Chapter 106 Chapter 106 The Storm is Coming (Part 3)...

With Yu Wen Yue's face that looked like he would kill anyone who came, and a burly figure of nearly eight feet tall, the guards who were originally squatting at the garden gate had no choice but to swallow their saliva silently and make way for him.

The first person Xie Tingyu targeted was the Li family of Longxi.

His status in Jiankang was neither high nor low. The head of the family, Li Shanchang, was in the court, but he took advantage of his official position to accept copper coins and various gifts from his subordinates as filial piety, and even allowed his relatives to privately occupy refugees as slaves.

Li Shanchang had been the head of the family for over twenty years, always wearing a stern face. Now, he could only put on a smug look. He stood beside Xie Tingyu and said in a gentle, apologetic voice, "Young Master Xie, you came in such a hurry that I didn't prepare properly."

Xie Tingyu flipped through the household register in the government office with one hand and glanced at the list handed to him by Li Shanchang with the other. It was only a few pages. He raised his eyes and asked, "Excuse me, Lord Li, how old do you think I am now?"

Li Shanchang was stunned and quickly said, "Young Master Xie may be no more than twenty, but he acts with such swiftness and determination, quite like Grand Tutor Xie. Furthermore, Young Master Xie knew immediately that he was a man of great character and bearing. It's clear he will become a great man in the future."

Xie Tingyu chuckled, "But it seems like Lord Li is treating me like a three-year-old."

She suddenly stood up and threw the Li family roster in Li Shanchang's face, saying coldly, "Since I'm here, don't try to fool me. You have a quarter of an hour to hand over the real roster, or you will be considered a traitor who obstructs Tuduan's plan and will be severely punished!"

Seeing this, the personal guards behind Li Shanchang immediately drew their swords and tried to move forward, but they were no faster than Cen Xiu and the others.

In the blink of an eye, Yuwen Yue's knife was at Li Shanchang's neck. The blade edge was slightly dented, and drops of blood dripped down the edge. She smiled sinisterly, "If you dare let my master get a fake list again, with one person missing, I will cut you in half. Lord Li, you don't want to be cut into a sieve in public, do you?"

Li Shanchang, who was afraid of death, begged for mercy repeatedly. He was held at knifepoint to get the real name list, and then sat back next to Xie Tingyu with the blade against him. He unfolded the accounts page by page with his hands trembling like sieve chaff, read aloud, checked with Xie Tingyu, and finally signed and sealed the confirmation document before the matter was settled.

The rest of the Jiankang nobles heard the news overnight, but they were angry but dared not say anything. They swallowed their anger and resentment and could only cooperate with their necks tucked in.

After all, Xie Tingyu had his powerful mother, the Grand Tutor, above him, and elite troops stationed at the military training camp outside the city. Unable to resist, he had no choice but to hand over the population list.

The earth-breaking strategy in the city was progressing exceptionally smoothly.

The last place Xie Tingyu went to was Wang's Garden in Langya.

As soon as she entered the garden, Wang Qiwu came bounding up to her, smiling brightly, "My elder sister is now at Sirong Mansion, so I will be the one to receive you."

"Then do you know what to give me?"

"certainly."

The housekeeper of Wang Garden respectfully presented the list, and Wang Qiwu took it and handed it to Xie Tingyu with a smile on his face.

"Father has taught me how to care for the garden and the backyard, and I'm familiar with all of these matters. If Sister Tingyu has any questions, please feel free to ask me."

She led Xie Tingyu across the small bamboo bridge and walked slowly along the corridor.

When passing by a pond, Xie Tingyu suddenly saw a man with gray hair sitting and fishing. He could not help but stop and stare.

His silhouette was only visible with his face covered by a bamboo hat, a bamboo pole tilted in his hand, and his legs curled up in a wide chair. It seemed that he was asleep.

She asked softly, "This is General Wang Hengyan, right?"

"Exactly. Grandma returned home before New Year's Eve."

Wang Hengyan's ears twitched slightly, as if startled awake by the words. A strong hand lifted the bamboo hat and looked at the two people in the corridor in the backlight.

Xie Tingyu saw her slowly stand up with the help of a chair, and his lips trembled slightly.

"Xuanji, is that you?"

Both of them were stunned.

There was no response. Wang Hengyan, still feeling sleepy, asked drowsily, "Xuanji, are you back?"

Wang Qiwu forced a smile, "Maybe Grandmother missed Sister Xuanji too much, so she mistook you for her."

He walked over, took Wang Hengyan's arm, and explained in a low voice: "Grandmother, this is Sister Tingyu from the Xie family of Chen County. You have the wrong person."

