Chapter 55: A Safety Net
A combination of clarity and a rush of pleasure to her head invaded her body.
This spring flower was somewhat overwhelmed.
When Yu Wanyin saw who it was and realized who she had just called, she couldn't even straighten her back.
Still feeling weak and limp after waking up, she couldn't suppress her voice and let out two helpless groans, "When, when are you coming back..."
Before she could finish speaking, the man's figure loomed over her.
Pressed down on her body were her legs, which were being held in place. "Who is Yao Yao thinking about?"
"I didn't..." Yu Wanyin tried to pull herself away, but couldn't. Her words were incoherent as she began to blame him, "You, I, why were you so gentle just now? I thought..."
Rong Si completely abandoned all his so-called gentle and mild manner, and said in a bold and decisive tone, "Isn't this quite heavy?"
She even blamed him for being too lenient, reminding her of other men.
"I don't think Yao Yao likes light things."
He gritted his teeth and whispered in her ear, his voice deep and rough, "Yaoyao is just asking for it."
Rong Si really felt like he was possessed.
He actually tried to pamper her in the same way Chu Yu did, but the result was that she cried out for someone else in his bed because of the pain.
After returning from a trip of several days, his wife waited for him like this.
Rong Si really wanted to hurt her to death.
Yu Wanyin barely slept that night.
As long as she got involved with Chu Yu, she couldn't explain it to him.
He couldn't very well say it was because she secretly went to see Chaoyue during the day behind his back.
After hearing some news about Chu Yu, I thought about it all day after returning home, which led me to dream about him that night.
Yu Wanyin thought this was perfectly reasonable.
She and Chu Yu were not strangers; they had been husband and wife for several months.
Chu Yu treated her with a clear conscience.
But men are always a little petty.
He insisted that she marry him and then never think of any other men again.
Even a little concern is not allowed.
How is that possible?
Rong Si stopped pretending the next day.
Yu Wanyin woke up and saw him changing his clothes by the bedside.
Rong Si heard her wake up and turned around to look.
He had just pulled on his pants, tugged at the belt around his waist, staring intently at her, before tightening it.
As the man tightened his waist, the muscles in his lower abdomen bulged even more noticeably.
It carries a wild, unsettling aura.
Rong Si tightened his belt, revealing clear and smooth lines in his waist and abdomen.
He wasn't wearing a shirt; seeing that she was awake, he went straight to get her clothes.
She put her clothes by the bed.
The top piece of clothing was a brand new little garment.
Rong Si watched as Yu Wanyin cautiously peeked out from behind the bed curtains, her slender white fingers secretly taking her undergarments under the covers before pulling the curtains shut to change.
Rong Si was still unhappy that she concealed it in front of him.
When has he ever tried to avoid her when changing clothes?
Just as he was feeling dissatisfied, he heard Yu Wanyin ask from inside the bed curtains, "This heart-shaped garment is..."
"I made this one again. It's sturdy. I've tested it; it can't be torn."
If you've tried it, you've tried it.
Unable to break free, Yu Wanyin unconsciously thought of other scenes.
He stepped forward. "Do you need my help?"
"No." Yu Wanyin replied decisively.
Rong Si, unwilling to accept this, sat down beside him and asked, "When you were with Chu Yu, did you also avoid him like this?"
Why bring up Chu Yu again?
Yu Wanyin muttered, "Who wants to watch others change?"
In other words, he has no sense of shame.
With Chu Yu's upright and proper nature, he would never stare at her.
Last time, if she hadn't mistaken him for Qing Song, she wouldn't have asked him for help.
Rong Si understood her unspoken meaning.
She acted the same way in front of Chu Yu.
He regained some balance.
Rong Si turned back and picked up his clothes again.
Even the strongest temper will dissipate after a good night's sleep.
He changed his clothes alone outside and touched the porcelain bottle in his purse.
I opened it and ate one.
She was a bit too active last night, so she needs to rest tonight.
Yu Wanyin discovered that Rong Si no longer pretended to be quiet and fond of reading.
But I have learned a little about self-control.
This is a good thing.
Yu Wanyin thought that he might have gotten tired of eating it, so the frequency gradually decreased.
