Chapter 45

After kissing her for a moment, they heard the sound of hooves. Yang Yanzong immediately released Su Ci, drew his sword with a “clang,” and swiftly slashed the neck of one of the Northern Rong leaders.

His swordsmanship was exceptional. The blade passed perfectly through the wound without adding any more damage. The sword dripped with fresh blood as if he had just killed the two Northern Rong men.

Su Ci, quick-witted, drew her dagger and assumed a combat stance. The eunuch’s hard-soled boots clattered down the earthen steps. As he rushed into the basement, he saw Yang Yanzong and Su Ci, blood dripping, having just dealt with two armed Northern Rong leaders.

“General Yang, General Yang, please wait!!” The eunuch in silver-blue attire regretted arriving a step too late but understood that Northen Rong people were fierce and often left no survivors in battle. He sighed but didn’t blame them.

“Thank you, General Yang, and everyone. The supervisor will be here soon!”

This silver-blue eunuch was a trusted aide of Tong Jien. Tong Jien had divided the Supervisory Office into several small teams, each with a representative, to prevent any tricks from the princely residences. Most of these people weren’t skilled fighters. This eunuch, named Zhang, was with Yang Yanzong’s team. Due to Yang Yanzong’s cooperation and straightforwardness, they got along well.

During the fierce battle, Eunuch Zhang had been protected on the outskirts. Once the fight was nearly over, he was quickly brought in. Seeing the scene, he was regretful but said nothing, quickly ordering the bodies of the Northern Rong men to be moved. He even personally searched them, finding their blood and skin still warm. In his search, he found something!

Feeling the sheepskin pouch, Eunuch Zhang’s spirits lifted. Hearing Yang Yanzong’s “hmm” behind him, he raised his hand to stop him and slowly opened it. Seeing the contents, he gasped in shock, his expression both excited and serious.

Eunuch Zhang held the sheepskin pouch and searched the Northern Rong men again, finding nothing else. But what he had found was enough!!

Tong Jien, Zhang Boqian, and Imperial Uncle Kun arrived a quarter of an hour later.

Since Yang Yanzong had started, he had sent someone to request reinforcements. This was the only silver cart found so far, and support arrived quickly, killing the remaining Northern Rong men. When Tong Jien and the others arrived, Eunuch Zhang’s men were already waiting. The group immediately rushed to the eastern basement of the town.

“Utter nonsense, how absurd!!!” About ten seconds later, a furious shout echoed from the basement!!

As soon as Tong Jien received the sheepskin pouch and opened it, he looked up sharply. His sinister, piercing gaze shot straight at Zhang Boqian, and he coldly snarled, “General Zhang, what a case of the thief crying ‘stop thief’!!!”

Zhang Boqian, both shocked and enraged, vehemently denied it on the spot.

Eunuch Zhang stepped forward with a cold smile, “When I descended into the basement, General Yang had just killed these two Northern Rong men, and they had barely fallen. I was the first to search them, witnessed by everyone. How can you, a scoundrel, deny it!!!”

Zhang Boqian, momentarily speechless, was furious. In his rage, he nearly drew his sword to kill Eunuch Zhang!

Tong Jien shouted, “You dare!!!”

Imperial Uncle Kun, quick and sharp-eyed, waved his hand. His guards leaped forward, restraining Zhang Boqian’s furious sword. After a moment of contemplation, he stepped forward, looked at Tong Jien and Eunuch Zhang, then at Zhang Boqian, and said, “General Zhang, whether it is true or not, we will investigate thoroughly later.”

Tong Jien sneered. Eunuchs were often narrow-minded, and Zhang Boqian’s attempt to kill Eunuch Zhang had enraged him entirely. Tong Jien coldly said, “With both witnesses and evidence, Zhang Boqian will be shackled and sent back to the capital. I will present this matter truthfully to His Majesty. You can explain yourself before the emperor.”

He took out a golden decree from his robe, inscribed with “As if I were present.” The Supervisory Office had the authority to oversee and temporarily manage all local military and political affairs. If the monitored party resisted violently, they could even be executed on the spot if necessary. In short, the power was immense, above everyone else.

Tong Jien’s ruthlessness earned him his position, and no one doubted his willingness to take necessary measures.

With the imperial decree in hand, Zhang Boqian fell silent. Despite his heavy breathing and flushed angry face, he had no choice but to comply.

Tong Jien coldly smiled and waved his hand, “Shackle him and take him away. Once this matter is resolved, escort him back to the capital!”

