Chapter 104: To Advance or to Retreat?
"Are we really going to bring him along?"
Inside the carriage, Song Jin looked at the extra little brat and couldn't stand the sight of him. She just couldn't understand why.
"This looks like a huge problem. Are you all so bored? There's no one home here anymore, are you just going to take him there and throw him away?"
This little guy said before that his parents were dead, his dog was dead, and he was left all alone to seek revenge.
Regardless of whether it's true or false, what happens next?
Song Jin looked at the man with a bitter and resentful expression, seeing the worst in him: "Besides, who knows, he might be one of those river bandits sent by them, a ruse? You're all grown adults, how could you..."
"Alright, enough of your nagging all day. Stop it, it's hurting my ears," Niu Tielan said irritably, stopping her from nagging the whole way. "That's enough."
Song Jin muttered, "But this is really troublesome."
Although she is somewhat of a busybody, it's mostly a one-off thing; she only intervenes when it's needed, like rescuing this little brat yesterday.
Once you've saved someone, you've saved them.
Unlike now, bringing people along only leads to a whole host of problems later. There are so many people outside; how can we possibly manage them all?
She curled her lip, her gaze towards Qi Zheng filled with disdain: "So you were like this when you were wandering the martial arts world?"
No wonder he gets into trouble wherever he goes; he brought it all on himself.
Qi Zheng wisely chose to keep quiet.
If we hadn't encountered him, that would have been fine, but if we had, we couldn't just stand by and watch him die. Besides, this brat's background is clearly not simple.
Song Jin pouted and looked back at the little brat.
Compared to his disheveled appearance yesterday, he has tidied himself up now. With thick eyebrows, big eyes, a high nose bridge, and a clever look in his eyes, the eight-year-old already shows the beginnings of a handsome young man.
Knowing that Song Jin disliked him, he behaved himself the whole way, enduring Song Jin's disdain without uttering a word, and just wanted to return to Liang City.
"Hey, Liang Jishui, you really weren't sent by those robbers?" Song Jin's eyes were deep and cold. "It's not too late to confess now, otherwise, you really will lose your life."
She has no respect for elders or children. She might turn a blind eye if this brat doesn't stick with them, but if he really tries to scheme against her, she won't hold back.
Liang Jishui's eyes widened: "Do I look like a bandit? I'm just going home, home!"
Faced with Song Jin's speculation, he showed no panic, his eyes clear and lucid, revealing a pure folly.
Song Jin was still suspicious: "Aren't you afraid we'll sell you out?"
Liang Jishui rolled his eyes: "With what you're wearing, do you really need a little money? Even if you do, selling me wouldn't be worth it. I have some money hidden at home; I'll give it all to you after I get my revenge."
Song Jin: "Who cares about two coins?"
She rolled over and hugged Niu Tielan's waist, burying her head in it, muttering, "Ugh, Mom, let's ignore him and get there sooner. Aren't you in a hurry?"
Niu Tielan said calmly, "No rush, a couple of days earlier or later is the same."
While in the capital, she was still somewhat anxious, but as the distance gradually closed, and it seemed that she could reach her destination in less than two days by boat...
Niu Tielan even wished it could go a little slower.
Twenty years have passed, and things have changed. She thought about it all the way, but still couldn't figure out how to get along with people or what to say.
She reached out and gently rubbed Song Jin's head, saying softly, "Alright, don't think so much. We're all here. Why are you worrying so much?"
This girl, she doesn't worry when she should, but she's always doing things she shouldn't be doing.
Song Jin pouted and buried herself in her mother's arms, clinging to her waist and leaning against her without moving.
She likes to stir up trouble, but she doesn't like others to stir things up for her, especially since she's already chosen the topics, and now Liang Jishui's involvement has suddenly become a problem.
She was afraid something unexpected might happen.
It didn't matter to her because she had thick, rough skin; her mother had delicate, smooth skin.
Ugh, this is so annoying.
...
The carriage thus left Guangning City and arrived at the ferry crossing, a half-hour drive away.
The ferry crossing was bustling with noise, filled with shouts of people calling out for passengers. The wide crossing was densely packed with boats.
Song Jin lifted the carriage curtain to look. On both sides of the ferry crossing, which was filled with boats, were riverbeds that had mostly dried up. Even so, the river still had a length of thirty or forty meters.
It must be even more spectacular during the rainy season.
