Liu Xingyuan learned from the details that Lu Zuo had sold off his property in the past two days and was looking for good footwork. He knew that Lu Zuo intended to leave the capital, which made Liu Xingyuan even more uneasy. If Lu Zuo was still in the capital, everything would still be under his surveillance. Down, it doesn't pose much of a threat. If he leaves the capital, wouldn't it be like Long Fei Jiutian? If Lu Zuo ran back to his hometown in Fengji Mountain, Shanzhou, the consequences would be unimaginable.
So Liu Xingyuan decided to visit every day and take strict precautions to prevent Lu Zuo from running away. From the tenth day of the first lunar month to the thirteenth day of the first lunar month, Liu Xingyuan visited him again and again and repeatedly asked Lu Zuo to take up a post. Lu Zuo had no choice but to politely decline.
Liu Xingyuan visited Lu Zuo's house every morning after his morning court, and did not leave until dusk. This made Lu Zuo even more exhausted, but he was helpless.
It wasn't until the Lantern Festival that Lu Zuo finally fell ill and suffered from convulsions all over his body. After Yin Ji took medicine for his master, he got better. After a while, his whole body became hot and chilly again, and the whole house was in a state of panic.
When Liu Xingyuan left the court early, his chamberlain reported that Lu Zuo was seriously ill. Liu Xingyuan took it as Lu Zuo's excuse because he didn't want to see him. Liu Xingyuan didn't believe it and still ordered his chamberlain to prepare carriages and horses for the Lu Mansion.
At this time, only An Shiqing was left in the Lu family to receive Liu Xingyuan. Liu Xingyuan felt that Lu Zuo was a little neglectful and was dissatisfied. He repeatedly asked to see Lu Zuo to find out what happened.
An Shiqing said: "It's not that we don't allow Your Majesty to see my brother-in-law, but the way he looks now, it's really hard to see Your Majesty, for fear of disturbing the Holy Master!"
"It doesn't matter, Marshal Lu is a high-ranking official in my court. He is ill and the whole world is paying attention. I am here not only to care about Marshal Lu out of my original intention, but also to care about Marshal Lu on behalf of the people of the world. How can I say the word 'disturbing'?" "
An Shiqing had no choice but to lead Liu Xingyuan to the back bedroom to visit.
When Liu Xingyuan came to the door, he smelled a foul smell from a distance and couldn't help but cover his nose.
An Shiqing quickly explained: "Your Majesty, why don't you go back? My brother-in-law has been having vomiting and diarrhea since last night. I'm afraid your Majesty won't be able to bear it!"
Liu Xingyuan waved his sleeves in embarrassment, "It doesn't matter...it's important, Marshal Lu, let's go, General An will come in front!"
As soon as Liu Xingyuan entered the room, the stench became even more unpleasant, and he had no choice but to hold it back. Yin Ji and Jing Jingruo were busy wiping Lu Zuo's mouth and nose, but they couldn't bear it when they saw that the collapsed spittoon was full of filth. Look directly.
"Marshal Lu... Is he okay..." Liu Xing looked at him from a distance and asked carefully.
Lu Zuo was gushing at this time and couldn't answer his words at all. Yin Ji waved his hand and motioned for Liu Xingyuan to stand farther away, but he didn't have time to look at Liu Xingyuan.
Liu Xingyuan glanced at An Shiqing in a dilemma, "This..."
An Shiqing shook his head in frustration and made a gesture of invitation, and Liu Xingyuan left helplessly.
The Lu family was busy until late at night, and Lu Zuo got better. When they woke up, An Jingruo and Yin Ji were exhausted. When An Shiqing was about to ask everyone to go back to rest, Lu Zuo suddenly stopped the three of them. , "It seems that tonight is our last chance to leave the capital!"
An Shiqing was a little surprised, "You mean, you're leaving tonight?"
Lu Zuo nodded.
"But you're just a little bit old, and it's already late at night and it's starting to snow outside. Can you bear the trouble?" Jing Jingruo was very worried.
Lu Zuo shook his head, "If the weather is good, can we still leave? Liu Xingyuan has been coming to check in person these days, just because he is afraid that we will run away. We finally got him to let down his guard today, and now is the time."
Yin Jidao: "Master is right. I saw it today. Several of Liu Xingyuan's informants have gone back to celebrate the festival. They must all think that Master is seriously ill today. Today is the Lantern Festival, and there is heavy snow, so the guards on the tower are much less. Indeed, It's just the right time."
Jing Jingruo looked at her brother An Shiqing and said, "Brother, do you want to come with us?"
An Shiqing smiled slightly, "With a troubled sister like you and a sick brother-in-law, I can't take care of you!"
Jing Jingruo smiled and said, "Then I'll get my luggage."
"We can't waste time. Just grab the important things and leave immediately." Lu Zuo said decisively, "It's snowing heavily outside now, and too many things will be cumbersome."
After the four people packed up lightly, they chose to walk to the East Gate because they were afraid of disturbing the neighbors. Sure enough, there were guards at the city gate in twos and threes, shivering in the cold wind. The four of them did not dare to go out of the main gate. Yin Ji imitated a few dog barks to lure away the guards, then climbed up the stone steps to the city wall, then threw a rope outside the city, and the four of them descended along the rope.
At this time, the snow was up to the ankles, and it was still snowing heavily. Under the dim lights, a guard saw several figures moving on the crystal snow outside the city. At first, he didn't take it seriously, but when he gradually felt that something was wrong, he quickly Let the helpers light fireworks on the arrows and shoot them out of the city. At this time, the figure had a shot. The rocket streaked across, followed by fire. The guards on the city saw clearly that they were indeed four people walking hard in the snow.
There was a gong sound on the tower, and a dozen guards who were sleeping soundly in the duty bedroom on the tower stood up in a hurry, put on their armor randomly, rushed into the simple stable at the base of the city wall one after another, mounted their horses, and followed the order to pursue them.
It was snowing heavily, and the horses could not take advantage of it in the snow. Some of the fast horses fell into the snow and struggled to get up. The dozen or so guards could not run more than a few hundred meters, and they were all panting from exhaustion.
The leader of the squad was a little discouraged. After scolding a few times, he ordered his men to go back to the city. A deputy quickly dissuaded him: "Boss, I don't know who these four thieves are. If they are the people the emperor wants to pay attention to, they will be in trouble." ”
The squad leader said angrily: "What the hell, are they so stupid to run out in such a cold weather and such a heavy snowstorm?"
"Yes, with such a heavy snowstorm, why would ordinary people risk their lives to climb over the high wall so late? So it is very likely that those people wanted by the emperor are escaping. Now our people must have gone to the city to inquire about it. When they get the news, we will It depends on the situation." The deputy chuckled, "If we go back now, if those people really run away, I'm afraid we won't all have a good life."
"But now it's snowing heavily, and the thief's footprints have been covered up by the wind and snow. Where can I find them?"
"It's easy to handle. We can just walk around here and waste time while waiting for news from the city. We won't be accused of not fulfilling our responsibilities."
A group of men and horses were moving forward slowly in the heavy snow. Just as everyone was moving forward at will, suddenly one of his subordinates shouted, "There is a figure in the southeast." Several guards held their torches high, and sure enough, there seemed to be a figure just a stone's throw away.
"Chase……"
