Chapter 16

These two cousins eventually went their separate ways. When Su Ci arrived at Guiyun Manor, it was already dark. From a distance, she saw Ji Yan, who was on horseback, bidding farewell to Yang Yanzong and another group of people. Since this was a secret mission, Ji Yan wasn’t wearing his golden crown, and a black cloak was draped over him. However, Su Ci’s sharp eyes recognized him immediately.

On the orders of the Sixth Prince, Ji Yan led Ji Chen to bid farewell to Zhao Yuan and Yang Yanzong. Zhao Yuan was a lean man with piercing eyes. After drinking a cup of farewell wine with Ji Yan, he quickly left with his men. Ji Yan then turned his gaze to Yang Yanzong.

Ji Yan raised his cup: “This journey will likely be difficult. Be careful.” He smiled, and Yang Yanzong also smiled slightly, raising his cup and drinking it all: “Thank you, Heir.”

They understood each other, but on the surface, they appeared to be good brothers who cared for and appreciated each other.

Ji Chen also stepped forward and offered Yang Yanzong a cup of farewell wine. The suddenness of Yang Yanzong’s departure to Wuchuan added a touch of worry to his gentle and elegant face, but he managed to conceal it. He raised his cup: “Take care, cousin.”

Yang Yanzong clinked cups with him and drank it all. Taking advantage of the cup-raising and the cover of night, Ji Chen quickly slipped a small note into Yang Yanzong’s hand and retreated behind Ji Yan. After that, there was no more conversation. They finished the farewell wine and then set off.

The dull sound of horse hooves echoed on the narrow dirt path in the night. Yang Yanzong looked back at the tall, black figure standing in front of Guiyun Manor and coldly curled his lips into a mysterious smile.
…

Yang Yanzhen didn’t take Su Ci up. From a distance, he saw Ji Yan and secretly curled his lips, leading Su Ci to bypass Guiyun Manor and head to the riverbank to wait for the others.

Wuchuan was in the southwest, and most of the journey was by water.
After waiting for a short while, urgent horse hooves were heard several times, and several groups of people gathered. One group was led by Yang Yanxin, another by Lin Yichu, and the other groups were led by strong men whom Su Ci didn’t recognize. They were either lean or sturdy, but all looked agile.

Yang Yanzhen and Lin Yichu whispered a few words to her, and she knew that most of these people were their own, with a few selected by the prince’s mansion.

Yang Yanzong was the last to arrive. He was dressed in black, with his sleeves rolled up and long black boots. He rode his horse quickly to the dock, dismounted swiftly, and looked sharp and fierce, his usual indifference seeming to lighten a bit.

Of course, this was an illusion. Yang Yanzong’s sharp eyes swept over and saw Su Ci standing at the corner. He seemed to snort coldly, and just one glance from him felt like being doused with cold water on a winter night.

Feeling guilty, Su Ci didn’t dare to speak. She forced a smile with a hint of flattery, but he ignored her and looked away.

“Tch, stingy,” Su Ci secretly complained.
…

Yang Yanzong spoke a few words with the people from the prince’s mansion. He was the leader of this mission, and the people from the prince’s mansion had no objections, saying they would follow his orders.

Yang Yanzong didn’t waste any words and immediately ordered them to board the ship.

“Second younger sister, hurry, let’s go up.” On the way, Yang Yanzhen briefly explained to her, but she was already quite familiar with the Silver Sand military funds case and the trip to Wuchuan. The former had almost cost her family their lives, so how could she not be clear about it?

The Silver Sand military funds case initially started with the discovery of discrepancies in the military funds, which was not a small matter but not too big either. However, it coincided with the old emperor’s injury and illness, and the issue was brought up, leading to the downfall of many military personnel. The situation spiraled out of control, eventually escalating further and becoming unmanageable. The investigation into the discrepancies in the military funds led to the discovery of illegal mining of state-owned silver mines. Further investigation revealed a large amount of unexplained silver, and it was eventually exposed that the Liu brothers were not only illegally mining state-owned silver mines but had also discovered new mines along the silver veins and were secretly mining and smelting silver ingots. The worst part was that the Liu brothers had sent large amounts of silver to the Fourth Prince, the Sixth Prince, the Seventh Prince, and even the deceased Third Prince and kept detailed accounts, secretly tying the princes to their own criminal activities. Initially, it was thought that the silver came from military funds, which was not uncommon in the army. Many people came to join them every year and month, and they had taken precautions, so they were not afraid. However, it turned out to be a venomous snake that bit back. After recovering from his injury, the old emperor came back with a vengeance, seizing this opportunity to eliminate the Third Prince. The situation is now very tense and has reached a critical point. Under coercion, once they got a clue, the various princely residences had to immediately send people out to “rescue” the fleeing Liu brothers. This is the background and consequences of the Silver Sand military funds case. Su Ci was also aware of the trip to Wuchuan. After all, she had a cheat, and she knew the book’s original plot, which included this trip to Wuchuan. But it was not easy. The emperor would not allow the Liu brothers to fall into the hands of the princely residences. Besides the emperor, the Sixth Prince’s residence also had to fight against the forces of the Fourth Prince and the Seventh Prince—after all, they were not friends but enemies, and killing was inevitable. In short, it was very dangerous.

