Chapter 129 Amidst the Clouds (19) Zhi Rou felt he was naive and his thoughts...

In the past few days, Zhi Rou has not looked for Wei Yuanzhan, and he has tacitly avoided seeing her, only unconsciously searching for her figure in the crowd.

Despite being in the same place, they hadn't spoken for three days when a letter suddenly arrived. Wei Yuanzhan's dark eyes flashed with a smile, and he immediately got up and headed towards Changhuai.

After reading the letter, the smile in his eyes gradually faded, and his expression became serious.

Seeing this, Changhuai took half a step forward: "Master, what did the Fourth Miss say in her letter?"

The tent was like a dry well, without a ripple.

After an unknown amount of time, Wei Yuanzhan's hand, which was gripping the letter, fell to his sides, and he suddenly scoffed, "Liar."

Changhuai raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.

A liar? Fourth Sister? He glanced at Wei Yuanzhan without revealing his expression, but did not reply.

A moment later, Lan Ye came in and said that someone from the young lady's side had replied that the master's guess was true.

Previously, Wei Yuanzhan had given the brocade pouch he obtained from Wu Yao to Wei Mingying, asking her to verify whether it originated from the Imperial Court. If so, it meant that the inner court had planted spies in his camp, and His Majesty remained silent. Was he incompetent or tacitly acquiescing?

As the emperor grew older, his rule became more benevolent, but this did not mean he would turn a blind eye to the inner workings of the court and allow the emperor to interfere in military affairs.

Why is Your Majesty doing this?

The Empress had long suspected Zhi Rou's true parentage, and now it seems she had planted spies around him, leaving no trace. The fact that His Majesty allowed the Empress to do this proves that her actions were in accordance with His Majesty's will.

At that time, Zhi Rou had not yet met the Emperor.

I've already doubted her identity before even seeing her in person; if I were to hear now that she's going to the Ling family in Qinyang...

Wei Yuanzhan frowned even more deeply, standing silently before him. His usually intense eyes gradually darkened, revealing an unfathomable expression.

Seeing his face, Changhuai reached out and pulled Lanye, leading him outside to wait.

Sure enough, Wei Yuanzhan didn't call them again that night.

White reeds grew thickly along the official road, the moonlight shimmering on the blades of grass, swaying gently in the night breeze. Suddenly, the sound of horses' hooves, like raindrops, came from afar. As they drew closer, the grass blades were abruptly broken, then bounced back up in a couple of breaths, swaying incessantly.

A rider galloped past, his hair tied in a man's topknot, his movements swift and agile; he was none other than Zhi Rou.

She stopped in the woods, dismounted, and pulled a bean cake from the saddle. The sound of the horse chewing it was particularly clear in the darkness.

Zhi Rou looked around, carefully examining the terrain, and confirmed that it matched the agreed-upon location. After tying up her horse, she lifted her robe and sat down, leaning against a tree trunk.

The sky was already a dark blue. Zhi Rou hadn't lit a fire. Her fingertips brushed against the short knife at her waist, so she pulled it out and idly played with it for a while. The knife flashed between her fingers, and before she knew it, she was recalling that night from half a year ago...

“They’re all drunk.” Enhe pulled Zhirou up from the grass. “Come on, I’ll take you to see something good.”

Sparks danced in the campfire, a jade disc hanging high in the sky, and the sounds of laughter seemed to tear apart the night, spreading everywhere.

Zhi Rou was caught off guard and pulled up by him, looking rather disheveled. After regaining her balance, she tried to pry his hand off, tugged at his sleeve, and said, "I don't want to go."

Enhe released her, the flickering firelight casting shadows on his face. He raised his eyebrows slightly: "The things are in Su Du's tent. You really don't want to go?"

It was as if Su Du was some kind of bait to her. Zhi Rou thought he was naive, but her heart was indeed stirred.

