Chapter 7: Escape from Luoyang

"Your Majesty, where are we going?" As her small hand was pulled by Liu Bian, Tang Ji walked forward while feeling somewhat confused and asked Liu Bian a question.

Looking into Liu Bian's eyes filled with concern, Tang Ji remained silent. She lowered her head, tightly pressed her lips together, raised one arm to cover her nose with her sleeve, and slowly crouched down into the bucket

The lid of the barrel was opened, and he leaned in to take a look inside the barrel

Pulling Tang Ji, they walked north along the fields for no less than ten miles. The moon had already hung low in the western sky, its light dimmed considerably, and the surroundings were even darker than before.

The donkey, in pain, kicked its hooves and ran forward with the cart, quickly disappearing into the thick darkness of the night

As he approached the entrance of the temple, Liu Bian halted the donkey cart and turned back to glance at the city of Luoyang. Standing here, he could no longer see the torches burning on the city wall, and the guards responsible for vigilance on the wall would certainly not be able to see him any longer.

Standing beside the donkey cart, Liu Bian glanced around a few times. The official road was quiet, and apart from him and the donkey cart beside him, no other travelers could be seen.

The lie was exposed, yet Liu Bian remained unflustered, continuing to nod and bow to the veteran as he said: "To be honest, military sir, my grandfather has indeed been a widower for several years and has no descendants. I am originally the grandson of the second master, and since my grandfather has no heirs, he adopted me to ensure the continuation of this livelihood."

With both feet in the bucket, Tang Ji did not sit down immediately. Instead, she placed one foot on the cart board and the other on the yoke, while also supporting herself with her hands on Liu Bian's arms as she glanced at him.

The mountain gate of the temple is not particularly tall. From Liu Bian's position in the night, the front gate appears not much different in grandeur and style from the main entrances of some wealthy households within the city. Standing on one side of the official road, this temple seems somewhat isolated and desolate.

The lid was lifted, revealing a full barrel of night fragrance before the veteran's eyes

Tang Ji did not speak, but merely stared at Liu Bian with a pair of bewildered big eyes

In the future, do not call me 'Your Majesty' in front of others. Liu Bian stopped in his tracks, gently placing his hands on Tang Ji's shoulders, and said softly to her: From now on, you may simply call me husband.

"It's so late, where are you going?" The veteran walked up to the car, caught a whiff of the night fragrance, and quickly pinched his nose, asking in a muffled voice, "Usually, the carts that collect night fragrance in the city take at least half an hour to set out, how come you are out so early?"

Lady Tang leaned against the barrel wall, her eyes slightly closed, as if she had been fainted by the smoke.

Although he held his breath, the old soldier was still overwhelmed by the foul odor rising into the air, causing his eyes to feel gritty and nearly bringing him to tears. He quickly released his grip on the cart's yoke, jumped down, and waved his hand at Liu Bian, saying: "Hurry up, hurry up, today we recognize you."

"Look, you called me Your Majesty again." Liu Bian said with a faint smile on his face, gently brushing his fingers across Tang Ji's small nose, and softly added, "From now on, you should call me husband. Do you remember?"

Ensuring that no one was nearby, Liu Bian climbed onto the donkey cart, using both hands to grasp the yoke, and reached out to open the lid of the night fragrance barrel where Tang Ji was hiding.

Old Zhang, who sells night fragrance, is my grandfather Liu Bian maintained a slightly hunched posture, nodding and bowing as he spoke to the old soldier My grandfather is getting old and can no longer engage in this trade, so I have taken over for him

The shadow of the Luoyang city wall has become somewhat hazy, and only the outline of the wall can be faintly seen. Liu Bian gradually slowed his pace, pulling Tang Ji from a run to a walk, continuing to head north.

Thank you very much, gentlemen! Liu Bian bowed and repeatedly expressed his gratitude to the two veterans. Once the two veterans helped him open a small section of the city gate, he flicked the whip of the donkey cart and drove the cart out of the city.

The Tang princess in the barrel was not truly fainted; she had merely fallen asleep due to the jolting of the donkey cart. Her cheek was gently prodded twice by Liu Bian, and she suddenly awoke from her dreams, raising her head to look at Liu Bian, who was leaning halfway into the barrel, trying to grab her with both hands to pull her out.

Liu Bian glanced at several torches on the city wall, some bright and some dim. He did not immediately release Tang Ji, but instead urged the donkey cart along the official road outside the city, continuing westward.

Since marrying Liu Bian, Tang Ji had never seen him so gentle. Upon hearing these words, her heart felt as if it had been filled with a bowl of honey, sweet and delightful, causing her to completely forget the suffering she had previously endured, hidden away in the night fragrance barrel. Nestling her head against Liu Bian's chest, she softly replied: "With Your Majesty, this humble servant does not feel any hardship"

Watching the donkey cart disappear into the distance, Liu Bian said little more and pulled Tang Ji as they ran towards the fields to the north

After walking more than a mile forward, he saw the shadow of a temple emerging not far ahead.

As he walked, Liu Bian faintly heard a series of barks coming from ahead.

When Liu Bian was conversing with the old soldier, the veteran standing on the left side of the city gate had already awakened. He did not approach the night fragrance carriage, but remained in place, half-closing his eyes to listen to the two speaking.

