Chapter 29 They're all dead.
At dusk, the town of Si'an was bustling with activity.
Villagers from the town and towns hurried away from the city in oxcarts and carrying loads on shoulder poles, lest they miss their train and have to spend another night in the city—making their day's journey a waste.
City residents, beaming with joy as they finished work, some carrying tools, others clutching snacks, hurried home to share dinner with their families.
If we go back ten years, such a scene would be much harder to find. At that time, the Dayan Dynasty had only been established for ten years. First, it quelled the rebellion, then it encountered a severe drought. In addition, there was the mess left by the previous dynasty, and the people's lives were barely scraping by.
As the years went by, the corrupt officials and rebellious elements left over from the previous dynasty were gradually purged, the new policies were generous, and the people enjoyed favorable weather and abundant harvests. Only then did smiles return to the faces of the common people.
This was also the main reason why Qi Zheng, who was used to being free in the martial arts world, was willing to follow Song Shang back to the royal family when Song Shang approached him.
His nominal father was indeed a good emperor.
Qi Zheng walked along the road, taking in the expressions of the people around him. He felt a pang of emotion, but his face remained expressionless. His demeanor was cold and stern, and coupled with his tall stature, his aura was extraordinary, making him stand out from the crowd.
As expected of a prince, even raised among commoners, his aura is innate, surpassing that of many young masters from aristocratic families who have been meticulously trained since childhood.
His guards, following him from afar, watched with a sigh, never imagining that Qi Zheng, the born dragon prince in their eyes, was thinking of something else entirely.
How to quickly shake off and get rid of those following him without attracting anyone's attention—if needed in the future.
Using that inconspicuous shard of mirror, Qi Zheng was able to pinpoint the guards' locations clearly as he walked.
Aside from the six people clearly visible, there's the person leaning against the wall at the corner, the man buying candied hawthorns on the upper left, the man in black seemingly drinking tea on the right rear, and the gray-clad man carrying a shoulder pole directly in front...
They were all people his father sent to protect him, at least on the surface. Whether they had been infiltrated behind the scenes, Qi Zheng couldn't guarantee.
After all, royal power struggles have always been like this.
Qi Zheng had prepared himself mentally before returning. He had only been back at the royal court for half a year, yet he already sensed the impending storm brewing. Even his father, who was still relatively healthy, was like this; what would happen as his health declined?
He could only prepare himself mentally in advance.
Therefore, during the six months that Qi Zheng had been a prince, the things he did most each day were taking stock of his assets that could be converted into cash and carried away, and figuring out how to break through the capital's defenses.
His mind was filled with these life-or-death situations, making it impossible for him not to be serious. He had already devised a plan to shake off the people behind him, but while this method would allow him to escape, it would still affect ordinary people.
Not quite appropriate
Qi Zheng changed his approach again, pondering the solution as he drove along, leading his BMW, until he saw three people chatting happily at a tea table.
Song Xingzhi, Li Qingshan, and Old Liu
Qi Zheng stopped, feeling something was off, and slowly walked towards them.
He was tall and imposing, and his Akhal-Teke horse gleamed in the twilight, attracting much attention.
Song Xingzhi and Li Qingshan immediately stood up and bowed: "Your Highness"
Old Liu was stunned for a moment, then stood up and bowed. Although he had been away from the capital for 20 years, his bow was still quite proper.
He thought to himself, "There really are members of the royal family among these people. Li Qingshan, this guard, must be serving this prince. I just don't know which prince he is."
Qi Zheng nodded: "What are you doing here?"
Song Xingzhi smiled and said, "Your Highness, I am waiting for my younger sister to arrive. I have already spoken with her, and we will return to the capital together."
Qi Zheng knew about this. After all, Li Qingshan wasn't just following Song Xingzhi around for fun; he practically kept track of how many cups of water Song Xingzhi drank each day. Naturally, he wouldn't forget to report such an important matter.
However, Qi Zheng frowned slightly: "You didn't go to pick them up?"
Song Xingzhi waved his fan and laughed, "My little sister came here herself and wouldn't let me go. She's highly skilled in martial arts and her word is law, so I'll wait here."
Qi Zheng: "Are you talking about today?"
Song Xingzhi nodded: "It should be soon."
