After Pei Zirong left, Ye Chutang called Sun Chu over.
She pointed to the enormous chest on the ground and said, “It’s too heavy to carry around. Take it to the Thousand Gold Gambling House and auction it off in exchange for banknotes.”
Once Sun Chu learned of Ye Chutang’s identity, he found her especially approachable.
Whenever he saw her, he wore a beaming smile and looked every bit the devoted follower.
“Sure. I’ll have the manager appraise it and buy it outright. I’ll bring you the banknotes in a little while.”
With that, he hoisted the heavy chest onto his shoulder and headed for the Thousand Gold Gambling House.
Old Madam Qi watched Sun Chu working tirelessly and felt a flicker of worry.
She trusted Ye Chutang’s character, but even the finest woman could be worn down by a persistent suitor.
She had to remind her son to stay on guard. A daughter-in-law this wonderful couldn’t possibly be allowed to be stolen away!
When Ye Chutang turned around with the wooden box containing the banknotes, she noticed the worry Old Madam Qi had not yet managed to conceal.
She couldn’t figure out what the old madam was worried about, and she didn’t ask.
If Old Madam Qi wanted to talk about it, Ye Chutang would listen.
If she didn’t, Ye Chutang would simply pretend she hadn’t noticed.
Old Madam Qi composed herself and said with a smile, “Atang, you’re truly remarkable. Azhou is blessed to have married you.”
Ye Chutang smiled back.
“It’s my blessing to have married into the Qi family as well. Mother, it’s very late. You should get some rest.”
“All right. Go to bed early.”
Ye Chutang took the wooden box back to her room and put the banknotes into her spatial realm.
She lay down on the bed, entered the realm, and went to the planting area.
The apples were large and rosy red, filling the air with a sweet fragrance.
She picked one, wiped it against her clothes, and took a bite.
It was crisp, sweet, and bursting with juice—a taste fit for the gods.
After surveying her “achievements” with satisfaction, Ye Chutang returned to the lounge and lay down.
The mattress had a massage function, and she relaxed so thoroughly that she couldn’t help but hum with pleasure.
Then, while munching on an apple, she checked the detailed record of her merit points.
Saving Old Lady Pei had earned her fewer than ten points.
It wasn’t much, but it proved that she was a good person. At least she hadn’t saved the wrong person.
After finishing the apple, Ye Chutang got up and went to the pharmacy, where she glanced at the ice leech and cold cicada.
There wasn’t much time left before the deadline for Qi Yanzhou’s poison cure.
She was somewhat worried that the witch doctor from the southern border wouldn’t arrive in time.
With that thought, she left the spatial realm and pulled a map of Beichen from her bundle.
The last letter she had received from Xi Ze had been half a month ago.
He had already met up with the witch doctor Aman and was making his way northwest at full speed, traveling day and night.
If nothing went wrong along the way, they should be able to catch up with them before Qi Yanzhou’s illness flared up.
But if anything unexpected happened, there was no telling.
Thinking of this, Ye Chutang took out a charcoal pencil and drew a line from south to north.
She then circled the next prefecture they would pass through—Jizhou.
Ye Chutang decided to slow their pace along the way and stay in Jizhou City for several extra days.
That way, Xi Ze and Aman would have less ground to cover.
Besides, with a definite destination, they could plan the shortest route.
She placed the completed map on the table and went to bed.
***
Qi Yanzhou waited in Taoist Master Taixu’s room for an hour and a half before Zhu Hong finally arrived.
Zhu Hong had not originally wanted to make the journey in the middle of the night.
After all, renovating Coldlight Courtyard was no major matter to him.
But then it suddenly occurred to him that if the matter were not urgent, Taoist Master Taixu would never have summoned him at such a late hour.
Besides, when he heard that his son was crying terribly and calling for his parents, he came at once.
Zhu Hong hurried to the entrance of Taoist Master Taixu’s courtyard.
He said to the Taoists accompanying him, “You may leave. Inform everyone that no one is to disturb this official and the Taoist Master.”
“Yes, my lord.”
