Chapter 205: Accomplishment (Part 1)
Sun Wei looked at the city gate that was receding behind them. It had been closed since they left.
She asked, "Since Liu Ke has lent his troops to Wang Zhi, it's clear he's already pledged his allegiance to the Wang family. Now that his troops have taken over the city, how could he let you and me leave so easily?"
"Because of you and me, the prefect is here to help." Sima Jun was still looking ahead, as if he was a little reluctant. "He learned that the princess risked her life to save others, and he was very grateful. That's why he kept Ximen and let us leave."
Sun Wei understood and smiled, "In that case, I haven't done anything stupid."
Sima Jun ignored her.
Sun Wei sighed, "Your Highness, there's really no need to worry. I know how to behave."
"Property?" Sima Jun turned around and asked, "Madam, the propriety you're talking about is the fortune-telling result? What would Madam do if I hadn't arrived?"
"But the prince arrived." Sun Wei blinked. "Even a genius like the prince came to save me. If this is not a good omen, what is a good omen?"
Sima Jun rolled his eyes and turned back.
Sun Wei pretended not to notice, thought for a moment, and continued, "Since the Crown Prince went to such great lengths to capture Wu Fen, why didn't he take him with him? This would be a great achievement, comparable to capturing Kong Qi alive."
Sima Jun said, "Although I captured him, this is Liu Ke's territory after all. I can't take him away. Wang Zhi is determined to get him. If I keep him in my hands, Wang Zhi will only chase me."
Sun Wei knew that Guangzhou was a remote place with a high mountain and a far-off emperor. If anything happened to her and Sima Jun, they could just put all the blame on the Three Immortals Sect and pass it off as "died in the chaos of war."
Sima Jun has few guards around him, so the most important thing at the moment is to save his own life.
Sun Wei felt a little regretful: "Your Highness has worked so hard, but you are going to return empty-handed?"
Sima Juan said calmly, "We went to pay our respects to our father, so why not return empty-handed?"
Sun Wei immediately said, "Of course not. You and I have gone through so much hardship and difficulty, how can we let it go for nothing? Wu Fen's capture is certainly a good thing, but the Crown Prince cannot be a victim of others' misfortune."
Sima Jun glanced at her, and the displeasure on his face had disappeared.
"It's not like we've gained nothing," Sima Jun said. "Madam, do you know why Wu Fen didn't attack the city head-on, but instead sneaked in and took hostages?"
"Wu Fen is from another place, so he wouldn't know there's a secret passage in the temple." Sun Wei said, "It must have been Liang Wen who suggested it."
"This plan was indeed Liang Wen's, but Wu Fen is no fool. He must have known the risks of this plan," Sima Jun said. "After all, the temple is in the city. If anything goes wrong, he will be trapped."
"Oh?" Sun Wei asked, "If that's the case, why would he take such a risk himself?"
"Because he was cornered," Sima Jun said. "Before Wu Fen attacked Shixing, he had already been stopped twice by Chang Xuan and Zhuo Jing, suffering heavy casualties and no longer able to attack the city. Furthermore, his lair in the mountains had been burned down, cutting off his retreat. The only way for him was to easily capture Shixing City. But Wu Fen was indeed out of luck. Liu Ke was determined to eliminate Qu Kang, and without waiting for my guarantee, he was impatient to defect to Wang Zhi. He sent Liang Wen, ostensibly to win over Wu Fen, but in reality, to kill him."
I see.
"In that case, General Chu and General Xie can be considered to have achieved some merit by destroying Wu Fen's lair."
"That's right," Sima Jun said, his face darkening, "but Changxuan was seriously injured."
Sun Wei was stunned.
——
Chu Yue's Northern Army camped on the west bank of the Beijiang River, looking across the river at Shixing City.
There was a village next to the camp. Chu Yue found a house there, cleaned it up, and used it as a place for Sima Jun and Sun Wei to stay.
Sun Wei had no time to rest, so when he arrived at the place, he went with Sima Jun to visit Xie Xiao.
There was a strong smell of medicine in Xie Xiao's room, and a doctor was treating his injuries.
When Sun Wei saw the servant boy carrying out a basin of blood, he felt terrified.
The candlelight was quite bright. Xie Xiao lay motionless on the bed with a pale face.
"What happened?" Sun Wei asked Chu Yue.
Chu Yue looked downcast. "We received intelligence that Wu Fen was about to go on an expedition. Chang Xuan was determined to kill Wu Fen, so he set up an ambush on the route he had to take. Unexpectedly, Wu Fen came out in full force. Chang Xuan had too few men, and when he engaged, he was outnumbered. Fortunately, I arrived in time and saved his life."
Sun Wei knew that Xie Xiao's father died at the hands of Wu Fen during the expedition against the Three Immortals Sect.
He wanted to capture Wu Fen alive, actually out of selfish desire to avenge his father.
But now it seems that Wu Fen is about to fall into Wang Zhi's hands, and his chance to kill his enemy has passed.
The three of them were silent for a moment.
It was Sima Jun who broke the silence first and asked the doctor, "How is General Xie doing now?"
The doctor said, "Although a lot of blood was lost, fortunately no vital parts were injured. The bleeding has stopped immediately, and there is probably nothing to worry about."
Sun Wei breathed a sigh of relief.
The doctor continued, "In this situation, I'm afraid this general will no longer be able to practice martial arts."
Sima Jun nodded, looked at Chu Yue, and patted his shoulder.
"I'll trouble you to take care of me here."
Chu Yue smiled bitterly: "It should be so."
——
After a long day of exhaustion, Sun Wei arrived at the mansion. Aju was unpacking items from her bag. As she did so, she complained about the carelessness of Sima Jun's men. Many of their valuables had been left behind at the mansion in Shixing City.
"The situation was not critical at that time. I was trying to escape and couldn't care less about many things." Sun Wei said.
"How is General Xie?" Aju asked.
Sun Wei briefly described Xie Xiao's situation. A'ru was silent for a moment, then said, "General Xie must be very sad. He fought so hard, but in the end he still couldn't kill his enemy."
Sun Wei understood her feelings.
Aju's situation is similar to Xie Xiao's.
Liu Ke changed sides this time and captured Wu Fen. Not only did he have his own merits, he would also try to get Wang Zhi to get rid of Qu Kang for him.
If this person firmly holds the position of governor, it will be even more difficult to move against him.
The next morning, Sun Wei talked about this matter with Sima Jun.
"Sir, do you think there is still hope for General Ning's redress?"
Sima Jun looked at her and said, "For A'ru?"
"Exactly."
The two of them walked along the river bank. Sima Jun looked at the vast river and said, "It might be possible."
Sun Wei paused and looked at him.
"Sir, do you have a solution?" she asked.
Sima Jun looked back and saw the vast river waves. She was standing by the water with her sleeves fluttering, as if she was about to spread her wings and fly away like a water bird.
"I promised her this as well," Sima Jun said. "General Ning is a hero, and I feel obligated to clear his name. But now, things have come to a point where unexpected events have occurred, and we must find another way."
Sun Wei was just about to ask how to find another way when suddenly a guard came running to report that someone was rowing a small boat on the river and wanted to see the princess.
Sima Jun asked, "Who is coming?"
"He looks like he's dressed as a servant," the guard said. "He asked me to tell you, Princess, if you remember the Buddhist layman meditating in the cave."
Sun Wei was stunned for a moment, and suddenly thought of Li Mo.
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