The entire courtyard was filled with kneeling people, their forcibly suppressed sobs emerging from the crowd, along with the wails of men being tortured. Apart from this, everything was as quiet as if frozen. Silent terror gripped people’s hearts.
Everyone’s gaze fell on Madam Gantang kneeling on the ground and Xie Queshan.
Xie Queshan paid no attention to her pleas, only slowly helping her up from the ground and seating her in his chair.
He pressed down on her shoulders to keep her from moving, saying gently: “Second Sister, don’t hide.”
Madam Gantang was pinned in the chair, her frail body trembling, her mind instantly becoming somewhat dazed.
“Chao’en, don’t hide.”
When they were children, Xie Queshan had been mischievous, climbing wild mountain slopes with Xie Xiaoliu. He accidentally fell down the slope, half his arm torn by thorns. Not daring to tell the adults for fear of being scolded, he was finally brought listlessly by Xie Xiaoliu to Second Sister.
Second Sister applied medicine to him, but as soon as the ointment touched his wounds, he would dodge from the pain. A seven or eight-year-old boy already had considerable strength, scampering around the room like a monkey, with no one able to hold him down.
Finally, she could only say helplessly: “Chao’en, don’t hide. The more you hide, the more it hurts.”
In such chaotic times, Madam Gantang didn’t know why she suddenly remembered this past incident. Perhaps it was because she felt that Xie Queshan’s hand pressing on her was also trembling slightly. She vaguely seemed to sense something, yet couldn’t think anything through clearly—everything before her remained a confused haze.
Don’t hide? Should she just watch like this? Do nothing?
She didn’t understand. But this thread of thought still left an opening in her mind worth praying for. In her current helplessness, her heart seemed to have a small person frantically waving both arms and grabbing at air, hoping that at least once she could grasp some faint hope.
Was there still someone who could turn the tide?
Two bamboo canes had been broken already, and night had grown deep. Cold water washed out a bloody shallow pool on the ground, in which was reflected Tang Rong’s resolute face that refused to yield.
Wanyan Jun was becoming somewhat impatient: “It seems Madam Gantang’s heart is as hard as her mouth.”
He stood up and walked over, looking at Xie Queshan: “What do you think should be done about this situation?”
How could Xie Queshan not understand Wanyan Jun’s hint?
He had already given him sufficient face, but if no results were extracted from the interrogation, he was now going to move against his Second Sister.
Xie Queshan fell silent, seemingly caught in internal conflict.
“Though I made promises to you, young master, my sincerity also has limits. The Yucheng Army is hiding right in Li Du Mansion. Who knows—the moment you and I step out the door, we might be ambushed by them. There’s no time to wait slowly… We can’t lose the big picture for the sake of sincerity, can we?” Wanyan Jun’s words carried a threatening undertone. “Does the young master still insist on shielding criminals at all costs?”
Madam Gantang looked up at the silent Xie Queshan. The other party had already spoken to this extent—the hope in her heart was crumbling bit by bit. She trembled violently, wanting to grab Xie Queshan’s hand, but he stepped back, leaving her grasping empty air.
Xie Queshan bowed and said: “It’s late. This humble official should go rest. Lord Wanyan, please do as you wish.”
With that, he turned and left, leaving the entire scene to Wanyan Jun.
Before he had even left the courtyard, he heard a woman’s scream. Xie Queshan walked out the courtyard gate without looking back.
Wanyan Jun grabbed Madam Gantang by the throat and pressed her before Tang Rong.
“If she won’t speak, then you will—your comrades have all gone into hiding, only you left the group to be an obedient dog by your lady’s side. Are you willing to watch her die before your eyes?”
“—Let her go!” Tang Rong’s eyes were filled with bloodshot veins. This struck his weak spot, and he somehow found the strength to roar hysterically at Wanyan Jun, struggling so hard the iron chains rang loudly.
Wanyan Jun smiled. This tactic was rather base, but it was undeniably effective. Tang Rong was one of the finest warriors in the Yucheng Army, yet he had voluntarily left the military camp to become a minor guard in a wealthy household—what great kindness was worth his doing this?
Perhaps Madam Gantang was clear-headed, but hot-blooded young men might not be.
“Never mind that she’s just a sheltered woman—for the victory of our Great Qi, even if I slaughtered the entire city, it wouldn’t matter to me.”
Wanyan Jun’s grip tightened bit by bit. Madam Gantang’s face changed from red to white, and her throat could no longer make any sound.
“Speak! Where is the Yucheng Army hiding?”
Tang Rong panicked: “They fled in haste and didn’t have time to inform me! I don’t know!”
“Then what is the Yucheng Army’s plan?”
Tang Rong fell silent for a moment—this silence revealed both his knowledge and his hesitation.
Madam Gantang painfully shook her head at him.
