Chapter 46

Two of the three batches of silver were eventually recovered, totaling thirty-five million taels. By this time, nearly two months had passed since the incident, and over a month had gone by since the event. The Northern Rong people had either been intercepted or had successfully escaped. The investigation into the shocking silver sinking case of Changping Year 42 had to be declared as concluded.

The imperial guards’ second batch of urgent reinforcements was divided into two groups. One group escorted the thirty-five million taels of silver back south, while the other escorted the major criminals captured during the investigation back to the capital with the imperial envoy fleet. They had arrived in the spring rain, and now, as they returned, the rain had cleared, and the clouds had dispersed. A ray of sunlight shone on the mighty river, the water clear and the sand smooth, with lush greenery on both banks. The only regret was that after about ten days on the boat, they would return to Yangdu and end this journey completely.

Su Ci leaned on the ship’s window sill, resting her chin in her hand, and sighed regretfully.

Yang Yanzong glanced at her, “What, don’t want to go home?”

Only a fool would tell the truth. Su Ci smiled, “Of course not.” She glared at him, “You’re wronging me!”

Yang Yanzong wrapped his arm around her waist, hummed softly, and kissed her, calling her a little liar.

In this pleasant season, Su Ci was more interested in the scenery outside the window. After kissing for a while, she pushed him away and eagerly leaned on the window sill to enjoy the view. She wanted to fish, but it was too conspicuous, so she reluctantly gave up after talking about it. She chatted for a long time, still regretting, “I heard the scenery in Saibei is beautiful, especially in spring. It’s a pity.” She hadn’t seen it.

They had chased the silver out of the pass and almost went to Saibei. Su Ci had been excited, but they were called back by Tong Jien and didn’t make it.

Yang Yanzong got up, took a few steps, and picked up a teacup. He had been slightly more relaxed on the boat these past two days. After nearly two months of running around in the wild northwest, his face was a bit tanned, his eyebrows sharper, and his demeanor more reserved, making him look more mature, profound, and dangerous. He turned back, “I’ll take you there if there’s a chance.”

No big deal, Saibei was practically his old territory. He glanced at her, “The wind and sand in Saibei are strong. Just don’t complain when the time comes.”

In the northwest, she complained about the sun and the dust, always covering her head and face tightly with a scarf and acting delicately.

He sipped his tea, “About a hundred miles north of Yangdu, there’s a place called Shajiaba. The scenery is somewhat similar to Saibei. I’ll take you there when we have time.”

“Really?!” Su Ci immediately brightened up, finally leaving her window sill to hug Yang Yanzong’s neck, smiling, “You said it, I’ll remember.”

No lying!

Yang Yanzong pinched her side, making her laugh again.

Yang Yanzong held her with one hand, ensuring she wouldn’t fall, and smiled faintly.

There wasn’t much to do on the boat. Even if there were, it wasn’t her responsibility. She spent her days leisurely eating and drinking, and time flew by.

In the blink of an eye, it was late March, and Su Ci finally returned to her home in Suiping.

Reluctantly saying goodbye to her immortal-like husband, she disembarked, got into a carriage, and used the excuse of taking Su Yan home first to sneak back to her parents’ house. She spent half an hour talking with them before Mrs. Chen, worried about Mrs. Yan’s displeasure, urged her to return. Su Ci then reluctantly went back next door.

Yan Shi’s displeasure was normal; to be honest, Su Ci had rarely seen her truly happy. Returning to the Yang family, Su Ci first went to the back courtyard and then to the west courtyard to greet Yang Chongying.

Yang Chongying’s injury had been quite severe, and although he had recovered, returning to his former state of being able to fight on horseback was challenging. He was now in a semi-retired state, handling light administrative tasks while Su Di took over the more physically demanding duties. This meant her father spent even less time at home, while Yang Chongying stayed home more often.

