Chapter 69 (Chapter 69) Want to Die
The cold glint of the blade reflected in his eyes.
Rong Si sheathed his sword, listening to the crisp metallic clang, then got up and returned to the courtyard.
Chu Yu was waiting for him there early on.
Rong Si glanced at him and was about to go inside to check on Yu Wanyin when Chu Yu stopped him, saying, "She's asleep."
Rong Si stopped, temporarily halting his actions, and looked at Chu Yu standing to the side.
Rong Si kept Chu Yu in sight and walked towards him step by step. "What are your plans?"
Chu Yu pushed the wine cup in front of Rong Si and poured himself a cup as well. "The two of us should each take turns: one of us should keep an eye on Bei Chi and prepare for battle, while the other goes to scout out Shanshan."
Rong Si looked at the cup of wine Chu Yu pushed towards him, and slowly stroked the hilt of the knife in his hand. "Which one do you choose?"
Chu Yu gently twirled the wine cup in his hand, watching the ripples spread within. "I can go to Shanshan."
Rong Si nodded, "Okay, I'll send the message back to Yao Yao once you've found out."
Hearing Rong Si's words, Chu Yu tacitly agreed that Yu Wanyin wanted to stay here with him. "Won't Yao Yao want to go home even more?"
"This journey is fraught with danger. How can you guarantee her safety?"
Chu Yu looked at him, "With you here, she's safe?"
"So how did she get sick?"
Rong Si laughed, "After all, you once escorted her and were almost kidnapped by the Hu people."
"It's not necessarily safe."
"Oh, so she wasn't kidnapped by the Hu people, but by you? Then what's the difference between you and the Hu people?" Chu Yu's tone was leisurely, but his words were full of provocation. "Rong Si, you should know whose wife she originally was."
Rong Si's blood slowly boiled.
The kidney fire hidden within his body then intensified, scorching his limbs and bones.
This hidden ailment, in Yu Wanyin's case, is lust.
To be born into someone else's body is to be a savage and ferocious being.
A chilling aura rose around Rong Si. "So you thought you were the one who came first."
As Chu Yu listened to his words, he vaguely sensed something and thought of the days when Yu Wanyin went missing in Jiangling.
And after their marriage, Rong Si entered the mansion, and there was the somewhat inexplicable entanglement between Yu Wanyin and him.
But so what? "Don't think that just because you have some connections outside, you can enter into someone else's inner circle."
"You seem to fall into neither the category of arranged marriage nor the matchmaker's words."
Rong Si sneered, "Parents, matchmaker, why didn't you ask Yao Yao who she recognizes?"
Chu Yu found this amusing, "Do you really dare to ask Yao Yao who she recognizes?"
The situation in the courtyard remained deadlocked for a time.
A long silence followed.
In fact, they didn't dare to ask and wouldn't ask.
No one can guarantee that the answer will be themselves.
If you ask Yu Wanyin now, she probably only wants to acknowledge her elder sister.
Rong Si said, "Anyone with a modicum of sense would not ask Yao Yao such a meaningless question at this time."
Chu Yu raised his eyebrows, not wanting to argue with him for the moment, "At this critical juncture, we should prioritize the overall situation and consider all aspects."
"If you insist on keeping Yaoyao by your side, I can agree for the time being, on the condition that you take good care of her."
"Of course I can take good care of her."
Chu Yu lightly clinked his wine cup against the one in front of Rong Si, the clinking of the cups producing a crisp sound, and said softly, "Then it's settled, I'll go to Shanshan."
After Chu Yu finished speaking, he drank the wine in his cup in one gulp.
Then wait for Rong Si's reaction.
Rong Si picked up his wine cup and stared at it for a while.
Then it was poured into Chu Yu's cup.
The clear wine clattered together, creating a series of tinkling sounds. "The Lord of Chu's words must be taken seriously."
Chu Yu watched as Rong Si poured the poisoned wine back into the cup and suddenly laughed.
He casually poured the poisoned wine from the cup onto the ground, covering the fallen flowers and instantly rotting their vibrant colors.
Withered and blackened, it gleamed brightly in their eyes.
The evening breeze was cool.
Chu Yu responded to Rong Si with ease, "Of course it counts."
A chilling, desolate atmosphere spread silently within the small space.
Rong Si stared intently at him. "When are you leaving?"
If you sense murderous intent, you won't pretend you didn't see it.