That way, after she leaves, he won't develop any obsessions because the withdrawal is too sudden.
As for Chu Yu.
It's good that he's still alive.
Yu Wanyin felt there was no need to ask her to go see him again.
Firstly, she couldn't give him anything.
Secondly, she remarried, and there was a personal feud between the two men.
When she went to see Chu Yu again, she inadvertently stirred up some complicated grudges and troubles.
That's not what she wanted either.
Rong Si's side...
Yu Wanyin wanted her to finish dealing with it quickly.
As winter approached, Yanbei suddenly inflicted a heavy blow on the advancing Northern Chi army.
This sparked a massive wave of wartime news.
Chao Yue heard rumors and wanted to leave once he had recovered from his injuries.
The villagers gave him a calming herbal soup, still blindfolded him, bought a cart and took him to the official road between the two neighboring cities. After the people who saw him off left, they could leave on their own after Chao Yue woke up.
To be fair, Rong Si's actions towards his enemy's subordinates to this extent because of her were extremely benevolent.
Yu Wanyin knew everything.
News of the war in the northeast has gradually spread to the entire Central Plains.
The original regime of Yanzhou had basically collapsed, and the two surrounding prefectures and kingdoms directly submitted to it and joined forces to resist the Northern Chi, making their progress easier.
However, some of the surrounding states and counties remain extremely tense.
They are either unwilling to relinquish their independent regime, or they feel that the resources they hold also allow them to wage war.
Although Yingzhou has now moved its capital, the city is busy both building and defending itself.
It's no different from a piece of fatty meat that can be bitten at any time.
The reason why the surrounding prefectures and counties did not take action was because of the two victories the bandit camp had won in Long'an.
In addition, Jiangling is a place that is easy to defend and difficult to attack.
For these two reasons, some people began to urge Rongsi to join their gang.
They felt that with Rong Si's current firepower, Jiangling, Long'an, and Taixi would be within his grasp if he gave the word.
The next step would be to take down a half-crippled Yingzhou.
Therefore, he was promised many high-ranking official positions and generous salaries.
It was a complete mess.
The situation outside is changing rapidly.
The first snow fell in the eleventh month.
Yu Wanyin sat in the courtyard, holding a hand warmer, watching Azheng and Qingsong build a snow lion together.
Several teenagers around him followed suit.
Rong Si rode back from outside, his horse's hooves kicking up layers of snow mist from the ground, which then slowly settled as they slowed down.
Rong Si stopped and returned with a scroll in his hand.
He dismounted, handed the reins to someone, and walked towards Yu Wanyin.
Yu Wanyin was watching them build a snow lion with great interest.
Her brows and eyes were flushed with fever, and some fluffy snowflakes fell on them. Her fair and smooth cheeks were rosy.
The tip of her nose was also red.
She sat there, feeling like a little snow lion draped in a red cloak.
It was pure white.
Rong Si brushed the snow off her cloak and pulled up her hood. "Aren't you cold?"
"It's alright." Yu Wanyin's hands were hidden inside her cloak, and she was also holding a hand warmer, so she wasn't cold at all.
Rong Si sat down next to her. "Did you send a message to the Taixi post station earlier?"
"Hmm." Yu Wanyin's eyes lit up. "Is there a result?"
Rong Si opened the scroll and laughed, "You're really something."
Yu Wanyin reached out and took it, placing it on her lap and looking at it.
Rong Si said, "The two generals stationed in Daizhou, Bi Shan and He Chen, have started fighting."
“Bi Shan ate something wrong and died from poisoning, leaving only He Chen alive.”
Rong Si raised an eyebrow. "You did this?"
Yu Wanyin had previously sent a letter to He Yi's parents.
They were postal workers and knew best about official documents and imperial edicts. Daizhou was, after all, a prefecture, county, or kingdom under Dali, and prefectures, counties, and kingdoms had to follow the standards for official documents.
Fortunately, He Yi's parents knew about official document specifications.
She wrote a fake imperial edict, nothing more, only stating that the Prince of Dai had dispatched Bi Shan to lead an expedition, promising that if Bi Shan could recover the losses of the He brothers, all the glory of the He family would be given to Bi Shan.