This reaction made Wanyan Jun immediately laugh, his grip tightening further, veins bulging on the back of his hand: “You don’t have time to think anymore.”
Watching Madam Gantang’s breathing grow weaker, Tang Rong finally shouted in panic: “We want to seize the dragon boat!”
Wanyan Jun suddenly released his grip, and Madam Gantang collapsed to the ground. It was over—everything was too late. Her vision went black, and the dual torment of spirit and flesh made her unable to endure any longer. She fainted.
His face showed some contemplation. This objective was something he hadn’t actually considered.
All along, they had been fighting centered around Prince Ling’an, traveling all the way to Li Du Mansion. Instead, they had fallen into conventional thinking, blinded by assumptions, always wondering what kind of deceptive methods they would use to ultimately spirit away Prince Ling’an, while overlooking the optimal plan right before their eyes.
The dragon boat was originally built for warfare—attacking, it was a mobile military camp; defending, it could become a fortress. If the Yucheng Army seized it, they could carve out a bloody path for Prince Ling’an and escort him directly to Jinling.
No wonder Wanyan Puo had told him to prevent the launching ceremony—the Yucheng Army must have planned the ship seizure for that day.
Fortunately, he had extracted this information! Otherwise, the dragon boat they had expended so much effort to build would have become someone else’s wedding dress.
Wanyan Jun felt both fear and relief. He quickly realized that the Yucheng Army would definitely still be watching the dragon boat. As long as he guarded the shipyard, he could certainly catch them and capture all the rebels in one net.
“Take these two back to the prison—” His gaze swept over Tang Rong and Madam Gantang, then he paused and said, “No, let them stay at Wangxue Dock instead, lest the Yucheng Army become suspicious. Guard this place well—not even a fly can enter or leave.”
“Yes!” All the soldiers acknowledged the order.
Hearing these words, Xie Queshan, who was standing outside the courtyard wall listening to the situation, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
This seemingly very reasonable objective had apparently deceived Wanyan Jun.
Song Muchuan had come to find him in desperation, wanting him to help stage this act. The Yucheng Army matter couldn’t be hidden anymore, so they might as well use the situation to their advantage and make Wanyan Jun keep his forces at the dragon boat.
The launching ceremony was canceled, but the ship still had to be blown up, and there needed to be as many Qi soldiers on the ship as possible to achieve their goal. Though they couldn’t annihilate them completely, eliminating part of them would still be good. The Yucheng Army didn’t have numerical superiority—only by first weakening the Qi forces could they have an advantage even in direct confrontation afterward.
Tang Rong had been informed beforehand to perform this bitter stratagem. But Madam Gantang was kept unaware—she was actually the lead actress in this play. The more genuine her emotions, the more credible Tang Rong’s confession would be.
Xie Queshan felt sorry for Second Sister, putting her in that dangerous position. An ordinary woman would probably be scared out of her wits, but the situation was urgent—this was a method of no alternatives. Though they had fortunately managed to pass false information to Wanyan Jun at this moment, Xie Queshan still felt somewhat powerless. All along, he seemed to be sacrificing himself and those around him, but these were choices he had to make… He thought of Nanyi for no particular reason—perhaps letting her leave really was the best choice.
These were the final days. He had to maintain Wanyan Jun’s trust and couldn’t fail at the crucial moment. If he could gather intelligence in advance, it would be vital to the situation. Zhang Yuehui had won him several precious days—he had to help Song Muchuan complete the final plan within these days.
At this moment, the cold midnight watch bell rang out from afar.
The Nirvana Plan, the day before.
Zhang Yuehui lay on his bed in boredom, thinking: what does the success or failure of the Bingzhu Bureau have to do with me?
Knowing something couldn’t be done yet doing it anyway—that was originally a dead end. When people themselves are inadequate, even the greatest immortals can’t save them.
He was naturally the biggest winner—staying far from conflict, withdrawing completely unharmed, and even winning the beauty.
What did he have to lose sleep over?
Yet he kept tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep, always feeling something was about to happen, his heart very unsettled. Fragments flashed through his mind, and in his half-dreaming, half-waking state, it seemed as if the intervening years didn’t exist—he had returned as usual to the old mansion in Bianjing, but when he pushed open the door, he saw wild grass growing rampantly in his homeland, everything in ruins.
With a creak, the door was suddenly pushed open. Zhang Yuehui woke with a start, his back breaking out in cold sweat. Just as he caught his breath, he heard Luo Ci’s tense voice from outside the tent.
“Master, the Qi people are pursuing us.”
Zhang Yuehui wanted to sit up with a carp-like flip, but one leg couldn’t exert force. His face reddened from the effort before he could barely get up, saying somewhat anxiously: “If they’re pursuing us, then prepare to run! What are you standing here for?”
