Chapter 33

 The vermilion gate stood over ten zhang high, flanked by stone lions gripping bronze balls in their mouths, exuding an imposing presence.

Above the gate hung a horizontal plaque inscribed with five gilded characters—General Protecting the Nation's Residence.

The gate was open, revealing a tall shadow wall inside. Ten guards in armor, wielding long spears, stood on either side of the vermilion gate.

Pei Yuan rode straight towards the gate without slowing down. The guards were startled and moved to restrain him, their spears crossing to block his path. The leader shouted, "Who goes there!"

Pei Yuan drew his long knife from behind, held it horizontally in front of his chest, and clashed with the silver spears. The metal clashed, sparking and crackling. Seeing that resistance seemed futile, the leader raised his spear to thrust it towards Pei Yuan's face. Pei Yuan leaned back to dodge, then with a flick of his sleeve, he coldly tossed out a jade pendant, suspended by a hanging rope in front of the leader, saying, "Take a good look!"

The pale green jade pendant was translucent, engraved with the patterns of nine dragons and five claws, vivid and lifelike, with a prominent "Si" character in the middle.

The leader of the guards was greatly shocked, kneeling down on one knee and saying, "Prince Si, forgive me. I was ignorant."

The other guards also sheathed their silver spears and cleared the way, kneeling to apologize.

Pei Yuan asked, "Do I need to announce my arrival?"

The guard hurriedly replied, "No need! The general has already ordered that if Prince Si arrives, he can go straight in. The general is waiting in the study."

Pei Yuan said no more, shouting "Drive!" He leaped over the high threshold like the wind, racing towards the inner courtyard with Pei Yuan, leaving the guards outside staring at each other in amazement.

The residence of the general was extremely spacious, with intersecting corridors and landscaped gardens. There were many wives and concubines of Qiu Mingshan, and many children. The mansion was built so large for the convenience of future generations.

For Pei Yuan, this place was familiar from childhood. From the age of eight, he accompanied Qiu Mingshan on the border, returning to the capital for two months each year. He rarely returned to the palace, often staying here instead. His birth mother had passed away early, and though the empress treated him well, there was always a barrier between them. He was grateful, but could never fully integrate.

To him, this place was where he felt most at ease and accustomed.

If not for that incident, Pei Yuan thought, perhaps he would have always respected Qiu Mingshan as a father figure...

"Sigh..." Saifeng stopped at the door of the study. Pei Yuan dismounted and handed the reins to a servant boy to take away, while another servant boy recognized Pei Yuan's jade pendant and hurried inside to report.

As Pei Yuan was about to enter, Qiu Mingshan hurriedly came out. The two met at the door and paused.

Pei Yuan barely frowned, turned his eyes away, and remained silent.

Qiu Mingshan's eyes were red, his hand trembling from years of holding a knife. He wanted to grab Pei Yuan but restrained himself. His face, weathered from wind and sun, was stern and serious. Apart from himself, no one realized anything unusual about him. He opened his mouth, wanting to speak, "You..."

"I..." Pei Yuan also spoke, and they simultaneously said a word before falling silent again.

After a moment of silence, Qiu Mingshan spoke first, "Let's talk inside."

Pei Yuan waved his hand, "No time."

Qiu Mingshan was a bit embarrassed. He asked, "How did you find time to come?" The words came out, and he felt it wasn't right, quickly explaining, "I don't mean to be unwelcoming. This is your home, come anytime you want, but right now..."

He hesitated carefully, "About that matter, can you forgive me?"

Pei Yuan immediately said, "No." His tone was cold. Qiu Mingshan's eyes flickered with sadness, hearing Pei Yuan continue, "But the idea you proposed, I can help you implement it."

Qiu Mingshan looked at him in shock. Pei Yuan narrowed his eyes, "You want this kingdom, I'll help you get it. The condition is that the emperor has already abdicated, and also, you owe me a favor today."

He said this, and Qiu Mingshan was already pleasantly surprised, "What favor? As long as I can do it, it's up to you."

Pei Yuan said, "Find someone." He paused, "My wife."

...

When Baoning woke up again, she found her wrists tied behind her back, curled up lying on a bed, with Feng Yongjia sitting not far from her, staring at her intently.

Baoning was startled and sat up abruptly, moving back a step.

Feng Yongjia stared at her foolishly and murmured, "Baoning, you're really beautiful."

"You lunatic..." Baoning felt disgusted by his gaze and tone. Feeling weak and dizzy, she closed her eyes, took a moment to calm herself, and then asked, "Where have you brought me?"

"To my home," Feng Yongjia said. He pursed his lips, "Baoning, believe me, I won't hurt you."

"Then why have you tied me up?"

