Dark clouds obscured the moon. Under the pitch-black night sky, thick smoke billowed from the distant Zhou Manor, flames reaching toward the heavens. The acrid smell of burning was carried far by the night wind.
Even though the common people along the street heard the sounds of burning and shouting, and through door cracks glimpsed the state soldiers filling the streets and the projectiles flying toward Zhou Manor, none had the courage to open their doors. Without exception, they played deaf and dumb, tightly shutting their own doors and windows. Even the night cries of infants were muffled.
Xiao Li led Zhou Sui’s group who had escaped from Zhou Manor to hide in an alley. Zhou Sui had been dragged and hauled in frantic flight the entire way by that square-faced man. Now leaning against a moss-covered brick wall, his hair roots were soaked through with sweat, the blood traces on his face steamed by the heat becoming even more sticky.
But he had no leisure to care about this. His thin chest heaved violently, gasping urgently like a broken bellows, saying intermittently to Xiao Li: “I received news… that Da Niang was in the west wing of the rear courtyard of the government office. When my people went to rescue her, they were caught like turtles in a jar, charged with the crime of stealing defense maps. Immediately the Thousand Machine Battalion brought siege equipment to surround and slaughter the manor…”
Earlier he hadn’t had time to say a word before the soldiers who had attacked through Zhou Manor’s front courtyard had already surged toward the rear courtyard. The situation was urgent, so Xiao Li had first led them in fighting their way out.
Now speaking of everything that had happened in this half day, his eyes once again became bloodshot and red. Tears rolled from his eye sockets. He desperately raised his head, his Adam’s apple sliding up and down, yet still could not swallow down the pain that pressed upon him until he could barely breathe. His five fingers clenched tightly: “This was premeditated all along. To eliminate all my Zhou family’s forces in Yongzhou, Pei Song took great pains. Whether the news that Da Niang is still alive is true or false, I… don’t know anymore…”
Perhaps because it was too painful, by the time he reached the end, his voice had already gone hoarse.
The distant firelight reddened half the sky. Most of Xiao Li’s face was hidden in darkness. After two breaths of silence, he raised his hand and patted Zhou Sui’s shoulder, saying: “In any case, thank you.”
Zhou Sui had originally kept his jaw tightly clenched, but in the end could not withstand the growing sourness gathering in his eye sockets. He shook his head, letting out a “heh” sound as he collapsed into hoarse sobbing: “It’s my incompetence, my thinking myself clever, that caused Uncle Zhong and the others’ deaths…”
He had thought he had grasped the military intelligence regarding Pei Song’s grain transport, firmly believing that Pei Song would not set another trap for him in other matters. He had planned that if he successfully rescued Xiao Huiniang, he would use the Xu family’s water transport route to quietly send Xiao Huiniang to Pingzhou. If exposed, he would fight desperately with the old subordinates, catching Pei Song’s lackeys stationed in Yongzhou off guard, then likewise take Xiao Huiniang and the old subordinates south to join Wen Yu.
Thus, he could still get the better of Pei Song before Pei Song truly made his move to eliminate him.
But his so-called thorough plan was nothing but a joke from beginning to end.
This was a death trap laid out specifically for him.
Pei Song was truly the one outside the chessboard, holding the pieces and deploying the entire game.
His emotional collapse and crying made the manor guards and old subordinates who had escaped death with him also redden their eyes. Thinking of their companions who had died in the rain of arrows and artillery fire, each felt extremely grieved in their hearts.
Xiao Li’s hand on Zhou Sui’s shoulder gripped firmly, but he didn’t speak many words of comfort.
Some pain, no matter how much one says, remains pale. One needs to grit one’s teeth and endure it, to hate, to remember, to seek revenge.
Chaotic footsteps came from the distance, faintly accompanied by state soldiers’ shouts as they searched. Xiao Li raised his eyes to glance in that direction.
The square-faced man who had been protecting Zhou Sui all along also changed expression and said to Zhou Sui: “Young master, a gentleman’s revenge is never too late even after ten years. Let’s first find a way to leave the city!”
Xiao Li directly took up his blade and rose, saying to the man: “Take your young master and go.”
Having fought their way out of Zhou Manor earlier, the man had already witnessed Xiao Li’s domineering martial arts and knew deeply that with Xiao Li traveling with them, they would be much safer. Seeing Xiao Li heading toward the alley exit, he hurriedly asked: “You won’t go with us?”
Xiao Li had already reached the alley entrance. Under the sky darkly reddened by firelight, he turned his face halfway back and replied: “I’m going to draw away the pursuing soldiers.”
—
The Zhou family’s residence seemed to have burned almost completely. The distant firelight had dimmed. Under the night sky’s faint red floated a ring of ashen black. Even the wind blowing from that direction carried ash particles.
Xiao Li pulled his long blade from the last fallen state soldier. The hem of his robe was splattered with star-like drops of blood. Hearing chaotic footsteps from behind again, he looked sideways.