No one wants to leave a hidden danger behind their back.
When are you leaving?
When will he kill?
He was able to win both Bei Chi and Shan Shan for Yao Yao.
There's no need for Chu Yu.
Chu Yu said calmly, "We'll leave once Yao Yao's condition stabilizes."
"Hmm." Rong Si thought, Yao Yao's condition has stabilized.
You should die too.
*
Yu Wanyin woke up the next afternoon.
She stared blankly at the bed curtains above her head, remaining motionless for a long time.
My body still feels weak and sore from the high fever.
A female doctor and several maids joined her in her courtyard.
When the female physician came to check on her every hour, she discovered that Yu Wanyin had already woken up.
The female doctor touched her forehead. "Madam is awake. You can ring the call bell. We'll stay outside and keep watch."
Yu Wanyin did not reply.
The female doctor also noticed her unusual behavior and helped her up, asking, "Madam, is there anything you'd like to eat?"
She remained silent.
The female doctor frowned and took Yu Wanyin's wrist to check her pulse.
The pulse was not significantly different from before.
After settling Yu Wanyin in, the female doctor had someone bring her food and then brought the news to the front hall.
Rong Si just stepped out the door.
Chu Yu is still alive in the mansion garden.
Chu Yu put down his book. "Haven't you said anything?"
The female doctor shook her head. "She won't say whether she's eating or feeling unwell. She's not eating or drinking. The girls in the room are accompanying the lady during her meal, but they can't seem to eat anything."
Yu Wanyin slept for almost a day and a night, and apart from the medicine and the little porridge she ate last night, she didn't eat anything else.
He doesn't need to eat after waking up.
Chu Yu stood up. "I'll go take a look."
The female doctor quickly stepped aside.
As Chu Yu stepped into the house, the maids inside rose to greet him.
Chu Yu raised his hand to signal them, and they all fell silent and withdrew.
Yu Wanyin was still sitting on the bed, with a table in front of her.
But I didn't eat much.
Chu Yu simply rolled up his sleeves, sat down beside him, his blue and white robes flashing by as he placed a few jade rolls in his bowl. "Why aren't you eating? Is it not to your liking?"
Yu Wanyin looked away.
Chu Yu looked at her and said, "Today I had someone find all the memorials and documents related to Shanshan that Dali has received over the years."
"Although there are still many on the way, I have some on hand."
Yu Wanyin's eyelashes trembled.
Chu Yu held the jade scroll to her lips, "Eat your food properly, I'll show it to you."
Yu Wanyin then moved her lips and lowered her head to eat the jade roll he handed her.
“I looked through it yesterday,” Chu Yu said, watching her eat, his fingertips as smooth as jade as he fed her. “Perhaps a few years ago, the Northern Chi made some moves against Shanshan, but it certainly wouldn’t have led to the fall of the kingdom. If it had, news of its fall wouldn’t have remained silent for so long. The maps would have been changed long ago.”
“Over the years, there have still been some reforms and civil affairs in Shanshan, so Shanshan seems to be very peaceful.”
"The others are few; most of them are because the Northern Chi tribes, relying on their vast territory, have blocked the relevant information."
“It’s only what they want to show us,” Chu Yu said, feeding her slowly, “but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.”
"At least it's not that bad."
Then, a tear fell from Yu Wanyin's eye into the bowl.
Yu Wanyin was still lost in thought.
I wonder what he's thinking.
Chu Yu stopped speaking abruptly and quietly looked at the tear.
My cool fingertips gently wiped away the tears.
He silently took all her emotions for himself.
"Yaoyao, you will have a home."
"You still have me."
*
The Wan'an Port Prefectural Governor's Residence was exceptionally tranquil.
The guards came in from outside.
The prefect sat at the table and looked at him. "Still no news from the post station?"
The guard paused, shook his head, and handed another parchment letter to the prefect. "The king has probably abandoned us."
The prefect frowned. "Then what is this...?"
"This is a letter sent by the Northern Chi."
The prefect's heart sank.
They all knew perfectly well what the Northern Chi tribe wanted to do with the messenger.
Ever since the Northern Chi troops were stationed outside the city, they have been putting pressure on them from time to time.
This means they have to hand over the city.
The prefect sighed and took the letter.
The guards stood to the side, equally silent.
The prefect glanced at the letter hastily and then sat down to the side.
After a long silence in the room, the prefect finally spoke, "Go and bring the seal of the city granary."