After the Taoists had departed, Zhu Hong immediately pushed open the gate.
He closed it and bolted it from the inside before heading to Taoist Master Taixu’s room.
“Master, Lin’er…”
The moment he saw Qi Yanzhou sitting beside the table, his voice abruptly cut off, and his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
Zhu Hong stood frozen with one foot across the threshold for quite some time.
He thought he was seeing things and blinked hard.
Then Qi Yanzhou spoke, forcing him to face reality.
“Lord Zhu, we meet again.”
Zhu Hong came to his senses, his heart nearly leaping out of his chest in fright.
He tugged at the corners of his stiff mouth. “M-Mr. Qi, why are you in Taoist Master Taixu’s room?”
As he spoke, he glanced around.
Neither the temple master nor his son was anywhere in sight, and anxiety gnawed at him.
Seeing that it was already late, Qi Yanzhou had no patience for beating around the bush. He said bluntly, “I was the one who asked the temple master to summon you here.”
With that, he took out an empty teacup and poured himself some water.
“Come sit down, Lord Zhu. Let’s talk about your distant cousin—and your Lin’er.”
The moment he heard this, Zhu Hong knew that Qi Yanzhou was aware of everything.
Strangely, this made him less flustered.
He brought his foot inside, closed the door, and walked over to sit at the table.
“Mr. Qi, you haven’t done anything to my son, have you?”
“That child is the leverage I have over you, Lord Zhu. Naturally, I wouldn’t harm him.”
Qi Yanzhou smiled. Then he called toward the inner room, “Master, bring the child out and let Lord Zhu see him.”
Taoist Master Taixu emerged from the inner room with Lin’er in his arms and handed him over to Zhu Hong.
When Zhu Hong saw the child’s swollen, red face, his heart ached.
“What happened to Lin’er’s face?”
“There was a fire at Han’guang Court earlier, and Lin’er was frightened. He wouldn’t stop crying and kept insisting on seeing his parents.
“Poor old Daoist couldn’t calm him down, so I had no choice but to take him through the secret passage to find his mother.
“But Mr. Qi caught up with us. In my panic, I ran blindly and accidentally crashed into the earthen wall of the passage.
“Lord Zhu, don’t worry. Lin’er hasn’t broken any bones. He’ll recover after resting for a couple of days.”
After hearing this, Zhu Hong furrowed his brows unhappily, but he did not dare vent his anger on Qi Yanzhou.
He gently touched his son’s face before questioning Taoist Master Taixu. “Why is Lin’er sleeping so deeply?”
“Lin’er was crying so hard that he could barely catch his breath. I was afraid something might happen to him, so I rendered him unconscious.”
Reluctantly, Zhu Hong handed his son back to Taoist Master Taixu.
“Please take Lin’er to the side room for a while, Master. I have important matters to discuss with Mr. Qi.”
Taoist Master Taixu had no desire to listen to matters of court, so he immediately carried Lin’er away.
After the door was closed once more, Zhu Hong asked Qi Yanzhou, “What is it you want, Mr. Qi?”
Qi Yanzhou picked up the teacup before him and drained the now-cold tea in one gulp.
Then he poured himself another cup.
Dipping his finger into the tea, he wrote two characters on the tabletop.
Submit.
Zhu Hong had long since guessed Qi Yanzhou’s intention.
He was not at all surprised by the words on the table.
He knew he had no choice but to secure the greatest advantage for himself.
“I can pledge allegiance, but I have a condition.”
Qi Yanzhou knew exactly what Zhu Hong’s condition would be—
that he save the son he had held hostage in the capital.
He wiped the two characters from the table and asked, though he already knew the answer, “Why don’t you tell me, Lord Zhu?”
“Young Master Qi naturally wants to win me over. That means you know my three sons are in the capital, in the Emperor’s hands.”
Giving up his three sons had been a decision forced upon him.
If he could bring them back to his side, he would gladly do so.
Qi Yanzhou nodded. “I know. But I won’t help you.”
That answer was beyond Zhu Hong’s expectations.
