Chapter 40: Submission

After Xia Qingfeng completed treatment on the injured boy, she decided not to return to the Marquis’ estate. Since it was rare for her to be out, she opted to stay at the small courtyard.

It had been a few days since she had seen Cui Liu and the two children, and they had all gained quite a bit of weight, indicating that Cang Jian had taken good care of them.

Cang Jian was the most honest among the four guards. He rarely spoke and was diligent and dedicated in his work, so Xia Qingfeng felt at ease leaving him to watch over the house.

Cui Liu, having not seen her mistress for several days, was quite worried and incessantly asked about the situation at the Marquis’ estate and whether Xia Qingfeng had suffered any grievances. With patience, Xia Qingfeng answered all her questions.

Cang Dao received the news and returned to the courtyard as well. The weapons and guards had not gathered for many days, so Xia Qingfeng decided they would have a nice lunch together afterward.

After lunch, Cang Dao reported to Xia Qingfeng what he had uncovered over the past few days. There was indeed unusual activity on the mountains in the western suburbs. According to local villagers, unfamiliar people frequently came down the mountain to take away large quantities of grain and vegetables, occurring roughly every three days.

“This unusual activity in the western suburbs might be related to Xu Jingchen,” Xia Qingfeng said, sharing her suspicions about Xu Jingchen’s involvement. She suspected that there was something wrong with the courtyard where she used to live and believed they could find clues there. As a result, Cang Dao decided to investigate the West Ping Marquis’ estate at night.

Meanwhile, the injured boy had remained unconscious until the afternoon, when he slowly began to wake up. Upon regaining consciousness, he was very agitated, propping himself up with his weak body to inquire about his older brother’s condition.

The bond between the two brothers was strong; it was no wonder they were willing to risk their lives for each other. Xia Qingfeng had a positive impression of both of them.

After calming the boy and ensuring he had some food, he once again fell back into a deep sleep.

Unfortunately, the young boy’s severed finger could not be reattached, leading to a permanent disability. Thankfully, it was only his pinky, which wouldn’t significantly affect his daily life.

At that moment, the Crown Prince was busy investigating the nobleman surnamed Chu that Wu Yi had mentioned.

He instructed his subordinates to gather information on all young nobles with connections to various princes with the surname Chu. After compiling a list of candidates and meticulously examining them, they ultimately narrowed it down to three individuals.

Ling Xiaoyu summoned a trusted associate skilled in drawing to create portraits of the three suspects and brought the images to the dungeon for Wu Yi to identify.

Upon seeing the portraits, Wu Yi immediately recognized one of the noblemen: it was Chu Jiaming, the son of the Right General and the younger brother of the Third Prince’s consort. It was clear that the true mastermind behind the scheme was now revealed.

Ling Xiaoyu ordered the Yulin Guards to split into two groups: one to capture Chu Jiaming, while the other, led by Cheng Ye with Wu Yi as their guide, made their way to the eastern suburbs’ camp to rescue the over one hundred men under Chu Jiaming’s command.

Cheng Ye led the Yulin Guards to set up an ambush nearby, and Wu Yi returned to the camp alone.

This was a directive from Ling Xiaoyu, intended as a test for Wu Yi. If he completed his task well, it would ensure his life was spared, and he could join them. However, if he disobeyed, the Yulin Guards could easily wipe out the hundred or so men at any moment.

Everyone understood Wu Yi’s decision was motivated by his brother; he would choose to submit.

Entering the camp, Wu Yi called the other three team leaders into his tent.

“Wu Yi, you were rescued? We were still worried about you! Where are the others? Why didn’t they come back with you?” Wu Er asked, concern etched across his face. Although he lacked Wu Yi’s martial prowess, he was quick-witted, skilled in disguise, and shared a strong bond with Wu Yi. He was an orphan without ties, yet he envied Wu Yi for having a brother.

Wu San and Wu Si exchanged looks, aware they were merely pawns of the powerful, living in constant danger. After Wu Yi led dozens of them on a mission and didn’t return, they dreaded the worst.

