Mo Zi walked behind Yuan Cheng, while people pushed wheelbarrows loaded with earth and stones in the direction she had come from.
“Are you sealing the tunnel completely?” Smart? Or unnecessary? She asked.
“Sealing a section.” Yuan Cheng looked back, his smile calming her heart as always. “Erasing the footprints on the shore will buy us time.”
“Speaking of which—” Mo Zi’s steps were hurried, needing to catch her breath. “How could a tunnel be dug in just a few days’ time? And right under the noses of the Daqiu people?”
“It wasn’t just a few days’ work.” In a good mood, Yuan Cheng began speaking in halves.
Mo Zi, thinking habitually, immediately picked up the other half. “Not dug in these past few days?” Her eyes suddenly widened as she calculated. “Could it be that digging started before I even entered the capital? When? When you received the Emperor’s secret decree?”
“The Song Mansion is where you grew up. Wu Yan knows this too. If he captured you, there were only two places he could confine you—the palace or the Song Mansion. I only needed to give it a slight push, and there was a ninety percent chance this tunnel would be useful. Fearing he would dig three feet into the ground to confirm there was no escape route, the section from outside the wall to the bathing pool was dug last. I made several trips back and forth exploring the route. When I said I’d be at the bathing pool for three days, I wasn’t really lying to you, was I?” Yuan Cheng wanted to clarify he wasn’t a liar.
Mo Zi ignored this point. “A slight push? When Dou Lu told Wu Yan that day that I wanted to marry from the Song Mansion, was that your instruction?!” Such deep and far-reaching scheming was unprecedented.
“When Xiang Consort brought Dou Lu from the divine temple into the palace, my spy had already passed the message to her. The elder sister is clever, the younger sister is capable too. I was originally worried Wu Yan would insist you enter the palace, which would throw the whole plan into chaos and require redeployment. After all, if you married from the Song Mansion and the wedding failed, returning to the Song Mansion would be perfectly natural.” His tone sounded quite fortunate.
“So you do worry after all?” Having calculated to this extent. “The palace fire was also your handiwork?” That was the only possibility.
“Rescuing Jin Yin was somewhat easy—I didn’t want to make a wasted trip. Leave the King of Daqiu a little memento, and it also saved you the mental effort of figuring out how to return to the Song Mansion. Incidentally frighten Xiang Consort who always wants to kill you, and lastly, incidentally…” There were quite a few purposes achieved incidentally.
“Enough.” Mo Zi pressed her forehead. “Lord Yuan, this little woman admires you completely.” Her feelings of admiration flow like torrential waters. However, these words couldn’t be spoken aloud—if he heard them, he’d never let her forget it.
Yuan Cheng’s laughter was low. “It’s good that you admire me. If I don’t appear somewhat clever, I fear the clever Miss Song would look down on me with disdain. Always seeing you high-spirited, my heart itches unbearably, thinking I must show off before you once.”
“You’ve certainly shown off spectacularly. Originally it was just opposition to marrying me—now it’s evolved into suppressing a palace coup and quelling rebellion.” Thinking of how the divine temple might still be fighting vigorously, all stirred up by the man before her. “Who was the archer? Never missing a shot—rather like Wei Jia.”
“General Xiao, Wei Jia, and their men. They should already be on the road out of the city by now.” Yuan Cheng’s voice was somewhat flat. “I estimate he hates me to the bone too, sacrificing two of his subordinates.”
Mo Zi gazed at his back. Though she grieved for those two men’s deaths, she couldn’t bring herself to reproach him. In the capital of Daqiu, to snatch someone from the King of Daqiu, one could only borrow momentum. And a discord stratagem couldn’t be stirred up at will. Bloodshed and sacrifice were inevitable.
“Daqiu people are bloodthirsty, and I absolutely will not let their iron hooves trample innocent common people. Want to unify all under heaven?” Her eyes gleamed cold, her resolve set. “Unless I die first.”
