Chapter 48 Hidden Corner (Part 2) So many lives lost... and yet...

Not long after Fu Shou left, Deng Jie visited the residence of the magistrate before nightfall and informed Xun Yu of the matter.

Xun Yu, recalling Guo Jia's outburst that day, dissuaded him, saying, "I think you'd better not go."

Deng Jie could guess Xun Yu's worries, but she still insisted: "Since they came for me, doesn't sir want to know why? I came to you hoping you can help me."

Xun Yu was surprised by her courage. He thought it would be more convenient to act while Guo Jia was away. After pondering for a moment, he wrote a short letter and summoned his servant: "Quickly deliver this letter to Shi A."

He then turned to Deng Jie and explained, "Young Master Shi Anaipi's swordsmanship master is skilled in concealment and is also familiar with the palace... You can go without worry."

Deng Jie was slightly surprised; it seemed that Xun Yu's control over the palace was no less than Guo Jia's.

She remained calm and bowed deeply to Xun Yu, saying, "Thank you for the arrangements, Mr. Wenruo."

The next day, Deng Jie changed into a simple and elegant dress, made some small adjustments, packed her perfume and tea into a carrying case, and calmly went out.

As you approach the side gate of the palace, you can already see the guards standing guard.

She stopped, straightened her clothes, and was about to step forward when a figure blocked her way: "Madam! The Chief Priest warned you before he left..."

Deng Jie raised his eyes and said, "Xu Ta."

His gaze swept over the palace gate, a faint smile appearing on his lips. "Since you have been appointed as the chief priest, you should protect me well. As for the rest, I have my own arrangements."

After saying this, she reached out and gently pushed his arm, then gracefully left.

“…Yes.” Xu touched the spot where she had touched him and then disappeared.

The so-called "Changqiu Palace," though the Empress's main hall, was ultimately inferior in scale and grandeur to the old palace in Luoyang. Only the hall of Consort Dong was slightly more towering.

Deng Jie followed the palace maids as they walked through the winding corridors.

However, just one step after she stepped into the inner palace, Xu Ta, who had been quickly hiding in the shadows, was blocked from her path.

"This brave warrior..."

Xu was startled, looked up guiltily, and his eyes widened instantly.

Deng Jie, completely unaware of the situation, entered the main hall of Changqiu Palace.

Incense wafted through the hall. Fu Shou, dressed casually, sat leisurely by the couch. Upon seeing her enter, he smiled and gestured for her to dispense with formalities.

The strange fragrance made Deng Jie's heart tighten. She felt that it was somewhat familiar, but she couldn't remember where she had smelled it before. It was not a common prescription in the Central Plains, and it was different from the smell on Fu Shou and in Consort Dong's room.

It looks like it was recently replaced, but I wonder where I smelled it before...

Suppressing his doubts, Deng Jie put on a perfectly measured smile and presented the box in his hand: "These are just some small gifts; I hope Your Highness will forgive my imperfections."

Fu Shou casually opened the package and glanced at it, then warmly took her hand and said, "So many, just right. Come with me for a walk, let's meet the other ladies and share them with everyone."

For the rest of the time, Fu Shou led her on a stroll through the palace gardens, pointing out and commenting on the flowers in the courtyards, and smilingly asking her to offer suggestions for the scenic beauty of the Yeting Palace. Her intimate attitude was unsettling.

The two chatted and laughed harmoniously, inadvertently passing by the tightly closed residence of Consort Dong.

Deng Jie involuntarily slowed his pace, couldn't help but turn back for a lingering look, his brows furrowed slightly, the scene from that day flashed through his mind, and a bittersweet feeling welled up in his heart.

Fu Shou also stopped talking at the door, but his gaze did not linger. With a deliberate shift in his eyes, he continued walking forward.

She brought Deng Jie to Consort Song's residence and invited Consort Guo and Consort Zhao to join her in exchanging pleasantries with the snacks they had prepared.

These were all former people who had followed the emperor through thick and thin. They looked obedient and docile, but they showed great respect in front of Fu Shou.

I smelled this fragrance before at the Yuan residence in Yecheng!

Considering that Fu Shou previously referred to Yuan Shao as "Grand General"... Could it be that Yuan Shao sent someone to the palace?! Didn't Xun Yu notice this?

Deng Jie's mind raced, but he remained outwardly calm, chatting casually with the other concubines.

When the topic turned to desserts, she naturally picked up on Guo Meiren's comment that "I still prefer the rich and mellow taste," saying, "Speaking of rich and mellow flavors, I think yogurt has a unique flavor. The richness of goat milk is wrapped with a hint of sourness, and the aftertaste is long-lasting."

Guo Meiren, caught off guard, blurted out, "What a coincidence! I also adore this item, but it's a pity it's hard to find here. Yesterday..."

