Although the officials no longer arrested Chu Lan’s family, they were strictly confined and watched at the Qiaoshan Academy, so Chu Tang did not return home.
At first, she traveled around, but after receiving news from Chu Zhao, she felt relieved and settled in Pingyang Prefecture.
“I originally planned to go to the mountains,” Chu Tang said, “but the court’s previous bandit suppression campaign clearly showed they know everyone’s identities, so going to the mountains wouldn’t be safe.”
A-Le stood guard by the door and, overhearing this, refuted: “What nonsense! The truth is, Lady A-Tang couldn’t bear hardship and refused to go, using those excuses to frighten little Tu.”
Chu Tang didn’t deny it and laughed: “Who says that fleeing means you have to suffer? We’ve been imperial relatives for so many years, surely we shouldn’t have wasted that status?”
The small bundle that Chu Tang kept ready at all times was filled with jewelry, carefully selected from official rewards and gifts from others, valuable, lightweight, easy to carry, and could be sold without revealing one’s identity.
She had indeed been prudent, putting a lot of thought into preparing her escape routes.
So despite being on the run, she never lacked food or clothing. After entering Pingyang city, she even acquired a shop and became its proprietor.
By now, the commotion across the street had subsided, and with the sound of footsteps, the soldiers had gone elsewhere.
Chu Zhao pushed open the window and looked at Xì Mò Xuān (Cherishing Ink Pavilion) across the street.
“I thought you would open a bustling restaurant,” she said with a smile.
Chu Tang leaned against the window, looking across the street, and said: “A busy restaurant can gather more information, but a quiet place for painting, calligraphy, chess, and music can also gather intelligence.”
Before the declaration appeared in the prefecture city, Chu Tang had already learned of it from a woman, and had even written out the content of the declaration on the spot.
“Look,” she raised her chin slightly, watching a woman walking out of Cherishing Ink Pavilion. A maid placed a footstool in front of an approaching luxurious carriage, while another maid held up a fan to shield her from the sun. The woman’s brows were slightly furrowed as she lowered her head to look at a piece of paper in her hand, seemingly lost in thought. “This is the third young lady of the Prefect’s family.”
Chu Zhao smiled slightly: “I’ve always said that I trust you, A-Tang, to handle matters well.”
A-Le added from the side: “Actually, Master Xue did all the work. Lady A-Tang only moved her mouth, not even her hands.”
Master Xue was the husband whom Chu Tang had bundled along in her escape.
Chu Tang smiled: “That’s because I have a discerning eye for talent.” She then put aside the idle chat, “What do you plan to do? Take over Pingyang Prefecture?”
As she said this, she glanced outside.
The Prefect’s third daughter had already boarded the carriage and left, with servants surging before and after the vehicle.
“Although I am the owner of this shop, I never appear in public and have no dealings with this young lady.”
“However, I can use the pretext of delivering books to visit her, entering the Prefect’s mansion. Little Tu can disguise himself as a servant, and then we can 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 and shook her head.
“No need, no need. If we capture the Prefect and occupy Pingyang city, it would inevitably lead to a major battle, which wouldn’t be advantageous for our situation.”
“I came this time not to persuade officials to surrender, but to borrow a route.”
Borrow a route? Chu Tang looked at her.
“I want to go to the capital,” Chu Zhao said.
Chu Tang understood. Everyone thought the Empress was still in Yunzhong Prefecture, so suddenly appearing in the capital would catch them unprepared. Perhaps she could directly put a knife to Xie Yanfang’s throat—
But—
“By yourself?” Chu Tang asked calmly.
She also knew that while she had managed to put a knife to Xiao Xun’s throat before, though it seemed simple, it was actually due to a combination of timing, location, and various other factors.
Xie Yanfang was a far more formidable person than Xiao Xun.
It would be impossible for Chu Zhao alone, or even with a few people, to get close to Xie Yanfang.
Chu Zhao said: “I’m bringing thirty thousand troops.”
Thirty thousand, that could work, Chu Tang breathed a sigh of relief, but in the next moment, she tensed up again.
“Thirty thousand!” Her eyes widened. “How will you borrow a route?”
One person, ten people, or even several dozen people could move silently and stealthily without issue.
But thirty thousand people! And carrying weapons! There was no way to do that quietly!
Chu Zhao smiled: “That’s why I’ve come to you to find a solution.”
Chu Tang covered her face with a fan: “If you ask me, I think we should just surrender.”
