Bairan wasted no time, quickly gathering the blanket over the mattress and pulling down the curtains.
Baian, looking confused and sad, asked, "Bairan-jie... what are you doing?"
Bairan answered without stopping, "Trying to make the perfect escape plan." She pushed the table back to its place and held her hairstick in her palm before glancing back at him. "Baian, are you afraid of heights?"
Baian shook his head. "I fixed the teahouse roof tiles by myself."
Bairan smiled at him. "Well done." She glanced at the door, then at the window. "Did you see anyone when you came upstairs?"
Baian thought for a second. "Only Auntie Hua... she was going downstairs with a tray."
Bairan turned to the window and spoke to him, "Baian, we're going out through there."
Baian stepped forward and nodded. "Okay."
Bairan touched his shoulder. "You go first."
Baian climbed out the window and onto the roof.
Bairan placed her hairpin on the table, then followed him out and closed the window behind her.
Outside, everything was just as before. The cart full of hay and sacks was still there in the corner.
Bairan looked at Baian and pointed. "Do you see that cart?"
Baian nodded.
She asked seriously, "Can you jump on it?"
He nodded again.
She looked at him, half in disbelief. "Really...?"
"Of course, Bairan-jie," Baian said confidently. "It's not too high, and the cart is full of hay. We'll be fine."
Bairan swallowed nervously, peeking down. "Easy for you to say..."
Baian jumped first. Just like he said, he landed safely and even looked up with a proud grin.
Still standing on the roof, Bairan tried to convince herself, but her feet wouldn't move. She looked away, searching for another way down. Then, her eyes fell on the ropes tied to the sacks on the cart.
"Baian!" she called quickly. "Pull out those ropes and throw one up to me!"
Without asking why, Baian nodded. "Okay!"
From inside the building, a knock echoed through the room.
Bairan hissed urgently, "Hurry up...!"
Baian moved quickly, tossing the ropes up to her.
Without wasting a second, Bairan tied the ropes together tightly.
Another knock sounded on the door below
louder this time.
But she didn't stop.
She fastened the rope to the edge of the roof and gripped it firmly, her heart pounding in her chest.
Without looking down, she began to lower herself slowly, her hands clutching the rope like it was her only lifeline.
Just as her foot touched the ground, Bairan let out a breath of relief.
Baian rushed to her. "Bairan-jie!"
Bairan finally calmed down and took Baian's hand. "Let's go..."
The moment they disappeared into a narrow alley, a loud bang echoed from the room above.
The window was flung open with force.
The innkeeper's furious face appeared, his voice exploding through the air.
"Where did she go?! Where?!"
He clenched the hairstick with a trembling hand.
The teahouse owner burst into the room, breathless.
His round, sweaty face was red with anger.
"They escaped…" he panted.
The innkeeper shouted angrily, "Isn't this all because of your useless servant? You couldn't even keep an eye on a boy! And now—!"
The teahouse owner snapped back, "What about you?! She fooled you just as well! Didn't you say you gave her knockout food? Then why is she running around so energetically?!"
The innkeeper said irritably, "We don't have time to waste arguing. We need to find her quickly—Master Tong promised each of us twenty taels of silver. I'm not losing that because of your stupid servant!"
He stormed out of the room, and the teahouse owner muttered under his breath, "Mph… acting like he's so smart…"
He left the room as well.
Meanwhile, Bairan and Baian had gotten far from the inn.
Along the way, Bairan ask, "Do you know where the Lin family lives?"
Baian replies, "Yes, Bairan jie, I know it well."
Bairan thought to herself, If I really am one of the Lin family's daughters, I'll be recognised there very quickly
As they continued on their way.
But suddenly, Baian stopped in his tracks.
Bairan looked at him. "What's wrong…?"
Baian said with a trembling voice, "T-this…" He pointed ahead, toward a group of men loading sacks onto carts.
Near them stood a man dressed in high-quality clothing, giving instructions. Another man rushed over and whispered something in his ear. The well-dressed man's expression immediately changed.
Bairan looked at him, "What's wrong…?"
Baian said quietly, "He's… Master Tong."
Bairan wanted to change their route quickly, but it was already too late.
Master Tong narrowed his eyes and immediately recognised Baian.
He shouted, "Quickly—quickly! Arrest them! That's Uncle Mu's servant boy and that girl! Go after them, now!"
All the men ran after them.
They pushed through the crowd, shoving and weaving past people. Baian held tightly onto Bairan's hand as they ran.
Looking back, his face paled
"They're so close, Bairan-jie!" he cried.
Bairan shouted without turning her head, "Don't look back—run faster!"
But Baian, his eyes darting back in panic from time to time, suddenly pulled his hand free from hers.
"Go, Bairan-jie!" he yelled, stopping dead in his tracks and turning to face their pursuers. "I'll hold them off!"
Bairan, despite the shock, reacted instantly. "Baian—no!"
But he had already let go.
At that very moment, the thunder of hooves erupted from a side alley. A group of horsemen, riding at terrifying speed, galloped into their path—chasing another rider.
Baian, frozen by the sudden onslaught, was nearly trampled.
Bairan shoved him aside just in time. They both stumbled, crashing hard onto the dusty ground, pain shooting through her limbs. But there was no time for cries or hesitation.
Her eyes—sharp even in the chaos—caught a brief flash of a white horse and a flowing black hanfu.
She instantly recognized them.
It was the cold man, and beside him rode Hanyue, flanked by his familiar contingent of guards.
Without a second's hesitation, Bairan pushed herself up onto one knee. Her voice rang out through the thunder of hooves and the shouting of men.
"Sir… is your offer to help me still valid?"