"I'm afraid you'll run away." Feng Yongjia leaned closer to her, almost pleading, "Baoning, really, trust me. Once this is over, we'll be safe. I'll take you to a place where no one knows, and we can live a good life together, okay?" His face still bore the imprint of a slap, his once handsome face now marked and somewhat vulgar.

Baoning sighed impatiently, "I don't even know you!"

"But I like you," Feng Yongjia said. "I'm here to rescue you from misery. Once this period is over, you'll thank me."

"This guy is really crazy." Baoning felt mentally exhausted and afraid. Forcing herself to gather her thoughts, she confronted Feng Yongjia, "The person who entered my family's yard on that rainy day, was it you?"

"No, it wasn't me..." Feng Yongjia looked embarrassed. He avoided her gaze, hesitated, then decided there was no need to lie, "I was forced." Recalling the incident made him feel choked up. It was intense, but he knew Pei Yuan couldn't solve it on his own. Glancing at Baoning's eyes, he regretted that she was no longer a perfect body, but seeing her face, he was still captivated by her beauty.

Baoning asked, "Who forced you?"

"I can't say..." Feng Yongjia initially refused, then thought it wasn't necessary to hide from her, "Even if I tell you, you won't know them. It's a big shot, Lord Xu Guang, the most favored under Huang Ji's command. He wanted to kill your husband." He corrected himself, "He wanted to kill that cripple!"

Baoning didn't know who Xu Guang was, but she knew Huang Ji. A chill ran down her spine.

"Why did he specifically come to you?" Baoning asked. "Do you owe them money?"

"I don't!" Feng Yongjia dared not meet Baoning's eyes, dodging, "How did you know..." He looked up, his gaze determined, "Lord Xu said that as long as this matter is completed, I won't owe him money anymore. He'll let me go with you!"

Baoning straightened up, incredulously staring at him, "What kind of dream are you living in? You owe Xu Guang money, and yet you're helping him commit murder. How could he possibly let you go? If he wanted this man dead so badly, with Huang Ji's power, why would he need you? If he needed you, it means they're using you, and they never intended to let you live!"

Shocked, Feng Yongjia looked at her, a sudden chill running through his heart. He had thought that a girl like Baoning, petite and delicate, could be easily manipulated and wouldn't get angry.

"I don't know the specifics." He muttered, "But basically, I'll take you away. He will surely come looking for you, and Master Xu will lead him here. We'll set up an ambush in this courtyard to get rid of him." Saying this, Feng Yongjia's eyes brightened again, "With this plan, we kill two birds with one stone. The cripple dies, Master Xu eliminates a major threat, and I can take you away..."

Bao Ning asked, "Have you ever thought about why they want to lure him to your courtyard?"

Feng Yongjia appeared momentarily confused.

Bao Ning continued, "Do you know who you're trying to kill? He's the fourth prince of the current emperor. If you fail, it's okay. If you succeed, not even the extermination of your entire clan would suffice to repay the crime!"

"But that cripple..." Feng Yongjia's legs gave out, and he sat down on the ground, "No, the fourth prince. Why would he live in such a haunted place? I thought..."

He trembled for a moment, then grabbed Bao Ning's sleeve, "What do I do now? I don't want to kill anyone anymore, I don't want to. Bao Ning, what should I do now?"

Bao Ning looked into his eyes, "Who gave you the courage to call my name so boldly?"

"I... I..." Feng Yongjia almost cried, "Fourth Prince's consort, Prince's consort, I know I was wrong."

As he wept, there suddenly came a banging on the door from outside. After several kicks and no response, someone cursed, "Crying like that, did your father die? Why cry like that! Shut up, don't disturb me from sleeping, or I'll slaughter you now!"

He turned around, shouting to someone, "Where's the lock? Bring it here! Quickly lock the door so that brat won't escape, and so we don't have to watch over him. Let's go back and get some sleep."

"The lock's here," another person said, "Master Zhao, Master Xu should be back soon. I'm sure that cripple has received the message and is on his way."

He hesitated for a moment and asked, "Should we lock the pretty boy and the girls together? Nothing should happen, right?"

Zhao Li locked the door and said, "What could happen? It's that kid surnamed Feng, whether he can handle it or not is another matter. Besides, Master Xu has been in a good mood lately after accomplishing such a big task today."

Laughter came from outside.

Feng Yongjia blushed deeply, finding courage from somewhere, and rushed to the door, shouting, "How can you conduct yourselves like this? Do you have no conscience?"

Zhao Li sneered and kicked the door again, "Get lost!" Feng Yongjia immediately quieted down.

