'What?'

Bai Meili lovingly stroked my cheeks. Her eyes were red because she had been crying. "His Majesty the Emperor didn't die. Colluding with the Duke of Hebei in an attempt of assassination to His Highness Nan King, the emperor ordered to have you and your father arrested."

'What?'

She paused. "The royal guards are coming. We need to flee, fast."

I stopped her from dragging me. "How about Fūqìn?"

'Mother of Pearls!' I didn't know that the plot was rapidly progressing when I was in my dreamland. After the poisoning scene, there should be another two days before the fall of the Left Prime Minister House.

"Your father is waiting for us. We will meet at Kulian Dock. Come. We don't have time."

At the southern exit of the manor, two carriages were waiting for us.

"Xin'er, hurry." Bai Meil's voice was full of anxiety.

The carriage went in full speed. 'Mother of–.' I planted myself in the wall like a scared fugly lizard.

The feeling of the need to throw up had started. 'Again? [email protected] carriages!'

The fast and repeated movement of the carriage made my stomach turned. When I ended up feeling dizzy and sick, Jin'er let me leaned on her shoulder. I closed my eyes in attempt of relieve the discomfort I'm feeling. I took deep breaths as Bai Meili instructed.

"Xin'er, endure a little bit okay? Take a deep breath."

"Madam! S-someone's here!"

When I opened my eyes, I saw Bai Meili peeked from the window, she shouted: "Faster! Drive faster! Don't just freeze there!"

My hands instinctively clutched at my skirt, preparing myself for the next plot.

"Hiyah!"

'The escaping villainess plot is finally here!'

Unlike the first time, (where I got scared silly by Li Nian) I was more in control of my emotion now. This time, I'm not allowed to cry. I must stay strong. 'I'm a fearless transmigrator! Awuu!'

My dizziness vanished as soon as the carriage stopped. It seemed that the chasing soldiers had already surrounded us.

"Madam, we must leave the carriage."

The other guards of the Prime Minister were fighting the royal guards; to buy us some time to get away from there.

"Don't l-look. Just run." With her sleeves, Bai Meili blocked my eyes the horrifying fighting scenes in front of me. Then she dragged me away from there.

"Protect the Madam and the lady!"

We ran.

I didn't know where we were. Just trees.. they're everywhere. Bai Meili was clinging on my arm while I am also clinging on Jin'er's. 'This scene.. is kinda funny.'

My eyes bulged wide; people were flying! With vines in their hands, the royal guards jumped from here to there like Tarzan. Of course, minus the tattered, brown loincloth around their waist.

'Author-san, am I still inside of the same novel? This is supposed to be in historical setting. Not fantasy okay!' What's with these royal guards floating like ghosts in mid-air as they chase us?

We stopped running when General Ming suddenly showed up infront of us. I don't even wanna know where he came from. He just popped out of nowhere with the others, completely blocking our escape route.

"Madam. Please give the lady to us."

It's obvious that our two guards cannot fight with these six royal guards. Bai Meili placed me behind her, like a mother duck protecting her ugly duckling.

"No. Xin'er is innocent. S-she didn't do it. General, please spare my daughter."

The stoic face of the general didn't changed a bit at Bai Meili's plea. Instead, his blank eyes found me: "My lady, please come with us. We will not hurt you. His Highness Nan King have given the order to take you back with us. We assured you, your safety is our utmost priority."

General Ming talked like he's not here to arrest me but.. to escort me instead. 'So weird dude.'

"H-His Highness Nan King is a-alive?"

I noticed the exchanged glances between the other royal guards. After a while, General Ming nodded. "Yes."

I avoided their probing eyes, acting guilty and everything you know. My words and actions were evidences itself of my felonious act against the prince.

"I told you, my daughter is innocent."

"My lady, please come with us." General Ming was still trying to persuade this duck.

"Madam, don't believe them. We will protect the lady with our lives." Our guards unsheathed their swords, preparing to fight till their last breath. 'Scaring this villainess to death!'

General Ming squinted his eyes. Unable to stay patient any longer, he lifted his sword going for a kill.

"Stop!"

Their movements halted. They all turned to me.

"Xin'er."

I glanced at the guards of the Prime Minister. This must be the reason, loyal (villain) side-characters all dies in the novel. "You two, stand down."

"M-my lady." Hu Guo, one of the loyal guards of Bai Muro protested.

"Do you hear me? I said stand down."

Hu Guo bowed his head, then he sheathed his sword back. His expression was still wary but he said nothing else.

"Xin'er." Bai Meili's worried expression reminded me of Mom. 'How insulting?'

I wiped the escaped tear from her cheek. I sighed tiredly and looked back at General Ming. "My father, do you have him?"

"The Left Prime Minister has been arrested from Kulian Dock. The Ministry of Investigation is handling the case."

When I let go of Jin'er's arms, my personal maid instantly grasped my hand, fear and unwillingness were on her face just like what on Bai Meili's.

"No. My child." The woman I called mother for five years sobbed, hugging me tightly from the side.

"You know that I hate seeing our bloodied and beaten servants. Hearing my mother enjoying torturing servants by burning their skins, chopping their fingers and starving them for days. And the fact that you were trying so hard to hide it from me, made me.. hate you more." I whispered.

All these years, I aimed to stop her, but it seems I can't stop her evil deeds every time. Now my ending is near; before I leave, I wish for her to change.

"Müqìn, I don't want to be your daughter."