"You guys... No way!"
Zhu Youdun and Hu Nayin also twitched in surprise. "Liu Changshi... and Wu Qi?!..."
With the twilight sky getting darker as the background scenery, Zhu Su's two loyal subordinates were standing before him. Their hair was messy, their clothes were shabby, and their faces looked drowsy, however they appeared so delightful. They now bowed down, paid their respects.
"We're so glad to see you in a fit and healthy condition, Your Highness," Wu Qi said happily.
Smiling broadly, Liu Ku continued, "We were almost hopeless, assuming that we won't be able to find you and Shi Zi. Thank Heaven, our fear is not proven."
"How can you two come here?" Zhu Su was still open-mouthed when he asked. "And... how do you know we are here?"
"You must be informed, of course, that the government forces suddenly came and ravaged the medical center while you and Shi Zi were going for a walk?" Inside the room, near to the warm fireplace, Wu Qi began the story.
Zhu Su nodded. "Yes, Nayin has informed me. But nothing we know about all of you."
"It was so scary." Hu Nayin held her arms together, getting frightened as she remembered at the incident.
"They were coming in such a massive scale, they arrested almost everyone at the medical center, and even the patients. They use the excuse that the patients are willing to get the treatment from "The Rebels from Yunnan", and hence it automatically means that they support the rebellion against the government. We were all taken to prison and locked up there," Wu Qi continued.
"Darn them." Zhu Su balled his fist, infuriated.
Wu Qi continued again, "And they also tortured us to get information about your whereabouts."
Wu Qi and Liu Ku rolled up their arms, and they could see pitiful scars on their skins. Not only sad, Zhu Su felt his temper rose in a sudden, very angry with his enemies who were so sadistic and ruthless.
"But you didn't tell them, did you?" Hu Nayin asked.
"Of course not! We may die, but we won't betray our lord!" Wu Qi shouted furiously.
"But they were quickly fed up with our stubbornness, they didn't torture us anymore. Our perseverance had managed to scare them," Liu Ku smiled triumphantly.
"But if so, how could the soldiers chase us to the Taoist Temple?"
Liu Ku's eyebrows drew together, he looked perplexed. "Really? They found your whereabouts?"
"That's why we must flee abroad. Twice we had been chased by the government soldiers; first was at the Taoist Temple, and the second was when we were at Mogaung."
Liu Ku and Wu Qi looked at each other.
"Maybe Changshi has a guess about the betrayers from our side?" Wu Qi asked.
Liu Ku thought for a while. "They captured quite a lot at that time. The prison was also very horrific and sometimes they didn't give food to the prisoners. The commoners who were starving in prison were surely yearning for freedom and getting their stomach full to the extent that they could do everything."
Wu Qi sighed. "But thank Heaven, you all don't get captured by those bastards!..."
"Then how could you finally escape from prison?" Zhu Su had been so curious about this part.
"Traitors aren't only on our side. There is also a traitor in their side."
"Someone has helped you to get out? Who?"
"I'm not so sure about that. They have such a very neat structure; maybe they are afraid of getting caught, and that's how they protect themselves, just in case we get caught by the enemy."
"You don't know who has released you?" Zhu Youdun scratched his head, confused by Liu Ku's absurd explanation.
"There was a sudden calling from above, "Your food is coming!" Then the jailers went up and got absent for quite a long time. A few moments later, a person dressing in black appeared in front of our cell. Even his face was covered fully in black so we had no idea about his identity. He could open prison locks in a highly skillful way, and it was the same he did when releasing the handcuffs that chained our hands. He did not speak even a word, but from the glance at his eyes and gestures, we were sure that he was releasing us, that he was taking us to leave here immediately. But we didn't have much time after all. We bowed respectfully to him to express our thanks, we also did it quietly, and then ran away as soon as possible," Wu Qi said at length.
"And more amazing, the prison outside was also clean from the jailers. They knew for sure how to take care of the jailers," Liu Ku chuckled in admiration.
"So only two of you who were released by the anonymous..." Zhu Su nid-nodded. "Then, how do you know that we are here? Ava is very far from Yunnan, after all?"
"After that, we search the information from our friends, including those who live in Shan States, Lan Xang, Nhà Hồ, and Tibet. Liu Changshi guesses that you must flee abroad to save your lives. He makes the right guess. We soon heard that there was the "Outstanding Physicians from Ming" who were great at handling Shan States soldiers who got injured on the battlefield. We went there, but it's too late, you did not dwell in there anymore."
"Yes. Enemy soldiers set an ambush, and even worse, they mixed with Ming soldiers who seemingly were looking for us," Zhu Youdun replied. "Political intrigue is even more chaotic. I never thought that Yunwen is eager to conquer Shan!"
"Isn't that great? Kill two birds in one stone? They can conquer Shan, and they also manage to arrest us," Zhu Su gave a lopsided grin. "Then, how do you know that we are in Ava?"
"After we reach this point, we are like venturing wild bushes full of conjecture. Everything is full of speculation. Liu Changshi suspects, because Ms. Hu has once treated the Princess of Ava, she must have close relation with the country so that it's easy for you to seek asylum there. That's why we come here. We know that you live here because we saw you, Ms. Hu and Shi Zi was often in and out of here."
"Such a bold speculation. Actually, we didn't plan to go to Ava, we just ran away as far as we could, in order not to get caught by the enemy, that's all. And by chance we heard that the Queen Dowager of Ava falls sick, so by using her connection Nayin then introduces me to treat the Queen Dowager."
"But thank Heaven, the speculation is totally correct," Liu Ku smiled. "Ava King must appreciate you so much, moreover you are a prince."
"I don't tell him my true identity. I lie to him, that I am an orphan drifter, own no status and possess nothing, no more than a hermit who has alienated himself from society."
"Ah, well, that's right, you can't reveal your identity since it's very dangerous..."
"And besides, I am fed up with living in a chaotic political life!"