Chapter 78: Trustworthy
"The soldiers around Zhou Hui have made a move?" Qi Daoning reclined on a low couch, toying with a jade cup as she listened nonchalantly to her subordinate's report.
"Yes. We were unable to follow them." The subordinate lowered his head, somewhat ashamed.
Qi Daoning waved her hand, unconcerned. "Those are soldiers from the Imperial City Guard. It would be strange if you could keep up with them. It's no matter. That they've moved means the people from the capital have arrived. I understand. You may go." The subordinate bowed respectfully and withdrew.
Qi Daolin walked out from the inner room and asked, perplexed, "The fire is singeing your eyebrows, yet you're not the least bit flustered?"
Seeing her, Qi Daoning raised her eyebrows. "It's all because you taught me well, sister."
"News from elder brother's side is that the eldest daughter of Marquis Wuwei has already led an army to the border of Chuzhou." Qi Daolin's brow furrowed with worry. "Making a move on Gao Yunqu has indeed put the capital on alert."
"So what? Whether it's a guillotine severing the neck in one blow, or a blade slicing the flesh piece by piece, it's all just death in the end." Qi Daoning spun the jade cup, her gaze fixed entirely upon it, as if the beauty of the cup outweighed the danger of an army at the gates.
Qi Daolin found her calm composure strange. "Aren't you going to tell Father about the news you just received?"
"Tell him for what? They're currently blinded by the beautiful dream of being made kings with a different surname. Let them dream a while longer."
"That works. It won't affect the grand scheme of things, anyway. The fact that we don't support such a hasty uprising has already displeased Father. It's best not to seek out his displeasure." Qi Daolin thought for a moment and agreed. "In that case, I'll be going."
Qi Daoning quickly put down the jade cup and grabbed her hand. "Don't go, sister. Stay the night with me."
"You can go have your own beautiful dreams."
"My dreams are only beautiful if you are in them, sister." Qi Daoning pulled at her, pleading and teasing.
"You're really not afraid of Father finding out." Qi Daolin was helpless against her.
"You think Father doesn't know?" A subtle expression appeared on Qi Daoning's face.
A chill ran down Qi Daolin's spine. "What do you mean?"
Qi Daoning sighed. "Oh, my dear sister, do you really think we haven't left a single trace all these years?"
Qi Daolin was dumbfounded, momentarily speechless. Qi Daoning continued, "Father favors you over me and Second Brother, but he also thinks you are too soft-hearted to protect the family enterprise. He's hoping I'll make you a bit more ruthless. And me? I'm a poisoned blade. Even he doesn't dare use me carelessly. A blade needs a sheath, and you are my sheath. You see? Such a perfect calculation."
"Then Second Brother…"
"Second Brother is a fine military commander. You and he share the same mother. He commands the army, you protect the family. Isn't that the tradition in Chuzhou?"
"But we are sisters… Does he not care for the laws of heaven and the principles of human relations?" For the first time in a long while, Qi Daolin was so shaken that a look of bewildered confusion appeared on her face.
"Hahaha, the laws of heaven and the principles of human relations? If he understood those, would he be committing treason?" Taking advantage of her daze, Qi Daoning pulled her into an embrace. For once, Qi Daolin nestled into her arms obediently. The warmth of her body seeped through their clothes, gradually warming her own cold form.
After a long moment, Qi Daolin finally let out a long sigh. "…What kind of family is this…"
"Family? What is family? It's just a binding net woven from blood," Qi Daoning sneered. "If we weren't shackled by this family, with our talents, where in this world could we not go?"
"A'ning, I feel so unwilling…" Qi Daolin buried her face in the front of Qi Daoning's robes. "Since I was eighteen, there hasn't been a single day I've felt content. How is a dilapidated ship worth the two of us sacrificing everything…"
Qi Daoning held her close, whispering alluringly in her ear, "Sister, have you ever thought about leaving?"
Qi Daolin clutched the front of her robes and looked up in shock. "Leave? To where?"
Qi Daoning's gaze was scorching. "I've said it before, whatever you desire, sister, I will make it happen for you. So now, have you made your decision?"
Fang Jian successfully received the letter from Zhou Hui. After studying it, the group understood that the three families of Chuzhou had not started their illicit activities just recently. The wealth they had accumulated had likely all been used to raise soldiers. The number of troops in the mountains remained unknown. All three of them broke out in a cold sweat.