The guard hesitated for a long time before bowing and leaving.
The prefect rose and, trembling, began to write a reply and a letter of surrender.
Just then, a noisy commotion broke out outside.
Many guards shouted, "Who dares to be so bold!"
"Stop him!"
"This is a sacred place for the prefecture; how dare you..."
The prefect looked in the direction of the sound with suspicion.
They saw Rong Si barge into the courtyard with a swagger, behaving arrogantly and unreasonably.
He went straight to the main hall where the prefect was located.
Rong Si slammed his long sword on the table and said succinctly, "Wan'an Port, give it to me."
"I'm going to fight the Northern Chi."
Half an hour later.
Rong Si took out the letter of surrender submitted by the prefect and the official seal of the city granary.
The prefect followed behind, saying, "Lord Rong, please slow down and watch your step..."
"If you need anything when fighting the Northern Chi, just let me know."
Su Fang came to greet him, "My lord, the message has been delivered."
“Some areas of Jinzhou have already fallen to the Northern Chi. We need to march from Yanzhou to deploy our troops. If the journey is smooth, our people can move here in about half a month.”
Rong Si asked, "What about Chu Yu?"
“They have already granted the seals for troop deployment and access.”
Rong Si seemed to be deep in thought, "Be careful they don't play dirty tricks."
"clear."
By the time Rong Si returned to his residence, it was already late at night.
Rong Si naturally pushed open the door and entered the room, directly seeing Yu Wanyin sitting at the desk.
Chu Yu was sitting next to her.
There were many documents on the table.
Yu Wanyin heard someone come in and slowly looked up.
Her cheeks still had a sickly flush, and her reactions were dulled by illness. "You're back."
Rong Si's eyelashes fluttered slightly; in any case, she reacted more than yesterday.
That means things have gotten a bit better.
Chu Yu didn't look up; he knew who it was even without looking.
As soon as Yu Wanyin finished speaking, Chu Yu pulled her attention back, "Look at this one, it's a birthday greeting letter from Shanshan to the Emperor of Dali last year."
"Comparing the congratulatory letter from Bei Chi to the Emperor of Da Li, the wording is indeed somewhat similar."
"From the current perspective, this is..."
Yu Wanyin spoke very softly, “Political blockade.”
This is a very extreme political tactic.
Cut off all contact between Shanshan and the outside world, forcing them to submit.
After submitting and compromising, one can gain some benefits by leveraging Shanshan's status.
Of course, it's definitely not just Shanshan.
Chu Yu remained noncommittal, continuing his conversation with her.
They were discussing what Shanshan might have.
What was the purpose of Bei Chi turning Shanshan into a puppet?
From afar, Rong Si saw a perfect couple at the table, discussing documents.
This is a scene that is rarely seen between him and Yu Wanyin.
He couldn't join the discussion on this topic.
Rong Si was somewhat agitated.
Yu Wanyin couldn't think too much; thinking too much would make her dizzy.
Rong Si stepped forward and said, "If you can't figure it out, then don't think about it for now."
"Go to sleep first." He reached out and took the document from Chu Yu's hand, closed it, and placed it beside him.
As Rong Si spoke, he looked at Chu Yu and said, "Come out with me for a bit, I have something to tell you."
Chu Yu was clearly unhappy about being disturbed.
He took a deep breath and followed Rong Si outside.
Rong Si strode into the pavilion and stopped with his back to him.
Chu Yu caught up and asked casually, "What's wrong?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Rong Si turned around and delivered a chop to the back of Chu Yu's neck!
Rong Si met Chu Yu's suddenly cold gaze as he watched him faint, and said bluntly, "Nothing, I was just jealous."
Inside the mansion, Chu Yu's personal attendants rushed over almost the instant Rong Si made his move.
Swords, spears, clubs, and other weapons were all pointed at the enemy!
Rong Si didn't take him seriously at all. "If you have time to rely on me, hurry up and take your lord back so he can recover properly."
He pushed aside the swords and strode towards the house.
Rong Si thought he was extremely magnanimous.
He tacitly allowed Chu Yu to spend the whole day with Yu Wanyin.
It'll be his turn to keep me company at night eventually.
Yu Wanyin was still slowly flipping through the documents on the table, trying to make some sense of things.
But when you're sick, no matter how you try to sort things out, things will still be a mess.
