Chapter 685: Two-Faced and Treacherous (Part 1) [Two-in-One]

"Madam..."

Wei Shou looked reluctant and refused to move an inch.

Ruiji simply stared at Wei Shou, her expression cold.

"Then I'll wait outside the courtyard. If my wife needs anything, just call out, and I'll come right away..." Wei Shou looked back every few steps, seeing Rui Ji's reluctance to part and Chu Yao's threatening yet feigned shout. No matter how much he dawdled, this road still had an end.

The woman serving Ruiji ruthlessly closed the door.

Wei Shou paced back and forth in front of the door, hands on his hips, growing increasingly uneasy. Finally, taking advantage of his height, he mounted his warhorse, tilting his head back and craning his neck slightly to barely peek over the courtyard wall and see what was happening inside. Chu Yao, being open and honest, hadn't closed the doors and windows while catching up with Rui Ji, but he had set up a spell to prevent eavesdropping. Wei Shou could only see what the two were saying.

I can see but not hear, and it's so intriguing.

them……

What exactly were they saying?

It was nothing much, just some catching up.

Seeing Chu Yao's gray hair and youthful face, Rui Ji's slender, fair fingers trembled slightly before she softly asked, "It's been many years. How have you been, Yu-ge'er?"

Chu Yao said, "Very good."

Ruiji shook her head: "You've always been one to only report good news and never bad. When I saw you, I could tell you'd suffered a lot. Yuanyuan's rough personality might not show it, but how could I not? But since you won't tell, I won't ask any more questions."

She had seen him at his most spirited and high-spirited.

Based on her understanding of Chu Yao, and combined with the information Wei Shou had gathered years ago, she realized that without the many trials and tribulations he had endured, he wouldn't have become the person he is today. But Chu Yao refused to mention it, and she couldn't reopen old wounds. Rui Ji had a maid serve Chu Yao tea and snacks.

He asked, "Is Yu-ge'er married yet?"

Chu Yao almost spilled the tea.

He said somewhat awkwardly, "Not yet..."

Ruiji exclaimed in surprise, "Yu-ge'er is still unmarried at such a young age. Is it because he hasn't found someone he likes, or is there something else?"

Chu Yao coughed twice to calm himself down.

"With great undertakings yet to be accomplished, I have no heart for my family."

Ruiji said with slight annoyance, "I heard the same excuse you gave me from my good-for-nothing son a while ago. It was exactly the same, word for word. Yu-ge'er isn't even trying to fool people sincerely..."

Chu Yao almost lost his composure: "Sister..."

The voice carried a hint of pleading.

After not seeing each other for many years, the first thing he did upon meeting was to urge us to get married, which was somewhat unfriendly. He's already this age; let him fend for himself.

Upon hearing the address, Ruiji's smile deepened.

"Yu-ge'er is actually embarrassed about this?"

Yes, in terms of relationship, Ruiji is Chuyao's elder sister.

To be precise, it should be my older cousin.

Ruiji's mother and Chuyao's mother were cousins, and both later married men from the same village. However, neither sister was very lucky; Ruiji's father was a gambler, and Chuyao's father was lazy. The two sisters did support each other for a while.

Having children and managing household chores.

They treat their meager few acres of land like royalty.

Chu Yao was not the eldest son in the family, but Rui Ji was the eldest daughter, seven years older than him. When Chu Yao was still an infant, Rui Ji would put him on her back in a basket and follow behind her mother and aunt to help with farm work. It wasn't until Chu Yao was two years old that he could walk steadily.

These things were told to him by Chu Yao's mother.

He had no memory of this cousin.

When Ruiji was nine years old, she had already blossomed into a beautiful young woman. Her father had gambled away all his family fortune and was also embezzled by a scheme, leaving him with a large debt. He had no choice but to pawn his wife and daughter. Her mother refused and hanged herself, but Ruiji could not escape. She fled to Chu Yao's house but was caught and taken back.

The gambling den sold her to a broker at a high price after several intermediaries.

