"You don't need to persuade me anymore." Xiao Yeheng turned his head, deeply gazing at her. "When my father was alive, he commanded a large number of imperial physicians to try to cure the poison of Chihuan Madness, but they couldn't find an antidote. I will wait in vain when I go back. Furthermore, with the disguise mask, I can easily change my appearance, so even if I'm with you, it's relatively safe. You may be pregnant, so I absolutely won't leave you at this time."
"But..." Yan Shuixin wanted to say something more, but Xiao Yeheng glanced at her while driving, affection overflowing in his lone eye. "Even if the poison runs deeper, going back to the capital to wait is no different from delaying on the road now."
A hint of bitterness curled up at the corner of his lips. "If the poison I'm afflicted with truly can't be cured, I'd rather be with you and spend more time with you in this lifetime."
Yan Shuixin's eyes filled with tears after hearing this. She put her arms around his thin waist and rested her head on his broad shoulder. "Husband, you must get better. If you die, my heart might not be able to withstand it."
In ancient times, she didn't have much attachment to begin with. If Xiao Yeheng were to leave this world, she might as well hang herself with a rope. She just wondered if she would return to the modern world after dying.
Even if she returns to modern times, she will not marry but instead spend her time caring for her parents until she grows old, and she will spend the rest of her life missing Xiao Yeheng.
1
Xiao Yeheng could feel her sincere feelings. It was his lifelong fortune to receive such honest love from her. He couldn't help but sigh, "Xin'er, to have your deep love is the greatest fortune of my life!"
"Then let's cherish each other." If she can't go back, she will definitely cherish the person in front of her.
...
In General Tu's Mansion, after Tu Zhenguang left the study, he quickly went to the guest room, angrily intending to go and find Meixue, who was waiting in the guest room.
The general's wife, Qu Xian, grabbed him in the courtyard and said, "Tu, you actually want to go see that wench Meixue in front of me. Where's your respect for me?"
"You unruly woman, if you don't stop, I won't show you mercy!"
"I'll fight you!" Qu Xian scratched and clawed at Tu Zhenguang.
Tu Zhenguang angrily raised his hand to slap her.
"My father is the Minister of War. Back then, you, Tu Zhenguang, were just a petty officer. If it weren't for my father's promotion, you wouldn't even know where you'd be." Qu Xian lifted her chin defiantly and said, "Go ahead, hit me, hit me!"
Tu Zhenguang lowered his hand, gritting his teeth, and said, "You unruly woman, your father is over sixty. If it weren't for the late emperor's favor towards him and King Jin's group preventing the emperor's confidants from rising to power, the emperor would have let him retire long ago. Just wait; once your father steps down, I'll divorce you!"
"Fine, then when that time comes, I'll make sure my two sons disown you."
Tu Zhenguang was furious.
Finally, after being delayed by his enraged wife for quite some time, he reached the door of the guest room.
Meixue, the brothel girl, was waiting in the guest room. Upon hearing the general's voice, she immediately opened the door and threw a seductive glance at Tu Zhenguang, "Darling!"
Qu Xian went mad and rushed over to intervene. Meixue wasn't one to be trifled with either, so they quickly became entangled in a scuffle.
Tu Zhenguang had a splitting headache. On one hand was the young woman he adored and intended to take as his concubine, and the other was his lawful wife, who had borne him two sons. He waved his hand. "Separate them!"
Two servants, one for each woman, pulled them apart.
Suddenly, one of the servants remembered something and said, "Miss Meixue, your maid hasn't returned from the restroom for a long time."
"What maid?" Meixue was confused.
"The one who came with you is Xiao Shuang." The servant also felt that something was off.
"Wasn't she sent by the general to take care of me?" Meixue wondered.
"I never dispatched anyone." Tu Zhenguang suddenly had a bad feeling and furrowed his brows.
Qu Xian also remembered something: "The maid who accompanied me into the study hasn't come out yet." She looked at Tu Zhenguang with fear. "She said you sent her to serve me. Could she be an impostor?"
"With so many maidservants, would I need to resort to such measures?" Tu Zhenguang's face turned pale. "This is bad!"
In the study, there was still the threatening letter from King Jin.
Tu Zhenguang immediately turned around and went to the study. Fortunately, the letter in the secret compartment of the desk was not lost. However, three valuable jade pendants and a disguise mask were missing. As long as the letter containing his secrets was intact, it didn't matter that some property was lost.
The guards reported that the maid who accompanied the madam into the study hadn't returned with the cleaning tools!
After thorough investigation, Tu Zhenguang finally figured out that a woman named Xiaoshuang first impersonated a maid from the General's Mansion to serve Meixue, infiltrated the mansion, and then used Qu Xian to gain access to the study.
Tu Zhenguang pondered, "This little thief is audacious and cunning. Perhaps even the name Xiaoshuang is fake."
With the theft in the General's Mansion, both the deceived General's wife, Qu Xian, and the courtesan Meixue from Yihong Pavilion were terrified and remained silent.
"Bring someone to sketch Xiaoshuang's portrait, issue a wanted order, and search the entire city to apprehend her!" Tu Zhenguang ordered.
"Yes." The guards immediately went to carry out the order.
"Why is General Tu so angry?" A black-clothed figure with a mask appeared silently.
Tu Zhenguang immediately waved everyone away and respectfully greeted, "Leader Dai. There was a theft in the mansion, and I just ordered the thief to be caught."
But he was inwardly annoyed. As a dignified general, he shouldn't have to bow to one of King Jin's lackeys. If it weren't for the evidence of his crimes in King Jin's hands, he would not bother to associate with King Jin.
"No matter what happens, please remember, General Tu, that capturing King An is the top priority."
"Of course." Tu Zhenguang, forced by the circumstances and concerned about his own future, replied, "I've spread the word that we'll protect King An's return to the capital. Once he shows up, I'll immediately take his head and present it to King Jin."
Little did he know, King An not only wouldn't come but had also fled far away.
...
Xiao Yeheng drove through the night until he stopped the carriage on a small road branching off the main road.
Yan Shuixin had already fallen asleep on the bedding laid out on the wooden floor of the carriage.
Checking the sky, it was already dawn.
Xiao Yeheng took a tripod from the luggage behind the seat, set it up on the grassy ground beside the small road, gathered some dry wood from the surrounding trees, lit a fire, and started cooking porridge in a small iron pot.
Yan Shuixin woke up to the aroma of rice after a nap, and when she peeked out through the curtains, she saw Xiao Yeheng cooking a pot of vegetable porridge a few meters away on the grassy field.
She walked over and asked puzzledly, "Husband, where did the vegetables in the porridge come from?"
"I picked some wild vegetables from the nearby mountain, blanched them in water, and finely chopped them into the porridge," he explained. When it came to identifying wild vegetables, it was something she had taught him. It seemed like his Xin'er knew everything.
Yan Shuixin washed up with some water from a jar in the carriage, then enjoyed two bowls of steaming hot vegetable porridge. "Your cooking skills are getting better and better, husband."
"It's out of necessity. As long as you like it," he replied, finishing off the pot of porridge she didn't eat.
The two planned their next route.
After leaving Duanji City to avoid intensive inspections, they gave up heading east to the capital and instead went south to Tuzhou City.