"There's no time to lose. We must leave the city at once. I fear General Wei's several thousand troops won't be enough. We must send word to the capital as quickly as possible to request an imperial decree." Fang Jian made the final decision. And so, the next day, using the excuse that Fang Jian's study tour required a visit to the historical sites of a nearby county, the three of them left the city again. The moment they were out, they spurred their horses into a gallop toward Wei Licheng's position.
As soon as they dismounted, Wei Licheng came out to greet them. "You're back just in time. I have some news on my end as well."
Fang Jian first reported the situation in the city. The men Wei Licheng had sent into the mountains had also confirmed that several key passes were guarded by troops, which was largely consistent with Fang Jian's assessment. Thus, they sent Zhou Hui's letter and their own two reports via the eight-hundred-li urgent express. Only then did they have time to discuss other matters.
"What? There's news of Lord Gao?" Fang Jian was overjoyed to hear this.
"Our soldiers scattered in the mountains ran into an herb gatherer. Hearing we were looking for someone, she said she seemed to have seen such a person. But when we questioned her further, she didn't trust us and said we had to prove our identities. How should I put this… I can't just show her my Guerrilla General's seal, can I?" Wei Licheng looked troubled.
Something flashed through Fang Jian's mind. She asked, "Does this mean this person can see Lord Gao?"
"She supposedly knows where that lord is."
"How about this? Give this to her and tell her to show it to that lord. She will understand." Fang Jian hesitated for a moment before taking something out of her sleeve pocket. Wei Licheng took it and saw it was a small, exquisite seal, engraved with the two characters "Linshen."
Fang Jian was somewhat reluctant to part with it, repeatedly instructing, "You must bring it back for me. Don't lose it."
Bored, Gao Yunqu had taken to using straw stalks to ponder the I Ching. She went through the divinations again and again before setting the stalks down in utter tedium. She looked at the tally she had been keeping; she had been locked up here for over a month. Zhong Yao came once a day, fetching water for her to wash with and bringing clean clothes for her to change into. She even applied medicine to the sores rubbed raw by the shackles. Only two things she would not do: one, she would not remove the shackles, and two, she would not give her enough to eat.
"Lady A'yuan, never mind not taking off my leg irons, but can't you just give me a little more to eat? I'm chained up, it's not like I can run away."
"No," Zhong Yao answered woodenly. "You know martial arts. If you eat your fill, you'll have the strength to overpower me. You'll have to endure it."
"How is this something one can endure?" Gao Yunqu had never suffered such a grievance and was so hungry she was cursing up a storm.
"You still have the energy to curse, so I suppose you're fine." Zhong Yao's reply made Gao Yunqu's vision go black with anger. But there was nothing she could do but sleep more. When she was asleep, she was less aware of the hunger.
This time, when Zhong Yao pushed the door open, Gao Yunqu was also in a drowsy state. Zhong Yao patted her and held something before her eyes. "My lady, do you recognize this?"
Gao Yunqu roused herself and focused her eyes. A small seal was dangling before her. How could she not recognize it? Gao Yunqu was instantly wide awake. She snatched the small seal and examined it carefully, her voice turning cold as she demanded, "Where did you get this?"
"A group of soldiers was secretly searching for something in the mountains and my people ran into them. They said they were from the Quzhou Army, looking for someone. I told them to produce something to prove their identity. So they sent this over, saying you would know at a glance."
Gao Yunqu held the small seal in her palm, her thumb stroking the lines on its surface. It was made from a stone she herself had carefully selected, polished with care, and carved stroke by stroke. She had given it to Fang Jian, along with the name "Linshen," the year she passed the Provincial Examination. It was something Fang Jian never went without. A gentle smile appeared on Gao Yunqu's face. "Yes, they are trustworthy people. They are looking for me."
Zhong Yao watched her expression and asked playfully, "Is it the person who would raze Chuzhou to the ground for you?"
"Yes." Gao Yunqu looked up at Zhong Yao. "Lady A'yuan, you and I should not be enemies. My support has arrived. Are you still unwilling to tell me?"
"You really are…" Zhong Yao began to smile as well. It was the first time Gao Yunqu had seen her smile—a smile that was open, relaxed, and gratified, like a traveler walking alone between heaven and earth who has finally seen a companion.
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