Seeing the hesitation on her face, he knew his words had worked. Enhe's lips curled slightly, and the ornament around his neck made him even more handsome. He grabbed her wrist again: "Let's go!"

The felt tents of Sudu were only five li away from the Khan's tent. Everyone was singing and dancing at the gathering, and no one noticed the two who suddenly left.

Once outside the tent, Enhe used his dagger to cut open the felt cloth, first pushing Zhirou into the tent, and then following behind.

A faint smell of blood lingered in the air, which Zhi Rou detected as soon as she entered, and she stopped moving.

Enhe glanced at her, then his gaze naturally turned to the center, where he saw Su Du lying on the low bed with her eyes closed, a pile of porcelain bottles scattered around her, the curtains sealed shut, and only a single, nearly burnt-out candle burning.

Zhi Rou didn't know why she came. Seeing Su Du there, she felt a strange feeling in her heart and her brows furrowed.

Enhe didn't react much, turning his head to look at her: "No?"

He spoke in a low voice, with a slight smile, and a pair of calm eyes beneath his thick eyebrows, looking as straight as a tease.

Over the years, Zhi Rou had been provoked by him many times. Although she could never help but respond to him, this time she held back and turned to leave.

Enhe stated in a normal tone, "He's dying."

Zhi Rou was startled and stopped in her tracks.

Enhe wasn't sure at first, but judging from his condition, he was indeed injured.

Drinking alcohol when injured is a serious taboo.

Just now in front of the main tent, the Khan kept pouring him wine. It seems that the assassin who sneaked into the royal tent last night but failed to capture was most likely Su Du.

Enhe stared at him for a while, feeling a mix of emotions. It was as if he remembered when Beili and Yanchao had not yet formed a marriage alliance, they wrestled behind Boyan's tent, and when it was time to interrogate him, neither of them spoke.

This is his best chance to deal with Su Du legitimately.

He attempted the assassination first, but now, due to the effects of alcohol, he is wounded and bedridden. If this opportunity is missed, who knows when the next one will come?

But why hasn't Father Khan moved yet, even though he could have brought people here?

Enhe pondered for a while, just about to say something to Zhirou, when suddenly he saw her step out of her boots and head straight for the low bed.

Enhe raised his eyebrows and stared at her.

There was quite a commotion at the royal court last night. Although the news was kept under wraps, Zhi Rou had heard about it. En He wanted to hand Su Du over to the Khan, and she wouldn't stop him, but her mother's jade pendant was still with him.

Zhi Rou walked silently, and the tent was quiet for a moment. The flames flickered, casting glimpses of light and shadow on Su Du's face. He lay peacefully under the woolen mat, his breathing shallow and slow. She paused.

He bent down and grabbed her collar, pressing the Northern Glass Blade hidden in his sleeve against her throat, causing beads of blood to seep out.

Before he could finish speaking, Su Du's eyes lit up the instant he saw the person's face. His fingers slowly loosened, his expression softened, and he called out in a strange tone, "...Xiao Nan?"

Zhi Rou's heart was pounding, and she only wanted to get away immediately, but Su Du pressed down on her wrist, holding her in front of him.

Before he could even make a move, Enhe had already taken Zhirou's side, gently supporting her from behind with his palm, and coldly looking down at Sudu.

His agility despite being ill makes one doubt the authenticity of his injury. But his demeanor is different from usual, and his voice is weak; is he delirious?

The flickering candlelight trembled, the tent was dim, and the faint flame was about to go out.

Su Du and Zhi Rou looked at each other.

His eyes were unfathomable, yet they seemed to hold countless tiny hooks that pierced her gaze. She suddenly felt a complex emotion, not fear, nor rejection, but rather... why did she suddenly not want him to die?

In a short moment, many thoughts flashed through Zhi Rou's mind. She immediately broke free, stood up, and pushed En He out of the tent together.

Now, as Zhi Rou recalls it, she realizes that she had such feelings for Su Du long ago. She can't help but frown and slowly lower her hand.

