Chapter 29 (Chapter 29) Grim
The soldiers accepted the order and withdrew.
As soon as they stepped outside, a group of soldiers became excited upon hearing the order. "This is the Prime Minister's wife, none other than the previously famous Little Yu Beauty of Shang'an."
"You said we arrested her..."
The group exchanged glances, each seeing a malicious glint in the other's eyes.
The soldier casually slapped the map onto his comrade's chest, saying, "We have to catch him first."
*
At noon, Yu Wanyin was awakened by the bumpy journey.
But he slept soundly until the sun was high in the sky.
When he got up, the female doctor took his pulse and asked him questions as usual.
They left only after realizing there was no problem.
Yu Wanyin got up just in time for lunch.
Qingsong had just finished setting the table when she saw the purse on it roll off the table and onto the carpet in the carriage.
Qing Song picked it up, thinking it was something Yu Wanyin had dropped, and casually stuffed it into her luggage.
Yu Wanyin saw Qing Song helping her pack her luggage, but Qing Song often helped her with these things.
Therefore, she didn't ask any further questions, assuming it was just some ordinary item that had been lost.
But for some reason, Chu Yu became a little more persistent with her.
For three days after the wound had completely scabbed over, we had sex every night.
Although he was sensible enough not to cause a scene that would be overheard.
However, Yu Wanyin needs to rest for a long time every day to recover.
She was afraid that if she always lay in the carriage, others would notice something was wrong.
Fortunately, when asked, Qing Song would deflect the question by saying that she was frail and could not withstand the arduous journey.
No one would have imagined that the seemingly upright and honest Prime Minister and the pure and innocent Xiao Yu were having an affair every night under the noses of so many people.
Yu Wanyin got off the vehicle to stretch her muscles at noon, when the group stopped to rest.
They stopped halfway up the mountain, at a high vantage point where they could see towering peaks and wisps of clouds.
The road ahead was steep and treacherous, with each mountain seemingly rising abruptly from the ground, and there was hardly any path to be found.
It's like a ghostly maze that can suck people in and devour them completely.
Behind her, the mountain range winds down, carrying the army that moved the capital, stretching from the mountainside all the way to the foot of the mountain before being obscured by the mountains behind.
The figures of people walking back and forth gradually became smaller.
It's like a fragile, loose chain that would be blown away by a strong mountain wind.
Yu Wanyin stood by the path for a while, then looked away.
She asked Qing Song, "Where are we now?"
"We've arrived in Lingchuan."
Yu Wanyin paused slightly in her steps.
She vaguely remembered that Lingchuan was only a day or two's walk from Jiangling.
Yu Wanyin pursed her lips gently. After a moment of her thoughts drifting away, she quickly put those messy things out of her mind and went back to have her meal.
This rest period was quite different from the previous ones. Officials gathered in small groups, as if waiting for some kind of order.
The surrounding officials all had solemn and serious expressions, and some were so anxious that they couldn't even eat.
Many people stood in places with a clear view, observing the situation outside, and then shook their heads and walked back after a while.
Yu Wanyin overheard the wife of the Imperial Guard next door asking her husband, "What's wrong?"
After a long silence, the Commandant sighed, "We'll reach Qinggu Slope once we pass this pass, but the terrain here is treacherous. We need to reduce our forces by half to cross the pass first, and then come back to pick up the other half after the troops in front have escorted them across."
Lady Weiwei nodded. "After all, it concerns the safety of the troops, so we must be cautious. What we need to do now is figure out how to arrange things."
"We're currently discussing these two groups of people. Going ahead might lead to an ambush, but going behind might result in being intercepted," the Commandant said. "Both options carry risks; it's a matter of choice."
Lady Wei hesitated for a moment, then said, "We'll have to gamble."
Yu Wanyin sipped her tea, lost in thought.
When it comes to luck... well, her luck is definitely the worst.
I wonder how it will go this time.
Yu Wanyin wasn't in a hurry; she followed everyone's arrangements.
When Chu Yu returned in the evening, he brought up the matter as expected, saying, "We might need to use a smaller carriage tomorrow to make it easier to travel."
Holding the prescription for recuperation written by the female physician, Yu Wanyin agreed, "Okay."
Chu Yu sat at the front table and warmed a pot of water. "I may not come here often in the next few days. I'll leave Chao Yue to keep you company."
Yu Wanyin knew that this was a critical moment, "You should take care of the important matters first."
Chu Yu poured the warmed water into the jade teacup.
From Yu Wanyin's perspective, the white powder at the bottom of the teacup was not visible.
Chu Yu's gentle gaze softened as the water rippled.
After finishing her tonic, Yu Wanyin handed the bowl over and asked, "How long will it take to get to Qinggupo?"
"If all goes well, it will take three days; if not, about five days." Chu Yu took the medicine bowl. "Soon."
