Everyone understood. Even though Yang Jingshan was ill and couldn’t walk, he couldn’t leave the Yang family.
Precisely because Yang Jingshan was immobile, Yang Jingyan couldn’t leave either.
The heavy responsibility of evacuating the women and children fell to the First Young Madam Yang. If the city fell, the eldest grandson Yang Chengyu couldn’t be separated from his mother. As the first daughter-in-law, she bore the responsibility of nurturing the next family head and maintaining the family business.
It was natural for the First Young Madam Yang to be reluctant to leave. Despite Yang Jingshan’s gentle persuasion, she merely shook her head and wept, until Yang Jingshan grew angry: “Is this how the mistress of the household should behave? If you continue like this, I might as well divorce you.”
Hearing this, Madam Yang Chen didn’t say a word but immediately rose and moved to dash her head against a pillar in the hall. The Second Young Madam and Ji Yingying hurriedly grabbed her.
Ji Yingying couldn’t help but say, “Elder Sister-in-law, Brother was just speaking in anger. Why take it so seriously?”
The First Young Madam Yang’s emotions were like a rat trapped in a pipe, rushing frantically in all directions but finding no exit. Ji Yingying’s words suddenly provided an outlet, and her jealousy and anger burst forth as she shrieked, “Where is Third Brother now? The family has pampered him since childhood, letting him spend money as he pleased. He just up and left, and now that the family is in trouble, why isn’t he here protecting his two brothers?”
How did Yang Jingyuan become the topic? Ji Yingying quickly understood Madam Chen’s meaning. This year’s Yizhou Brocade Competition would likely be canceled, making the competition brocade they’d woven meaningless. Without the competition, she was just eating idle rice at the Yang household. She too could leave whenever she pleased. While the two elder brothers couldn’t leave, Yang Jingyuan and she could escape safely. From Madam Chen’s perspective, this was deeply unfair.
Ji Yingying had no intention of going to the eastern suburb estate to take shelter. With her family in the western city, how could she abandon her mother and brother? She said coolly, “With Mother and both Sisters-in-law gone, someone needs to manage the inner household. I have no children. Since Third Brother isn’t home, I might as well stay.”
The incident from Yang Jingshan scolding his wife to her attempting to hit the pillar happened in an instant. As the Yang brothers were about to speak, Madam Yang Stone emerged from her emotional turmoil.
She shouted, “Nanzhao hasn’t even attacked the city yet, and you’re all in chaos. When the real moment comes, you’ll be like headless flies. All of you, sit down!”
The three daughters-in-law quietly returned to their seats. Madam Yang Stone pondered for a moment before saying, “Nanzhao’s attack is just our speculation. Sending the children away is merely a precaution. We must keep quiet about leaving the city. It would be troublesome if ill-intentioned people accused us of spreading rumors and inciting unrest. At dawn, Second Son will escort your Elder Sister-in-law and his wife, taking the children to the eastern suburb estate. Tell others you’re taking the children to enjoy autumn in the mountains. I’ll stay in the mansion with the eldest son.”
Yang Jingshan was shocked: “Mother, why are you staying?”
Yang Jingyan also said, “Elder Brother is unwell and can’t walk. I should stay to help run errands.”
Without her, the Second and Third Master Yang would be uncontrollable. Madam Yang Stone smiled, “The household cannot be without its matriarch. Second Son, you must protect your Elder Sister-in-law and the children well.”
No matter what, saving one son was better than losing both in the city.
Madam Yang Stone didn’t mention having Ji Yingying leave with them. Ji Yingying remained silent. However, the First Young Madam Yang didn’t want her to stay to care for Yang Jingshan: “Mother, my husband needs care, so I should stay too. Let Second Brother and his wife take Chengyu and the others.”
“Elder Sister-in-law, Chengyu is still young…”
“He’s thirteen now. He’s old enough to understand. I entrust him to Second Brother and Sister-in-law’s care.” The First Young Madam Yang spoke while gazing sorrowfully at Yang Jingshan.
Yang Jingshan sighed inwardly and patted her hand, “Then it’s settled. Second Brother and Sister-in-law, make your preparations. Mother and I will handle the brocade contribution matter.”
Madam Yang Stone said wearily, “Yingying will stay. The rest of you go prepare early. Do as I’ve said.”
After everyone left, Madam Yang Stone instructed Xueqing to fetch twenty taels of gold, a pouch of gold nuggets heavy in the hand. She sighed and said, “Yingying, I know you’re worried about your family. Tomorrow morning I’ll send someone to inform the Ji family, so your mother and brother’s family can make arrangements early. You don’t need to stay. Have Ji Fu prepare the carriage, and let Xiangyou guide you. Take your dowry maid and servants, leave early tomorrow morning to find Third Son.”
“Mother.” Ji Yingying felt warmth in her heart. “Mother, I won’t pretend to say I’ll share the Yang family’s fate. This is Third Brother’s home, he won’t abandon the Yang family.”
