Zhai Rang's letter was written in shaky handwriting, clearly penned while bedridden.
It described the banquet where King Huoerhana demanded Cheng Fengyi's deceased mother Ma Shi. Learning she was dead, he requested her daughter Cheng Fengyi instead. Witnessing the negotiation, Zhai Rang and Cheng Fengyi endured sympathetic and fearful glances from colleagues. Unable to speak due to his low rank, Zhai Rang helplessly watched his wife become a bargaining chip.
Huoerhana insisted on taking her, rejecting all offers. After three days of deadlock, he proposed a duel—if anyone could defeat him, he would spare Cheng Fengyi. Cui Jie immediately sent the strongest palace guards, who fought fiercely but lost. More guards followed, all defeated.
"Madam Ma and Sister Cheng were lifesavers. How did they end up with such a ruthless devil?"
Chi Ying stopped crying, flipping through the letter, imagining Cheng Fengyi being dragged away, screaming in despair, leaving her husband and child. She shivered.
The incompetence of the emperor jeopardized the safety of millions of Great Chu's people, resting on a powerless woman.
Everyone left, leaving Cui Yi alone to comfort her, his arm around her shoulder.
"Wangye, Lady, there's one more thing," Shan Jian returned.
Cui Yi looked up, "What?"
Shan Jian bowed slightly, "Xie Yong cannot be trusted."
Cui Yi frowned, displeased, "Didn't you advise me to persuade him to surrender? Why now claim he's untrustworthy?"
"Xie Yong's defection was likely orchestrated by you, wasn't it?" Chi Ying placed the letter aside, taking a deep breath.
Shan Jian nodded, "Correct. Before Your Highness and Lady left the capital, I laid out his path for the next three years. How to act in various situations, what to say and what not to say when questioned by the Emperor. Not just his repentance, today's actions, even the plan to eliminate Lady through Ye Fu's daughter, were my ideas."
Cui Yi almost exploded, "You—!"
Chi Ying, however, wasn't too bothered, understanding that in opposing camps, such tactics were inevitable. Past deeds were past.
"I don't think Xie Yong will genuinely serve Your Highness," she softly said, "His sister remains his closest kin. Only siblings..."
The alliance is necessary to control the Prince, but now Miss Xie is under house arrest, and the Prince's attitude is clear: after using the Xie family, he will eventually divorce Miss Xie. Xie Yong wouldn't be foolish enough to do something that benefits others; pretending to surrender and continuing to work for the Emperor would be his best option."
A smile played at the corner of Shan Jian's mouth. "It's not easy to outwit Madam once."
Holding Prosperity looked at him helplessly. "You almost got people killed with your schemes, and you're still being modest? Excessive modesty is just another form of pride."
Shan Jian chuckled and then addressed Cui Yi, "Before I left, I arranged everything to be conveyed to Xie Yong through Cui Jie's words. Given this man's character, he would never admit that the strategy came from someone else. Since Xie Yong doesn't know me, it conveniently allows me to dismantle their bridge."
"Xie Yong might pretend to surrender, but how can I trust that you aren't doing the same, Mr. Shan?" Cui Yi suddenly asked.
Shan Jian wore an indifferent expression. "It's better if the Prince doesn't trust me. Who knows, maybe one day I'll find out that the Prince can't avenge me and leave before dawn."
Both Cui Yi and Holding Prosperity took this as a joke, unaware that his words would soon come true, accurately predicting another event the next day.
The next morning, during the Yanzhou army's drills, the infantrymen waited in vain for Yang Qiong's appearance. When they sent someone to his quarters, they found his bed cold and empty, the stove clean, with only a letter left on the table addressed to Cui Yi. The soldier had no choice but to bring the letter to Cui Yi.
Cui Yi tore open the letter and was immediately enraged—Yang Qiong had gone alone to intercept the Northern Di envoy's convoy!
"What happened?" Upon receiving the news, Holding Prosperity rushed anxiously to the military camp. Entering, she saw Cui Yi losing his temper. "What do you mean by saying General Yang ran away, Your Highness?"
Baili Zan followed closely into the command tent. "What happened to General Yang? The messenger didn't explain clearly. What's going on?"
Cui Yi threw the letter at them. "See for yourselves!"
Holding Prosperity caught the falling letter and read it carefully. It said, "Qiong knows that this journey is fraught with danger. Thank you, Madam, for saving my life, and thank you, Your Highness, for recognizing my worth. I wish to repay you in the next life. If Your Highness wants to accomplish great things, do not act rashly. If our rear is weak and the Northern Di invade, there will be no turning back." She read several lines more and finally understood.
"General Yang went alone to save Sister Cheng?" Holding Prosperity was utterly shocked.
Shan Jian arrived yawning, his eyelids drooping. "Yang Gongqi ran away to save Lady Cheng?"
The three people in the tent stared at him. Cui Yi frowned slightly, suspiciously asking, "How did you know? Did you send him?"
"Of course not," Shan Jian yawned continuously, standing with his hands clasped. "Yesterday, I noticed he was likely infatuated with Lady Cheng or had some other reason. I provoked him, and I suppose he packed up and left right away."
Provoked him? Holding Prosperity paused, then realized that yesterday's talk about "Cui Jie and Hu Erhana colluding to deceive everyone" was meant for Yang Qiong.
