clearing up past grievances
Outside the Jieyang County magistrate's residence, soldiers were stationed, but no one knew what had happened. They only knew that a distinguished guest had arrived. A man sat in the innermost hall, handsome and tall as a pine tree, but his eyes held a lingering sadness.
Si Pei poured himself a cup of tea and quickly stood up when he saw Zuo Yuanwu hurriedly walk in from the outer hall. "Any news about Yao Yao?"
Zuo Yuanwu stopped in front of him and shook his head: "No."
Si Pei let out a long sigh. Four days had passed since he arrived in Jieyang. Logically, Jing Yao should have arrived in Shanghua City long ago. Why was there no news yet?
"I've counted the garrison here, and even with the militia, there's barely 50,000 of them." Zuo Yuanwu's disdain was almost overflowing in his words. "Is this the army you've raised?"
"Do you think raising an army is easy?" Si Pei frowned and couldn't help but scold him, "How much silver does your army consume from the national treasury every year for military pay? It's a miracle that I can support so many myself. The remaining half still relies on Jieyang's own taxes."
Zuo Yuanwu thought about it and realized that it was indeed true. Maintaining an army and preparing equipment and weapons were both expensive.
"But if we want to retake Shanghua City, even if we can catch them off guard, Shanghua's own guard alone has 100,000 soldiers. Don't forget that the Gongshu army is still stationed in Anyin County. Together with the surrounding counties, there are at least 300,000 soldiers that can be temporarily mobilized." Zuo Yuanwu felt a headache just thinking about it. "The enemy is numerous and we are few. The chances of winning are too small."
Si Pei waved his hand, but before he could speak, Fourteen's urgent shout came from outside the door: "Your Highness! Your Highness!"
The young man rushed into the hall like a flash, his face flushed and he was still panting from running so fast. Without even catching his breath, he knelt before Si Pei and presented him with a letter with both hands: "A letter from Shanghua City!"
Si Pei's eyes instantly came back to life and he went straight to the letter.
Zuo Yuanwu also approached with concern, but after opening the outer envelope and seeing the signature on the inner envelope, his heart suddenly sank.
"How could it be a letter from Wenrencuo?"
Si Pei frowned. It was impossible for Wen Rencuo to know that he was in Jieyang. So since he sent the letter, he must have met Jing Yao and the others.
He quickly opened the inner envelope to see what was written on the letter.
Zuo Yuanwu came closer and quickly scanned the text, and was shocked after reading it.
"Wenrencuo, he's not actually from Si Jue's faction!?"
He had always thought the two had reached a cooperation, but then he remembered that Si Jue had split his power and title as Governor-General, giving Wenren the title without giving him real power. From this perspective, it seemed that it was just Si Jue's unilateral pressure, not Wenren's genuine support.
"Now that Yaoyao and Wenrencuo have reached a cooperation, and with Baili Wenfu here, at least nothing should go wrong." Si Pei put away the letter, "We must also speed up."
Zuo Yuanwu didn't quite understand what he was saying: "How can we speed up? Even if Wenrencuo supports us, he has no real power in the army."
Si Pei shrugged nonchalantly: "Then find someone with real power."
Zuo Yuanwu looked puzzled: "What?"
"How many soldiers are there in Bozhou, the nearest city, and who is the garrison commander?"
"Seventy thousand, it should be Sun Xinan. He was a young general under General Yuchi who fought with me in the north."
"Oh, he must be a sensible and upright general."
After Zuo Yuanwu answered the question he had raised, he saw that he had responded with such a nonsensical compliment. Just as he was about to continue asking what he meant, he was suddenly startled and guessed what he was going to do.
"You said before that even if we could catch the capital off guard, we wouldn't win." Si Pei put his hands behind his back and strode towards the outer hall. "But why should I leave secretly? I am the Crown Prince of Xijing, and the people of Xijing are my subjects. I will set out from here openly and honestly and fight my way to Shanghua City."
——
Jing Yao and his party finally arrived near Xinting on the third day of their journey. After finding an inn to stay and rest, Jing Yao waited to meet Baili Wenfu.
The weather was just right on the appointed day, with a clear blue sky and occasional clouds blocking the sun, providing a bit of shade.
Jing Yao stood in the new pavilion waving a fan, and Zhiyue stood beside him fanning himself and the young lady.
"Is that kid Baili Wenfu coming or not? Is he standing me up?"
When the old man Si Cheng heard that it was to see Baili Wenfu, he insisted on coming to join in the fun, leaving Liu Shiwei and Zhiyu at the post station to take care of Mu Wensheng.
"If you don't want to wait, go back. No one is forcing you."
