Chapter 273: Scalding Hot
Han Ya Du.
The night was like ink, pouring down heavily.
The eaves of the ruined temple were hooked by a half-moon, and the wind rolled the dampness from the reed marsh, making the spiderwebs on the shrine rustle.
Guo Zhaoxuan knelt before the shrine, trembling as he brushed away the loose soil. When his fingertips touched the cold oilcloth wrapping, his whole body jolted, his voice even trembling.
“Found it!”
The wooden box wrapped in oilcloth had corners damp from being buried underground for years.
His hands trembling, he unwrapped the oilcloth. In the dim light filtering through the broken tiles, he saw a bound account book lying in the box. The xuan paper was yellowed, and the handwriting was messy.
“Go to Hui Chun Tang and find the shopkeeper named Hu…”
He clutched the account book tightly to his chest, as if holding a hot potato, and collapsed onto the cold bluestone slab, feeling utterly drained. He harbored both hope and immense fear for the unknown road ahead, his nose tip burning with the urge to cry.
Unbeknownst to him, not far behind him, in the reed marsh that swayed like ghosts in the night wind, two pairs of eyes were locked onto his every move through the gaps in the reeds.
–
East of the city.
The alley where Hui Chun Tang was located, Dog’s Tail Alley, was a mixed bag, filled with cheap taverns, private dens, and the warehouses of secretive Xizi merchants. It was noisy and chaotic during the day, and filled with shadowy figures at night.
Guo Zhaoxuan stumbled into Hui Chun Tang and found Shopkeeper Hu, who, as he wished, stuffed him into a covered carriage draped with a black felt.
The carriage drove off to an unknown destination…
Half dizzy, half bewildered, he fell asleep amidst the jolting. When he woke, he found himself lying in a small, airtight side room.
The four walls were pitch black, with not a speck of light.
He struggled to sit up and found his hands and feet bound by coarse hemp ropes, which chafed his skin and flesh.
With a creak, the wooden door opened.
“Fourth Young Master is awake?”
Guo Zhaoxuan looked up sharply. In the lamplight, he saw the person clearly—
A Xizi merchant, wearing a headscarf and sporting a thick, curly beard, was leaning against the doorframe, idly playing with two smooth, oily walnuts.
Isn’t this Shopkeeper Chen from Hongfu Gambling House?
Why is he dressed as a Xizi merchant…
No, how did he end up in his hands?
Guo Zhaoxuan’s pupils contracted, and his blood seemed to freeze instantly.
“It’s you, you, what do you want?”
“Don’t be afraid, Fourth Young Master, I’m here to save you.”
Shopkeeper Chen walked in slowly, his cloth boots making a soft sound.
Guo Zhaoxuan’s face turned ashen, his eye sockets sunken. His usual arrogant demeanor was replaced by the look of desperate fear of someone with no way out.
“I don’t want to die, please, sir, give me a few more days. My elder brother will save me… I will definitely, definitely find a way to gather the 150,000 taels of silver to repay you.”
“Your elder brother?”
Shopkeeper Chen suddenly sneered, grabbed his collar, and spoke with undisguised contempt.
“Your elder brother sent you to Han Ya Du to retrieve the account book, merely to use you as a pawn. He intended to use the account book to shift the blame for his crimes and the embezzlement of military pay onto you… If we hadn’t intercepted it, you would have already been made into dried meat by the Xizi people.”
Guo Zhaoxuan staggered as if struck by lightning, his back hitting the cold earthen wall heavily.
“No, impossible! My elder brother said it was, it was something to save his life…”
“Naive. After your father was imprisoned, your elder uncle’s family already considered you a discarded pawn, eager to distance themselves from your second branch. Do you think your elder brother truly cares about your worthless life? Think carefully…”
Seeing his bewildered silence, Shopkeeper Chen sneered again.
“Right now, only we are sincerely trying to save you—after all, you still owe the gambling house 150,000 taels. If you die, where will we get our money?”
Guo Zhaoxuan thought of his elder brother’s cold eyes when he left, gasping for breath, sweat soaking through his inner garment.
Shopkeeper Chen leaned forward, his voice seductive, “If you ask me, Fourth Young Master Guo is a smart person. With your cleverness, as long as you are obedient, why worry about a prosperous future?”