Looking at Song Xingzhi's composed demeanor, Qi Zheng couldn't tell whether the man genuinely trusted Song Jin or simply didn't care much about people.
He looked up at the dim sky, his expression solemn: "Even though Song Jin is highly skilled in martial arts and fearless, he is traveling with his sick mother and maid. How could he possibly risk the city gates closing and delay his arrival?"
For ordinary people, once the city gates are closed, without a special token, no matter if you are terminally ill or have a family to support, even if you die at the city gate, the guards cannot make an exception and open the gates.
It sounds cold and almost cruel, but it's survival wisdom passed down from generation to generation. After all, if you don't pay attention to these things in peacetime, it will be too late when you do during wartime, famine, or epidemics.
At this time, although Song Jin had a good relationship with the county magistrate and his yamen runners, he was just one of the many ordinary people and could not possibly have this privilege.
Qi Zheng couldn't say he understood Song Jin, but he was certain...
With Niu Tielan in her care, she would never risk being denied entry into the city.
Because of the silver mines, countless desperate criminals were secretly hiding in Si'an County, and countless eyes were watching them. No one knew what these people would do.
As soon as Qi Zheng finished speaking, he mounted his horse, pulled on the reins, and galloped out of the city.
As soon as he left, Li Qingshan, as a guard, immediately realized what was happening. He turned around and gave instructions to the other guards, who then went to find horses to follow him, displaying their well-trained skills.
Song Xingzhi: "Wait, wait for me!"
...
Qi Zheng's Ferghana horse was a divine steed presented as tribute from the Western Regions. It could travel a thousand miles a day at full speed, and there were only a handful in the entire imperial court, highlighting its rarity. Furthermore, Qi Zheng himself had roamed the martial world for many years and possessed exceptional martial arts skills.
So he rode off into the distance, disappearing from sight once he left the city gate. Li Qingshan and the other guards could only do their utmost to follow behind, barely managing to catch a glimpse of his back.
Song Xingzhi sat on the horse's rump, gripping Li Qingshan's shoulders tightly. The bumpy ride had left his backside numb, and the summer wind, carrying dust, pelted his face, covering him in a layer of grime, completely obscuring his former dashing demeanor.
He didn't call for a stop, but gritted his teeth and said, "Faster, faster!"
Li Qingshan, riding his horse, said coldly with a hint of disdain, "If you jump off, I can go faster."
The difference between Ma Zai being alone and having someone with him is huge. He was originally the first of the guards to catch up, but because Song Xingzhi was sitting behind him, he's now at the very back.
Song Xingzhi dared not urge him any further, lest he really be thrown off. He kept his mouth shut, anxiously watching the dusty road ahead, fearing that something had truly happened to Song Jin and the others.
The group rode at breakneck speed, the dust kicked up by their horses' hooves obscuring most of their vision, making it impossible to see the specific scene ahead; only the clatter of hooves could be heard.
Suddenly, Li Qingshan pulled on the reins and slowed down.
Song Xingzhi, whose eyes were stinging from the dust, almost fell off. He clung tightly to the person, asking, "What happened? What happened?"
Li Qingshan didn't answer him. He skillfully slowed his horse down and finally brought it to a steady stop on the dusty ground. Ahead, the well-trained guards stood at attention, neighing at their horses.
He dismounted, sword in hand, and walked forward, gazing into the distance with a look of astonishment in his eyes.
Immediately, Song Xingzhi grimaced, enduring the discomfort as he carefully dismounted. He stumbled and fell to the ground, gasping in pain. Clutching his arm, he struggled to his feet and limped over to Li Qingshan's side, following his gaze.
"this……"
The dust that had been billowing ahead gradually settled, revealing a caravan slowly making its way forward, with oxcarts in front and mule carts bringing up the rear.
Wooden crates were piled on top of the mule cart. Song Jin sat expressionless, her legs bent, her dark eyes calm and still. Deep red spots stained her pale blue robe, and a long sword, half her height, hung beside her. Thick, scarlet blood trickled down the road.
Just ahead, on the makeshift oxcart, several corpses were piled up haphazardly like straw. A quick glance revealed twisted and mutilated limbs, and beneath the bloodstains, pairs of dark eyes were dull and lifeless.
