Just then, a squad of Qi soldiers suddenly burst onto the street, beginning to violently arrest and interrogate people. Amidst the commotion, Nanyi heard that these men had come to investigate members of the Bingzhu Division.
Nanyi felt something was amiss, unsure if she had done something wrong. She hurriedly lowered her head and walked forward, wanting to leave as quickly as possible.
“You! Stop!”
Nanyi heard a voice behind her ordering her to halt. She slowly stopped walking, her mind flashing through some worst-case scenarios as she calculated how to respond.
“Sir, my younger sister is mischievous and came out to play but got lost looking for me.”
Someone stepped in front of the Qi soldier, presenting a wooden plaque from the Shipping Bureau with an ingot of silver pressed beneath it, offering both together.
“I serve in the Shipping Bureau, working for Lord Wanyan. Please show mercy, Sir, and let me take my sister home.”
Nanyi looked back in surprise – it was Song Muchuan. She immediately understood and obediently stood behind him, taking his arm and saying pitifully, “Brother, why did you take so long to come get me?”
Song Muchuan’s arm felt somewhat stiff, but his facial expression remained forcibly calm as he used all his acting skills to smile affectionately at Nanyi.
The Qi soldier suspiciously examined Song Muchuan and Nanyi. They indeed appeared to be ordinary people. After checking the wooden plaque, he impatiently handed it back: “Unrelated persons should leave quickly. We need to search this entire street.”
Nanyi loosely held onto Song Muchuan’s arm as they walked away for quite a distance, until they had left all the commotion far behind, before she withdrew her hand.
Song Muchuan felt half his body had gone numb, his arm still maintaining its half-bent position. The few steps he walked were actually with the same hand and foot moving together.
Nanyi didn’t notice his strange behavior and asked anxiously, “Mr. Song, that letter… it won’t be discovered, will it?”
Song Muchuan came back to his senses, forcibly steadying his emotions, and smiled reassuringly at her: “He will receive it.”
Nanyi still couldn’t help asking: “Mr. Song, do you know who Yan really is?”
“No.”
“Aren’t you curious?”
“No.”
“How can you contain such curiosity…”
“That person refuses to show himself – he must have his considerations. If we insist on unmasking him, it would bring a hundred harms with no benefit.”
Nanyi took this in and nodded thoughtfully: “You’re right, I didn’t think it through.”
“Just trust him,” Song Muchuan said. “No matter who he is, he’s definitely fighting alongside us from the shadows.”
Nanyi needed to understand this kind of trust – how could one trust someone they’d never met to coordinate perfectly with them? How could one trust that his very existence was a source of strength?
She thought about it and looked at Song Muchuan with some confusion: “Trust him just like I trust you?”
Song Muchuan was suddenly stunned.
Such a statement of profound significance came so naturally from her lips that it gave Song Muchuan a sense of wildly growing personal desire.
How much did she trust him? And what kind of trust was it? If he weren’t a member of the Bingzhu Division, would she still trust him so much?
He felt both joy and fear, actually forgetting to answer her question.
Fortunately, Nanyi’s words were more like talking to herself. She was simply trying to understand this kind of bond. She turned back to take a deep look at the chaotic street – the passing pedestrians, fierce Qi soldiers, elegant guests in the wine house, merchants in the shops… Every face could possibly be “Yan.” But whoever he was didn’t matter – he would definitely give his all toward his mission, just like her and Song Muchuan.
Nanyi seemed to understand somewhat. Yes, that unseen “Yan” – they were fighting side by side, and that was enough.
…
In a wine house facing the street, Xie Queshan sat by the window. He had called the Qi soldiers – she had been lingering nearby, making it impossible for him to make contact.
Seeing Song Muchuan lead Nanyi away, he finally gave quiet instructions to He Ping.
“Go get the letter.”
His gaze followed Nanyi’s retreating figure the entire time, watching her hold Song Muchuan’s arm, watching her hair ornament sway with her steps like a dancing butterfly that seemed ready to leap before someone’s eyes.
But that butterfly flew farther and farther away, almost blocked by the layers upon layers of buildings and houses. He restrained the urge to take a step toward her, simply sitting quietly there, waiting for his heart to return to its normal rhythm.
Although they had only been apart for a few days, Xie Queshan felt as if a long time had passed. In his heart, he had already said goodbye to that person, had already accepted the conclusion that their lives would have no further intersection. Yet he still couldn’t help observing the changes happening to her. Compared to the little beggar who dared not raise her head to look at people when they first met, her steps now seemed to have become more lively, her back increasingly straight.
