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Upon meeting an old friend, Lin Ning was filled with excitement. He joyfully exclaimed, "Little sister, it really is you! I never expected to see you here..." Condor Zhuang replied, "Thank you, big brother, for saving my life back then. Bumubutai has always remembered your kindness. I wonder why the Great Khan is pursuing you and the Princess of Yue Ming County?"
After hearing Condor Zhuang's question, Lin Ning recounted his experiences with Yuan Yueming over the past few days in detail. Once he finished, Condor Zhuang fell silent for a moment before saying, "It’s not difficult for you two to escape from here. Tomorrow is the Eight Prince's full moon celebration. My sister and I will meet with the Great Khan early in the morning to request permission for us to visit the Guanyin Temple three kilometers southeast of the palace to make our offerings. At that time, you can disguise yourselves as our attendants and slip out of the palace."
Lin Ning exclaimed, "That's a great idea!" He pointed to the maid Su Ma La Gu standing behind Condor Zhuang and said, "This young lady is quite tall and has a similar build to mine; I can disguise myself as her!" Then he pointed at Ye Xin, the maid behind Consort Hai Lan Zhu, saying, "Junior sister, this young lady looks very much like you; I can dress you up as her!"
Upon hearing Lin Ning's words, Hai Lan Zhu and Condor Zhuang were left speechless. Hai Lan Zhu asked in disbelief, "Little brother, are you really able to transform yourself into Su Ma La Gu's likeness and turn the Princess of Yue Ming County into Ye Xin?" Lin Ning confidently nodded at Hai Lan Zhu and assured her, "Rest assured, Your Highness; I will complete this task!"
Lin Ning took out his disguise tools from his pocket and within the time it takes to burn an incense stick, he transformed himself into Su Ma La Gu’s appearance. After that, he spent another incense stick's worth of time disguising Yuan Yueming as Ye Xin. When a palace maid brought over the clothes that Su Ma La Gu and Ye Xin usually wore, both quickly changed into them. Hai Lan Zhu looked at Lin Ning and Yuan Yueming's disguises and exclaimed in admiration, "You look just like them! It's as if you were carved from the same mold; this is truly indistinguishable!"
Suddenly, there was a rapid knocking at the palace door. Hai Lan Zhu ordered Su Ma La Gu and Ye Xin to hide under her bed in her inner chamber while she remained in the hall with Condor Zhuang, Lin Ning, Yuan Yueming, and another maid. Hai Lan Zhu signaled to the maid who understood immediately and called out towards the door, "Who is it at this late hour?"
A soldier outside replied, "Your Highness Consort, I have been ordered by the Great Khan to capture an assassin. Please open the palace door so we can search inside to ensure your safety!" Hai Lan Zhu glared at the soldier angrily and retorted, "How dare you! Who gave you the audacity to search my inner chamber for an assassin? You insolent wretch; it seems you no longer wish to live!"
The soldier was terrified by Hai Lan Zhu's reprimand and began to sweat profusely. He bowed deeply while retreating towards the door: "I deserve death for disturbing Your Highness. Please forgive me; I shall take my leave now." As he spoke, the soldiers quickly exited the hall.
Once they were gone, Lin Ning and the others let out a sigh of relief. Condor Zhuang smiled and said, "Your disguise skills are remarkable; those soldiers didn’t notice a thing. It’s getting late now; you two should stay with me in Yongfu Palace tonight. We will help you leave tomorrow morning."
The next morning at dawn, Consort Hai Lan Zhu and Condor Zhuang went together to pay their respects to Hong Taiji in his palace. Consort Hai Lan Zhu took this opportunity to mention that she wanted to visit Guanyin Temple today with Condor Zhuang to make their offerings. Hong Taiji replied, "It’s best not to leave the palace these days; I’m sure both of you have heard about last night’s incident where assassins attempted a prison break. It may not be safe outside; better wait a few days."
Hai Lan Zhu feigned annoyance and said, "How can that be? The Eight Prince was born after much effort on my part through Guanyin’s blessing! I promised Guanyin that if I had a son for the Great Khan, I would visit on his full moon day to express my gratitude! Today is precisely that day; I cannot go back on my word!"
