Chapter 43 What I Fear
cooperate?
Qiu Heng's suggestion made the four of them look at each other in bewilderment, and they couldn't help but be tempted.
This magpie brother is clearly familiar with the capital. We don't know how skilled he is yet, but at least his footwork is excellent, and he has the ability to help them escape their pursuers.
Working with someone like that should be a worthwhile investment.
The four exchanged glances, and Tao Da finally spoke up: "Brother Que, how do you plan to cooperate?"
"From what you've said, it's clear that Yuan Chenghai is used to being heavily protected. Although he relaxed his guard somewhat after returning to Beijing, he will likely remain vigilant after the daytime attack. His residence is also heavily fortified..."
The more Qiu Heng spoke, the heavier the atmosphere became.
"In this situation, assassination won't work."
Yuan Chenghai was different from Han Wu. High-ranking officials who had lived in the capital for too long had become too comfortable, and Han Wu, being the commander of the Imperial Guards, was more likely to overlook these issues. Yuan Chenghai, on the other hand, had plunged the southeast into chaos and widespread public resentment, and was acutely aware of his own unpopularity.
"Then let's go and appeal to the emperor!" Chen San gritted his teeth.
Qiu Heng shook her head: "I'm afraid that won't work."
“We have evidence. Some brothers have risked their lives to obtain the ledgers showing that the scoundrels have seized vast tracts of fertile land. However, we do not believe that the imperial court will stand up for the people, so we want to kill the scoundrels directly to rid the country of this scoundrel!”
Qiu Heng looked at Chen San, who was speaking angrily, and asked, "So you believe the imperial court now?"
"What can we do if they don't believe us? Do you think there are any other options?"
Faced with Chen San's angry question, Qiu Heng remained calm: "If you don't believe it, of course you shouldn't do it. You might try it out for small things, but how can you entrust such a big matter to others, to luck, or to an unknown fairness?"
She said that because the answer was already written down.
Yuan Chenghai wreaked havoc in the southeast, inciting popular uprisings, yet he was only demoted. However, after the uprisings, which lasted for more than a year, were quelled, he was reinstated to the emperor's favor.
The emperor's favoritism is just that unreasonable.
A massive uprising that captured more than thirty counties and nearly shook the Ling family's empire was quelled, and the culprit was able to regain the emperor's favor. How could she believe that a mere account book of the encroachment on fertile land could bring down the traitor Yuan?
At that time, Han Wu was still willing to wait for an outcome, but as for Yuan Chenghai, her thoughts were very clear: abandon all wishful thinking and take this thief's life by herself.
"Then what do you suggest?" Chen San asked impatiently.
Qiu Heng stared at him quietly for a moment.
"What's wrong?"
“I understand that you have emotions and you’re in a bad mood, but I shouldn’t be the one to bear the burden of your bad mood. Anyone who doesn’t know better would think that I’m the one who made you all look like stray dogs,” Qiu Heng said bluntly.
Who suffered less?
This world does not belong to her, nor is the suffering of the people caused by her. She seeks help not for personal gain, but because if things succeed, millions will benefit, and she is just one of them.
She's already annoyed enough; she has no obligation to put up with this kind of unnecessary annoyance.
“Brother Tao, if Chen San continues to be so emotional when planning things, he will only hold us back.”
Tao Da's tone turned stern: "Chen San, apologize to Brother Que right now!"
"I'm sorry." Chen San bowed and quieted down.
In the past, when he vented his frustrations, his brothers would comfort him; this was the first time anyone had said something like this.
But what the other person said... seems to make sense...
Although Chen San couldn't bring himself to admit it immediately, he vaguely realized this.
"Let's get down to business. Let's abandon the assassination route, discard any hope that someone will uphold justice, and rely on ourselves." Qiu Heng looked at the four of them. "The first step is to understand the people in the Yuan residence. Who is important? Who can get close to Yuan Chenghai? What are their likes and dislikes? And who are they connected to with?"
This time, Chen San listened patiently until the end before asking, "But how can we find out?"
Qiu Heng looked at the only woman among the four: "Third Sister, may I call you Third Sister?"
Nie San Niang nodded.
"You and your sister, Fourth Sister, went out for a trip. Yuan Chenghai forcibly took Fourth Sister away, but why didn't he take you?"
Chen San's lips moved as if he wanted to speak again, but this time he held back.
Nie San Niang remained silent for a while, then pulled off the black cloth, revealing a clean-cut face.
"Maybe it's because I'm not pretty."
Nie San Niang's voice trembled slightly as she spoke.
This trembling was not due to inferiority in appearance, but rather to guilt towards his younger sister.
She was the one who insisted on going out to play, but it was her younger sister who fell into the tiger's den, all because she wasn't pretty enough. If she had been the one who suffered, at least she wouldn't have been tormented by guilt towards her sister.