Two fierce guards from the Supervisory Office immediately stepped forward, kicking Zhang Boqian’s knees. The once-arrogant superior, who had looked down on Yang Yanzong, knelt heavily on the ground, shackled.

Zhang Boqian struggled and cursed in anger.

Yang Yanzong, having killed the last Northern Rong man, slowly wiped his sword clean and sheathed it. He appeared at the top of the stairs just as Zhang Boqian was being shackled. He glanced at the struggling Zhang Boqian and exchanged a look with Imperial Uncle Kun. Their expressions remained unchanged, and they quickly looked away.

After this drama ended, another even more exciting one began. While discreetly informing Ji Yan about the missing silver, Yang Yanzong also sent a message to Ji Ye with just a few words: “Ji Yan found a batch of missing official silver.”

He merely set the stage, but the subsequent developments were incredibly thrilling.

Ji Ye’s hand trembled as he took out the thin slip of paper and unfolded it. His heart pounded wildly—his long-awaited opportunity had finally arrived!!

No wonder the team’s progress had suddenly slowed, and Ji Yan had quietly disappeared last night. So that’s how it was, that’s how it was!

Ji Yan was still afraid. This was a matter of colluding with the enemy and treason, a crime punishable by death. His heart pounded like a drum, his blood boiling. He repeatedly pretended to track near the hidden silver but didn’t dare to approach. But this was a full fifteen million taels of silver! With it, he would never lack silver again and would no longer struggle financially in Ping’an Prefecture.

Two days ago, Ji Yan led his men, along with those from the Seventh Prince’s residence and the Supervisory Office, in a pursuit to the northeast. The Northern Rong people were very cunning. Apart from the silver agreed to be given to the Kun family, the rest had to be transported back to Northern Rong. They used multiple decoys and split into over ten groups, making it difficult for the pursuing teams to avoid disagreements. After several disputes and battles with the Northern Rong, Ji Yan led only his own men. Then, just yesterday, he stumbled upon a hidden opportunity. The Seventh Prince’s team, which had fought fiercely and been wiped out, was considered a ruse. In his fury, Ji Ying pursued them, but it turned out that the Northern Rong silver cart was indeed there. A large amount of silver was currently hidden in a mountain hollow at Shang Siling, right next to Ling Shui. With a boat, it would be easy to quietly transfer this large sum of official silver, sink it into the water, and retrieve it later when the heat died down. This enormous fortune would be his. No one would know.

Ji Yan repeatedly sent his trusted scouts to confirm that no others were around. This was so significant that he didn’t even tell Zhang Dongling. Only the Shi brothers, who had already been paid to raise private soldiers for him, knew. He wouldn’t have revealed it to them if the Shi brothers hadn’t been there at the time and he needed their help.

Ji Yan was cautious, but after a night of anxiety, greed finally took over.

Fortune favors the bold. His father had taught him that one must take risks when necessary, or the best opportunities will slip away, leading to future regret. With this thought, his mind was set!

At this moment, Ji Yan hadn’t considered that his father’s example was the battle of Wuchuan, a crucial turning point for the Sixth Prince’s residence!

As the campfire’s smoke curled, he pondered his chances of success. Finally, he called his trusted guards, Shun Min and the Shi brothers, and quietly instructed them to scout the area and carefully prepare a boat. Whether it was the Marquis of Zhenbei’s residence or Ji Yan himself, they had connections with wealthy merchants and personally managed businesses. Arranging a boat in the northwest was not difficult. The three men quietly agreed, sat for a while, then left, pretending nothing was amiss. Everything was prepared methodically.

And this scene fell right into Ji Ye’s eyes. He had already received Yang Yanzong’s message. He knew what Ji Yan was hesitating about and guessed his final choice. This was his legitimate brother, who had everything from birth. In his eyes, everything should be his. He had never faced any setbacks. Now, with such a huge benefit that even their father, the Sixth Prince, would covet, how could he resist reaching out? If he had resisted, he wouldn’t be Ji Yan. If he had been truly cautious and meticulous, he wouldn’t have handled his relationship with Yang Yanzong this way.

No wonder Yang Yanzong dared to set such a trap for him. Ji Ye smiled, turned without hesitation, and walked to the stream where Zhang Dongling was washing up.

Ji Ye scooped water and whispered a few words.

Zhang Dongling hesitated, “Seventh Prince, are you sure about this?”

Colluding with the enemy and treason were serious crimes. If Ji Yan were implicated, it could drag the entire Sixth Prince’s residence into the mud. If the Sixth Prince’s residence ultimately failed because of this…

Ji Ye wiped his face and stared at the end of the stream, “Yes.” His answer was not too light or heavy but without hesitation.

