Finally, they had reached a decision.
Song Chaoyu, along with Qiu Qing and Tiao Hong, entered the schoolhouse, where they could look out for each other.
In fact, Song Chaoyu had asked Xiang Rui if she wanted to join them, but it was clear that fear had dawned in Xiang Rui's eyes.
Although she had served people in the palace before, she had served the Emperor directly. Naturally, she had lived a life of luxury and comfort, so how could she endure the hardships of the present?
Song Chaoyu did not pressure her, and Xiang Rui's expression was a little awkward and unnaturally helpless.
When Song Chaoyu saw Mu Changxi and Ping Jiang practically shoving all sorts of hidden weapons and poisons into Qiu Qing's hands, she couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and exasperation.
However, Mu Changxi also placed some on Song Chaoyu. But fearing that Song Chaoyu might accidentally injure herself, he entrusted most of them to Qiu Qing and Tiao Hong.
Finally, he handed Song Chaoyu a hairpin that was slightly thicker than a normal one: "This thing was originally just an experiment. It hasn't been perfected yet, so I wasn't planning to give it to you. But seeing as it is, you can use it for now."
He gestured lightly, and Song Chaoyu realized that the hairpin was actually a small, delicate dagger!
In the middle of the hairpin, there was a small joint. When pulled apart, it revealed a slender but extremely sharp dagger.
As Mu Changxi placed the dagger into Song Chaoyu's hand, he also tightly clasped Song Chaoyu's hand: "Once you go in, no matter what happens, you must protect yourself. Nothing else matters. I only want you to come out safe and sound. Do you understand?"
Song Chaoyu naturally understood.
Since she was going in, she was confident.
After organizing everything, Song Chaoyu and the others changed into even more tattered clothes.
To be honest, it was Song Chaoyu's first time wearing clothes with patches like these. Even when she was on the estate before, Madam Liu had given Song Chaoyu all the best things, and at least her food and clothing were not too poor.
Now that Song Chaoyu had been away for so long, she unexpectedly missed Madam Liu and Xiao Qing'er even more.
She wondered when she would be able to return and see them.
—
Recalling her thoughts, Song Chaoyu, Qiu Qing, and Tiao Hong each took a somewhat worn-out bundle containing worthless items. They didn't bring any silver, only two strings of copper coins.
As Qiu Qing was helping Song Chaoyu "dress up," she couldn't help but laugh: "No matter how you dress up, Madam, you don't look like a daughter from a poor family. We need to look the part properly, otherwise, those people might not believe us."
Song Chaoyu nodded, having already formed a plan in her mind.
She removed all her hairpins and ornaments, simply tying her hair into a bun with a cloth scarf and a wooden hairpin.
However, just as she was preparing to leave, she was suddenly pulled back by Mu Changxi—
Disregarding that everyone else was present, Mu Changxi pulled Song Chaoyu, supporting himself with his cane in one hand, while with the other, he held her tightly in his embrace.
He whispered into Song Chaoyu's ear: "A'yu, no matter what, return to my side safely. I'll be waiting for you!"
Why did it sound as if they were parting in life and death?
Song Chaoyu still reached out and embraced Mu Changxi: "Don't worry, I'll be fine."
Only then did Mu Changxi release Song Chaoyu, and his gaze suddenly turned icy: "Since we're going to do this, we must do our best. Let those people have nothing to say. This time, everyone must be mentally prepared!"
Everyone nodded and then watched Song Chaoyu and the others leave.
—
Song Chaoyu and the others disguised themselves as refugees from another region and headed towards Ping'an County.
Since He Si and the others had been dealt with, the people in Ping'an County had sent others.
When those people saw the three of them, their eyes seemed to light up, and they stepped forward: "Three young ladies, are you heading to Ping'an County?"
Song Chaoyu nodded, looking up and down at the person wearing the official's uniform: "Yes, officer, we are indeed heading to Ping'an County!"
The man's eyes darted around, his gaze falling on the bundles they were carrying: "Listening to your accent, you don't sound like people from Haizhou, do you?"
Song Chaoyu had already prepared a plausible excuse: "Yes, we are not from Haizhou! Earlier, we came to Ningyang County in front to visit relatives, but who knew we would suffer this undeserved disaster! Our relatives have either died or scattered, and our homes have been washed away. We heard that the situation in Ping'an County is much better, and there are people helping the refugees, so we wanted to come and see."
She craned her neck, looking into the county, naturally feigning confusion: "But as we walked along, the people became fewer and fewer. Why is the entrance to Ping'an County so desolate? Is it that there is no more relief inside?"
She turned her head, pulling Qiu Qing and Tiao Hong as if they were about to leave: "If it's not possible, it's better for us to leave quickly. We don't have much travel money left, and no dry rations. If we head north, it won't be a waste of time!"
"Hey, don't go!"
Seeing them about to leave, the man quickly stopped them: "There is indeed relief in Ping'an County! Am I not here to pick you up? The reason there's no one is that all the surrounding refugees are now within the county. Go, go, I'll take you in. If you continue north, you won't have enough of anything, so what will you do?"
As he spoke, he patted his clothes: "I am from the Ping'an County yamen. If you don't believe others, can you not believe me?"
Song Chaoyu carefully examined the official clothes on him and then sighed: "Indeed, if we go further north now, I'm afraid we'll starve to death on the road. Let's go, it's good to enter Ping'an County! May I ask the officer's name? You have helped me, and I must remember it!"
"Haha, that's right!"
He smiled and nodded at Song Chaoyu: "I am a runner from the Ping'an County yamen. My name is Zhou Wang, and they all call me Little Zhou. Looking at you, young lady, you seem to be from a wealthy family, not an ordinary farm girl or merchant!"
Song Chaoyu merely nodded and smiled: "Alas... don't mention it. We were once people of status in the capital. Later, our family declined, and we had to come to Haizhou to rely on my aunt. But not long after arriving in Haizhou, we suffered this undeserved disaster. Now we don't know where to go, so we can only bring our two maids and find a temporary place to stay!"
Zhou Wang led the way, and Song Chaoyu noticed that two more people had quietly joined them behind, escorting them into Ping'an County.
As they walked, Zhou Wang said to Song Chaoyu: "We have gathered all the refugees together for everyone's safety, and they are not dispersed. The elderly, weak, women, and children are all in the schoolhouse, where they have shelter from the wind and rain. The men go out to fish for food and wait for rescue from the imperial court."