Chapter 198 - The Sudden Fire 3

Yu'an Temple hours before the fire

Chen Yao lay on her side on the slim straw mat eyes locked on the locked door at the other end of the room. Her entire body felt sore with her wrist and ankle bearing the most pain, after fours of painful questioning she was finally returned to her cell but her maid was not so lucky. Her stomach hurt as her worms began to attack the walls of her stomach in search of food.

Chen Yao held her stomach only to soak in am some breath as she felt a jab at her side from the painful ministrations of her abductors. She couldn't take any more of their questioning considering that the only way out of the constant questioning was to reveal her biggest secrets. Chen Yao was left with no other choice but to think of a way to escape.

She had observed her abductors and based on her observations, apart from the masked man always dressed in black that sat in on her "Questioning" in the dark overseeing the other two guards who questioned her. She had never seen the person behind her abduction but she suspected that whoever it was visited regularly. The masked man often left the room during her questioning to report to whoever was behind this.

The masked man was usually present in the room but he had been noticeably missing since yesterday. Some days he was absent for hours only to come back later, when she hadn't seen the masked man for hours, Chen Yao decided to go forward with her plan and convince one of the guards to let her out. It has been over an hour since she had done that and she was yet to get an answer.

Chen Yao sat up as she heard the locks at the door pull away loudly, her heartbeat increased as she looked expectantly at the door. She hissed angrily as the heavy wooden door was pushed open from the outside and instead of the guard as she had expected. Her foolish maid was kicked into the room, Liang looked worse to wear. She had been subjected to a more painful treatment than she was. 

Chen Yao watched the petite girl roll to her side and bend into a protective position. She glanced toward the open door and came face to face with the guard she had approached. The guard pulsed his lips and said, "young Misstress Chen, you better get the silver ready because I am breaking you out today. It is the only chance we will get since my boss is out of town".

Chen Yao heart lifted as soon as she heard that, she nodded happily. The guard threw a bag of hot buns to her before shutting the door and stepping out to the hallway. A few hours later a fire broke out at the coal room close by and spread gradually to the meditation room and two other prayer rooms close by.

While everyone sampled to put out the fire, the guard rushed into the room and helped Chen Yao out. Before leaving, Chen Yao shock her maid awake, she felt bad leaving her to suffer here and decided to help Liang since she was partly responsible for her current situation. The guard led them through many intricately designed smoky hallways.

The fire made the hallways hot and smoky, Chen Yao covered her nose and mouth with the sleeves of her gown as they ran towards the exit. They stood back while the guards climbed up the stairs and unlocked the wooden door. He got out first before holding out his hands and helping them out. 

The exit opened up at the other side of the temple, a bit far from where the fire ranged on. The sent of ash filled the air. Chen Yao and Liang on a tree branch and caught their breath. Chen Yao took the emergency silver coins she always carried out of her inner clothes and threw them to the guard who helped them out. " Here you go," she said leaning back on the tree 

The Guard caught the pouch mid-air. He pulled on the ties holding the pouch closed and opened the small pouch. The pouch felt heavy one could hear a jiggle of metal hitting metal. He poured out the content onto his opened palm, counting each coin as they fell. In the end, he counted forty pieces of new-minted silver coins. His lips curved up and he returned the coins into the pouch before putting the couch into his tunic. He glanced at the two girls leaning on the tree trunk, "this is forty-five pieces short of the agreed amount".

Chen Yao opened her eyes and replied, " I have been stuck in there for days, I don't have much on you. This is the only money on me right now, don't worry, I will give you the rest once I am settled". She looked around, "I don't know my way out, I need to get back to Jiang mansion. Please lead the way".

The guard snared at her, "lead the way for just Forty pieces of new silver? That is not even close to half. Forty pieces of silver get you out of the cell, the rest is left to you. I already did a lot by getting you out of your prison even with all the risks. Have my money in eight days" he dusted his shirts and trousers before leaving. He didn't bother looking back at her and just continued out of the vicinity completely ignoring her cries 

"No! Hold on! You cannot just leave me out he!" She cried out standing up for the tree trunk. She ran after him, only to watch him jump over the wall. "Ahh! That thug!" She stumped her feet multiple times while waving her hands, the sound of soft footsteps and Liang's voice made her pause, "there is a fire out there mistress, a lot of people must be trying to put out the fire. If we get closer to where people are, we might be able to get some help from someone".

Chen Yao glanced towards the noisy scene up ahead and them at her maid's lean face, "why didn't I think of that! Less go" she grabbed Liang's hands and pulled her toward the other end of the small garden. They saw a lot of monks and servants running around as they got closer. They all ran with buckets of water to put out the fire.

Amidst the running around and noise, no one noticed two unkempt looking girls walk past them. They kept moving, finally stopping as Chen Yao caught sight of a familiar slim tale male seated on a wheeled chair. Chem Yao stooped moving for a few seconds as she silently contemplated asking the Crown Prince for help. She searched around with her eyes but found no other person but him.

Chen Yao took in a breath and let it out before walking towards him. The guards who stood behind the Crown Prince came forward and pulled up his sword as they got closer.

He glanced down at them in disgust, "Stand back!"

Chen Yao ignored the disgusted guard and fell on her knees. As far as she was concerned the guard was as insignificant as they come, as far as she got the Crown Prince's pity she was safe. She had heard a few things about the Crown Prince from Zhu Faye during her time with him and understood the kind of person he was. 

"Your Highness, please save me. I was captured by some bad people. I need to get back home!" She cried, holding on to his coat. 

Zhongshan Ling frowned slightly as he looked down at the weeping girl, he was surprised to come face to face with a familiar face. 'Isn't this my younger female cousin, old master Tong introduced me to her at the royal banquet a few months earlier ', he thought. He immediately remembered that she had been introduced as his mothers younger sister's only child. He had been informed that she was leaving with her godmother.

"Aren't you Chen Yao? How come you are here?" He asked.

Fu Lang stood back and glanced properly at the kneeling girl as soon as he heard that. Old master won't have informed him about this cousin of his Highness, specifically of his plans to make her an imperial concubine to represent the Tong family.

Chan Yao was surprised to hear the Crown Prince mention this name. She has no idea that the owner of this body was familiar with the Crown Prince. "Since she is familiar with him, I can use their relationship to my advantage', she thought. 

"Your Highness, remembers me. Oh thank merciful Buddha, please help me, your highness. I have been locked up here by bad men, please get me out of here!"

"You were locked up in here?" Zhongshan Ling asked and received a nod. He glanced at Fu Liang in question, Fu Liang shook his head indicating that he had no idea that there was anyone kept against their will.. Zhongshan Ling glanced down at her tear-filled face and sighed "You are my maternal cousin, I won't leave you here to suffer"/ he glanced at Fu Liang, "help Miss Chen up, we are leaving".