Tipping the scale

The secret camp, many miles away from the capital 

The camp was located 2 hours away from the Capital on horseback, hidden deep into the forest. The topography of the land and the thick vegetation kept the camp hidden from the watchtowers of the capital guards. The captain of the city guards was one of Lu Yaozhu's lies, the guards on duty this night were all his men. They left the City without any disturbance.

Su Liya raised the curtain and looked out the window as the carriage stopped, they were at the entrance of a military camp. Su Liya glanced at Madam Lu who had been quiet throughout the ride. Madam Lu was a shadow of her past self, Su Liya had been taken aback by her pale complexion as Ste got into the carriage. Although they were both kept hostage in the palace, apart from during the Emperor's Coronation ceremony, Su Liya had never seen her mother-in-law.