Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Song Siyun...is dead...
It has been twenty days since I last received Qingfeng's daily report.
Gu Yanzhou sat in his study waiting all night, and only came to his senses in the morning when Ling Feng knocked on the door to call him to court.
He casually picked up the official hat placed aside and went out. Before leaving, he paused and looked up at the sky.
It was too late and Ling Feng urged him again and again before he finally got on the horse.
There was little light today, the sky was gloomy and gray, and even the street vendors had lost their energy.
As Gu Yanzhou looked at it, he felt that the entire Kyoto seemed to have lost its luster.
In the past, vendors’ banners were all colorful, but now they are all covered with a layer of mist, which makes you not want to eat them just by looking at them.
In the court, the ministers who used to argue endlessly with each other had finally stopped. Amidst the solemn silence, the chief eunuch announced in a drawn-out voice: "Court is adjourned—"
He was about to turn around and leave the palace, but someone called out to him as he was about to leave: "Minister Gu."
It’s Prince An.
He still smiled in a gentle and kind manner, but his words sent chills down one's spine: "Minister Gu, do you know that bandits are rampant in Yunqu? They robbed a few people a few days ago, but when they discovered they were poor, they burned them to ashes."
He reacted in the blink of an eye. His pupils suddenly constricted, and in panic, Gu Yanzhou lost his composure.
He frowned, approached, and asked condescendingly, "Did you do this?"
"She's the daughter of the Grand Tutor and my wife! How dare you!"
"Minister Gu is joking."
Prince An smiled and slapped away the hand that was clutching his collar. He said slowly, "It's just a gambler, a tea vendor, and a swordsman. How could it be Madam Gu?"
He walked down the stairs, then tilted his head and asked, "Isn't Madam Gu recuperating at home?"
Gu Yanzhou withdrew his hand. He wanted to refute and punish him but he was powerless.
After all, apart from him and his father-in-law, the prince, no one in Mandu knew that A'yun had gone to Yunqu alone.
The Yunqu Division's case hadn't reached the emperor yet, and the Gongcha smuggling case was still being investigated privately by a few of them. Nothing had been made public yet.
Even if there is injustice, where can I appeal?
He walked out of the palace in silence, each step heavy.
He felt that he had to go to Yunqu.
Prince An was a cunning man, and his words could not be trusted. Furthermore, Song Siyun had always cherished her life, and knowing that the banditry in Yunqu was rampant, she might not have been unprepared.
Everything has to be seen with your own eyes.
Having made up his mind, he did not delay any longer and prepared to go home to write a letter of request for leave.
But today, I don’t know what happened to the saddle. The horse that used to be able to turn over easily was left empty-handed twice today.
In the end, Ling Feng couldn't bear it anymore and gave her a hand, and the two of them were able to return home.
The horse galloped all the way to Gu's mansion.
He knew that riding a horse freely was not allowed in the capital, but what he lacked most now was time.
As for A Yun, we can’t wait any longer.
But he never expected that before the leave application was drafted, the news of the house arrest had already reached the mansion.
The one who delivered the decree was the Crown Prince.
When handing the imperial edict to his friend, Mu Jingheng couldn't help but patted him on the shoulder and said, "My condolences."
At that time, Grand Tutor Song happened to be at the door. Upon hearing this, his legs went weak and he fell down against the door.
Gu Yanzhou reacted and supported the person in time, saying firmly, "Don't worry, father-in-law, Ah Yun will be fine. I will bring her back safely."
After saying that, he repeated to Mu Jingheng in a firm voice: "She will be fine, she will definitely be fine..."
In the end, I couldn't tell how much was true and how much was false.
All I know is that at nightfall, as I was walking down a small path out of the city with the prince's token, I caught a glimpse of white in the sky. I drew my bow and arrow, took down the scroll from the letter box, and raised my whip even higher.
Ling Feng followed closely behind, only to see his master suddenly detour to the camp outside the capital and follow in his mistress's footsteps.
Relying on the Qingfeng Daily, which he had read countless times in his mind, he easily found the way that Song Siyun and his friends were heading to Yunqu.
Along the road they walked, across the river where she washed her hands, picking up the flint she used...
Her traces are everywhere along the way.
Same as Ruixue Pavilion.
Gu Yanzhou suddenly remembered that the swing in Ruixue Pavilion was already covered in dust. Even if someone was sent to wipe it and oil it every day, it would inevitably crack and break.
If you saw this, you would definitely put your hands on your hips and call me useless, right?
Looking at the flames that flickered in front of me, I was thinking for no reason.
As if amused by his own absurd idea, the man hidden behind the fire suddenly curled his lips, like a flash of fire, for only a moment.
In an instant, it seemed as if a raging fire broke out before his eyes. Amidst the raging scarlet, Song Siyun burst into tears, shaking with fear.
She said: "Gu Yanzhou, save me! Gu Yanzhou——"
"Ayun!"
Endless darkness flooded into my eyes, and in front of me, there was only a fire.
It turned out to be a dream.
In a trance, I actually felt a little relieved.
On the side, Ling Feng looked at him worriedly, wanting to persuade him but not knowing how to start.
In the past, he only knew that his master loved his wife, but he didn't know that he was deeply in love with her.
The man who always chattered was silent at this moment. He just handed him a handkerchief to wipe his sweat.
The autumn leaves were cold, but he was frightened and broke into a sweat. After a quick wipe, he packed his bag and stood up, saying, "Let's go."
Ling Feng was a little afraid of Gu Yanzhou, so he didn't dare to say anything more. He just left two torches and quickly put out the fire and followed.
Meanwhile, Prince An, who had spread the news of Song Siyun's death to lure Gu Yanzhou away with the intention of searching the Song residence, suddenly changed his mind after learning that Gu Yanzhou was under house arrest. "Ji'er, what do you think about disobeying the order?"
