When dinner was over, Prince Li immediately left the dining room.
TanTan watched him go, wondering what had made him so hurried. Still, she was quite certain that Prince Li wouldn't be returning tonight.
He seems to have some important work to do. But working at night... Isn't that dangerous for him? Will he be all right?
TanTan suddenly froze at her own thoughts. She quickly shook her head.
Wait! Am I actually worrying about him? No way!
FangFang noticed her strange expression and looked at her curiously. She reached out and held TanTan's hand.
"Are you all right, YangMu?"
TanTan realized the little girl had been watching her. She quickly put on a smile.
"I'm fine. Come on, let's go back to our room."
The two of them then left the dining room together.
When they arrived at TanTan's room, they found XiaoRue and QingQing waiting outside.
XiaoRue immediately approached her mistress, ready to report what she had learned.
"XiaoJie, I found out that Prince Li and ManQi will be—"
"I know, XiaoRue," TanTan interrupted quietly.
QingQing noticed that FangFang was following TanTan closely. She pulled TanTan aside for a moment and whispered,
"HuaMuTan, are you planning to bring that child along tonight?"
"Of course not! But I can't just leave her unattended either..." TanTan replied with a troubled expression.
XiaoRue approached them as well, looking equally concerned.
"XiaoJie... perhaps we should postpone the plan until another night."
QingQing immediately reminded them,
"If we miss tonight's meeting, we might have to wait quite a while for the next opportunity."
TanTan frowned.
She really didn't want to postpone it. She had already waited long enough for a chance to find the Silver Mask. No matter what happened, she wanted to continue with her plan tonight.
Fortunately, FangFang soon began showing signs of sleepiness.
TanTan took advantage of the opportunity. She deliberately started reciting some boring passages from classical literature, hoping the little girl would fall asleep before long.
And it worked.
Before long, FangFang's eyes grew heavy, and she finally drifted off.
Once she was certain the little girl was asleep, TanTan carefully slipped out of bed and changed into the clothes she had prepared for sneaking out.
She checked FangFang one more time to make sure she was still sleeping soundly before quietly making her way toward the door.
Outside, QingQing and XiaoRue were already waiting for her.
"I thought you wouldn't make it," QingQing teased.
"Are we too late?" TanTan asked anxiously.
It was already quite late, although she had no reliable way of telling the exact time. There were no clocks or watches in this ancient era, so she could only guess that midnight was approaching.
"I don't think so. Meetings like this usually begin around midnight. They don't want to take any unnecessary risks," QingQing explained. "Are you ready?"
XiaoRue watched them with a worried expression. She was still concerned about her mistress's safety.
TanTan noticed her expression and gently reassured her.
"Don't worry, XiaoRue. I'll be fine. Just help me keep an eye on FangFang, all right?"
"Yeah, I'll be with her too," QingQing added.
Neither of them realized that FangFang wasn't completely asleep.
The little girl slowly opened her eyes and noticed that TanTan was no longer beside her. She sat up and looked around.
Then she spotted TanTan and the others gathered outside the room.
What surprised her even more was TanTan's strange outfit. Her YangMu was dressed differently, almost like a young man!
FangFang heard them talking about going somewhere. Curious, she quietly approached them.
"Where are you going, YangMu?"
"FangFang?!"
Everyone was startled.
They hadn't expected the little girl to still be awake, let alone overhear their conversation.
TanTan immediately became flustered.
"FangFang! I... Ah... Well..."
"It's a secret mission!" QingQing suddenly interrupted.
"Mission?"
FangFang looked confused. TanTan and XiaoRue also turned toward QingQing with equally puzzled expressions.
QingQing continued without hesitation.
"Yes! Your father has a very difficult task to complete tonight. Your YangMu and I are going to secretly help him. That's why it's a secret mission!"
"Is YiFu in danger?"
"No, FangFang..." TanTan tried to reassure her.
"Yes!" QingQing interrupted again.
TanTan shot her an angry glare.
QingQing was slightly frightened by that look, but she continued anyway.
"But don't worry! Your YangMu and I will help your father, so he won't be in danger anymore!"
FangFang seemed to think carefully about what QingQing had said. Then she turned toward TanTan.
"Do... do you really have to go, YangMu?"
TanTan struggled to find an answer.
She didn't want to lie to FangFang, but perhaps this was the only way she could explain her departure without revealing the real plan.
