novelaction Chapter 403 Escape and Resurgence
Chapter 403 Escape and Resurgence
Chapter 403
Most of the eunuchs, palace maids, and even prostitutes and concubines within the palace had been dismissed, leaving only a few responsible for caretaking. However, because the Third Prince had been extremely irritable for the past two days, no one dared approach him. The Third Prince had no time to dwell on these trivial matters, his mind preoccupied with his own defeat, the humiliating fate of being imprisoned for life. If he weren't so afraid of death, he would have considered suicide long ago. But in the end, he couldn't bring himself to do it, and could only silently curse himself for being a coward, drowning his sorrows in wine, and trying to get by.
The gate to the Third Prince's residence was locked tightly, and a team of imperial guards patrolled the area. With such tight security, ordinary people couldn't get close.
But tonight someone broke this taboo.
A faint rustling sound emanated from the rockery of the Third Prince's residence. Late at night, no one was paying attention. The Third Prince, drunkenly sitting nearby, was oblivious. It wasn't until a figure in black nightgown emerged from behind the rockery and quietly approached him that the Third Prince, bleary-eyed, raised his head. Instantly, his pupils constricted, and before he could even utter the words "Help!", the figure clamped his mouth shut.
The man leaned close to his ear and spoke in a hoarse voice, unable to tell whether it was a man or a woman: "Third Prince, do not alarm others. I am here to help you escape."
The Third Prince was frightened and broke out in a cold sweat, and the drunkenness instantly dissipated. At this moment, hearing this, his pupils could not help but dilate again, and then he nodded repeatedly, indicating that the other party should let him go and that he would not cry for help.
The man tentatively loosened his hand. The Third Prince really didn't say a word. He just stood up and staggered back two steps, staring at the other person vigilantly.
The man didn't care about the Third Prince's expression, he just looked around. After making sure no one was paying attention, he turned around and motioned for the Third Prince to follow.
The Third Prince paused briefly, gritted his teeth, and finally followed. He thought, now that he was a destitute man, his life was nothing to cherish. Since this man had managed to get here, bypassing the numerous guards, if he truly intended to kill him, he would be powerless to resist. Since he said he could rescue him, he might as well take a gamble; perhaps there was still a glimmer of hope.
Following the man in black to the rockery, I saw him groping somewhere unknown. Then, the rockery quietly opened a door.
The Third Prince's face was filled with shock. Ever since he was granted this mansion, he had never imagined that such a secret passage existed within his own courtyard. But now was no time for shock. He quickly followed the man in black and entered the secret passage. The passage was pitch black. The man in black produced a cylindrical tinderbox from somewhere, casting a faint light beneath their feet. The two of them used this illumination to continue forward.
The secret passage was incredibly long. After walking for a while, the Third Prince's mood gradually calmed down, compared to his initial panic. He carefully surveyed the secret passage, which was barely wide enough for one person. The soil inside looked fresh and exuded a strong earthy smell. The Third Prince secretly wondered: Could this secret passage have only been dug in the past two days? Who could have such talent to complete such a massive project in such a short time? But looking at the black-clad man ahead, who was only concerned with leading the way, he swallowed the question that was on the tip of his tongue.
The two walked forward for a while, and the man in black suddenly stopped. The road ahead suddenly ended, and it was pitch black, with no sign of a road at all. The third prince was startled and could not help but quicken his pace, following closely behind the man in black. The man in black stretched out his hand and groped on the wall for a while, and then, the wall suddenly split in half. With the sudden light, the man in black walked out. Seeing this, the third prince hurriedly followed. When the two came out, the third prince found himself in an extremely dilapidated courtyard.
Perhaps hearing the noise they made as they returned, a candlelight flickered in the room, which had been as silent as a haunted house. Then, more than a dozen people emerged from the room. Upon seeing the Third Prince and the man in black, they hurried forward and knelt in greeting.
The man in black waved his hand, signaling them to stand up, and then walked into the house with the third prince.
Upon entering the house, the man in black pulled off his mask, revealing a handsome face. He gestured for the Third Prince to sit down, personally poured him a cup of hot tea, and then explained, "Young Master, we are the Cheng family's loyal warriors, under orders to lie low. Now, we are here to help you escape from this predicament."
This man was not a talkative person. After giving a brief explanation, he stood quietly by the side, waiting for the Third Prince to digest the information on his own.
The Third Prince was stunned for a long moment before he finally dug up a vague memory. It seemed to be years ago, before he left the palace. Once, he had visited his mother's palace and overheard fragments of a death squad and a family token. His mother had naturally noticed his eavesdropping, but she hadn't explained it to him.
She only said that he was too young now, and when he grew up and needed these powers, his mother would hand over the Cheng family's death warriors to him.
Thinking of this, his expression suddenly tensed. Ever since he had an accident in the palace and was taken back to the Third Prince's mansion for imprisonment, except for the servants who brought him meals every day, everyone else in the mansion avoided him, fearing they would be implicated. Naturally, they dared not approach him. He had almost no contact with the outside world, and knew nothing about Concubine Cheng and the Cheng family. Anxious, he hurriedly asked, "How is my mother? What about my uncle and the others? What is their current situation?"
However, he waited a long time for a response. Gazing at the expressionless Cheng family assassin, the Third Prince already had an ominous suspicion in his heart. He slumped back onto the stool, his eyes filled with pain.
The Third Prince wasn't a man of indecision or fussiness; he naturally knew what was important and what was not. Furthermore, he had already surmised that he and his mother had committed the heinous crime of treason and regicide. How could Cheng Jia and his mother escape punishment? Even with this understanding, hatred still welled up in his heart. If Ye Yunzhou hadn't interfered, ruining his plans, he would have achieved his wish long ago.
But even though he was filled with hatred, he could only force himself to suppress it. The most important thing right now was to leave the capital as soon as possible. After all, as long as there is life, there is hope. His father was old, how long could he hold on even if he tried? Besides, there were no other adult princes in the Great Zhou Dynasty. His fifth and sixth brothers were both unworthy, and his second brother was a cripple. Even if he wanted to succeed, the ministers in the court would not agree. He had the best chance. As long as he escaped from the capital and lay low for a while, if his father became critically ill, he would have a chance to make a comeback.