"I also think we should listen to the old lady. How about waiting a bit longer and letting the princess recuperate first to regain her strength," someone said.
Zhao Jing didn't say anything this time. His gaze on her was rather complicated.
The two elders naturally knew what had happened between them. Sigh, they were such a well - matched pair back then, but were eventually torn apart by the heartless royal family.
They exchanged a look and decided to give the two some private space, which could be regarded as a formal ending to what had happened before.
However, before they could say anything, there was a commotion outside. Then, the hasty footsteps of the butler approached from afar.
He walked in, made sure no one was following behind, quickly closed the door, and looked extremely anxious.
"My lords, you'd better leave quickly. The place is surrounded. After the Concubine Rui knew that the princess was missing, she publicly claimed that the Zhao family had the intention of rebelling. Now they're trying to arrest you."
Hearing this, the Old Lady Zhao was the most impulsive.
"Good for her! That bitch dares to come looking for trouble. I haven't even settled the score with her yet, and she dares to pin such a big crime on the Zhao family. It's really true that she can't wait a moment to get rid of us."
The butler quickly stopped her, fearing that she would rush out and get into a conflict with the people outside and suffer.
"Old lady, this is not the time to be angry. It seems that all the imperial guards in the palace have been dispatched. With just the few of us in the Zhao family, we definitely can't handle them."
"The place is surrounded. Even if we try to escape, where can we go? Let's just fight them," said Concubine Ning, looking at the silent man, wondering what he was thinking.
The Old Lady Zhao couldn't wait any longer. She urged Zhao Jin to make a decision quickly. After all, he was the head of the family now, and his words carried the most weight.
"Jin'er, make a decision quickly. We'll all follow your lead."
For a moment, all eyes were on him.
They could hear the people outside getting impatient and starting to argue with the servants of the Zhao family.
"Who do you think you are? Do you know whose territory this is? How dare you search so brazenly? Do you believe that our master will take your heads?"
It seemed that the imperial guards had already been bribed by Concubine Rui, so there was no trace of fear in their eyes.
"Heh, the most favored concubine in the palace now is Concubine Rui. The words of the princess don't count anymore. Don't lose your temper with us. We're just following orders. Since the people of the Zhao family are not willing to come out voluntarily, don't blame us."
Gradually, the noise outside turned into the sound of fighting. Even without going to see, they could guess what was happening.
Finally, the man spoke up.
"Alright, we'll leave through the secret passage in this room immediately. We mustn't get into trouble here. Otherwise, the last hope of the Zhao family will be gone."
Hearing his words, the Old Lady Zhao looked rather conflicted.
"Son, think it over carefully. This concerns the future of the Zhao family. Do we really have to escape like turtles?"
"Mother, this is not an escape. We're just going to find a safe place to stay for the time being and figure out how to get everything back for the Zhao family."
The Old Lady Zhao was the daughter of a Western Region general when she was young. She had never been a coward, but now she had to set such a precedent, which made her feel ashamed.
As her son, how could Zhao Jin not know what was on her mind?
Zhao Jin comforted her, "Mother, as long as the green mountains remain, there will always be firewood. Only by protecting ourselves first can we reveal all the truths to the world."
Concubine Ning thought it over and agreed on the side.
"Old lady, the head of the Zhao family is right. The princess is still seriously injured. We can't delay any longer."
With their continuous consolation, the old lady finally got over her mental hurdle.
"Alright, let's go."
She followed the others into the secret passage. It wasn't until the door behind them closed that they gradually noticed something was wrong.
Concubine Ning, who should have followed them from the beginning, hadn't made a sound even after they had walked for a long time.
Seeing this, they couldn't help but look back. Sure enough, just as Zhao Jin had thought.
He looked at the butler, his anger rising.
"You should have brought her along."
The butler's lips twitched. He knew that the lady held a special place in his master's heart. However, thinking of what the lady had whispered to him just now, he endured his master's anger.
"Master, the lady has given instructions. With Du Heng outside, she won't be in any danger. Moreover, she wants to stay in the palace and wait for you to lead people back and catch Concubine Rui off guard. Now all our hopes are placed on you."
Zhao Jin's eyes were blood - red. He had lost his usual gentle and refined look.
"No, I can't just leave her behind. None of us can. If it weren't for her, we wouldn't have known what our younger sister had suffered in the palace. We of the Zhao family must never be ungrateful."
Saying this, he was about to rush back, but was pulled back by the others.
"Master, please listen to the lady this time. She did all this for our own good. If it weren't for her stalling the time outside, we might have been discovered by now."
Zhao Jin knew this truth well, but that woman had sacrificed too much for him.
He had always been an upright man and never owed anyone favors, except for that woman, to whom he owed countless debts.
Previously, in order to dispel the suspicions of the Western Region royal family, he had sent her into the palace to secure the status of the Zhao family. This time, she had helped rescue his younger sister, and he had left her in the most dangerous place.
The emotions that had been pent - up in his heart for years burst out at this moment, making those around him feel pity.
"Ah! Why can't I ever protect the people I want to protect? What's the use of being the head of the family then?"
He squatted on the ground and pounded the ground wildly with his fists until blood flowed from his hands. Only when those around him couldn't bear to watch did they pull him back.
"Jin'er, let's go quickly. We mustn't let the lady's sacrifice be in vain. The Zhao family will remember what she has done for us forever."
"Concubine Rui is extremely cruel, and there's also Qiao Meng who has no scruples. How can I feel at ease?"
For the first time, he didn't care that the person in front of him was his mother and roared loudly.
The old lady and the old master of the Zhao family had been childhood sweethearts and had come together because they loved each other. Naturally, she could understand how he felt and didn't blame him.