Why was the Northern Chi King able to understand his elder sister's personality and temperament so well when he wrote the letter on her behalf?
Why can you imitate your older sister's tone?
Why are there jade pendants from Shanshan?
After the Northern Chi tribes blockaded Shanshan, what else did they do to Shanshan?
She wanted to figure it all out.
When Yu Wanyin saw him return on his own, she asked in surprise, "Where is Chu Yu?"
Rong Si calmly and frankly said, "He was tired and went back first."
Yu Wanyin lowered her eyes. "I still want to ask him something."
Rong Si stepped forward and watched her movements. "You're still sick. These things can't be rushed. Besides, you need to let him rest."
"As long as you don't burn tomorrow, I'll take you to the port. The caravans there travel all over the country and must have heard a lot of stories."
"Yaoyao, go to sleep first."
Hearing his words, Yu Wanyin stopped what she was doing. "Can you ask?"
"Yes, I can." Rong Si helped her up. "I promise you."
Yu Wanyin then put the things down.
Rong Si helped her with her hair and makeup as usual.
After washing up, he took out his nightgown and went to the bathroom, hesitating for a moment.
Yu Wanyin wanted to take it, but seeing that he didn't seem to be letting go, she looked up at him.
Rong Si originally intended to help her change, but when he met Yu Wanyin's pale gaze amidst her illness, he somehow found himself unable to do it.
He was afraid that halfway through the process, he would want her.
Rong Si let go, placed his nightgown beside him, and left the bathhouse.
Yu Wanyin can change her clothes by herself, but she is much slower.
Rong Si closed the door, heard a faint sound inside, looked away, and walked to the cabinet next to him.
He took out his own medicine and swallowed it as well.
Wait until Yu Wanyin comes out before putting her to sleep.
It's likely that Rong Si agreed to her request first.
Yu Wanyin was very cooperative while sleeping.
It seems that she knows that if she eats well and sleeps well, she will recover and receive more of the news she wants.
The next morning, the female doctor came to see her, and Yu Wanyin still had a slight fever.
She pursed her lips and looked at Rong Si.
Rong Si hesitated for a moment while sitting to the side, then got up and went out.
He took a heavy cloak and draped it over Yu Wanyin's shoulders, saying, "It's alright, we'll go even if you have a low fever."
Rong Si dispatched a carriage to the port.
He was relieved to learn that Chu Yu was still unconscious before he left.
Taking Yu Wanyin out was also a way to help her relax.
In March, one can occasionally see the magnificent spring scenery of flowers blooming along the way.
Rong Si didn't ride a horse; instead, he sat with her in the carriage, lifting the curtain to show her the scenery outside.
Yu Wanyin wasn't really in the mood to watch, but she knew in her heart that he was just trying to coax her.
Halfway through their journey, Rong Si got off the carriage and bought Yu Wanyin a lily of the valley hairpin to bring back with her.
The carriages and horses stopped at the port.
The port is no different today than it has always been.
Cargo ships and merchant ships still came and went.
They walked along the riverbank, enjoying the pleasant river breeze.
Although Rong Si had previously worked in the arms trade, he had also come into contact with many business people.
He can observe for a while and then pick out the one who knows the most.
Rong Si led Yu Wanyin forward and picked out a handful of their goods. "How's the quality of this stuff?"
"It's great." The man skillfully explained the benefits of their goods to Rong Si and asked Rong Si what he needed.
Rong Si speaks fluently and is very knowledgeable about industry slang.
With just a few words, he could charm people into thinking they had a big customer.
At the perfect moment, Rong Si asked, "I knew a merchant caravan from Shanshan who was traveling by horse. I've been waiting for him, but he hasn't come."
“From Shanshan,” the man laughed. “That must have been many years ago.”
"Shanshan stopped using caravans a long time ago."
Why?
The merchant said, "Shanshan has some entanglements with Beichi. Beichi has ordered that any caravan that passes through Shanshan will be subject to a three-fold tax. Who would still go? Caravans have stopped going there a long time ago."
“The Shanshan caravans must pass through Beichi to reach the Central Plains, and they basically don’t come here.”
Yu Wanyin listened, realizing that this was part of a trade blockade.
The effect is quite different.
The vendors knew nothing more.
They learned piecemeal from other vendors that Shanshan and Beichi had a brief clash many years ago.
Just after Yuanchuan Beichi gained the advantage.
They wanted to annex Shanshan.