Chu Zhao said, “If we can’t think of a solution, that’s not a bad option. If I surrender and am escorted to the capital, the soldiers’ attention will be drawn away, allowing others to sneak in.”
This time A-Le didn’t nod along, but smiled bitterly: “Young Lady, please don’t joke about this.”
“No, let her joke,” Chu Tang lowered her fan. “The fact that she can still joke means she truly has a plan.”
Chu Zhao smiled and said: “Earlier, Deng Yi and I discussed for a long time and found the fastest route.” She dipped her finger in water and drew a winding path on the table.
Chu Tang made a sound of acknowledgment, watching her actions while feeling something wasn’t quite right.
Deng Yi? That name was familiar.
Was he also a mountain bandit?
As this thought flashed through her mind, Chu Zhao had already continued speaking.
“Waterways, shipping guilds.”
Chu Tang’s expression cleared in realization: “I understand now. You want to borrow a route from the Tan family of Pingyang Prefecture.”
…
…
Throughout the prefecture city, inspections were being conducted everywhere. On the main roads, troops frequently galloped past. The city gates were heavily guarded with soldiers strictly examining everyone entering and leaving, causing crowds to gather outside all four gates.
A carriage, surrounded by more than a dozen servants, sped toward the city.
“The city is indeed under strict inspection,” said the lead servant.
They knew the current situation, but their pace didn’t slow. Seeing them approach, the originally crowded masses parted to make way.
“It’s the Tan family.”
“People from the Tan family.”
Amid the murmurs and chatter, this group quickly reached the city gate. The guards who had been thoroughly searching people, carts, and baskets inside and out, saw them and stopped their work.
“Seventh Master Tan has returned,” the previously lazy city guard hurriedly came forward to greet him. “You’ve been gone for seven or eight days, haven’t you?”
The curtain of the carriage lifted, revealing a slightly plump middle-aged man who nodded to the city guard in response to his words and asked: “Has our area also been affected?”
The city guard respectfully replied: “Our area is still fine. No abnormalities have been detected.”
Seventh Master Tan then lowered the carriage curtain and passed through the city gate.
“Seventh Master,” a servant outside the carriage asked, “shall we go to the shop to check, or return home directly?”
A voice came from inside the carriage: “First, go see Big Brother, and have the flag masters come to our home to meet me.”
The servant acknowledged, and the group spurred their horses and galloped through the streets.
Chu Tang stood by the window, gently fanning herself as she looked down: “When we entered Pingyang Prefecture, we encountered Tan family boats transporting goods. There were a full eighteen of them, occupying the entire waterway. Later, after disembarking, we inquired and learned that this was just the number from one flag of the Tan family. Little Tu was so surprised he exclaimed. What did he say?”
A-Le added from the side: “He said they were water bandits.”
“The Tan family’s ancestors were boat workers who passed down shipbuilding secrets. Over a hundred years, they flourished and became regional overlords, maneuvering among merchants, officials, and even bandits along the routes,” Chu Zhao said, clearly having researched the Tan family.
Chu Tang said: “The current head of the family is the Tan family’s eldest master, who also holds the shipbuilding secrets. However, unfortunately, he has only one daughter. Local legend has it that the Tan family violated the feng shui of the river, and since boating inevitably leads to drownings, they offended river gods and water ghosts, falling under a curse. Despite having many wives and concubines, they lost five children one after another. Finally, Tan’s wife sacrificed herself to become a nun, which brought them a daughter.”
“Such a precious daughter—” Chu Zhao said: “Can you manage to bring her here?”
Chu Tang waved an invitation in her hand, smiling: “How could I have been so farsighted? I established myself here early on, and the reputation of the Cherishing Ink Pavilion’s literary gatherings has just begun to rise. Not long ago, a maid of the Tan young lady came to buy a volume of collected works. Although she didn’t come in person, I think she might be interested in the upcoming literary gathering.”
Chu Zhao smiled and said: “That’s why I said I trust you, A-Tang, to handle matters well.”
Chu Tang unhesitatingly accepted the compliment, then noticed Chu Zhao touching her face.
“What a pity,” she sighed softly.
“What’s a pity?” Chu Tang didn’t understand.
Chu Zhao looked at the bustling street and said: “It’s a pity I’m not as good-looking as Xie Yanfang.”
Chu Tang was stunned. Why was she thinking about Xie Yanfang at a time like this? And comparing beauty?
She examined Chu Zhao and made a sound of agreement: “You’re 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 couldn’t seduce the girl anyway.