Escaping from Wang Fu’s household was easy. The challenge now was how to avoid being recaptured.
Although Wang Fu seemed to have fallen out of favor, he was still the Deputy Prime Minister. Furthermore, he was now colluding with Prince Yun. If the Imperial City Department mobilized their personnel to search for him, he might be caught before he even left Bianliang city.
To avoid attracting attention, he briefly tended to his injuries at a herbal medicine shop on the street corner before hiring a carriage to take him out of the city. To survive, the farther he could get from Bianliang, the better. Having served as Wang Fu’s steward for so many years, he knew the capabilities of the Imperial City Department firsthand.
“Sir, where are we heading? We’re already outside Bianliang city. If you don’t tell me where we’re going, I’m afraid I can’t go any further,” the coachman said, a mix of excitement for a big fare and trepidation as the road grew increasingly desolate.
“Why so many questions? Just keep heading south. I won’t shortchange you on your fare!” Wang Chao’an wanted to tell him where he was going, but the truth was, he didn’t know himself. Having offended Wang Fu meant offending the government. The thought of a life on the run filled him with a sense of gloom.
“But…” The coachman’s fear grew as the pedestrians thinned out and he considered Wang Chao’an’s appearance. Wang Chao’an realized the coachman was beginning to suspect his identity, and his heart sank. His whereabouts couldn’t be leaked, or it would mean certain death.
“That’s enough. No more ‘buts’! Take me to the town ahead, and then you can leave!” The honest coachman, unaware he had invited his own demise, was actually delighted.
“That sounds great! Sit tight, sir. The road ahead is a bit deserted, let’s pick up the pace!” The coachman urged the horses onward towards the town.
As the road grew more desolate and the last galloping horse sped past the carriage, Wang Chao’an slowly tightened his grip on the dagger. While he had never killed anyone before, his life was on the line, and he wouldn’t hesitate now. After mentally rehearsing the movements several times, he finally made up his mind.
“Stop up ahead for a moment, I need to relieve myself!” Seeing a patch of woods ahead, Wang Chao’an took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice inconspicuous.
“Got it!” The coachman readily agreed without hesitation, even offering a helping hand as Wang Chao’an alighted. Wang Chao’an acted normally, relieving himself in the woods before returning to the carriage.
“We should hurry. Otherwise, I fear I’ll miss my lodging for the night!” Wang Chao’an said, feeling the dagger tucked into his boot.
“Don’t worry, sir, you won’t. The inns and taverns in the town ahead are quite decent!” The coachman pulled him onto the carriage seat and settled back in his own, ready to depart.
At that moment, Wang Chao’an suddenly drew the dagger from his boot and plunged it towards the coachman’s neck. Just as he was about to succeed, the coachman’s large hand shot out like lightning, grabbing his wrist.
“You…” The agility of the action was far beyond that of an ordinary coachman. Wang Chao’an immediately sensed something was wrong!
“You’re not a coachman?”
“If I were a normal coachman, I’d be dead by your hand by now. I didn’t expect you, a seemingly refined gentleman, to be so ruthless!” The coachman chuckled, then twisted Wang Chao’an’s wrist. The hand holding the dagger involuntarily loosened, and the glinting blade clattered onto the carriage shaft. The coachman then flung Wang Chao’an from the carriage.
Now Wang Chao’an understood. He had been set up.
“Who exactly are you!” Wang Chao’an asked tremblingly, looking at the advancing coachman.
“Why all the nonsense? If you know what’s good for you, just behave. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being impolite!” The coachman cackled and, with a few quick steps, was beside Wang Chao’an. While Wang Chao’an was cunning in his dealings, his fighting skills were only slightly better than an average woman’s. Before he could even put up much of a struggle, the coachman had bound him tightly with his own belt.
“Good sir, I’ll give you everything in my bag if you let me live!” Seeing that he couldn’t win a fight, he could only try to bribe the man.
“The meager belongings in your bag are mine now, aren’t they? Truly a coward clinging to life!” As the coachman spoke, he delivered a chop to the back of Wang Chao’an’s neck. Wang Chao’an’s eyes rolled back, and he fainted.
After tidying up any signs of a struggle, the coachman picked up Wang Chao’an, stuffed him into the carriage, gagged him with a piece of cloth, and then headed back towards a manor outside the city.
“Let me go, let me go!” When Wang Chao’an next regained consciousness, it was completely dark outside. He was tied to a pillar, his entire body securely bound.
“Who exactly are you? I warn you, I am a steward from Prime Minister Wang’s residence. You’d better release me, or when the Prime Minister comes looking for me, you’ll face certain death!” After surveying his surroundings, Wang Chao’an quickly calmed down.
“I say, Steward Wang, I don’t think you’ve quite grasped the situation. If it were before today, you would indeed be a steward of the Prime Minister’s residence, and offending you would have dire consequences. But now, are you still a steward of the Prime Minister’s residence?” Yuan Xingchi said, a dismissive smile appearing on his face.