Baili Zan stroked his beard. "Last year, General Yang saved Your Highness from an arrow wound, which Lady Cheng treated. His gratitude fits his character, but... how did you know his feelings for Lady Cheng?"
Shan Jian smiled slightly, his tone casual yet confident. "He stayed after delivering the letter, obviously hoping to learn about Lady Cheng's condition. When he learned that Lady Cheng was going to marry off, his face showed such distress that it was hard not to provoke him."
Cui Yi exploded in anger. "You're quite good at talking! Our Yanzhou camp lacks capable generals. Yang Gongqi excels in spear skills and military tactics, a rare talent! I've been cultivating him, and now you've driven him to his death! If anything happens to him, what will you use to compensate me?"
Shan Jian remained unfazed by the shouting, wiping spittle from his face lazily. "If he couldn't make up his mind, he wouldn't be useful to the Prince anyway. Better dead than indecisive."
Cui Yi was taken aback, asking, "What do you mean?"
"General Yang actually doesn't want to follow the Prince in rebellion," Holding Prosperity stepped forward. "The Yang family has served the Emperor loyally for generations. General Yang has always been uncertain about joining the Prince's uprising. I thought about arranging a marriage for him to tie him down, but he refused. You also mentioned that he has someone in his heart, but we didn't expect it to be Sister Cheng."
Baili Zan understood as well, smiling bitterly. "You deliberately told him that Lady Cheng's marriage was staged by the Emperor and Hu Erhana to goad him into confronting Hu Erhana. If the Prince led troops to help him, rescuing Lady Cheng would be ideal, but if unsuccessful, he'd resent the Emperor and fully commit to the Prince. Is that right?"
Shan Jian shook his head. "No, not to help him, but to stop him. Lady Cheng must be taken by Hu Erhana. Only then will Yang Gongqi have to help the Prince seize the throne. Loyalty, morality, and law—all are meaningless compared to love. Only when there's no way out will one fight to the death."
His words stunned the three present. Holding Prosperity's lips moved as if to speak, but Shan Jian guessed her thoughts. "Madam thinks I'm too ruthless? If I'm not mistaken, Zhai Zicheng wrote to Yanzhou desperately, also pleading for the Prince to save Lady Cheng, right? Today, the Prince stands here because he and you decided not to rescue her, correct?"
Holding Prosperity froze, then emitted a pained groan, covering her face and lowering her head.
"Zhai Zicheng's letter could leave the capital with Cui Jie's tacit approval. If the Prince acts recklessly for Lady Cheng, he falls into their trap. General Yang understands this and went alone."
Cui Yi frowned deeply. "Last night, Holding Prosperity and I stayed up all night. Lady Cheng saved my life, and not rescuing her leaves us guilty. But rescuing her means our efforts over the past six months will be wasted. It's... a difficult decision."
Shan Jian said, "Your Highness can still catch up. Jinwu runs faster than ordinary warhorses. You might intercept Young Master Yang before they meet."
"But what if you don't make it in time?" Holding Prosperity worried. "If both General Yang and the Prince fall into the tiger's mouth, isn't it the same as letting the Northern Di conquer Yanzhou?"
Shan Jian scratched his chin, making a "Hmm" sound, unable to respond.
The Northern Di brought eight thousand men. If they colluded with Cui Jie to eliminate Cui Yi, there were likely more troops hidden beyond the border. Yanzhou had only twenty thousand soldiers. Splitting forces risked being picked off one by one. Shan Jian was adept at scheming but less so at rescuing, leaving him without a viable plan.
"Your Highness, I have a plan," Baili Zan suddenly brightened. "Your Highness can go, but take two people."
At the Wu Wang Palace in Yanzhou.
Sang Duo put down her small knife, looking puzzled at the visitor. "I'm going too?"
Holding Prosperity nodded. "Bomuer is familiar with the grasslands, his combat strength comparable to Your Highness. With two of you going, even if there's danger, you can escape safely. Adding you and Nayang makes it even safer."
The sea eagle Nayang heard its name and flapped its wings, cooing.
Sang Duo fed Nayang another piece of meat, tilting her head in worry. "I'm fine, though. Though Your Highness seems stern and never smiles, mainly I'm concerned about my brother. I doubt he'll agree to help you."
"Also, I've discussed with Your Highness. Bomuer's injuries have healed, and he's fit to ride and hunt. Keeping you within the pass may unsettle our tribes. So, if you want to leave, you can return to the grasslands anytime."
"Really?" Sang Duo exclaimed, holding her knife mid-air. "You're letting us go?"
Holding Prosperity blinked. "Don't you want to go? If not, stay. Yanzhou has vast grasslands for grazing."
Sang Duo shook her head vigorously. "Not that! It's just... we didn't think you'd let us go. My brother said the Great Chu always wanted to pacify us Bucha people, so initially, he didn't want to seek your help."
Holding Prosperity smiled gently. "Afraid I'd keep you here? The Prince indeed thought so, seeing him and your brother glare at each other like angry roosters. He didn't want to let you go, but I convinced him otherwise."
"How did you convince him?" Sang Duo asked curiously.
"I said the Prince wants to return to the capital because it holds what belongs to you. The Bucha people long for the grasslands for the same reason. Yanzhou is just a temporary resting place, bound to leave sooner or later."