Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Wan Shen secured everything even his son. He was thankful that he knew how to wrap babies to make babywear for his little bean. He can't thank his old self enough from his previous life that he allowed some mothers to babysit their children, especially babies.

"M-master, it's time." Yu Yan stated. Wan Shen nodded in response and got 1 basket bag made from bamboo and a bag made from fabric—its style is like a drawstring pouch but bigger. He hung them both on his shoulder while his son is in front. Yu Yan has 2 basket bags and 1 fabric bag. He made sure the bags were tight and not loose when running. He is also wearing servant clothes to avoid being suspicious to other people.

The pouch filled with coins and taels was wrapped with lots of papers and clothes so that the sound would suppress while they're running. The bags are not that heavy so it's not a hindrance which he is thankful for.

Yu Yan gently closed the door when they got out of the room and silently walked their way out. They're like mice hiding from the cat with their silent moves so that they won't be noticed. It's petrifying!

They're somehow close to the gates as Wan Shen's place is near the servants' and maids' quarters. He was glad that they didn't need to run and walk for long.

Wan Shen stopped and so is Yu Yan. He told Yu Yan to duck and hide. Two guards passed by holding a lamp and patrolling. They're the first obstacle they need to pass. They waited for them to be gone. Seeing that the two guards are now out of their sight, they came out from hiding and silently ran-walk. Wan Shen holds his son's head so it would not shake or move a lot. Thank Heavens, that Baozi is in deep sleep.

After passing those two guards, the two kept hiding and almost crawled to not be noticed by the hidden guards. Wan Shen silently groaned. It feels like he's in the initiation. Then there's Yu Yan, he was so terrified. Never in his life had he been so perturbed, so horribly anxious. While his master is so calm, there's him, almost dying.

What Yu Yan didn't know is that Wan Shen is a pro when it comes to this. After all, he grew up in the streets and was not an innocent and clean person. He tried to snatch and hide a lot from the police. This is not new for him. This is nothing.

They are nearing the main gates and that was a relief for them. "Look! That's the gate. We're almost there." Wan Shen whispered. They both smiled as the guards from the gate are their last obstacle. They hid in the big stone and tree with tall grasses and bushes surrounding them, to set out the plan to remove the guards in the gate. Wan Shen took out the rope from the bag and tied it to the tree. There are four guards in total, 2 from inside and out. They prepared small bottles to throw so that they would get distracted. Wan Shen is the first one to throw the bottle then Yu Yan. He positioned himself and was ready to throw it when one of the guards suddenly spoke.

"Greetings to His majesty. These servants greet the emperor and wish the emperor to live ten thousand years and to have ten thousand lives!!"

Wan Shen immediately retreated his hand hanging in the air. 'WHY THE FUCK HE'S HERE?! ISN'T HE SUPPOSED TO BE IN HIS MANOR??!! IN HIS BED CHAMBER??!!'

The two loose deers made sure to hid carefully. Yu Yan is sweating from being tense. His majesty is known for his sharp and strong senses. He's afraid that the emperor might notice them. They will be dead meat! Wan Shen saw his servant trembling. He consoled him saying to be calm because it will only make them noticeable. Wan Shen is honestly starting to get anxious. The emperor's appearance is unexpected. They didn't think that they were going to encounter him.

Wan Shen tried to peek to see the emperor. He wants to see what his ideal man—not anymore, looks like in person.

He's talking to the guards and on his back, it seemed like a whole battalion of the army. Most of them are riding their horses. The light from the lamp and cauldron from the gate made his face visible in the dark. Wan Shen finally saw Kai Hui's face. As the book stated, he's very handsome, manly, and tall. He towered those guards with no effort. The emperor is well built. He's really a muscled man. His chest's puffing in his armor, almost busting. They're big! Wan Shen is tempted to touch those hard chests. The emperor's shadow can tell how high and pointed his nose is. He can be awarded for having a perfect nose. All his features are sharp. It suits his nickname as "the brave and strong emperor".

Wan Shen patted his baby gently. 'Look Baozi'er, that's your not-so-loving father! I want you to look and be like him when you grow up but do not copy his personality and attitude. It sucks! It will only make you ugly, my Baozi'er.'

It was just a small talk and the emperor went inside with 5 guards with him while the rest of the army went in the other direction with a handsome man leading it.

"Who's the person in the first? The one who's leading them? I can't see his face properly." he whispered and made a reason.

"It's General Zhi Hao, master." Yu Yan replied. Wan Shen's mouth formed an O. So, that's Lixue's younger brother. The genes in them are so strong. Both siblings are gorgeous.