"Well... FangEr, I do have to go. I need to help your father. But don't worry, all right? We'll make sure your YiFu is safe."
"But I want to go too! I want to help save YiFu!"
"Silly girl! That place is too dangerous for you. Besides..." TanTan quickly thought of another reason. "I need you to stay here and protect the house while we're away. Can you do that?"
FangFang was an obedient little girl. After hearing TanTan's explanation, she nodded.
TanTan felt relieved. She gently patted FangFang's head.
"Be a good girl. And one more thing... let's keep this our secret, okay? I want to surprise your YiFu, so don't tell him anything. Can you do that for me, FangFang?"
FangFang nodded firmly.
TanTan then turned toward XiaoRue.
"Please take FangFang back to bed and help her fall asleep again."
"Of course, XiaoJie. FangFang, come. I'll read you a story while we wait."
Although FangFang hesitated for a moment, she eventually followed XiaoRue obediently.
Once they had returned to the room, TanTan immediately turned toward QingQing.
"Let's go!"
With QingQing leading the way, the two women managed to avoid all the guards and successfully sneak out of Li Mansion.
TanTan couldn't help admiring QingQing's skills.
She's really as skillful as a ninja! Even climbing over a wall is a piece of cake for her. Are there really so many independent women with such amazing abilities in this era?
"Come on. Follow me," QingQing whispered.
The streets were quiet and dark. TanTan could barely make out her surroundings under the moonlight.
Yet the night sky was beautiful. A half-moon hung above them, surrounded by countless twinkling stars.
TanTan couldn't help looking up for a moment.
"Don't just stare at the sky! You'll lose your way if you don't pay attention," QingQing scolded in a whisper.
Right... This isn't the time to admire the stars.
TanTan quickly looked around.
They seemed to be heading toward the outskirts of town.
"Where are we going? Is it still far?"
"Not too far. We're almost there... Look! We've arrived."
TanTan followed the direction QingQing pointed.
Her eyes widened.
In front of them was a magnificent ornamental ship, decorated with countless lanterns that cast a warm reddish-yellow glow over its surroundings.
"The black market is on that ship?!"
TanTan couldn't hide her surprise.
"Yep! Looks like it, doesn't it?" QingQing replied casually.
She then handed TanTan a red mask. She herself put on another mask, this one yellow.
Seeing TanTan's confused expression, QingQing explained,
"You have to wear this if you want to board the ship. Besides, it helps conceal your identity. Come on, we need to get inside before it sets sail."
TanTan looked toward the ship again.
It was still anchored, and many people were boarding. Most of them wore eccentric clothes and masks that completely concealed their faces.
TanTan put on her red mask and followed QingQing toward the ship.
As soon as they reached the entrance, she noticed two fierce-looking guards standing on either side. Each carried a large, sharp falchion.
Everyone entering the ship had to present a wooden token before being allowed to pass.
TanTan suddenly became nervous.
"QingQing..." she whispered.
She subtly gestured toward the guards and their tokens.
QingQing immediately understood.
"Relax. I have one. Do you really think I'd come here without preparing everything beforehand?"
Her words calmed TanTan down, although she couldn't help wondering how QingQing had managed to obtain the token.
Perhaps Lady FengHuang gave it to her.
Without any trouble, the two of them presented their tokens and successfully boarded the ship.
The moment TanTan stepped inside, she felt as though she had entered a luxurious ancient Chinese restaurant.
A large circular stage stood in the middle, surrounded by numerous tables and seats. Several balconies overlooked the stage from the upper floors.
The entire interior resembled a three-story theatre, except that the main stage was circular.
TanTan guessed that the upper floors were reserved for VIP guests. The people sitting there wore much more splendid clothing than those on the lower floor.
But what truly caught her attention was the crowd of masked people.
She carefully observed them one by one, hoping to recognize someone who might be the Silver Mask she was searching for.
Unfortunately, so far, she hadn't spotted anyone who looked familiar.
QingQing led her to a table on the first floor.
Not long afterward, TanTan felt the ship begin to move.
A bell rang through the vessel, announcing that it was setting sail.
TanTan looked around, suddenly realizing that they were now leaving the shore.
She had finally made it into the black market.
But would she really find the Silver Mask here?
Perhaps this is going to be a very long night...
TanTan sighed and continued observing the mysterious crowd around her.