A cold glint flashed in Fu Shou's eyes as he shot them at Consort Guo, who suddenly stiffened. "...Yesterday, I even...sent someone to help me...look outside the palace...where is it!"

Deng Jie noticed all these subtle interactions, but she pretended not to notice and naturally steered the conversation back to the types of pastries.

Even after leaving the palace, Deng Jie's doubts remained unresolved, and in fact deepened. Why did Yuan Shao's men, having already made contact with the court, dare to so openly invite him into the palace?

She was even somewhat surprised that she was able to leave the palace safely and without any hindrance.

She declined the carriage arranged for her by Fu Shou and chose to walk alone towards Xun Yu's residence, also trying to draw out the lurking spy in the shadows.

As expected, once she stepped out of the palace and into the relatively quiet streets, a strange feeling of being followed made her somewhat uneasy.

She looked back several times but couldn't see anything amiss. Just to be on the safe side, she took the short blade she had been hiding on her body that morning from her neck and held it in her hand.

As she turned into a shorter, darker alley, she heard footsteps behind her suddenly quicken, and a hand abruptly landed on her shoulder!

"Clang!"

With a crisp clang of metal, the short blade was knocked to the ground, and her wrist was tightly gripped.

"Don't be afraid, madam, it's me!"

Deng Jie looked up in shock, only to be met with Xu Ta.

"Xu Ta?!" Her heart skipped a beat. "How could it be you?!"

Xu turned aside to avoid being seen, and saw another agile man in gray dragging a limp body into the darkness from the shadows at the alley entrance.

The man nodded slightly to Deng Jie and made a brief gesture to indicate that he was Xun Yu's man.

It seems this person is Shi A, and the one on the ground is...

"I'm sorry, you startled me." Deng Jie apologized to Xu Ta first.

Xu bowed and said, "Madam should be cautious. If it weren't for the swordsman from earlier, I would have been a step slower."

As expected, assassins were arranged...

Deng Jie bent down, picked up the short blade, and put it away. He felt a little relieved. "Yes... thank you both."

She entered the residence of the magistrate again and discussed with Xun Yu: "...Therefore, I believe that Yuan Shao's envoy must have contacted the emperor."

Xun Yu stroked his beard in thought, "It's not surprising that Yuan Shao would send someone to secretly contact us at this juncture; there are many restless people in the city. But for his envoy to be able to enter the palace and meet the emperor... I failed to notice this; it was my dereliction of duty..."

Xun Yu pondered for a moment, then suddenly a sharp glint flashed in his eyes, as if he had found a clue. "It's alright, there are still clues to follow. I'll send someone to investigate."

Seeing his serious expression, Deng Jie knew that it was probably not his place to get involved, so he did not linger any longer.

Before parting, Xun Yu repeatedly warned her: "Try to stay home as much as possible these days... Shi A will continue to protect you secretly, so don't worry."

As night fell, Deng Jie was burning incense before the altar when he heard the sound of clothes rustling in the wind. Xu Ta softly called out, "Madam."

Deng Jie was startled, a sense of foreboding rising in her heart; he had never overstepped his bounds like this before. She leaned against the wall, fumbling for a short blade in her sleeve.

“Madam, please do not be alarmed. I have come to bid you farewell.” Xu Ta spoke calmly, standing serenely in the moonlight, and bowed to Deng Jie.

"Why?" Deng Jie relaxed slightly when he saw that there were no weapons in his hands.

“Today… Yuan Gong’s men came to me.” Xu answered truthfully without reservation, “They want me… to take Madam’s life.”

Deng Jie gasped. Could it be that Fu Shou's real purpose in sending him to the palace was to target Xu Ta?!

Then he realized that there were actually two assassins in the alley. If Shi A hadn't been there...

Then she realized that if he really wanted to kill her, he wouldn't have said these things. "But you didn't do it."

"Yes!" Xu replied resolutely. "I have been able to survive until now thanks to your great kindness, Madam. How could I forget your kindness? Although I am being hypocritical, I would never do such a beastly thing."

Deng Jie still had many doubts in his mind and hadn't asked them yet, but Xu Ta continued slowly with a dim look in his eyes: "But that person told me the truth about my brother's death back then."

He shook out a piece of frayed, stained silk from his bosom. “This is a secret letter personally written by Cao Cao, the then Governor of Yan Province and General of Valiant Might. In order to sever Yuan Shao’s alliance with Zhang Xiu, he did not hesitate to sacrifice my brother and that scapegoat’s lives to frame Liu Biao. Madam, you can judge its authenticity!”

Deng Jie was greatly surprised. He stepped forward and examined the manuscript closely by the candlelight in the corridor. It was indeed Cao Cao's own handwriting... even the wording...

She broke out in a cold sweat.

At that time, Guo Jia had not yet met him, yet his words certainly reflected Xun Yu's choice of words, which were somewhere between the two:

...With his talent, he must understand his meaning, and the whole text is like a recommendation of a worthy person.