"stop"
Song Jin lowered his bent leg, picked up his long sword and clasped it at his waist, then jumped off the roof of the cart, grabbed Xiao Hei who was still trying to move forward, and stopped the limping A Mao who was silently driving the oxcart ahead.
She stood there beside the mule cart, staring at Qi Zheng, who was riding on horseback ahead of her. Her dark eyes were deep and intense, still holding a hint of murderous intent.
Niu Tielan's worried voice came from inside the car: "Jinjin, what's wrong?"
The murderous intent emanating from Song Jin dissipated. She chuckled, her eyebrows raised, and the corners of her mouth turned up, displaying an arrogant and unrestrained demeanor, yet her voice was unusually soft.
"It's alright, Mother, it's the officials who have come to pick us up."
Niu Tielan lifted the carriage curtain and poked her head out. Her face was as pale as ever. She frowned slightly, her expression full of worry: "Those people are all dead. Will they blame us?"
Song Jin remained fearless: "It's alright, they attacked us first, I was just acting in defense."
Although the precautions were a bit heavy, these people were indeed very strange.
She comforted her, "Mother, don't worry."
Niu Tielan forced a smile, peeked across the street, and only felt a little relieved when she saw Qi Zheng walking at the front.
She knew this man was reasonable, and hoped things would go smoothly this time; otherwise, she'd rather die sooner rather than be a burden.
...
As the mother and daughter were talking, Qi Zheng walked over. He didn't speak, but simply stood in front of the pile of corpses, about to reach out...
"Your Highness," Li Qingshan and Song Xingzhi called out in unison, stopping the man and volunteering, "We'll do it."
Qi Zheng's gaze fell on the pile of corpses, which were clearly dead. He didn't think they could harm him, but seeing the sweat and fear on Li Qingshan and the other guards, he took a step back, not wanting to cause them any trouble.
Li Qingshan and Song Xingzhi immediately stepped forward to investigate.
Clothes, sword, token, hands and feet...
Li Qingshan frowned, and Song Xingzhi's expression changed. He whispered, "They're assassins."
While they were conducting the examination, Song Jin stood to the side with her arms crossed, wondering what they would find. Upon hearing this, she couldn't help but roll her eyes.
"Does this even need checking? Anyone with eyes can see it's a corpse. Let me make this clear, this isn't my fault. We were just walking along the road, and these people suddenly appeared, attacked without saying a word, and I accidentally hit them a little too hard, and they died."
"They're assassins, not corpses," Song Xingzhi had intended to correct Song Jin, but upon hearing the rest of the sentence, his expression became somewhat complicated, his gaze falling on the twisted and shattered remains of the corpse.
"If one person dies, you can say it was an accident, but if you kill them all..."
This explanation is too crude; anyone with eyes wouldn't believe it.
Song Jin protested his innocence: "I only killed one person. The others only had broken arms and legs. I thought I could interrogate them later to find out what happened, but when I turned around, they were foaming at the mouth. It has nothing to do with me."
She was reckless, not insane. Even if her killing intent was a bit strong at the time, she wasn't a reincarnated god of death with a mission to kill; there was no need for her to kill everyone.
Although she withheld some details of her interrogation and torture, she was truly innocent this time.
Looking at her innocent and aggrieved expression, Song Xingzhi couldn't help but take a step back, forcing a smile. He didn't know what to say, so he simply took out a handkerchief to wipe the blood from his hands, concealing the barely concealed suspicion in his eyes.
Her father's daughter is truly remarkable.
What normal young girl can kill someone as easily as drinking water?
Something's not right, something's definitely not right. Song Xingzhi couldn't help but start indulging in conspiracy theories again.
Could this be a conspiracy specifically targeting her father? Otherwise, how could a little girl possess such high-level martial arts skills? Who did she learn them from?
Song Xingzhi subtly observed Song Jin, and their eyes met in no time.
Song Jin raised an eyebrow: "You still think I did it? Why would I kill so many people for no reason? If I really wanted to do it, I would have disposed of the bodies and buried them. Do you think I'd be looking for trouble if I had too much free time?"
Song Xingzhi took a deep breath, suppressing his thoughts, and forced a smile: "These are all highly trained assassins who only obey their master's orders. Generally, they carry poison between their teeth and will commit suicide if their mission fails."