"Ah... isn't it Xuanji?"

Wang Hengyan stumbled forward a few steps, carefully examining Xie Tingyu's face, then turned back to look at Wang Qiwu in confusion, "This is Xuanji, what nonsense are you talking about?"

Xie Tingyu suppressed the ripples in his eyes and said politely, "Junior Xie Tingyu greets General Wang."

Wang Hengyan, however, acted as if she hadn't heard anything. She simply took Xie Tingyu's hand and said to Wang Qiwu, "Now that Xuanji has returned, go prepare some of her favorite snacks. Don't forget the chestnut cake."

As he spoke, he took Xie Tingyu's hand and walked towards the flower hall: "You finally came back, what are you busy with now?"

Xie Tingyu, his attendant, replied, "We are now implementing the policy of local rule to investigate the cases of noble families hiding refugees."

Just like many years ago, Wang Hengyan pressed Xie Tingyu's shoulders, asked him to sit down, and sat opposite him.

After carefully examining Xie Tingyu's face, Wang Hengyan said, "You seem thinner than usual. I'll give you more when the snacks come."

Wang Qiwu handed the chestnut cake to Xie Tingyu and explained in a low voice, "Grandmother has been a little confused since... Mother and Sister Xuanji passed away. She was fine before, but today she probably hasn't woken up from her dream yet, so she kept mistaking you. Sister Tingyu, please don't be offended."

Xie Tingyu smiled faintly and said nothing.

Wang Qiwu unfolded the list and leaned over to take a closer look with Xie Tingyu.

Whenever Xie Tingyu encountered something she didn't understand, she would lightly tap that place with her fingertips. Seeing this, Wang Qiwu immediately leaned closer and explained it to her in a low voice.

As they talked, the distance between them unknowingly became closer.

It was not until Xie Tingyu's hair brushed against the back of his hand, the scent of agarwood wrapped in the warmth of her body drifted into his nose, and even the fine lines in her amber pupils were clearly visible, that Wang Qiwu suddenly came to his senses and sat back in his original seat somewhat awkwardly.

Wang Qiwu picked up the chestnut cake hesitantly and ate it in small bites. He listened to Xie Tingyu talking with his grandmother with his left ear, while his right ear was filled with the increasingly noisy heartbeat in his chest.

Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom.

He took a bite of the pastry and glanced at Xie Tingyu. When she seemed to notice and turned to look at him, he hurriedly lowered his head and looked away.

Staring at the cake crumbs on the plate, he thought to himself, "How strange! Why do I feel so nervous just looking at Sister Tingyu? I, I must be loyal to Sister Xuanji. I can't be fickle with anyone else!"

Seeing that the matter was concluded, Xie Tingyu stood up to take her leave. Wang Qiwu hurriedly stood up with her.

"Xuanji——"

Wang Hengyan suddenly called out.

Xie Tingyu turned around and saw the old man's earnest eyes: "If you have finished your work, please return to Wang Garden as soon as possible."

She nodded and said, "Okay."

Wang Qiwu accompanied Xie Tingyu all the way to the garden gate.

Seeing her take a step with her long legs and jump onto the horse nimbly, with the horse's tail behind her head flying in the wind, Wang Qiwu's eyes could not help but fall on the back of her hands tightly holding the reins, and then quietly slid to her tall and narrow waist.

His Adam's apple moved slightly as he saw her turn around and smile in the bright sunlight. Her entire body was bathed in golden light, even her black riding uniform was coated with a halo.

Xie Tingyu said, "Qiwu, go back. I'm leaving."

The horse whip was lightly raised, and the figures of the group gradually moved away.

Wang Xuanji looked at the increasingly smaller ink dot, feeling inexplicably lost.

At night, after Xie Tingyu took a bath and changed his clothes, he climbed over the wall to find Ji Lian as if he knew the way.

As she climbed over the wall, she thought, "I've been busy with the plan for Tuduan for several days. I wonder how Lianlian is doing?"

When she opened the curtain, she saw Ji Lian lying on the couch, with her hands folded on her abdomen. She looked up at her with bright eyes and said softly, "You're here."

"I've been waiting for you for several nights, and now you're finally here."

Xie Tingyu lifted the brocade quilt and lay down, holding his hand and whispering, "Why are your hands so cold?"

Ji Lian pulled her hand away, slowly stretched out her arms from under the quilt, wrapped her arms around Xie Tingyu's waist, and kissed her lips several times, "If you hold me, I won't be cold anymore."