Then, the documents were handed over to He Yi's parents to forge fake official documents.
There's no need to pass it on to Bi Shan and He Chen; it can just circulate among the common people.
People love to tell these stories of power struggles among the rich and powerful.
I don't seek the truth in gossip, only its usefulness.
If this gets back to He Chen's ears, he definitely won't be able to sit still.
He Chen wouldn't be foolish enough to question Bi Shan for confirmation; once he became suspicious, he would never keep Bi Shan around.
You can't kill the two generals directly.
Let them kill each other.
With one person dead, things will be easier from here on out.
What Rong Si brought back was the news of Bi Shan's sudden death.
In addition, there were letters from the Prefect of Long'an, which were sent for what seemed like the umpteenth time, requesting them to go to Long'an to take charge.
Yu Wanyin smiled, looking much more relaxed.
She handed him back the letter from the Prefect of Long'an, "So, what do you think about this?"
Rong Si glanced at the post she had returned and clicked his tongue lightly, "Old Man He has sent quite a few of these things. Just take a look and move on."
Yu Wanyin, holding a hand warmer, chatted casually with him, "The north is about to be conquered."
With the triple threat from Yanzhou, Beichi, and Daizhou, "What do you plan to do then? Will you still be in the stronghold?"
Yu Wanyin's words were an implication, whether intentional or not.
He was instructed to accept the position of general.
Yanzhou may not pose a threat to Jiangling, but their southward advance is likely not just about repelling the Northern Chi.
Those who wage war must have ambitions.
The bandits will be wiped out sooner or later.
They cannot guarantee their safety forever.
Rong Si remained silent for a while, flipped through the post in his hand several times, and then put it away.
He followed Yu Wanyin's gaze to the men who were building the snow lions.
What greets the eye is a scene of peace and tranquility.
After what seemed like an eternity, he finally spoke, “If we had held onto Long’an and recaptured Taixi, the village would have been safe for a while.”
That's what I was thinking.
That's all the lives he can protect; he doesn't care about more than that, and he doesn't like to meddle in other people's business.
His father failed to defend the city.
I owe so many lives.
He led them out.
They relied on the mountains for sustenance and the water for their livelihood.
Whenever someone came to the mountain, Rong Si accepted them all. He felt that he owed these people a city and a home.
He didn't want to owe his family any more lives.
Rong Si was also aware of this.
When the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact.
He always had a tendency to avoid the issue and evade it.
He kept an eye on things in Beichi, Yanzhou, and Daizhou. Even when Yanzhou first started to mobilize troops, during the time he was away, some people wanted to talk to him about making a living in the arms trade.
They said they wanted to fight against Yanzhou and Beichi.
Rong Si went out and learned that Yanzhou was under the control of Chu Yu.
His suggestion to that man was to wage war and harm the people, and if Yanzhou were to surrender, the first choice would be to surrender and defend against the foreign enemy.
Since Chu Yu has such great ambitions, and I have too many concerns.
Then Rong Si let Chu Yu go first.
But once someone did it, Rong Si began to avoid it.
His worry was, "Yaoyao, what if I fail to protect her again?"
Yu Wanyin knew what he meant by "failed to protect".
He also knew that what he cared about were the lives behind him.
He cares about something different from those who promise him high positions and generous salaries, make him risk countless lives to charge into battle, but only care about their own interests.
That's enough.
With these qualities, she made the right choice.
Yu Wanyin remained silent for a long time, and after a long while, she said, "I don't know."
Her voice was very soft, “But you told me that things couldn’t get any worse.”
"I don't have to be afraid to do anything I want, you'll cover for me."
"Then why can't it be the other way around?"
Rong Si asked absentmindedly, "What do you mean, reversed?"
Her tone was still soft and distant, but what she said was, "I'll cover for you."
Rong Si's eyelashes fluttered, and snowflakes fell from his eyebrows onto his eyelashes.
Yu Wanyin casually helped him hook it down.
But her wrist was grabbed, and he leaned down to kiss her, his lips also touching Mianxue's.
The icy snowflakes melted gently between the lips and teeth.
Yu Wanyin was startled and hummed as if to say that there were still many people in the courtyard.
But he quickly calmed her down with his somewhat rough and deep voice.