Bearing more and more blood debts, if she wasn’t strong, she would implicate even more people. Daqiu had pushed her to this point—it had reached the limit of what she could endure.
Yuan Cheng said nothing. He knew he didn’t need to say anything—as long as he stood by her side, that was enough.
The tunnel turned out not to be long. The exit was at the foot of the mountain where she and he had climbed high to view the Song Mansion last time, connecting to a small cave. Mo Zi and Dou Lu changed into soldiers’ clothing and even blackened their faces.
Upon exiting the cave opening, Teng Guo hurried forward. For a moment he didn’t recognize Mo Zi and asked Yuan Cheng, “Sir, were you able to rescue the person?”
Mo Zi called out, “Venue Master Teng.”
Only then did Teng Guo recognize her. “Miss Mo Zi! I was afraid it wouldn’t be so easy for you to return to the Song Mansion. The gentleman truly has divine foresight. Hurry. There’s no news from the Song Mansion right now—they’ll probably explode soon.”
Over thirty pitch-black, gleaming horses behind Teng Guo snorted and shook their heads. Huayi and his inner guards, along with Xiao Yi and Luo Ying, were already mounted. Seeing them about to dismount, Yuan Cheng stopped them.
“Mount up.” Yuan Cheng pulled Mo Zi’s hand. “Old Teng has brought out his ultimate reserves—every single one a thousand-mile steed.”
Teng Guo’s old face reddened. “Sir, these words shame me. After operating for so many years, how could this be all my reserves? There’s more to see in the future.”
Mo Zi and the others mounted their horses one after another. Seeing those men still pushing earth into the cave, she asked, “What about them?”
Teng Guo turned back to tell her, “They’re all poor Han commoners. I’ve paid them sufficient silver. Once they finish their work, they’ll each return home. For now, the Daqiu people can’t trace them. Even if they informed, there’d be no benefit—it would certainly be a capital offense.”
Mo Zi nodded and pulled the reins.
Ha—Ha—
Everyone followed Teng Guo toward the north city gate.
The north city was a concentrated area where low-status Han people lived. Long oppressed by Daqiu people, they were easily frightened and fearful. Adding the prohibition, hearing the urgent sound of hoofbeats, they didn’t even dare look out. Mo Zi’s group reached the north gate very smoothly.
“How do we get through the city gate?” Mo Zi saw the city gate tightly closed.
“Miss Mo Zi, rest assured. Everything has been arranged. The guards at this time are our people.” Teng Guo continued urging his horse forward.
Arriving beneath the city gate, a young man wearing a leather hat, with a thin monkey face and a stocky build, ran out. “Godfather, can we open the gate?”
“A Ge, everything settled inside?” Teng Guo jerked his chin.
A Ge’s smiling face looked somewhat simple and honest as he nodded heavily. “I put plenty in the food and drink—each one sleeping like a dead pig. At the end I gave them a good beating with my club.”
Teng Guo dismounted and patted his shoulder. “Good lad. They bullied you on ordinary days—now you’ve taken revenge. Help your godfather open the gate!”
Huayi led people down to help.
At this moment, more hoofbeats sounded.
Mo Zi looked and couldn’t help laughing. “Young Master Jin!”
Seven or eight horses, among them Jin Yin, Yi Liang, and Qian Liang and Bai Liang.
Before Jin Yin could speak, Bai Liang complained to her with a drooping face. “Third Young Master, Bai Liang and I have lost our martial skills.”
Qian Liang’s horsemanship was quite good. Though his internal energy was completely lost, his movements remained agile. With a single-footed kick, he kicked Bai Liang’s calf. “You’re the one who’s Bai Liang, little brother!”
Bai Liang cried out strangely, “You dare hit your elder brother?” and immediately kicked back.
Dou Lu watched with giggles, attracting Qian Liang and Bai Liang’s attention. They quickly moved close to her, affectionately calling her Jiu Jiu.