The next instant, she suddenly heard the sound of horses' hooves behind her, thinking that Pei Cheng and the others were following. Just as she was brushing off her robes and getting up, she felt a gust of wind brush past her ear and hair. Zhi Rou was startled and immediately retreated behind the tree, gripping the hilt of her sword tightly.

...

When Pei Cheng and his group caught up, the moonlight was shattered by the branches and leaves, and the chirping of insects seemed to disappear at that moment.

A short, sharp sound came from not far away. Pei Tongliang subconsciously slowed his horse down. After taking only two steps, he heard another strange, muffled sound, extremely heavy, as if it carried murderous intent.

He pulled hard on the reins, turned around and ordered Pei Cheng to stay there, while he led the rest of the men to take a detour and drive ahead.

Fallen leaves fluttered down, and four or five bodies lay sprawled in the air, their groans of pain coming in fits and starts.

A little further away, a slender figure was tackled to the ground by the man, his shadow heavy and beast-like, gripping her throat. By then, the blade had already left her hand; the girl bent her knee and thrust it upwards, the tip striking the man's ribs. He groaned, his body momentarily still.

In that instant, she suddenly twisted her waist and turned her neck, pressing down against him.

Those who came with Pei Tongliang recognized her silhouette and exclaimed in disbelief, "That's... Fourth Miss?"

I had always known that the Fourth Sister practiced martial arts, but I never imagined that she could take on six men single-handedly. Suddenly, she seemed like a stranger to me.

Although Pei Tongliang was also taken aback, he was calmer than the others. Once he saw that it was Zhi Rou, he immediately drew his bow and arrow from the saddle and shot an arrow at the man she was suppressing.

The arrowheads were deeply embedded in his palm, settling into the ground.

Pei Tongliang spurred his horse forward and dismounted. The man gritted his teeth and squinted, his expression ferocious.

Zhi Rou, having fought six men alone, was already exhausted. Her tense muscles relaxed, and she rolled off the man. She then got up, wiped her face, her forehead stained with sweat and blood, her lips pale, but her voice was still clear: "Uncle Pei, please tie him up for me. I have some questions for him."

After speaking, she walked slowly to the side, picked up the dagger she had left behind, wiped it on her armband, and sheathed it.

Aside from Pei and his son, most of the guards protecting Zhi Rou were girls around her age. They cleaned and bandaged Zhi Rou's wounds, then one of them went to find Pei Cheng, while the rest guarded different areas, surrounding the area.

The six assassins were quickly bound hand and foot. The one who had been shot with an arrow was pinned to the ground by Pei Tongliang. He was a burly man who was originally an extremely capable man, but now he was kneeling on the ground like a bird with broken wings, his head turned to the side, refusing to look ahead.

After resting for a while, Zhi Rou dragged her injured body slowly to the man. She hadn't changed her clothes, and her hair, shoulders, and arms were covered in blood. Her eyes were still sharp, silently gazing at him.

"Who sent you?"

The man refused to speak.

Zhi Rou slowly squatted down and reached out to pick up the broken bead pendant from his waist. It was grayish-white, bone-like, and tied with a thick rope. At first glance, it didn't seem unusual.

She rubbed her fingertips together, examining them intently.

Having just fought them, I felt that the items hanging on their waists were somewhat familiar: "The Breath-Following Stone, carried by grassland cavalry, to guide their warhorses back to their masters by following their breath."

The man looked up in surprise, then lowered his head again after a moment.

She had just exerted a great deal of energy and had not yet recovered. She spoke slowly, and her last sentence was light and airy, but it caused the man's expression to change suddenly. The flesh between his eyebrows twitched a few times, as if he was forcibly suppressing it so that he would not look up.

Pei Tongliang and the others were also greatly alarmed upon hearing Zhi Rou's words.