"Shanshan previously made peace through marriage and received a group of troops stationed in the Central Plains."
"Since then, although Shanshan is a small place, it has been skilled in martial arts. In recent years, it has also produced many promising military generals."
"There was a powerful general who led 10,000 troops to repel 40,000 Northern Chi tribesmen."
"The king of Shanshan at that time was a coward and wanted to surrender. He stole the king's child and sent him to the Northern Chi tribe as a hostage in an attempt to stop the war."
"Enraged, the king beheaded the king and took control of Shanshan himself."
"Although he made a harsh statement, saying that as long as the Northern Chi dared to make a move, his son was no match for the entire state of Shanshan, and he would fight to the death to make sure that the Northern Chi would never have a moment of peace."
"But since the child is in someone else's hands, he can no longer take the initiative to raise an army."
The story ends with the proton being trapped under the Northern Chi.
I can guess most of what will happen next.
Although Shanshan was not destroyed, the Northern Chi tribe weighed the pros and cons and chose to gradually dismantle Shanshan from the outside in by means of blockade, which did not involve fire or financial losses.
Even now, most of the information we get is from several years ago.
There isn't much information about Shanshan's current situation.
They walked through the harbor intermittently.
They didn't leave until the port was closed that night.
I moved around too much that day.
On the way back to the mansion with Rong Si, Yu Wanyin was so tired that she fell asleep leaning against the carriage.
Rong Si touched her forehead; she still had a low-grade fever, but thankfully it hadn't gotten any higher.
Her current illness is mostly psychological.
Only if she can ease her mind will she recover more easily.
Rong Si carried the sleeping person into the courtyard.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw Chu Yu sitting there, looking at him with a sinister gaze.
Rong Si ignored him and focused on carrying Yu Wanyin into the house.
After settling her in, Chu Yu quickly followed behind, asking casually, "How is she today?"
Rong Si replied simply, "It's fine."
"It would be better if people came back alive and kicking, not like this."
Rong Si helped Yu Wanyin cover herself with the blanket. "If you have the ability to make her lively and energetic again, I'll hand her over to you to take care of right now."
As he spoke, he drew the bed curtains, gesturing to Chu Yu with his eyes.
Chu Yu understood perfectly and didn't say anything more in front of the sleeping Yu Wanyin.
They went to the outer room, and Rong Si cut to the chase, saying, "If you have nothing else to do, set off as soon as possible."
Chu Yu remained calm and composed, saying, "The date has been set; we will depart in three days."
Rong Si glanced at him, not expecting Chu Yu to be so agreeable this time.
They maintained a delicate balance for a few short days.
At least in front of Yu Wanyin, he took care of her illness and emotions, and they got along quite harmoniously.
With Yu Wanyin on his back, the scenery didn't matter.
On the eve of Chu Yu's departure, Rong Si returned late at night and happened to see Chu Yu at the door.
Chu Yu brushed past him, and without stopping, called out to Rong Si, "Let's go."
Rong Si had no intention of following them. "Where to?"
Chu Yu said leisurely, "I'm setting off tomorrow, so we should find a place to clear things up."
Rong Si gave a perfunctory reply and turned to leave.
Su Fang, who was on guard outside the door, watched them leave one after another and went up to ask, "My lord..."
"I have some business to attend to. Take good care of the Queen." Rong Si paused, glancing at Chu Yu who was walking away. "Have the personnel been arranged?"
Su Fang lowered his voice, "They've been settled along the road."
We will take action after Chu Yu sets off tomorrow.
With Chu Yu dead, both for old and new grudges, everything he does will go smoothly.
The place where Chu Yu chatted with him was in the dense forest behind the mansion.
As dusk fell, a thin mist rose from the dense forest.
Rong Si, his expression somber, stopped behind Chu Yu. "What do you want to say?"
Chu Yu lit half an incense stick in his hand, turned around, and said, "It's nothing."
Rong Si found the aroma of the spices pungent and said impatiently, "If it's nothing, then you..."
Before he could finish speaking, a heavy blow suddenly landed on Rong Si's neck!
Wu Zhou appeared behind Rong Si.
Chu Yu felt that he had been incredibly kind lately.
They tolerated Rong Si's affair with his wife for so long, out of consideration for Yao Yao.
Chu Yu watched him fall, and said gently, "I just wanted you dead because you're always hanging around in front of Yao Yao."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com