Madam Yang Stone’s expression stiffened slightly as she murmured, “I don’t expect him to care about the Yang family’s survival. I was the one who grew suspicious of him then. If he resents and hates me, so be it. You were married here under my authority; I can’t let anything happen to you. Dawn is almost here, hurry and prepare.”
“Take care, Mother.” Ji Yingying rose and made a deep bow to Madam Yang Stone, took the gold, and left.
Early the next morning, Ji Yingying left the Yang household with Maid Ji and her servants Ling’er and Xiang’er.
Instead of leaving directly through the North Gate, she first had Ji Fu take her to the address Yang Jingyuan had given her.
“Xu’s Medical Shop.” Ji Yingying memorized this small clinic in the narrow alley and walked in.
The shop was small, with only one assistant and one physician. Seeing Ji Yingying and her servants enter, the assistant came forward: “Madam, are you here for consultation or medicine?”
Ji Yingying glanced at Physician Xu who was selecting herbs behind the counter and asked softly, “My husband is the Third Son of the Yang family from Yang Family Lane. He told me if I wanted to send him a message, I should give it to Physician Xu at Xu’s Medical Shop.”
Hearing “Yang family’s Third Son,” Physician Xu stopped his work and came out from behind the counter. He scrutinized Ji Yingying and said, “I am surnamed Xu, running this small clinic to make a living. You are Yang Jingyuan’s wife?”
Seeing him speak Yang Jingyuan’s name directly, Ji Yingying bowed slightly: “I am the Second Miss of the Ji family.”
Physician Xu made a gesture of support, maintaining his composure as he invited Ji Yingying to sit. Inwardly, he was extremely annoyed, thinking that the young man Old Shu had brought was indeed unpredictable. This was the Eastern Chuan army’s secret communication point, a military intelligence channel.
Yet Yang Jingyuan had casually used it for family correspondence. If not for Commander Guo’s appreciation of that young man’s martial arts, and Old Shu owing the Elder Master Yang a favor, he would find an opportunity to teach that young man a lesson.
“Did Young Master Yang tell you that any message passed through me must be inspected?” Physician Xu said coolly.
Ji Yingying had anticipated this place might be an Eastern Chuan army communication channel, and she had come precisely to inform Yang Jingyuan of what she knew. The letter contained no intimate words. She took out the pre-written letter and placed it on the table: “Thank you for your trouble, Master Xu.”
Physician Xu opened and read the letter in front of her. Its contents were similar to what he had been reporting to the Eastern Chuan Governor’s mansion these days, only more certain that Nanzhao would attack Yizhou city. He resealed the letter impassively and said, “Third Madam Yang plans to leave through the North Gate to find Third Young Master Yang?”
Ji Yingying shook her head and said, “I’m returning to my maiden family.”
The Nanzhao army was in the south. The Ji family was outside the western city, dozens of li away. Her sister-in-law was due to give birth in two months. Though Madam Yang Stone had sent someone to warn them, her mother and brother’s family might still harbor false hope. Ji Yingying planned to return home briefly to persuade her mother and brother’s family to leave immediately for Daoist Master Huaqing’s mountain hut on Mount Qingcheng to avoid the war.
The thirty thousand pieces of brocade from the city would buy them time. The Nanzhao army would need at least two or three days to reach Yizhou Prefecture. That was enough time to relocate.
According to Physician Xu’s knowledge, the Nanzhao army’s main camp was in Qiongzhou. The left and right armies had broken camp last night and disappeared. Most likely they would begin encircling Yizhou from the east and west gates, eventually completing the siege. Currently, no Nanzhao troops had been spotted except near the North Gate, making both east and west routes potentially unsafe. He advised, “Since Third Madam Yang also judges that Nanzhao will attack Yizhou city, why not go to Santai through the North Gate before the siege begins?”
“Thank you for your kind advice. If you see Third Brother, please tell him that I’ve gone to Mount Qingcheng with my mother and brother’s family to find his master.” Ji Yingying did not attempt to hide her movements and plans.
Taking shelter on Mount Qingcheng was also a good solution. Physician Xu ceased his persuasion: “Rest assured, Third Madam Yang, I will deliver the letter today.”
“May I ask one presumptuous question? Nanzhao is coming with an army of two hundred thousand. The Eastern Chuan army is the closest stationed force to Yizhou Prefecture. Will they come to break the siege? If you find this inappropriate, you need not answer.”
Physician Xu smiled slightly: “That depends on when the Emperor issues his decree.”
Without an imperial edict, the Eastern Chuan army couldn’t leave their territory at will. With Nanzhao attacking Western Chuan, the Eastern Chuan Governor’s office was also closely watching the situation in Yizhou Prefecture, uncertain whether Nanzhao would continue to attack Eastern Chuan.
Once the imperial edict arrived, the Eastern Chuan army would certainly come to Yizhou’s aid. With reinforcements, Nanzhao might not be able to take Yizhou city. Ji Yingying secretly breathed a sigh of relief and thanked him again. She left Xu’s Medical Shop and urged Ji Fu to drive quickly back to Sandaoyan.