Rong Si felt that he could never let her go in this lifetime.
Unless he's dead.
After Bi Shan's death, the situation became tense, and the Prince of Dai, disregarding many other factors, once again sent reinforcements.
However, the army is still on its way.
Yu Wanyin sent two letters to Long'an.
Upon receiving the letter, He Yi's parents skillfully resumed their old ways.
They've been running the postal service for over a decade; they know the ins and outs of it even with their eyes closed.
In the past, government postmen were subject to government control, but now there are no government officials left.
Naturally, they do whatever is in their own best interest.
In chaotic times, people worship the strong who can bring them peace and stability.
Not a useless royal figure on the official register.
They spread the new edict, and a group of curious and gossipy people helped spread the word.
The news gradually leaked out within Daizhou.
Rumors circulated from time to time throughout the streets and alleys that the He family had become too powerful and was plotting something untoward.
First, there was internal strife within the He clan. He Chen disobeyed the king's orders and tacitly allowed He Lun to send troops to suppress bandits on his own, resulting in He Lun's losses. He also brutally killed Bi Shan, the general sent by the king.
I fear that once he achieves great merit, he may endanger the crown prince.
This caused unease within the royal family, who pondered how to first use He Chen and then kill him.
Yu Wanyin then sent out a second fake official document.
The area where Daizhou was stationed was rife with undercurrents in the Huijiang River.
The remaining civilians were captured by the soldiers and forced into hard labor.
After putting down his things and sitting down next to her, they started chatting. "Have you heard? The sudden death of General Bishan has enraged the Prince of Dai."
"How could that be? Didn't the Prince of Dai send reinforcements?"
"The reinforcements are meant to appease the people, but to lose such a valiant general for no reason, how can the emperor not be angry?"
"I heard that he was only pretending to appease and support the He family, so that he would send reinforcements to eliminate them after winning the battle."
"really?"
"How could that be false? That's what everyone says. Besides, if it were you, and your highly anticipated general was killed, could you willingly let them run rampant?"
"Today they've only killed your beloved general; tomorrow they might turn on you. Which king in the world isn't suspicious?"
Not far away, the soldiers who were patrolling nearby frowned.
They changed the direction of their inspection and headed towards He Chen's barracks.
Before long, the sound of cups and saucers being smashed came from inside the tent. "When the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked."
"That Prince Dai is now hiding in a peaceful land, enjoying himself. Has he forgotten who he came from? Even if my He clan wins the world and replaces him, so what?!"
The soldiers standing nearby all wore solemn expressions. "The Prince of Dai can't be that heartless, can he?"
"Where are there any benevolent emperors? There are no secrets in this world, and some things may not be baseless." He Chen had long worried that the successive defeats of Helun would lead the king to abandon them, and now it had come true.
He Chen sat beside him, his face ashen. "Wait for reinforcements. If there's any unusual activity, we'll deal with that old bastard first."
*
When the Prefect of Long'an came up the mountain to invite him one last time, Rong Si nodded.
He called to the brothers in the mountains and they sat together around the fire in the cave. "Go back and ask them. Those who want to come can come with me. Those who don't want to can stay in the mountains."
"It's safe in the mountains, but not necessarily outside."
Inside the cave, the crackling sound of burning charcoal filled the air.
Zong Cheng sat to the side, poking at the charcoal inside, sending up scattered sparks.
Some people stared blankly at the Mars.
Someone secretly glanced at everyone's reactions.
Someone remarked, "The mountains aren't necessarily safe either."
"That's not something that can be solved by just hiding."
“Jiangling has been a strategic location fought over by military strategists since ancient times, and it is bound to be attacked.”
It's a matter of sooner or later.
If it weren't for their victories in the previous two battles, which temporarily halted the war in Jiangling, this area would have been divided up long ago.
The people in the mountains are well aware of the current situation.
Rong Si wasn't in a hurry for an answer. He stood up and said, "If you're willing, come down the mountain with me in a few days."
"Those who stay should take good care of the house."
He said that and went straight out.
The curtain was lifted, and the howling north wind, mixed with the falling snow, swirled around the doorway.
The curtain fell, and the cave returned to its warm and tranquil state.