“Master, you’re injured and can’t withstand the jolting of mountain paths. This subordinate thinks we should disguise ourselves and take the main road instead.”
“No good—that’s too dangerous.” Zhang Yuehui immediately refused.
“But with your leg, no matter which route we take, we can’t move fast… If we’re caught up with in the wilderness, our people won’t be able to reinforce us in time. Even if you don’t consider yourself, you must consider Miss Nanyi.”
Zhang Yuehui fell silent. Luo Ci’s reasoning wasn’t without merit. The problem was that he was an invalid, holding everyone back.
Luo Ci carefully suggested: “Master, how about… we split into two groups? Let Miss Nanyi evacuate via the original planned route, while this subordinate escorts you via the main road. We can rendezvous at Xuping County ahead.”
“I definitely can’t go alone.” Nanyi walked in carrying her bundle, interrupting their dispute.
Nanyi glanced at Luo Ci: “I have to stay by your master’s side, to die together with him if necessary, otherwise he’ll always think I want to run away.”
Though Nanyi spoke quite naturally, even with some teasing, when these words reached Zhang Yuehui’s ears, they made his face flush red.
It made it seem like he was some kind of paranoid maniac, knowing it was dangerous yet insisting on tying her to his side.
“No need to say more. Luo Ci, arrange for Nanyi to leave first. I’ll cover the rear. It’s decided.”
Playing the hero—who couldn’t do that?
Could he, Zhang Yuehui, really not handle a mere Wanyan Jun?
“Don’t speak in anger,” Nanyi looked at him speechlessly. “If you really make me go alone, I might just run away by myself.”
“You wouldn’t.” Zhang Yuehui said with complete confidence.
Nanyi was still bantering back and forth with him, as if deliberately trying to ease the tense atmosphere of parting: “You’re so certain?”
“Could you bear to?” Zhang Yuehui suddenly looked up, asking back with an aggrieved expression.
“…” Nanyi was struck speechless.
“Master, Miss Nanyi, we should hurry and get on the road. Now is not the time for talking.”
Zhang Yuehui leaned on his crutch and walked with difficulty a few steps toward Nanyi, stopping before her and reaching out to caress her face.
“It’s just over a day’s journey from here to Xuping County. Don’t miss me too much.”
Unexpectedly, Nanyi didn’t slap away Zhang Yuehui’s hand as she usually would. She looked at Zhang Yuehui half-jokingly, half-seriously, saying: “You don’t miss me either. We’ll… see each other again soon.”
Zhang Yuehui answered with a playful smile: “Why do you say it as if we won’t see each other again?”
A strange expression flashed across Nanyi’s face, quickly covered by a joking demeanor: “I’m afraid you’ll hold me back. I’m telling you, I’ll only wait one day—no waiting beyond that.”
Zhang Yuehui laughed: “If you’re late, I’ll keep waiting for you, waiting until you come.”
Nanyi was stunned. He had clearly spoken with false sentiment, yet somehow seemed very serious too.
Feeling guilty, she couldn’t continue this conversation. She shouldered her bundle and walked out boldly: “I’m leaving.”
“Luo Ci, settle her in well and be sure to send people to escort her the entire way.”
“Yes, Master.”
Luo Ci immediately followed her out.
In the stable, Luo Ci brought a horse for Nanyi and handed her a sheepskin map.
“Yajiu set out from Qingzhou’s Cliff Dao Temple and is now almost at the Li Du Mansion border. If you pursue him via this shortcut, you might catch up within half a day.”
Nanyi took the map and tucked it into her sleeve. She and Luo Ci had jointly deceived Zhang Yuehui.
Luo Ci had come to find her, telling her that Yajiu had discovered core intelligence about the Nirvana Plan, but their master didn’t intend to intervene. He spoke frankly, expressing his hope that Nanyi could leave their master—she had her loyalty to home and country, but their master was definitely not her fellow traveler.
In Li Du Mansion were Nanyi’s lover, friends, and countless innocent common people. If the Nirvana Plan failed, everyone would die. She couldn’t ignore this—she had to intercept Yajiu before he entered Li Du Mansion.
She didn’t want to judge whether Zhang Yuehui was fundamentally good or bad. Whatever decision he made was beyond reproach. People who don’t look out for themselves will be destroyed by heaven and earth. Moreover, no matter what, he had given her his true heart. When she agreed to go with him, she had indeed prepared to spend the rest of her life with him. But things obtained by force are ultimately fragile.
She was going to break her word. From now on, she would owe him. If there was no chance to meet again, then in the next life, and the life after that, she would gradually repay him bit by bit.
“If I can kill Yajiu and return safely, that would be best. If I don’t return, tell him I died. Tell him not to wait, tell him to live happily for the rest of his days.”
Nanyi mounted her horse and rode away in a cloud of dust.