Becoming the Villain's Discarded Wife
Chapter 450: The City Gate Opens on the 29th of the Twelfth Lunar Month

Chapter 450: Chapter 450: The City Gate Opens on the 29th of the Twelfth Lunar Month

Thick snow shrouded the glowing lanterns, leaving nothing but white in sight.

The usual festivities of the New Year in Yan City had vanished, only the occasional figures darted through the streets and alleyways.

Nanzhi had brought her parents to the city lord’s residence, ignoring their persistent refusals.

The catastrophe had begun.

She could not let her parents stay in the danger zone.

Twentyninth day of the twelfth lunar month.

The silent Yan City suddenly bustled again.

The prominent families of the city, having packed their belongings, embarked on the journey toward the Capital City, along with their servants and staff.

Every single one of the four major families in Yan City had dozens of horse-drawn carriages lined up from the beginning of the street till its end, all just to persuade the city guards to open the city gates.

Curious townsfolk peeked through the slits of their windows, straining to see the scene outside the city.

The city gates had been closed for days, and they hadn’t seen the outside world for a while.

The He Family’s butler looked at the tightly closed city gates, rubbed his hands together, and approached the guards.

"Gentleman, could you please open the city gate? My master wishes to depart the city."

As he spoke, he prepared to hand over the silver ingots in his hand but was deterred by the guard’s stern face.

"The lord of the city commands, Yan City is sealed, no one is allowed to leave."

"Gentleman, we are from the He Family. My master wishes to journey to Kyoto for a family visit. We kindly ask that you allow us to pass."

"As I have said, city lord’s orders, no one is allowed to leave."

The guard was stern, focused on the situation in front of him, and barely paid any attention.

"You——""

The servant wanted to say something more, but was deterred by the frosted atmosphere and swallowed his words.

"Whose servant are you?"

Liu Jie had spotted a few dozens of carriages lined up at the gate from the moment he descended from the city gate’s tower. He saw the man attempting to turn and leave and furrowed his eyebrows in question.

Hearing someone ask him, the servant eagerly went to meet him.

"Sir, I serve the He Family. My master wishes to leave the city for a family visit in Kyoto. Could you please spare us some convenience?"

Liu Jie surveyed the man from head to toe, then shifted his gaze to the carriages lined behind him.

"Today is the twentyninth day of the twelfth lunar month and heavy snow is falling. It is not advisable to travel. If Master He wishes to visit Kyoto, it would be better to wait until after the New Year."

Liu Jie was gentle in his dissuasion, he didn’t bluntly say no.

"Sir, but...""

The butler hesitated, not knowing what to do. It was not like his master was not aware of these concerns.

But rumors were swirling and calamity was believed to be imminent. With Yan City being ostracized by several other major cities, they feared they might starve to death if they didn’t flee now.

If they don’t set out now, they might not have a chance to escape!

These messages had been relayed from outside the city; if it were false, their master wouldn’t have prepared to depart so quickly. Now that everything had been packed, naturally it would be best to get away from this place.

"Please, relay this to Master He yourself, if he insists on leaving, we certainly won’t stop him."

Liu Jie nodded, asking him to carry this message back.

"Eh."

The butler thought he got what he wanted, and quickly ran back to report.

Seeing him return with the city gates still closed, the He Family steward frowned and questioned in a low voice.

"What’s going on?"

"Steward, the official said, because of the heavy snow today, it’s not suitable for long-distance travel, he asked me to convey this...""

"Nonsense! We are not blind; we can surely tell if the snow is heavy or not!" The steward sank his face, not pleased at all.

"The official said, if we insist on leaving, they wouldn’t restrain us, he asked me to relay this."

Upon hearing this, the He Family steward was taken aback, not expecting it to go this smoothly.

In the past month, rumors had been coursing through Yan City that the city is first to be abandoned in the wake of the palace coup. Logically, the city lord shouldn’t let these merchants leave.

"That guard said that the city lord has ordered no one to leave, but the one who came later said they won’t restrain us. So, steward...""

The servant hesitated, unsure whether to deliver the message.

"Tell the official, we want to leave the city."

The steward adjusted his sleeves, looking at the tightly closed city gates.

Now that they could still leave Yan City, they had to seize the opportunity to avoid any complications.

"Eh."

The servant nodded and ran back toward Liu Jie.

"Gentleman, could you please accommodate us?""

"Then open it."

Liu Jie signaled the guard beside him with a nod, his face held a trace of cryptic ridicule.

Leave then. The question was if these people could make it alive to the Capital City.

He had travelled back half a month ago with the caravan; he knew the situation outside the city.

If these people had stayed in the city, they might have survived. But once they left, whether the rats would completely devour them was uncertain.

The heavy wooden gate was slowly pushed open; the scene outside the city came into view starkly.

The once flat square was now piled with snow near three feet high; the lush trees were left with nothing but dead branches and fallen leaves.

Due to lack of use, the path was indistinguishable, especially when you saw it like this.

"Feel free."

Liu Jie had a dull expression, signaling them to pass.

Seeing the scene in front of them, the He family’s faces darkened. But recalling the letter their master received, they bit the bullet and guided the carriages outside the city.

"Brother Liu...""

The gate-keeping guard looked at Liu Jie, somewhat puzzled.

After all, the city lord had clearly stated, no one was allowed to leave the city.

"Rest assured, if anything happens, I’ll take the full responsibility." Liu Jie patted his shoulder, noted the thick frost on his face, and sighed in his heart.

Their food supplies were aplenty, yet insufficient.

It was enough for the townspeople to survive this winter, but it was not enough for them all to live on.

The disastrous weather was unpredictable and enigmatic. What they knew was that every inch of land in Xia Country had been hit hard, and it was impossible to plant crops anymore.

They knew the heavy snow was relentless, they were unsure of how long the people of Yan City could last.

If fewer people remained in the city, the chances for the rest to survive would be slightly higher.

As for those who leave, whether they survive or not depends on their fate.

Young Master He sat, dumbfounded, in the carriage, causing Lady He’s eyes to well up.

"My dear son, why are you doing this to yourself! To come to such a state because of a woman!"

Lady He wanted to vent her anger, but could not let it out on her own son.

"Mother, it’s my mistake."

The young Master He was no longer the lively and handsome man he used to be, he merely leaned against the carriage window listlessly.

"We are going to Kyoto. Whichever girl you like, you can marry her. Don’t be like this anymore!"

Tears welled up in Lady He’s eyes, she was at a loss for words.

Her son’s condition had been fluctuating in these few months. Sometimes he was lucid and would read books or chat. But other times, he was as though he had lost his soul, staring blankly at the sky.

Let’s go to Kyoto!

Even if she wanted him to marry that woman, she would still let him!

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