Chapter 27: Separating Ways
“No way.”
Guo Wuniang, pressing close to Chai Shouyu, said playfully, “Daughter wants to go with Mother.”
“Be good. How can your mother take all the women and children in this mansion with her? We’ll go in batches, don’t make me annoyed.”
“Oh.”
Guo Wuniang lowered her head. Seeing Chai Shouyu release her hand, she had no choice but to obediently walk out, saying, “Then I’ll have Ah Mei go call Yi Ge’er.”
“There’s no need to bring the maids.”
“But they…”
“Your mother will release them from the mansion herself.”
“Then alright, daughter takes her leave.”
Guo Wuniang curtsied, bidding Chai Shouyu farewell as usual, and left the Flower Hall.
Chai Shouyu looked at Xiao Yi and said, “Xiao Lang, your official robe and credentials can be put to use. This old woman wants to entrust Yi Ge’er to you. He’s the child you saved from under the horses’ hooves. He has a connection with you. Let him pretend to be your shop assistant, and Wuniang will pretend to be your maid.”
Saying this, she turned to look at Guo Xin, who was stretching his head out to peer outside.
“San Lang, you will pretend to be Xiao Lang’s guard and accompany them.”
“Huh?”
Guo Xin was unwilling, shaking his head and exclaiming, “Mother, I don’t want to. I’ll stay by your side. If any bandits dare to stop us, we’ll just fight our way out! Sneaking away, what’s the…”
“Be quiet!”
Chai Shouyu’s face stiffened, and her tone immediately became stern.
“I still have dozens of people to manage, and I don’t have time to say goodbye to each of you. Today, my orders are absolute. Anyone who disobeys will be dealt with by family law!”
Her voice was not loud, but it carried an irrefutable authority.
Guo Xin had no choice but to lower his head and say, “Your child obeys.”
“Remember, along the way, no matter what happens, you will all follow Xiao Lang’s arrangements and not be a burden to him.”
“Mother underestimates her child too much and overestimates him…”
“Are you still chattering? Hurry and change your clothes and prepare the horses.”
“Yes, your child takes his leave.”
Guo Xin, scared into silence, obediently bowed and retreated.
Chai Shouyu watched the backs of her two children, her gaze seeming to hold countless unspoken words, but in the end, she only let out a soft sigh.
In the hall, Guo Tong said, “Mother, let them bring a few more guards.”
“No, too many people will attract attention.”
“Yes.”
“Xiao Lang, my third son is impulsive, my fifth daughter is mischievous, and my eldest grandson is naive. Please bear with them.”
Xiao Yi knew that if the Shi family were in the same situation, they would kill him, snatch his official robe and credentials, and have more family members escape the city.
Chai Shouyu entrusting her underage eldest grandson and her son and daughter to him was a sign of trust, but also a way of looking out for him.
As for which route she thought was easier to survive and how to allocate people, Xiao Yi didn’t guess in detail. As a mother, both her palms and the backs of her hands were flesh and blood; any choice was filled with helplessness, and she could only make a swift decision.
He felt grateful in his heart, cupped his fists, and replied, “I will not fail Madam’s trust!”
Chai Shouyu added, “If the city gate is not open, do not return to the Guo Residence. Find a place to hide…”
Just as she finished speaking, the gatekeeper suddenly rushed in.
“Madam, over ten people have arrived on the long street. The one in front is a red-robed official, and they are about to turn into the alley!”
“They’re here!”
Guo Tong, as if facing a great enemy, immediately drew his saber, ready to go out.
“Slow down.”
Chai Shouyu called out to stop her son, calmly adjusted her hair, and slowly stood up.
At the same time, she seized the last moment and instructed Xiao Yi, “Xiao Lang, you will leave the mansion through the back door. After leaving the city, do not wait. Head directly north, cross the Yellow River, and rendezvous at Liyang Town on the north bank of Baima Port.”
“Understood. Take care, we’ll meet again in Liyang.”
Xiao Yi, without any hesitation, cupped his fists in reply and turned to leave.
“We’ll meet again in Liyang.”
Chai Shouyu murmured the words and said to Guo Tong, “Send someone to check on Wang Yin’s mansion.”
“Yes.”
When she spoke again, her tone carried the authority of Guo Wei himself, “Since we have guests, open the main gate. I will personally welcome them…”
Xiao Yi left the Flower Hall, and couldn’t hear the rest of her words.
Led by a servant, he walked quickly through the corridor and saw a young woman in her twenties standing there, holding two even younger children by the hand.
One of the children, only about four years old, was looking up and asking in a childish voice, “Mother, where is brother going? I want to go too.”
“Brother is going to the academy with this young master.”
“The academy? Then San Wa’er isn’t going.”
As the woman approached Xiao Yi, she bowed and said, “Greetings, young master. My surname is Liu. I am the eldest daughter-in-law of the Guo family, and Yi Ge’er’s mother.”
“Young Madam, you are too polite.”
“This is a letter from my husband. Please deliver it.” Liu Shi released the children’s hands and took out a letter.
Xiao Yi knew that this action indicated she was extremely pessimistic about the future. He took the letter and said in a calm but firm tone, “Young Madam, why don’t you wait until we reach Ye Du to say what you need to say in person?”
“I have a weak constitution, the journey is long, and it’s freezing cold. It’s just as a precaution.”