They kept quiet and waited for minutes until the crickets are the only sound they could hear. Wan Shen tried to peek again. Everything's clear.

"I'm going to throw the bottle now." he said to Yu Yan. Wan Shen is actually getting nervous. There are a lot of what-ifs going on inside his head. If they get caught, their deaths are the price. It's not the same in the modern world. If you get caught, imprisonment is the only punishment you'll face.

Wan Shen exhaled to calm his nerves. Drastic times call for drastic measures. He then throws out the bottle. The guards guarding the inside shifted their gaze to where the sound came from. The guards from outside heard it too. Then Yu Yan throws his bottle.

"Report this incident to His majesty immediately." The guard 1 said to the guard 2 and he dashed off to the emperor's manor to report.

Wan Shen silently cursed. They need to get out before the emperor finds them out. He throws another bottle in the opposite direction then Yu Yan follows. The place they're hiding is dark and it's impossible for the guards to find where the bottles came from. Wan Shen stretched his arms before he positioned himself like he was playing baseball. He then throws the bottle far from the place they're usually throwing. Yu Yan did the same. The three remaining guards are now away from the gates. While they're busy inspecting the broken bottles, they take the chance to throw the end of the rope to the other side of the wall and start climbing. They cannot escape through the gates. It is too risky. Wan Shen climbed first. He used Yu Yan as his ladder to get to the top of the wall, then he held to the rope to get down slowly.

Yu Yan throws the fabric bag to the other side of the wall where Wan Shen is waiting to catch the bag. It will be a hassle for Yu Yan to climb while carrying 3 bags. Yu Yan knows how to climb so it didn't worry Wan Shen. When both of them successfully got out, Wan Shen throws back the rope again to the place they were hiding. He hopes that no one finds it.

They chose the path where there are a lot of trees and tall grasses and not the main road so that they'll not get spotted by the hidden guards. They're running as if their lives depend on it—well it really is. Wan Shen's both hands are supporting his son's head and body while running. His son is such a good boy. He didn't wake up throughout the process. Baozi understood the assignment.

They're now far away from the palace. They stopped for a while to rest and catch their breaths. It is as if they joined a marathon. It's exhausting.

"We need to go to the merchant you're talking about. We should not waste time. They might close the border gates after what happened." Wan Shen said.

"Y-yes, master." Yu Yan replied still catching his breath. Yu Yan takes the lead and goes to his childhood friend.

When they got to his house, Yu Yan found a small stone and threw it at his friend's window, he then knocked three times. The door opened, greeting them with a still sleepy man.

"Mao Han gege!" Yu Yan exclaimed. "What are you doing here early in the morning?" his friend asked.

"Let us in first." Yu Yan stated and Mao Han groaned before opening his door to let them inside.

Mao Han furrowed when he saw his friend with a stranger carrying a child. His body awoke and his eyes widened to the idea he came up with.

"Hey, don't tell me this is your family and you already have a child?! Aren't you working in the palace? And you're not allowed to leave the palace, right?" Mao Han bombers Yu Yan with questions.

Yu Yan grimaced. "What are you talking about? It's not what you think." he denied.

"So what are you doing here?" Mao Han asked Yu Yan.

Yu Yan looked at his master. "Help us cross the border gates." Wan Shen butted in.

"Why? What happened? And who are these people, Yu Yan?" Mao Han adverted his gaze back to Yu Yan.

"Just because! It's too complicated to explain. Just help us cross the gates, please! We will pay you!" Yu Yan pleaded.

Mao Han massaged his temple. "I don't want to be part of what you guys are scheming." he voiced.

"You're not! Don't worry." Wan Shen said. "Here. This is your payment for later. Just act like we're your servants. You're going to the Xu empire, right? Take us there and we're on our own after that." he added and put the silver and gold coins with 10 gold yuanbaos on the table.

Mao Han is still a bit hesitant. After a minute, he grunted before he took the money. "What time are we going to leave?" he asked while putting the money in his pouch.

"When the sun starts to rise." Wan Shen replied.

.      .      .      .      

The sound of the horse and the carriage rattling is currently heading towards the border gates. Wan Shen and Yu Yan are walking and following the horse. Wan Shen is wearing his slave clothes before he was sold as a concubine. He also put a little bit of black powder—which they use in this era as makeup to draw their eyebrows, on his eyebags and eyebrows to darken them. It is to change his physical features.

"Halt." The two guards made an x with their swords to stop them. "Where are you going?" guard 1 asked.

"I'm going to trade this carriage we made and the goods in the Xu empire." Mao Han answered.