Song Jin slapped her thigh: "I knew it! We miscalculated. Next time, we should have gagged them immediately!"
Song Xingzhi: "...Going to the border is useless. These people have been trained since childhood and can't speak a single word. Besides, it's best not to run into them."
Hearing this, Song Jin sneered, mocking, "Are you sure you won't run into her?"
Although she didn't get any answers from them, she knew without a doubt that these people had come to arrest her and her daughter because of the man in front of them.
It's either the one on the left or the one on the right, but it's most likely the one on the left.
Standing on the left, Song Xingzhi felt a pang of sadness: "I didn't expect these people to act so quickly. Thank goodness you're all alright. I should have come to pick you up myself."
Song Jin rolled her eyes at him: "Coming here to deliver yourself as a suicide mission is definitely a better deal for them than to arrest you."
Song Xingzhi didn't know how to refute, so he gave an awkward laugh and said, "It's good that everything is alright, it's good that everything is alright. Your Highness is truly insightful; you knew something must have happened when you didn't arrive for so long."
“He is indeed smarter than you,” Song Jin said, unsurprised. She glanced at Qi Zheng, who was still examining the corpse, and clasped her hands in a fist salute. “Thank you.”
She can still distinguish between good and bad.
Qi Zheng nodded: "You're welcome. Even if we hadn't come, you wouldn't have been in any trouble."
Song Jin shrugged: "But if you don't come, my mother and I will have no choice but to sleep in the wilderness with these corpses."
Putting aside the mosquitoes sleeping outside, just imagine how awful those corpses would be by the end of the night!
Qi Zheng: "Is your mother alright?"
Song Jin: "I was a little frightened."
As she spoke, Niu Tielan lifted the carriage curtain and stepped out. She bowed to Qi Zheng and said, "This humble woman and Jinjin did not know you were a prince. Please forgive us."
Qi Zheng slightly stepped aside, his chin taut, and nodded: "Madam is unwell, no need for formalities. This trouble arose because of us, thankfully you are unharmed."
Niu Tielan was wearing a light blue dress today. Her face was pale, and her expression was gentle yet fragile, truly like a delicate orchid, making one's heart soften unconsciously.
She's best at showing weakness.
She glanced at Song Xingzhi, who was still trying to wipe the dirt off his hands, then looked at Qi Zheng, who seemed cold and unapproachable, and smiled faintly.
"Your Highness is too kind. We mother and daughter are simply unlucky to have encountered such a situation. It is our greatest fortune that you do not blame my daughter for her recklessness."
...
Song Jin disliked small talk and, after a couple of glances, found it rather boring. She yawned to the side and shifted her gaze to the others.
In a society where most men are short, everyone present was a tall, muscular man, each carrying a long sword and leading a fine horse, making quite a spectacle.
Song Jin hadn't noticed anything when Qi Zheng traveled alone in the past, but now that he was accompanied by such a large group of people, the feeling of a prince instantly came through.
That's quite a grand affair.
Song Jin's gaze swept over the guards, her eyes filled with admiration. In her eyes, only men with height, muscles, and strength could be called men; those pale-faced, weak-legged pretty boys dressed in flashy clothes were merely men.
"...Why are you looking at me like that?"
Song Xingzhi was usually very particular about cleanliness and couldn't stand the sticky blood. He had been wiping his hands for a long time, but he still felt that his hands were covered in that feeling.
He was hesitating whether to go to the field to wash up when he turned around and met Song Jin's disdainful gaze.
He argued, "I'm not afraid, I just find it dirty."
Song Jin gave a faint "oh".
Song Xingzhi emphasized: "I'm really not afraid, I just love cleanliness."
Song Jin glanced at him: "I don't care if you're scared or not, you'd better watch your mouth. I told my mother we were going to the capital for medical treatment."
Song Xingzhi's lips twitched: "...Is my father really that shameful?"
Since Song Jin is her father's biological daughter, Niu Tielan and her father must have a past. No matter how deeply it's buried now, it will be exposed the moment they meet.
What's the need?
Song Jin didn't care about all that; she just wanted to keep it a secret as long as possible.