Just then, a high-ranking official spread rumors that he wanted to keep a group of courtesans. The broker, seeing that Ruiji was of good "quality," shoved her into that group. Fortunately, Ruiji was chosen. The official, a man of refined tastes and fond of showing off, saw Ruiji's talent and spared no expense in training her. Whenever distinguished guests visited his residence, Ruiji was always required to appear. Whenever a guest's eyes lit up with amazement, captivated by her beauty and talent, and offered a large sum to buy her, the official would proudly wave his hand and refuse: "My Ruiji is priceless."

Some guests even promised the position of a concubine.

The high-ranking official did not answer directly, but instead asked: "If a beautiful jade is here, should it be kept hidden away, or should a skilled merchant be sought to sell it?"

Simply put—

These guests were not high-ranking officials or merchants waiting for them.

The high-ranking official looked at Ruiji with unfathomable eyes.

Wait for the right time to act, wait for the right merchant to sell.

She was placed on a pedestal, surrounded by the gaze of everyone.

Ruiji was almost blinded by the illusion of prosperity and tranquility until she turned eighteen. A high-ranking official found her and gave her an important task: to send her to be a concubine to a pro-peace nobleman in the Northern Desert. This nobleman had some connections with the official, and was even a distinguished guest whom the official had entertained. He had also taken a liking to Ruiji.

She was filled with fear.

As intelligent as she was, she frequently attended private banquets with high-ranking officials and various political figures, so she naturally knew the true nature of the Northern Desert. In the Northern Desert, the pro-peace and pro-war factions were constantly at odds, with one side gaining the upper hand and the other the lower. Who was stronger and who was weaker depended entirely on the current needs.

The peace faction will be ousted sooner or later.

What will she do when she is trapped in the northern desert?

The high-ranking official never told her, and she didn't know either. All she knew was that she had everything, except the right to refuse.

The only saving grace was that the nobleman from the Northern Desert loved reading, and Rui Ji was treated well and pampered, enjoying a relatively comfortable two years. After the nobleman fell from power, Rui Ji, as part of his estate, was given to another man.

Ruiji and he had little in common, and he despised the pretentious manner of scholars, treating Ruiji merely as a concubine. Those two or three years passed peacefully, neither particularly joyful nor particularly painful. Until a ray of light suddenly burst in…

She seemed to hear her silent heart beating again.

Chu Yao said, "It's not because I'm shy..."

"I just didn't expect to be pressured to get married at my age."

"Brother Yu is already at the point of lamenting 'getting old,' shouldn't your elder sister, who's seven years older than you, be thinking about preparing her own coffin? She always looked so old-fashioned when she was little..." Rui Ji laughed and let Chu Yao off the hook, no longer mentioning his marriage, and started talking about trivial matters. They only talked for a quarter of an hour before a maid came in to add oil to the lamp. Seeing Chu Yao either smiling and agreeing or listening attentively, she said helplessly, "Brother Yu is really composed, much better than you were back then..."

Back then, when he privately advised her to help, he was very direct.

Chu Yao shook his head and said, "It's not that I'm being patient this time, it's just that I'm thinking about how to bring it up with my elder sister..."

After a moment's thought, Ruiji understood a little.

"Whom does Brother Yu serve now?"

Chu Yao said, "Shen Tang, Shen Youli."

Ruiji didn't recognize the name; Wei Shou hadn't mentioned anyone by that name in any of the factions he spoke of. But anyone who could catch Yu-ge'er's eye must possess irreplaceable qualities. She asked with certainty, "This Shen Jun has also joined the Dragon-Slaying Bureau?"

She stood opposite her husband, Wei Shou.

Chu Yao nodded: "Yes."

“Looking at the mountains from afar, they remain as beautiful as ever, but looking at human relationships up close, they are gradually changing... Brother Yu, things are different now.” Rui Ji’s gentle smile gradually faded away. “Back then, I had no ties, and helping you was for my own good. Now, I have been married to Yuan Yuan for over twenty years, and we have children together. Why would I help you instead of my own husband?”

Ruiji looked at Chu Yao.

He said seriously, "Brother Yu, Chu Yao!"

The previous "Brother Yu" still carried a touch of warmth.

