Mian Tang casually picked up a letter and glanced at it. These documents had already been meticulously examined by Cui Xingzhou, Li Guangcai, and a group of scribes. As a novice, she felt no need to scrutinize them further.
Abandoning the documents, she turned her attention to other items. Cui Xingzhou, realizing they wouldn’t find anything more in the papers, thoughtfully pointed to a large porcelain jar filled with scroll paintings. “It seems this Takatsuji general was a man of refined tastes, particularly fond of collecting landscape paintings.”
Hearing this, Mian Tang walked over, pulled out a scroll, and slowly unrolled it. The painting’s artistic conception was indeed beautiful, depicting the famous Dai Mountain within the Great Yan borders. Misty clouds swirled around imposingly steep peaks. Though not the work of a renowned artist, it bore only the seal of “Master Wei.”
Mian Tang, however, furrowed her brow as she examined it closely. She then proceeded to extract several more paintings from the jar, spreading them out one by one.
Cui Xingzhou knew she possessed a unique intuition for appraising artwork. After all, when she had competed with Zhao Jiayu for the Bitter Brush Hermit to paint plates at her porcelain shop, she had shown remarkable insight. She had discovered hidden courtesans in the dragonflies’ eyes within the paintings, outshining the Marquis of Zhengnan and greatly irritating Zhao Jiayu.
He wondered if these paintings, like those of Mr. Chen, the Bitter Brush Hermit, concealed another world within their tiny details.
Just then, Liu Mian Tang pointed to a reddish-brown rock in the painting. “Do you notice these scattered red rocks in each of these paintings?”
Cui Xingzhou looked closely and indeed found reddish-brown rocks in all the paintings. However, since they were all by the same artist, “Master Wei,” the similar style made the inconspicuous rocks seem unremarkable.
Mian Tang, however, leaned in for a closer look and then asked Cui Xingzhou to bring her a brush and white paper. Intrigued, he sat cross-legged on the floor beside her, grinding ink and preparing the paper.
Liu Mian Tang carefully examined the dates on the paintings, rearranged them in order, and began tracing the red rock sections onto the paper.
As the red rocks from several paintings came together, they revealed a pattern. Like a child’s tangram puzzle, the pieces fit perfectly. Moreover, the textures on the rocks gradually formed an outline—the internal structure of a cannon.
Cui Xingzhou, watching Liu Mian Tang magically reveal the paintings’ secret, stood up abruptly. “How did you discover this?” Most people, unaware of the hidden mystery, would never think to piece together the rocks in this manner.
Mian Tang looked up at him and said, “When I was at Yangshan, I once saw similar paintings in Liu Yu’s study.”
Liu Yu was an art enthusiast, his study walls were adorned with works by famous artists. The presence of paintings by such an obscure artist seemed peculiar.
“Liu Yu taught me this method of deciphering paintings,” she continued. “Although at that time, his paintings concealed birds, not rocks. The birds’ eyes revealed the route map for your grain transport. These paintings were bought by Liu Yu’s men from shops in the town below the mountain. No one would pay attention, and even if soldiers found them, they wouldn’t notice anything without knowing the secret. I don’t know who this artist works for, but judging by the style, though slightly different, it’s very similar. Liu Yu probably knows who the artist is. If you want to know, you can ask him when you return to the capital.”
Hearing this, Cui Xingzhou’s eyelid twitched slightly.
At the beginning of the war with Yangshan, his troops had indeed lost a considerable amount of grain. At the time, he suspected an insider was collaborating with the Yangshan bandits, cutting off the grain supply routes.
Later, when he commanded the siege of Yangshan, he also reorganized internal affairs, replacing all the grain officials and adding several decoy granaries to stop the leak of information.
Had the emperor received such paintings before? Did he know the identity of the “Mountain Ghost” artist? Or was it possible that the emperor himself was secretly colluding with the Takatsuji?
At this thought, Cui Xingzhou’s expression turned frosty.
He had believed that Liu Yu, having experienced hardship among the common people, would understand their suffering. But if Liu Yu was going to such lengths to eliminate him, even using the Japanese as a tool for murder, it was truly despicable!
With the matter still unresolved, he was reluctant to think further, not wanting to imagine the Great Yan’s supreme ruler in such a negative light.
For now, his mind was filled with tangled threads that needed careful unraveling…
However, he gently corrected the former bandit leader on one point: “He is now the supreme emperor. You should no longer address him by name.”
Previously, when he had been jealous, Mian Tang had coaxed him by promising never to mention Liu Yu’s name again. But now, the female bandit Lu Wengang had resurfaced, speaking without restraint.
Cui Xingzhou felt the need to correct her to prevent potential gossip from malicious listeners.
