. So… could you step outside for a moment?” She blinked at him with a mischievous expression, clearly telling him, Be a good boy and scram.
The corner of the man’s eye twitched.
Why did he, the rightful owner of this place, have to be the one to leave?!
But he held his breath and endured it.
With admirable self-restraint, he turned around, even going so far as to close the door behind him—a gentlemanly gesture of respect.
Leng Yiyao worked quickly. First, she tended to her wounds, then changed into the new clothes. She ran a comb through her hair just enough to keep it neat and pulled the veil over her face, leaving only her deep, tranquil eyes visible.
Before stepping out, she bent down and retrieved a blade from the deepest corner of the cellar—hidden there without him noticing. Slipping it beneath her black dress, she adjusted herself until she looked completely natural. Then, she knocked on the door to signal she was ready.
As they stepped out into the sunlight, Leng Yiyao finally saw the city in full view.
And to her surprise, it was far beyond anything she had imagined!
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