Besides Yang Yanzong and Zhao Yuan, the Sixth Prince had already sent out two groups of people yesterday, making a total of four groups, but whether each could successfully enter Wuchuan was a question. Two medium-sized black awning boats were docked at the pier, each capable of holding dozens of people. Although it hadn’t snowed yet in early November, the nights were already freezing. A thin layer of cold mist rose from the water, penetrating people’s lungs with each breath. The cold wind blew across the river, and Su Ci quickly pulled up her scarf to cover her mouth and nose. She wasn’t afraid of the cold, but it was better to stay warm if possible. The boat’s deck was old but sturdy. Su Ci was fine, as she had a separate small cabin due to her status as a doctor, so she didn’t have to squeeze in with others. The other rooms, she saw, held at least ten to eight people each.

Lin Yichu opened the cabin door and took a look, then spread out the bedding for her, repeatedly reminding her, “A Ci, be alert at night, don’t sleep too deeply. If anything happens, I’m in the next room.”

“If I’m not there, look for Zhang Fang.”

Zhang Fang was Lin Yichu’s deputy, and Su Ci knew him.

“Got it?”

“Yes, yes! I definitely remember.” Su Ci nodded vigorously. She knew the importance of the situation. The only pity was that the original book’s main love story, being told from the female protagonist’s perspective, didn’t describe anything that did not involve the female protagonist in detail. This perilous trip to Wuchuan was summarized in just a few hundred words. The sentence Su Ci remembered most was—”More than two-thirds of the personnel were lost.”

More than two-thirds died and didn’t return. How could it not be dangerous?

She was more worried about Lin Yichu. “Brother Yichu, you need to be careful too. Don’t just talk about me.”

She was a non-combatant and the team doctor, so someone would protect her if anything happened. Compared to her, Lin Yichu was in much more danger. She didn’t want to see two people leave home and only one return.

Lin Yichu couldn’t help but smile. His usually stern features, which had gained authority over the years, became more animated. A shallow dimple appeared on his left cheek. Lin Yichu reached out and ruffled her hair, smiling, “A Ci has grown up and knows to worry about family. Alright, I will definitely remember!”

Su Ci pushed his hand away and glared at him. He raised his hand and said thoughtfully, “Alright, alright, I promise to be very careful!”

No more ruffling, or she’ll get mad.

Lin Yichu quickly spread out the bedding. He had been taking care of Su Ci and her sisters since they were young, so he was used to it. Su Ci was also used to it. However, he couldn’t stay in Su Ci’s room for too long, even with the door open. So, after spreading the bedding, he stood up and said, “You should rest early. The road ahead will likely be very rough.”

After a few more reminders, he quickly left. Su Ci took out three marinated eggs from her bag and gave him one. It was a snack she had brought along. “Yes, yes, I know.”

Lin Yichu weighed the marinated egg in his hand. “You even brought this?” Before Su Ci could react, he quickly took another one and dashed out, closing the door behind him.

Su Ci wrinkled her nose at the door and cracked open the egg to take a bite. Due to Su Yan’s recent constant muttering and matchmaking, she couldn’t help but pay attention to Lin Yichu.

Lin Yichu might also have some feelings for her, after all, they grew up together.

Su Ci thought about it and realized it wasn’t a bad idea. She wouldn’t have to leave home or worry about any legitimate third-party issues, and if there were any conflicts, her parents’ words would be more effective than anything. She could foresee a leisurely life for the next few decades. But for now, Su Ci didn’t dare to think about it. She would wait until the situation calmed down. At the very least, she would wait until Yang Yanzong got married. She would stay quiet for another year or two, then quietly resolve her life’s major issues.

Su Ci’s cabin was the first one next to the ship’s hall and the deck. She could hear the men talking outside. She opened the inner window a little and peeked out just in time to see Yang Yanzong’s indifferent and cold profile. She quickly pulled her head back and quietly closed the window.
Su Ci thought it was best for her to avoid appearing as much as possible.
Avoid if she could. However, unfortunately, things didn’t go as she wished.
Soon, on the night of the second day, something happened.
…

Actually, Su Ci rarely thought about Yang Yanzong. After eating, she would move around a bit and then quickly rest. She was still worried, as this was extremely dangerous and not a peaceful journey. But who knew that what she feared would come immediately!

The ship sailed quickly with strong winds. Although it wasn’t as fast as traveling a thousand miles in a day, it was still very fast downstream. All she could hear in the cabin was the sound of the wind. By the second night, they were approaching the Wuchuan area.

