56 Chapter 56
◎Is Prince Su a native of Dayan or a Northern Rong?
Zhou Baizhi's face drained of color instantly: "What did you say?"
“You’re in cahoots with those people in the mansion. Your goal is to lure me into the house with Zhou Baizhi and then kill me on the spot.”
Xie Yutang said, "Your steward is quite clever; that last palm strike was very well executed. However, you were too impatient. I only laid out some bait, and you were eager to bite—that brocade box containing wheat ears was given to me by the real Zhou Baizhi, wasn't it? Where is he now?"
Zhou Baizhi's face grew ashen, but he chuckled softly when he heard the last sentence: "Xie Yutang, you are very clever, but Zhou Baizhi is dead, you can't find him."
After saying that, a mouthful of poisonous blood flowed from his lips. Su Lu quickly grabbed his chin, but the man's head had already tilted to the side, and he was no longer breathing.
Su Lu's brows furrowed. "He hid poison in his teeth beforehand."
“It’s alright, we’ve already captured him alive.” Xie Yutang stood up, no longer wasting energy on that “Zhou Baizhi,” and his gaze swept carefully across the room. “The most important thing now is to find the real Zhou Baizhi.”
She didn't believe Zhou Baizhi was dead.
Judging from that ear of wheat, Zhou Baizhi was still alive at least yesterday. If those people wanted to kill him, they would have done so on the day Snow Wolf Pass fell. They must have hidden him somewhere.
“I have taken control of Snow Wolf Pass. They have nowhere else to hide. Zhou Baizhi must be in this house.” Xie Yutang explained carefully. “But the guards have already searched the entire house. They didn’t find him, nor did they find any secret rooms.”
Su Lu looked at the wooden wardrobe in the corner. For Zhou Baizhi, a single man, the wardrobe was a bit too big and out of place with the style of the room.
He inserted the scissors into the crack in the wall near the window of the wardrobe, and with a little force, the wardrobe was pushed outward by an inch. Xie Yutang guessed what was going on from his actions and peeked over.
really.
A line of water trickled in from the window frame, extending unimpeded into the area hidden by the wardrobe.
"Recently there has been a lot of rain and snow, and watermarks have been seeping in through the window cracks. There is a wardrobe here to block the watermarks, but there is no trace of the wardrobe at all."
Looking closer, the newly pressed creases on the four corners of the wardrobe on the floor were stained with water, clearly indicating that it had gotten muddy from being moved in the rain.
The two exchanged a glance: "This wardrobe was just moved in."
Xie Yutang was about to step forward and open the cabinet door when Su Lu stopped him.
He shielded her and retreated to the outside of the cabinet door. Su Lu picked up a candlestick from the table and threw it. The candlestick hit the cabinet door handle from the side and opened the door.
The cabinet was empty, with no clothes or bedding, except for a person hiding in the bottom left compartment.
The man was bound hand and foot, curled up and stuffed into a cubicle, with a cloth stuffed in his mouth and his eyes closed, his life or death unknown.
Su Lu stepped forward to check his breath and nodded slightly to Xie Yutang: "He's still alive."
Xie Yutang brought the person back to the city lord's mansion and called a doctor to examine him. He was fine, just knocked unconscious by violence. He would wake up after resting for a while.
Whether it was because Bai Zhi was naturally frail and weak this week, or because he had been worrying too much and not getting enough sleep, he lay in bed for more than ten hours. Xie Yutang only heard from someone on the afternoon of the second day that he had woken up.
At that time, Xie Yutang and Su Lu were discussing their future military plans in the hall. Xie Yutang ordered his men to put away the sand table and military maps before letting them into the room.
Zhou Baizhi had obviously tidied up a bit, taken a shower, and changed into clean clothes. Gone was the disheveled look in the closet; he was now a rather handsome young man.
The man bowed respectfully to Xie Yutang: "Zhou Baizhi greets Princess Ning'an and thanks Your Highness for saving my life."