She should be living quite comfortably, shouldn’t she? That would be good then.
He hoped Song Muchuan would use his brain well and act with thorough consideration. A spy who couldn’t protect himself was an idiot unsuited for this line of work.
He didn’t want any danger to come to either of them, or else he really would make them both get lost from Li Du Mansion.
Just as he raised his wine cup, someone sat down across from him with complete composure, pouring wine for himself as well.
Xie Queshan frowned, looking at this annoying Zhang Yuehui.
“I’ve thought of a good plan to bring Nanyi back to my side. Do you want to hear it?”
Zhang Yuehui raised his wine cup toward Xie Queshan from across the table, revealing a confident smile on his face.
Xie Queshan originally didn’t want to pay attention to Zhang Yuehui, but the olive branch he extended was hard to refuse.
“Let’s hear it.”
Zhang Yuehui happily drank his wine: “I’m not telling you.”
Do you have some kind of problem?!
Xie Queshan forcibly swallowed back his cursing words, also raising his wine cup with a fake smile: “Then I wish you success.”
Zhang Yuehui said calmly: “I still need to borrow your favorable winds.”
What does that mean?
Xie Queshan immediately became alert, narrowing his eyes to stare at Zhang Yuehui.
Zhang Yuehui set down his wine cup and tossed Xie Queshan a wooden plaque carved with the characters for Guilai Hall.
“The team transporting laborers will soon reach Li Du Mansion. This is the token – with it, you can make contact.”
“Thank you.” Xie Queshan stood up to take it, but Zhang Yuehui pressed down on his hand.
“Xie Queshan, I know what you’re planning to do.” Zhang Yuehui looked up, his narrow eyes showing a dangerous gleam.
Xie Queshan looked down at him, remaining expressionless.
“You let me know about Princess Lingfu’s situation and told me Nanyi was in the Bingzhu Division – isn’t this using her to restrain me, to keep me from muddying the waters?”
“Yes, so what?” Xie Queshan answered frankly.
“The last person who schemed against me – the grass on his grave is probably… about this high now,” Zhang Yuehui released his hand and even gestured as if measuring, smiling as he looked at Xie Queshan. “I will come to kill you, Xie Queshan.”
“Then we’ll see what you’re capable of.” Xie Queshan tossed back a casual remark and strode away.
The contact token soon reached Song Muchuan’s hands. This was precisely his method of concealment – having the Yucheng Army disguise themselves as laborers to enter the city right under Wanyan Jun’s nose.
A hundred or so men would be conspicuous wherever they hid in the city, but shipbuilding was something that could serve as cover. Song Muchuan was conveniently in charge of this matter and could coordinate with the Yucheng Army.
Spies worked in the shadows and could turn the tide at crucial moments, but without military force in hand, even a clever woman couldn’t cook without rice. They might be able to secretly escort Prince Ling’an away, but couldn’t protect Li Du Mansion. Yet national territory should be fought for inch by inch – how could it be easily handed over to others? The arrival of the Yucheng Army was a variable, and the Bingzhu Division worked desperately to preserve them precisely because this was their greatest trump card.
The Prince should be escorted to the new capital with grand military procession, not fleeing in panic with his dignity swept away.
In the secret letter Song Muchuan gave to “Yan,” he requested help in making Wanyan Jun’s physician temporarily disappear. Nanyi needed to wait for an opportunity to enter Wanyan’s mansion openly and legitimately.
However, before this, Nanyi had already secretly employed some tactics to make things go more smoothly.
…
Wanyan Jun was extremely cautious, adding more personnel to guard his mansion so tightly that not even water could leak through. Any disturbance would not be overlooked.
But these past few days, there had always been some strange occurrences in the mansion.
Sometimes it was a pebble that flew in from somewhere unknown, making a hole in the window paper. The guards would immediately conduct a mansion-wide search, but found nothing, eventually only catching a few lazy soldiers and driving them out.
Sometimes a paper kite fell from the sky, making the guards react as if facing a great enemy. They checked inside and out, fearing it carried some message, using every method to examine it, only to prove it was just an ordinary kite.
Another day, everyone in the mansion suddenly got stomach troubles one after another. Initially everyone thought there was a traitor in the kitchen, but after investigation they discovered the kitchen had simply used spoiled ingredients by mistake, causing food poisoning.
