[ PLEASE READ AUTHOR'S NOTE BELOW BEFORE READING. ]
The heavy iron door of the storage room opened with a long creak. Outside, the late afternoon sun was starting to set, casting orange light and long shadows across the yard. In the distance, the sounds of the banquet had already begun people laughing, drinking wine, and playing music.
Inside the dim room, Wei Meilan knelt on the dirt floor, holding her two children, A-Bao and A-Ling, as tight as she could.
"We don't have much time," Fu Sheng said quietly, his voice firm. "An Li, help her up. We need to escape through the eastern wall."
Before An Li could grab the children's hands, the heavy sound of marching boots echoed down the stone alley outside. Armed guards were heading straight toward them.
"They aren't in the north hallway!" a angry voice shouted from outside. "Check the storage rooms! Master Bao said no one leaves alive!"