Song Jin's gaze shifted, precisely spotting several boatmen with shifty eyes in the crowd. Each of them held a long bamboo pole, blocking others who tried to move forward and precisely surrounding them.
Guangning Prefecture is heavily guarded, and Song Jin is too ostentatious, staying in the best restaurants. It won't be easy for those people to make a secret move. But things are different once they leave the city gates.
She glanced at the familiar faces in the crowd, a smile playing on her lips. She lowered the carriage curtain, turned to the most vulnerable Niu Tielan, and earnestly instructed, "Let's get off, Mom. Stay close to him, and make sure you're safe."
Niu Tielan glanced at her: "Fine, I'll find a box and crawl inside as soon as I get in."
Song Jin said sheepishly, "Mother, what are you saying?"
Qu Maoze sat to one side and chuckled, "Get out of the car. Jinjin, don't worry about us. Your mother and I can take care of ourselves."
Looking at his composed demeanor, Song Jin pursed her lips and muttered, "Who's worried about you?"
This person is so lively and energetic; she should worry about herself rather than him.
She strode outside, where Qi Zheng was already standing. He was still dressed as a guard, honest and silent, and apart from his exceptionally handsome face, he seemed perfectly at ease.
However, as Song Jin jumped off the carriage, his handsome appearance gained a plausible explanation.
Wealthy young ladies, isn't that the kind of style they like?
The boatman who came forward to solicit customers made eye contact with the people around him, and the next second he enthusiastically stepped forward.
"Would you like a boat ride, young master or young lady? Our boatmen have over ten years of experience and know the area very well; they can go anywhere."
Song Jin didn't answer. Instead, she picked up a fan and threw it at Qi Zheng, saying arrogantly, "It stinks! Fan yourself! And you lot, get out of here. How long has it been since you took a bath? It stinks!"
Qi Zheng felt genuinely helpless: "Miss"
It's unnecessary, really unnecessary.
Ignoring her, Song Jin continued to maintain her arrogant persona, glaring angrily: "Are you trying to tell me what to do? Who's the young lady and who's the guard? Believe me or not, I'll sell you out!"
Qi Zheng: "...faith"
He gently fanned her with a fan, dutifully opening his arms to block the others.
"My daughter is very clean, it wasn't intentional, please don't mind."
Qu Maoze got off the carriage, then lifted the curtain and reached out to help Niu Tielan.
The two of them stood there, saying nothing, yet their presence was like a gentle breeze, a soft drizzle and a light wind.
Niu Tielan glanced at Qi Zheng, who was obediently fanning Song Jin, and gave Song Jin a warning look.
Song Jin's scalp tightened. She snatched back the fan, coughed twice, and said seriously, "We want to go to Andong Prefecture. Is that alright? I've never been on a boat before, but I've heard they say there are river bandits there. What if we run into them?"
The boatman at the front was dressed in black, his exposed hands and face were dark, and he looked honest and simple. His eyes gleamed as he stepped forward with a smile: "How could that be? There are bandits everywhere every day. Besides, there are bandits on this dirt road. We can't just not go, can we?"
Song Jin: "That's true, but are you sure there's no problem? There are only four of us. If we really run into river bandits, we can't fight them. How many people are on your boat? Can you even fight them? Tsk, it's all those lousy men's fault. They have no sense of responsibility at all. They just said a few words and ran away."
Boss Cao and his guards, who had traveled with them earlier, changed their clothes early in the morning and returned to the capital, taking Xiao Hua and Ning Ning with them as well.
They didn't know when they would return, and having two children with them was both in the way and unsafe.
Song Jin and the other three are on the same side, so it's easier for them to do things together.
Faced with Song Jin's complaints, the boatman thought to himself, "With that kind of temper, it's already quite tolerant of people to have gotten her here safely."
Without a shred of doubt, he smiled and said, "Don't worry, there are six of us on board, absolutely no problem. Although some river bandits are vicious, most are reasonable, so nothing will happen. Besides, it's not just you who values your life, Miss; we boatmen, though lowly, still want to live a few more years."
Song Jin suddenly realized: "What you said makes sense. If you're not afraid, why should I be? Okay, you're the one."
The boatman, suffering a heart attack, said, "...Alright, Miss, someone of your stature must need to charter the boat, so I won't call anyone else."
Song Jin praised, "You have good taste. Lead the way."
The boatman smirked, cursing inwardly, but his face remained cheerful: "Alright, alright!"
The situation was settled. The remaining boatmen exchanged glances, then parted to let them pass, watching as the group walked towards the dock, whispering amongst themselves.
