This was very much within the Yan Wushi style of callousness and detachment. The meaning being, throughout history the great figures can leave behind parents, disregard brothers, nevermind their children, Puliuru Jian had more than these two sons anyway, under his knee there were three more, moreover Puliuru Jian was in his peak, having a couple more children wouldn't be too hard, there was no need to have his hands and feet tied on account of his two sons in Yuwen Yun's control, what he needed to accomplish he should still go ahead.
Towards this opinion, although Shen Qiao didn't agree, he wasn't the least surprised. As far as his understanding of Yan Wushi goes, the other was indeed this kind of person, in contrast the Yan Wushi of the past few months and his attitude towards him, that was what was unusual.
Of the people present, besides Shen Qiao, there was also Zheng Ze and Bian Yanmei. Bian Yanmei was Yan Wushi's disciple, someone from the demonic sects, his manner of doing things was also unconventional, he wouldn't find this opinion that out of place, Zhang Ze could be taken into full confidence by Puliuru Jian, naturally he was no kind soul, although he didn't speak, he expressed his agreement with Yan Wushi.
Puliuru Jian smiled bitterly: "The saying goes that to accomplish great things one must not ruminate over small details, but of my own flesh, how could I bare to cut it off? Emperor Gaozu of Han asked Xiang Yu for a portion of the porridge he had threatened to make with his father's flesh, I would not be able to do that kind of thing, if I can abandon even my own children, I bet I would also lose Yan-zongzhu's respect."
This was said extraordinarily well, clearly he was the one asking Yan-zongzhu for help rescuing his children, but gave the impression of someone trustworthy and responsible. To be emperor, someone soft-hearted and pliable like Yuwen Xian wouldn't be able to accomplish great things, but someone like Emperor Gou Jian of Yue who boils the hound that caught the rabbit wouldn't be particularly encouraging, Puliuru Jian was feeding them a mind relaxant, indicating that in the future he would not forget their favour.
Shen Qiao kind of understood now why Yan Wushi aligned with Puliuru Jian.
Yan Wushi smiled, said no more on the subject of rescue or no rescue, asked frankly: "Are you sure that they are still alive in the palace?"
Puliuru Jian realized that Yan Wushi had agreed to the rescue, rushed to focus on the task at hand: "Yes, this was confirmed, the empress had a messenger risk their life to deliver the letter, it said my sons were detained in the empress' residence, the empress is also held there, it's been more than ten days, the emperor's intention is to use them as leverage, to hinder my plans."
To revolt was not like eating a meal or drinking water, although Puliuru Jian had set up various preparations, in the end he was still undecided, the emperor now forcing his hand, instead became his resolve, as long as his children were safe, he certainly would immediately follow through on the coup.
Yan Wushi: "Once we get your children out, you need to be prepared to confront Yuwen Yun, the palace has Buddhist sect members overseeing things, as well as the presence of Hehuan Sect members, even if they can't beat me, directly breaking the pot, killing your children would not be too hard."
Puliuru Jian sighed: "Yes, I have thought about this outcome, my heart is unsettled, does Yan-zongzhu have an idea?"
Yan Wushi paused for a moment, then said: "Yuwen Yun has not released them, but has kept up appearances with you, you should use the excuse of sending something to your children to enter the palace, use the opportunity for rescue, there's only this way."
Bian Yanmei very perceptively continued: "This disciple willingly receives this task, shizun, this disciple can use a disguise to muddle my way into the palace, use the chance to get them out."
Unexpectedly, Yan Wushi rejected the proposal at once: "Your wugong is still lacking, if you get into a match with Xueting you will surely die."
Bian Yanmei touched his nose, and shut up.
Yan Wushi: "My height and form attracts too much attention, I've also never practiced bone retraction technique, even if my disguise is passable, bystanders look past it, but Xueting that old bald donkey would see through it immediately, not the intended outcome, if we want to rescue them, we need someone with strong wugong, that can also adapt to an evolving situation, and when the time comes can find me outside the palace."
As Puliuru Jian saw it, Bian Yanmei's wugong was already very good, who knew Yan Wushi would say it wasn't enough, and wanted someone stronger, to be prepared to face Xueting, surely they must be on the level of a grandmaster, but grandmasters were not cabbage, you want one you get one, nevermind that Puliuru Jian was not yet emperor, even if he was the emperor, towards this kind of person he would still have to show three parts courtesy, where was he supposed to find someone like that on short notice?
Seeing several earnest pairs of eyes fall on him, Shen Qiao sighed, said softly: "This poor one has no talent, to be able to save a life is infinitely virtuous, I'm willing to give it a try, but the paths within the palace I am not familiar with, after I enter my eyesight will be of no use, when the time comes I'm afraid I'll not have saved anybody, but gotten lost."