With tears in his eyes, Wu Yi looked at them and gritted his teeth, saying, “They’re all dead. Our master sent people to kill them, not one was spared.”

“How could this happen? What exactly transpired?” 

Wu Yi recounted everything that had happened over the past few days in detail.

“They even used your brother as leverage against you? That’s despicable!” Wu Er slammed his hand on the table in anger.

“We’ve foreseen our fate.”

“Why don’t we just run? There’s only one supervisor here with twenty or so men. If we can capture them, we can make a break for the north and find a mountain to claim as our own! My parents wanted me to leave something behind for them before they died.” Wu Si, the youngest and skilled in reconnaissance, suggested.

Seeing the moment was right, Wu Yi said, “I have a better place in mind where we might even secure a decent future for ourselves. Do you want to go?”

The three looked at him with curiosity. “To the Crown Prince?”

“The Crown Prince would actually want us? You did attempt to assassinate the Crown Prince, remember?” 

Wu Yi nodded earnestly, “Yes, but now the situation has changed. The Crown Prince seeks capable men, and if we offer our allegiance, we might be able to live and have a future instead of dying as pawns.”

“Do you really think he can protect us?” Wu Er asked, hesitantly weighing his options.

“We have nothing to lose by trying,” Wu Yi insisted. “If we stick around, we’re just waiting for our doom. But if we go with the Crown Prince, who knows? We might even carve out a much better path than we imagined.”

The others exchanged glances, uncertainty mingling with hope. Wu Yi’s determination was infectious, and soon their fears began to dissolve under the possibility of a new alliance. Ultimately, it seemed they had little choice but to follow Wu Yi into this uncertain venture.

“I came this time on the orders of the Crown Prince. He knows we’re just unfortunate orphans and is willing to give us a chance to turn our lives around,” Wu Yi said, tears welling in his eyes. “All I know is that the Crown Prince saved my brother and has shown me kindness, while our former master has killed all my brothers and bears enmity against me. I’m unafraid of death; even if the Crown Prince were to kill me, I would accept it willingly.”

“I’ll follow you! Maybe following the Crown Prince will help me find a wife!” Wu Si was the first to speak up, a hint of excitement in his voice.

The others laughed, their spirits lifted as they decided to ready themselves and descend the mountain together.

Just then, the tent flaps were abruptly lifted, and more than a dozen people stormed into the tent, led by the supervising officer Zhao Da, who was also Chu Jiaming’s childhood companion. Having risen to his current position thanks to Chu Jiaming, he was arrogant and looked down on everyone else.

“You have the audacity to betray your master!” Zhao Da sneered.

“We’ll fight! If it really comes down to it, we might not lose!” Wu San drew his large sword, the strongest among them, hefting the hefty weapon with ease.

At that moment, Wu Yi pulled several pills from his pocket. “We’ve been poor since we were young, so we probably never had candy, right? Here, let me treat you to one, and then we’ll see who fights.”

Without hesitation, the three took the pills and downed them. They grimaced at the bitter taste. Just as they were about to ask what it was, Wu Yi waved his sleeve and scattered a fine powder into the air. Then, one by one, the men outside began to drop like flies, overwhelmed by the effect.

With a series of thuds, the oncoming intruders toppled over, unable to resist. The few who entered the tent stood no chance against Wu Yi and his friends; they were quickly dispatched.

Thus, the three elite squads, meticulously trained by the Third Prince, were brought under the banner of the Crown Prince.

Meanwhile, on the other side, the Yulin Guards successfully captured Chu Jiaming, who was leisurely listening to music in a teahouse, unaware of the impending fate awaiting him. 

As the situation unfolded, it became clear that the tides were turning, with new allegiances being forged and old loyalties crumbling in a rapid reshuffling of power and intentions. 

As Wu Yi stood beside his newfound allies, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of solidarity and excitement for what the future might hold. They might not have a home or a master anymore, but with the Crown Prince on their side, perhaps they could carve out a new path that was truly their own.