Guo Zhaoxuan’s eyes lit up, like a drowning person grasping at a piece of driftwood.
“What, what exactly do you intend to do?”
Shopkeeper Chen chuckled, stroked his beard, leaned close to Guo Zhaoxuan’s ear, and lowered his voice to a whisper.
“Cooperate with us.”
“Co-cooperate… What can I do for you?”
“You follow your elder brother around all day, holding his boots and grinding his ink. You must know about the dirty deeds he’s been up to, right?”
Shopkeeper Chen paused, then smiled slyly.
“Without your elder brother blocking the way, the Duke of Zheng’s Mansion will eventually fall into your hands. In the future, let alone 150,000 taels, the entire Duke of Zheng’s Mansion will be yours…”
Guo Zhaoxuan’s face instantly turned as pale as paper.
“You… You want me to betray the Duke’s Mansion, betray my elder brother… No, I can’t do that… Absolutely not…”
Shopkeeper Chen scoffed, his eyes suddenly turning fierce.
“Fourth Young Master Guo, in your current situation, you have no other choice. Even if we don’t skin you alive, the Duke of Zheng’s Mansion won’t let you, a useless illegitimate son, go. You’ll be a scapegoat sooner or later, a dead end… How do you want to die?”
Guo Zhaoxuan stared at the cold glint in Shopkeeper Chen’s eyes, his throat bobbing, his body trembling violently. The last shred of hesitation was completely crushed by immense fear.
“…I’ll do it, I’ll do it, I’ll do as you say…”
–
The Shui Yue Nunnery in the afternoon was immersed in the chirping of cicadas.
The heat was heavy, so Xue Sui moved a bamboo chair to the courtyard to cool off.
Xiao Zhao and Ru Yi stood by her side.
“Young Lady, try this.” Ru Yi scooped some sour plum drink with a silver spoon. “This servant specifically added freshly picked mint leaves. It’s very refreshing and the best for beating the heat.”
Xue Sui took the porcelain cup and suddenly saw a gray-feathered pigeon perched on the grape trellis. A crimson thread was tied to its tail feather. The pigeon paced restlessly, pecking at the red thread with its beak.
She couldn’t bear it and gestured to Xiao Zhao, “Go help it.”
Xiao Zhao was about to step forward when the pigeon suddenly flapped its wings and flew away, the crimson thread disappearing in an instant among the leaves.
Xiao Zhao said, “Young Lady, it doesn’t want our help.”
Xue Sui lowered her gaze and smiled, gently stroking the cool edge of the porcelain cup.
“Let it be.”
The chirping of cicadas suddenly intensified.
Bamboo shadows swayed on the stone table, and then Jinshu walked over briskly.
Seeing Xue Sui, she coughed lightly. After Ru Yi and Xiao Zhao withdrew to give them privacy, she leaned in and whispered.
“Young Lady, the news just arrived. Seventh Young Master has succeeded. He has caught the person and the evidence. Seventh Young Master said he acted according to the plan and wishes Young Lady to rest assured…”
“I know.” Xue Sui’s voice was even lighter and fainter, betraying no emotion.
“What about the Duke of Zheng’s Mansion?”
Jinshu smiled slightly and immediately replied, “It’s common for Fourth Young Master Guo to stay out all night. Eighth Miss cried at first, but now she can’t be bothered. However, Eldest Young Master Guo, after receiving the news this morning, smashed a teacup in his study and then went out to comfort his sister-in-law a few words.”
Xue Sui let out a very soft “Mm.”
“There’s no need to act rashly. It’s best to observe the situation.”
As she turned, a bamboo leaf happened to land on her shoulder.
She picked up the bamboo leaf and looked at it against the sunlight. Her face had a benevolent contour, yet it seemed to burn with a cold, tempered gleam.
“Everything is ready, just waiting for the east wind—”
Crown Prince Li Zhao was that east wind.
Jinshu asked in a low voice, “Should we inform the Crown Prince in advance?”
“No need.” Xue Sui said indifferently, then stood up and walked towards the monastic room, her blue cloth monk’s shoes crushing patches of light on the ground.