He enjoyed Xie Tingyu hugging him tighter, and a comfortable sigh escaped from his throat, "Don't let me go, you must not let me go."

Xie Tingyu nuzzled Ji Lian's cheek and said, "I won't let go. I definitely won't let go."

The tip of her little finger entwined with Xie Tingyu's hair, rubbing it up and down her back. Ji Lian asked, "Are you going out to do something again?"

"Um."

Ji Lian bit Xie Tingyu's lower lip and asked, "When will you come back?"

"I don't know, maybe a few months later. But I will finish my work as soon as possible and come back so that you won't have to wait too long."

An unspeakable sadness surged in her heart. Ji Lian's breathing stagnated. She suppressed the soreness in the corners of her eyes and asked in a hoarse voice, "When are we leaving?"

"It's the day after tomorrow. I won't come tomorrow night."

Ji Lian stood up and gently stroked Xie Tingyu's face with her fingertips. One, two, three drops of clear tears fell on her cheeks one after another. She whispered, "Take me with you, okay? I will be very good and stay by your side quietly. I won't run around."

"I'll make your bed, massage your shoulders, and pack your clothes. You can ask me to do anything as long as you can keep me by your side."

In the dim light, Xie Tingyu could be heard chuckling softly.

Xie Tingyu wiped the tears from Ji Lian's face and said, "If possible, I would also like to take you with me, but I am more worried about your safety along the way. My dear Lianlian, just wait for me in Jiankang."

But for some reason, I always feel afraid that when you come back to Jiankang, I will no longer be there.

After a long silence, Ji Lian responded in a low voice, burying her face in the crook of her shoulder: "The thing you want is in the compartment of the dressing table on my dresser. Remember to take it away tomorrow."

The next morning, Xie Tingyu rode his horse to the martial arts training ground on the outskirts of the city, carrying two pieces of silk.

Inside the tent, two soldiers entered one after another. Seeing the man sitting behind the desk, they all bowed and saluted, "Master!"

Xie Tingyu handed the silk to Chen Yu and said, "There is something important that needs to be handled secretly by the two of you."

Chen Yu unfolded the silk and examined it carefully. Zhang Yan glanced at it from the side. She couldn't read, so she smacked her lips for a moment and then returned to her original position.

Chen Yu's eyes widened: "Master, this is actually the map of the late emperor's mausoleum! You want us to..."

She turned back to make sure the curtains were closed and whispered, "Tomb robber?"

Xie Tingyu nodded: "That's right."

"You told me last time that you were interested in traveling and practicing alchemy, and you even demonstrated the art of divination using millet. I remember searching your room in the village and finding several books on tomb divination. I imagine you've delved deeply into this area."

Although Chen Yu served in the military, she still loved long, wide-sleeved robes. She shook her sleeves over her face, somewhat embarrassed, and said, "I just flipped through it in my spare time. I wouldn't say I'm deeply involved. I've only scratched the surface."

Xie Tingyu tapped the table lightly with his fingers, and the two men immediately leaned forward.

Their master said solemnly, "I wish to retrieve a warrant from Emperor Yang's tomb. To prevent any omissions, bring back all warrants after opening the coffin."

"Then... the jewels and other items in the tomb?"

Xie Tingyu glanced at Ni and the other two and said calmly, "If you have a way to turn the stolen goods into military use, you can take as much as you can, but you must use it all to purchase weapons for the Northern Army. I heard that you suffered a lot of losses after accompanying me to attack the city last time."

Chen Yu chuckled, "Of course I've learned the skill of turning stolen goods into gold. All you need to do is place these things in a furnace, melt them, and then re-refine them. They will turn into bags of gold beans, and others will find it difficult to tell them apart."

Zhang Yan clasped his hands together and said in a deep voice, "I will not dare to disobey the Lord's order."

On the day of their departure, Xie Tingyu rode out of the city with three small teams of soldiers, while Zhang Yan and Shen Yu selected another team of elite soldiers and headed straight for Emperor Yang's tomb.

When they reached the city gate, they saw another carriage waiting there for a long time. They lifted the curtain and saw that it was Yuan Wangshu.

Yuan Wangshu coughed a few times and said, "You must be facing many dangers on this trip. Since I promised you, I will definitely do it."

"Mother Wangshu truly loves me deeply. I am so moved that I burst into tears."

"Xie Tingyu, please don't use idioms carelessly when you speak. I am deeply in love with you. I am just keeping my promise." Yuan Wangshu answered with his head held high.

Then Xie and Yuan left together.

Coincidentally, three days later, the Northern Qin delegation arrived in Jiankang and entered the city.

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The author has something to say: Updated.

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