Condor Zhuang chimed in supportively, "What my sister says is true; I also vowed at Guanyin Temple that I would give birth to a son for the Great Khan. Now that I'm pregnant too, it’s a perfect opportunity to thank Guanyin." After pondering for a moment, Hong Taiji finally said, "In that case, I will send five hundred elite soldiers to protect both of you while you leave the palace. Please ensure your safety and return early!"
Consort Hai Lan Zhu and Condor Zhuang both bowed deeply in gratitude: "Thank you for your support, Great Khan!"
After leaving Hong Taiji's palace, Condor Zhuang returned to her chambers to prepare. As soon as it was time for noon, both ladies entered their respective palanquins while Lin Ning and Yuan Yueming stood beside them. With five hundred elite soldiers accompanying them, they set off from the palace towards the southeast.
After walking about two miles outside of the palace gates, Condor Zhuang suddenly lifted her palanquin curtain and said, "Stop! I've just remembered that I forgot to bring my red robe for Guanyin! Su Ma La Gu, please return to fetch it for me." At this moment Consort Hai Lan Zhu also lifted her curtain saying, "Oh no! I've left my red robe for Guanyin behind as well! Ye Xin, go back with Su Ma La Gu and get it!"
Yuan Yueming responded affirmatively. Lin Ning quietly remarked to Condor Zhuang: "Thank you for your generous help; but how will Su Ma La Gu and Ye Xin bring back the red robes after we leave?"
Condor Zhuang whispered back: "At noon when guard shifts change outside the palace gates, those new guards won’t know that Su Ma La Gu and Ye Xin are still inside; they can easily take out their robes."
Lin Ning nodded appreciatively at Condor Zhuang: "I will forever remember your kindness; we part ways here but hope to meet again!"
Condor Zhuang looked seriously at Lin Ning: "Lin Ning, our farewell today is only so we may meet again in future times as friends rather than enemies!"
Lin Ning vowed earnestly: "Rest assured Your Highness; no matter how circumstances change, I will always be your friend." With that said Lin Ning and Yuan Yueming turned back towards Hong Taiji's palace.
Little did Lin Ning and Condor Zhuang know that after this farewell they would not see each other again for twenty years. During this time Lin Ning dedicated himself to fighting against Japanese pirates and defending his homeland's integrity becoming a revered hero in society. Meanwhile Condor Zhuang evolved from an innocent girl into a legendary figure who assisted two emperors of the Qing dynasty in ascending power while wielding immense influence over political affairs.
As they walked about a mile towards Hong Taiji’s palace until they could no longer see Condor Zhuang’s group departing into the distance did Lin Ning stop. Yuan Yueming asked him: “Senior brother after all this turmoil there’s no way I can return to Min’s residence; I want to follow you wherever you go!”
Lin Ning thought: At this point my master and Master’s Wife have only this precious daughter left; although junior sister has yet to clear her name regarding Uncle Xiong’s death suspicion before truth comes out I must protect her well.
After contemplating briefly he said: “Junior sister even though we’ve escaped from the palace’s clutches we are still not truly safe; yesterday Hong Taiji failed to capture us so he will surely increase guards at every checkpoint especially around Jinzhou leading towards Borderlands where vigilance will be heightened—we must avoid leaving now.”
“I think we should take this opportunity to seek Hetuala for Nurhaci's treasure location.” Yuan Yueming nodded: “That sounds like an excellent plan! Let’s head west outside of palace walls into nearby woods where our horses await us—once mounted we’ll reach Hetuala in less than half a day!”
The two soon found their steeds—sweat blood horse and Azure Wind Horse—and galloped eastward swiftly. As they passed by Min’s residence Yuan Yueming felt no attachment whatsoever towards this place she had lived for nineteen years—she didn’t even glance back at it—only hatred lingered within her heart towards everyone associated with it.
In this moment her feelings mirrored those expressed in a poem titled “Breaking Through The Formation”:
"Twenty years of life,
Nineteen years turned nightmare.
Feigning affection with false masks,
Wolves’ hearts devoid of compassion.
Unfaithful beyond measure!
Once recognizing true faces,
Disgust turns into scornful rage.
Separated by fate from kin,
Tears fall like rain upon wounded hearts.
Where do familial ties now reside?"
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