–
Chishui Pass.
The setting sun was like blood, dyeing the continuous Gobi Desert a reddish-brown.
The night was silent, with only the lingering gunpowder smoke being rolled by the evening breeze, sweeping over the scorched earth and fallen flagpoles.
The Chishui River flowed with a mournful sound.
The air was filled with the aroma of roasted lamb and strong liquor. The clinking of coarse ceramic bowls, the boisterous sound of finger-guessing games, the off-key war songs sung by hoarse throats, and unrestrained laughter echoed across the vast Gobi Desert, announcing this hard-won victory.
This was the Daliang Army’s victory celebration night.
Outside the main army tent, the bonfire blazed thirty feet high, making the canvas of the oxhide tent hot.
Inside the tent, however, it was quiet. On a low table, there were wine jars and meat dishes.
Li Zhao leaned alone against a felt carpet, listening to Yu Qianshan’s rough laughter from outside.
“…My son wrote to say he made the butcher Wang’s daughter next door cry, and his mother chased him for three streets with a broom.”
Yu Qianshan slapped his thigh, his voice like a thunderclap.
“When I return to the capital, I’ll have to drag him by the ear to apologize. This brat has always bullied that little girl since he was young, I wonder what kind of destined enemies they are…”
The bonfire crackled, scattering sparks and illuminating Yuan Cang’s dark face.
He added a dry branch to the fire and replied in a muffled voice.
“General Yu doesn’t he have a beautiful daughter? Is she betrothed?”
“Get out, get out! Go away!” Yu Qianshan, with wine beads on his beard, pushed him away with a laugh. “My little girl is precious. You want to get beaten up, you brat…”
Everyone around the bonfire burst into laughter.
Like a ball of hot mud…
There was no pomp and circumstance of the capital’s wealthy households, only the most primitive and rugged revelry of a frontier military camp, rich and passionate.
“Guard Yuan wants to be General Yu’s son-in-law? That would be a good match. When we return to the capital in triumph, why not ask Your Highness to bestow a marriage…”
“He dare!” Yu Qianshan cherished his son and daughter like treasures.
As he spoke, he picked up a wine jar and acted as if he was about to fight someone.
The crowd cheered even louder.
Li Zhao broke off a piece of the charred lamb, letting the night wind cool it, but it was still hard to swallow.
The sound of armor plates clashing from the patrolling soldiers mixed with Yu Qianshan’s laughter, like stones hitting a copper basin, stirring his mind…
“Your Highness.” Lai Fu rubbed his hands and stepped forward. “Supplies have just arrived from the quartermaster’s office. There are new quilts and blankets. This old servant has prepared them all for you…”
Li Zhao looked up and saw the frayed edges of his sleeve cuff. “Keep them.”
Lai Fu couldn’t discern his master’s mood and became a little nervous.
“Your Highness, today we achieved a great victory. The brothers are having a rare good time, and their words are a bit crude. Did their lack of discretion trouble Your Highness?”
Seeing his master remain silent, he carefully forced a smile.
“This old servant will go out now and instruct them to restrain themselves…”
“No need, let them be.” Li Zhao lowered his gaze to the cold wine in his cup, his voice as faint as the mist in the night.
“They have been fighting for a long time, let them relax a bit.”
Lai Fu rubbed his hands and chuckled twice.
“Your Highness cares for the border generals, and the generals are grateful for Your Highness’s grace and virtue. They heard that Your Highness will be returning to the capital soon, and they are all clamoring to save money to buy wine to see Your Highness off…”
“Let all the camps rest well, replenish provisions, and there’s no need for any arrangements.”
Li Zhao interrupted him, his gaze falling on the leaping flames outside the tent.
“On the day we break camp, anyone found neglecting their duties and gathering to see me off will be dealt with according to military law.”
The tent fell silent instantly.
Lai Fu scratched the back of his head.
He couldn’t guess what His Highness was thinking—
“Lai Fu.” Li Zhao suddenly spoke. “Do you have any relatives left in your hometown?”
Lai Fu was startled, then grinned.
