Li Mengdie did not need to do anything; she could only wait in this area for a fated person to come to her rescue.
This window of opportunity lasted only half a month. After this time, any further rescue attempts would be wishful thinking, and it was uncertain if anyone would even remember her existence then.
Every day, Li Mengdie would go out for fresh air, spending the entire day outside, even attending to nature's call outdoors. The锦衣卫 (Imperial Guards) would simply draw a curtain to shield her from view.
Initially, Li Mengdie found it difficult to adjust, but for the sake of the throne, she endured!
For three consecutive days, Li Mengdie maintained a calm exterior, though her heart was filled with anticipation.
However, as time passed, the likelihood of such an event gradually diminished.
Li Mengdie's initial excitement and eagerness transformed into a state of calm indifference.
Now, her excursions outside were purely driven by habit.
She no longer held hope for rescue, only wishing to spend the remaining half a month outside. Regardless of whether her objective was achieved by then, she would not step out again.
Concurrently, the scouts who had departed from Shuangyue City and were searching the vicinity of Mengdie County had also been at it for three full days.
For these three days, their search for Li Mengdie was akin to searching for a needle in a haystack.
Despite having no leads, they searched with remarkable fervor.
The rewards they would receive upon finding Li Mengdie were unimaginable!
A scout, disguised as a "farmer," took out his binoculars and gazed into the distance.
"It's been three days. Has His Highness Liu Wang not appeared here? If he were here, he should have shown himself by now."
The "farmer" scratched his head, finding it strange.
"Regardless, we'll keep searching like this. Perhaps in a few days, we'll find her. Anything is possible."
The farmer sighed and was about to put away his binoculars when his eyes widened, as if he wanted to push them into the lenses.
"Who is that person? Why do they resemble His Highness Liu Wang so much?"
The farmer pulled out a portrait from his embrace. It depicted a beautiful and heroic woman – Li Mengdie.
After examining the portrait, the farmer raised his binoculars again to look at the distant figure. His face lit up with joy.
"It really is His Highness Liu Wang! We're rich!"
He eagerly stood up, intending to report back, but then he sat down again.
"No, I've stumbled upon His Highness Liu Wang by chance this time, but she's surrounded by people. It looks like she's out for a stroll, as if she's out to play."
"If His Highness Liu Wang returns to where she's being held, won't she be lost again?"
With this thought, he suppressed his urge to rush back and claim credit, and continued his observation.
He watched for a full half-day before realizing that His Highness Liu Wang, accompanied by her escorts, was leaving.
The farmer quickly followed. Fortunately, he had his binoculars, so he wouldn't be discovered even if he kept pace.
Moreover, the people accompanying His Highness Liu Wang were focused on her, so they wouldn't notice him.
"Alright, we've arrived. Why are you still looking at me? You all stay outside and are forbidden to enter."
Li Mengdie closed the main gate of the mansion and then walked back to her bedroom.
The Imperial Guards, though somewhat perplexed, didn't think much of it and guarded the perimeter of the mansion.
Upon returning to her room, Li Mengdie began to dig under her bed.
Although the hope of being rescued was gradually fading, Li Mengdie's desire to escape Chu Chen's grasp remained unchanged.
She used flat stones she found outside to dig, scattering the excavated soil within the mansion. Any excess soil was transported outside during her daily excursions.
Through these few days of interaction, Li Mengdie had come to understand Chu Chen's subordinates better. They appeared rather simple and honest, without any ulterior motives.
As long as she didn't try to escape, Li Mengdie could do as she pleased. The Imperial Guards wouldn't interfere.
This provided Li Mengdie with great convenience, allowing her to make preparations under their noses.
Meanwhile, about two hundred zhang away from the mansion where Li Mengdie was being held, the farmer scout gradually retreated, surveying his surroundings and familiarizing himself with the location.
To ensure he could find his way back, he tore strips from his clothes and left them as markers on branches.
By the time he returned to where the others were gathered, his upper garment was almost completely torn off.
"What happened to you, kid? You look so disheveled."
The leader, who had stayed behind, looked at his subordinate with confusion and dissatisfaction.
This kid was usually reliable. What was wrong with him today, acting like an idiot?
Even if his clothes were just a disguise, he shouldn't have treated them this way. If he ran out of clothes to wear, wouldn't it cause problems?
The farmer, however, looked somewhat excited as he said to his leader, "Boss, quickly report to our superiors and organize our men. I've found the location of His Highness Liu Wang. I've left a trail along the way, so we can act at any time."
Upon hearing this, the leader's eyes widened, and his lips trembled as he asked the farmer, "Is that true? You're not fooling me, are you?"
"Of course, it's true, boss. Hurry up! If we're late, His Highness Liu Wang might be transferred, and that would be troublesome."
"Are you sure you didn't mistake her?"
The farmer became impatient with the question. "Oh, boss, of course, I didn't mistake her! Rest assured, I have the portrait with me. How could I possibly mistake her?"
Hearing this, the leader's face broke into a wide smile.
"Well done, kid. You've done an excellent job this time. I'll report to the higher-ups immediately and ask them to send a large force to infiltrate in disguise, in batches, under the cover of night. We'll rest tomorrow morning and act at noon."
"Once the rescue of His Highness Liu Wang is successful, your contribution will be immense. Tell me, how many concubines do you want to take?"
"Heh heh, it's all thanks to you, boss. I was just running errands."
The farmer scratched his head and smiled.
The leader's eyes lit up. "Kid, you're sensible. Don't worry, you'll get your share of the rewards. I'll go gather the men now."
Under the veil of night, in the wilderness outside Mengdie County, undercurrents were stirring. Meanwhile, inside the mansion, after digging for two hours, Li Mengdie finally put down the stone slab.
Despite her cultivation, in these two hours, she had only managed to excavate a pile of soil.
Digging a tunnel to escape would undoubtedly take a considerable amount of time.
Li Mengdie simply clapped her hands and went to sleep, deciding to deal with it tomorrow.
The next morning, a large number of experts gathered about three hundred zhang away from the mansion where Li Mengdie was being held, waiting.
The farmer scout who had discovered Li Mengdie yesterday was among them.
"Boss, I found His Highness Liu Wang about a hundred zhang ahead."