Tears welled up in Liu Shi’s eyes unknowingly. She did not take her four-year-old son’s hand, and her hand trembled for a long time, hesitating to speak.
“Mother, hold me.”
Xiao Yi felt a pang of sympathy but knew he could not take any more people.
A sentence was stuck in his throat.
Liu Shi suddenly picked up the child and turned away resolutely.
Xiao Yi reached the back gate and saw four horses with complete saddles and bridles. Their hooves were all wrapped in thick cloth.
In an instant, Guo Wuniang arrived with Guo Zongyi.
Guo Wuniang had changed into a plain linen skirt and was carrying a bundle. At first glance, she looked like a maid, but she was still wearing deerskin boots.
Guo Zongyi was dressed in blue clothes and a blue hat, his eyes half-closed, and his small face still bore imprint marks. He was bewildered and didn’t know what was happening. Upon seeing Xiao Yi, his face immediately lit up with surprise, and he quickly stepped forward and gave a formal bow.
“Huh? It’s Benefactor… Zongyi greets Benefactor. Is Benefactor an official now? Are we leaving tonight?”
“I’m taking you to Ye Du to see your grandfather.”
“Okay, okay! Benefactor, you’re so good at horse riding, can you teach me?”
As they spoke, Guo Xin arrived. He had changed into a dark, coarse hemp martial robe, holding a saber. He didn’t walk properly, but vaulted over the railing, full of spirit.
“Let’s go, we’ll scout ahead.”
“Third Brother, why didn’t you bring any luggage?”
“What luggage do I need? A man out in the world uses the sky as his canopy and the earth as his shelter!”
Saying this, the four of them moved quickly, deftly mounted their horses, and rode towards the small gate in succession.
Xiao Yi glanced at them. Guo Zongyi was young and his feet couldn’t reach the stirrups yet, but he sat steadily on the horse. Guo Wuniang, despite being a woman, had excellent riding skills.
The next moment, a faint light fell on her face, and the fine downy hairs were clearly visible in the halo.
Xiao Yi was startled and looked back towards the Guo Residence.
Unbeknownst to him, it was already dawn, and it had dawned quickly.
By the snow-covered railing, a crape myrtle tree with slender branches, set against the bamboo by the wall, seemed to be stretching its neck towards the dawn. In an instant, the sunlight shone, like an ordinary morning.
He had been busy all night, rushing to deliver the message through hardships, and had only just managed to arrive before dawn.
Every race against time made him feel the heartlessness of heaven and earth.
The alley was empty.
The snow had accumulated overnight. As the horses’ hooves trod, they left a line of hoof prints. Soon, a servant from the Guo family came with a broom and swept away the hoof prints, leaving no trace…
————————
At the same time, in Da Ning Palace, Guangzheng Hall.
Dozens of warriors stood silently in the corridor on the east side of the hall.
“Drip.”
A drop of blood landed on the blood pool.
The blood pool was filled with a thick, luxurious brocade carpet, upon which lay several corpses. Three were in purple robes, the designated Ministers of State by the late Emperor: Shi Hongzhao, Yang Bin, and their faction member Wang Zhang.
Shi Hongzhao’s corpse lay like a toppled tower, veins bulging on his neck, his body covered in blades. The corpses of warriors lay scattered around him, killed by him before his death. Yang Bin lay face up by a palace pillar, a gaping wound in his throat exposing flesh and skin, his eyes full of shock. Wang Zhang’s body was curled up, with bloody memorials pressed beneath him.
Suddenly, a slender finger pushed open Shi Hongzhao’s eyelids, revealing eyes full of killing intent staring defiantly.
Seeing this, the youth crouching before the corpses let out a disdainful chuckle.
“Stare, keep staring at me.”
“Your Majesty…”
“Shh.”
Liu Chengyou placed a finger to his lips, silencing Su Fengji, who was about to speak.
A playful smile played at the corner of his eyes. He deliberately lowered his voice and said, “Don’t speak. Grand Tutor Yang said, ‘With your minister here, Your Majesty need only be silent.’ Didn’t you hear him?”
Su Fengji followed the Son of Heaven’s finger towards the emptiness and involuntarily swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing.
He prostrated himself and, with a trembling voice, broke the eerie silence of the side room.
“Your minister congratulates Your Majesty… the traitors have been eliminated, and the empire is eternally stable!”
“Heh.”
Liu Chengyou gave a slight smile. His pale and slender, handsome face appeared inexplicably deep.
He did not look at Su Fengji’s old face but looked up at Li Ye, who was striding towards him.
Li Ye wore a luxurious cloak over his purple official robe. His handsome face bore a roguish smile, but his deep eyes flashed with the sharp gaze of a falcon.
“I have captured Shi Deyu, but I did not find the Talisman Seal.”
“Oh?”
Liu Chengyou did not turn his head, still crouching before the corpses.
Li Ye said, “But please rest assured, Your Majesty, they will not get out of Kaifeng City.”
“I can rely on my uncle’s competence. Your Majesty asks, ‘What’s next? Whose turn is it?'”
“Your Majesty.” Su Fengji quickly said, “Your minister believes…”
His words stopped halfway.
Because he suddenly saw the young Son of Heaven using his finger to extract something from Shi Hongzhao’s eye sockets.
What was that?
Su Fengji’s pupils constricted, then widened sharply, as if his throat were being choked.
The blood-stained sphere was being played with in his palm, as if it would burst if squeezed… it was clearly an eyeball.