Si Cheng was so terrified by his cousin's glare that he dared not speak. He could only squat nearby and wait. But after a while, he couldn't hold back his words again. "Ever since we were still at Huixin Academy, I've disliked Baili Wenfu. He's so pedantic and sour, pretending to be a noble gentleman, and there are so many girls chasing after him, calling him Baili Jun, Baili Jun."
Jing Yao was one of those girls back then, and she got even angrier when she heard Si Cheng's words: "If you can't speak, just shut up!"
"Why are you always so fierce..." Si Cheng's eyes rolled and he came up with another bad idea, "Cousin, you don't still like Baili Wenfu, do you?"
Jing Yao took a deep breath and suppressed his anger: "Don't force me to tear your mouth."
Si Cheng subconsciously covered his mouth and looked at Zhiyue for help.
The latter hummed twice, shrugged and blinked, as if he didn't see his expression at all, turned his head and continued to fan his young lady to cool her down.
“Here I come!”
Jing Yao's eyes lit up, as if he had finally found his savior, and he quickly walked over to meet him.
"Ling Yi."
Baili Wenfu had just rushed out of the city and had just stepped off the carriage when he vaguely saw a familiar figure. When he got closer and saw that it was really Jing Yao, he finally let go of the breath that had been held in his heart.
"Why did you leave Shanghua City so suddenly? My house has been a mess these days."
"This is a long story, and that's why I called you out today."
Jing Yao briefly explained the details of her escape and her plan to Baili Wenfu: "In short, I need someone to help me sneak into the palace."
"Well... the palace is under martial law right now. No new maids will be recruited, and ordinary people are not allowed to enter or leave the inner palace at will." Baili Wenfu was a little embarrassed. "Also, Si Jue is only allowing important officials to enter and leave at this time. Even I can't get close to the Qianqing Palace where the emperor is."
Jing Yao couldn't help but frown. Why was Si Jue's behavior so strange...
Or is it that he is so cautious in order to avoid being assassinated again?
Think about the important officials who can enter and leave the palace freely now. It is unlikely that the left and right prime ministers will help her easily. If she rashly goes to see Duke Ying and Prince Heng... these two places must be under the control of Si Jue, and those two old men prefer to remain neutral and most likely will not take action.
"There is another person who also has access to important areas of the palace, and it should not be difficult for you to obtain it."
Baili Wenfu saw that she was really worried and reminded her slowly.
Jing Yao was overjoyed: "Who is it?"
"... General Wen Rencuo was wrong."
"ah?"
Jing Yao paced back and forth in the pavilion, feeling confused. Si Cheng, unaware of the situation, stood up and waved his hand, "Then why not find Wenren to blame?"
His sudden voice startled everyone present. Baili Wenfu, seeing the young man sitting from behind, had initially assumed he was Jing Yao's guard. It was only when the young man stood up and revealed his familiar face that he exclaimed, "Prince Jin...His Highness."
Si Cheng waved his hand: "Don't call me that. I'm no longer that useless prince."
"But haven't you already..."
Baili Wenfu hesitated to speak, as if he had guessed the truth.
"Yes, he is not dead. Si Pei saved him."
Jing Yao casually brushed it off, and Si Cheng folded his arms in dissatisfaction: "They threw me into the coal mine for reform."
"Anyway, he's just an ordinary citizen now, don't worry about him."
Jing Yao still looked at his cousin with disgust in his eyes, but it was no longer as disgusting as before.
"So, are you going to find Wenrencuo?"
Baili Wenfu brought the topic back to the main topic. Time waits for no one, so the sooner this matter is dealt with, the better.
Jing Yao didn't really not want to solve the problem. Even though Wen Rencuo was someone she disliked, she was willing to give it a try as long as it was useful.
"Do you think Wenrencuo will agree to help me?"
He and Si Jue...
"The alliance between Wenren Cuo and Si Jue was never strong to begin with, and it can even be said that it no longer exists." Baili Wenfu said with a hint of meaning, "Especially when it comes to you. If Zuo Yuanwu and Si Pei are willing to establish a superficial friendship for you, then Si Jue and Wenren Cuo can each split up for this."
Jing Yao was still worried: "This concerns the entire Wen family, would he really be so careless?"
"Don't underestimate the Wen family. Although they prefer to remain neutral, they do have a good grasp of the situation. Now that Si Pei has woken up, Si Jue will be no match for him, whether in terms of public opinion or strength. Moreover, Si Jue is not as meritocratic as Si Pei. The Wen family will definitely die faster at Si Jue's hands."
Baili Wenfu's analysis was very logical. Jing Yao turned his back and thought about it for a long time before nodding: "Okay."
"Then I'll help you contact him."
Jing Yao instructed: "Just tell him that there is a new Xuantan Flower Hairpin in the east of the city, and he will understand."
Although Baili Wenfu had his doubts, seeing Jing Yao's serious expression, he nodded: "Okay. Do you need my help to enter the city?"