The second "Chu Yao" is now only cold and stern.

She said, "I just thought you came to catch up with me, and I won't mention this to Yuanyuan. There's no need to bring up today's matter again!"

Chu Yao patiently waited for her to finish before saying, "Back then, my elder sister helped me to help herself, but now she is helping Wei Yuanyuan."

Ruiji said, "That makes no sense."

She helped Chu Yao break through Chaoli Pass, which her husband was stationed at, and yet she was actually helping Wei Shou? But Rui Ji didn't rush to refute anything; she just looked at Chu Yao, wanting to hear what he had to say. Chu Yao, of course, came prepared. He simply asked Rui Ji, "Sister, do you still remember the key moment of the battle in the Northern Desert?"

Ruiji nodded: "Of course I remember."

Chu Yao: "The situation back then is so similar to today."

Ruiji's face darkened slightly, as if she had thought of something.

Unlike the high-profile Ten Crows, the Northern Desert was adept at the art of stealthy development, accumulating considerable strength over the years. The force that fought against the Northern Desert was a coalition of several nations, but they suffered a defeat at the hands of Rui Ji's second husband, unable to conquer it after a prolonged siege.

With Rui Ji's help, Chu Yao devised a plan to sow suspicion among the Northern Desert troops towards their commander, forcing him to switch from defense to offense and disrupting their defensive rhythm. The Northern Desert voluntarily relinquished their home-field advantage and engaged in a battle of wits with the allied forces of the Northwest nations. Initially, the Northern Desert was full of confidence, as they had thoroughly studied the various nations' preferred formations. Little did they expect that Chu Yao would bring such a dramatic change…

This is just as frustrating as a test-taker spending a lot of money to buy the answer key for Paper A, only to find out that the actual exam paper is Paper B.

After a brief period of resistance, the northern desert was ravaged once again.

They have become a source of experience for the younger generation in the northwestern countries.

And now—

Chu Yao asked Rui Ji, "...Does elder sister think Zheng Qiao is less suspicious than the Northern Desert King was back then? Actually, whether it's replacing Wei Yuanyuan or using this situation to force Wei Yuanyuan to send troops, it's not difficult to do. Putting that aside, even if Wei Yuanyuan really holds his ground and tries to delay the allied forces by relying on natural defenses, the result will inevitably be that Chaoli Pass will be unable to hold out first..."

Ruiji disagreed: "The supply line is in the rear, safe from enemy harassment and interception, so how could it not be defended?"

“No matter how secure the grain supply line is, there still needs to be grain to be delivered.” Chu Yao stood up, looked at the moonlight outside the window, and clearly saw the head that was still clinging to the wall. He turned and spoke eloquently, “The allied forces cannot afford to delay, but the people’s livelihood in the various regions is still acceptable. Before the troops join forces, spring planting will be done properly. On the other hand, look at the wickedness of Zheng Qiao’s soldiers; they are like locusts crossing the border. Even if Wei Yuanyuan can hold Chaoli Pass, this is not what Zheng Qiao wants. What he wants is to completely eradicate the allied forces and eliminate future troubles!”

They held out to the bitter end, but their food supplies couldn't hold out any longer, so Zheng Qiao pressured the government to send troops.

If they abandon the natural defenses and launch an attack, defeat is inevitable.

Ruiji lowered her eyes, weighing the pros and cons.

Chu Yao softened his tone: "Sister, I don't want to disrupt the hard-won peace you've achieved. It was the same back then, and it's the same now!"

Upon hearing this, Ruiji lowered her eyes for a long time.

She gave a wry smile, yet also a mysterious one: "In that case, why not let me step forward and persuade him to surrender? Wouldn't it be better to do it all at once?"

Chu Yao shook his head: "He won't surrender unless we defeat him."

I experienced that a long time ago.

Ruiji looked at the lamp oil that was about to burn out.

He said softly, "Brother Yu, let me think about it some more."

The two whispered for a long time, while the head on the courtyard wall grew impatient, its resentment so strong that even a vengeful ghost would be afraid of it.

Finally, another quarter of an hour has passed.

