The candles in the hall had been replaced, and the night remained outside. No one showed signs of fatigue.
“Prime Minister Yuan, that Chapter Mu is calculating and malicious, rude and foolish—he deserves to be killed.” As Wei An spoke, nearly half the people nodded in agreement.
“When two nations are at war, envoys should not be executed. Though Chapter Mu is shameless, he is merely a messenger, nothing more than a small-minded person without much backbone. Killing him would be easy, but we risk falling into someone else’s trap and ruining the reputation for justice we’ve worked so hard to establish.” Li Yan was deeply strategic and saw things more clearly.
“I agree with Elder Li’s opinion. Not only can we not kill Chapter Mu, we must send him off courteously. Gold, grain, beauties—even if we can’t give him the amounts he demands, we must still prepare generous gifts.” Yuan Cheng said.
“Are you planning to agree to He Hu’s conditions?” This time Mo Zi’s thinking was direct.
“Agreeing is impossible. Though I have no intention of becoming supreme leader, I cannot simply hand over those who’ve genuinely come to join us to He Hu. He Hu was originally a bandit in a small mountain stronghold. He faced exclusion from the larger strongholds in the Nine Veins Mountains, then fell to becoming a hoodlum in Zicao County. He exploited the people’s dissatisfaction with the court, gathering a gang of followers. On the surface he opposed the authorities, but in reality he was swindling the common people’s hard-earned money. The Zicao County uprising wasn’t even started by him—he just took advantage of the chaos to infiltrate, then claimed credit by force. But he can’t escape his bandit origins. He lacks both the ambition to carve out new territory and the ability to hold the two provinces. He let a golden opportunity slip away, only knowing how to rely on mountains and water. Short-sighted, he’s incapable of great achievements.” Yuan Cheng had already seen through He Hu. “When I proposed cooperation with him, Chapter Mu’s final words weren’t entirely stupid. The truth is they just want to gain benefits from him, use him to tie down the government troops, while I take Xinzhou and Chenzhou.”
“Since you won’t agree to his conditions yet want to win him over, it’s because he’s holding our people.” Mo Zi understood. “Who did we send?”
“Su Lan and ten guards.” Yuan Cheng answered.
“I’m afraid even if you send generous gifts, they’ll kill Su Lan out of anger because you refuse to submit. After all, once Chapter Mu returns, it’ll be difficult for us to find them.” Mo Zi’s concern was not without reason.
But Yuan Cheng had other ideas. “Su Lan must be rescued, Chapter Mu must be released, and Xinzhou and Chenzhou must be taken. However, if we can’t find He Hu’s secret waterway route… there will be endless trouble.”
Zhang Zhen suggested, “We could pretend to agree to Chapter Mu’s terms, saying the Righteous Yuan Army is willing to follow He Hu’s command and come under his banner. Then we send people on Chapter Mu’s boat… ostensibly to deliver gifts, but actually to scout the water route.”
“Chapter Mu isn’t a fool—why would he believe us? I think his visit has two purposes: first, to humiliate us, and second, to show off. He doesn’t necessarily intend to unite with us. Those two conditions might just be meant to make us back down in the face of difficulty.” Mo Zi didn’t think obtaining the secret would be that simple.
“Then it depends on how we demonstrate sincerity. He Hu has an only son… who has a strange illness with episodes of violent madness. We could use the excuse of a celebratory marriage, selecting beautiful maidens to send as brides. Chapter Mu might fall for it. The woman should ideally be of high status, otherwise they might be suspicious.” Ding Gou interjected.
Li Yan’s eyes lit up. “This method could work.”
Yuan Cheng appeared thoughtful. After a moment, he raised his eyes. “It’s already late today… everyone should go rest. Let me think it over.”
Everyone except Mo Zi withdrew.
“Mo Zi… do you think Ding Gou’s idea is workable?” He sought her opinion.
