Chapter 617 - Chapter 617: Interrogation

Chapter 617: Interrogation

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Today, Qirui Garden was closed for business. Liu Qirui had long cleared out all the unrelated people. The few people who could still stay in the theater could be trusted.

Yu Niaoniao asked, “Is everything ready?”

Liu Sixing quickly replied, “I’m ready. Look!”

Yu Niaoniao looked in the direction she was pointing and saw a dark coffin in the backyard.

Liu Qirui stood beside the coffin with his three disciples. They were all dressed in mourning clothes, looking like they were about to mourn.

In order to make their performance more realistic, they had even smoked their eyes with chili in advance. Now their eyes were red and swollen. They looked like they had cried out of grief.

Liu Sixing pushed open the coffin lid. “Time is limited and I can’t custom-make a coffin. I can only ask you to make do first.’

Seeing this scene, Xiao Juan already understood that they planned to disguise themselves as a funeral procession and sneak out of the city.

This was a good idea, but it was hard to say if it would succeed.

Now that they had no better idea, they could only try their best.

Xiao Juan did not hesitate and crawled into the coffin with Yu Niaoniao.

Liu Sixing said to them, “After the coffin is closed, it should be very stuffy inside. Bear with it for the time being. You’ll be fine when you leave the city.” Yu Niaoniao nodded. “I know. Thank you so much this time.”

Liu Sixing smiled in embarrassment. “It’s all thanks to you that our opera troupe can make a comeback. Previously, you were the ones protecting us.

Now, it’s our turn to help you.”

She carefully closed the coffin.

Liu Qirui carried the coffin with his disciples and left the theater through the back door.

Liu Sixing was wearing white linen clothes and walking in front with the memorial tablet in one hand. She covered her mouth with the other and cried until she was out of breath, performing the role of a widow who had just lost her husband vividly.

In order not to be recognized by an acquaintance, the five of them had dressed carefully. They looked very different from usual.

There were many pedestrians on both sides of the street who stopped to watch,

but no one recognized them as the people from Qirui Garden.

Many soldiers could still be seen by the roadside. They were searching around with portraits.

Some soldiers noticed the funeral procession. They took the portraits forward to compare them and realized that the five people who were in the procession were not the people they were looking for, so they released them.

The funeral procession arrived near the city gate safely.

Because everyone who left the city had to be strictly interrogated, the speed at which they left the city was greatly reduced.

At this moment, there was already a long line in front of the city gate.

The funeral procession stood at the end of the line.

They moved slowly forward with the line.

Seeing that they were getting closer and closer to the city gate, Liu Sixing, Liu Qirui, and the others could not help but worry.

Especially when they saw the person standing in front of the city gate clearly, they became even more panicked.

In order to capture Xiao Juan, not only were the people from the Imperial Capital and the city defense camp transferred away, but even the Sky Wolf Guards had no choice but to help.

Coincidentally, the people on duty at this city gate were the Sky Wolf Guards.

The leader was the Vice General of the Sky Wolf Guards, Wei Liao.

He sat in his chair, crossed his legs, and sipped his tea leisurely. He looked relaxed.

The Sky Wolf Guards were not as free as him. All of them were fully armed and were 120% focused as they carefully interrogated everyone who left the city.

Not only did everyone who left the city have to take out the citations, but they also had to compare the portraits one by one.

Anyone who was found to have resemblance to the portrait had to be taken down on the spot.

Liu Sixing was not afraid of anything else, but that Wei Liao would bump into her.

If Wei Liao discovered their identities, they would be finished!

Liu Sixing was filled with regret.

If they had known that they would meet Wei Liao here, they wouldn’t have walked through this city gate!

But turning around and leaving now would definitely arouse suspicion.

She could only pray silently that Wei Liao wouldn’t recognize them.

The people in front left the city one by one. Finally, it was the funeral procession’s turn.

In the coffin, Yu Niaoniao could not help but hold Xiao Juan’s hand.

Xiao Juan held her tightly and comforted her silently.

The conversation outside kept coming into the coffin.

“What are your names? What are you doing out of the city? Take out your travel passes.”

“My surname is Liu. This is my travel pass. Although my husband came to the capital to buy goods, he suddenly contracted an evil illness and unfortunately died. I could only buy a coffin at the last minute and bring my husband’s corpse back to my hometown with my servants for a good burial. Only then can I be considered to have returned to my roots. I hope you can make it easy for me.”

Liu Sixing cried as she spoke. As she handed over the pass, she also handed over a banknote.

When the Sky Wolf Guard took the banknotes, he quickly glanced in Wei Liao’s direction. Seeing that Wei Liao was looking elsewhere and did not notice his movements, the Sky Wolf Guard familiarly put the banknotes into his sleeve and his attitude softened slightly.

“We’re all under orders. We didn’t mean to make things difficult for you.”

Then, he took out the portrait and walked forward with another Sky Wolf Guard to compare Liu Qirui and his three disciples.

The four of them were not similar to Xiao Juan in the portrait at all.

The Sky Wolf Guards put away the portrait.

Liu Sixing secretly heaved a sigh of relief.

She thought that would be fine, but Wei Liao stood up at this moment.

He walked slowly to Liu Sixing and looked her up and down.

Liu Sixing’s heart jumped into her throat.

She lowered her head, her body stiff. She didn’t even dare breathe.

The Sky Wolf Guard beside him hurriedly asked, “Sir, do you know this woman?”

Wei Liao didn’t answer directly.

He placed his hands behind his back and strolled to the coffin. He spoke suddenly.

“Open it and take a look.”

Liu Sixing immediately panicked.

She wanted to stop him, but she was afraid that Wei Liao would see through her identity, so she did not dare to speak rashly. Liu Qirui and his disciples were also frightened.

They froze in place, afraid to move.

The Sky Wolf Guards immediately surrounded them, planning to open the coffin on the spot.

At the critical moment, Liu Qirui suddenly shouted.

“There’s no need for you to do anything. Leave such rough work to me.”

With that, he rolled up his sleeves and took the initiative to push open the coffin lid.

When Wei Liao heard his voice, he looked at him twice.

A corner of the coffin was pushed open. Liu Qirui bowed and said, “My master died of illness. He didn’t look good when he died. Please forgive me if I frightened you.”

Wei Liao took a step forward and looked down.

Two living people lay in the coffin.

Xiao Juan hugged Niaoniao tightly in his arms. The two of them were staring at Wei Liao without blinking.

Their eyes met.

Wei Liao could not help but be stunned.

He subconsciously wanted to call someone over, but he saw Niaoniao’s eyes fill with tears and her lips open and close slightly.

Although she didn’t make a sound, it was obvious from the way her mouth moved that she was saying— “Please..”