Chapter 16 016 That cage was finally destroyed in her hands.
For three days in a row, the mansion remained calm and undisturbed. Qingli guessed that Yunxiu had probably seen Meng Qingshan, and her thoughts drifted away. She wondered how her festering back was healing.
He was always a brash and unruly man, and being seven years older than her, he always acted like an elder, keeping a close eye on her in every way. In addition, he had a bad reputation, so no one wanted to play with her. She spent most of her childhood in the courtyard, but she always found something lively, beautiful, and delicious in the streets and alleys.
So no matter how fierce and ruthless he was, she would always remember his kindness. But what he shouldn't have done was treat her like an object and give her away. How was he any different from the Prince of Dingxi?
Looking back, I felt hopeless, my heart was filled with sorrow and depression, my limbs felt weak and I had no interest in anything.
Then she thought back to how they had spent time together, especially how he had protected her when she was young. Her long-suffering and helpless heart softened, but it wasn't enough to make her lose her mind. She understood that Song Zhang was no longer around, and only he could help her, which was why they were involved in this situation. Besides, Song Zhang's safety was on her mind, and she couldn't ignore it.
She needed to find her grandfather quickly, and she had to cut off all the troubles of the past, including him.
Therefore, the Prince of Dingxi must die, and only he can do it. She thought of this and that from time to time, feeling her head buzzing and a little sore.
Inside the Yunzhou camp, Yun Xiu, his clothes covered in mud, knelt and reported. Suddenly, everything went dark, and a tall figure landed, striding out of the camp. Upon closer listening, one could hear the neighing of horses outside.
Guard Yun Chen was startled and realized something was wrong. He immediately patted Yun Xiu, and the two rushed out of the tent. They watched as a man and a horse rode away into the western sunset. Yun Chen whistled and watched dozens of horses gallop out of the stable before he felt relieved. He couldn't help but complain to Yun Xiu, "You disobeyed orders without permission. If something happens, you'll lose your head."
Yun Xiu had been on a three-day trek without food or drink and dared not rest. When Luo complained, he straightened his back and disagreed, "If we capture the King of Hugu, the Northern Valley will be nothing to fear. This is such an important matter, how can it be considered that I disobeyed orders?"
Yun Chen straightened his battle robes and composed himself, pondering for a moment. At this time, the battle was at a stalemate, and the prince and a group of generals were on high alert, creating a delicate atmosphere. His master, as the general, had left the camp without permission, which was a serious matter that could lead to execution. He needed to report such an important matter to the prince, but he did not want to pay attention to him and only scolded him, "blockhead."
Inside Biluo Garden, Madam Jiang drank the talisman water and lay on the soft pillow, barely breathing. Her headaches became more and more frequent and unbearable, tormenting her until her face turned ashen. Suddenly, another wave of pain struck, as if a hammer was prying open her head, the tearing sound lingering in her brain.
Jiang was writhing in pain on the bed, gripping the bedposts tightly with both hands and banging her head against them repeatedly, but she still could not relieve the intense pain and could not help but wail and cry.
Worried that his wife might have hit her head, Qiu Zhi disregarded social hierarchy and knelt on the bed, embracing the princess and vigorously massaging her acupoints with his fingers. However, this had no effect whatsoever, and the princess continued to struggle.
After waiting for half an hour, the wave finally subsided. Jiang was completely exhausted and collapsed on the bed, her vision blurred as she looked at Qiu Zhi. Her throat ached from the heat, and she kept calling out, "Qiu Zhi, Qiu Zhi..."
With tears streaming down her face, Qiu Zhi knelt by the bedside and replied, "This servant is here, Your Highness. This servant will go and summon the imperial physician."
"No need!" Jiang Shi had been drinking medicine for so many years, and her health was getting worse and worse. She was so affected by the smell of the medicine that even the prince was unwilling to get close to her. Thinking of the prince, she couldn't help but feel sad and started to cry. After she had cried enough, she ordered Qiu Zhi to fetch talisman water.
Qiu hesitated for a long time before saying, "Your Highness, the talisman is gone."
"Go to the city quickly and find Master Song."
"I have been sending people out to search, but there has been no news at all," Qiu Zhi said dejectedly. She recalled that the Taoist priest Song had come to Yanmen City two years ago. His Taoist magic was unpredictable. The imperial physicians could not cure his headaches. He burned a Taoist talisman and drank it with water. The princess's pain was indeed relieved. However, since half a year ago, when the Taoist priest Song left three months' worth of medicine, saying that he was going to travel around, he has not returned yet.
Upon hearing this, Jiang's headache worsened, her eyes turned bloodshot, and she asked with a sinister look, "Is there anything unusual there?"
Qiu Zhi shook her head, gritted her teeth and said fiercely, "The prince went to visit them three days ago. In these three days, the three of them, master and servant, have been so arrogant that they have no limits. They go out to buy things today and have clothes made tomorrow. The prince allows them to be so ostentatious!"
