Although the soldiers were no longer arresting Chu Lan’s family, they were strictly confined under guard at Qiao Mountain Academy, so Chu Tang hadn’t returned home.

At first she wandered about everywhere, but later, after receiving news from Chu Zhao and feeling reassured, she settled down in Pingyang Prefecture.

“Originally I was going to head to the mountains,” Chu Tang said. “But the court’s previous bandit suppression clearly indicated they had learned everyone’s identities, so going to the mountains wasn’t safe.”

A’Le stood guard by the door and, hearing this, retorted: “That’s not it at all. It’s clearly because Miss A’Tang couldn’t bear the hardship and refused to go, using those words to frighten Little Rabbit.”

Chu Tang didn’t deny it, laughing: “Who says that fleeing means suffering? We were imperial relatives for so many years—surely it can’t all have been for nothing.”

The small bundle Chu Tang kept with her at all times was filled with jewelry—carefully selected from imperial rewards and gifts from others—valuable, lightweight, portable, and jewelry that could be broken up and sold without revealing her identity.

She had always been one to prepare for danger in times of peace, having spent considerable thought on planning her escape route.

So although this was a flight from danger, she never lacked food or clothing along the way. Upon entering Pingyang Prefecture, she even acquired a shop and became its proprietor.

At this moment, the commotion across the street had subsided. Accompanied by footsteps, the soldiers had also moved on to other places.

Chu Zhao reached out to push open the window, looking at Ximo Pavilion across the way.

“I thought you would open a lively wine shop,” she said with a smile.

Chu Tang leaned against the window, looking across: “A lively wine shop can gather more information, but quiet places for calligraphy, painting, chess, and music can also gather information.”

Before the proclamation appeared in the prefecture, Chu Tang had already learned of it from a woman’s lips and had even written out the proclamation’s content on the spot.

“There,” she said, slightly raising her chin to look at a woman walking out of Ximo Pavilion. A maid placed a footstool before an ornate carriage that had pulled up, while another maid held a fan to shield her from the sunlight. The woman’s brow was slightly furrowed as she looked down at a piece of paper in her hand, seemingly absorbed in thought. “That’s the Prefect’s third daughter.”

Chu Zhao smiled slightly: “I’ve said it before—A’Tang, when you handle things, I’m at ease.”

A’Le added from the side: “Actually, it’s all Young Master Xue doing the work. Miss A’Tang just moves her mouth, doesn’t even need to lift a finger.”

Young Master Xue was the husband Chu Tang had packaged up and brought along in her flight.

Chu Tang smiled: “That’s because I have the keen eye to recognize talent.” With that, she dropped the small talk. “What are you planning to do? Seize Pingyang Prefecture?”

As she said this, she glanced outside.

The Prefect’s third daughter had already boarded her carriage and departed, servants surging before and behind it.

“Although I own this shop, I never show my face and have no dealings with this young lady.”

“However, I could use the pretext of delivering books to visit this young lady and enter the Prefect’s residence. Little Rabbit could disguise himself as a servant, and then we could subdue the Prefect—”

Just like they had dealt with Xiao Xun before. Chu Tang’s eyes sparkled as she made a throat-slitting gesture with her hand.

Chu Zhao laughed heartily and shook her head.

“No need, no need. If we capture the Prefect and occupy Pingyang city, a great battle would inevitably follow, which wouldn’t be advantageous for our situation.”

“I came this time not to persuade or force the authorities to surrender, but to borrow a route.”

Borrow a route? Chu Tang looked at her.

“I’m going to the capital,” Chu Zhao said.

Chu Tang understood. Everyone thought the Empress was still in Yunzhong Commandery. Suddenly appearing in the capital would catch them completely off guard—perhaps she could even put a blade directly to Xie Yanfang’s throat—

But—

“Just you alone?” Chu Tang asked calmly again.

She also knew that when she had put a blade to Xiao Xun’s throat before, though it seemed simple, it was actually due to multiple factors—the right timing, location, and circumstances.

Xie Yanfang was far more formidable than Xiao Xun.

For Chu Zhao alone, or even with a few people, it would be absolutely impossible to get close to Xie Yanfang.

Chu Zhao said: “I’m bringing thirty thousand troops.”

Thirty thousand—that was more reasonable. Chu Tang breathed a sigh of relief, but in the next moment her breath caught again.

“Thirty thousand!” Her eyes widened. “How are you going to borrow a route?”

One person, ten people, even dozens of people could slip through silently and stealthily without problem.

But thirty thousand people! And they’d need to carry weapons—there was no way they could move silently!

Chu Zhao smiled: “That’s why I came to you to think of a solution.”

Chu Tang covered her face with her fan: “If you ask me, we should just surrender.”