Puliuru Jian had just thought of Shen Qiao, but this was not the same as forming an alliance with Yan Wushi, he and Shen Qiao were not that deeply acquainted, the other hadn't said anything, he couldn't just beg with a thick face, now that Shen Qiao spoke up himself, he was naturally overjoyed: "If Shen-daozhang is willing to help, I could not ask for more, only this trip into the palace will be fraught with danger, I worry for my loved ones, but I also do not dare rashly throw Shen-daozhang into dangerous circumstances, I heard that in the fourth month on the eight day, the day of Buddha's birth, Xueting will head to Qingliangsi in the city to pray, without him, the rest will be easier to deal with. When the time comes I will have more people at your side, first to show you the way, second just in case, they may be able to assist."
Bian Yanmei said: "Calibre over quantity, I can accompany Shen-daozhang into the palace, the pathways in the palace I am familiar with, then adding two more maidservants will be enough, Yuwen Yun is no fool, too many people will be suspicious."
Shen Qiao nodded, had nothing else to add.
Both sides discussed timing and location some more, Puliuru Jian agreed to first write a request to visit, if Yuwen Yun rejects, then under the guise of the empress' mom Dugu-shi sending provisions enter the palace, Shen Qiao and his group planned to meet on the seventh day of the fourth month at Sui-guogong manor, don their disguise, then under Sui-guogong's banner enter the palace, and rescue the children.
In the interim, someone had long reported to their superiors Yan Wushi and Shen Qiao's return to shaoshi manor, their entry in complete disregard of the notice in front, so they couldn't stay much longer at this location, finishing up business, everyone dispersed, Puliuru Jian exited via the secret passageways, back to Sui-guogong manor, Bian Yanmei brought Yan Wushi and Shen Qiao to another house in the city.
The house was not the one he had lived in previously, it was another that Shen Qiao had never set foot in before, a person in the demonic sects was like a hare with three burrows, particularly within Huanyue Sect this characteristic was demonstrated vividly, Shen Qiao suspected that Bian Yanmei had secretly bought eight or ten houses as back-up, once discovered they could abandon it and switch headquarters, back then with Yuwen Yong's support, Huanyue Sect indeed earned not a small sum of money, even now, Huanyue Sect still had several businesses running, their operations were not as large as Liuhebang's, but when it came to wealth and influence, Yan Wushi certainly wasn't lacking.
Bian Yanmei by way of introduction: "This is a private residence, the nameplate out front is Li, outwardly it is a merchant's house, Hehuan Sect people won't be able to discover this place for now, shizun and Shen-daozhang need not worry."
He wasn't sure what the relationship was between Shen Qiao and his shifu, to say friends, the two of them certainly didn't look the part, and with his shifu's personality, even if the number one martial artist in the world wanted to be friends, he might say otherwise, nevermind Shen Qiao, Bian Yanmei still remembered, before when his shifu had kept Shen Qiao by his side, it was merely as a distraction, there had been no sentiment to speak of.
Bian Yanmei's observation skills were much more astute than his shidi Yu Shengyan's, it wasn't hard for him to see Yan Wushi's attitude towards Shen Qiao, quite altered from previous. But exactly how it was altered, he couldn't quite say— even if he racked his brains, he wouldn't have thought that his shifu had that kind of intention, although Shen Qiao was kind and handsome, but however you looked he didn't look like a servant or plaything, nevermind Liuligong's most recent rank-list, Shen Qiao was ranked within the top ten, under the heavens who dares to have untoward intentions towards a grandmaster?
Yan Wushi dares.
But Bian Yanmei absolutely did not consider this possibility of his shifu.
All things considered, since Yan Wushi regarded Shen Qiao highly, Bian Yanmei, as someone extremely slick, naturally wouldn't disrespect him, and despite the fact that in Bian Yanmei's dealings he had continued his shifu's style of callousness, he did look up to Shen Qiao's character. In the world there were so many lying, deceitful people, no shortage of hypocrites, and people who in truth couldn't control themselves over enticement, he was a person of the jianghu, had also walked the northern courts many years, had seen every manner of person. someone like Shen Qiao, truly deserved the phrase speak and act as one, know and act as one.
As they were speaking, Sui-guogong had secretly sent a package over, intended for Shen Qiao.
Huanyue Sect had formed an alliance with Sui-guogong manor, naturally they knew about this location, in order to trade messages easily.
Shen Qiao did not know it was so, opening the bamboo cartridge, pulling out its contents, couldn't hold back a soft exclamation.
Yan Wushi beside him also glanced over, smiling: "Puliuru Jian is an incisive, remarkable man."
This scroll was indeed , one of the five scrolls, the one originally hidden in Zhou's inner palace.
This scroll of , Yan Wushi had looked it over once, at the time he realized that its contents were mostly incompatible with , so didn't memorize it in its entirety, later when towards Shen Qiao he developed other intentions, he did recite to him what he could remember of the contents, but this was not equivalent to having the complete original delivered into your hands, now out of the five scrolls, with the exception of the one in Tiantai Sect, Shen Qiao knew them in their entirety.
A scroll was precious, but Yuwen Yun did not practice martial arts, and at the time he murdered his father, the palace experienced an upheaval, he had no spare attention to single out this item, Puliuru Jian with the convenience of his position, it was not hard for his daughter to smuggle this item out of the palace chaos, subsequently he kept the scroll, until he gave it to Shen Qiao at this time.