After spending more time with the Yang family, Su Ci realized that Yang Chongying and Mrs. Yan’s relationship wasn’t great. Yang Chongying was indifferent to Mrs. Yan, rarely staying in the main courtyard and often sleeping alone in the west courtyard. After his recovery, he sometimes called the two concubines to his room, which led to arguments with Mrs. Yan, who would take out her anger on the concubines. The back courtyard was much livelier than the east courtyard.

Su Ci first greeted Yang Chongying, who came out of his study with ink-stained hands, indicating he had been writing. There wasn’t much to say between a father-in-law and daughter-in-law, so Su Ci was done after some polite conversation and answering his questions about the outside world.

Mrs. Yan was more troublesome. When Su Ci entered the main hall, Mrs. Yan was sitting at the head of the table with a stern face.

Mrs. Yan had always wanted to give Su Ci a hard time but had been unsuccessful. Her displeasure had built up, and with Yang Chongying not present, her mood was naturally bad. She glared at Su Ci, “Do you still remember you’re part of the Yang family?” She knew Su Ci had gone to her own family first and was unhappy about it.

To be honest, Mrs. Yan was quite beautiful, with arched eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, and an oval face. Her features were good, which explained why she had handsome sons like Yang Yanzong and married into a local gentry family while a prince had noticed her sister and became his concubine—but years of anger had left Mrs. Yan with noticeable lines and slightly drooping eyes, giving her a harsh and unapproachable appearance, much more so than Concubine Yan. Without anyone to restrain her, she didn’t need to hold back.

Su Ci smiled brightly, showing no displeasure, and responded earnestly, “Of course, I remember.”

She explained, “My sister just finished her first assignment and came home for a break. I wanted to see her off and explain the details to my parents to ease their minds.”

Su Ci spoke casually, making her words sound genuine. Her eyes were sincere, and her tone was gentle, leaving Mrs. Yan no room to argue. After all, filial piety was paramount in the Da Qing Dynasty.

Mrs. Yan couldn’t find fault with Su Ci’s words, as her phrasing and tone were impeccable.

Mrs. Yan, lacking the skill to counter, knew Su Ci didn’t truly respect her, but she couldn’t find any flaws to criticize. Frustrated, she glared, “You, you…”

Su Ci smiled inwardly but didn’t show it. She stepped forward to pat Mrs. Yan’s back and offer tea. Mrs. Yan, sharp-eyed, noticed Yang Chongying’s personal servant peeking in from the doorway—likely sent by Yang Chongying to ensure Mrs. Yan didn’t trouble Su Ci. If things got out of hand, he would intervene.

Su Ci also noticed that and raised an eyebrow slightly. She had no interest in playing games with Mrs. Yan. After serving the tea, she said, “Mother, before I left home, the eldest son asked me to find something for him.”

Su Ci, now familiar with Yang Yanzong, dared to use him as an excuse. After speaking, she reminded the servants to take good care of Mrs. Yan and then smoothly exited.

Mrs. Yan, left holding the tea, was too angry to drink it. She wasn’t a forgiving person, and the more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She slammed the teacup down, fuming, “What kind of daughter-in-law is this!”

Not only did Su Ci not serve her, but she also made her mother-in-law’s liver ache with anger. And as if one wasn’t enough, she had to accept another daughter from the Su family as a daughter-in-law. What a misfortune!

Due to the silver sinking incident, Su Rong and Yang Yanxin’s wedding was delayed. A pile of wedding invitations sat in the hall, and Mrs. Yan was not in the mood to look at them. Frustrated, she pushed them aside and lay down, clutching her chest.

---

The late spring and early summer wind was already hot. In Yangdu, Suiping, the wind carried a hint of sand and blew fiercely. After disembarking at Yangdu Wharf, Yang Yanzong didn’t go home immediately; he had something to do. Riding slowly, he watched as the last suspect was escorted off the boat and locked in a prison cart. The imperial guards, armed and stern, escorted the cart slowly. The wharf was crowded with onlookers, throwing rotten leaves, eggs, and stones, cursing loudly. The prisoners glared with hatred.

