Perchance to Dream

23: Hide and Seek

"We should split up here."

At the entrance to the lane full of medicine vendors and stalls, Mei Yanran paused to address Chen Xiao, who had just caught up with them. A few minutes earlier, he'd come to the window of the Spirit Returning Herbhouse to report that Wei Wanru was on her way to buy her medicinal ingredients just as scheduled.

"Xiao Chen, you go track down that little beggar boy. He's not buying any rare ingredients today, so he could be around any of the common shops. Xiao Xue (小雪) and I will start walking after you so we can meet halfway."

"Yes, young Miss," Chen Xiao gave a quick nod before disappearing into the sparse crowds.

Mei Yanran next took the hand of her servant girl Xiao Xue and headed confidently into the lane. This was what Chu Yeguang had witnessed from his window before running all the way downstairs. By the time a certain crown prince had caught his breath outside the brothel, Mei Yanran and her servant girl were nowhere to be seen.

"Brother!" Chu Yexuan ran over behind him, not a bit out of breath. "What's gotten into you?"

Chu Yeguang waved an impatient hand back. "I'm certain I saw her just then."

It was common protocol for the princes to have guards tailing them for safety, especially if they left the palace alone. Chu Yexuan was always slipping away and losing his guards on purpose, but Chu Yeguang simply ignored his when they kept out of sight. Now he looked askance at his brother before snapping his fingers three times in succession.

Immediately, three men dressed in imperial guard regalia appeared in front of the prince. The streets right outside the alley were still deserted during this time of day, so it was only the neighboring medicine district that had stragglers who quickly moved away at the sight of such formidable men.

"Spread out, search for a young lady and her servant girl," Chu Yeguang commanded smoothly. "They should look relatively well off---the girl has a light blue cloak with a fur collar and her servant is wearing pink. Don't alert them when you find them, but report back to me."

The three guards muttered an assent before scattering to start the search. Chu Yexuan creased his brows and asked, "Is it Mei Yanran?"

"Don't speak her name without permission," Chu Yeguang shot back, causing his brother to roll his eyes.

"Fine, fine, Miss Mei then. I caught a glimpse of her before I followed you out, she was heading for the general medicine vendors."

Chu Yeguang's head whipped back, "Where?!"

Chu Yexuan merely grabbed him by the wrist. "C'mon, I'll take you there. I'm good with roads."

And then he dragged Chu Yeguang away...in a completely different direction from Mei Yanran's last known location.

Sorry brother, but it'd be better for your reputation if you're not chasing girls all the time.

---

"Y-young Miss, I think we're being followed," Xiao Xue murmured casually as she leaned over to brush nonexistent dirt off Mei Yanran's shoulders.

"Ah?" Mei Yanran glanced back in alarm.

"Not so sudden, young Miss, you'll a-alert them," Xiao Xue murmured back.

Mei Yanran bent down slightly and whispered, "Who is it?"

Xiao Xue's eyes skimmed carefully to one side before coming back again. "This servant can't see them from here, but they're keeping their distance for now." She paused as her eyes narrowed, her ears straining to catch the quiet footfalls on the roof. "And now t-they're gone."