“Replying to Your Highness, that year there was a flood, and both my parents died. My elder brother went into the mountains to gather firewood and encountered bandits, and didn’t return. There are two younger sisters still… My eldest sister married a scholar who could read and write in town, and my second sister was married to a blacksmith who made farm tools. Both have found their place… Before my mother passed away, she often mentioned that once I saved enough for a betrothal gift, she would help me marry Xing’er from the next village… Heh heh, it’s a pity that the years were bad and life was hard… After entering the palace and being castrated, I lost that fortune.”
He looked up abruptly, Lai Fu realizing he had spoken out of turn.
“Now that this old servant can serve Your Highness, it is already a great fortune.”
“You have also been working hard for a long time, go and rest early.” Li Zhao seemed not to have noticed his nervousness, waved his hand, his voice carrying a fatigue he himself hadn’t noticed.
“Yes.”
Lai Fu tiptoed away.
Only the sound of the wind and he remained in the tent.
Li Zhao picked up the helmet at his feet, its iron brim still bearing the knife marks of Ashina cavalry.
He remembered Yu Qianshan saying his son made the neighbor’s daughter cry, and Yuan Cang mentioning the rice wine his mother had saved. Those worldly comforts were like a blunt knife cutting his flesh, making his skin beneath his armor ache.
Suddenly, he thought of the day he was established as the Crown Prince, when his Imperial Grandfather personally placed the crown on his head and said with earnest words.
“The Crown Prince is I,”
He had once thought that by holding power, he would no longer be “I,” but only now, listening to his subordinates talk about their families, did he understand that being alone did not mean having no one to accompany him, but rather that even a moment of drunkenness required careful consideration of its consequences.
He and Lai Fu were, in essence, equally alone.
–
In Shangjing in August, the plane trees on Imperial Street had just begun to turn a light yellow when they were heated by the joyous news of victory.
Great victory in the Western Frontier!
Everywhere, people were talking about Crown Prince Li Zhao’s feat of crushing the Ashina Royal Court. Storytellers in teahouses and taverns spouted saliva about the Battle of Black Wind Pass, and the rascals in the streets mimicked sword swings, brandishing wooden sticks with great vigor, shouting that they wanted to join the army and fight…
The Crown Prince led the iron cavalry on a personal expedition, killing over 50,000 enemies and reclaiming hundreds of miles of lost territory…
His achievements were worthy of inscription in stone, and his might shook the borderlands.
Scouts galloped on horseback, announcing that His Highness would soon return to the capital.
Upon hearing the news, Shangjing City erupted in a frenzy.
For three days, Zhuque Street was adorned with lanterns and colorful banners. The Jiaofang music and dance academy choreographed the 《 Dance of Breaking the Formation》 overnight, and eateries rushed to join the excitement by introducing “Victory Cakes.” Even children playing with mud on the streets knew that the Crown Prince had won a great victory…
The scent of osmanthus mixed with the remnants of firecrackers filled the Imperial City…
Xue Sui received the news while picking perilla in the medicinal herb garden.
The morning dew had not yet dispersed, and water droplets clung to the petals. She picked a sprig with her fingertips and brought it to her nose to sniff. Suddenly, she heard Jinshu approaching rapidly.
“Young Lady, the Crown Prince will return to the capital after the Mid-Autumn Festival with the Ashina surrendered officials. The latest news is that they have already entered Chenxiang territory…”
Jinshu glanced at her expression and stood by her side with her hands clasped.
“Counting the days, there are seven days left.”
Xue Sui stood up and gazed at the herb garden for a long time without moving. Her face remained as calm as a still pond, but deep within her eyes, in that flickering light, something cold seemed to be instantly ignited…
It vanished in an instant.
After a moment, she was seen to suddenly snap her fingers, efficiently placing the perilla into the basket, and gathering her wide monk’s robe.
“Prepare the carriage.”
Two words, clear, concise, carrying the sharpness of cutting through all hesitation, spoken with force.
“We will enter the city at dawn tomorrow. We need to make preparations early.”
Jinshu’s heart trembled. “Young Lady is going in person?”
Xue Sui hummed, “How can we miss such excitement?”
Jinshu immediately bowed. “Yes. This servant will arrange it at once.”
A two-in-one chapter, sisters, sweet dreams…