Standing at a distance, Ji Ye couldn’t hear the sounds from the prison cart but saw everything clearly. He felt a surge of satisfaction, his gaze and expression becoming more resolute. Even though he knew a big problem was coming, given the circumstances, it wasn’t hard for Ji Yan to suspect an insider. If Ji Yan fell, Ji Ye would be the biggest beneficiary. According to his information, Ji Yan’s men had already reported the matter to the Sixth Prince in Suiping.

“Flat denial is less effective than straightforward honesty.”

Ji Ye had pondered countless times how to handle the situation. As he was deep in thought, someone rode up, not too close or far, watching the prison cart fade into the distance, and spoke calmly.

This person hit the nail on the head!

Ji Ye turned sharply, staring at Yang Yanzong’s calm profile.

Yang Yanzong turned, raising an eyebrow, “Isn’t that right?”

Ji Ye, also wise, neither confirmed nor denied, only saying, “What do you mean, General Yang?”

Yang Yanzong’s intentions were easy to guess. Although he had cooperated with Ji Ye to eliminate Ji Yan, his position differed from Ji Ye’s, and he didn’t plan to expose himself to the Sixth Prince.

Ji Ye raised an eyebrow, wondering why Yang Yanzong would do this.

Yang Yanzong smiled, “You must know, with the heir dead, the Prince still has more than just you as a son. What about the Princess? She would hate you to death and would stop at nothing for revenge. Even if you successfully take over, your foundation might not be stable.”

At this moment, Yang Yanzong was not the same as before. Having a strong ally was better than mutual destruction, wasn’t it?

Exposing Yang Yanzong wouldn’t lessen the Sixth Prince’s anger or the consequences Ji Ye would face. So why bother?

Ji Ye asked why Yang Yanzong would cover for him. Yang Yanzong gave him two strong reasons—first, the benefits mentioned above. Second, with a calm demeanor and a voice like a devil whispering in his ear, Yang Yanzong said, “A son should be like a wolf. Have you heard this saying, Seventh Young Master?”

For the Sixth Prince, the loss of the heir was more about losing a carefully nurtured successor than just losing a son. If the Sixth Prince valued Ji Yan’s status as a son more, the lives of the other twenty-odd sons in the household would be much better. It wouldn’t take much effort from the Sixth Prince, just a few more questions, and the lives of his other sons would be easier. Though the Sixth Prince didn’t do it intentionally, it was due to his lack of attention.

Ji Yan had to die, but what if a stronger, more ruthless, and capable son took his place? Would the Sixth Prince kill this son to avenge Ji Yan? No, the more likely scenario was that after the initial shock, he would reassess this son and place him in a suitable position. One son died, but there was an even better one. A son like a wolf, exceptionally talented, strategic, patient, ruthless, and fitting the wolf pack’s rules, would surely be valued more by the Sixth Prince, right?

At this point, if you want to use this as your bargaining chip, would you say you conspired with Yang Yanzong, only playing the final role of leading the troops, or that you planned the entire thing yourself, eliminating Ji Yan and showing your brilliance?

Obviously, the latter!

Ji Ye’s expression gradually changed. He looked up at Yang Yanzong, who smiled, “A win-win situation, don’t you think, Seventh Young Master?”

Ji Ye lowered his gaze, hiding his thoughts. Yang Yanzong patted his shoulder, said no more, and rode on.

The two passed each other. Ji Ye stood for a moment, then turned his horse and headed straight back to the Sixth Prince’s residence. Just as he left the wharf, a fast rider approached. The captain of the Sixth Prince’s guards, Chen Pang, quickly returned from the direction of the prison cart. After a brief look around, he raised his whip and stopped in front of Ji Ye, bowing and saying, “Seventh Young Master, the Prince has ordered you to return immediately.”

Ji Ye said nothing, his face stern, and followed Chen Pang back. He returned to his small courtyard. The courtyard was located by a small lake opposite Concubine Yan’s residence, making it convenient for him to look after her. However, no one knew that he disliked water because his mother had died by “drowning” in this very lake.