“A celebratory marriage sending a woman—if we can truly infiltrate, it’s not a bad idea. But who should we choose? Someone whose status is acceptable.” Mo Zi met Yuan Cheng’s gaze and saw he already had an answer. Suddenly a flash of insight struck her. “You… you’re not thinking of Wu Youyan, are you?”
“Everyone in Nande knows I have no relatives, but now that I have a wife, my wife’s sister is my sister. If I marry my wife’s sister to He Hu’s son, that should show sufficient sincerity, shouldn’t it? No one knows Doulü. Using Wu Youyan as a substitute—both are outstandingly beautiful… won’t arouse suspicion.” Without a trace of softness, he proposed using the Great Zhou princess in place of Mo Zi’s cherished younger sister to take the risk, without batting an eye.
“I think Chapter Mu is just a lecher. He Hu and his son are probably no better. Leaving aside whether Wu Youyan would agree, if she really goes and suffers a loss… how would we explain that?” It would definitely be like a lamb entering a tiger’s den. “They have thirty thousand troops. Even if we fill out the wedding party to its fullest, we can’t exceed a hundred people. What if He Hu turns his back on us and, just like detaining Su Lan, detains the wedding party too—”
“This mission is very dangerous—I know that. But once we find He Hu’s waterway, we can send reinforcements. As for Chapter Mu’s claim of thirty thousand troops, I’m afraid that number has already decreased. Besides, Wu Youyan herself said she could be useful to us. I won’t force her—I’ll let her choose.” Yuan Cheng spoke with calm indifference.
“Then I’ll go with the wedding party.” How could a boat mission not include her? Mo Zi said.
“Absolutely not.” Yuan Cheng refused without a second thought.
“Why not? For finding waterways, I’m the first choice. Moreover, my sister is getting married and I’m escorting her—doesn’t that show even more sincerity?” This task wasn’t necessarily irreplaceable for her, but her involvement would achieve “harmony” on all fronts.
“You know why not. Wu Youyan came here of her own accord. For that, I punished a boatload of people loyal to me. I’m giving her a choice—return to Great Zhou or go to He Hu. If she insists on proving her usefulness, then even if something unexpected happens, she should bear the consequences herself. I’ll make all this clear to her. I’ll send people to do their best to protect her, but if rescue doesn’t come in time, I won’t blame myself. But you’re different.” In Yuan Cheng’s eyes was deep affection, a thousand words condensed into these four characters.
“What if I guarantee nothing will happen?” Mo Zi understood his concern, but she wanted to contribute.
“Mo Zi, we’re about to be married. Don’t make me worry at a time like this. Hmm?” Yuan Cheng wouldn’t relent. “I’ll arrange for Fat Shrimp, Water Snake, and the others to go with the wedding party. Their swimming and boat handling skills are exceptional—are you afraid they can’t find the route?”
“Yuan Cheng—”
“If you insist on going, I’ll go with you.” For once, Yuan Cheng’s selfishness made him adamant.
“How can you leave? Elder Li already said that many people haven’t met you. Though they came under your banner, more than a few harbor doubts about your abilities. You should remain at the main battlefield, show them your capabilities, and completely win their hearts. Even if you need to deal with He Hu, wait until everything is ready. Then personally lead troops to attack He Hu’s stronghold and establish Prime Minister Yuan’s prestige.” Mo Zi smiled, her expression confident. “I believe you’ll definitely arrive in time to reinforce us. If you can’t even save your own wife, how can you expect to overthrow Nande’s corrupt dynasty? There will be many fierce battles ahead. Are you going to keep hiding me behind you? You know I’m not the type of delicate woman who depends on her husband. This is clearly what I’m good at—if you’re unwilling to let me take risks, that’s when I’ll be disappointed.”
Yuan Cheng fell silent. How could he not know she was the best choice to escort the bride? But he also knew this mission was extremely dangerous. The opponent not only commanded tens of thousands of troops but was also a thieving bandit without principles or conscience.