Jing Yao smiled like a cunning little fox: "Of course, Brother Wenfu, help me get some clearance documents."
Baili Wenfu was happy to see her acting like a little girl and act like a spoiled child towards him again, so he said gently, "Okay."
After watching Baili's carriage disappear from his sight, Jing Yao suddenly felt a sense of emptiness in his heart.
"What's wrong? Are you reluctant to part with Baili Wenfu?" Si Cheng teased. Jing Yao shook his head silently. Noticing that he looked a little depressed, he smiled again: "Ah, nothing. I just suddenly felt that everyone has grown up so fast, but I still remember the things from my childhood."
There was an indescribable barrier between them.
——
The next afternoon, the tall, strong, and tough-looking man walked into the jewelry store in the east of the city again.
He looked around. Compared with the last time he came to Chunshuyan, everything looked the same, but upon closer inspection, there were many differences.
The shopkeeper came up to him warmly with a flattering smile on his face: "General Wenren, you are here!"
Wen Rencuo's attitude towards the boss was much better than before, and he even smiled: "Boss, I want to see the new Xuantan flower hairpin."
The shopkeeper clapped his hands when he heard this, feeling somewhat embarrassed: "Ah, General, what a coincidence this is! There's already a girl looking at this hairpin."
Hearing this, the man didn't seem angry or dissatisfied as the shopkeeper had imagined. His attitude wasn't as aggressive as before, and his smile even brightened. "Then please take me to see that girl. Maybe she'd be willing to give me this flower tea."
"Oh, okay." The shopkeeper was a little suspicious whether the sun rose from the west today. After he realized it, he immediately took Wenren Cuo to the second floor.
"Please, General, that's the girl by the window over there."
Although the girl had a face he had never seen before, the way she sat there, the way she lowered her head and raised her hands, all felt incredibly familiar to him. Wen Rencuo understood her intention immediately.
Jing Yao was quietly waiting for Wen Rencuo to come, thinking about how to talk to him. She had a bad relationship with Wen Rencuo before, and now she had to go back to him for help, which was a bit awkward.
Until Wen Rencuo sat down in front of her very naturally, she could only pretend to be calm and look at the jewelry on the table.
"It's been a long time since we last met. How are you doing, my lady?"
Jing Yao looked up in astonishment and met the man's gentle gaze. For the first time, he felt that Wen Rencuo was not so annoying.
"Thank you for your consideration, General. I am fine."
Wen Rencuo looked at the distant and polite manner of the person in front of him, and a bitter feeling rose in his heart: "That's good."
"Tell me, what are your plans now?" Wen Rencuo lowered his eyes. "If there is anything I can help with, I will definitely help."
"I need you to take me to the palace."
As soon as Jing Yao finished speaking, Wen Rencuo's eyes flashed with surprise, which then turned into intense worry.
"General, rest assured, I won't do anything stupid that would cost me my life."
Wen Rencuo got her promise and nodded in agreement: "Okay."
He agreed so quickly that Jing Yao was a little surprised: "Are you...really willing to help me?"
"I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to help you."
Jing Yao's eyes widened: "But you didn't even know why I was looking for you in the first place."
Wen Rencuo looked into Jing Yao's crystal eyes through the human skin mask: "No matter what you want me to do, as long as I'm here, I'm willing."
"Before, we didn't know the right people and chose the wrong side. Now there is still room for redemption. I want to make amends. Madam, don't forget to say a few good words for me in front of His Highness."
Jing Yao suddenly felt that Wen Rencuo in front of him had changed a lot, but since he was willing to help out of righteousness, Jing Yao also admired him from the bottom of his heart: "Of course."
There was a sudden silence between the two, and neither knew what to say. Jing Yao's eyes fell on the Xuantan flower hairpin on the table, and he pushed the bright blue hairpin in front of the man: "This flower hairpin, consider it my thank you gift to the general."
Wen Rencuo was stunned for a moment, then he smiled, accepted the gift and held it in his palm.
Regardless, at least now they are allies that can be trusted.
In order to advance the plan, the two left the jewelry store together. Jing Yao also took Wen Rencuo's carriage back to Wen Rencuo's mansion. All of this was to create the illusion that Wen Rencuo and his fiancée were traveling.
At this moment, Yue Ningning in the palace only received a report from a spy that Wen Rencuo seemed to be in love with a woman, and they bought a Xuantan flower hairpin together in a jewelry store.
Thinking that Wen Rencuo was already quite old, and it was not uncommon for him to have a relationship after so much difficulty, Yue Ningning did not take it to heart and even reduced her surveillance of Wen Rencuo.
Yue Ningning, who didn't know the previous cause, naturally couldn't figure out the hidden mystery. It was a pity that this information was not heard by Si Jue on the couch.
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