Qiu let out a short cry as Jiang Shi gripped her wrist tightly and pulled it to her face, her fingers turning white and blue as she stared at her with bloodshot eyes, "Really?!"
Qiu was momentarily stunned, nodded hesitantly, and then, with a sudden loosening of her wrist, fell back onto the floor.
As April brought warmth, the doors and windows of Biluo Garden remained tightly shut. A charcoal brazier burned in a corner, and ginger-yellow linen curtains still hung. The refreshing spring light could not penetrate the dark and gloomy bed. The room was filled with the bitter smell of burning talismans, and the incense smoke from distant sticks drifted away. The dim light in the room made Jiang Shi's face, which was gloomy and terrifying, stand out.
"Have people prepare for tomorrow at 9 PM."
Autumn lowered her eyelashes, concealing the brilliance within them. "Yes."
"She is cunning and treacherous; she must ensure that her attack is successful on the first try."
Qiu Zhi knew that the princess was unhappy about the last hunt, and he was startled. He knelt down and kowtowed solemnly in agreement.
The next day, as dawn broke and Jiang Yue pushed open the door, a ray of morning light shone through the window, illuminating her porcelain-white face and the clear, cool eyes beneath her dark eyelashes. Jiang Yue was slightly surprised and quickly stepped forward, saying, "Miss..."
Qingli waved her hand. She was just restless and couldn't sleep. In the past two days, whenever she dreamed, she would see her grandfather lying in bed entrusting her with various matters. Thinking that she hadn't received any letters from the capital these days, she had a bad feeling and felt anxious and uneasy, but she could only remain motionless as she was at the moment.
It was bound to drive her crazy. She tried her best to maintain her composure, always afraid that losing her composure would ruin important matters. But she was constantly torn and struggling, and she could hardly sit still. She could only open the window and let the cold wind hit her face to keep her from being too frightened.
She needed to be stable, more stable than Shen Yongning, the Prince of Dingxi, and the Jiang family.
"Don't rush things," she told herself countless times as she gazed at the stars shifting in the sky.
Facing Jiang Yue, Qing Li's face showed only the weariness from staying up all night, and she slowly said, "The peaches are green."
Jiang Yue, worried that the early spring breeze might harm her mistress, glanced at the dense peach branches and saw petals falling, among which were clusters of green fruit. "The peaches won't ripen for another two months."
Half an hour later, Jiang Zhao entered the room, pale-faced, and whispered, "Miss, there's movement over there."
Jiang Yue stood frozen in the room, looking at her anxiously. She glanced at the two of them and said indifferently, "I understand."
The news was reported by Granny Cheng, a servant they had saved before. Because of her burly build, she was assigned to serve the guards. When Qiu Zhi went to the courtyard, Granny Cheng was sweeping the yard and could hear the gist of it. Jiang Zhao and Jiang Yue were infected by their young lady's composure and slowly exhaled the breath they had been holding in their chests. They put their hands down in front of them and waited for instructions.
"Everyone do their own thing."
"yes!"
An atmosphere of excitement mixed with nervousness and unease wafted among the three of them. They had been working towards this moment for the past three years. Their young lady had already sold off her precious jewelry through Song Zhang and arranged for carriages and people in the back alley. Although they couldn't enter the Prince of Dingxi's mansion, once the fire started, as long as they rushed to the backyard, they would be safe and sound.
Spring sunlight filtered through the swaying foliage, casting dappled patterns of light. Qingli lay on a rocking chair, covered with a light blue hibiscus-patterned quilt, swaying leisurely. Her hair was unbound, and she wore no makeup, casting shadows on her face. She reluctantly raised her eyes, and upon seeing the person who had arrived, she remained calm and greeted him with a smile, "Greetings to Your Highness."
The Prince of Dingxi looked at her, the sunlight shining on her eyebrows and eyes, making her even more beautiful and charming. The wind blew her hair and she swayed. The faint smile on her lips made him momentarily realize that he had never seen her so vibrant before.
The Prince of Dingxi gathered all her memories. She was cautious and meticulous, even the curve of her lips was just right. She never showed jealousy or coquettishness. She was like a clear spring flowing, the surface of the water calm and still, but she forgot the deep and turbulent water inside. She turned stones into stones and sand into sand, and she moved forward with difficulty. After passing through, she was still a clear spring.
She was still herself, but the rocks behind her had unknowingly lost their sharp edges.
The Prince of Dingxi did not want to admit that a woman could be so resilient, nor did he want to admit that when the Prince of Hugu came to urge him, he felt a strange resistance in his heart. Finally arriving here, he stood up and looked her over.
She calmly let him look her over.
"We will depart at 3:00 AM tomorrow."
"good."
The Prince of Dingxi was so provoked by the straightforward answer that he lost his composure. He laughed loudly and said sharply, "You've certainly impressed me."