The guards scanned us. "Let us see the inside of the carriage. The imperial palace made a declaration to check every person, wheelbarrows, carriages and rickshaws who were going outside or inside the empire." they reported. Wan Shen bit the insides of his mouth while Yu Yan almost stopped breathing.

"Why what happened?" Mao Han was curious.

"There are intruders who threw bottles early in the morning in the palace." guard 2 said.

Mao Han furrowed. He's getting the idea of who are those intruders they're talking about. Yu Yan just showed up without a notice early in the morning with a stranger at his house. They're not allowed to leave the palace unless the emperor or the empress dowager permits them. It must be them. They're the ones who threw the bottles to get out of the palace. Mao Han sighed. What the hell is his friend doing?!

Guard 1 inspects inside the carriage. When he saw that it was mostly a small furniture and silk, they let the three cross the gates. Wan Shen and Yu Yan sighed in relief. What the guards didn't see was that Baozi is inside the carriage and sleeping soundly. He was in the basket but was covered in silk. Wan Shen made sure his son could still breathe.

When they are far enough from the gates, they go inside the carriage and slump their body. They're so exhausted. Wan Shen immediately took his son out of the basket and kissed him on the forehead. He's being cooperative. He arranges the silk inside the basket to make a bed for his son, and then he puts him again to not disturb his sleep.

Wan Shen yawned. He saw Yu Yan who was sleeping already and that's when he decided to sleep also.

Hours passed by, and they woke up from the sound of a crying baby. It's already late in the afternoon. The sun is starting to set out. Wan Shen rushed to his son. He wants to slap himself because he forgot to feed his baby. Baozi is famished.

Wan Shen breastfeed his son while Yu Yan took out the food they prepared earlier. "Eat this, master." Yu Yan gently put the food near Wan Shen.

"You should eat too. We both have an empty stomach." Wan Shen said. "Yes, master." Yu Yan replied.

Yu Yan peeked out from the window. "Mao Han gege, have you eaten already?!" he asked his friend.

"Yes! Don't worry about me!" Mao Han replied.

They ate in silence and let the sound of the carriage surround them. Wan Shen peeks at the window. It was all big trees, grasses, and unfamiliar plants he could see. It's boring and kind of scary. It looks like someone might come out from the trees or plants and chase them.

He laid down and positioned himself sideways, then he laid 3 fabrics before putting his son on them and continued to feed him. Wan Shen closed his eyes for a minute but he's been like that for hours. He's too tired. He can't believe that he's out now from the palace and starting a new life in the other empire.

The carriage suddenly stopped. He realized he fell asleep. His son is already sleeping beside him but his mouth is still on his nipple. A knock made Yu Yan get up.

"What is it?" Yu Yan asked. "We will settle our night here. Tell me if you need anything." Mao Han said.

The place is very dark and the wind is cold. Wan Shen took a robe and used it as a comforter for him and for his son. He doesn't have any energy left. He just wants to sleep.

Yu Yan went out and saw Mao Han making a bonfire. "Aren't you cold, gege?" Yu Yan started and sat in front of his friend.

"No. This gege is strong!" Mao Han showed his muscles. Yu Yan laughed.

"Okay, let's be serious. Why did you leave the palace? And who's that person with you?" Mao Han looked at him seriously. Yu Yan avoided his gaze. He doesn't know what to say. He doesn't have the right to say anything.

"And don't dare lie to me." Mao Han added. Yu Yan bit his lower lip. "The person I am with is my master. He's one of His majesty's concubines. The baby is the young master. It's the master's son." he confessed.

Mao Han's jaw dropped. "You mean it's His majesty's first child?!!" he shouted but in a whisper. Yu Yan nodded.

"Then what are you two doing?! Don't you know how big the punishment you're going to face if they find you?!" Mao Han scolded Yu Yan.

Yu Yan fidgeted. "I know, okay? We know. It's just, that my master has reasons. I can't tell you what it is but he needs to get away. We can't back out now." Yu Yan whispered.

Mao Han grumbled as he faced palm. "Please, promise me to be safe. And contact me if something happened, okay? You're like my little brother." He patted Yu Yan's shoulder. Yu Yan nodded as a response. They talked for a while until Mao Han decided to call it a night.

"Go inside now and sleep." Mao Han said. Whatever his Yu Yan didi doing, Mao Han hopes that he'll get through it—they'll get through it.

Yu Yan made a little bed for himself. Just like his master, he's tired too. Going to the Xu empire takes 4 days using transportation. It's a long trip but they need to endure it. They still need to go to the Li empire for their permanent settlement.

And at last, they arrived at the Xu empire after traveling for 4 days.

AHSTHAN