"Go back and send word to Second Brother and the others to get ready."
...
Song Jin and the others boarded the ship without any warning.
This boat is quite large, with a hull capable of carrying over a thousand kilograms of cargo. It has a few wooden rooms built on board. While it can't compare to the restaurants outside, it's still quite good for a boat. Excluding the boatman, it can easily carry thirty or forty people.
Of course, right now there are only Song Jin and his three companions, plus Liang Jishui.
He collapsed on the deck as soon as he boarded the ship, motionless like a lump of dough, and was carried back to his room to lie down.
No wonder he's so cunning; he didn't sneak onto the ship back to Liangcheng beforehand—he must have been seasick.
Song Jin ignored him and carefully helped Niu Tielan. The mother and daughter stood by the boat, the cold wind hitting them directly, splashing water everywhere.
She worriedly said, "Mother, it's windy, be careful not to catch a cold."
Niu Tielan leaned against the railing, shook his head, and looked at the rolling river ahead with joy in his eyes: "This is my first time on such a big ship."
Song Jin found it amusing: "You still need to be careful not to catch a cold. It's chilly now, let's come back next time it's summer."
Niu Tielan said softly, "Okay, let's sit here again next time."
Seeing that she really liked it, Song Jin thought for a moment and didn't try to persuade her further. She turned around, leaned back against the railing, and most of her body darted out of the boat, her expression relaxed.
That's great!
In her past life, even sitting on a tin ferry, she would be constantly on edge, worried that some strange beast might leap out from beneath the river, let alone lean out like this.
She relaxed, which startled Niu Tielan, who grabbed her arm and pulled her back, saying irritably, "Be careful."
Song Jin laughed heartily, her expression both exuberant and proud: "Mother, don't be afraid, I won't fall."
She had fought underwater many times in her past life, and even without that opportunity in this life, she had trained in mountain lakes and can hold her breath for half an hour without any problem.
Niu Tielan didn't care whether she was feeling stifled or not. He patted her arm lightly and said irritably, "Go inside, it's freezing."
Song Jin suppressed a laugh and took her arm, saying, "Alright, alright, you said it, let's go inside."
Niu Tielan gave her a reproachful look, then left the side of the boat and walked towards the middle.
Qu Maoze and Qi Zheng were sitting here.
A chessboard was placed between the two players, covered with black and white pieces.
Qu Maoze placed a black stone under his fingertip, gradually encircling the white stones, leaving them with no chance to retaliate.
He smiled, his voice gentle yet carrying an undeniable force: "Look, even if all the white pieces are yours and I have three black pieces, even if we each play our own moves, I can still easily force you to your death. Do you know why?"
Looking at the disastrous state of the white pieces on the chessboard, Qi Zheng sighed, "Because you're so good."
Qu Maoze smiled slightly, and placed another chess piece, sealing this inevitable defeat. He spoke each word carefully.
"It's not that I'm great, it's that you're too weak."
Qi Zheng fell silent.
Qu Maoze scoffed: "It's been almost a year. As a subject, a son, and a ruler, which role do you think you've played best?"
Qi Zheng was speechless
As a son, he enjoyed Qi Ye's doting affection, yet remained lukewarm, distant, and indifferent, rarely showing him care, and even maintaining a wary attitude.
As a subject, he was of shallow learning. Although he held a position, he accomplished nothing. Even when he went out to work, Qi Ye arranged for others to take care of him. The credit was his, but the success was in the hands of others.
As a ruler, he avoided contact with court officials and disputes with princes, seemingly a safe course of action. However, he was actually all alone. Even with Qi Ye's protection, which allowed him to successfully become crown prince and emperor, he lacked trusted advisors, making his future path extremely difficult.
Seeing his expression, Qu Maoze scoffed, "Looks like you're not that stupid. Even if he puts food in your mouth, you still have to swallow it yourself. If you really have no intention of leaving, you can live a carefree and leisurely life. If you do have intentions, don't pretend to be high and mighty. Good things don't always fall into your lap smoothly."
When Qu Maoze first met Qi Zheng, he was drawn to his upright character, seemingly dull but actually alert and skilled in martial arts, which is why he took him back. It was because of this that he later risked his life to pave the way for Qi Zheng's future.
Now that the road ahead is clear, he still shamelessly tries to take advantage of his own little cabbage. If he were still the same as before, Qu Maoze would truly regret it.