Rui Ji rose to see him off, and only then did Chu Yao emerge.

The courtyard gate opened, and Wei Shou couldn't wait any longer.

He said, "Chu Liangliang, are you trying to harm me by targeting Arui? Let me tell you, our marriage is stronger than gold, and you can't sway it with just a few words! I know all the bad things you did back then."

Back then, they asked Ruiji to help them fabricate evidence.

Wei Shou was a romantic with a mind full of stepmother literature, and he also disliked his so-called adoptive father for many years. His adoptive father liked to take in sons everywhere to expand his power for some reason. Wei Shou and his adoptive father were a typical example of "father parting and son laughing".

He tacitly approved of some of Chu Yao's actions.

But he wouldn't allow these methods to be used on himself!

Do you want to use the same trick twice after you've already used it once?

Ugh, pshaw!

To everyone's surprise, Chu Yao said, "I, Chu Wuhui, have always liked to treat people with sincerity. Only sincerity can be reciprocated with sincerity. How could I possibly harm you?"

Wei Shou was caught off guard by her sincere demeanor.

Wei Shou didn't believe it: "Go tell these things to ghosts!"

Only ghosts can understand nonsense!

Chu Yao's brows furrowed with a hint of helplessness: "Since Yuanyuan doesn't believe me, well, it's getting late, so I'll take my leave now!"

Wei Shou scoffed, "Coming and going as you please?"

To everyone's surprise, Chu Yao pointed at himself.

"What use is there in keeping Yuanyuan, who is merely an incarnation of Daoist Qi?"

Wei Shou: "...???"

He immediately turned hostile: "When?"

In Chu Yao's eyes, was he the kind of two-faced villain?

They actually played the "escape artist" game with him?

Chu Wenqi, incarnation of Yao, looked at Wei Shou in a very good mood and said, "When you just came down from the courtyard wall..."

Wei Shou: "...Chu Wuhui, I curse your ancestors!"

He slapped away the incarnation of literary energy.

After saying that, he looked at Ruiji and said, "Madam, no matter what he said, you absolutely, absolutely, absolutely must not believe his nonsense!"

Ruiji nodded.

Wei Shou asked, "What did he say to you?"

Ruiji: "Let me help him, forcing you to give up defense."

Wei Shou snorted, "He's dreaming! Doesn't he know that you and I are husband and wife, of one heart? Why should he abandon defense? If he's so capable, let him launch a full-scale attack! Without the morale boost from dueling battles and without sufficient siege weaponry, let's see how he breaks through the pass..."

Because of the existence of dueling generals, the two armies rarely carried large quantities of siege equipment such as battering rams, ladders, catapults, and trench bridges in battle. These are all consumables with low defensive capabilities against martial arts masters, and the allied forces could not produce them in a short time by using local materials. Even if they were produced, if those things were damaged, the next siege would be delayed.

Ruiji said, "I somewhat agree."

"Agree with his nonsense?"

Ruiji said, "Zheng Qiao is not a good master."

Wei Shou complained, "Holy crap, does he even need to say that? Anyone with eyes can see that! These literary types, they just keep repeating the same old clichés. Can't they come up with something new next time?"

Under the moonlight, the sound of horses' hooves gradually drew closer.

Shen Tang's eyes lit up as she waited anxiously.

"Wu Hui! You're something else—"

Shen Tang rode up on his motorcycle to meet them.

The raised, waving hand froze.

she……

If I'm not mistaken...

It seems there's a beautiful woman on Chu Yao's horse?

_(:з」∠)_

Chu Liangliang: Yuan, now this is what you call "the hatred of having your wife stolen"...

"If there is a beautiful jade here, should it be kept hidden in a box and hidden away? Or should it be sold to a good merchant?" —The Analects of Confucius, Zihan

The translation is: "If I had a beautiful piece of jade, would I hide it in a cabinet or find a knowledgeable merchant to sell it to me?"

PS: Regarding Chu Yao's nickname "Yu Ge'er", his surname and given name were given to him after he was sold as a study companion. "Yu Ge'er" can be considered a nickname he used.

(End of this chapter)