Chu Zhao said: “When we can’t think of a solution, that’s not a bad option either. If I surrender and get escorted to the capital, the soldiers’ attention will be drawn to me, and the others can take the opportunity to infiltrate.”

This time A’Le didn’t nod along, saying with a bitter smile: “Miss, please don’t joke.”

“No, let her joke,” Chu Tang lowered her fan. “If she can still joke, it means she really has a solution.”

Chu Zhao smiled: “Earlier, Deng Yi and I deliberated for a long time and found the fastest route.” She dipped her finger in water and drew a winding line on the table.

Chu Tang made a sound of acknowledgment. While watching her movements, she felt something wasn’t quite right.

Deng Yi? That name was so familiar.

Was he also a bandit?

Before the thought could fully form, Chu Zhao had already continued speaking.

“Waterways. The boat guilds.”

Chu Tang’s expression became clear: “I understand now. You want to borrow a route from the Tan family of Pingyang Prefecture.”

…

…

Throughout the prefecture, inspections were being conducted everywhere. On the main roads, troops constantly galloped past. The city gates were even more heavily guarded with soldiers, strictly examining those entering and leaving, so that all four city gates were packed with crowds.

A carriage came racing forward, surrounded by over a dozen household servants.

“The city is indeed under strict inspection,” said the lead servant.

They clearly already knew the current situation, but their speed didn’t slow. Moreover, when people saw them, the originally crowded throng actually parted to make way.

“It’s the Tan family.”

“The Tan family’s people.”

Amid the noisy whispers, this group quickly reached the city gate. The soldiers who had been thoroughly searching people’s carriages, horses, and even baskets inside and out all stopped when they saw them.

“Seventh Master Tan has returned,” said the City Guard Officer, who had been standing lazily to the side, hurrying forward to greet him. “This trip took seven or eight days, didn’t it?”

The carriage curtain lifted, revealing a slightly plump middle-aged man inside who nodded at the City Guard Officer as acknowledgment, then asked: “Has our area been affected too?”

The City Guard Officer said respectfully: “Our area is fine. No abnormalities have been discovered.”

Seventh Master Tan then lowered the curtain and passed through the gate into the city.

“Seventh Master,” a servant outside the carriage asked, “Shall we visit the shop, or go straight home?”

A voice came from inside the carriage: “First go see Big Brother, and have the banner chiefs come to the house to see me.”

The servant acknowledged, and the group cracked their whips, spurring their horses to gallop through the streets.

Chu Tang stood by the window, gently waving her fan as she looked down: “When we entered Pingyang Prefecture, we encountered Tan family boats transporting goods—a full eighteen of them, dominating the entire waterway. Later, after disembarking at the dock and making inquiries, we learned this was just the number from one of the Tan family’s banners. Little Rabbit was so surprised he exclaimed—what did he say?”

A’Le added from the side: “He said these are water bandits.”

“The Tan family’s ancestors were boatmen, passing down secret shipbuilding techniques. Over a hundred years of proliferation, they’ve become regional overlords, navigating between merchants, officials, and even bandits along the routes,” Chu Zhao said, clearly having researched the Tan family as well.

Chu Tang said: “The current family head is Eldest Master Tan, who holds the secret shipbuilding techniques. Unfortunately, he only has one daughter. Local rumors say the Tan family disrupted the river’s feng shui, and with boat travel inevitably causing drownings, they’ve made enemies of river gods and water spirits and been cursed. Despite having many wives and concubines, five children died in succession. Finally, Madam Tan sacrificed herself by becoming a nun, which earned them one daughter.”

“Such a treasured daughter—” Chu Zhao said. “Are you confident you can lure her here?”

Chu Tang waved an invitation card with her hand, saying with a beaming smile: “How wonderfully prescient I am! I’ve been operating here early on, and Ximo Pavilion’s literary gathering has just begun to gain some reputation. Not long ago, Miss Tan’s maid came to buy a literary collection. Although the young lady herself hasn’t visited, I think she’ll be interested in the upcoming literary gathering.”

Chu Zhao smiled and said: “So as I said, A’Tang, when you handle things, I’m at ease.”

Chu Tang accepted the compliment without hesitation, then saw Chu Zhao reach up to touch her own face.

“What a pity,” she said with a soft sigh.

“A pity about what?” Chu Tang asked, puzzled.

Chu Zhao looked at the people coming and going on the street: “A pity I’m not as good-looking as Xie Yanfang.”

Chu Tang was stunned. Why was she thinking about Xie Yanfang now? And comparing beauty?

She studied Chu Zhao and made a sound of acknowledgment: “You’re indeed not as beautiful as him.” Then she couldn’t help but laugh. “But what good would it do if you were more beautiful than him?”

Chu Zhao also laughed. Yes, even if she were more beautiful than him, she still couldn’t seduce someone’s daughter.