In Li Du Mansion, storm clouds were gathering.

The dragon boat’s launching ceremony was suddenly canceled, leaving Song Muchuan, who had prepared for so long, caught completely off guard.

Wanyan Jun seemed to have sensed something. He cleared away all the craftsmen and personally led his men to thoroughly inspect every inch of the dragon boat, inside and out.

Fortunately, Song Muchuan was extremely cautious in his work, and Wanyan Jun found nothing.

But when the east doesn’t brighten, the west does—in another matter, he had made enormous progress.

The Yucheng Army had always been a knot in his heart, even becoming a lingering nightmare that haunted him. At the time, forced by circumstances, he had accepted that outcome, but he still felt there were huge doubts within it.

Gusha’s death made him vaguely aware that beneath the deep waters of Li Du Mansion lay even greater secrets.

He could refuse to acknowledge it, but he had to know the truth.

So he secretly sent people to excavate in the ruins of Tiger Kneel Mountain. Even though much time had passed and excavation had become extremely difficult, Wanyan Jun was determined that no matter how much effort it took, he would confirm that the Yucheng Army’s bodies were buried there.

This project would take a long time and originally wouldn’t have yielded results so quickly, but recently heaven sent a torrential downpour that lasted several days, washing out the sand and stones in the mountains and exposing the corpses buried within.

It could truly be said that human calculations are inferior to heaven’s plans.

Upon counting, they discovered that in the ruins there were only the armor and clothing of the Yucheng Army—the number of bodies didn’t match.

For Wanyan Jun, this wasn’t the best answer, but knowing the truth meant grasping the initiative.

Tiger Kneel Mountain had been searched thoroughly without finding the Yucheng Army, so this group of living men was very likely hiding right under his nose.

What channels could transport so many people into the city without attracting attention? Where in the city would be best for hiding people?

Wanyan Jun thought it through and could only think of the massive shipbuilding project right at hand.

Connecting this to how Gusha had bitten down on Song Muchuan before his death, and how Wanyan Puo had sent word to cancel the launching ceremony, the long-standing blockage in Wanyan Jun’s mind finally cleared at this moment—when Gusha died, the archives library that was burned to ashes was meant to cover up these traces, fearing they would be investigated.

So the problem was with the shipbuilders!

On this rainy day, the ground seemed covered with a layer of sticky water vapor. Looking down the narrow street, it seemed only crowded umbrella tops were moving forward.

Xie Queshan didn’t carry an umbrella; his shoulders were already soaked. He was about to take shelter under the eaves by the earth god shrine to retrieve intelligence when an umbrella suddenly appeared above him.

Turning around, he saw Song Muchuan.

People came and went, clear rainwater fell to the ground and merged with the dust. When people’s footsteps trampled over it, it completely became a puddle of mud.

Yet he said: “Chao’en, long time no see.”

Xie Queshan’s hand in his sleeve suddenly clenched tight—he could hardly believe it, his entire body trembling imperceptibly.

He hadn’t been this nervous in a long time. Even when the Qi people discovered his identity, he could remain calm, his brain rapidly working to devise countermeasures. But at this moment his mind was completely blank.

He simply hadn’t figured out how to face his old friend.

He even suspected he had misunderstood. But through the veil of water vapor, Song Muchuan’s gaze was clear.

Song Muchuan had vaguely suspected before, but had no concrete proof. When “Goose” was Nanyi, he had actually believed it at the time.

But the intelligence from Jinling said that Zhang Yuehui was the Goose, and subsequently Nanyi had nominally remarried Zhang Yuehui and left Li Du Mansion.

Others might not understand, but Song Muchuan knew very well that Zhang Yuehui wasn’t a member of the Bingzhu Bureau—this intelligence was wrong. Thinking superficially, one might only believe that Zhang Yuehui, to save his beloved, hadn’t hesitated to sacrifice his own bright future.

But Song Muchuan detected something strange in it.

Since Zhang Yuehui could switch intelligence, he could intercept intelligence. Since they were fleeing anyway, there was no need to use such a mutually destructive method to save Nanyi.