Ji Ye, covered in dust, wore black, tight-fitting clothes with his hair tied up high, a stark contrast to his usual gentle and elegant appearance. He didn’t change his clothes and quietly sat by the lakeside pavilion, waiting.

As dusk fell, thunder rumbled, and it looked like rain was coming. The strong wind howled, stirring up sand and rippling the lake’s surface. The residence was quiet, as the news of the heir’s detention had not yet spread. But the tranquility of the courtyard was soon shattered by the sound of galloping hooves. Not even dismounting, the furious Sixth Prince rode into the residence and kicked open the courtyard gate with a heavy “bang”!

The commotion caused the nearby maids and servants to scatter in panic. The Sixth Prince, sword in hand, his forehead throbbing, stormed in. He crossed the courtyard and rushed through the main hall, his anger and murderous intent palpable, until he reached the lakeside. Ji Ye turned sharply, his black attire making him look more imposing and fierce than ever. His eyes, bloodshot from days of travel, seemed to be stained with blood.

“Twenty-two years ago, my mother died in this lake! In such a large residence with so many servants, not one heard her cries for help. It’s utterly ridiculous!”

“And I, I have to bow and scrape to the son of my enemy, serving him willingly. Why?!”

The wind howled past, and Ji Ye’s voice, hoarse with hatred, was filled with a fierce glare. “Yes, I want him dead!!”

He continued, “If you want me to pay with my life, Father, then come and take it!” With a clang, he threw down his sword, meeting the Sixth Prince’s gaze without hesitation!

The Sixth Prince was stunned. It was the first time he had seen Ji Ye like this, completely overturning his impression of him as gentle and submissive. At that moment, Ji Ye’s ruthlessness and aura surpassed Ji Yan’s.

Resilient, bold, and cunning, Ji Ye had waited twenty years for this opportunity, striking like a venomous snake at his enemy’s throat. This son was indeed courageous and insightful, unwilling to be beneath others.

The Sixth Prince’s gaze wavered. He didn’t mind that his son was a venomous snake, as it couldn’t harm him. Instead, he cared more about whether his heir could take over the Sixth Prince’s estate. Ji Yan was satisfactory and could score eighty out of a hundred with more teaching. But this son, despite his anger, made the Sixth Prince see him in a new light.

The Sixth Prince stared at him for a moment, his anger not yet subsided but gradually suppressed. He coldly asked, “Who else is involved in this?”

Ji Ye calmly replied, “No one else. Zhang Dongling is my man.”

The Sixth Prince raised an eyebrow, “Really?”

Ji Ye affirmed, “Really.”

The father and son stared at each other for a moment. With a “clang,” the Sixth Prince sheathed his sword and coldly said, “Stay in the courtyard and reflect!” His mind was already leaning towards a decision. He snorted, “Someone, have Chen Pang’s men surround the courtyard. No one is allowed in or out!”

The Sixth Prince turned sharply and strode out. He mounted his horse and, sword in hand, charged out of the residence.

---

When Yang Yanzong received the news, he had already returned to Suiping. He first went to the Sixth Prince’s residence, but it was clear the Sixth Prince was too preoccupied to see him. He left after sitting with Mr. Fang and others for half an hour.

Hearing the news, Yang Yanzong smiled. Surrounding the courtyard could serve not only as punishment but also as protection. The Sixth Prince clearly didn’t want anyone else to “punish” Ji Ye on his behalf, such as the Sixth Princess or Concubine Yan.

Good.

Everything he had planned had succeeded. Now, he just needed to focus on avoiding being implicated in the major events orchestrated by the old emperor. While external affairs were smooth, there was a minor issue at home. Returning home, the sky was already dark, with two large lanterns lit at the entrance, casting a gentle glow in the quiet night. He first went to the west courtyard to greet his father. After half an hour, he left, noticing his mother’s maid peeking several times. He quickly went to his mother’s main courtyard.