"You acted with everyone else and never showed your true face to Yuan Chenghai, did you?" Qiu Heng asked, scrutinizing Nie San Niang's face.
As the book had indeed recorded, Yuan Chenghai was extremely fond of beautiful women, to the point that he would steal other men's wives and concubines if he took a fancy to one.
But if someone isn't pretty enough, he won't give her a second glance.
"No. When we were in the south, we didn't have a chance to get close to him at all."
Those who tried to approach died.
How does Yuan Chenghai treat Fourth Sister?
Nie San Niang stared straight at Qiu Heng: "Brother Que, just tell me your thoughts."
"If he treats your sister well, why don't you go and find him?"
"No way, that would be like sending Third Sister into the lion's den!" Chen San blurted out in opposition.
Nie San Niang's expression changed: "Brother Que, what do you mean—"
“You are Fourth Sister’s own sister, so it’s only natural that you would come looking for your lost sister. Yuan Chenghai will definitely not let her go, so you should stay and stay with your sister and take care of her.” Qiu Heng paused and emphasized, “Of course, this is on the premise that Yuan Chenghai still cares about Fourth Sister.”
Does that scoundrel care about his sister?
Nie San Niang recalled the journey to the capital, during which she glimpsed Yuan Cheng Hai chatting and laughing around Si Niang. Si Niang remained motionless like a puppet, which made her realize that he cared about her.
At least for now, I still care.
“Okay, I’ll go!” Nie San Niang quickly made up her mind.
"Third Sister!" Chen San said anxiously, "Then aren't you in trouble too? What if that scoundrel bullies you?"
Nie Sanniang remained calm: "If that scoundrel had any designs on me, he would have robbed me right then and there."
Chen San was speechless.
"What will happen after I stay by Fourth Sister's side?" Nie Sanniang asked Qiu Heng seriously, "Will you find an opportunity to strike?"
She could tell that the person in front of her with their face covered was young, but much more thoughtful than those of them who always acted recklessly.
Qiu Heng shook her head: "You must put aside the idea of taking direct action. You went to Yuan Chenghai for your sister's sake. He might not care about having one more person like you, but he will definitely be wary of you getting close. He values his life so much, not just for you, but for everyone."
"What can I do?"
"As I just said, get to know the people around him. Since Yuan Chenghai is not easy to deal with, perhaps we can find an opportunity through others."
Nie San Niang nodded, her eyes shining: "I understand."
"And what about us?" Chen San asked.
"The three of you should lie low for now. Assassinating Yuan Chenghai is difficult, but with your skills, hiding yourselves shouldn't be too hard, right?"
The bustling and wealthy capital city had too many people, and the absence of a curfew broke down the boundaries between the neighborhood and the market. Peddlers roamed the streets and alleys, merchants came and went, night markets were brightly lit, and brothels were open all night long. While creating a lively atmosphere, it also made it easier for some people who couldn't be in the open to do their business.
Such an environment provides convenient hiding places.
After discussing some details, Qiu Heng said goodbye to the four of them: "I'm leaving now. I'll wait for your news."
"Brother Que—" Chen San called out.
Qiu Heng looked at him.
Chen San pointed to his face: "We don't even know what you look like yet. Will this make future cooperation inconvenient?"
At this point, Tao Da and Liu Er, who had been silent all along, also showed their faces, while Qiu Heng still concealed her true appearance.
Upon hearing this, Qiu Heng raised her hand and touched the black cloth covering her face: "Just remember my name is Que, and remember my voice. I'm sorry, it's not convenient for me to reveal my true face for the time being."
Chen San frowned: "This isn't fair."
He wasn't venting his emotions; he was simply stating the facts.
“It’s fair,” Qiu Heng replied without anger, speaking with confidence. “You have nowhere to go, while I have a family, a status, and a way out. It would be unfair to make me the same as you.”
Chen San fell silent.
Tao Da cupped his hands in greeting: "Brother Que is right, then let's proceed according to plan."
Qiu Heng waved her hand, and with the four people watching her go, she jumped over the courtyard wall in a few leaps.
After a long while, Chen San sighed, "This guy named Que has really good lightness skills."
“It’s our luck to have run into him tonight. Chen San, you should be more polite to him in the future,” Tao Da said.
"I understand. Third Sister, are you really going tomorrow?"
"Um."
"just in case--"
Nie Sanniang got annoyed and said, "Stop talking nonsense. If Yuan Chenghai suspects that I have other motives and wants to take my life, then so be it. So many people have died, one more won't make a difference. If you're afraid of death, you won't be here."
"Who's afraid of dying?" Chen San lay down, surrounded by the rich scent of grass, as if he had returned to his childhood when he and his brothers herded cattle together.
Back then, they liked to lie around like that and be lazy.
"I'm afraid the scoundrel won't die..." The young man's throat tightened, and his voice lowered.
I'm afraid the scoundrel won't die.
(End of this chapter)
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