Liu Mian Tang laughed carelessly, “If you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten. It’s been years now, and everything is different from before. Those who found the Way have long since become immortals.”
With that, she stood up, intending to return. After a few steps, seeing Cui Xingzhou still motionless, leaning against the table deep in thought, she went back, took his hand, and led him to the bedroom where they lay down embracing each other.
Today, he had received the shocking news of his mother’s serious illness, which had already put him in a somber mood. Now, with the discovery of this “Master Wei,” he was unlikely to sleep all night. But they had to continue their journey tomorrow, and Mian Tang truly felt sorry for Cui Xingzhou.
Initially, she had felt estranged from him, but even without her memories, the familiarity built through countless small details of married life was enough to put her at ease.
For instance, he had never asked her what the Takatsuji might have done to her during her captivity.
Later, when she curiously asked if he wasn’t jealous, Cui Xingzhou calmly replied, “You’re back with me now, aren’t you? So whatever he might have done to you doesn’t matter. Whether he did anything or not, I won’t let him live…”
These words made Mian Tang’s eyes shine brightly, thinking the Prince of Huaiyang was truly a man of principle who didn’t fuss over trivial matters. Of course, she wouldn’t let herself be tainted and simply said that the Takatsuji leader had been a gentleman, always treating her with respect.
But after her explanation, Cui Xingzhou became jealous, asking Liu Mian Tang if she praised him because she found the Takatsuji leader cultured and handsome.
Liu Mian Tang, not thinking it through, told the truth—she had always admired well-mannered men.
As soon as the words left her mouth, Cui Xingzhou kissed her fiercely with an expression that suggested he wanted to strangle her…
It was then that Mian Tang realized this seemingly aloof immortal was a jealous man. His perspective on jealousy might differ from others, but his pettiness was no different from ordinary people!
Yet she loved seeing him jealous. Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but gently hug his arm. He wasn’t asleep either and turned to embrace her, but his stomach let out a rumbling sound.
He hadn’t eaten much at dinner, worried about his mother. Now, hearing his stomach growl in the dead of night, Mian Tang felt sorry for him again and softly asked, “Are you hungry… We’re leaving early in the morning, and I think Mama Li prepared some night porridge for an early breakfast… Fangxie and the others have gone to bed. Should I go get you a bowl?”
Cui Xingzhou was indeed hungry, so he got up and went to the kitchen with Mian Tang.
The residence in Beihai wasn’t large, just a few steps away, so there was no need to disturb the servants, especially since they had to continue their journey the next day.
The large stove still had some embers, keeping the porridge warm. The two of them sat on stools by the stove, drinking white porridge and listening to the night insects chirping.
Mian Tang found a sugar jar by the stove and added a spoonful to Cui Xingzhou’s bowl, stirring it in. She spoke softly, “Back when I was at Yangshan, sometimes when you were chasing me urgently, I couldn’t help but envy your official position, out in the open, not having to hide like a field mouse with my brothers as I did. But now, I realize you’re a mouse too, trapped in the court’s big jar. If those above don’t like you, they can throw bricks in, leaving you nowhere to escape… It might be better to become a bandit in the mountains, free and easy…”
Cui Xingzhou, having finished the overly sweet porridge, stared at Liu Mian Tang: “Are you trying to persuade me to become a bandit with you?”
Mian Tang smiled, “I just mean to say, if those bricks hit too hard, you might as well let them break the jar. The world is vast, and there’s always a way to live. You shouldn’t worry too much. If the day comes when you have to become an outlaw, I’m quite familiar with the process and can lead you to join a bandit group or even start our own.”
This time, Cui Xingzhou laughed: “You’ve thought it through for me… But if the jar breaks, I’m afraid it won’t be the mouse in the jar who’s most anxious.”
They both spoke in riddles, exchanging words only they could understand. By the time they finished, the sky was beginning to lighten.
It was clear they wouldn’t get any sleep now, but the swaying carriage would be a good place to nap during their journey.
Cui Xingzhou woke up after sleeping for an hour in the carriage.
After the nap, his mind was much clearer.
Regardless, he had at least figured out the thread, knowing now about this deeply hidden “Master Wei.”
As Mian Tang had said, this Master Wei was no ordinary mole. Both his method of transmitting information and his unique way of operating indicated he was a highly self-regarded, refined scholar.
Cui Xingzhou couldn’t immediately think of anyone around him who could be so well-connected and hidden for so many years.
Considering their expertise in calligraphy and painting, he couldn’t help but glance at his fellow officer, Brother Guangcai.
He was busy rubbing the back of the pregnant Cui Fu and offering her tea. Since they had set out, this brother-in-law had been completely focused on his wife, too preoccupied to respond to Cui Xingzhou’s calls several times.