Unless the person they really wanted to save was someone else.

Someone had to take on the Goose’s identity, otherwise that person would be in danger.

During the time from when Wanyan Puo went to Jinling to when the intelligence came back, someone in Li Du Mansion had quietly disappeared and then returned as if nothing had happened.

Xie Queshan.

As this thought grew stronger, Song Muchuan couldn’t sleep night after night. He even wanted to rush directly to Xie Queshan and force him to answer: Are you the Goose? Have you endured humiliation and heavy burdens for so many years? Are we still close friends of one heart?

But Song Muchuan ultimately did nothing. He made himself calm down and not think about this matter.

He had once said to Nanyi: just believe in him. No matter who he is, he must be fighting alongside us in the shadows.

If he was Xie Queshan, that would be like sending charcoal in snowy weather, but they absolutely couldn’t show any flaws because of this matter.

But Song Muchuan still couldn’t help thinking: all these years, had anyone ever asked him, Xie Chao’en, does it hurt?

He had thought he would remain silent until the day of celebration, when they could reunite in the joy of victory, and all past discord would vanish with their great triumph. But the situation had changed dramatically, and he too was forced into a corner—he had to come see him.

Next to the shipyard was a large flat area crowded with temporarily built thatched houses where most of the workers and craftsmen involved in shipbuilding lived. Due to the large numbers, the scale of the thatched houses almost equaled that of a neighborhood, with complex winding paths within.

Wanyan Jun led troops to surround this place.

But strangely, every room was empty.

The more Wanyan Jun searched, the angrier he became. The Yucheng Army had actually escaped? At the crucial moment, was he still one step too late?

Suddenly, a horn sounded from somewhere unknown, a fire was lit, and one thatched house instantly burst into towering flames, the fire spreading to the surroundings. Immediately drums thundered, and countless soldiers with weapons jumped down from the thatched piles where they’d been hiding on rooftops, engaging in fierce combat with the Qi soldiers.

It was the Yucheng Army!

Hidden among the crowd, they were the most ordinary common people, but when they took up weapons, they became soldiers defending home and country. They had never for a moment forgotten their mission to fight.

When the enemy changes, we change—the plan was advanced.

When the Yucheng Army learned that Wanyan Jun was leading troops to surround them, it was too late to leave. The only way to break free was to fight their way out.

This was a well-trained army that had lain dormant for a long time. In just moments, they had settled on tactics and set ambushes. They were blades that had been sharpened too long, already possessing the momentum to cut through iron like mud, waiting only for the moment of unsheathing to decide victory or defeat with their enemies.

Wanyan Jun had intended to catch the Yucheng Army off guard, but unexpectedly found himself ambushed instead. He was ultimately not as skilled at leading troops as Gusha, and for a time was beaten into complete disarray.

Though the Qi soldiers clearly showed signs of defeat, reinforcements from behind would arrive soon. The Yucheng Army didn’t linger in battle—taking advantage of their slight upper hand, they quickly withdrew. Several hundred men dispersed and left, flowing into the streets and alleys, disappearing from sight in an instant.

Cunning Han people!

Wanyan Jun ground his teeth in rage.

However, though the monks might flee, the temple couldn’t run—this entire vast Li Du Mansion was under his control. What storms could a group of scattered ants stir up?

Wanyan Jun decisively led his troops and turned around, heading directly for Wangxue Dock.

This time, he showed no courtesy at all, charging in like bandits, detaining everyone they met and smashing everything they saw, fighting all the way to the back courtyard where they roughly dragged out Madam Gantang.

Tang Rong, protective of his mistress, immediately fought with the Qi soldiers, but ultimately was outnumbered. In the end, he was tied up and thrown in the courtyard.

Everyone in Wangxue Dock was herded together. Torture instruments were set up in the courtyard to interrogate Tang Rong.

He was a member of the Yucheng Army.