"Your Highness, you have impressed me greatly."
The mockery was obvious, and his expression turned somewhat unpleasant.
"I have fulfilled all the conditions you set. The rest is up to you."
Five days ago, Qingli knelt down, tears welling in her eyes, looking only at him, begging him to consider their years of affection and stay alone in the mansion to prepare everything before quietly leaving, thus parting ways forever.
“The King of Dingxi is a man of his word, and I, a humble woman, will certainly keep my promise.”
"Such a swift and decisive action makes one wonder if there has been any friendship for many years."
"If Your Highness thinks it exists, then it exists; it's not up to me."
Each word was a sneer, and the Prince of Dingxi's expression turned sour. If it weren't for the impending great event, he would have surely punished her.
Qingli leisurely enjoyed the urgency on his face. It turned out that the once-powerful Prince of Dingxi was nothing special. She looked at him like a lamb to the slaughter, unaware that a sharp blade was hanging over his head. Now, he was being held back by both sides. Being mocked by a woman like her who looked down on him made him feel a sense of satisfaction.
The Prince of Dingxi turned and left, leaving Qingli with peace and quiet. The music continued until sunset, when the brilliant halo was gradually replaced by layers of clouds, leaving only a vast expanse of beautiful rosy clouds. In the blink of an eye, darkness descended, and the west seemed to be dying, emitting its last ray of light until it was completely extinguished.
A gust of wind rustled the branches. Jiang Zhao stood silently behind her. Qing Li slowly got up, went back into the house, and changed into the black men's clothing that had been prepared beforehand. A hemp rope as thick as a child's arm was wrapped around her waist. Beside her were basins of water, filled with layers of towels.
The moonlight was dim, so dim that you couldn't see your hand in front of your face; everything was just right.
One after another, the sound of flames tearing through the air came, instantly piercing through the window and landing at her feet. Flames blazed and thick smoke billowed. Qingli glanced at Jiang Zhao, and after the two waited quietly for ten breaths, she shouted, "Help!"
The fire spread everywhere and could not be extinguished. Sliding out of the window, Qingli led Jiang Zhao through the courtyard, turning left and right. As the scorching heat subsided, they looked back at Taoyuan Pavilion, which was already engulfed in flames. In addition, flames were rapidly rising from the surrounding peach groves. They could hear crackling sounds, and the exquisitely carved Taoyuan Pavilion collapsed instantly.
That cage was finally destroyed by her own hands.
The crowd was large, but no one dared to step forward.
Out of the corner of her eye, Qingli suddenly stopped and forcefully pulled Jiang Zhao behind her.
Ten steps away, at the moon gate, Shen Yongning drew his bow and aimed an arrow at her. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a group of guards approaching the back gate from a distance.
Granny Cheng picked up the kitchen knife from her waist and slashed at the gatekeeper, while Jiang Yue picked up a stick and struck at the people rushing up.
As soon as Qingli moved, the arrow moved accordingly.
The distant firelight ignited two flames in her eyes, a burning resentment and despair. Was fate against her? But what had she done wrong? She hated Shen Yongning intensely, shoved Jiang Zhao away, and commanded, "Go help them!"
Jiang Zhao's face was covered in soot from the smoke. She shook her head rapidly, her voice trembling with tears, "This servant will not go. You are just trying to trick this servant into opening the back door so that this servant can escape alone. Please don't send this servant away. This servant will follow you even if it means death!"
Jiang Zhao stepped forward and stood beside her, cursing, "Shen Yongning, you will die a horrible death! You caused Miss to be in such a state back then, and you still want to stop me today. You will die a horrible death!"
An arrow whistled through the air, but Qingli reacted swiftly, dodging the arrow with Jiang Zhao. Before they could react, a long sword shot out from the side and struck her neck.
Shen Yongning's narrow eyes revealed a sinister glint as he thoughtfully sized her up. After a moment, he burst into laughter, "The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. I've been watching you for so many days, and you've finally slipped up."
The sword reflected the distant firelight, making her squint. She felt a warm, wet sensation on her neck, and her head spun. She was unwilling to accept it!
Waves of anger washed over her. She didn't want to accept her fate, didn't want to go back, and didn't want to read the unspeakable meaning in Shen Yongning's eyes. In the end, heaven did not have mercy on her.
Two mournful cries rang out in the distance. Granny Cheng and Jiang Yue had been subdued on the ground by the guards, and finally, she couldn't hold back any longer and a tear rolled down her cheek.
A soft tinkling sound landed on the sword.
She remembered her grandfather's murmurs in her dream, "Don't go back to Kyoto..."
The elderly man, with his white hair and beard, wrinkled and frail, looked heartbreaking. Her grandfather had never mentioned her parents in his letters, and she could only imagine how difficult his life must have been.
Her eyes began to sting, and she finally admitted that she had miscalculated. She slowly closed her eyes and slumped forward.
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