His expression darkened.
“Young Master Qi, if you help me rescue my sons, I will pledge my undying loyalty to you.”
The implication was clear: he had offered his greatest sincerity, and he also expected Qi Yanzhou to show him some in return.
Looking at Zhu Hong, who still failed to understand the situation, Qi Yanzhou let out a soft laugh.
“It seems Lord Zhu still hasn’t grasped the situation. Your loyalty will be exchanged for Lin’er’s safety—and the survival of your entire family!”
If the Emperor learned that Zhu Hong had kept a mistress and secretly fathered another son, he would surely execute the entire Zhu family.
Zhu Hong understood his predicament. He also knew he had no right to bargain with Qi Yanzhou.
Even so, he had wanted to try.
The result was exactly as he had expected. His little scheme had been seen through, and he had failed.
He gave a self-mocking laugh and accepted reality.
“What do you need me to do?”
Qi Yanzhou said, “Within a year, turn Governor Wu into your man. He must follow your orders without question.”
“And if I can’t?”
“In one year, the Emperor will receive word that you secretly fathered a son. The Zhu family will be doomed.”
At those words, the color drained from Zhu Hong’s face. His hand, resting on his thigh, clenched into a fist.
Qi Yanzhou added, “Don’t even think about erasing your mistress’s existence and hiding the child away. My people will be watching you. Pledge allegiance without a hint of disloyalty—that is your only choice.”
“Rest assured, Young Master Qi. I will make Governor Wu submit to you within a year.”
He had no other choice. Even if he had to employ every means at his disposal, he had to accomplish it!
Qi Yanzhou nodded in satisfaction. “Then I’ll await good news from you, Lord Zhu.”
With that, he rose and prepared to leave.
Zhu Hong still had several questions, and he hurriedly called after him.
“Young Master Qi, do you truly intend to overthrow the current dynasty? When will you make your move?”
“The time isn’t right yet. Wait.”
Zhu Hong rose to his feet and knelt before Qi Yanzhou.
“Young Master Qi, for the sake of my loyalty and allegiance, could you do your best to spare my sons when you storm the capital?”
Then he added, “That is, if they’re still alive by then.”
“Very well. I promise you.”
Zhu Hong knew that Qi Yanzhou was a man of his word, and the gloom weighing on his heart lifted somewhat.
“Thank you, Young Master Qi. If my sons are rescued, I will repay you handsomely!”
“If you are one of my people, saving your sons is only right. There is no need for repayment.”
The words filled Zhu Hong with warmth.
He reminded him, “Young Master Qi, the most powerful person in a prefecture or commandery isn’t the prefect or the provincial governor—it’s the garrison commander who controls the troops.”
Qi Yanzhou naturally knew that. That was why he had other plans for Pei Zirong.
“Rest assured, Lord Zhu. Since I intend to bring Dingzhou under my control, Pei Zirong is naturally part of my calculations.”
With that, he opened the door and left.
The night wind blew into the room, making the door creak and sway.
Zhu Hong shuddered from the cold, suddenly realizing that he was drenched from head to toe.
“No wonder he is Prince Chen. With his strategy and prestige, taking the world would be as easy as reaching for something.”
***
By the time Qi Yanzhou returned to the relay station, it was already past midnight.
He first went to the back courtyard to take a cold-water bath. After washing his clothes as well, he returned to his room.
An oil lamp was burning on the table.
The oil was nearly gone, and the flame from the wick was faint, as if it might go out at any moment.
Still, it was bright enough to illuminate the map spread across the table.
Qi Yanzhou studied the line running from south to north and immediately guessed that it marked the route Xi Ze and Aman were taking.
But he could not figure out why Dingzhou had been circled.
The oil lamp suddenly went out.
Relying on his memory, Qi Yanzhou made his way to the bed and carefully climbed in.
His body carried the coolness of the late night. Ye Chutang instinctively snuggled closer and wrapped her arms around him.
When her hand brushed against his well-defined abs, she woke up a little.
“You’re back. Did everything go smoothly?”