After several such incidents, Wanyan Jun initially maintained high tension and alertness, but each disappointment seemed to verify that the imperial edict matter was pure fabrication. The unconfirmable situation repeatedly tormented Wanyan Jun’s nerves. Once, twice, then exhaustion – later he had become somewhat weary.
Just at this time, Xu Kouyue developed a high fever.
Wanyan Jun’s mansion originally had its own physician, but unfortunately, just a few days ago that physician had fallen from his horse and broken his leg. He dared not use anyone from Gusha’s military medical corps, so he had to send people to find a trustworthy female doctor with a clean background in the city.
The Bingzhu Division had already arranged the medical clinic’s records, so Nanyi, disguised as a female doctor, was naturally arranged to enter Wanyan’s mansion.
But stepping through that door was only the first step. Upon entering the courtyard, Nanyi immediately felt the stern and tense atmosphere. Looking openly, there was a guard every three to five steps, fully armed and battle-ready. This was already the result after Wanyan’s mansion had relaxed.
Standing here in reality, Nanyi perceived the gap between reality and planning. The enormous oppressive feeling of being in the enemy camp surrounded her constantly, and she had no way back – she could only forge ahead bravely. Either die or succeed.
As for this unfamiliar new face in the mansion, Wanyan Jun was somewhat wary.
Right in the courtyard, Nanyi was blindfolded, with a female servant leading her through twists and turns to the back courtyard.
When the blindfold ribbon was removed, Nanyi could see this was a woman’s side room with somewhat messy furnishings – it had apparently been searched once. This should be Princess Lingfu’s room.
Though it was broad daylight, thick curtains hung in the room, completely blocking light, with only candles for illumination.
Wanyan Jun stood in the room, his sharp gaze looking down to scrutinize Nanyi.
The female servant drew a red thread from within the curtains, saying: “Doctor, please feel the Princess’s pulse.”
Nanyi knew this was a test. Whether she could gain Wanyan Jun’s trust depended on how her “medical skills” performed.
Xu Kouyue’s sudden illness was actually arranged – Nanyi had tampered with the daily fruit and vegetables sent in, sprinkling them with specially prepared medicinal powder. This medicine only affected women, and after consumption would produce the pulse pattern of pregnancy, accompanied by symptoms like vomiting and high fever.
Faking a pregnancy pulse was to make Wanyan Jun concerned about Xu Kouyue’s physical condition and temporarily relax his vigilance toward her.
Nanyi knew nothing about medicine, but she had memorized the terminology about pulse-reading until she was completely fluent.
However, she didn’t know that the other end of the red thread was actually tied to a man’s wrist.
Xie Queshan had guessed that Song Muchuan might have Nanyi execute this mission, but didn’t know which day she would come or in what manner. On the day she entered the mansion, Xie Queshan happened to also be at Wanyan Jun’s mansion.
Wanyan Jun very spontaneously thought of a method, asking Xie Queshan to help by sitting behind the curtain to test this new female doctor’s true abilities. If she was just muddling through, then her identity would be problematic.
Xie Queshan was also somewhat astonished, but since Wanyan Jun had made up his mind to do this, further refusal would seem suspicious, so he had to sit behind the curtain. He clearly heard Nanyi’s voice and saw that blurry figure sit down at the table through the curtain.
He felt this was terrible, but couldn’t speak up to warn her.
Nanyi held that thin red thread, closing her eyes and pretending to be profound as she felt the pulse’s beating. Of course, she couldn’t sense anything – this amateur performance was somewhat spine-chilling. After pondering for a moment, she decided to follow the scripted terminology. Song Muchuan had said that after taking that medicine, even if Hua Tuo was reborn to feel the pulse, it would have to be a pregnancy pulse.
After a long while, she expertly opened her eyes and cleared her throat.
“Congratulations, Lord Wanyan, this is a pregnancy pulse!”
Wanyan Jun showed a delighted smile: “Really? Such good news deserves a great reward!”
Nanyi was about to respond when she noticed the sinister look in Wanyan Jun’s eyes and heard what seemed like footsteps surging from outside. Her heart cried out that something was wrong, and indeed the next second, guards rushed into the room, surrounding Nanyi completely.
Wanyan Jun put away his smile, his face showing anger as he shouted: “Arrest her and interrogate her thoroughly about who sent her!”
Nanyi’s heart almost jumped to her throat – how had she been discovered so quickly? What exactly had gone wrong?