Ran Yan silently thought, "Ladies, I entrust my child to you!"
With gritted teeth, she lifted her skirt and, crouching low, quietly backed away from the path, following the direction in which the men in black had taken Wu Mei Niang and Li Zhi.
Fearing that the two men in black might drag Wu Mei Niang and Li Zhi to a nearby corner, Ran Yan dared not pursue them too hastily, instead concealing herself while keeping watch over her surroundings.
Fortuitously, the palace grounds were swept of fallen leaves every few hours, so walking made no noise. Ran Yan looked down and saw that the stone path ahead had ended, giving way to a wooden bridge. She hesitated for a moment before cautiously stepping onto it.
Leaves in the water gently made ripples, and the quiet was as if there were no living creatures around.
