After Mo Qi Qi returns to Feng Yang Palace, she eats her breakfast and rests.
When she thinks of everything that happened these past few days, she can only sigh over how confusing Jun Qian Che can be.
When she remembers how he almost forced her again last night, she begins to worry for her own safety.
She does not love Jun Qian Che. Itโs true that she is carrying his child at the moment, but having a child with him does not mean that she will actually accept him in her life.
Besides, she is not sure that he will keep his promise. What if he still ends up hurting their child one day?
She originally thought she could distract him with beautiful men and women, but it failed. In fact, his attention seemed to be focused solely on her. This is not a good thing.
If she truly cannot distract him, shouldnโt she be looking for a way out?
She has tried so hard and still cannot find the way back to her universe. Perhaps, the way back isnโt in the palace. Or perhaps, there is no way back to begin with.
If that is the case, then, what is the point of staying here? Wouldnโt it be better to run as far away from the palace as possible? If she managed to escape, she wouldnโt have to worry about Jun Qian Che harming her child ever again. She also would no longer have to live in constant fear.
After making up her mind, Mo Qi Qi begins devising her escape route. Leaving the palace will not be easy. She must figure out a way to guarantee success. Otherwise, getting caught will be catastrophic.
And so, Mo Qi Qi locks herself inside the palace for two days, devising her plan. In the end, she decides to disguise herself as a palace maid and sneaks out when the guards are changing shifts tonight.
Ban Xiang found out about her plan and is adamant to be brought along.
When Mo Qi Qi sees Ban Xiang crying so pitifully, her heart softens and she decides to bring her along.
By the time the sky has darkened, one can only see two palace maids sneakily heading towards the Forbidden Cityโs main gate. To avoid suspicion, Mo Qi Qi and Ban Xiang did not take anything with them. Whatever it is they need, they can simply buy it outside, later on.
One needs a special medallion in order to leave the palace, moreover so at this time of the night.
The two claimed to be maids from Feng Yang Palace and that the Empress has been afflicted with headaches ever since her fall from the viewing tower. Whenever she has a bout of headache, she will need to take certain medicines from outside the palace, since the prescription from the palace is not working for her. The Empressโ head hurts again today and they have both been sent on that errand.
Even after hearing that long explanation, the guards firmly say, โPlease show us the special medallion.โ
Mo Qi Qi and Ban Xiang exchange a look. Ban Xiang slowly takes out a medallion.
To tell the truth, not every palace will have the special medallion that grants exit. Not even the servants from the Empressโ palace.
The Internal Affairs Department will usually take care of everything. Representatives from each palace would only need to fetch whatever they need from the department. The type of servants that own the special medallion are the ones who frequently leaves the palace for official matters outside, like certain staff from the Imperial Kitchen. Even then, their names would be registered.
Other than those people, the rest would have to ask for special permission from the Internal Affairs Department. As for the consorts, they would even need permission from the Emperor.
And so, in order to pass through the gate, they must show the guards the medallion that has issued by the Internal Affairs Department.
Despite so, the guards also knew that the Empress has a special medallion that was gifted to her family by the late Emperor. It had been used multiple times by her maids before. That is why the guards have not been suspicious when they heard the two maids are from Feng Yang Palace. They only need to show the medallion and they are free to go.
Ban Xiang takes out a medallion from her sleeves and hands it over to one of the guards.
The guards only glance at it from afar and did not personally touch it. โYou may pass,โ one of them says politely.
The medallion that Ban Xiang apparently carries was bestowed by the late Emperor. These lowly guards wouldnโt dare to touch it. It would be considered disrespectful and heads would roll.
Mo Qi Qi and Ban Xiang did not expect this to go on so smoothly. They exchange relieved smile with each other, before walking ahead. There is only a single door separating them and the world outside. Once they pass through that door, they are free. They can begin a new chapter in life.
Mo Qi Qi and Ban Xiang anxiously march on.
Just then, a voice speaks up, โStop them!โ
When the guards realized that the one who spoke was Eunuch Lin, they immediately follow the order. Although the two maids carry the late Emperorโs medallion, Eunuch Lin is the eunuch that personally serves the Emperor. There must be a valid reason behind every order.
The guards immediately form a large cross with their lances, blocking the two girlsโ way.
Mo Qi Qi did not expect Eunuch Lin would make a sudden appearance. She lowers her head to avoid getting recognized.
Only Ban Xiang turns around to greet Eunuch Lin. She smiles at him, โIt is late, Eunuch Lin. What are you doing here? This servant is under Her Ladyshipโs order to buy something, I will return real quick!โ
When Ban Xiang sees another approaching figure, she gasps in shock. She immediately kneels down, โGreeting Your Majesty.โ
The guards follow suit, โGreeting Your Majesty.โ
Mo Qi Qi is frozen in her spot, not knowing what to do. She did not expect herself to be so unfortunate. She wonders if this is truly a coincidence or if he purposely waited here to catch her.
Her intuition tells her that it is the latter, but her plan was pretty much fool-proof, itโs impossible for him to find out!
Jun Qian Che looks at Mo Qi Qi who is rooted in her spot before coldly asking, โWhat are you doing here so late, Empress?โ
Hearing that, the guards immediately greet her, โGreeting the Empress.โ
Realizing that her identity has been exposed, Mo Qi Qi turns around and laughs like a fool, โYour Majesty! What a coincidence!โ
Jun Qian Cheโs face is dark as he says, โCome to zhen.โ
Mo Qi Qi purses her lips before obediently walking over to him. โYour Majestyโ-โ she says cautiously.
โAre you leaving the palace, Empress?โ asks Jun Qian Che.
In Mo Qi Qiโs mind, now that she has been caught, she will die either way, so might as well tell him the truth. She is too lazy to lie to him anymore. Besides, with Mo Clan around, he might not dare to kill her. Perhaps, he might even send her off personally if he knows that she wants to leave. After all, he might not have the heart to kill the child. However, having the child around might make him uneasy. Might as well let her go to the farthest end of the world.
And so, Mo Qi Qi gathers her courage and says, โYour Majesty, chenqie wants to leave the palace. Chenqie hates palace life and wish to leave the imperial palace.โ