The master said that this place is far from Qinyang, and there are many bandits in the north. He was afraid that the Fourth Miss's journey would be dangerous, so he just asked them to protect her.

Who would have thought that such a powerful figure would want to kill her?

If the Fourth Miss didn't know martial arts, I'm afraid today...

Pei Tongliang dared not think too deeply. Seeing that the man was unlikely to speak easily, he stepped forward and asked, "Fourth Miss, what do you intend to do with these people?"

He came from the border army and although he had never done any torture, if asked to do it, he would not hesitate.

Zhi Rou remained silent for a long time, as if she had made the decision after careful consideration. Her voice was not loud, just loud enough for everyone present to hear.

"I still have some unresolved questions. Leave one person with us, and the rest... well, that's it."

Her words were half true and half false, her face expressionless, revealing no clue whatsoever.

Those men were born on the plateau, their lives intertwined with wind, sand, and swords from childhood. They were fierce and fearless. Now, hearing what she said, their eyes showed a variety of emotions: some were suspicious, some were nervous, and there was also a barely noticeable... look of resentment.

Zhi Rou's gaze swept across their faces, and she pointed with her finger: "He stays."

Following her directions, Pei Tongliang, with a sense of inquiry and estimation, dragged the person out.

When Zhi Rou pointed at him, the anxiety in his eyes relaxed for a moment, but then he seemed to feel uncertain about the future, and his heart started pounding again.

Upon seeing this, the remaining five people mumbled something in hushed tones, not in Mandarin. Zhi Rou couldn't hear clearly, but judging from their expressions, she guessed it was a warning to that person.

Then you'll know you didn't make the wrong choice.

Of the six, only this person hesitated, presumably because he still had unfinished business to attend to, which was why he was willing to live. This "unfinished business" might be the opportunity she could use to get him to talk.

She didn't personally deal with the others; she simply left them where they were. If they weren't dead, then their fate wasn't yet sealed.

Pei Tongliang observed the Fourth Miss's decision.

He and Zhi Rou had met before. Back in the manor, she often brought snacks to Pei Cheng to secretly plot their escape. They frequently passed each other then, with him simply thinking the Fourth Miss was a clever and mischievous girl. Now, seeing her, he had a deep impression of her.

After such a fierce battle, Zhi Rou was still upset, and Pei Tongliang was also preparing to withdraw and find a place to stay for the night.

With his guidance, the group soon settled down in a lush, water-rich area. Zhi Rou, fearing there might still be lurking enemies, dared not take the risk and discussed with Pei Tongliang the possibility of venturing another ten miles without setting up a fire pit.

In the stillness of the night, Zhi Rou changed her clothes, still dressed as a young man. Her eyes were slightly red from staying up, and there were traces of blood on her forehead and eyebrows. She didn't look like a girl from a wealthy family at all, but she was strikingly beautiful.

Among the female guards sent by Song Congzhao, one with a loud voice was secretly watching her. She nudged Pei Cheng with her elbow and tried her best to lower her voice: "Where did you think Fourth Miss learned martial arts? With just a short knife, she managed to block six people."

Pei Cheng observed for a moment and replied, "That short sword, I remember, wasn't often worn on Fourth Miss's waist at first..."

At this point, he suddenly uttered a sound, then turned back to her previous statement, "Mr. Xue Nan, have you heard of her? Our young lady is Mr. Xue Nan's last disciple... She must have trained a lot in Bei Li, and I don't think even the eldest young master could beat her."

"Master Xue Nan?" The female guard's eyes flickered slightly, and she suddenly raised her voice, attracting Zhi Rou's attention from dozens of steps away.

She hurriedly covered her mouth, bowed slightly to the Fourth Sister in a simple manner, and then took two steps back.

Zhi Rou gazed at the night sky, wondering if Wei Yuanzhan had received her letter. She had promised him she wouldn't leave without saying goodbye, so this wouldn't be considered breaking her promise.

That was a way she had never imagined.