When dawn was about to break, the rescue troops finally arrived. They captured all the assassins and rescued Shen Xiling and Qi Ying from the cave. By that time, Qing Zhu was already dead.
Shen Xiling’s men found him in a mountain hollow far from the cave. When they discovered him, he was already covered in sword wounds on both his abdomen and back, his hand and foot tendons severed. It was clear he had suffered greatly before his death—perhaps after being captured, he was tortured for information, but no matter what, he refused to reveal where Shen Xiling and Qi Ying were hiding, which led to him being wounded so severely.
He must have died lonely and in pain.
Shen Xiling could no longer shed tears at that moment. Her eyes had long dried up. She stared at Qing Zhu’s mutilated corpse for a long time without speaking, only coming back to her senses after quite a while, ordering people to bring him back. She wanted to find him a fine coffin and then take him back to Jiankang. They were originally meant to be together—missing even one person would make them incomplete… She must take him back. Take him home.
The merchants had extensive connections and quickly arranged an escape route for Shen Xiling, concealing their tracks. They found an ordinary country gentleman’s villa in the Xiangzhou area to temporarily reside in. Their group merged like a drop of water into a river, instantly becoming silent and difficult to trace.
Additionally, Shen Xiling’s men helped her find Bai Song. He was also injured—in the abdomen and left arm—wounds sustained while fighting the black-clad men at the inn. Fortunately, rescue arrived relatively quickly that night, so Bai Song’s injuries weren’t severe. With proper care, he would recover without any threat to his life.
When he heard news of Qing Zhu’s death, he froze on the spot, then remained unresponsive for a long time. The scar on his left eyebrow became even more distinct, deep enough to see bone. He opened his mouth but made no sound. After a while, he asked Shen Xiling, “…He’s dead?”
At that time, Shen Xiling’s severe injuries hadn’t healed. The arrowhead buried in her body had only recently been removed, and the wound still caused excruciating pain. Any movement would cause fresh blood to seep out, yet this pain couldn’t compare to one ten-thousandth of Qing Zhu’s death.
She went with Bai Song to pay respects to Qing Zhu. Looking at his coffin, she said, “He left a message, saying he wanted to greet you… hoping you would visit him more often in the future.”
By then, Bai Song’s expression had become wooden. He stared at the coffin for a long time, as if still unable to believe that the person lying inside could be Qing Zhu. His brow furrowed deeply, and later he even pushed open the coffin lid, revealing Qing Zhu’s appearance.
Shen Xiling had already asked someone to clean him up, wiping away all the bloodstains and dressing him in a brand-new blue robe. He lay in the coffin as if merely sleeping, as though he would soon open his eyes again, continue to give Shen Xiling cold looks, and continue whispering complaints to Bai Song about this and that. But in reality, he would never wake up again. He was dead.
With Bai Song’s keen eye, he naturally quickly noticed the abnormalities at Qing Zhu’s hands and feet, and thus understood what he had endured before death. His fists clenched tightly, creaking. Shen Xiling could feel the violent fire suppressed in his heart—just one spark would be enough to make him explode.
He asked through gritted teeth, “Where are those people?”
Shen Xiling knew he was asking about the assassins who had pursued them, those who had brutally murdered Qing Zhu.
“They’re locked in the cellar out back, being interrogated,” she answered truthfully. “If you want to personally oversee it… then go.”
Without another word, Bai Song immediately turned and left.
Shen Xiling let out a long sigh, gazing at Qing Zhu’s coffin, standing there for a long time.
They temporarily stayed in this mansion for several days. During this time, Qi Ying’s condition improved slightly—his high fever had subsided, though he remained unconscious, still bedridden with illness.
Shen Xiling was already physically frail, and with her severe injuries, she could hardly support herself. But she knew she couldn’t collapse, or there would be no one left to hold together this mess. Therefore, even though she was drenched in cold sweat from pain all day long, she still concerned herself with his affairs, sending her subordinates to gather news from Jiangzuo while also beginning to pressure Bai Song about what exactly Qi Ying had planned before falling ill.
She had to know, otherwise his original plan couldn’t continue. He had told her he couldn’t afford to lose this time, so she must find a way to turn danger into safety.