Mo Zi said to Jin Yin, “These two are real treasures. You must teach me someday where you found them. I see you’ve suffered a bit—are you all right?”
Jin Yin’s phoenix eyes narrowed in a pitiful expression. “San’er, they hit my face. You must help me get revenge!”
Yuan Cheng snorted. “Are you a man or not? Take revenge for yourself. I told you long ago your brain is slow. Saying mocking Chu Liu was your lifelong wish, insisting on coming here in person. Also saying your subordinates are numerous and capable, certain to protect you thoroughly. In the end, it was because of you that we were all dragged into muddy waters. You should count yourself lucky we didn’t give you a few extra punches. And you want us to get revenge for you?”
Jin Yin also snorted. “I didn’t ask you to help me. Mo San’er cares most about me, her second brother. What are you jealous about? Don’t think just because you personally entered the palace to rescue me, I’m grateful to you. If you don’t ask me for payment afterward, I really won’t believe it!”
Her right ear filled with Qian Liang and Bai Liang’s lively activity, her left ear with Yuan Cheng and Jin Yin’s sarcasm—Mo Zi didn’t mind living forever in such lively bustle.
“Speaking of entering the palace—” She still grasped the key words. “Yuan Cheng, how did you get in?”
“Duan Geshou’s imperial gate token.” Yuan Cheng saw the gate had opened, clamped his legs, and urged his horse forward.
“But we only had the mold, didn’t we?” Mo Zi suddenly thought of the three cousin brothers on the boat. “Could it be Min—”
“The nine skills of the Min clan—truly living up to their reputation.” Yuan Cheng said, looking back.
Jin Yin was on the right, not caring about any Min family’s nine skills. “Corrupt official, how long must we ride? My whole body is about to fall apart.”
“Three days at minimum, five days at most. If you can’t keep up, don’t drag everyone down either.” Yuan Cheng’s words weren’t truly cold.
Mo Zi had a question. “Since you have the imperial gate token, why not take the south gate? Making such a big detour.”
“I gave the imperial gate token to someone.” Yuan Cheng’s horse was first out of the city gate but stopped, waiting for Huayi, Teng Guo, and the others.
“Who?” Mo Zi couldn’t think of it for a moment.
“General Xiao.” Yuan Cheng raised his eyebrows.
“…” Mo Zi was speechless, immediately understanding his intention in doing this. How ruthless! Though the imperial gate token was useful, it was also conspicuous. Having Xiao Wei and his group take the imperial gate token out of the city, Duan Geshou would definitely pursue from the south gate, and their own side would be temporarily safe. “Don’t tell me Xiao Wei doesn’t know your entire plan.”
Yuan Cheng smiled. “Mo Zi, do you know my entire plan?”
Mo Zi answered honestly, “No.”
Yuan Cheng turned his horse’s head toward the northern mountain range. “If even you don’t know, how could I reveal everything to Xiao Wei? It’s still that same saying—plans change. However, our ultimate destination is the same. It just depends on General Xiao’s ability to adapt.”
Teng Guo and A Ge rode over. “Sir, everyone is here.”
Yuan Cheng put away his smile. “Old Teng, years of painstaking effort turned to ashes today. Yuan is grateful for your loyal devotion.”
But Teng Guo was in very good spirits. “Without family here, what use are vast riches? Teng Guo vows to follow the master to the death.”
Yuan Cheng shouted and urged his horse into a gallop.
Mo Zi followed close behind. In the increasingly strong wind, she looked back at the capital once. Dust and sand like smoke—the place where she gained new life, the place where her first love happened, the place where she suffered and shed tears. All those entanglements and complications, for her, were all sorted out and cleared away. From now on, there was no reason to return. Wu Yan, Wu Yanle, Xiang’er, Ye’er—all those who loved her and hated her—may they let it become the past.
When we meet again, it will be as enemies and me. Not for personal feelings, only for peace in this chaotic world—a struggle to the death!