The next day, a long line of people formed outside the cave to travel.
Zong Cheng threw his bundle onto the cart and punched the bandit in the chest. "Didn't you say yesterday that you weren't going?"
"I'm bored staying in the mountains by myself, so I'm going down to have some fun."
"Don't think that just because I call you brother now, you'll have to call me brother when I actually earn some merit."
Zong Cheng laughed and cursed as he punched him again.
Before descending the mountain, Yu Wanyin mentioned that she wanted to choose a female nurse to accompany her to Long'an.
Rong Si remained noncommittal. After all, he couldn't always be by her side; she still needed someone capable to protect her.
Yu Wanyin picked up Qin Yuan on her way down the mountain, and they went to Long'an together.
This trip to Long'an was a grand affair.
Most of the villagers followed suit.
Originally, many of these people who went up the mountain were descendants of military families.
Those who are too old and those who are too young stay in the village.
Some of the engineers supplying munitions were left behind to await reinforcements.
Before leaving, the little boy from the village asked them, "Can you come back for the New Year?"
The older brothers joked, "You'll be able to come back for the New Year next year."
After the snow stopped, they set off for Long'an.
Yu Wanyin sat in the carriage, looking at the mountains and fields outside covered with soft snow.
Bored, she picked up the snowflakes falling from the windowsill, rolled them into tiny snowballs, and placed them one by one on the windowsill.
Qing Song held the letters that had been sent from the front lines recently and read them with great effort. "How did you manage to be so sure that they would believe your words without verifying the truth?"
“I’m not sure, I’m just trying it out,” Yu Wanyin said slowly, squeezing a snowball. “For many people, rumors don’t need the truth; they only pick what they want to hear.”
“A virtuous ruler bestows favors upon the world, and his subjects and the people will not harbor unfounded suspicions.”
"A loyal minister who benefits the emperor and the people will not blindly disrupt the overall situation."
Qin Yuan sat beside them, sword in hand, eyes closed, listening to the conversation between the two women. She then opened her eyes and looked at Yu Wanyin.
Yu Wanyin arranged the snowballs, "It's a pity that the king is suspicious and the ministers are driven by self-interest; they don't care about the people."
"It's not surprising that people are provoked because of their own selfish interests."
She sat up and looked up to find Qin Yuan looking at her.
Yu Wanyin didn't know what she was looking at. She looked around and then at the snowball in her hand.
She handed it to him, asking, "Do you want it?"
Qin Yuan shook her head and looked away.
Upon arriving in Long'an, Rong Si picked up Yu Wanyin and escorted her to the prefectural governor's residence where they had previously stayed.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of a row of neatly arranged little snow lions through the carriage window.
Yu Wanyin didn't have much luggage this time, except for her daily necessities.
She brought her things into the room and quickly tidied up.
Before leaving, Yu Wanyin casually opened the window to let in some fresh air.
As soon as she opened the window, she saw Rong Si placing her little snow lions one by one on the windowsill.
He stood opposite her across the window.
Behind me was the clear sunlight after the snow had cleared.
Yu Wanyin asked him, "How did you get it back?"
“You made it,” Rong Si pinched the little snow lion’s head, “If we don’t take it back, they’ll just sweep it away anyway.”
Yu Wanyin watched as Rong Si broke off a pine branch and attached two arms to them.
Then shield them from the warm light falling from the horizon.
In fact, although Rong Si is a rough man, he can protect whoever he wants to protect very well.
The governor of Long'an came looking for them, this time calling out, "My lord, my lady."
"Shall we go check out the camp?"
Rong Si responded, arranged everything by the window, and looked at Yu Wanyin, "Shall we go?"
Yu Wanyin hesitated for a moment before declining, "I'm a little tired, you go ahead."
Rong Si agreed, dusted off his hands, and left the house for the time being.
Yu Wanyin walked to the desk, took out all the things she had prepared, and checked them.
Then lay out paper and pens.
As she picked up her pen, she looked out the window.
Looking through the crystal-clear snow lion, one sees the clear sunlight outside the window.
She thought, "A knock-off isn't just a knock-off."
Rong Si is not just a bandit king.
And she won't stop on her way home.
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