Her mother still believes her father is dead. Leaving aside the reasons behind this, just consider this: their child was born under a curse, and her mother only knows the child's alias.
Song Jin felt that some things were better left unsaid for now.
It's better to avoid trouble. All the causes and consequences, conspiracies and entanglements, are not as good as living a good life.
**
Since the bandits were all dead, Song Jin and his group didn't waste any time, quickly checked the situation, and set off again.
Even so, by the time the group arrived in Si'an County, it was already dark. Thick city walls surrounded the town, and tall city gates stood silently, save for the flickering candlelight illuminating the moths that were fluttering about.
With a creak, the tightly closed city gate opened, and the group of people entered the city smoothly beneath the clatter of horses' hooves.
Song Jin peeked out with some curiosity: "This is my first time going into the city in the middle of the night. It feels really different."
Niu Tielan leaned against the side, her voice soft: "Of course it's different. People are born into different classes. They are the imperial family and nobles, while we are ordinary commoners. It's our good fortune to be traveling together."
Song Jin shuddered and turned to look at her: "Mother, what you're saying just doesn't sound right to me."
Niu Tielan reached out and gently smoothed her messy hair, sighing softly, "It's good that you're feeling awkward, Jinjin. They're incredibly powerful. They're only being friendly now because they're in a good mood. But what if they're in a bad mood one day? Even a single wrong word from us could cause trouble. We can't afford to offend them. Let's just go our separate ways."
Song Jin said helplessly, "Mother, didn't we already agree on this?"
Niu Tielan peered through the curtain at the scene outside, her gaze lingering: "What did we agree on? You didn't talk to me properly, Jinjin."
Song Jin turned her head to hide the guilt on her face, and only said, "We're just going to see a doctor. As long as we get better, that's all that matters, Mother. Nothing else is important."
Niu Tielan didn't speak. She turned to look at her daughter, whose head was almost pressed against the door. After a while, she asked in a low voice, "What did you agree to that guy surnamed Song for?"
Song Jin remained silent.
Niu Tielan didn't wait for her to answer and continued, "No need to say anything, I can guess the gist of it. Last time this person came, he said you looked like that treacherous minister. Are you planning to live up to that reputation and become that person's daughter?"
Song Jin pouted: "I will always be your daughter."
Niu Tielan said in a deep voice, "We've only just set out and we've already run into this. Who knows what we'll encounter when we get to the capital? You've already made arrangements with them, but once we're on their territory, they'll be in charge of everything. Jinjin, I know you're skilled in martial arts and not afraid of these things, but things aren't that simple. To put it bluntly, what if they use me to threaten you?"
Song Jin frowned, so conflicted that she couldn't help but hit the car with the back of her head. On one hand, she thought about telling the truth, but on the other hand, she felt that telling the truth might make things worse.
Finally, she scratched her head haphazardly a few times, distressed, and said, "Mom, believe me, I really know what I'm doing this time."
Niu Tielan didn't speak.
She naturally wanted to live, so even knowing that Song Jin was hiding something, she agreed to go to the capital for medical treatment. But now, they hadn't even left Si'an County and had already encountered these things; she dared not imagine what kind of bloodshed and chaos might be brewing in the capital.
Even if we take a step back and assume that Niu Tielan and her daughter had actually sought refuge with Qi Zheng, she would feel somewhat at ease, because he was upright and honest, not bound by rigid rules, and acted with propriety.
But it was precisely that treacherous minister, Song Shang...
Niu Tielan naturally wouldn't take others' opinions at face value, but Song Shang's record, even if he only killed those who deserved to die and did things for the people and the country, couldn't mask his ruthlessness and cruelty.
She didn't think such a person would 'kindly' help her and her daughter just because of a similar face.
Niu Tielan couldn't bear to see her child threatened by constraints, and even more so, she couldn't bear to see her life filled with danger.
If she was destined to die, she would rather die in town, at least peacefully, and without causing her daughter too much trouble.
Niu Tielan closed her eyes: "Jinjin, your mother would rather die than let you take such a risk."
Song Jin opened her eyes, her face turning cold: "If you die, I die too."
At that moment, the mother and daughter had exactly the same expression.
They both knew perfectly well that the other was serious.
If that day really comes
...
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