He handed her the teacup instead, saying, "I just took my medicine, and my mouth feels bitter. This will soothe my throat."
Yu Wanyin did not refuse.
Chu Yu watched her drink all the water in the teacup, lost in thought for a moment.
When Yu Wanyin put down her teacup, she noticed that he was still staring blankly at the teacup in her hand.
Confused, she asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing much." Chu Yu took away the teacup and placed it in the outer room. He then turned back and pulled the brocade quilt over her. "Rest early tonight. Tomorrow is a dangerous road."
After the lamps inside the carriage were turned off, all was quiet.
The faint chirping of insects rose and fell weakly in the mountains and forests.
The insects and grasses that die out in autumn will soon disappear.
Yu Wanyin felt that Chu Yu was acting strangely tonight.
But she couldn't quite put her finger on what was strange about it.
He held her close to his chest, his arms tightening little by little, making it hard for her to breathe.
Logically, it should have been difficult to fall asleep, but Yu Wanyin ultimately couldn't resist the overwhelming drowsiness and fell into a deep sleep.
In my dream, it seemed as if the carriages and horses were setting off again.
We swayed and staggered along many bumpy mountain roads and then descended several steep slopes.
Yu Wanyin's emotions were stirred by the sounds of their journey.
The sound of wheels screeching and groaning grew faster and faster in my ears.
It was as if one could smell the dust rising around the carriage.
It was complicated and chaotic.
Suddenly, the sharp sounds of armor and a scream broke the silence of their journey!
Outside, someone shouted in panic, "They're barbarians! There's an ambush!"
The moment he finished speaking, it was as if a sharp blade had severed his throat.
The muffled sobs and the sounds of blood and gore were enough to send chills down one's spine.
More and more screams and sounds of people running away rang out from all around.
The sound of the wheels rolling stopped abruptly.
Some of the soldiers and officers around drew their swords to fight, while others turned and ran.
The sounds of carriages and horses all around were incredibly chaotic.
"The barbarians are attacking! Run!"
But Yu Wanyin just couldn't open her eyes.
Her breathing became rapid, and her fingers moved to gently clench the brocade quilt beside her, as her carriage had been violently jolted by the impact.
Her own emotions were also in turmoil.
She heard the voices of Hu people approaching their carriages.
Startled, the horses neighed and immediately turned and ran away on their own.
They quickly broke away from the group and staggered up the mountain path while being chased.
But it didn't go very far when something pierced the horse's hind leg, and the carriage stopped abruptly. In a split second, a long knife pierced through the carriage door and into the inner chamber!
Yu Wanyin suddenly opened her eyes!
The surroundings were completely silent, and Qing Song appeared to be asleep, lying beside her bed.
Yu Wanyin got up and saw that it was already bright outside, and the carriage was on its way.
She was somehow moved to a small carriage, and Chu Yu was nowhere to be seen.
Yu Wanyin lifted the carriage curtain. Qing Song woke up at the sound, looking equally bewildered, "Madam..."
Qing Song was in a daze. She clearly remembered that she was on night watch last night, but when she opened her eyes, how did she end up riding in the same car as the madam?
The carriage moved at a great speed.
Yu Wanyin looked around and saw that there were no people following the carriage, but Chao Yue was hurrying ahead. "Where are we?"
Hearing Yu Wanyin's worried tone, Chao Yue quickly explained, "We were on our way to Qinggupo today when we were separated by a group of bandits. The Prime Minister has decided to give you a detour."
"I didn't wake you this morning because I saw that Madam was asleep."
Yu Wanyin remained lost in the dream for a long time, as if it had all happened right before her eyes.
She had never had such a bad feeling before. "What about them?"
"They still followed the same route."
Yu Wanyin's forehead was covered in cold sweat, and she asked abruptly, "If there was an ambush, why did you still follow the original route?"
Chao Yue was somewhat stumped by the question and gave a vague explanation, "But the official road in Lingchuan is difficult to travel. Apart from the official road and our small path, it is all cliffs and steep slopes. Perhaps the Prime Minister will clear the road first and then open up Qinggu Slope. Madam, don't worry."
This path was actually newly opened up by Chu Yu's men.
It's simply impossible to get a large number of people to take this route.
Yu Wanyin remained silent for a long time.
The carriage sped along the narrow road, followed by several Dead Servants.
In fact, everything she dreamed about actually happened in Qinggupo!
Bloodshed and carnage filled the valley as the accompanying troops faced off against the suddenly appearing barbarians.
The sounds of clashing weapons echoed fiercely on the cliff face.
Screams and screams of fleeing could be heard everywhere.
The barbarian's spear pierced through layers of barriers, directly lifted the top of the Chu imperial carriage tent, and thrust straight into the carriage!
A black iron gate instantly blocked the attack, and the mechanism was pried open by a spear!