With this valuable gift delivered, Shen Qiao must also owe this favour, because Puliuru Jian was excellent interpersonally, he didn't wait until the thing was done to present this gift, but sent it ahead, demonstrating that he believed in Shen Qiao's character, that he would not go back on his word after it had been given.
Now, no matter how fraught the palace situation, Shen Qiao must make this trip, and be very willing to do so.
That's why Yan Wushi had described Puliuru Jian as an incisive person.
Shen Qiao realized: "Before when you said there's something to be gained from meeting Puliuru Jian, was it this? You long predicted that Puliuru Jian would give me this scroll?"
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Yan Wushi smiled: "I am not a god, how could I predict the future, but that Puliuru Jian had the scroll on hand, I did know about that, if he wants your help, at least he should demonstrate his sincerity. We can anticipate your wugong recovery, but zhuyangce's components complement each other, if there's portions missing it would be less than ideal, maybe there's a crucial point somewhere, it won't help with your cultivation, so even if this ordeal didn't happen, I would still have gotten the scroll from him to give you."
Shen Qiao couldn't help but glance at him.
When Yan Wushi was good to a person, he could go to the extent of dumping the treasures of the world at the other's feet, and tell the other frankly: I am willing to do so.
Seeing Shen Qiao's gaze fall on him, Yan Wushi smiled gently: "Qiao, no need to be moved, the contents of this scroll, I've recited parts of it to you before, this gesture from Puliuru Jian, at most is embroidery upon the brocade, just wait until I get you something better, you can be moved then!"
Shen Qiao really wanted to fall over laughing at the brazenness of this man, he hastened to retract his gaze, wary of what kind of terrifying thing Yan Wushi will say next.
When the seventh day of the fourth month arrived, Yan Wushi, Shen Qiao, and Bian Yanmei went to Sui-guogong manor as planned.
Beforehand, Puliuru Jian had sent a pamphlet request asking permission for Dugu-shi to visit her daughter, as expected this was rejected by the emperor, Puliuru Jian then sent another request, saying that although Dugu-shi could not go in person to visit, the mother-child bond ran deep, she hoped to send some familial provisions and food to the empress, as an expression of a mother's devotion to her children.
Perhaps the emperor did not yet wish for the malalignment between him and Sui-guogong to be too widespread in court, this time he agreed.
Puliuru Jian picked two smart and capable maidservants, who prepared to go into the palace with Shen Qiao and Bian Yanmei.
Seeing the disguise he was going to wear into the palace, Shen Qiao's face darkened, asked Yan Wushi: "Why didn't you say I was going to have to dress as a woman?"
Yan Wushi, surprised: "Men can't just randomly enter the palace, and the women's quarters at that, I thought you already knew!"
Shen Qiao had no words.
He felt it was very likely that Yan Wushi was still resentful about the time he had him crossdress, but the other's explanation was so forthright, he had no counterargument.
Things where they stood, since he had already agreed to the matter, naturally he wouldn't go back on his word, Shen Qiao could only leave himself at the mercy of the maidservants who dressed him, and spread powder on his face.
The person doing his make-up was no ordinary maidservant, but a Huanyue Sect disciple brought by Bian Yanmei, on the subject of disguises she was highly adept.
Previously Shen Qiao thought a disguise was just like what Huo Xijing did, directly placing a human face mask on your own, through some secret technique, but Bian Yanmei told him this was not the case.
"Huo Xijing's type of technique, requires a human face mask brined in numerous herbs, with additional steps to take form, it would need no less than a year to prepare, one we don't have the time, two the specific steps I also do not know the details of, three the mask and the person's face have to have similar contours, other specifics, if there's even a small discrepancy, it would be easy to spot, and is not very effective, so we might as well try other methods."
One of the maidservants dressing Shen Qiao laughed: "Daozhang is already handsome and pretty, we only need a few minor modifications, to transform him into a beauty that will devastate the country and state!"
Shen Qiao, uncertain: "Men have a prominent larynx, women don't, no matter how high the collar it won't be able to obstruct this, someone paying attention should see the discrepancy right away, how will we hide this?"
The maidservants giggled: "Daozhang, just leave it to us."
Beside them Bian Yanmei issued a reminder: "Don't make Shen-daozhang too beautiful, if the emperor notices him it'll complicate things."
Shen Qiao: "…"
The maidservants laughed out loud: "There's no way around that, no matter how we cover things up, we can't hide daozhang's natural allure, the most we can do is make the face a bit more ordinary!"
After the face and neck were done, they brought over two sets of robes usually worn by Sui-guogong maidservants for Shen Qiao and Bian Yanmei to change into.
Everything was ready, Shen Qiao was uneasy, in contrast Bian Yanmei was self-assured and confident, playfully imitating the tone and posture of a maidservant, he giggled: "Shen-jiejie, aren't I pretty?"
Shen Qiao's mouth corner spasmed.