Those hiding in the room held their breath, daring not to move a muscle.
Only when the commotion outside ceased did they exhale slightly.
"We can't hide here forever. Eventually, Sun Shi's people will find us. We need to find a way to get out quickly."
They had narrowly avoided being discovered by Sun Shi just now; this time, they were lucky to escape. But what about next time? Who could guarantee they would be so fortunate?
Feng Jin's brow was deeply furrowed, her worry increasing by the moment.
"Are there truly no other ways out of this mansion?" Feng Jin asked Feng Yuanping, unwilling to give up.
Surely, in such a vast mansion, there wasn't a single other exit.
"There are only a few established routes to leave the mansion, and Sun Shi knows them all. Unless we grow wings and fly out."
"Prime Minister Feng, you truly trust Sun Shi, telling her everything without reservation. I wonder if you ever considered a day like this might come?"
Continuing to taunt Feng Yuanping with her words, Feng Jin also admired him for confiding everything in Sun Shi, leaving himself no fallback. He deserved his current predicament; it was truly his own doing.
"Can't you say a few less words? Do you really want to anger me to death before you're satisfied!"
Feng Yuanping suppressed his anger. If he were to argue with Feng Jin, he would die of anger before he could escape this place.
"Since there are no other ways to leave, the only option is to force our way out."
Ling Mohan, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke. This was the only feasible path now.
However, he could escape with Feng Jin by himself, but adding the severely injured Feng Yuanping would make it difficult. Even he wasn't entirely confident they could leave unscathed.
"Force our way out?" Feng Jin glanced at Ling Mohan, then looked down at Feng Yuanping. If it were just the two of them, they could force their way out. But Feng Yuanping was covered in injuries and could barely walk on his own, let alone be escorted out forcibly. It was completely impossible.
"We could, but Prime Minister Feng is severely injured now and can barely walk. How can we get out?"
Originally, Feng Jin had intended to call Feng Yuanping by his full name. After all, he was her nominal father, and addressing him by his full name felt a bit impolite. But she couldn't bring herself to call him "Father," so addressing him as "Prime Minister Feng" seemed more appropriate.
Feng Yuanping also noticed Feng Jin's address. He had never heard Feng Jin call him Father before.
He also knew his guilt towards Feng Jin and didn't dare to hope that Feng Jin could forgive him so quickly.
"I do know of a place we can exit from. That place is a bit remote and not easy to get out of, but it is an exit."
Feng Yuanping spoke vaguely, his words unclear, making Feng Jin suspect what kind of place it was that required such secrecy. Just as she was about to ask for clarification, Ling Mohan spoke ahead of her, "Since there is a place to exit, that's good."
"I will go out first and create a disturbance to lure them away. You take Prime Minister Feng and leave quickly."
Feng Jin hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement. After Ling Mohan left, Feng Jin glanced at Feng Yuanping, then turned her head away again. She really didn't know what to say, and it was better to remain silent.
After a brief pause, Feng Jin finally asked, "Can you walk now?"
"I should be alright." He had been tied up for too long, his body covered in wounds. Even the slightest movement sent sharp pains through him. His legs were just beginning to regain sensation.
Feng Jin held Feng Yuanping's wrist and felt his pulse. There were no serious internal injuries, and the wounds were mostly superficial, though some had become inflamed, making wound cleaning troublesome.
"Eat this first. When we escape later, you'll have the strength and won't drag me down."
"What is this..."
Feng Jin rolled her eyes, too lazy to explain further to Feng Yuanping. She directly put the pill into his mouth, forcing him to swallow it.
"Don't worry, it's definitely not poison."
After saying this, Feng Jin didn't speak another word to Feng Yuanping.
It wasn't until she heard movement outside the window that Feng Jin knew Ling Mohan had succeeded in luring them away. They had to seize the opportunity to escape quickly.
"Let's go." As soon as she spoke, she helped Feng Yuanping up and walked forward according to his directions.
When Feng Jin saw the exit Feng Yuanping spoke of, her eyes nearly popped out of her head.
"This is the exit you mentioned?"
Feng Jin pointed to the bottom of the wall, to the small dog hole concealed by weeds.
"This is the only place in the entire mansion not guarded. Although it's small, we can still get out. A true man doesn't fuss over trivial matters. I don't mind, so don't make a fuss. Prioritizing survival is key now. If you have the green hills, you won't fear a lack of firewood."
Feng Jin didn't bother thinking about how Feng Yuanping knew about this dog hole. But the hole was so small that she struggled to crawl through it. Could he really escape with his physique?
"Hurry up." Feng Yuanping called out to Feng Jin and bent down, preparing to crawl out. As soon as he got his head through, he got stuck at his shoulders, unable to advance or retreat.
It was Feng Jin who had to exert herself to pull him out.
"Prime Minister Feng, you really should look at how small this dog hole is. It would be a miracle if someone of your build could squeeze through."
Feng Jin sighed helplessly. The only exit was now blocked. She was truly exasperated with Feng Yuanping.
He used to be cunning and experienced. Now, had his intelligence declined, or had he been hit on the head and become foolish, only doing stupid things?
"Think of another small, secluded door. Ling Mohan is drawing attention away, but he can't hold them off for too long. We need to get out quickly."
Feng Yuanping pondered for a long time, then suddenly said, "There really is a place we can get out. It's a bit remote, a small door specifically for carrying away sewage. We'll go out through there."
"Hurry up." Feng Jin quickly pulled Feng Yuanping away. A sewage door was still better than this dog hole.
When they arrived, Feng Jin left Feng Yuanping behind and went ahead alone to scout if anyone was guarding it. Gripping the crossbow bolts on her wrist tightly, she approached only to find no one. Perhaps this place was too remote, and Sun Shi hadn't remembered to leave guards, or perhaps the guards here had gone to pursue Ling Mohan.
Regardless, the priority was for them to leave first, then to signal Ling Mohan to make his escape as well.
Feng Jin ran back, helped Feng Yuanping, and left the place as quickly as possible.
Once they reached a safe location, Feng Jin released a signal to notify Ling Mohan to withdraw quickly.
"Let's get into the carriage and leave first."