Qu Maoze looked at the silent Qi Zheng, then moved another piece away, and said softly, "But you are indeed very lucky. If you had found them a month or so earlier, the situation wouldn't be like this now. Come on, I'll move another piece away. Whether you advance or retreat, it's up to you."
He wasn't joking. If Song Jin and Niu Tielan had been found a month or so earlier, he certainly wouldn't have so easily faked his death and escaped, relinquishing his position as Grand Secretary. With his departure, the Song family's power dissipated by more than half, leaving behind a mess.
The mother and daughter will never again enjoy the glory he enjoyed during his reign.
What a pity
Qu Maoze still felt some regret, but it was too late to dwell on it now; Song Shang was dead beyond any doubt.
His mind was racing, but his expression remained unchanged, revealing nothing of his thoughts. He simply smiled as he looked at Qi Zheng opposite him.
Putting aside personal grudges, Qu Maoze had to admit that Qi Zheng did have some good looks.
In terms of physique, he was tall and robust, with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long legs. Even in the most ordinary gray coarse cloth clothes, he was still the straightest stalk in a pile of gray grass. His face was even more striking—sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, handsome and dignified. Even if he wore a wooden face all day, he would still be pleasing to the eye.
But Qu Maoze still didn't like this kid.
Qi Zheng was unaware of his thoughts, but under that undeniable gaze, cold sweat broke out on his back, and he forced himself to focus on the chessboard.
Retreat means death
To go in is to die.
Even if advancing or retreating means certain death, if one doesn't even have the courage to try...
Qi Zheng picked up the white pieces
Qu Maoze also withdrew his gaze from his face, looking at the raised hand, pondering from his posture to his inner thoughts.
Qi Zheng possesses the greatest advantage of an emperor.
Kindness and composure
But this is also its biggest drawback.
Kindness is easily misused, easily indulged, and easily exploited.
Stability equals mediocrity. Unchanging stability, day after day, year after year, is like a red-hot ten-yuan note in a furnace—it will eventually explode.
An emperor should be benevolent and benefit others.
He wants stability, and to seek progress while maintaining stability.
He had to be ruthless, ruthlessly cutting off the tail.
If he were merely mediocre, helpless, and unknown, what difference would there be between him and Prince Gong? Would he be worth so much effort from them?
Qu Maoze's gaze remained calm, and the smile on his lips never faded from beginning to end.
To retreat or to advance?
To play it safe or to be reckless?
Qi Zheng's body tensed, a chilling wind blowing in. He stared at the messy chessboard, his hand slowly lowering the white piece, as memories of his childhood flooded back.
The master always told him to be steady
He had to remain calm. His background was complicated, with unknown grudges and countless people tracking him. If he wasn't careful, he could perish in the slightest.
He also had to pretend—to act aloof, mysterious, knowledgeable, and skilled—in order not to be deceived by those seasoned veterans of the underworld.
The martial world is chaotic; having superior martial arts skills will only make you a sitting duck. Human nature always trumps martial prowess.
Therefore, he was cautious.
Royal secrets are numerous, and conspiracies and intrigues are rampant; he must stay away from all possible dangers to protect himself.
But is it really meant to be like this for the rest of my life?
Despite being a prince, he was extremely cautious and hid in the Taoist temple within the prince's palace.
Does he really intend to hide like this for the rest of his life? Or is he truly content with this and has no desire to improve himself?
Qi Zheng thought to himself, "He really is just an ordinary person."
He gripped the white piece tightly and placed it heavily in the center of the board. With a slight movement of his fingertips, the board cracked outwards like a spider web, layer upon layer.
Black and white chess pieces fell one by one, hitting the wooden deck.
Qi Zheng lowered his eyes, exhaled a long breath, and nodded, his dark eyes filled with determination: "Thank you for your kind offer, Uncle Qu."
Qu Maoze's smile gradually faded, and he smiled slightly, saying, "I don't deserve to be called 'uncle,' just call me by my name."
Who cares about having another junior like this?
Qi Zheng forced a smile and said, "You're my elder, it's only right."
Qu Maoze said expressionlessly, "You little brat, don't push your luck."
Qi Zheng forced a smile and said respectfully, "Yes, Uncle Qu."
Qu Maoze's eyelids twitched. At this moment, looking at Qi Zheng's face, he felt a strange sense of facing a younger version of Qi Ye. This was truly awful.
Thinking of that person's previous mad dog-like appearance
Is it too late for him to say he's being more mature now?
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