The several Zhou Manor old subordinates who had pursued him met his pair of calm yet indifferent eyes, then looked at the corpses lying in all directions at his feet. They unconsciously swallowed, coming to a halt several zhang away, stating their purpose: “We… we have come on young master’s orders to help… help Your Excellency!”
The latter half of the sentence clearly lacked confidence.
Xiao Li didn’t look at the newcomers again. He sheathed his blade and said: “Thank your young master for his kind intentions. I’ve already dealt with the pursuing soldiers. You may return.”
The group heard that Xiao Li clearly had no intention of traveling with them further. For a moment they were all somewhat anxious, racking their brains trying to think of more persuasive words: “This… Your Excellency…”
However, before the words could be spoken, an explosion sound suddenly came from the western part of the city. The group turned to look and saw towering flames also rising in the west.
One Zhou Manor old subordinate familiar with the city’s terrain found this rather strange: “That area in the west is all residential alleys. How could there be a fire tonight too?”
Seeing that patch of firelight, Xiao Li’s brow suddenly jumped. Behind them on the main street, cavalry came pursuing on horseback again. From far away they began shouting for them to surrender without resistance.
Several Zhou Manor old subordinates saw that Xiao Li was still staring at the western firelight and called out loudly to him, telling him to also quickly scatter and escape through the alleyways. Who would have expected that Xiao Li would only continue staring at the increasingly fierce fire in the west, turning a deaf ear to all surrounding sounds.
Seeing the urgently galloping horse and rider about to collide with him, the cavalryman on horseback with a fierce and sinister face drew the saber at his waist and chopped down at Xiao Li. The Zhou Manor old subordinates were frightened out of their wits, wanting to rush over and knock him aside, but no matter what, it was already too late.
The warhorse’s neighing came. Blood color splashed under the hooves, but it was not Xiao Li’s blood.
As the Zhou Manor old subordinates came back to their senses from their shock, they saw only the cavalryman’s corpse remained on the ground, while Xiao Li had already seized the mount and galloped straight toward the west of the city.
—
Two hours earlier, Yongzhou government office.
The council had ended. After the commanding general saw Zhou Sui, who had deliberately stayed until last to leave, depart into the distance, he pushed open the door to the council hall’s side room and respectfully addressed the person inside: “Grand Tutor, the bait has been cast.”
The latticed windows in the room were only opened a small crack. The light was somewhat dim. At the end of the sandalwood long table sat a flat-mouthed lotus bowl. Several palm-sized lotus leaves clustered around two slender lotus flowers in the center. Below, one could vaguely see red-scaled fish the size of thumbs swimming.
Through that small crack by the window, one could just see Zhou Sui’s figure walking past from the opposite corridor.
Pei Song pinched fish food from the nearby feed box and sprinkled it into the lotus bowl, watching several red-scaled fish peck at the food. He said casually: “The fish is clever and excessively cautious, but as long as enough bait is thrown down, there will always be a moment of letting down one’s guard.”
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly as he looked toward the commanding general: “Next, we need to be ready to pull up the rod at any time.”
The commanding general cupped his fists and nodded: “This general understands.”
After the commanding general withdrew, a personal guard emerged from the shadows and said to Pei Song: “Master, news has come back from Pingzhou that Xiao Li is dead.”
Pei Song took a handkerchief to wipe the hand that had pinched the fish food. He raised his eyebrows lightly, his tone still casual but clearly carrying sarcasm: “As expected, it’s the inherited practice of their Wen clan lineage.”
The guard flattered: “Master’s divine calculations—you first sent Yan Que over to act as a spy. With this precedent, how could Hanyang not be ‘once bitten by a snake, ten years afraid of well ropes’? Those Liang bandits speak of benevolence and righteousness with every breath. Master, why not take this opportunity to let all under heaven see clearly the despicable conduct of their Wen clan!”
“Once the reputation of mistakenly killing loyal subjects due to suspicion spreads, the reputation that Hanyang has painstakingly cultivated will also be destroyed. You can then take the opportunity to vindicate the ministers who have been wronged these past decades. At that time, the Wen clan’s Hanyang will be like a rat crossing the street that everyone shouts to beat. Perhaps without Master making another move, that rabble in their southern territory will scatter on their own!”
The more the guard spoke, the more excited his expression became. However, Pei Song didn’t pick up his thread. Only after meticulously wiping his hands did he put down the handkerchief and ask: “Has Hanyang publicly announced that Xiao Li was a spy?”
The guard heard the implication in Pei Song’s words. His smile faded slightly on his face, and gauging Pei Song’s expression, he replied: “No. Pingzhou currently claims to the outside world that Xiao Li contracted a stubborn illness from suppressing bandits and has gone to Yantang to train new soldiers and recuperate. It should be to suppress the rumors, to avoid unsettled hearts in the army before the great battle.”
Pei Song then casually glanced at him: “If so, Hanyang has neither stated that Xiao Li is a traitor nor announced Xiao Li’s death. How would you announce to all under heaven that Hanyang mistakenly killed a loyal subject under her command?”