Countless poisonous needles flew out in a whirlwind!
It pierced the bodies of several Hu people.
The black iron mechanism turned, revealing the man's cold and dark face.
He watched indifferently as the Hu man, poisoned and dying, rolled off his carriage, and noticed the dust-stained corner of his own clothes, which displeased him.
Chu Yu brushed the dust off his body, his lips a striking, blood-red hue.
Chu Yu got up, leaned out of the carriage, and sat on the front of the horse.
His demeanor was composed and refined.
With his long sword, Chu Yu severed the horses and carriage, overcoming layers of encirclement and passing through the Heavenly Gate of the canyon.
On the other side, Jiang Wang shouted to Chu Yu, "Chu Qing! Save me!"
Chu Yu tightened the reins outside the Heavenly Gate and turned to look at King Jiang, who was still trapped inside.
King Jiang forcefully pushed aside the guards beside him, seized their horses, and rushed towards Chu Yu's direction.
Behind him were the relentless pursuit of the Hu soldiers.
Chu Yu looked at him calmly and composedly.
Just as King Jiang was about to escape, he gently raised his hand.
A deafening roar!
Fireworks instantly filled the mountains and fields.
The rocks on this steep cliff were blasted open one after another, and the originally towering and upright rocks crashed down on King Jiang's only escape route.
The only exit was blocked.
Dust flew everywhere, mixed with the smell of fighting and bloodshed.
King Jiang's eyes widened as he shouted across the boulder, "Chu Yu! I haven't gotten there yet, come and take me out!"
"You dare not protect the king! How dare you!"
"This is disobedience..."
Before King Jiang could finish speaking, several long spears pierced his body.
King Jiang's shrill screams echoed throughout the valley, probably foreshadowing the fate of those remaining in the valley.
Chu Yu stood atop the Heavenly Gate, quietly observing the scene unfolding in the mountains and fields.
All around were cliffs and steep walls.
The so-called splitting of troops at Qinggupo into two groups was also one of his pretexts for purging his bloated cronies.
Those who traveled this route were already on his list of people to be eliminated.
Chu Yu listened to these shrill screams.
It felt as if countless hands were tearing at his filthy soul.
But what can you do about it?
He was already in the mud, already broken.
Apart from Yao Yao, no one has ever been kind to him.
What gives him the right to feel pity for these people?
"It's their fault, they were born at the wrong time."
He had heard these words ten years ago.
Chu Yu left a group of men behind for the two teams.
The remaining group consisted of useful people and loyal subjects.
Chu Yu stood on high ground, coldly counting the names of the dead inside.
After seeing the tragic death of Queen Jiang, he naturally shifted his gaze to other targets.
As the names of the dead flashed through his mind one by one.
Chu Yu suddenly frowned, "Where is Yu Sheng?"
Yu Sheng's family should have died inside too.
But only Yu Heyue was still huddled in a corner, desperately trying to escape.
Where is everyone else?!
*
On the narrow mountain road, two incongruous luxury carriages swayed and staggered along.
The people inside the carriage were jolted quite a bit, and Madam Nie shouted for the coachman to slow down.
The carriage did indeed slow down.
Yu Sheng glanced at her a couple more times. "Aren't you in a hurry now?"
For the past two days, I've been arguing with him at home. Yu Sheng initially refused because he didn't expect the situation at Qinggupo to be so perilous.
By escaping now, they have indeed avoided a disaster.
Nie Shi had a smug look on her face as she leaned back in the carriage, enjoying the cool autumn breeze. "Now that we've escaped, what's there to be afraid of?"
A maidservant stepped forward and served them fruit platters.
After eating a little, Madam Nie said, "Take some for the Third Young Master as well."
Yu Sheng casually mentioned, "And He Yue too."
Nie was still somewhat angry when she heard about Yu Heyue.
But since they are his own flesh and blood, and now that everything is alright, let's put that aside for the time being.
The maidservant responded with a "Yes".
After picking out more fruit, they got off the carriage to find Yu Shao and Yu Heyue.
Yu Sheng lifted the carriage curtain and looked outside. "The old maps marked this place as impassable due to the lack of mountain roads. How did you know there was a road here?"
Nie raised an eyebrow. "I not only know there's a road here, but I also know this path is the safest."
Yu Sheng only half understood what he was hearing and was about to ask for more details.
Suddenly, a maidservant outside the carriage shouted, "My lord and my lady, the second young lady's carriage is not here!"
The two people inside the carriage were stunned for a moment, then ordered the horses to stop and got out of the carriage.
As soon as they got out of the car, they saw that there were only their two carriages and Yu Shao's carriages along the road, and Yu Heyue's small carriage was not there.
Yu Sheng hurriedly stepped forward, "Where did He Yue go? Didn't she follow us?"
