The waiter didn't think much of it, simply collected the copper coins on the table, tidied up the used items, and cleaned the table before getting back to work.
Lu Shi tasted the pastries with no interest. He had personally witnessed the young general heading to the second floor, and there was still no movement. He wondered if something had been discovered upstairs.
As he was here, even if the young general were in danger, he couldn't go up immediately.
He had also carefully counted the visible young men and thugs in the tea house, there were more than a dozen, not to mention those hidden in the dark. If a fight were to break out, one pair of fists could not defeat four hands, let alone so many of them. He was naturally no match for them.
He felt as if he had personally walked into a tiger's den, and a sense of timidity and nervousness washed over him.
The young general had not returned yet, and without his order, Lu Shi dared not act rashly.
After the previous incident, he had become the primary focus of those young men. Their gazes never left him, as if they would simply throw him out if he dared to cause any more trouble.
...
Ling Mohan walked aimlessly on the second floor, yet he had to constantly evade the sight of others.
He reached a door and was about to stealthily peek inside when he heard faint footsteps. He immediately reacted and hid behind a pillar.
He watched as the maids carrying plates entered the room one by one. Counting them, more than a dozen dishes were delivered.
The person in this room was truly putting on airs, with over a dozen dishes for a single meal. The specifications were no different from the emperor's meal, truly extravagant.
After the maids left, Ling Mohan was about to sneak a look to see who was inside, whether it was Chu Yanxi, whom he had been searching for for many days.
The tightly shut door opened from the inside, and a figure resembling Chu Yanxi, wearing a bamboo hat, walked out, followed by Chu Yanxi's personal guard.
Even though Chu Yanxi's disguise was quite good, he could still recognize at a glance that the man who just came out of the room wearing a bamboo hat was Chu Yanxi.
And the personal guard beside him further confirmed that this person was Chu Yanxi.
However, under the current circumstances, with the first floor bustling with people, if a fight were to break out, arresting Chu Yanxi could be considered a heroic deed. But if he let the person escape and disrupted the lives of the common people, he would truly have no face to see anyone!
But if Chu Yanxi were not apprehended quickly, it would be difficult to find him again. In that instant, his heart filled with anxiety. Ling Mohan hesitated, and finally stepped forward to follow. No matter what, he could not let the person escape for now.
Ling Mohan hid and dodged, jumping down from an inconspicuous corner, his gaze constantly tracking Chu Yanxi's back. Only when Chu Yanxi walked out of the tea house did Ling Mohan signal Lu Shi and the others to pursue.
"There's someone following behind. You change into my clothes and lure them away."
"Your subordinate obeys!"
Chu Yanxi took off his outer garment and let his guard change into it. He himself quickly hid in the crowd, trying to conceal his whereabouts. However, he underestimated Ling Mohan's sharp eyes, which had already taken in his every move.
"Send two people to chase in the east. Lu Shi, you and I will continue to chase ahead."
"Yes, Young General."
Ling Mohan's gaze was fixed on Chu Yanxi ahead, and he pursued with swift steps. Any slight deviation would lead to complete failure.
Chu Yanxi also noticed that the person chasing him behind was relentlessly following and he still couldn't shake them off.
His heart hardened, and he no longer cared about anything. He snatched a horse from a passerby and, disregarding that this was a busy street, galloped away. Escaping was the most important thing now.
The soldiers previously stationed there by Ling Mohan to intercept saw a person galloping towards them and quickly blocked the way.
Chu Yanxi did not expect that there would be pursuers here. Only Ling Mohan could arrange such tight security. Could the one chasing him so closely be Ling Mohan as well?
A wave of panic surged through him. He had hidden so well, yet he was still found by Ling Mohan.
The situation was critical. His hands reacted before his brain. Chu Yanxi tightened his grip on the reins and with all his might, charged towards the people blocking the exit.
The two soldiers, unable to dodge, were both injured by the horse and fell to the ground. Chu Yanxi escaped so easily.
By the time Ling Mohan arrived, it was too late. Chu Yanxi had escaped.
"Young General, that person ran towards the west."
The injured soldiers struggled to their feet and hurriedly reported the situation.
"Young General, the west is a cliff."
"Mobilize all forces and continue the pursuit. Whether alive or dead, Chu Yanxi must be captured."
Too much time and manpower had been spent on capturing Chu Yanxi. This time, he must be apprehended. If not alive, then dead, but his body must be found. He no longer had time to waste.
"Your subordinate obeys!" Lu Shi mobilized a troop and pursued Chu Yanxi with all their might.
On Chu Yanxi's side, he had also given it his all, chasing with all his strength, determined to escape.
Only when he reached the cliff ahead did Chu Yanxi pull hard on the reins, preventing himself and the horse from falling into the abyss.
Just as he was about to find another way to escape, Ling Mohan's men arrived and surrounded him from all sides. Chu Yanxi was now encircled. Unless he grew wings, escaping would be extremely difficult.
"Third Prince, you are at your wit's end. Only by surrendering can you save your life!"
"Stop the nonsense. Let Ling Mohan come out to speak with me. You are not qualified to speak with this Prince!"
Even at the brink of death, Chu Yanxi remained extremely dignified, showing no signs of panic.
"To maintain your consistent, hypocritical demeanor even at this point, Third Prince, is truly admirable!"
Ling Mohan, dressed in white, appeared before Chu Yanxi. Seeing Chu Yanxi's current pathetic state, a mocking smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Was this still the gentle and refined Third Prince from before? He had fallen to such an end.
If Chu Yanxi had not taken the desperate risk of rebelling, he would probably still be that proud, high-and-mighty favored son of heaven.