Her lazy, lingering voice was like a cat’s paw scratching at the very tip of Qi Yanzhou’s heart.
He pulled Ye Chutang into his arms and kissed her forehead.
“It went very smoothly. Go back to sleep.”
Ye Chutang had originally wanted to tell Qi Yanzhou about Pei Zirong and their decision to remain in Dingzhou for the time being.
But the man gently patted her back, and her eyes, which she had barely managed to open, closed again.
The two of them slept wonderfully that night.
The next day, it was already half past the third watch.
The exile convoy rose to pack up, and the relay station immediately grew lively.
Ye Chutang had been especially sleepy lately and did not want to get out of bed.
She wrapped herself around Qi Yanzhou’s waist, refusing to let him move.
“Packing won’t take long—less than half an hour. Stay in bed with me a little longer.”
She was no longer sleepy after waking up; she simply did not want to get up.
Looking at Ye Chutang, who was as languid as a cat, Qi Yanzhou’s sensual lips curved into a faint smile.
“All right. We’ll lie here a little longer.”
Ye Chutang burrowed deeper into Qi Yanzhou’s embrace.
“Last night, I saved the mother of Pei Zirong, the commander of the garrison. In return, I demanded one hundred thousand winter garments. I also forced him to submit by promising to rescue his son, who is being held hostage in the capital.”
After saying this, she slipped her hand beneath the man’s inner garment and stroked his firm, well-defined abs.
“I’ve secured the winter clothes. You can handle rescuing his son—and the garrison in Dingzhou is yours as well.”
Qi Yanzhou had originally planned to wait until Xi Ze reached Dingzhou, then approach Pei Zirong under the pretext of treating Old Lady Pei’s illness and use his child to bring him under control.
He had never expected Ye Chutang to have already gnawed through the toughest bone, leaving Pei Zirong completely won over.
“Atang, you’re not only my lucky star—you’re a lucky star for the people of this realm as well!”
“Don’t flatter me. It was simply a mutually beneficial arrangement.”
With that, Ye Chutang withdrew her hand from beneath Qi Yanzhou’s inner garment and covered her mouth to yawn.
She asked, “Have you received any news from Xi Ze recently?”
Qi Yanzhou sat up and leaned against the headboard, his eyes gleaming with a chilly light in the darkness.
“No. Don’t worry. They’ll definitely make it here in time to meet us.”
Ye Chutang could tell that there was more behind his words and quickly sat up.
“Did something happen with the witch doctor from the Southern Border?”
Qi Yanzhou did not want Ye Chutang to worry and was just about to brush the matter aside when she added,
“A lie told out of kindness is still a lie to me!”
“All right. I’ll tell you the truth.”
After Qi Yanzhou had conquered the southern frontier, the emperor summoned him back to the capital under the pretext of arranging a marriage for him.
The emperor also sent someone to the southern frontier to take his place.
When Qi Yanzhou left, he kept most of his trusted men there, placing them in command of the 150,000 troops stationed to defend the region.
Although the emperor’s appointee was little more than a figurehead within the army, he was still the emperor’s eyes and ears in the southern frontier.
When the witch doctor Aman received Qi Yanzhou’s letter and set out to leave the southern frontier, she was immediately placed under surveillance.
The emperor’s people did not know why Aman had left. They only knew that she had once saved Qi Yanzhou’s life when he was gravely ill—and that she was someone the emperor wanted dead.
So they sent men to pursue and assassinate her.
Aman was skilled in poison magic and only moderately adept at martial arts. Her journey north was fraught with danger.
The time she was injured most severely, she had nearly died.
Fortunately, Xi Ze found her in time.
After resting and recovering for several days, the two of them continued north.
The delay gave their enemies a chance to lay ambushes, making the rest of their journey even more arduous.
Though they managed to escape danger every time, they lost a great deal of time along the way.
Otherwise, at their pace, they would have reached the capital by now.
After hearing Qi Yanzhou’s explanation, Ye Chutang asked, “You didn’t send anyone to meet Xi Ze and the witch doctor?”