However, Bai Song didn’t give Shen Xiling a satisfactory answer—not because he didn’t want to, but because he didn’t know.
Perhaps because the matter involved was too significant, Qi Ying had been especially cautious. Even Bai Song, who had served by his side for many years, didn’t know the full scope of his plan. He was only responsible for arranging the southbound route and knew nothing else.
Shen Xiling frowned and after thinking, asked again, “If everything had proceeded according to his plan, where should we be now?”
Bai Song hesitated for a moment, seemingly considering whether he should tell Shen Xiling everything, as this would violate his master’s instructions.
Shen Xiling’s voice grew heavier, her expression extremely serious as she said, “Things have reached this point. He can’t do anything now—only we can plan and act on his behalf. If you keep delaying and don’t speak, how can I help him? If he fails, is the price something you and I can bear?”
At that time, her severe injuries hadn’t healed, making her appear especially pale and fragile. Yet when she spoke, her expression was remarkably calm—not particularly sharp or aggressive, but it made one feel pressure nonetheless—just like Qi Ying.
Bai Song couldn’t help but think silently: Ten years had passed in a flash. That little girl who had huddled in the corner of the carriage, tears falling like pearls when heading north to Langya, had now been completely transformed into the composed and serene person before him.
He felt both gratified and deeply moved.
He was persuaded by Shen Xiling’s words. After pondering for a moment, he replied, “If following normal course, we should reach Yue’an in six days, and in fifteen days… reach Lujiang.”
Shen Xiling was stunned upon hearing this.
Yue’an? Lujiang?
A map immediately appeared in Shen Xiling’s mind.
Yue’an Prefecture was in Huozhou, while Lujiang Prefecture was in Xiangzhou. The two provinces bordered each other, both west of Jiankang, quite far from Jiankang and impossible to pass through en route.
Why would Qi Ying go there?
Six days to Yue’an, fifteen days to Lujiang—what about the nine days in between? From Yue’an to Lujiang, even by fast horse would take only one day. Even traveling by carriage more slowly, five or six days would suffice. Why had he allocated nine extra days?
What was he planning to do there?
Shen Xiling’s brow furrowed deeper and deeper.
She fell into deep thought, while Bai Song couldn’t help her with these matters, so he silently withdrew from the room. Soon after, a servant came to report that Master Gong had sent her a letter containing the Jiangzuo developments she had requested.
She immediately took the letter from the servant, dismissed everyone, and opened it to read carefully.
The letter contained only two pieces of news:
First, the Yangtze River had entered its summer flood season, with recent flooding inundating the Huainan area, leaving the people displaced and homeless.
Second, Emperor Liang was shocked and pained upon hearing this news. He had already implemented relief measures and decided to travel to Mount Yao in early June to offer sacrifices and pray for the people of Jiangzuo.
Flood… Mount Yao…
The Yangtze River faced the risk of bursting its banks and flooding every May and June. According to past patterns, this happened approximately every five or six years. Shen Xiling remembered the last flood in Jiangzuo was two years ago—she remembered clearly because many of her merchant caravans had profited greatly by trading goods between north and south during that time.
Only two years had passed… and the banks had burst again?
This wasn’t the most crucial point. Most crucial was the emperor leaving Jiankang for Mount Yao.
Mount Yao was a sacred mountain where emperors made offerings to heaven. It had always been praised as “when Mount Yao is stable, the world is at peace.” Imperial sacrifices at Mount Yao were ancient established practice, a system that existed even before Great Liang’s southern migration. But in Great Liang’s more than two hundred years of successive dynasties, only two rulers had personally gone to Mount Yao for sacrifices—the rest had merely sent officials in charge of rituals to go in their place. The current Jiangzuo floods might indeed be severe, but were they really worth the trouble of having the emperor personally leave Jiankang?
Even more heart-stopping was… Mount Yao was in Xiangzhou, in Lujiang.
Shen Xiling’s heart suddenly began beating rapidly!
She vaguely felt she had lifted a corner of the great curtain, and just glimpsing this tip of the iceberg already left her too nervous to breathe!
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down and continue thinking hard.
