The Empress has abandoned me? I'll support a new emperor and destroy your kingdom!

"What were the losses?" Su Che asked.

"I'm afraid we can't save much of the cash and jewelry. Fortunately, as you instructed, I had already transferred most of the valuables and contracts to several secret warehouses and branches in other cities. It's just that the managers and employees who were arrested..." Pang Xiaopan looked distressed, "They are all long-time employees who have worked for us for many years..."

"I'll try to get them out, but I can't guarantee they'll all be saved," Su Che said calmly. "Your safety is the most important thing right now. Now that they've openly targeted you, the 'embezzlement' charge will likely be proven soon. Jia Ning, what about you?"

Zhao Jianing said in a deep voice, "Those three captains are still in the dark prison, and my men can't contact them for the time being. But this afternoon, Gao Tianci's men tried to access the armory registers in my directly managed warehouse, but I turned them away on the grounds that 'cooperation from the Ministry of War is required.' However, I estimate that by tomorrow at the latest, the official transfer order or inspection document will be issued."

"In other words, we only have time until tomorrow at the latest," Su Che concluded, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, making a rhythmic tapping sound that was particularly clear in the small, enclosed room.

Pang Xiaopan and Zhao Jianing both held their breath and watched him, waiting for his decision.

"The plan needs to be moved up." Su Che stopped tapping and glanced at his two trusted confidants. "Xiao Pan, immediately send out the 'Awakening of Insects' signal through our last absolutely safe channel. Notify everyone on the list, including their families, to gather within two hours at one of the three locations: 'Kurong Temple' in the west of the city, 'Abandoned Brick Kiln' in the south of the city, and 'Old Locust Tree Slope' in the north of the city, according to Plan Number Three. Only bring valuables and necessary items; there will be someone to meet you."

"'Awakening of Insects'? Contingency Plan No. 3?" Pang Xiaopan exclaimed in surprise. "Sir, that's the highest level emergency evacuation signal! We... we're leaving already?" Although she had been mentally prepared, she was still shocked when the moment came.

"If we don't leave now, we'll be trapped like fish in a barrel." Su Che looked at Zhao Jianing. "Jianing, try to contact our people in the black prison and pass on a message, telling them to stay calm. I'll try to create some chaos there during the evacuation to see if there's a chance to rescue people, but don't force it. Also, select twenty absolutely reliable and best-skilled brothers. Don't go back to the camp; sneak out of the city directly and wait at the pre-arranged location in 'Wild Wolf Valley,' thirty miles west of the city. Prepare vehicles, dry rations, water, and weapons. We'll meet up with you after we leave the city."

"Yes!" Zhao Jianing answered resolutely, then hesitated and said, "Sir, what about you? The mansion is surrounded. How will you escape? Also, how will so many of us get out of the city? The four gates of the capital will surely be heavily guarded tonight."

"I have my own way of leaving. As for leaving the city..." Su Che took out a small bronze tiger tally and a black iron token from the iron cabinet and handed them to Pang Xiaopan. "These are the 'Special Pass for the Canal Transport Office' and the 'Military Deployment Tally for the Jingshui Camp' left over from when I was in charge of the canal transport for Lin Chu. Although they have expired, the seals are genuine. Arrange for people to disguise themselves as canal gang members and escort emergency supplies through the water gate. We have a very close relationship with one of the officers guarding the gate. Once they see these two items, plus enough 'toll money,' they will let a batch of 'canal grain' pass through at dawn. You can blend in with them and get out."

He then said to Zhao Jianing, "You and your men, disguise yourselves as soldiers on night patrol under Gao Tianci, and use the fake uniforms and passwords I gave you before to leave through the west gate. The captain on duty at the west gate tonight is a fool who only cares about money and not people; just take care of him."

Pang Xiaopan and Zhao Jianing accepted the tokens, feeling somewhat relieved. The master was indeed shrewd and had even prepared such an unconventional escape route.

"Sir, if you're not going through the water gate or the west gate, then..." Pang Xiaopan asked.

Su Che walked to the wall of the secret chamber and pressed several bricks in a specific order. After a moment, a low, mechanical sound rang out, and the wall slid open to the side, revealing a narrow, dark passage leading downwards, from which a cold, damp, earthy smell wafted out.

"Beneath this mansion lies an abandoned drainage tunnel from the previous dynasty, leading to the old course of a tributary of the Rouge River three streets away, long since dried up. Besides the craftsmen who renovated it back then, only I know this road." Su Che picked up an oil lamp, illuminating the entrance to the tunnel. "I'll go this way. We'll meet at 'Wild Wolf Valley' at 3:45 AM."

Looking at the bottomless dark passage, Zhao Jianing and Pang Xiaopan's last doubts vanished. The master had already placed their escape route in a desperate situation.

"Remember," Su Che looked at the two men, his gaze calm yet powerful, "this trip is not an escape, but a strategic retreat. What we've lost is nothing more than a prison and empty fame. What we're going to is a place where we can take root again, sprout, and eventually grow into towering trees, making a triumphant comeback. What Lin Chu and Gao Tianci took, I will make them return a hundredfold, a thousandfold, along with the empire they cherish most."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a resolute and convincing power.

Zhao Jianing and Pang Xiaopan felt their blood surge; the pent-up emotions, anger, and hesitation of the past few days transformed into unwavering fighting spirit. They knelt on one knee, clasped their hands, and whispered:

"I am willing to follow you, sir, through fire and water, even unto death!"

"Okay." Su Che helped them up. "Let's split up and be careful. See you at Wolf Valley."

Pang Xiaopan and Zhao Jianing nodded emphatically and said no more. Pang Xiaopan crawled back into the narrow hole, while Zhao Jianing quietly left through a hidden door on the other side of the secret room.

Only Su Che remained in the secret room.

He extinguished the oil lamp, and by the faint moonlight filtering through the vent, took one last look at the cramped space. Then, he picked up a seemingly ordinary calligraphy brush from the table, unscrewed the end of the handle, and poured a tiny black pill, as thin as a hair, into an inconspicuous copper basin in the corner of the secret room. The pill evaporated rapidly upon contact with the air, colorless and odorless.

After doing all this, he turned around without hesitation and stepped into the dark, downward-facing entrance to the passage that seemed to lead to the underworld.

The figure was quickly swallowed by the darkness.

The walls of the sealed room slowly closed, restoring it to its original state.

A moment later, more hurried footsteps came from outside the study, along with the terrified shouts of the butler, Old He:

"My lord! My lord! Something terrible has happened! The Imperial Guards from the palace, along with General Gao's men, have blocked both the front and back gates of our manor! They say they want to... to search for the fugitive!"

No one responded.

Only in the study, the wick of the long-extinguished oil lamp seemed to still retain a wisp of almost invisible smoke, drifting away in the air.

night, deeper.