They were now about eighty miles outside Tuzhou City.
Continuing further would take them farther from the capital. They took out a map and decided to make a turn at the nearby Lan'an City, then head straight east, slowly returning towards the direction of the capital.
Yan Shuixin recounted to him the incident of stealing things from the general's mansion yesterday. Xiao Yeheng frowned. "Xin'er, don't take risks like that again. What if something happens to you..."
"You'll surrender without a fight, I know," she quickly interjected.
Xiao Yeheng nodded firmly and said, "Tu Zhenguang will definitely obey King Jin's orders for the sake of his future. It's right that we don't seek his support. Otherwise, our heads might end up in his hands."
"Got it," she nodded. "So, we can't easily trust anyone along the way. We need to be extra careful."
Xiao Yeheng had changed back into men's clothing and was about to pick up the disguise mask when Yan Shuixin stopped him. "Wait a minute, husband. Tu Zhenguang might have someone sketch the appearance of this mask, which could bring trouble back to you. Let me make some modifications."
She boiled a pot of hot water, then folded some chopstick-like sticks from nearby trees, arranged them into a makeshift steaming rack over the water in the pot, and placed the mask on top, about two inches above the water level. She used a fine knife to make a slit on the inside of the mask, stuffed some medicinal paste inside, and then sewed up the slit from the inside with a needle and thread. There were no visible stitches on the outside.
Then she carefully spread the mask on the steaming rack, steamed it until soft with the steam from the water, and then picked it up while still hot, gently kneading it into a slightly curved shape with a slight bulge in the middle.
After it cooled slightly, she placed it on Xiao Yeheng's face and carefully glued the edges.
Immediately, he transformed into a young man with a slightly rounder face.
She pointed to the pond next to the grass and said, "Husband, go take a look."
Xiao Yeheng walked to the edge of the pond and looked, feeling particularly surprised. "Last night, I examined this mask carefully. It was clearly a square face, but with Xin'er's skillful hands, it has turned into a round face!"
"Even if Tu Zhenguang posts wanted posters with square faces, they won't be able to catch you now," Yan Shuixin stood up. "We should hit the road."
Xiao Yeheng admired his wife with a sigh in his heart. "With this fake face mask, the road ahead will be much safer."
"I'll dress as a man from now on. If the General's Mansion is looking for a female servant, I can easily avoid it."
He nodded with a smile and began to tidy up the pots and bowls, not letting her do any work.
Yan Shuixin waited beside him, feeling the pressure in her heart, afraid that she hadn't become pregnant.
After a while, Xiao Yeheng acted as the coachman while Yan Shuixin sat in the carriage. The two headed towards Lan'an City.
Yan Shuixin took out three jade pendants stolen from the general's mansion from her sleeve pocket. The jade pendants were all green, carved with a qilin, and on the back of each pendant was carved with the character "Tu."
The qilin pattern was common, but the "Tu" character was too reminiscent of General Tu.
Passing through a small town, she bought a grindstone and whetstone and had Xiao Yeheng grind off the "Tu" characters from the three jade pendants.
Due to the damage to the jade pendants, their value decreased significantly. They sold one jade pendant to a pawn shop for two hundred taels of silver.
After entering Lan'an City, Yan Shuixin separately found two pawn shops and sold the remaining two jade pendants. She earned another four hundred taels of silver, adding to the four hundred and eighty taels she had stolen from the Qinglou in Duanji City, plus the twenty taels she obtained from the black-clothed corpse earlier.
She spent one hundred and fifty taels on buying one of the ingredients, Seven Star Grass, for Xiao Yeheng's medicine; gave forty taels to Li Youzhu; gave twenty taels to Ye Yong'an; spent ninety taels on horses; and spent fifty taels on an old carriage.
She also paid three taels of silver to hire a coachman along the way and three taels as a reward to the officers in Shupo Town.
After the major expenses, she was left with just over seventy taels of silver.
Despite economizing, they still had the convenience of a carriage to return to the capital without any problems. However, they were still quite poor.
Selling the three jade pendants together earned them six hundred taels of silver.
With a total of six hundred and seventy taels, they were much wealthier.
Yan Shuixin felt that making a trip to the General's Mansion was a worthwhile deal, even if it involved some risk.
In the wanted posters area of Lan'an City, there were indeed portraits of the female thief who stole from General Tu's mansion and the original face of the person whose face was used for the mask.
However, Yan Shuixin deliberately painted herself with an ugly appearance and always kept her head down, so the woman in the portrait didn't look much like her.
She was also dressed as a man and changed the appearance of the mask worn by Xiao Yeheng, so no one could recognize them.
Lan'an City was not like Tuzhou; there were hardly any searches for thieves, mostly just wanted posters.
The two bought some dried vegetables and meat pies in Lan'an City, as well as rice and grains that could be used for meals along the way. Without lodging, they left the city, turned left, and headed in the direction of the capital.
Along the way, Xiao Yeheng took one of the pills prepared by Yan Shuixin every three days. However, the poison in his body still couldn't be suppressed, and he vomited blood again.
Yan Shuixin was anxious, but she could only let Xiao Yeheng drive the carriage and hurry on the road as soon as possible.
Xiao Yeheng could act as a coachman, and no one would recognize him. As long as he didn't walk, no one knew he had a limp, which made her feel more at ease.
Three days later, they reached the main road back to the capital, and the investigation into the "bandits" became stricter again.
However, they were not within the sphere of influence of King Jin's father-in-law, the magistrate of Duanji County, and they were far from that area. Not every official will listen to King Jin. The search done by King Jin's men was equivalent to finding a needle in a haystack.
On the official road, they encountered several waves of searching soldiers. Because Xiao Yeheng acted as a coachman and changed his appearance, while Yan Shuixin also disguised herself as a young gentleman, no one suspected them at all.
For the next twenty days or so, the two traveled smoothly to the capital in their carriage, encountering no dangers along the way.
Although there were trustworthy officials along the route, Xiao Yeheng believed that appearing abruptly and asking for an escort from local officials might attract attention from King Jin.
Having money and a carriage of their own, they decided it was safer to travel back to the capital independently.
They were now only about sixty or so miles away from the capital. Batch after batch of people searched for King An, and there were occasional groups of soldiers passing by.
Xiao Yeheng couldn't distinguish between King Jin's men and those of the emperor or his own. Therefore, he chose not to show himself.
There was a flat area of hard mud beside the wide official road, with a makeshift shed set up where two vendors operated a stove and sold noodles and tea. There was a signboard beside the shed that read, Noodles and Tea.
Xiao Yeheng and Yan Shuixin happened to be hungry and decided to stop for a bowl of noodles before leaving.
Despite being a simple stall, all four tables were occupied, and occasional passersby came to have tea and snacks.
Xiao Yeheng tied the reins of the horse to the trunk of a large tree by the roadside, and the horse lowered its head and ate the weeds beside the road.
Just as he was about to dismount and go to the tea shed, Yan Shuixin came out of the carriage and stopped him. "I'll go."
The scrutiny here was even stricter, and anyone with a limp has been arrested.
With his prosthetic limb, even walking carefully, he couldn't avoid limping. She got off the carriage and ordered two bowls of beef noodles, paying extra for more meat.