"The entire family will be executed, including the entire nine clans." Mu Ji said without thinking. The moment he met the chief's eyes, he realized: he had changed his mind.
He wanted to have Grand Tutor Song come to him and beg him to personally present the gift to save his beloved daughter.
Song Taishi has many students all over the world and is a leader among the famous scholars. If he were to come in person to welcome him, there would be fewer objections.
After figuring this out, Mu Ji couldn't help but curl his lips, "Foster father is indeed smart. This way, we can easily put an end to the world's criticisms."
The man at the top of the table closed his eyes and pursed his lips, clearly pleased by his words. But after a moment, he began to lose interest again: "Foster father, the letter I sent to Yunqu that day demanding death without mercy has never been replied to. Even the news of Song Siyun's death this time came via carrier pigeon. Ji'er is worried—"
"Don't worry."
Prince An glanced at him with a nonchalant expression, "They're just a bunch of grasshoppers. They can't cause any trouble. We've been managing Yunqu for many years. Not only the tribute tea plantation, but even the docks are guarded by our men year-round. They can't cause any trouble."
Seeing that he was already unhappy, Mu Ji was silent for a moment, then bowed and admitted his fault: "Ji'er was worrying too much."
"Hmm." The man responded slowly. After a long while, he seemed to think about something, and then he spoke lazily, "Ji'er, you are thoughtful, but your adoptive father didn't allow you to take the imperial examination and become an official. Do you blame me?"
"Foster father, what are you talking about? If you hadn't been kind enough to take Ji'er in, Ji'er would have starved to death in Lizhou."
Mu Ji knelt down in awe, "Foster father didn't arrange for me to take the imperial examination, he must have other plans in mind. Ji'er, there is no need to argue, just wait for foster father's arrangement."
Prince An was delighted and looked up at him: "You are quite clever."
Finally, he beckoned him to his side and dismissed him as if chatting: "Once this matter is settled, the position of the Assistant Minister of Justice will be vacant. You can go there then."
"Thank you for your grace, godfather." Mu Ji bowed.
The leader waved his hand, and he quietly retreated.
All the plots require Song Siyun's death.
At this moment, the person everyone was thinking about was walking through the dense forest. His eyes were astonishingly bright even in the night.
Beside her was Qingfeng, dressed in black and holding a long sword. There was also another person following them.
This man was as round as a ball, dressed in rich clothes, but his face was very dirty, and his green bean-sized eyes flashed with fear like a rat crossing the street.
As he walked, he kept confirming with the people around him: "Can you guarantee that I can survive when I get to Beijing?"
Traveling at night requires extreme vigilance, not to mention that your whereabouts were exposed two days ago and there are people chasing you, so you have to be extremely vigilant.
This coward was frightened by the assassination attempt seven days ago. Not only did he confess everything on the spot, but now he is even more concerned about his life at every step.
After seven days, Song Siyun's ears were almost callused and he had lost his patience.
Rolling her eyes, she pressed his head into the bushes and whispered perfunctorily, "Yes, yes, yes. The Emperor is my brother-in-law, and my husband and the Crown Prince grew up together. As long as you tell the truth, I will definitely see to it that you are safe."
This relationship is indeed a bit bold.
Qing Feng took a moment to glance away in the midst of his busy schedule.
Unfortunately, the tea garden owner was a fool. Upon hearing this, he patted his chest in relief and muttered the same words he had said countless times: "That's good, that's good."
This look is really stupid.
Song Siyun couldn't bear to look away, trying to figure out where the rustling sound came from and whether it was an illusion.
Just as she was listening intently, a cold light suddenly flashed before her eyes. She quickly dodged it and scrambled to the top of the tree. She reported her location to Qingfeng, "Qingfeng, I have two here!"
A black shadow passed by, bringing with it strong gusts of wind. The long sword deflected the pursuing blade, and using the momentum of his feet, he spun past.
Song Siyun looked at it, and exchanged a glance with the tea garden owner who was also climbing a tree next to him, and his heart finally settled down.
The next moment, the person in front of him flew backwards as if hooked by a ghost.
Song Siyun was startled and had no time to react. He could only grab his feet and said, "Hold on, Fatty! If you get caught, you're dead!"
The tea garden owner flapped his legs and tried his best to reach forward, and Song Siyun also pulled back with all his strength.
But the two men's strength was still too weak, and she could only watch as the gauze on her fingertips and the bark were blown away, and she was dragged away.
"Qing Feng!"
The shrill scream startled all the birds in the forest. Qing Feng took a quick glance and was about to help on tiptoe, but the two men seemed to have expected it and chopped off the man with their swords.
Helplessly, he could only turn around to block it, but he couldn't get away at all.
Over there, Song Siyun felt like a kite that had fallen into the woods and been smashed to pieces. All the bones in his body felt like they were broken, and his butt was burning.
She wanted to let go several times, but when she thought of the little inspector who was covered in blood and was determined to come to the capital to report to the authorities, she held back.
He also advised the tea garden owner: "Don't let go, hold on a little longer, Qingfeng will come to rescue us soon."
The tea garden owner was in so much pain that tears came out and he howled heart-wrenchingly.
It was only then that Song Siyun discovered that he had two Pipa locks hooked on his shoulders.
It was these two things that hooked him down from the tree.
Looking at the two iron hooks piercing into his flesh, Song Siyun swallowed hard.
Suddenly I felt that my butt didn’t hurt so much anymore.
Just as he was thinking, a silver light suddenly struck down from above. The friction with the iron chain of the Pipa Lock produced sparks, and the dragging speed slowed down.
Song Siyun's eyes lit up and he looked up. When he saw who it was, he couldn't believe it: "It's you?"
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