Xie Yutang accepted the bow and asked someone to let him sit down.
According to Zhou Baizhi, not long after Xuelang Pass was captured by the Northern Rong, Helou Batu came to visit him.
Jubao Money House controls nearly 80% of the private capital in Beirong. Helou Batu, who has usurped power, wants to secure his rule, and this is something he must hold in his hands. However, Chiwen Cheng has already openly sided with Tuoba Xiu and has become a useless pawn. So Helou Batu set his sights on Zhou Baizhi, Chiwen Cheng's confidant.
However, Bai Zhi remained unmoved by both soft and hard tactics this week, feigning compliance and refusing to agree even after half a month of maneuvering. He Lou Batu, finding it inconvenient to linger at Xuelang Pass, instructed Yu Chi Duohan to keep a close eye on the man and prepare for a gradual plan.
But before long, Xie Yutang broke through Snow Wolf Pass.
“Chiwen Cheng only has two trusted confidants. Wen Zhong is missing, so I am the only one he can use. Yuchi Duohan thought long and hard but couldn't kill me, and fearing I would fall into His Highness's hands, he released me back to Jubao Money Shop, slaughtered all the servants and guards, and replaced them with his own men to guard me every step of the way.” Zhou Baizhi’s throat tightened, and he paused before continuing, “On the day His Highness attacked the city, he sent a letter to Helou Batu, instructing him to find a way to move me out of the city as soon as possible. If you had arrived just one more night later, I’m afraid…”
Zhou Baizhi's account was almost identical to Xie Yutang's prediction.
Logically speaking, how Zhou Baizhi chooses sides is Bei Rong's own business and has nothing to do with Xie Yutang. However, since she has already decided to join Bei Rong's game, Zhou Baizhi's matter is not just a simple matter of factional infighting.
Furthermore, with Chiwen Cheng and Wen Zhong dead, Zhou Baizhi is the only person who can control Jubao Money House. Even if Xie Yutang can't take this pawn, it would be absolutely beneficial to have Manager Zhou owe him a favor.
Xie Yutang remained calm: "Do you know why I saved you?"
Zhou Baizhi glanced at the brocade box containing ears of wheat on the table: "Has Your Highness investigated Cao Yong, the former Minister of Revenue of your country?"
Xie Yutang paused in pouring the tea.
He knew it after all.
Cao Yong was in charge of the Divine Wind Cavalry's provisions back then, so the matter of reselling provisions must be related to this person. However, she sent her secret guards to investigate and found that five months after the Daoma Pass Incident, Cao Yong was stripped of his official position and exiled to Lingnan for corruption. When he reached Litang, he encountered a landslide caused by a sudden earthquake, and his body was never found.
Why did Zhou Baizhi mention this person, and how did he know that she had investigated this person?
Zhou Baizhi didn't keep them in suspense: "Because Cao Yong is the Chiwen Chancellor."
Xie Yutang and Su Lu exchanged a glance: "Do you have any evidence?"
The fact that the wealthy merchant from the Northern Rong was actually a former official of the Great Yan Dynasty was a shocking event, yet Xie Yutang remained calm and composed, his brows furrowed with tranquility.
Zhou Baizhi saw this and asked Xie Yutang for paper and pen, then drew a map: "I have hidden this in the manor. Please send someone to retrieve it, Your Highness."
Xie Yutang took it. The location was very well hidden, and because the item was small, the guards searched for places where people could hide, but they couldn't find it for a while.
She handed the blueprints to the guard, raising an eyebrow and asking, "What is this?"
Zhou Baizhi: "Chiwen Cheng's identity jade disc."
Xie Yutang's expression hardened.
The Jade Tablet of Identity was bestowed upon court officials by the Emperor of Da Yan. It could not be forged, much less destroyed without authorization. Cao Yong's Jade Tablet disappeared along with that accident. Everyone thought it was buried under the rubble and soil along with Cao Yong's body. Unexpectedly, he brought it to the Northern Rong.