Liu Bian lowered his head, reached out to embrace Tang Ji, and softly said to her: "I do not wish to achieve the great accomplishments of an emperor, nor do I desire to preserve the ancestral legacy; I am simply content as long as we can live well together in this world."

In the early spring wilderness, the vegetation is withered, and all things have yet to awaken; even the most vigorous grass has not yet sprouted its tender shoots

"Reporting to the military lord, I am not here to transport night fragrance within the city!" Liu Bian bowed slightly to the old soldier, a smile on his face as he said, "I am here to transport night fragrance to the palace."

"Old Zhang has been a widower for several years; I haven't heard that he has a grandson?" As soon as Liu Bian finished speaking, the old soldier furrowed his brows, looking at him from head to toe with even more confusion.

Pulling Tang Ji, they sprinted wildly across the wilderness, having run quite a distance, Liu Bian turned back to glance behind.

Help Tang Ji close the lid of the night fragrance barrel where she is hiding, Liu Bian jumped off the cart, gently shook the whip, hitched up the donkey cart, and slowly walked towards the city gate

Liu Bian turned his head to glance at the slowly closing city gate behind him, let out a long sigh, and finally felt the heart that had been hanging in his throat settle down. He secretly rejoiced that after escaping from the small building, despite numerous risks, he had successfully left the city of Luoyang.

Both individuals are holding a wooden long pole, a spear approximately over two meters in length. The old soldier standing on the left side of the city gate is cradling the spear with both hands, his head nodding slightly as he dozes off

Liu Bian halted the donkey cart, his face beaming with a smile, slightly bowing his body as he greeted the old soldier approaching him, saying: "Sir!"

The soldiers guarding the palace gate usually hold themselves in high regard, looking down on the lowly servants like La Yexiang, and thus are unaware of the fact that Old Zhang is a widower. However, the soldiers stationed at the city gate are different; to pass the time, they often enjoy chatting with those who frequently enter and exit the city. They are quite familiar with Old Zhang, who is associated with La Yexiang, which is why Liu Bian's lie was immediately exposed by this old soldier.

The awakened Tang Ji said nothing; she dazedly cooperated with Liu Bian, standing up and crawling out of the night fragrance bucket

In the midnight city of Luoyang, the city gates are tightly closed. Two veteran soldiers guarding the gates stand on either side.

Supporting Tang Ji, Liu Bian jumped down from the night fragrance carriage, raising the whip in his hand and swiftly striking the hindquarters of the three donkeys one by one.

"Yuan Benchu of Jizhou, Gongsun Zan of Hebei, and Cao Mengde of Xuchang are all at Hulao Pass now, but I do not wish to seek them out." Supporting Tang Ji's fragrant shoulders with both hands, Liu Bian turned his head to glance northeast and said to her in a lowered voice: "At present, Dong Zhuo is causing chaos in governance, and various heroes are rising. If I were to go there, it might just play into someone's hands, providing them with substantial resources, which would bring no benefit to either of us."

A companion asked him if he had heard about Old Zhang adopting someone else's grandson. The old soldier furrowed his brow and thought for a moment before replying: "It seems I have! I heard Old Zhang mention that he is getting older and probably cannot continue this line of work in the palace, so he needs to pass on the responsibility to someone. But I forgot whether he adopted a grandson or what exactly happened."

Stop! As the night fragrance carriage arrived at the city gate, an old soldier standing to the right of the gate raised a hand and made a gesture to Liu Bian to halt.

Liu Bian responded with a sound, using both hands to grasp the yoke and jumped onto the cart, lifting the lid of the night fragrance barrel that the old soldier pointed to at hetushu.com .com

With her shoulders supported by Liu Bian, Tang Ji slightly raised her head to look into his sincere eyes, softly murmuring "mm" and nodding her head.

Wake up, wake up! Liu Bian leaned forward, extending a hand to gently stroke Tang Ji's cheek, whispering to her: We have come out

Oh! The old soldier nodded, casting a skeptical glance at Liu Bian from head to toe, and elongated his voice to ask, "Isn't the night fragrance in the palace usually handled by Old Zhang? Why has it changed to you today?"

As he drove the donkey cart out of the city, the city gate slowly closed behind him, the hinges emitting a strange creaking sound.

That should be correct! The old soldier, pinching his nose while standing beside the night fragrance cart, held his breath, extended one hand to grip the cart's yoke, leaned half his body onto the cart, raised the hand holding the spear, and pointed to a night fragrance barrel on the cart, saying to Liu Bian: "Open the barrel lid."

If you are willing, I would like to return to your hometown with you, to live in seclusion from now on, no longer concerning ourselves with worldly affairs. Wouldn't that be carefree?" Gently reaching out to stroke Tang Ji's beautiful hair, Liu Bian looked up at the vast night sky and sighed softly, saying, "I only hope that the conflicts in this world will no longer concern you and me from now on.

Have you heard about this matter? Liu Bian's reasons can be said to be almost flawless, yet that old soldier still harbored some doubts about him and shouted to another old soldier standing on the left side of the city gate.

Endure a little longer! Looking at Tang Ji, whose expression still carried a hint of hesitation, Liu Bian let out a soft sigh of sympathy. He reached out to smooth the wrinkled fabric on her shoulder and gently said to her: "Once we leave Luoyang, you will no longer have to endure such grievances"