Bao Ning leaned against the bed, eyes downcast and silent. She was nervous, her palms sweaty. Bao Ning thought, if her aunt, cousin, or even Pei Yuan were here, she wouldn't be able to hold back and would cry on the spot. But now she couldn't cry. She had no one to rely on and had to stay calm. She needed to leave quickly.

Outside, Xu Guang's men chatted and laughed for a while before dispersing.

Feng Yongjia stood there dumbfounded for a while, as if stunned. After a moment, as if struck by lightning, he slapped his thigh, "Secret passage, secret passage, I remember now, there's a secret passage in this house!"

Bao Ning looked up excitedly, "Where is it?"

Feng Yongjia said, "Behind the cabinet door!"

Bao Ning had never imagined she would end up in such a place: only half a person's height, needing to stoop to pass through, with spiderwebs and dust all along the way, and a heavy smell of mold.

But at least her life was spared.

Feng Yongjia followed behind her, nervous and occasionally screaming. Bao Ning pursed her lips, ignoring him, while she calculated in her mind where she should go next.

Feng Yongjia mentioned that this courtyard was in the western suburbs, just five li from the city gates. Bao Ning remembered that her third sister, Ji Anlu, lived near the west city gate. Ji Anlu had married a small merchant—whether poor or rich, he treated her well. They ran a restaurant called Gujing Food Pavilion on the street near the west city gate.

It wasn't yet dark, and the city gates were still open. If she could endure running these five li and blend into the crowd, she would be much safer.

If she could find her sister's husband's restaurant, she would be completely safe.

The effects of the drug hadn't completely worn off, and Bao Ning felt her legs weaken. She pushed herself forward with sheer determination.

The exit of the secret passage was ahead! It looked like the cover of a cellar, blocked by a wooden board. Feng Yongjia followed closely behind, afraid of the damp and dark environment, and even more afraid of the insects and rats that might run past at any moment. Trembling, he couldn't utter a word.

Bao Ning opened the cover and climbed out. After being in darkness for so long, the sunlight seemed painfully bright. She blinked, and as soon as her feet touched the ground, she suddenly saw two men about five zhang away, preparing to relieve themselves under the wall.

The two men also saw her, their faces showing mocking expressions. Just as Feng Yongjia also poked his head out.

Their faces changed drastically, shouting, "Someone's escaped! Quick, chase her!" With that, they pulled up their pants and rushed towards Bao Ning with long knives in hand.

They were Xu Guang's men!

Bao Ning's heart sank. She started running. She didn't know the direction, so she ran on instinct. Feng Yongjia, scared out of his wits, scrambled after her. One of Xu Guang's men shouted, "They're heading east, towards the west city gate!" After yelling, all of Xu Guang's subordinates rushed out, roaring after them.

Xu Guang had just returned and hadn't had a chance to rest when he heard this news. He roared in anger, grabbed his sword, mounted his horse, and set off.

Bao Ning was just a girl. She couldn't outrun the men or Xu Guang's horse. Seeing them gaining on her, feeling hopeless, she suddenly saw a group of armored soldiers coming from the west. They exuded a fierce aura.

Determined, Bao Ning took a gamble, turned a corner, and slipped into an alley. Feng Yongjia followed.

Xu Guang cursed, "Damn girls!" He whipped his horse's rear, intending to enter the alley. However, the group of soldiers had arrived, and one soldier stepped forward, sword drawn, shouting, "Where are you running to!"

Xu Guang swung his sword, knocking the soldier's sword away, "Do you know who I am? How dare you shout at me like this, seeking death!"

The soldier's hand went numb, furious, "I'm here in the name of General Huagu to investigate. Who are you, disregarding the General's orders!"

Xu Guang was taken aback, "Investigate whom?"

The soldier took out a scroll from his sleeve and unfolded it to show him, "Have you seen this girl before?"

Xu Guang's mind buzzed. He never expected that Pei Yuan would go to Qiu Mingshan. They had clearly broken off, so when did they get involved again?

In a panic, Xu Guang kept his composure, growling, "Never seen her! I just lost a servant and was searching for him. If you stop me, and my servant can't be found, are you going to compensate?!"

The soldier hesitated, taking a step back. Just then, the sound of galloping hooves came from behind. An arrow flew, narrowly missing the soldier's head, and struck Xu Guang in the left eye.

Chaos ensued.

In the blink of an eye, a black horse carrying a tall figure in black robes swooped in front of Xu Guang. Pei Yuan's long knife was adorned with jingling iron rings. With a swing of his powerful arm, the gleaming blade was aimed at Xu Guang's nose.

His eyes bloodshot, he gritted his teeth, "Thief, where have you hidden my wife?!"

..................................................................................................................

Previous                                                                                         Next