Xiao Lin examined the pendant. Aside from looking expensive and beautiful, there wasn't anything special or suspicious about its looks. And the letter suggested it wasn't ordinary. That meant...it has supernatural powers!

Should he do as the letter said or not? If it would really help in their escape, then there wasn't anything wrong using it, right? But, then again, he didn't know the help he was getting, if it was from a friend or foe and their real intentions behind it.

Aiya, too complicated! Let's just use it. What if the Emperor really were able to track him as the letter suggested? Xiao Lin thought.

***

The next day, Su Ming arranged servant clothes for both of them. Their plan was simple. To escape, they decided to use one of the transport-carriages which brought goods into the palace. It was a good thing that not many knew the face of the new imperial concubine making it easy for Xiao Lin not to be recognized. Also adding the factor that he won't be dressing up as a girl; it'd make it easier.

There was one challenging part though. They'd have to make the transport driver unconscious and steal his pass which was used to enter and leave the palace.

"You go and tell one of the imperial doctor's assistants that the new imperial concubine has difficulty sleeping for a few days now. She wishes him to prescribe something which can help her sleep deeply. And quantity should be enough to last for 5 days." Su Ming won't have a problem getting one because the eunuch clothes he wore were only worn by eunuchs who served the Emperor's concubines, showing his position in the palace.

Su Ming carried out the order and brought five individually paper-packed some green powder.

"He said to take one every day before sleeping." Su Ming informed.

"Add two, no, three of these into the driver's wine." These are not modern medicines, so the potency shouldn't be that high, right? Xiao Lin thought.

"Three? What if something happens to him?" Su Ming asked nervously.

Xiao Lin frowned. He had instructed Su Ming not to ask for details in case the assistant got suspicious and had also didn't sent Su Ming to the royal doctor directly for this very reason. He already found palace people quite scary and unpredictable. "Okay then, make it two."

After the dinner, Xiao Lin told his servants that he'd be retiring early today and they could go retire early too. Alone in his room, he looked out of the window. The sun has gone home. And the night, adding to his fortune, was moonless; darker.

***

There were two spies, in complete black clothing, one tall and one short, who had been observing this particular duo of concubine and eunuch for some days and now were tasked to help them escape from the shadows.

It was evident that the duo of concubine and eunuch would never be able to escape on their own as the two spies watched them making quite a noise while trying to sneak out of the residence unnoticed by the couple of guards around this area.

"Su Ming, make your steps light. You're too noisy!" Xiao Lin complained.

Su Ming tried to do as he was told.

Xiao Lin tiptoed towards the tree. Though the night was really dark but a few lanterns some distance away helped them make out shadows.

Crunch!

Startled by the sound, Xiao Lin looked around anxiously before turning around and giving Su Ming's head a light smack.

"What did I tell you!" Xiao Lin whisper-yelled.

"My lady, it's too dark. How could I have known there was a branch under my foot? And your slap produced more sound." He whispered back, feeling wronged. The spies just stood there in the shadows, watching them frown.

"Why are you still calling me lady?! And be quie—"

"Did you hear that?" A nearby patrol guard asked his companion.

Xiao Lin and Su Ming went cold stiff, holding their breath and hiding in the tree's shadow.

"Yeah." The companion replied. "I think it came from there?"

"You go deal with it." The taller spy shook his head at the duo and told the shorter one who immediately disappeared. A few seconds later, rustling sound came from a different direction, diverting the attention of the patrol guards.

Xiao Lin and Su Ming waited for a while in horror. When no footsteps were heard approaching them, they finally dared to breath easily.

The shorter spy soon reappeared. The taller one put a noise-cancellation barrier around the duo. If no stronger opponent appeared, the barrier couldn't be sensed.

What a lucky escape! Was that the power of the pendent or just his pure luck? Xiao Lin naively wondered as he grabbed Su Ming's sleeve, dragging him away. "Did you give him the drug?" He asked when they had left his residence's boundary and were far enough.