“Mother, it’s so late. Why haven’t you prepared to rest?”

Mrs. Yan had been waiting for a long time, but Father Yang had kept their son for dinner, making her wait for over half an hour. She was increasingly displeased, “Do you still care about your mother? Both of you just keep making things difficult for me!”

Mother and son sat down and exchanged a few words, and Yang Yanzong gently asked about his mother’s past two months. Mrs. Yan complained, and Yang Yanzong patted her back. Smelling the medicinal oil, he asked with concern, “Mother, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

Mrs. Yan huffed, her anger flaring up again. “It’s all because of your wife. She’s always causing me trouble, and now you want to bring another one into the family? Are you trying to drive your mother to her grave?”

After meeting Su Ci in the afternoon, Mrs. Yan had been stewing in her anger. She complained of chest pain and insisted on lying down, even asking for medicinal oil to be applied, all to show Father Yang and Yang Yanzong.

Father Yang, having seen this many times, ignored her. Today, he didn’t even come to the main courtyard for dinner, which made Mrs. Yan even more upset.

Feeling extremely wronged and unhappy, she grabbed her son’s hand and cried. Yang Yanzong, helpless, said, “It’s getting chilly at night, and Father’s health isn’t what it used to be. As for her, she has many responsibilities.”

Yang Yanzong rubbed his temples, having had this conversation too many times. Despite his efforts, Mrs. Yan’s opinion of Su Ci had never improved. In desperation, he tried to divert her attention: “Mother, the matters of the medical camp are important. You should focus on managing the household. We’ve added many new people, and there’s another wedding to prepare for.”

Yang Yanzong was always efficient. After marrying Su Ci, he found it inconvenient, so he expedited the process of bringing more people into the household. The Yang family’s residence had expanded significantly, no longer just a small two-entry house, and they needed more staff.

Over the past two years, he had brought back many of the family’s old servants and combined them with new hires, testing them on the estate for two years. Finally, he selected twenty to thirty people, both men and women, including runners, strong servants, gatekeepers, and maids. Now, they had enough people, but with more people came more complexities. Even with careful selection, they needed to be managed to prevent issues. The outer household didn’t require much attention, but the inner household needed Mrs. Yan to manage it well.

Hearing this, Mrs. Yan finally brightened up. With more people to serve and the authority to manage the household, life would be more comfortable. “Alright, I’ve already prepared the personnel list and given them proper training. You can rest assured!”

Yang Yanzong raised an eyebrow, “That’s good.”

“Have Yanxin and Yanzhen come to see you?”

“They did but went out again, saying they had something to do.” Mrs. Yan had even sent someone to follow them, confirming that Yanxin and Yanzhen had gone straight to the military camp and not see Third Su next door, which made her feel better.

“Second Brother is more obedient than you!” Mrs. Yan glared at her son, grumbling.

Yang Yanzong chuckled.

Mother and son talked for about half an hour. Then Yang Yanzong escorted his mother back to her room to rest before returning to the east courtyard.

The door was wide open, the windows half-closed, and warm yellow light spilled out. Late cherry blossoms and golden hydrangeas adorned the corners, their faint fragrance carried by the wind. Since the courtyard had a mistress, it had become warm and lively. Every time he entered the courtyard and saw the warm yellow light, his heart would calm down. He quickly entered the courtyard. Su Ci had already finished her bath and was lounging on a short couch, reading a book. Seeing him return, she tossed the book aside, “You’re back! Why so late?”

Her voice was always light and clear, with a lively rhythm and a hint of laughter, making it incredibly joyful.

Su Ci, wearing slippers, ran over. Hearing that he had already eaten, she closed the door. Yang Yanzong casually loosened his cufflinks and glanced at her. “I went to see Father and Mother. I talked with Mother for half an hour.”

That long, huh?

Su Ci, being smart, didn’t respond directly. She could guess what Mrs. Yan had said.