She remembered yesterday in the cave, she had clearly heard those who came to assassinate them mention “General Han,” confirming her earlier guess was correct. The person who wanted to kill Qi Ying was indeed in Jiangzuo. The mountain fire in Shangjing had been cover provided by Gu Juhan or the Great Wei Crown Prince for Qi Ying, and General Han Shouye must have discovered that Qi Ying wasn’t dead yet, so when one plan failed, he hatched another, intending to intercept and kill him on his journey south.
Though Shen Xiling was in the merchant trade, she deeply understood that politics and commerce were inseparable. She was well-versed in the political situations of both northern and southern dynasties, and especially familiar with the current circumstances in Jiangzuo.
Han Shouye commanded troops as he pleased, holding military authority over 300,000 soldiers, plus countless disciples and party members. He was currently the greatest obstacle in Emperor Liang’s eyes. The Qi family had already fallen, and Shen Xiling understood that Qi Ying’s position would certainly change. His relationship with the emperor was also different from before—he had become a weapon in Xiao Ziheng’s struggle against the aristocratic families, which was why Han Shouye wanted to kill him.
But if Qi Ying were in Jiangzuo, with the emperor’s protection above and the Privy Council’s support below, who could kill Qi Ying? Han Shouye would certainly have no opportunity to strike.
So… so that’s why Qi Ying personally came to escort the princess!
There must be Han Shouye’s machinations behind this!
Shen Xiling’s heartbeat grew faster and faster. The questions that had long puzzled her were unraveling like silk cocoons, revealing their true nature.
She felt wild joy at this, but at the same time knew she must immediately steady her mind and continue thinking deeply.
Xiao Ziheng wasn’t a fool. When it concerned his ancestral foundation, would he not be cautious? Didn’t he know that once Qi Ying left Jiangzuo, he would face danger? Who would be able to help him then?
Xiao Ziheng must have known, so why did he allow Qi Ying to personally go north to escort the princess?
Unless… unless this was his way of turning the tables, something arranged long ago…
Xiao Ziheng pretended to fall into Han Shouye’s trap by sending Qi Ying north, perhaps to make Han Shouye lower his guard—no, that’s not right, not for this purpose. He wanted Han Shouye to focus his attention on Qi Ying, thereby buying time for what he himself planned to do!
What was he planning to do? What was he waiting for?
Shen Xiling suddenly remembered Qi Ying’s unusual behavior when they were at the mountain retreat—in mid-May when summer began, his state was clearly different from usual, as if he was quietly waiting for something significant to happen.
Summer… summer was the Yangtze River’s flood season.
…What he was waiting for was clearly the flood!
This was a contest of political maneuvering! Qi Ying and Xiao Ziheng were working together. They must have agreed long ago to act during the summer Yangtze flood season. Even if this year’s flood season wouldn’t naturally breach the banks, they would find ways to artificially damage the embankments, all for one purpose—to leave Jiankang and go to Mount Yao.
But why did Xiao Ziheng want to leave Jiankang?
Shen Xiling thought frantically, rapidly reviewing all her operations over the past five years—her subordinate merchants, those merchants’ connections, the high officials and nobles they associated with…
High officials and nobles…
…Zhao Qinghan!
He was Han Shouye’s disciple and currently held authority over Jiankang’s defense!
Yes, that was it.
As long as Zhao Qinghan was there, Jiankang City was equivalent to being in Han Shouye’s hands. If Han Shouye harbored treasonous intentions, then Jiankang would not be a place of security for the emperor, but rather a suffocating cage, a platform for execution. Once Zhao Qinghan and Han Shouye coordinated from inside and outside, even if Xiao Ziheng grew wings, he couldn’t escape. The possibility of being forced to abdicate was extremely high!
So he needed to find an opportunity to escape Jiankang!
It must be so!
Shen Xiling understood—she understood everything…
Before her was clearly a shocking chess game, a maze laid by Qi Ying and the emperor together. They planned to join forces at Mount Yao to kill Han Shouye and seize military authority!
Author’s Note: The strong female protagonist, rise up!
PS: Zhao Qinghan was mentioned in the “Dream Awakening” chapter, and the long plotline should be mostly guessable by now (there were small clues in the previous chapter too). The next update will reveal everything~ Those who guess correctly today still get red envelopes!