She instructed the vendor to deliver the noodles to the carriage and then returned.
About fifteen minutes later, the vendor brought two steaming bowls of beef noodles, each with a pair of chopsticks inserted in them.
Yan Shuixin and Xiao Yeheng sat at the front of the carriage and ate the noodles from the wooden edge of the carriage. The taste was good, and they had paid extra for more beef.
As they slurped down their noodles, the customers at the table in the tea shed were also chatting.
One of the men said, "Do you know? The second daughter of Yan Qing, the Minister of Rites, Yan Shuixin, has been missing for six months. Over a month ago, the second son of the Prime Minister, Bai Jinshu, asked for Yan Shuixin's hand in marriage. Minister Yan said his daughter couldn't be found. Bai Jinshu said he could wait, so Minister Yan happily agreed. He said that once they found Yan Shuixin, she would marry Bai Jinshu."
"How could such a widely known matter in the capital be unknown? Although Bai Jinshu is the son of Prime Minister Bai, he's nothing like his name suggests, being neither cultured nor refined. He gambles and frequents brothels every day, has taken eighteen concubines, and has even beaten eight of them to death. I don't know if he has five or six children. I heard just the other day that he got himself infected with venereal diseases. For Yan Qing to betroth his daughter to him is like throwing her into a fire pit."
"Yan Shuixin has been missing for so long; she might as well be dead by now. Yan Qing received quite a hefty betrothal gift, so he still made a profit."
The group at the table chatted and laughed, but Xiao Yeheng was filled with rage, snapping his chopsticks in his hand!
Having heard quite a bit of news along the way, Xiao Yeheng couldn't believe that Yan Qing, that old fool, not only never sent anyone to look for his daughter but also agreed to betroth her to scum like Bai Jinshu!
He vowed to skin Yan Qing alive when they returned to the capital. He glanced at Yan Shuixin, thinking about her father. Perhaps she wouldn't want to see her father suffer, but he wouldn't let that old man off easy!
As for Bai Jinshu... he would meet his end soon enough.
Yan Shuixin didn't expect that since the original owner had disappeared, her father had betrothed her to someone else. Now... seeing the angry look on Xiao Yeheng's face, she wondered who would face the consequences.
The owner of the tea stall saw Xiao Yeheng's broken chopsticks and hurried over to replace them, apologizing, "I'm sorry these chopsticks weren't durable enough."
"It's okay," Yan Shuixin replied.
The owner returned to the shed and told the customers at the table, "I heard some news. After Yan Shuixin disappeared, Yan Qing's concubine, Pei Yu, fell ill from excessive worry. Pei Yu was Yan Shuixin's birth mother. After Yan Qing betrothed Yan Shuixin to Bai Jinshu, Pei Yu was so distraught that she died of anger. Her body was directly taken outside the city and buried without a tombstone."
"Is it true or just a rumor?"
"I have relatives working in the Yan Mansion, so it must be true."
The tea stall owner sighed, "Poor Pei Yu. Not only did she never see her daughter again before she died, but Yan Qing is also so heartless."
Yan Shuixin had read in the original book that everyone in the Shangshu Mansion bullied the original owner, and her mother, who was weak-willed, had also been bullied.
She never expected that the original owner's mother had died.
Xiao Yeheng was also surprised. With his mother-in-law's passing, Yan Qing, such an unfeeling and unprincipled person, was unworthy of being Shuixin's father! He reached out and held her hand, saying tenderly, "Shuixin, I'm here for you."
He didn't want her to bear the pain of losing her mother, but there was nothing he could do.
Yan Shuixin wasn't the original owner, so she wasn't really that sad, but she felt a bit depressed. "I'm fine," she said.
Her feigned strength only made Xiao Yeheng feel more heartbroken. He lowered his voice so only she could hear and said, "Once we return to the capital, I will ensure that my mother-in-law receives a grand funeral, and those who mistreated her will pay the price."
It was only then that she realized he was referring to Pei Yu as his mother-in-law.
In truth, she wanted to say that she wasn't the Yan Shuixin he thought she was.
But giving Pei Yu a proper burial was necessary. She had taken over someone else's body, and she also wanted to do something for the original owner. She nodded slightly. "Okay."
The sound of hoofbeats echoed on the official road, signaling the arrival of a group of soldiers, at least two hundred in number.
A glint flashed in Xiao Yeheng's eyes, and Yan Shuixin noticed him glance at the leader of the soldiers. She asked quietly, "What's wrong?"
"Tang Dongjin, the leader, is one of my trusted aides," he replied.
She felt particularly happy and whispered, "So, these soldiers are yours?"
He nodded subtly.
Yan Shuixin really wanted to wave at Tang Dongjin: 'Hey! Your prince is here! Hurry up and escort us back to the capital!'
But after encountering too many dirty matters along the way, even General Tu, who had merits in the court and appeared upright, was controlled by King Jin. Tang Dongjin, the trusted aide of King An, may also have the slightest possibility of being problematic.
She couldn't afford to take the risk.
With only about sixty miles left, they would arrive in the capital in half a day. It might be better for them to return on their own.
Yan Shuixin lowered her head and ate the noodles with big mouthfuls, showing no hint of unease.
Tang Dongjin led six guards to dismount and approach the tea stall, while the rest remained stationed on the official road.
"Hello, sir, what can I do for you?" The tea stall owner hurried over to greet them.
Tang Dongjin unfolded a portrait of Xiao Yeheng and waved it in front of the diners at each table. "Have you seen King An?"
"No, sir," the tea stall owner said regretfully. "If I knew the whereabouts of King An, I would have claimed the reward long ago. With a thousand taels of gold and a thousand acres of good land, why would I bother setting up shop here if I knew where King An was?"
Other diners chimed in, "Exactly, if anyone knew where King An was, who wouldn't covet that reward that they couldn't earn in dozens of lifetimes?"
"We've found many people who resemble King An, but none of them were him."
When Tang Dongjin heard this, his face showed disappointment and exhaustion. "I hope King An is safe. Even if it costs me my life, I'm willing to exchange it for his."
"Commander Tang, you're truly loyal. If King An knew of your intentions, he would surely reward you generously in the future," the tea stall owner flattered.
Tang Dongjin looked sorrowful. "It doesn't matter, as long as King An returns safely."
"Other soldiers act high and mighty, but Commander Tang is very approachable. No wonder he's King An's right-hand man. You're a good person," one of the diners praised him.
Tang Dongjin said, "Please keep an eye out. If there's any clue about King An, no matter how true or false, even if it's just suspicious, please report it."
The diners in the tea stall all agreed.
"Commander Tang, I heard that a few days ago, Deputy Minister of War Zuo Chuan, Grand Military Counselor Liu Yu, and Captain Qin Lang suddenly went insane, killing hundreds of people. Some other officials also went mad suddenly and were imprisoned. Is that true?" The tea stall owner served Tang Dongjin and the others each a bowl of tea, asking cautiously.
All the diners leaned in eagerly, waiting for the answer.
Yan Shuixin and Xiao Yeheng were extremely surprised. Going crazy and killing people indiscriminately—wasn't that a symptom of the Chihuan Madness Poison?
