Chapter 535: Forcing the City Gate
Qian Fanji was reading a file when he heard the commotion and lifted the carriage curtain to look outside.
The horse had already galloped a great distance. The tiny figure bounced on its back, and in the blink of an eye, the horse rounded a corner and vanished from sight.
How could Qian Fanji possibly remain seated? He exited the carriage and leaped onto a horse.
Understanding his intention, a guard swiftly unhitched the horse from the carriage, and it bolted away.
"Young Master, I’ll go too..."
The guard hurriedly looked around for another horse.
In an instant, Ye Qianning, lying low on the horse’s back, reached the city gate. The search there hadn’t ended yet, and a long queue of people stretched out before her.
Sang Zhi had left the palace an hour ago. On a fast horse, he would already be twenty or thirty li away by now. She couldn’t afford to wait.
The horse’s pace slowed.
Ye Qianning stroked its mane with her small hand and whispered, "Charge through."
As if encouraged, the horse let out a sharp neigh and galloped past the queue of people.
The pedestrians waiting to leave the city saw only a blur as a horse flew past. Only after it had gone did they realize it was a swift steed.
The crowd began to scream, descending into chaos. People at the front of the line turned to look back. The horse was charging straight for the city gate, sending everyone scattering in terror.
The horse only plunged into the crowd when it was nearly at the gate, by which point most people had already cleared the way.
At the city gate, soldiers aimed their long spears at the madly charging horse.
The horse faltered for a moment, but then its spirit returned. It neighed even louder and charged toward the soldiers.
The soldiers’ figures reflected in Ye Qianning’s eyes. Clinging to the horse’s neck, she lifted her small head. Only then did the guards in the distance see that there was a child on its back.
"Sir, there’s a child on the horse’s back!"
"I don’t care what child it is! Forcing the city gate is a capital offense."
"The horse seems to have gone mad! The child is innocent. Sir, perhaps we should..."
"Silence! Anyone who forces the gate, no matter who they are, will be killed on sight."
The leader drew his longsword and slashed at the approaching horse.
Ye Qianning formed a knife-hand. Just as his longsword was about to cut into the horse’s belly, she swiftly snapped the blade at the hilt. The sharp, broken piece spun in the air before flying toward the lead officer.
The lead officer cried out in alarm, nearly getting stabbed by the broken blade. By the time he looked up, the horse had already charged through the city gate.
The dozen or so soldiers’ long spears lay scattered on the ground. Everyone was stunned; it had all happened so fast that no one knew what had occurred.
"Men, after them! Quickly!" the lead soldier shouted.
The soldiers finally snapped out of their daze, bending down to pick up their spears and leading their horses to give chase.
At the city gate, amidst the panicked crowd, Gu Yuan’s face was a mask of horror. He turned and pushed his way out of the throng. If he wasn’t mistaken, the child who had just charged through was the young lady of the Xiang family.
"Quickly, you all follow me out of the city," he called to the attendants of his merchant caravan behind him.
"What’s wrong, Young Proprietor?"
"Don’t ask. Just get out of the city first."
Gu Yuan had no time to explain. He ran toward the soldiers who were preparing to leave the city.
"Officer, wait a moment!" He stopped the soldiers who were about to give chase.
The soldiers guarding the gate all recognized members of the Gu family. Seeing him block their path, they didn’t attack. "Mr. Gu, if you delay us from capturing the culprit, you won’t be able to bear the responsibility."
"I don’t mean to obstruct you. I merely wish to accompany you, officers," Gu Yuan said as an attendant brought him a horse. He took the reins and mounted.
"Mr. Gu wants to come with us?"
"Officers, the child on that horse is General Xiang’s daughter! If anything happens to her, none of you will escape responsibility."
The lead officer was shocked to hear this. "Is she really General Xiang’s daughter?"