Xie Queshan arrived leisurely at this moment, settling calmly into a chair nearby. His brow furrowed slightly as he said: “Nothing in my house is cheap. Lord Wanyan has smashed so much—I won’t ask you to compensate, but you must give me a share of the credit.”

Wanyan Jun had been somewhat wary of Xie Queshan, but this reaction actually left him fairly satisfied.

Those who understand the times are wise.

Though Xie Queshan’s status was sensitive, even when Wanyan Puo went to Jinling, she hadn’t found any problems with him. Wanyan Jun naturally trusted the Princess Imperial’s judgment.

Moreover, Wanyan Jun was somewhat skeptical. He had relied on only three Han people in total: Zhang Yuehui, Song Muchuan, and Xie Queshan. One or two having problems might be coincidence, but surely all three couldn’t have problems? That would make the Qi camp truly a place where people could come and go at will.

Absolutely impossible.

Wanyan Jun was still in his fury toward Song Muchuan, wishing he could immediately capture both him and the Yucheng Army and dismember them all. His guard against Xie Queshan unconsciously relaxed.

“Naturally. Young Master Queshan, what I promised you, I won’t forget. I won’t touch anyone from the Xie clan, but beyond the Xie surname…”

His gaze indicated toward Madam Gantang, who was forced to sit in a chair, looking somewhat disheveled, though no one was torturing her—they were just making her watch Tang Rong being tortured.

Both of these were people connected to the Yucheng Army. Killing the chicken to warn the monkey would surely extract some information.

Xie Queshan calmly withdrew his gaze and said: “Lord Wanyan is a gentleman who keeps his promises. You give this humble official such face—I will remember it in my heart. Today, however you wish to conduct your interrogation in my home, however long you wish to do it, it’s all as you please. I absolutely won’t interfere.”

Wanyan Jun’s gaze darkened, showing several traces of cruelty. With a light gesture, a red-hot branding iron was pressed directly into the man’s chest.

Tang Rong bit his teeth and groaned, his limbs trembling uncontrollably. The cooling iron made sizzling sounds that sent chills through people’s hearts.

“Madam Gantang, how long your loyal servant must suffer depends entirely on your single thought. As long as you tell me where the Yucheng Army is hiding and what their ultimate purpose is, everything can end immediately. I also promised Young Master Queshan that I absolutely won’t harm you.”

Though Wanyan Jun’s tone was polite, in this context it seemed particularly sinister.

Madam Gantang was already in tears. She knew catastrophe had struck and the worst had happened. In this moment, human flesh and wisdom were both insignificant—whatever they did would be like throwing eggs against rocks. They couldn’t match those powerful monsters.

Most cruel of all, the enemy had placed the power to stop this in her hands. She even hated herself for living to see this moment. She couldn’t bear to watch Tang Rong suffer like this—he was the warrior who had pulled her from the mire! He had stayed far from his comrades, far from the military camp where he fought, just to protect her. How could she watch him suffer so greatly?

Her entire body felt numb and painful along with his, but she knew nothing—what could she say?

Even if she knew, she couldn’t speak!

She was restless and at her wit’s end. Her body had only instinct left, all her blood rushing to her head. She suddenly broke free from the Qi people’s restraints and rushed to Tang Rong’s side, barehanded snatching the branding iron from the torturer’s hands, not feeling the burn. Even the torturer was somewhat caught off guard, unconsciously loosening his grip, allowing her to forcibly snatch away the iron and hurl it far away.

She spread her arms to shield Tang Rong, crying and screaming: “Come at me with whatever you have!”

Wanyan Jun stroked his chin, watching this scene with great interest.

Xie Queshan sighed helplessly and said to Madam Gantang: “Second Sister, don’t add to the trouble.”

Madam Gantang glared at him, then stiffly took a few steps toward him, her surging anger almost overflowing.

Xie Queshan thought he would at least get slapped, but unexpectedly Madam Gantang’s legs went weak, and she crawled forward on her knees, throwing herself before him.

This action shocked even Xie Queshan.

Her eyes were full of despair—now she could only beg him.

“Chao’en, don’t do this, save him…”