"Yes, I added in his wine cup and poured the wine myself. He should be sleeping in his transport-carriage by now."

"Hmm, let's head straight there then!"

There were some other carts and carriages parked there. All were used for transferring kitchen goods and other stuff. The area was also lit by lanterns but it was neither too bright nor too dark.

"That's the one." Su Ming gestured towards the transport-carriage which was built like a wooden box and drawn by two horses.

Moving to the rear of the transport-carriage, they found it open. Peeking inside, they could vaguely make out the silhouette of a man who was sleeping soundly; even snoring a little. They climbed inside.

Xiao Lin tapped the man lightly. No reaction.

"Su Ming, search for the pass." Xiao Lin whispered.

Su Ming hesitantly and cautiously did the search.

"I found it—ahh!" The sleeping man suddenly opened his eyes, almost scaring Su Ming's soul out his body. As he froze, his wrist was grabbed by the man.

"Wh-whhoo?" The man slurred.

In the weak light, Xiao Lin saw the panic-stricken face of Su Ming. Then he moved his eyes back to the driver. It was clear that the man wasn't fully conscious. But, if the situation wasn't dealt smartly, the man could start to struggle and become noisy. Never underestimate these ancient people!

He brought from his sleeve a small bottle filled with the mixture of water and the sedative powder which he had prepared earlier precisely because he had doubts from the start if two packets were enough to knock the man out. And it turns out, he was right.

Ah, I'm so smart, he gloated in his heart as he moved to rescue Su Ming.

"My lord, finally awake? You drank too much earlier, so I've brought you medicine to help clear your mind." Xiao Lin whispered in a coquettish tone near the man's ear as he brought the bottle toward the man’s lips whose brows furrowed.

Understanding the man's confusion, Xiao Lin added while gently smiling, "You're at the brothel, my lord."

No wonder the resume with work experience was always preferred. Just working at the brothel and observing have come in handy today. Heh! Or how would he have known to act coquettishly?! He should work at more different places once he's out, Xiao Lin thought to himself.

The muddleheaded man believing him, complied and opened his mouth. Xiao Lin poured the liquid in. It took 5 minutes for the medicine to take effect and for the man to be completely out; in deep sleep.

He then turned to look outside. There was no one.

Xiao Lin didn't know how to drive this transport-carriage, so he handed this job to Su Ming. But the problem was, Su Ming appeared too nervous.

"If you wear that face, the guards will immediately become suspicious. Try to be more natural. Don't be scared. I know you can do this." Xiao Lin patted Su Ming on the shoulder, doubting his own last words.

Su Ming clutched the pass in his hand, nodding.

They only had one pass. Xiao Lin couldn't hide inside the carriage. If it were filled with goods, then it'd have been easier to hide. But it was empty except for the sleeping man inside. Neither could he hide on top of the carriage because the high palace walls had guards stationed above too. So, the only place left was under the carriage.

Xiao Lin removed his outer robe, giving it to Su Ming who placed it in his small bag. Then, he crawled under the carriage. He adjusted both his feet above one of the wooden rods which were attached to the front wheels. And then grabbed the other rod - attached to back wheels- with his hands bringing himself closer to the wooden structure above. This was more difficult than he thought.

"Su Ming, go." And Su Ming did; driving the carriage to the front gates.

Xiao Lin didn't expect it to be this hard. The shaking of the carriage almost made him lose his grip twice. It not only put strain on his body but also made him nauseous and dizzy. This was a bad idea, he realized. He should have known his strength.

He couldn't hold on any longer and finally lost his grip, feeling a strong impact on his back and head as he fell on the ground. He groaned. Fortunately, the carriage didn't veer in any other direction and just continued on straight or Xiao Lin could have been injured by the wheels.

Xiao Lin helplessly watched as the carriage got further away, unable to shout in fear of attracting attention. He tilted his body to the side, vomiting .

That's when he felt a hand on the back of his head; his vision blackened, losing consciousness immediately.

***