It turns out that Cao Yong had long known the principle of "when the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked." He knew that what he had done for that person was too dirty, and once Xie Shi fell, he would not live long either. After all, only the dead can best keep secrets. Knowing that that person would definitely kill him to silence him, how could Cao Yong obediently wait for death?
He secretly contacted the Northern Rong King Tuoba Cangjue.
The earthquake in Litang was orchestrated by the King of Beirong. In return, Cao Yong brought ten chests of gold to join him. He reached an agreement with Tuoba Cangjue: eight chests of gold would go to the royal family, and the remaining two chests would be managed by Cao Yong, who went by the alias Chiwen Cheng. With the help of the royal family, it became the largest money exchange in Beirong in just a few years.
The former Minister of Revenue of Da Yan, who was sentenced to exile, transformed into a wealthy business tycoon. All traces of Cao Yong were erased, leaving only an identity jade disc, which is the only thing in the world that can prove the true identity of Chiwen Cheng.
Chiwen Cheng gave the jade disc to the Northern Rong royal family, firstly to show his sincerity in surrendering, and secondly to completely sever ties with his past identity.
Past events, like a fleeting dream, have all vanished with the wind.
From then on, there was only Chiwen Cheng in the world, and no more Cao Yong.
Xie Yutang listened quietly: "Since Cao Yong gave the jade tablet to the royal family, why is it in your hands?"
That's spot on.
Zhou Baizhi said, "When Cao Yong took out this jade disc back then, it was out of sincerity. Now, His Majesty has ordered me to pass it on to Your Highness, which is also out of sincerity."
Xie Yutang raised an eyebrow: "Are you one of Tuoba Xiu's men?"
There was no doubt in his tone.
Zhou Baizhi paused slightly. This Princess Ning'an was even smarter than he had expected. He had only hinted at it, yet she had already guessed the whole thing pretty accurately.
He did not deny it: "As the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Since Tuoba Batu is also Your Highness's enemy, why not join forces with my lord?"
Although Tuoba Xiu and his party were imprisoned, their prestige in the Northern Rong remained. If they could join forces, the people's hearts, which Tuoba Batu had suppressed with his iron fist, would surely be shaken again. When Tuoba Xiu came to power in the future, with Xie Yutang's favor, the Great Yan would be able to obtain absolute benefits in the border peace talks between the two countries.
It was indeed a condition that was hard to refuse.
It's quite remarkable that Tuoba Xiu could still see such a move even while imprisoned.
Xie Yutang's eyes showed no sign of being moved: "Tuoba Batu is my enemy, and your lord is no different."
Zhou Baizhi's smile froze.
"Furthermore, the jade disc can only prove Chiwen Cheng's identity, and it is of no benefit to me in finding the mastermind. Your Excellency thinks you can persuade me to send troops to rescue people with just a piece of jade disc? Isn't that a bit presumptuous?"
"What if I could help Your Highness find the mastermind behind the murder of your father?"
Xie Yutang's pupils contracted: "What did you say?"
“When Cao Yong fled from Dayan in a hurry and sought refuge with my Northern Rong, in addition to several boxes of gold, he also had some letters. These were letters that he carried with him when he was fleeing for his life, so they must not be ordinary letters. He never showed these things to anyone and they were all sealed in a secret room.”
Zhou Baizhi seemed to have just remembered something, "I heard that Wen Zhong used a letter to appeal to the emperor. At that time, Prime Minister Chiwen was still alive. After finding out which letter was lost, he breathed a sigh of relief."
Xie Yutang's hand clenched suddenly under his sleeve, a sharp, dull pain spreading from his palm.
A few cool breezes wafted over, and Su Lu took her hand under the table.
Xie Yutang paused slightly, glanced at him, and seeing that his expression was normal, she also looked away, but her clenched fingers loosened inch by inch.
