A month flew by in the blink of an eye. The crown prince would often visit Ying Yue, only to get rejected and turned away at the door. Ying Yue would remain hidden inside the rose palace as she awaited the day all the royals would be out of the palace. As Ying Yue stared out the window from inside her room, she hears a sudden knock that snapped her out of her daydreaming.
"Knock Knock."
"My lady, it's me."
"Come in, Su Ru."
Su Ru props the doors open and walks in with a pair of new clothing and accessories.
"What's the meaning of this?"
"Eh....the crown prince ordered me to bring it to you. He's asked for you to dress up in this tomorrow and send him off properly as he leaves to go hunt."
"Hah, he has plenty of concubines for that. Why me?"
"Well.....rumors have spread throughout the kingdom that the crown prince's now has a new favorite concubine and has forsaken the crown princess."
Ying Yue sits down on her chair and leans onto the table as she rubs her forehead in irritation. She had wanted to avoid drawing in as much attention as possible as she planned her escape to Jianxiang.
"Do people know what I look like?"
"Hmm.....no, no one outside the palace should know. I mean since you're pregnant I'm assuming the crown prince was going to wait for you to give birth first before showing you to the citizens of Xinjing."
"Hah.....all the more reasons I need to leave before that happens. It won't be long before I start showing. Su Ru, have you done what I asked you to?"
"Yes, my lady. I was able to get a token to leave after saying I needed to visit the head lady at the orphanage. I was able to find a merchant that's planning to leave two days from today. It's a small family of a husband and wife and their two children. I offered them what you gave me and promised more once we got to Jianxiang."
"Good! I knew I could count on you!"
Ying Yue made sure to make use of her short time. Once her morning sickness got better, she had Su Ru go into town to seek out merchants. Money was not an issue as well as the consorts and concubines were given monthly allowances to spend.
"Leave the dress here. It's getting late, you may start bringing in dinner."
"Yes, my lady."
Once Su Ru was out of sight, Ying Yue grabs hold of the dress and glances at it. It was a beautiful dress indeed. A white dress with mint colored leaves and flowers was sewed onto the front and back of the dress. Rolling her eyes, Ying Yue rolls the dress up and tosses it in a corner of the room. Ying Yue decided she was not going to participate in seeing the crown prince and his family off. Making her way to her bed, Ying Yue pulls out her sword and brushes her hand on the beautiful engravings on the scabbard. After sitting around and cleaning her sword for fifteen minutes, Su Ru finally returned with food.
"My lady, I'm back."
Su Ru lays out the plates of food in front of Ying Yue. Once again, there were more and more food every time.
"Goodness, does he think I'm a pig?"
"Pfff...ha ha my lady, I don't think that's the case."
"Come help me eat Su Ru. You've been busy lately so I know you haven't had much time to rest or eat properly."
"My lady! I can't do that! What if someone saw?"
It's alright, and it's an order from me. If anyone wants to punish you they need to go through me first."
Su Ru lightly nods her head and seats herself across from Ying Yue. With the windows and doors closed, Ying Yue leans in and motions for Su Ru to do so as well.
"Su Ru, is the crown princess heading off as well?"
"Hmm....the crown princess hasn't officially married the crown prince yet so she's not of royal status yet. It will only be the crown prince, the second prince, his majesty, the queen and the first consort only."
"If my gut feeling is right, she's going to be an issue once the prince is gone. Oh! I almost forgot to ask! How long will they be out hunting?"
"Usually a week I believe. That also depends if they can catch anything. If they don't it can be as long as three weeks."
"Good! Let's hope that's the case."
"My lady are you sure we'll really be able to leave?"
"Of course!"
Ying Yue made sure to check if the content from the scroll she found were accurate. To her surprise there really was a hidden passage behind the library that was covered in overgrown bushes now. Ying Yue has tried numerous times to visit the cold palace, only to be turned away. As she continued to eat, an idea finally clicked in her head.
"Ah! Su Ru! That's it!"
"Wha....what? My lady, what is it?"
Ying Yue springs up from her chair and grabs Su Ru by her shoulders. With a grin on her face, and hope beaming in her eyes. Ying Yue finally thought of a way to get to the cold palace.
"Su Ru! You said the crown princess isn't going right?!"
"Uh....that's right, my lady."
"Perfect! I just need to somehow annoy the crown princess enough to the point where she throws me into the cold palace! She's able to, right?!"
"Well....yes, considering her status and the fact that she'll be the only one left inside the palace with any authority. Are you sure it'll work?"
"Heh, I just need to annoy her enough. After the crown prince leaves tomorrow, i'm sure I'll be the first one she pays a visit to."
Ying Yue and Su Ru spent the rest of the night laughing and enjoying their dinner as they continue to talk about escaping Xinjing.
With the sun finally rising and the birds chirping outside her bedroom window. Ying Yue finally forces herself to get up and get ready. As much as she didn't want to see the crown prince off; if she wanted to annoy the crown princess, Ying Yue knew she needed to act the part of a caring concubine.
"Knock Knock."
"Come in."
"Greetings, my lady. I hope you got some rest. I'm here to get you ready. The royal family and their hunting army will be setting off soon."
"Alright....keep it simple."
"Yes, my lady."
Su Ru dressed Ying Yue up in the dress she had received the day before from the crown prince. With light makeup and hair accessories in placed, Ying Yue was ready. With no time to spare; Su Ru motions for Ying Yue to hurry.
"Hurry, my lady. Everyone is at the front of the palace gates already."