A serious look appeared in Tang Dongjin's eyes. "This is a state affair and should not be casually discussed. Beware of getting into trouble. Do you understand?"
"Yes, yes," the tea stall owner nodded quickly.
Everyone understood that, since Tang Leader didn't deny it, it must be true.
Xiao Yeheng's expression darkened.
After Tang Dongjin and his men finished their tea and paid a few copper coins, they walked towards the official road. When they passed by the carriage Yan Shuixin was riding in, Tang Dongjin stopped and glanced at Xiao Yeheng, who was sitting on the carriage shaft. "Who are you? Where are you from, and where are you heading?"
Xiao Yeheng had changed his appearance, so the other party naturally couldn't recognize him. He remained silent.
Yan Shuixin knew that Tang Dongjin could definitely recognize Xiao Yeheng's voice, so she pointed to him and spoke up, "Sir, this is my brother, Ye Han. He's mute. We're traveling from Yu Mi Town to Li County."
Since King An didn't actively acknowledge Tang Dongjin, and she had already reached the point where she saw enemies everywhere, it was better to temporarily conceal their identities.
Yu Mi Town wasn't in the direction of Duanji City, and Li County was thirty miles away from the capital.
So, she avoided mentioning the route that King An might take to escape.
Tang Dongjin carefully scrutinized Ye Han. Seeing him bow his head and nod obediently, he couldn't help but feel that this person was hiding something.
As for Ye Han's "younger brother," he could see through Yan Shuixin's disguise as a man at a glance, but he didn't expose her. Instead, he instructed, "If there's any news about King An, immediately inform King An's residence."
"Yes," Yan Shuixin responded.
Tang Dongjin and his six guards mounted their horses and rode off with the officials.
Yan Shuixin returned the noodle bowls and saw some good-quality fodder piled up beside the tea stall. She bought some and fed the horses before continuing on the journey.
Xiao Yeheng drove the carriage while she sat beside him.
The road was spacious and flat, and they were getting closer to the capital.
"Your Highness, that Tang Dongjin doesn't seem like a bad person. He even paid for the poor-quality tea. He doesn't seem like someone who could be bribed," Yan Shuixin expressed her opinion.
"I have been missing for half a year, and the court is already in chaos." Xiao Yeheng's lone eye flashed with worry. "Zuo Chuan and Liu Yu are the Emperor's beloved generals, and Qin Lang is deeply trusted by me. In addition, there are other officials going mad, estimated to be close to both the Emperor and me. With King Jin having the support of the Empress Dowager, once the Emperor is without my support, King Jin and the Emperor may be evenly matched. Furthermore, with the Emperor dispatching troops to search for me, it gives King Jin an opportunity. King Jin's move is clearly aimed at removing obstacles, and at this point, I can only hope the Emperor hasn't been poisoned."
Yan Shuixin fell silent for a moment. "Tang Dongjin hasn't been poisoned."
"He's just a commander of a branch of the Imperial Guards. King Jin might not necessarily see him as a thorn in his side," Xiao Yeheng said expressionlessly. "However, he has a family to consider. During my absence from the capital for half a year, most of my trusted aides have probably been eliminated by King Jin."
Yan Shuixin immediately understood. "You mean King Jin might use Tang Dongjin's family to threaten him?"
He nodded slightly, keeping an eye on the road while driving the carriage, then turned to her with a deep gaze. "It's a possibility. Regardless of whether it is true or not, I cannot let you be in danger."
She nodded.
After traveling only ten miles, Xiao Yeheng suddenly tightened the reins, jumped off the carriage, and leaned against a tree trunk, vomiting dark blood uncontrollably.
Yan Shuixin hurriedly approached him and noticed that the blood he vomited was black and blue. Her face turned pale, and she reached out her hand to gently pat his back.
She had intended to comfort him, but unexpectedly, he abruptly turned around, his eyes bloodshot. A murderous aura emanated from him!
She was startled. "Your Highness!"
Xiao Yeheng quickly regained control of his emotions, looking at her apologetically. "My Xin'er, I... can't control myself..." He wanted to kill someone!
Yan Shuixin raised her hand to check his pulse and found it was irregular, with chaotic energy flowing within his body.
The poison had already reached his brain.
It probably wouldn't be long before he started attacking people like those mad prisoners in jail.
"Let's return to the capital," she said, taking his hand and helping him onto the carriage.
With her medical skills and the money she had, she couldn't possibly fully research the poison, especially since some of its components were beyond her understanding.
The treatment offered in Duanji City, one pill every three days, was sufficient for a month, but it could only temporarily suppress the poison rather than cure it.
Now, nearly forty days had passed, and she had already refilled the prescription once, but the effect was minimal. The late Emperor had ordered the Imperial Hospital to research an antidote, and although they hadn't succeeded, they had some partial data. She planned to continue the research.
Glancing at the black blood that Xiao Yeheng had vomited on the roadside, it was too conspicuous. If it was found by the soldiers, it would cause trouble.
She jumped off the carriage again, grabbed some mud, and covered the black blood with it before continuing towards the direction of the capital.
After traveling for another twenty miles, with thirty miles left to reach the capital, they encountered four checkpoints set up by soldiers.
The inspections were becoming stricter.
Ahead, there was a long queue at the checkpoint, with people walking, leading oxen and horses, or riding in carriages...
A queue stretched for over a kilometer.
Several men and women walked back, grumbling, "What's going on? We're just trying to go to the capital, yet everyone is being searched; men and women alike have their faces pinched. What are they afraid of? Disguise techniques? This is ridiculous!"
"It's fortunate they're searching men and women separately; otherwise, it would tarnish one's reputation."
"I recognize the leader of the soldiers in front; he's one of King Jin's men. The soldiers are saying that they're vigorously searching for King An's return to the capital. But with this disturbance, if people didn't know, they would think he's planning to..." The man didn't get to finish his words.
His companion beside him covered his mouth. "Be careful of what you say. Our situation is already lenient. Entry and exit from the capital are even stricter. Those who change their appearance, cross-dress, or have a hobby for disguise are all being caught. Rumor has it that the prisons in the capital are almost full. It's a turbulent time in the capital, and there are even madmen randomly attacking people. It's better not to go."
Yan Shuixin and Xiao Yeheng listened to the complaints from the roadside, witnessing the rising public anger.
From afar, they saw several officials calling over the female travelers to be inspected by women, while men were inspected by men.
It wasn't just about checking possessions but rather pinching faces to see if there were disfigurements or missing limbs.
Needless to say, the two of them wouldn't pass this checkpoint.
The inspections at the gates into the capital were even stricter, making it impossible for them to enter.
Their original plan to return to the capital had to be put on hold.
Xiao Yeheng took the reins from Yan Shuixin's hands and didn't bother lining up; instead, he steered towards the left fork in the road.
Once they were far enough away, he sighed in resignation. "At this moment, we can only go to the Cold Moon Villa."
She nodded.
Two letters were sent out by Li Youzhu and Ye Yong'an. If they were successfully delivered, one letter's recipient would meet them in Jinxian, 500 miles away from the capital. The other letter was directed to the Cold Moon Villa, 35 miles from the capital.