"For this scheme, they didn't hesitate to sacrifice my brother's life!" Xu Ta roared in grief and indignation. "This is irrefutable proof that Cao Cao used someone else to do his dirty work!"

"So... what are you going to do..." Deng Jie gripped the silk scroll tightly, a vague feeling stirring in his heart.

"Therefore, I am going to Guandu to personally kill Cao Cao and avenge my brother!"

"No!" Deng Jie exclaimed in shock. "Even if this thing is real, how do you know it's not a trap set by Yuan Shao? They're just using your hatred to send you to your death! Whether it succeeds or fails in the end... you will..."

As Deng Jie said this, he suddenly thought of Deng Zhao.

Deng Zhao was doing this for Cao Cao, for Guo Jia, and for himself. Even knowing he was going to his death, he was determined to avenge his family and exchange his life for another.

"Besides... why did you have to tell me this..." she said, tears streaming down her face.

Xu's attitude was generally firm: "Madam is sincere and treats me like family. If it weren't for Madam's help in Wancheng back then, I'm afraid I would have died outside Wancheng long ago, never even knowing my brother's injustice, let alone living these many more years."

Therefore, I will not harm your wife in the slightest, but Cao Cao... he must die!

As he spoke, he took out a jade disc carved with a black bird pattern from his pocket and handed it to Deng Jie. “Once Cao Cao dies, the Yuan family will surely take advantage of the situation and launch a fierce attack. Xuchang will eventually fall into the hands of Lord Yuan. This item was given to me by Lord Yuan’s envoy, who said that after the matter is accomplished, I can use this item to surrender to Lord Yuan.”

Seeing that Deng Jie wouldn't take it, he steeled himself, boldly grabbed Deng Jie's hand, and stuffed it into her hand.

“This item is of no use to me. In this life-or-death situation, even if I were to survive by sheer luck, I would not be able to enjoy this wealth all by myself… It would be better to give it to my wife, so that she may be protected and my debt to her may be somewhat alleviated.”

At this moment, Xu's figure almost overlapped with Deng Zhao's.

She could see perfectly clearly that even if she had actually appeared before Deng Zhao decided to go to Dantu Mountain, it wouldn't have changed anything.

She clutched the jade disc tightly, letting the tears stream down her face.

Xu squeezed her hand, gently lowered it, bowed deeply, and then prepared to leave.

"Wait a minute!" Deng Jie turned around, wiping away her tears as she ran towards the bedroom.

Before long, she came running out with a delicate little cloud-patterned sachet in her hand.

She tied the sachet to a silk ribbon, then threaded the ribbon through the hole in the jade disc, walked up to Xu Ta, stood on tiptoe, and hung the jade disc around his neck.

The sachet and jade disc were pressed tightly against his chest, emitting a rich floral fragrance.

“If Yuan Shao wins, how can Fengxiao survive? How can I survive alone? This jade disc cannot protect me.”

She choked back tears, gently placing her hand on Xu's chest. "This sachet... is a calming incense I personally blended, filled with soothing flowers and herbs... hoping it can protect your mind from disturbances."

She took a deep breath, her voice filled with a humble plea: "If you can change your mind along the way, if you still have a shred of attachment and longing for this world... then take it with you, take my blessings, and go far away. Forget the hatred, and live well..."

Xu couldn't bear to destroy the warmth from that palm strike. His heart stirred slightly, his fingers curled, and he suddenly took a step back. With a thud, he knelt down and kowtowed deeply to Deng Jie: "Madam's great kindness...I can never repay it in this lifetime!"

He raised his head, a red mark appearing on his forehead. "If I am spared by Heaven this time, I will fight my way back here, even if it means fighting my way through to protect my wife!"

Having said all he wanted to say, and not wanting to linger any longer, he abruptly stood up, turned around, and said, "Farewell!"

Before he finished speaking, he nimbly vaulted over the courtyard wall.

Deng Jie stood there, dejected, memories flooding back with tears.

That year, Xu Chu led his soldiers to his home to destroy the beehives. When they went into the backyard to investigate, they were choked by the fragrance and pollen of the flowers and began to sneeze incessantly.

It was only later that I learned that Xu Chu was sensitive to strong floral scents and would react strangely to them.

An overwhelming sense of guilt enveloped my entire body like an ice curtain.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." she murmured.

Guo Jia's words from that day, "They've just changed their identities and appearances," still echoed in her ears. She couldn't let these people disrupt her peace and her home.

She raised her trembling hands and looked at herself. She already had so many lives on her shoulders, so what was there to fear about taking one more?

The night wind blew, swirling up the fallen leaves on the ground, as if singing a lament for her choice.

After a long while, Deng Jie staggered back to the altar.

She lit a candle, the flickering flame illuminating her tear-streaked face.

Sobbing, she took out a brand-new wooden plaque, on which was written:

Xu Ta's position.