"If Your Highness could personally enter that secret chamber to investigate, perhaps the final mystery could be solved."
With Chiwen Cheng and Wen Zhong dead, Zhou Baizhi is the only person in the world who knows the location of the secret room.
The two stared at each other for a long time before Xie Yutang spoke: "State your conditions."
Zhou Baizhi stood up and bowed respectfully to Xie Yutang, a subject of the Northern Rong: "I beg Your Highness's help to defeat Helou Batu and rescue my lord Tuoba Xiu and the imprisoned people. After the matter is accomplished, I will tell you the truth about the location of the Chiwen Prime Minister's secret chamber."
Xie Yutang remained silent for a long while, then nodded: "I grant your permission."
Princess Ning'an was a woman of her word, and Zhou Baizhi breathed a sigh of relief upon receiving this promise.
"However, I have a question." Xie Yutang looked at the person in front of her who was willing to risk his life to find a way out for his lord, her eyes filled with inquiry, "Are you from Dayan or from the Northern Rong?"
In terms of appearance, Zhou Baizhi was completely Han Chinese, and his name was also Han Chinese. However, his demeanor and the interior furnishings of the Jubao Money Shop were completely Hu (non-Han) in style.
The Han and non-Han peoples are incompatible. Back then, Su Lu suffered all kinds of bullying simply because he was half of the Northern Rong bloodline. Why is Zhou Baizhi willing to take such a great risk for Tuoba Xiu?
Zhou Baizhi was surprised for a moment, then laughed and boldly asked, "May I ask, in Your Highness's heart, is Prince Su a man of Dayan or a man of the Northern Rong?"
Xie Yutang's gaze sharpened: "Insolence!"
The guards at the door rushed in instantly, seized Zhou Baizhi, and pressed their swords against his neck.
But the boy gently pressed down on her wrist.
"It's fine."
His voice was clear and pleasant. He patted her wrist with his fingertips, as if to soothe her, but with a slight tickle. Xie Yutang paused for a moment, then waved her hand, signaling the guards to leave.
"What does it matter if it's Beirong or Dayan? What I recognize is never the place, but the people." Su Lu spoke quietly, addressing Zhou Baizhi. Under the table where no one could see, he subtly gathered her fingers one by one into his palm. "Where my heart finds peace, that is my home."
Xie Yutang's heart skipped a beat.
Zhou Baizhi laughed loudly: "What a wonderful place for peace of mind."
He was an orphan who fled north with the refugees, begging all the way until he unknowingly arrived in the Northern Rong, where he suffered a lot of bullying because of his Han Chinese face.
He thought he was going to die in this endless snow.
Until the richly dressed young man stepped down from the carriage and handed him a pastry and a bowl of goat's milk, followed by clothes and lodging.
Zhou Baizhi said, "I don't have any grand ideals, nor do I understand the great principles of family and country. I only know that wherever I can eat, wear clothes, and return home, that is my home."
After saying that, he himself found it somewhat ridiculous.
To say that a princess of the wealthy and powerful, living in luxury, is ignorant of national affairs and only cares about food and clothing is no different from those nobles asking a frozen beggar, "Why don't you eat meat porridge?"
But Xie Yutang just watched him quietly.
For a moment, he felt that she saw through him the snow that had fallen on his life.
"Having food to eat, clothes to wear, and a home to return to—if this is the world that Manager Zhou longs for—" Xie Yutang reached out, her pale palm facing him directly, "I am willing to work with you for this."
Zhou Baizhi was moved and raised his eyes.
It was neither the Northern Rong nor the Great Yan.
She talks about the world.
May the world be at peace, the seas clear and the rivers calm, and may all the poor and needy rejoice.
In this remote town, Zhou Baizhi reached out and gave her a firm high five.
At that time, he could not have imagined that just a few months later, Xie Yutang would prove with facts that this was not an unattainable dream, but a smooth path that she had walked step by step.
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