The guard was momentarily stumped by the question. That’s right—if Hanyang had killed the person under the name of Xiao Li being their spy, and all under heaven knew of it, they could deny it. Naturally, they could use this blade twice, letting rumors and people’s hearts deal Hanyang another heavy blow.
But the current problem was that Hanyang had not done so. Instead, she had temporarily suppressed this matter, clearly eliminating all possibility of them making a big fuss about it.
Understanding all this, the guard felt ashamed and lowered his head: “It is this subordinate who is foolish and presumptuous.”
Pei Song looked at the several red-scaled fish chasing and pecking at food in the lotus bowl. His eyes were gloomy, yet his tone was light: “The people of their Wen clan have always been greedy for life and afraid of death, but they’re also not stupid.”
The guard thought of another matter and said carefully: “Master, since Xiao Li is already dead, and according to your instructions, we’ve deliberately leaked information about the woman living in the west wing to Zhou Sui—you still need to rush to Jinzhou next. That woman… how should she be dealt with?”
Pei Song’s trip was not only for Yongzhou. Setting up a trap to eliminate Zhou Sui and the Zhou family’s old subordinates behind him was only one of the objectives. Since the grain transport had to go by water route, he naturally had to personally come and inspect the water transport route, and incidentally go to Jinzhou to supervise how the city defense fortifications were being constructed.
The bait had already been thrown to Zhou Sui. Regardless of whether he would doubt the authenticity of the shipping defense arrangements, as long as he attempted to investigate, that charge would become real.
Including deliberately letting Zhou Sui know Xiao Huiniang’s location was also one of the baits.
As Pei Song had said, when enough bait was laid, even the most clever fish would eventually have a moment of dizziness and confusion.
As soon as Zhou Sui bit on any one, the hook would be immediately pulled up.
Xiao Huiniang clearly no longer had any use. What the guard’s question really meant was asking whether Pei Song wanted to end Xiao Huiniang’s life.
—
When Pei Song stepped into the west wing of the government office, Xiao Huiniang was sitting on a small stool she had moved beside the door, doing needlework. Seeing him arrive, she was very happy and hurriedly found another stool, greeting him to sit down, warmly chattering away with him, afraid he was thirsty. She went into the room without her feet touching the ground to pour tea for him.
Pei Song sat on the low stool Xiao Huiniang had moved for him. When he received the tea bowl Xiao Huiniang handed him, his expression was slightly unnatural, but his face looked more gentle than at any other time: “I apologize, Da Niang. I made a mistake. Your son didn’t return to Yongzhou, and we currently don’t know where he is. I’ve already seen the young master. The young master misses you very much, but since those currently in charge of Yongzhou are all General Pei’s people, with so many eyes around, it’s inconvenient for the young master to come see you.”
When Xiao Huiniang heard there was no news of her son, her eyes dimmed. However, her face quickly broke into a smile again as she said: “It’s all right. No news is the best news. My Huan’er killed the great general of this city, so he definitely needs to hide carefully.”
Speaking of this, her expression inevitably carried some guilt: “I’ve just caused you and the young master trouble. These past six months, it’s all thanks to you, young brother, leading this old woman to hide here and flee there. I’ve always felt rather bad about it in my heart.”
Her gaze was compassionate and serene. A strange feeling rose in Pei Song’s heart again—he had no doubt that even a beggar child by the roadside who had never seen his birth mother, being gazed at by her like this, would give rise to an illusion as if she were his own mother.
Pei Song lowered his eyes, no longer looking at Xiao Huiniang, only saying: “You’re too kind. Taking you away from Yongzhou to temporarily avoid the limelight was the young master’s intention. I’m only following orders.”
Xiao Huiniang still only smiled kindly: “The young master and the mistress both have bodhisattva hearts, but how could you guards not work hard? Moreover, this old woman knows in her heart how you’ve treated me…”
As she spoke, she glanced at Pei Song with affectionate reproach. This unconscious intimacy was a closeness that couldn’t be faked, naturally making one feel affection.
Pei Song was momentarily stunned. In this brief time, Xiao Huiniang had already retrieved from the bottom of her sewing basket a pair of brocade boots she had just finished sewing and handed them to him, saying: “You people are constantly running around outside, wearing through shoes quickly. I see your feet are about the same size as my Huan’er’s, so I sewed you a pair with double stitching according to his measurements. They’re more durable than shoes bought at the market.”
Because he was distracted, even after these shoes were placed in his hands, Pei Song hadn’t thought of how to refuse. Xiao Huiniang had already picked up half-sewn clothing material from the sewing basket and held it against him, murmuring: “I’ll also make you a set of clothes. Next time you come, you should be able to take it and wear it…”
Pei Song became even more silent. When Xiao Huiniang continued her chattering, he spoke: “Da Niang, although the attention from Xing Lie’s death has passed, the government office here is still not very safe. The young master fears some accident might happen and has asked me to find another place to settle you.”
Xiao Huiniang was startled, then smiled: “Good! If the attention has passed, my family originally had a residence in Yongcheng. Why don’t I just go home and wait? That way, if my Huan’er comes back someday, he won’t be unable to find anyone.”