Along the way, they changed ships several times, constantly covering their tracks and disguising themselves. Su Ci also changed into a close-fitting short outfit, with a small dagger in her boot just in case. She didn’t even take off her clothes at night; she wrapped herself in the blanket and slept.

That night, Su Ci was sleeping drowsily when she suddenly heard a “thud!” Followed by “whoosh whoosh whoosh thud thud thud,” arrows rained down from the slopes on both sides of the river.

Su Ci jolted awake, and the large boat quickly turned around, heading full speed towards the towering trees not far away.

“Bang!” Su Ci lost her balance and fell to the ground. Immediately, something heavy fell from the deck above with a “thud thud thud.” Ah, it was people! There were screams!

The sound of water splashing, and black-clad men wearing water gear leaped from the water onto the boat. The clanging of weapons and chaotic fighting sounds instantly filled the air.

Lin Yichu kicked open the door, pulled the unsteady Su Ci, who had fallen to the ground, and ran out, “My bag, my bag”!!

Her medicine and needle tools were inside!

Yang Yanzhen wanted to rush over to pull her, but upon hearing this, he didn’t stop and dashed into the cabin, grabbed the two large bags, and threw them at the people behind him. He rushed forward and grabbed Su Ci’s other hand, “It’s the imperial forces!”

To move quickly, they had to either take the water route or switch to the official road. Otherwise, it would be too late by the time they crossed the mountains. There weren’t many options. And the emperor was still the emperor.

Su Ci finally understood why there were so many casualties. This was a mission where lives were knowingly sacrificed. She swallowed hard and was pulled onto the deck. Lin Yichu, Yang Yanzhen, and the people behind them fought hard to create a space. The night was dark, and visibility was low, but the smell of blood was overwhelming. She looked up and saw that the entire boat had been turned into a pincushion.

The large boat where Yang Yanzong was located was the main target. In comparison, the other black awning boat following behind had fewer arrow wounds and attackers, and the situation was under control. People from the large boat were continuously transferring to the other boat.
But this was all a diversion. Yang Yanzhen and Lin Yichu led Su Ci to the left side of the boat’s railing, where they pulled out several long and deep speedboats. The two of them jumped down with her, and the speedboat rocked violently. More people kept jumping down, and once it was full, they immediately pushed off into the shadows along the shore.

Su Ci turned her head and saw Yang Yanzong. He lightly tapped his toes and leaped onto the speedboat, which remained perfectly still. The small boat moved quickly, leaving the scene of the battle behind in an instant. Some people pursued them, but the speedboat was filled with elite fighters who continuously dealt with the pursuers, not affecting the boat’s speed at all.

However, Su Ci felt uneasy. She remembered that Yang Yanzong’s lifelong enemy, Ji Yuanhao, made his appearance during the Wuchuan mission.
He was Ji Chengtang’s brother, the Fourth Prince’s adopted son, confidant, and strategist. His handiwork forced the heir to choose between two options, making it impossible not to sacrifice one. He even ordered the military commander Liang Shen to kill Yang Yanzong. A very formidable character, he came from a poor background but managed to rise to prominence. He was a distant, impoverished royal family member, adopted by the Fourth Prince and raised in the prince’s mansion. Among a group of ruthless adopted sons, he stood out. Compared to him, Ji Chengtang was like a little white rabbit. As she was thinking, she suddenly heard a faint “thud.”

“What was that sound?”

Just as she thought of it, it happened. Su Ci’s sharp ears caught the sound, and she immediately stood up, gazing towards the bottom of the cabin.

Su Ci: “…”

As soon as she stood up, the next “thud” was even clearer. The boat’s deck was instantly pierced, and water quickly soaked her shoes. Lin Yichu and Yang Yanzhen fiercely stabbed down into the water from the bottom of the boat. Blood and water gushed out, but the people below didn’t retreat. In the struggle, the pierced speedboat immediately capsized.

Everyone fell into the water. The dark water surface was moonless, making it impossible to see. Su Ci heard Lin Yichu and Yang Yanzhen calling her, but they were at least three or four meters away. She didn’t dare to respond.

Su Ci was well-prepared, wearing a single-layer short outfit with an outer jacket that could be easily removed. In the chaos, she was very clever, not responding but instead reducing her movements. She let the water cover her mouth and nose, leaving only her eyes exposed. She leaned back and swam towards the speedboat behind.

The nearest one was Yang Yanzong’s boat. He held a long sword, stabbing a black-clad man who had climbed onto the speedboat. His waist was slender, his arms strong, and his eyes cold.

Su Ci swam over quickly. He was the only one who could help her now. She was freezing and quickly reached out a hand, “Hey!”

He glanced down at her. Did he really hold a grudge like this?

The sound of water splashing behind her, Su Ci: “Hurry up and pull me up, big brother! Men can’t be so petty!!”

She didn’t even know what she was shouting. But Yang Yanxin, who was fighting on the same boat, couldn’t help but laugh, making Yang Yanzong’s face even darker. A shadow loomed overhead, and finally, a large hand grabbed her and pulled her up.