However, after pondering for a long while, he laughed and sighed. “Are you measuring your husband’s capabilities?”
“Exactly.” Mo Zi blinked. “While I’m still not yet married, this is the final test. If I die heroically and you can’t marry a wife, then quickly retreat from the rapids and find somewhere to become a monk.”
Yuan Cheng laughed heartily. “Good! Good! Good!” He said “good” three times. “Mo Zi, in my twenty-some years, I’ve been provoked three times. The first time, Grand Preceptor Wu declared no one would genuinely rescue me from misfortune. I insisted on trying, and against all odds, I met you. The second time, my own mother claimed arrogantly that the person she supported was beyond a wretch like me, and I would certainly die in that person’s schemes. So I cast a thousand-layered net and left Prince Su nowhere to hide. This third time is you. You just go. I’ll follow shortly after. If you die, I won’t become any monk. I’ll take my three-foot Qingfeng sword and slit my own throat, chasing you on the Yellow Springs Road to walk the final journey together.”
Mo Zi looked at Yuan Cheng in this moment—his gentle refinement had vanished without trace, replaced by carefree confidence, a supreme and extraordinary bearing that laughed in the face of heaven and earth. This aspect of him she was seeing for the first time, carved deeply into her heart. In the decades to come, she would face his gentle refinement while commemorating that regal aura.
The next day, Yuan Cheng summoned Chapter Mu and told him that Tiger King’s conditions were not impossible to agree to, but since Zicao’s army was currently trapped in two provinces, they would have to wait until they captured those provinces before specifically negotiating who would be superior and who subordinate. Otherwise, his troops would find it difficult to accept. However, to demonstrate sincerity in cooperation, he was willing to marry his wife’s sister to He Hu’s son, forming a marriage alliance, with his wife personally escorting the bride.
Chapter Mu was somewhat pleasantly surprised by Yuan Cheng’s “sincerity.” He had originally come to show off, never expecting the other side to give Tiger King such face. He assumed they feared Zicao’s army and couldn’t help feeling smug. Initially, he was a bit suspicious, but after seeing the lotus-like Wu Youyan, and with Yuan Cheng’s wife personally escorting her, he completely believed it.
On the day of departure, when Chapter Mu saw that Mo Zi and her party weren’t boarding his boat but rather their own, he became somewhat dissatisfied. “Prime Minister Yuan, what does this mean?”
Li Yan answered such questions on his behalf. “Mister Chapter, your boat is already loaded with grain and sits quite deep in the water. But we still have one hundred twenty chests of dowry for Miss Doulü, forty maidservants, and fifty guards. Moreover, men and women should be separated—having two separate boats is more convenient. The lady dotes on this younger sister extremely. Not only is she personally escorting the bride, she’s also prepared the very best of everything—five thousand in gold alone. Having a separate boat displays the bride’s status as a lady of a great house and also brings face to Tiger King.”
“This—” Chapter Mu hesitated. “One more boat isn’t a problem, but—”
Li Yan waved his hand, and soldiers carried over a chest and opened it for Chapter Mu to see.
Chapter Mu was blinded by the gleam of silver. His mouth immediately gaped open. He had his own people carry it away and said with a laugh, “Elder Li is right. The new bride should have her own boat. However, I’ll also need to be on that boat—that’s acceptable, isn’t it?”
“That’s even better. We ask Mister Chapter to look after them along the way. Both the lady and her sister are daughters of wealth who’ve never suffered hardship.” Li Yan had anticipated this.
“Certainly, certainly.” Chapter Mu smiled lecherously while making an eye signal, having two of his men board Mo Zi’s boat first. He returned to his own boat to give instructions, then brought along ten more burly men.
After the two boats departed, not long after, one of the three boats Mo Zi had brought from Great Zhou also headed in the same direction. And even earlier than that, several teams of swift horses had already galloped away along the river.