Xiao Yeheng observed the surroundings, noticing that almost everyone was from Kin Jin's faction.
As they proceeded down the side road, they saw people drinking tea by the roadside and walking leisurely.
Xiao Yeheng realized that these people were all spies.
Yan Shuixin whispered softly into his ear, "My lord, I think the Cold Moon Villa isn't safe either. There are too many people watching us."
Tang Dongjin led over 200 troops towards the fork in the road, clearly heading towards the Cold Moon Villa about five miles ahead.
So, the leader of the ambush party there is this person.
Xiao Yeheng's heart sank. He chose not to trust him anymore.
Tang Dongjin saw the carriage of these two brothers heading towards the Cold Moon Villa. Could it be...
Just as he was about to doubt something, the carriage turned towards another fork in the road.
Only then did he remember that the woman disguised as a man said she was going to Li County, which was in that direction.
He led his troops to pass by in the other direction.
Xiao Yeheng could only hurry the carriage towards Li County.
Along the way, they encountered many search parties looking for King An, but no one bothered to capture Wan Niang again.
After entering Li County, Xiao Yeheng drove the carriage into an inn and booked a room. The waiter led them into the room, and Xiao Yeheng promptly fainted.
The waiter was shocked. "What happened to this young master?"
Yan Shuixin casually made up a story: "My brother's father just passed away, and he fainted due to excessive grief."
"I'll go get a doctor."
"No need; I know a bit of medical knowledge," Yan Shuixin said calmly. "He'll be fine after resting for a while. Please help me assist him onto the bed."
The waiter helped Xiao Yeheng onto the bed in the room and went to fetch a pot of hot water.
Yan Shuixin inquired about the current situation from the waiter. Within forty miles of the outskirts of the capital, especially around the Cold Moon Villa, was an area where King Jin focused on searching for King An. People nearby were afraid of getting involved and dared not go there. Moreover, the forces of the Emperor and King An's mansion were evenly matched with those of King Jin.
She tipped the waiter thirty copper coins.
"Thank you. If you need anything, just call me," said the waiter before leaving the room and making sure to close the door.
She dragged a chair to the bedside and kept watch over Xiao Yeheng, who was still unconscious.
Checking his pulse, she realized that the poison was getting deeper, and there was no telling when he would lose control. They couldn't delay any longer!
Despite the difficulties, they had to return to King An's mansion immediately.
...
Imperial Palace, Chengqian Hall
A large stack of memorials was neatly piled on the left side of the grand desk, while a delicate wooden box was placed in the middle.
Anyone would think that the box contained rare treasures.
Emperor Xiao Jing opened the box, revealing old slingshots, a wooden sword, and two clay figurines—one large and one small—among other small items.
Eunuch Lin De stood by, looking worried. "Your Majesty, you're missing King An again."
Emperor Xiao Jing picked up the slingshot and played with it in his hand. "This is what King An and I made together when we used to hunt birds." He then took out the wooden sword. "This was a birthday gift from King An himself."
After returning the items to the box, he picked up the two clay figurines. "When I was six years old and King A was five, he made these clay figurines. He gave me the larger one and kept the smaller one for himself. Back then, I thought it was ugly."
Lin De flattered, "To be able to make such clay figurines at the age of five, King An is indeed talented."
"Indeed." The Emperor looked at the two roughly crafted clay figurines, as if seeing himself and King An in their childhood through them. "King An is my only full-blooded brother. Before our mother passed away, I promised to protect him for life. He has been missing for half a year, and despite my best efforts, I cannot find him. Lin De, do you think I'm failing our mother and failing as an older brother?"
"Your Majesty, you are the best brother in the world. Many things are not within your control." Lin De kneeled down. "If King A knew that you blamed yourself like this, he would be saddened. Please take care of yourself."
At this moment, the captain of the Imperial Guard, Qi Hui, hurriedly entered and kneeled down. "Your Majesty, I report that King Jin has sent a large number of troops to search for King A within forty miles of the capital. Anyone entering the capital is subject to a body search, regardless of gender. It has greatly disturbed the people, and there are widespread complaints."
Bang! The Emperor angrily slammed the desk, his expression cold. "King Jin is becoming more and more audacious. He claims to be searching for the Third Prince's return to the capital, but if the Third Prince really falls into his hands, what kind of fate will await him? Qi Hui, no matter what means you use, keep a close eye on King Jin's troops. Under no circumstances should King An fall into King Jin's hands!"
"Yes!" Qi Hui left after receiving the order.
Emperor Xiao Jing sat back wearily in the dragon-carved chair behind the desk. "I'm useless. I can't even protect the Third Prince."
Lin De was about to say something comforting, but the Emperor raised his hand to stop him. "A few days ago, many of King An's confidants, including me, were affected by the Qihuan Poison. Even I was unable to escape. The court physicians have already seen me. Even if I abstain from relations with the consorts, I'm afraid that I'll go mad before long. Tell me, What should be done in this situation?"
"Your Majesty, I am just a little eunuch. I dare not comment on the world's major event."
"You've followed me since childhood, not just as a servant." The Emperor chuckled bitterly. "If it weren't for King A back then, I would have died at the hands of Xiao Chengyu, the fourth prince. When our father was alive, he also said that whether it was me or King An who ascended the throne, it was acceptable. The poison I'm afflicted with is incurable. If King An is unharmed, I'll give this world back to him. But now, with King An's fate unknown and my eldest son only four years old, as soon as I go mad, the world will belong to King Jin. No wonder after I was poisoned, King Jin became even more dismissive of me!"
With a retching sound, the Emperor suddenly spat out a mouthful of black blood.
"Your Majesty, take care of yourself!" Lin De was extremely anxious. "I'll summon the court physicians..."
"No need." The Emperor waved his hand. "The joint consultation of the court physicians has been futile. I cannot let King Jin know that my condition has worsened after being poisoned. I just need to rest for a while."
"Yes." Lin De's eyes were teary, wishing he could bear the Emperor's suffering.
...
King Jin's Mansion is decorated with carved beams and painted buildings, and the flowers and trees are exquisite. In front of a valuable bonsai in the backyard, King Jin Xiao Shen held scissors to trim the overgrown branches and leaves of the bonsai.
"The branches of the tree are too lush; they should be pruned, shouldn't they?" Xiao Shen squinted his triangular eyes, showing skillful pruning movements.
The guard, Yang Chao, waited nearby, knowing his master's intentions.
The power of the Emperor and King An was too strong. The master intended to eliminate their influence. The recent insanity of those ministers was evidence of this. "Yes."
King Jin Xiao Shen handed the scissors to Yang Chao, looking at the half-trimmed bonsai. "Now, half of the empire is almost mine. The Emperor is poisoned. Even if he abstains from intercourse with his consorts, it won't be long before he loses control. Once he goes mad, I'll ascend the throne in accordance with public opinion." His triangular eyes narrowed. "We must not let King An return to the capital. Otherwise, if he suddenly appears and the Emperor decrees to pass the throne to King An, then my plans will be ruined."
King An was poisoned in the prison, and the informant Bai Jinchuan was already dead at that time, so King Jin is unaware of the matter.