In the other car, Yu Shao heard the commotion and simply lifted the curtain. After hearing the whole story, he didn't seem to care at all. "I don't know. Didn't you tell her about the change of route?"
Madam Nie's eyes widened. "You're the one who arranged this carriage! Didn't I tell you to tell your men to change the route?!"
Yu Shao was a little annoyed. "I could only find two cars. I didn't take care of hers. I thought you had taken care of it."
Yu Sheng and Madam Nie were struck dumb. "Where is your elder sister now?"
"What's the rush?" Yu Shao didn't know what was so urgent. "Even if she didn't come with us, she should be with the main group. She'll be fine."
"How could nothing happen!" Madam Nie interrupted Yu Shao, pacing anxiously in circles.
Following the scene in the dream, He Yue...
Yu Shao lowered the curtain. "So what? Can we go back to find her?"
Upon hearing this, both Yu Sheng and Madam Nie fell silent.
They were anxious, but they were unwilling to take the great risk of going back to find Yu Heyue.
Having finally found a path to escape, how could they give up because of Yu Heyue?
Yu Sheng sighed, "I suppose following the team shouldn't result in any losses."
"What happens next depends on her fate."
Madam Nie frowned. "I told this child what to do before, but she just didn't do it right."
She's given up the opportunity, and now that her luck is bad, what good will it do even if she tries her best?
Yu Sheng got into the car first. "Alright, let's get going. The sooner we get past Qinggupo, the sooner we can meet them."
Mr. Nie neither agreed nor disagreed.
The carriage slowly made its way along the mountain road.
As the afternoon grew increasingly gloomy, the two worried people inside the carriage also became drowsy and took a nap.
The driver was also a little tired.
The surrounding jungle was silent, save for the chirping of birds.
Suddenly, rustling sounds came from the hidden woods surrounding the mountain road.
The coachman heard the noise and glanced over casually.
But instead, they saw several Hu people laughing maliciously deep in the surrounding dense forest!
They didn't even try to hide it, staring at them openly.
He was dressed in nomadic clothing, and one of the tall, burly Hu men stared at him and tightened his bowstring!
They didn't even give him time to prepare before letting go.
The groom was utterly astonished and hastily abandoned his horse to escape.
The arrow grazed past him and pierced the horse's neck!
A mournful cry echoed through the canyon.
The commotion and chaos of the carriage woke the two people inside.
Then another arrow struck the other horses and attendants.
Just as Madam Nie was about to scold the groom, suddenly all around her were pitiful wails and the screams of the servants.
The familiar sound made Nie's hair stand on end instantly.
It felt like a nightmare was right before my eyes.
The coachman and the horse both died, and they were forced to stop halfway up the mountain.
The Hu people walked towards them with a grin, muttering some vulgarities; their tone was utterly lewd.
The next moment, a Hu man boarded the carriage and pried open the door.
A stubble-faced man appeared at the car door. Nie screamed, and the man reached out and grabbed Yu Sheng and Nie, pulling them both out.
Nie was thrown to the ground, and it felt as if all the bones in her body had fallen apart.
Immediately, swords, spears, clubs, and other weapons were used to block them.
Yu Sheng quickly waved his hands and begged for mercy.
Still shaken, Nie cowered nervously behind Yu Sheng, wondering why the very thing she had been trying to avoid had happened.
That's impossible! She clearly found the safest way to survive!
Why were they still captured by the Hu people?
Why……
Nie's chest heaved violently.
She watched as the Hu people who had just barged into the carriage searched through it again, and came out seemingly somewhat displeased.
Another Hu man reached into another carriage and threw Yu Shao out, but was still searching for something.
The Hu people talked, their eyes scanning each other, making the other person's scalp tingle.
One of the soldiers looked like a man from the Central Plains. After looking them over carefully, he said, "The Prime Minister's wife is not here."
Nie suddenly realized who these Hu people's real target was!
A spark of hope ignited in her, and she cried out, "I know where she is!"
Yu Wanyin was also on this newly opened mountain path. They were walking behind her, so she was in front of them!
Madam Nie hurriedly stood up, smiling ingratiatingly, "I'll tell you where the Prime Minister's wife ran off to, and if you let us go, she'll be there..."
Before Madam Nie could finish speaking, a poisoned dart suddenly appeared out of nowhere and pierced straight through her heart!
Nie's words were stuck in her throat by pain. Numbly, she looked down at the poisoned dart that had severed her heart meridian, and poisoned blood spilled from between her lips and teeth.
Yu Shao stood up in astonishment, "Who..."
Almost instantly, the sound of hooves thundered, and a long sword sliced through the boy's neck, severing his throat.
Bright red blood gushed out, splattering all over Chu Yuqing's white clothes.
He deftly sheathed his sword, lightly brushed the bright red blood from his cheek, and raised his cold eyes slightly, revealing a more bewitching and sinister look on his usually gentle face, now stained with blood.
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