Chapter 117 - Criminals

Wei Liuying was listening while working on the chain. Her eyes were cold. "Don't you have any countermeasure?"

"None."

"Your plan before?"

"It's failed even before we can execute the plan," Wei Lu replied. He looked over to Wei Liuying with his eyes shone in sadness. "I don't want to say this, but your uncle is actually very stupid too. I can't believe that I mistook the Second Prince to be the one closest to the throne and chose to support him but failed in the process."

Clank!

Wei Liuying had finished with one and stood up. In truth, she had met with His Highness the Second Prince, Prince Ji Shao Yang, before. He was giving off dangerous aura that wouldn't lose even when she compared it against Ji Shu. Hence, she knew that if the second prince had the chance, he would surely make his move to get the throne.

Unfortunately, his attempt was cut by Prince Ji Shu.

"The conquest to obtain the throne is always filled with blood and stabbing knives. From the moment one decided to partake in the road, one had to be prepared to face anything. Nothing is certain in the game of power," Wei Liuying said calmly.

Wei Lu nodded weakly. He perfectly understood what Wei Liuying said. Taking sides were risky but if they managed to side with the correct one from early stage, they would be able to get higher status when the person they supported turned out to be the winner.

However, if they picked the wrong one, they would be doomed to die.

Right now, Wei Lu no longer looked as confident as he was in the past. He had defined feature and looked a bit older than his real age suggest him, but this time, he looked much older. It seemed that the failure and the long court time had worn him out.

"Scheming is very tiring, Liuying. I truly wished that you can be able to live without the need to think and scheme all the time," Wei Lu whispered. The blow he took this time had taken a huge toll. When Prince Ji Shu made his move, Wei Lu felt as if he was pushed to the corner with no chance to fight back at all.

It was so frustrating.

Wei Liuying chose not to comment. She herself knew how tiring it was to be careful in her every action. There was no time for her to rest in her residence because even a split second mistake could make them have to pay the ultimate price. 

"We're going out now, Uncle. Please follow me."

"I understand."

Wei Lu heaved a sigh and started to follow Wei Liuying. When he was thrown here, he never had any intention to escape. But now that the opportunity came, he wanted to stay alive. His fighting spirit and desire to fight was ignited once more.

Even if he could no longer live as Wei Lu, he still wanted to live.

Wei Liuying led him out. When they bypassed the other prison rooms, Wei Liuying stopped and began to work on the chain. Wei Lu was stunned speechless.

"Liu… this?"

"We need diversion. Unless you know how to get out without making any commotion, I'll follow you, Uncle."

Wei Lu could see the determination within Wei Liuying's eyes. The people who were placed here were all the officials who were on Prince Ji Shao Yang's side. They were all going to die soon if they didn't do anything.

He couldn't possibly let them die too.

Even if they would only end up as diversion and might get captured again, at least, they were given the chance to escape too. 

He gritted his teeth and began to work on the other chain and locks by borrowing a hairpin. Since he was the one who taught Wei Liuying, naturally he knew how to pick lock too.

These people here were all the officials who were framed by the Fourth Prince. If they all tried to get out, wouldn't it be chaotic?

"Old Wei, this…"

"Get out now. There's ruckus from the bandits on the north, so most of the guards are not here," Wei Liuying ordered.

The word 'bandit' stunned both Wei Lu and the official. They knew very well that the bandits were the Emperor's biggest worry. Unfortunately, the flooding Huang River only made things even more difficult for them because it increased the number of refugee and also people who turned into bandits.

There were so many of them around the capital city.

"How did you make them create chaos?"

"I didn't," Wei Liuying replied. "It's someone's else doing."

Wei Lu was suspicious, but he knew better than trying to pry for more information. With the officials getting out of the prisons, they created more noise in the place. Guards were coming there and tried to stop them but to no avail.

All of them were sentenced to death the next day, what would they were afraid of?

This was the only way they could save their small life, so they would seize the chance to the best of their ability. They would never let themselves be defeated so easily in this place and worked hard for their freedom.

Some of them have little hope that they would be able to clear their names.

As long as they have enough time, they could even hide themselves and tried to change their identities. Even though the live of a noble was impossible, they didn't want to die yet. Only some loyal officials stayed in their cells and unwilling to leave. They had resigned to their fates and refused to leave.

"Uncle, are you angry with me?" Wei Liuying asked in a low voice when she was opening the last door.

Wei Lu shook his head. Even in the darkness, he could see that Wei Liuying's hands were working even faster than before. "I don't have any family members aside from you. Even if I can only live as a criminal, I'll find a way to clear up my name. If the one who succeed the throne in the future is not His Highness the Fourth Prince, I'll have a chance to restore my name and position."

"His Highness the First Prince will not let the matter settle peacefully," Wei Liuying said calmly.

"True. You've become an outlaw too. Are you not worried that it'll affect your future?"

Wei Liuying looked at her uncle and smiled bitterly. "What kind of future I have in that residence, Uncle? I have already planned to run away, so this is also convenient."

Runaway and criminal.

The two of them no longer have any identity that could provide them with place to stay in Han Shi Kingdom Capital City peacefully anymore. Even though the circumstances were different, they were both chased by the guards.

Clank!

"Let's go."

"Yes."

The guards were already in chaos because of the officials. Some of them learnt martial arts and those who were young were very energetic. When Wei Liuying began to make her move, she directly used her bow and arrow.

Dzing!

Jleb!

Hitting the area between the armors, the arrow could create bigger damage to the guards in the area. Wei Liuying didn't really want to make commotion, but sneaking out undetected was impossible with so many guards around.

Besides, with releasing everyone, it would be harder which one was the real target.

Everyone was put on suspicious person's list.

Clang!

Wei Lu took the guard's sword and began to make his way out. He was better in martial arts compared to study too, so this was actually more convenient for him. With this, he would be able to get out of the area.

Along with many other officials, they began to attack the guards at the gate. Sounds of metal clashing reverberated in the area.

Clang! Clang!

The guards were busy fighting against the guards in front of them. Those who were still young could move better as they snatched the weapon from the guards and ran away. After this, they wouldn't be able to return back anymore.

Whether it was better than dying in vain, no one knew.

Looking up, Wei Liuying furrowed her brows when she noticed that the commander was not in place. He was just up there not long ago, ordering the soldier to keep their vigilance. Where did he go?

'He might be called to the north wall.'

Wei Liuying had switched to her knife and killed the guards. Her eyes were calm even as the body fell in front of her. She frowned when she noticed that reinforcement was coming. "We should leave now."

"Ok."

Other officials seemed to realize that something bad was happening. Upon seeing the guards coming, they also chose to abandon the thought of continuing attacking and merely making their escape on the dark alley. Even if they were already criminals, they would be able to use some of their previous connections to grant them a safe place to stay for the time being.