"Master, rest assured, Commander Dai has brought enough troops to ambush Cold Moon Villa. Tang Dongjin is a trusted aide of King An. If King An appears in the suburbs of the capital, he will surely meet up with Tang Dongjin. As soon as he shows up, he will die without a sound." Yang Chao reported the latest situation.
"The Emperor's poisoning is nothing to fear." King Jin's face was full of malice. "Spread the news that the Emperor has been infected with the Qihuan Poison. The Emperor's power is already waning. By then, more people will submit to me."
"Yes."
"King An thought that by sending two small messengers to the capital, he could hide it from me. Little did he know, all the people coming from Duanji City are under my control. I sent heavy troops to the location of the first letter in Jin County, but he didn't show up." King Jin's tone was disapproving.
Then, speaking on behalf of his master, Yang Chao said, "The area within forty miles of the capital has been strictly controlled by you, Master. We're forcing King An to appear at Cold Moon Villa."
King Jin drew a dagger and chopped off the bonsai with one stroke. "This time, I will uproot both the Emperor and King An!"
...
At the Yuelai Inn in Li County, forty miles away from the capital, Yan Shuixin stood by the window of a room on the second floor. Being on the street side, she saw troops searching the streets from time to time.
There were troops from King Jin, King An, and the Emperor.
If they were household servants or guards, their attire would give them away. But if they were imperial guards or the like, it would be impossible to discern whom they served.
Just as Xiao Yeheng had said, disappearing for half a year could change many things.
For example, she didn't trust the assistant, Tang Dongjin, anymore.
Now, King An's poisoning couldn't be delayed any longer; he had to return to the capital immediately. Disguising himself wouldn't fool King Jin's checkpoints. So, the plan was to lure out the Emperor and the true loyalists of King An.
Suddenly, Xiao Yeheng on the bed woke up, his lone eye bloodshot. He sprang up, and true energy gathered in his palm, uncontrollably emitting several strikes.
Each palm print is deeply embedded into the wall; if it hit a person, they would be killed instantly!
Yan Shuixin was greatly alarmed and called out, "Husband!"
Her soft and melodious voice, full of anxiety, was like a clear spring rushing into Xiao Yeheng's heart. Suddenly losing control, he looked at her exquisite face. "Xin'er?"
Realizing what he had done, Xiao Yeheng looked at the palm prints on the wall with a horrified expression, rushed to her side, and looked her over. "Xin'er, are you okay? Did I hurt you?"
"I'm fine." She shook her head, still in shock.
If she had been by the bed instead of standing by the window, she would have been killed by him!
"Sorry, Xin'er, I couldn't control myself..." He looked worried. "I lost all reason just now."
She closed the window and comforted him: "It's okay. Let's return to King An's mansion and call all the imperial physicians for consultation. You'll get better..."
Xiao Yeheng shook his head and murmured, "I won't get better. If those imperial physicians really had a solution, Zuo Chuan, Liu Yu, and those other crazy ministers would not be imprisoned. This shows that the court is also helpless."
"There is still me." Yan Shuixin hugged his slender waist. "With me, there's still a glimmer of hope..."
"Xin'er, I almost killed you just now." He gently caressed her face with a pained expression. "Aren't you afraid of me?"
She buried her face in his flat, strong chest. "I will never be afraid of you."
"Xin'er... my Xin'er!" Xiao Yeheng's throat uttered crazily deep love. After a moment, he sighed, "The men and women poisoned in the prison went mad after one night. It turns out that even without relations, one can slowly go mad."
Tears the size of beans fell from Yan Shuixin's eyes. He wiped away the tears on her face and suddenly asked, "Tell me, do I still have the ability to conceive?"
"How could that be?" She couldn't bear to tell him such a cruel thing.
"I not only vomit black blood, but even my semen is black and purple." Xiao Yeheng smiled self-deprecatingly. "It means my semen has been poisoned to death. Even if I'm not a doctor, I understand that I can't be a father anymore."
Yan Shuixin's body stiffened. "Your Highness, the night before you were poisoned, we... we were intimate five times. Didn't you treat me like a pregnant woman the whole time? Maybe I'm already pregnant."
Actually, if she just checked her pulse now, she could determine whether she was pregnant or not.
But she didn't dare; she was afraid she hadn't conceived.
Fortunately, her menstrual cycle hadn't come yet. However, her body only had a period every few months. It couldn't be used as evidence of pregnancy. Besides, she had a good appetite every day, and she didn't feel nauseous at all.
A glimmer of hope suddenly appeared in Xiao Yeheng's despairing eyes. "Xin'er, then you..." he asked cautiously. "At this time, it's enough time to determine if you're pregnant, right?"
"Yes." She nodded listlessly.
"This is my only chance to be a father. So even someone as smart and brave as you hasn't dared to check your pulse these days." His tone was affirmative.
Tears welled up in her eyes again. "Xiao Yeheng, what if I'm not pregnant?"
Tears also flowed from Xiao Yeheng's lone eye, and his voice was hoarse. "Xin'er, it's my incompetence. Even though I'm physically disabled, I can't even have a child with you. Even if you're not pregnant, blame me, not yourself."
She looked at his despairing eye and reached out to check her pulse, but Xiao Yeheng stopped her, saying, "I'm afraid too..."
How could Yan Shuixin not understand? If she didn't announce the result, he would still have hope. But she insisted, "Let's check the pulse in a few days."
"I have something for you." Xiao Yeheng took out a letter from his pocket. "If I go mad, you should stay far away and go back to the palace to find the Emperor; he will help you."
She took the letter. "If I leave, wouldn't it expose you to King Jin's troops, who might find and kill you?"
"It's better than me accidentally killing you." He reminded her carefully, "Be obedient, Xin'er. King Jin's troops won't catch 'Wan Niang' anymore. You'll be safe alone."
She tore open the envelope, wanting to read the contents.
He stopped her. "Read it when you get to the capital."
"No way." She insisted on seeing what was written since Xiao Yeheng couldn't tell her directly but rather had it written down.
He tried to grab the letter, but Yan Shuixin pushed him away and took out the note from the envelope to read. After reading it, she glared at him angrily. "Xiao Yeheng, how could you do this?"
It turned out to be a suicide note!
In the letter, he said he would watch over her from heaven and instructed the Emperor to give her all the property under his name.
The words were so touching and heartbreaking that they made her sad. "Are you planning to really go mad and end your life?"
Xiao Yeheng's eyes turned red with pain. "Since you refuse to leave me, and I'm afraid of hurting you if I go mad, then, while still possessing the last shred of sanity, I decided to end it myself."
"Then I'll go with you." She looked at him firmly and said suddenly, with a sad tone, "Xiao Yeheng, I'm not from this world. I'm a modern person who traveled through time and occupies Yan Shuixin's body. Judging by the level of civilization, it's probably more than a thousand years after now. If you die, we won't be able to meet even in the afterlife. You can only be together if you're alive."
Xiao Yeheng was shocked but then understood.
How could the daughter of the Minister of Rites, Yan Shuixin, who was not favored, have medical skills? Even if she had a miraculous encounter with a divine doctor, she wouldn't have the proficient medical skills she displayed in prison, along with her outstanding wisdom and versatility.
It's impossible for a deep-boudoir daughter to be like that.