This time, Yang Yanzong didn’t let her brush it off. Although he had defended Su Ci in front of Mrs. Yan, he still had opinions about Su Ci’s actions. He pulled Su Ci to sit on his lap, frowning, “Why can’t you just humor her? She’s still my mother!”

Su Ci was so clever; if she wanted to, she could surely win over Mrs. Yan.

Yang Yanzong, clear-minded, was not pleased. When Su Ci asked if he could respect her father as his own father, Yang Yanzong believed he had done so. Whatever he found for his parents, he made sure to get a share for Su Di and Mrs. Chen. When they met, he would inquire about their health and well-being. Even if he wasn’t enthusiastic, everyone knew he wasn’t naturally warm-hearted. But what about Su Ci? Did she treat his mother as her own?

This topic wasn’t suitable to continue. Su Ci thought to herself, could Mrs. Yan’s temper ever be like Mrs. Chen’s? She quickly interrupted, hugging his neck and nodding repeatedly, “Yes, yes, I know. I’ll definitely pay attention next time!” She clung to him, acting coquettishly.

Yang Yanzong, both angry and amused, could tell she was trying to sweet-talk him. He gritted his teeth and pinched her waist. Su Ci, hitting her weak spot, laughed and jumped up. They playfully tussled and ended up rolling onto the bed.

From the short couch in the inner room to the bathroom, water splashed everywhere from the bathtub. Finally, they quickly washed up and returned to the large bed in the room.

They had been married for a while now. The red silk double happiness decorations had long been removed, replaced with light and refreshing summer colors. Yang Yanzong stared at the lake-blue silk canopy for a while and then said to Su Ci, “For the next couple of days, don’t go back to the medical camp. Stay at home.”

“Aunt might come over. Keep an eye on Mother.”

This aunt, of course, referred to Concubine Yan. The news about Ji Yan hadn’t spread yet, but it would soon. If nothing unexpected happened, it would break out tomorrow.

Yang Yanzong orchestrated Ji Yan’s downfall today without regret. The only troublesome part was the relationship between Mrs. Yan and Concubine Yan.

Being of different genders, Yang Yanzong and Concubine Yan didn’t see each other often. Their relationship was mainly maintained through blood ties. However, since Ji Yan had plotted against his life, his relationship with Concubine Yan had become strained. He could disregard Concubine Yan, but his mother still mattered to him.

“Yes, yes, I know.” Lying in his arms, Su Ci was drowsy. Her eyelids fluttered as she responded, and she soon fell into a deep sleep.

After a while, feeling hot, she swiftly rolled out of his embrace, cuddling the silk blanket and continuing to sleep soundly.

Yang Yanzong slowly sat up, pulling the half-slipped blanket over her shoulder. He gently brushed the hair off her cheek with his finger. She seemed to feel itchy in her sleep, reaching up to scratch before tucking her hand back under the blanket.

Yang Yanzong gazed at her sleeping face for a long time. The night was deep and silent, with only one candle still burning, casting a dim, warm light. He realized that the person lying beside him was his wife.

In the mountains of Shang County and beyond the Great Western Mountains, they had been a formidable team. Even when he left, he no longer needed to worry about what was behind him. She was kind-hearted, principled, and incredibly charming. They were so compatible, in sync, and harmonious. Married life brought him immense joy, and he had found the perfect wife. But the more perfect it was, the more dissatisfied he became. Yang Yanzong was smart and perceptive. Beneath their daily banter and laughter, he noticed that Su Ci hadn’t changed at all. Even if she no longer sneaked glances at Prince Qian in front of him, he was sure she hadn’t truly settled down. If given the chance, she wouldn’t miss it. She had no sense of being a married woman. She still kept her distance from his mother. She was clever and happy because she was someone who could always find the most comfortable way to live, no matter where or when. In truth, she hadn’t changed.

After the laughter faded and the night grew quiet, he couldn’t help but think of another question: What about her feelings for him? Had those not changed either?