"Then what's your real name? Where do you live in the future?" After the shock, he asked softly.
"My name is also Yan Shuixin, from a family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners. My dad runs a hospital, and my mom is a business tycoon. As you say here, my father runs a large clinic, and my mother is the kind of wealthy merchant who does business."
"A woman doing business?" He didn't understand.
"In my world, men and women are equal. Whatever men can do, women can do too. Monogamy is practiced, and men are not allowed to have multiple wives. If they have extramarital affairs, it's frowned upon." She explained her family's address in modern times. "Why do you ask?"
"I've said before that I want to formally propose to your true family." He embraced her.
"Unfortunately, I don't know how to go back..."
"If you knew, would you go?" His heart was pounding.
Yes. She was an only child in modern times. If her parents lost her, they probably wouldn't be able to survive.
Although she couldn't leave Xiao Yeheng, in the end, it was just one life. Her parents, however, were two lives.
The matter was about choosing the lesser of two evils. It was only logical.
But she didn't dare to say she would go back. His poisoning was too deep, and she was afraid he would go mad immediately. Also, she didn't want to deceive him. "Anyway, I can't go back, so asking this is meaningless."
"It does. I won't allow you to go back. You must stay by my side forever!" Xiao Yeheng hugged her tightly. "Without you, I will die immediately, without any peace!"
Yan Shuixin patted his back and joked, "Your Highness, I'm practically what you call a resurrected soul now. The original owner of this body is dead, and I came in. Don't you see me as a monster?"
"Nonsense." Xiao Yeheng lightly bit her tender lips, "If you're a monster, then I'm a monster too. But, Xin'er, you must never mention this to a third person. Otherwise, someone might find an excuse to treat you as a monster."
"I understand." She was confident, and she only dared to tell the truth because of the deep bond between her and Xiao Yeheng.
He suddenly frowned. "Pei Yu is not my in-law, but instead your parents in the future are."
"I'm still occupying someone else's body, so I still have to build a monument for Pei Yu." She lightly touched his face with a smile. "Husband, my parents are what you call dad and mom. If they knew their son-in-law was a prince, they would be very happy."
"Would they mind my physical disabilities and ugly appearance?"
"I'm a little tyrant at home, and they wouldn't dare to mind. Besides, my parents have always loved what I love. They would have liked you too." Yan Shuixin thought for a moment. "I've been missing for so long; I wonder how my parents are."
"They'll be fine." He held her tightly, almost wanting to embed her into his bones, never to separate again. "Xin'er, remember, no matter when or where, I will never be able to be separated from you."
"Okay." She raised her head from his chest. "Then, even if you really go mad, please don't end your life. Even if you're mad, I'll still love you. Okay?"
Xiao Yeheng's single eye once again shed a line of tears, and he choked with sobs. "Okay."
"Even if you're inevitably going to go mad, I'll take care of myself and not let you hurt me." She added.
He pressed his chin against her slender shoulder, feeling fortunate to have her in his life.
Yan Shuixin took out a match from her pocket and burned the suicide note in front of him.
"Xin'er!" He wanted to stop her, but she didn't let him. She threw the burning letter into an empty bowl on the table until it turned to ashes. She said, "I don't want your property after you die. If you die, I won't exist in this world either. The letter is useless, so I burned it."
If she wanted money, she could just kill him and inherit his estate with the letter. She truly loved him, not for his power or money.
Xiao Yeheng was deeply moved, feeling as if the heavens and earth had been overturned. His only belief now was to stay alive to take care of her.
The two of them then talked about her life in modern times and tried to figure out a plan to return to the capital.
Sending messages by carrier pigeons might not work, as during this period, once the pigeons entered the palace walls, they would likely be shot down.
So they decided to find someone to fly kites near the palace.
When Xiao Yeheng was young, he and the Emperor had once gone to the eastern outskirts of the royal hunting grounds to hunt together and encountered assassins. They had agreed on using a signal in the shape of a wingless eagle to indicate danger.
Their loyal guards were aware of this matter.
Secondly, they decided to find someone to draw a picture of a wingless eagle near the palace and the residence of King An.
When the loyal guards of King An and the Emperor discovered it, they would send troops to rescue them.
Xiao Yeheng's condition couldn't be delayed any longer, and they didn't want to be separated, fearing they might never see each other again.
So, they instructed the innkeeper not to let anyone enter their rooms, and the two of them took a carriage to the streets.
In every town, there were always some laborers or errand runners gathered together, waiting for work.
After inquiring around, Yan Shuixin found five reliable workers recommended by nearby shops. She told them that she had married into a wealthy family but had been unable to conceive. She instructed them to draw a picture of a wingless eagle near the palace and King An's residence and to fly a kite with this picture near the palace, promising that she would conceive a male heir.
After giving them some initial payments and arranging for the rest to be paid upon completion of the task, she made them promise not to disclose this matter.
The payment was generous, with each person receiving ten taels of silver, equivalent to five or six months' wages. Even though the capital was under strict surveillance and they were only looking for King An, they were completely unrelated to the common people. These five people were very willing to take on the job and immediately set off.
It was clear that they couldn't go to Cold Moon Villa, so they hoped that the Emperor and Xiao Yeheng's loyal guards would be smart enough to know where they were waiting.
After Yan Shuixin and Xiao Yeheng finished arranging these matters, they originally planned to drive the carriage back to the Yuexiang Inn. However, there was a team of soldiers searching and pinching people's faces on the street ahead. This kind of search was clearly conducted by King Jin's troops.
There was a residential door open nearby, and to avoid being chased, Xiao Yeheng drove the carriage into the courtyard through the open gate.
Inside, a young woman of about twenty years old was holding a two- or three-year-old girl and said to the two of them, "Are you friends of my husband before his death?"
"Yes." Xiao Yeheng nodded immediately.
It seemed that she was a young widow. She also misunderstood Xiao Yeheng's identity.
"I'm Mrs. Ji Fangshi. My husband, Ji Yan, has passed away. Thank you for coming to visit us with such kindness." Mrs. Ji Fangshi sighed.
Xiao Yeheng glanced at the girl in her arms and followed her words, "Is this Brother Ji Yan's daughter?"
Mrs. Ji Fangshi misunderstood Xiao Yeheng's identity and said to the little girl in her arms, "Doudou, greet your uncle Ping."
"Uncle Ping!" The little girl obediently called out.
The child had tender pink skin, round eyes, and an innocent expression, looking exceptionally cute.
Since obtaining Xin'er that night, Xiao Yeheng has always wanted to have a baby with her. Now, seeing someone else's child so adorable, he couldn't help but want to be a father even more.
Now that he had lost his fertility, it seemed that being a father was just a luxurious dream.
"Uhm." He responded lightly. He had always been indifferent, and he couldn't say he liked other people's offspring.
Yan Shuixin, on the other hand, liked the child very much. "Doudou is so well-behaved." She took out a silver ingot of five taels from her arms and gave it to Mrs. Ji Fangshi. "A little token of appreciation; please don't refuse, sister-in-law."
They had spent too much money along the way and were not financially comfortable. They still needed to save money for themselves, so this was all they could give.
For ordinary people, five taels of silver is roughly equivalent to three months' wages. Mrs. Ji Fangshi repeatedly waved her hand and said, "It's too much; I can't accept it."
"It's not easy for a woman like you to raise a child alone." Yan Shuixin forcibly handed the silver ingot to her. Consider it a reward for taking shelter here.
Mrs. Ji Fangshi was financially tight and couldn't refuse, so she accepted it and invited the two of them inside. "Let me make some tea for you."
The soldiers searching outside were still blocking the streets, so the two of them agreed to go inside.
Yan Shuixin was afraid that someone called "Uncle Ping" mentioned by Mrs. Ji Fangshi would show up, so she said, "Sister-in-law, actually, my brother is not Uncle Ping; his name is Ye Han. He and Ji Yan are old acquaintances. We heard about your family's difficulties, so we came to visit especially. My name is Yexin." Their real identities couldn't be revealed, so they always pretended to be someone else.
"It doesn't matter. I'm very touched by your kind intentions." What Mrs. Ji Fangshi said was true. Other relatives were afraid of being implicated by her as a widow, but the friends of her late husband who came to help were truly rare.
Sure enough, soon a man named Uncle Ping came and brought a lot of food.
Yan Shuixin and Xiao Yeheng greeted him, but they didn't know each other and didn't talk much.
...
In the palace study, Emperor Xiao Jing had been dealing with memorials for half a day and went to the imperial garden to relax.
Eunuch Lin De, accompanied by a few guards, stood cautiously by his side.
Casually walking, he suddenly saw several kites flying high outside the palace walls.
Eunuch Lin De frowned. "Who is so bold as to fly kites near the palace?"
A young eunuch beside him reported, "It's a few common people who have been flying them for a while. I'll go and drive them away."
"Wait." Eunuch Lin De softened his heart. "Since the masters haven't spoken, let them be."
"Yes." The young eunuch said, "Concubine Xuefei really likes the picture of the wingless eagle on one of the kites. She even asked the palace servants to paint it."
The Emperor couldn't see the picture on the kite clearly from afar, but upon hearing this, his expression tensed.
A picture of a wingless eagle!
That was the signal they had agreed upon when he and the Third Prince encountered danger at the royal hunting grounds. It was used to seek help.
Emperor Xiao Jing's mind was sharp. Could this be the work of King An's men?
At the thought of the Third Prince still being in the mortal world, he became extremely excited.
Emperor Xiao Jing watched the wingless eagle soaring in the sky. He wondered, Where could Xiao Yeheng be now?
Back then, they had discussed this signal at the royal hunting grounds, which were 36 miles away from the capital.
That's it!
Emperor Xiao Jing's blood boiled, and he immediately personally summoned a large group of people and set off.
Several pictures of wingless eagles appeared near King An's mansion, looking like they were drawn by children who didn't know any better. Tang Dongjin took people to Cold Moon Villa.
Seeing this, King An's guard Fang Yi's mind turned, and he also led a large group of guards to the royal hunting grounds.
...
In Lixian County, Xiao Yeheng and Yan Shuixin stayed at Mrs. Ji's house for almost a day, until the soldiers outside dispersed, then they bid farewell.
"Please take care, benefactors," Mrs. Ji bid farewell with her daughter in her arms at the door.
"Stay safe, sister-in-law." Yan Shuixin sat on the carriage's outside shaft and waved to her.
Xiao Yeheng drove the carriage on the main street.
In the evening, the street was still bustling, with various vendors shouting incessantly.
"Guests, do you need a place to stay?" There were even waiters standing in front of the inn, soliciting customers.
Xiao Yeheng shook his head. "We already have a room prepared at the Yuelai Inn ahead."
"Oh, Tang Leader is leading people in a search there," the waiter casually remarked.
"Is it Tang Dongjin?" Xiao Yeheng immediately asked.
"Who else could it be besides him? He's the only leader of the branch of the Forbidden Army in the capital with the surname Tang."
Xiao Yeheng's expression changed slightly. If someone surnamed Tang was coming back to find him and Xinxin, they must be suspecting something.
Moreover, when he went crazy, he left many palm prints embedded in the walls of the inn room. If Tang Dongjin had joined King Jin, he would definitely have captured them.
The Yuelai Inn was just over fifty meters ahead, and there were no soldiers outside.
It seemed that Tang Dongjin was preparing to spring the trap.
So, without a word, Xiao Yeheng turned the horse's head and galloped down another side road.
A soldier lurking behind the inn hurriedly reported to Tang Dongjin, sitting in the hall, "Boss, that carriage didn't return to the inn; it went down the right fork."
"Chase after them!" Tang Dongjin waved his hand, rushed out of the inn, and leaped onto a horse waiting in the nearby alley, speeding up.
A large group of soldiers followed suit, charging recklessly through the streets, not even stopping when they knocked over pedestrians.
Xiao Yeheng drove the carriage swiftly, whipping the horse vigorously. The horse, feeling the pain, galloped faster than ever, heading out of Lixian County towards the Royal Hunting Grounds, six miles away.
Far behind, Tang Dongjin led hundreds of men in pursuit, shouting, "Go, go!"
"Xin'er, that man named Tang must have been bought off by King Jin; otherwise, he wouldn't be chasing us." Xiao Yeheng's face was cold as ice. "If I return to the capital, I'll make sure to skin the traitor alive!"
"My lord, be careful of the protruding stone ahead," Yan Shuixin cautioned.
There were pedestrians and carriages on both sides of the main road.
Xiao Yeheng shouted loudly, "Make way, quickly make way!" Carefully tightening the reins, he slightly veered the carriage to avoid the protruding stone.
Pedestrians hurriedly gave way.
No matter how fast the carriage ran, it couldn't match the speed of the lightly equipped horses.
The pursuers behind them, however, were getting closer and even spreading out to encircle them from three sides.
Forced into a corner, Xiao Yeheng could only drive the carriage in one direction.
The carriage was too bumpy, and Yan Shuixin's stomach was starting to ache. She checked her own pulse and was surprised to find out that she was pregnant!
"My lord, you're going to be a father," she whispered the good news in his ear.
Xiao Yeheng froze at the words, then a wave of joy burst into his heart. He wanted to embrace Xin'er and announce to the world: Xiao Yeheng and his beloved woman were going to have a child!
3
Unfortunately, their lives were hanging by a thread. The child might not even have a chance to come into the world.
Pregnant women shouldn't endure the jolting of carriage travel. He wanted to slow down, but the pursuers were getting closer.
Yan Shuixin threw out a pre-prepared drawing of a crippled-winged eagle from her sleeve, along with a stone. The stone hit the tree trunk by the roadside, pushing the drawing onto a branch.
Glancing back, she saw that the pursuers hadn't noticed her actions, hundreds of them riding hard behind.
After another frantic dash, they found themselves at the edge of a cliff.
Xiao Yeheng had to pull the reins tightly, "Whoa!"
The horse reared up at the edge of the cliff, barely stopping in time. The horse's hooves were raised high on the edge of the cliff, and it was too dangerous to stand still!
The two got off the carriage and walked a few steps to the side. A group of officers and soldiers surrounded them. Tang Dongjin, leading them, said sarcastically, "King An, long time no see!"