If Ji Yan didn’t go down, even if the Sixth Prince’s residence ultimately won, what would it matter to him? Was he supposed to spend his life begging for scraps at Ji Yan’s feet, living without dignity? He’d rather not live at all! Besides, he believed the Sixth Prince’s residence wouldn’t fall so easily. And Yang Yanzong was also on the same ship as the Sixth Prince’s residence, so its downfall was certainly not part of his plan.

“Go,” Ji Ye knew Zhang Dongling wanted to say something. He wanted to say that Ji Yan would surely suspect an insider and then suspect him after the incident. If Ji Yan knew, the Sixth Prince would know. But Ji Ye was resolute. Compared to taking down Ji Yan, “These risks are worth taking.”

“Alright.” With that, Zhang Dongling said no more, rinsed his mouth, and left.

Ji Ye finished washing up, called his trusted aides, and whispered instructions. Double measures to ensure nothing went wrong at the critical moment!

Ji Ye exhaled a long breath, his back to the crowd, his gaze sharp. After twenty-three years of enduring hardships, he would finally avenge his mother and achieve his desires today! He wanted Ji Yan and his mother to know that the world didn’t bend to their will. Hmph!

Ji Ye collected his fierce gaze and quickly walked away.

—

That night, in the remote Wild Deer Hollow, where the Great Western Mountains and its branches met, on the side of Lingshui, a dozen black-sailed sand boats silently arrived. The boats quickly docked, and workers with their eyes covered by slightly translucent black gauze were driven ashore. They were led to push carts and carry boxes. The boxes were brought to the boat’s edge, opened, and dumped. Someone continuously shoveled river sand to mix and cover them. Boat after boat, the workers toiled, unaware that their fate would be sealed after this task.

“Hurry up, everyone, hurry up!” Shun Min urged in a low voice. Dawn was approaching. He turned to Ji Yan and said, “Your Highness, you should go back first.”

Ji Yan had arrived in the middle of the night. The progress was good, just in time. The sinking of the ship and the cleanup were left to Shun Min. He nodded to Shi Shiqian, who then jumped off the boat.

Fifteen million taels of silver were loaded onto the boats, and the silver chests were sunk to the riverbed. Just as the sandboats were about to set sail, Ji Yan and Shi Shiqian were about to leave.

Suddenly, the sound of galloping hooves arose in the distance!!

The sound was fast and urgent. The horses spread out in a line, heading straight for the riverbank. A whistle followed, and the fast horses, initially uncertain, locked onto their target and charged towards Ji Yan and his men!

At the sound of the hooves, everyone except the laborers panicked. Ji Yan’s heart pounded, and countless thoughts flashed through his mind, but it was too late.

Prince Qian and an eunuch in silver-blue attire had already crossed the mountain hollow and surrounded them.

Prince Qian was also surprised, his elegant face showing a hint of astonishment—it was the Sixth Prince’s heir. But at the same time, in the faint morning light, he saw the stacked boxes on the shore and the silver glinting on the sand boats. He was somewhat disappointed and said nothing more. The eunuch waved his hand, and the two teams that had arrived in the night charged forward like hungry wolves.

—

In the slightly desolate wilderness of the northwest, by the roaring campfire, Yang Yanzong watched as Tong Jien and Imperial Uncle Kun, shocked by the news, quickly mounted their horses and left with their men. He smiled.

It seemed the plan had succeeded. It was time for him to move.

Ji Ye had guessed correctly. His goal was to eliminate Ji Yan and Zhang Boqian, giving the old emperor a plausible explanation, but he didn’t intend to risk the entire Sixth Prince’s residence.

It wasn’t time for that yet. He was gradually becoming independent, but it was still early days, and he wasn’t ready. So the heir had to die, but the Sixth Prince’s residence couldn’t fall. He had to keep things within a manageable scope. The best way was to drag other princely residences into the mess.

With more forces involved, the power dynamics would shift. The old emperor’s targets would expand and disperse, increasing the chances of the Sixth Prince’s residence stabilizing by sacrificing one person.

Yang Yanzong glanced at the Supervisory Office guards and local troops escorting the silver carts. He stroked Su Ci’s face, “I need to go out for a while.”

Su Ci was surprised, “Where to?” Wasn’t he supposed to stay out of Ji Yan’s affairs? She thought for a moment and began to understand, “You’re going to find…”

“Ji Yuanhao.”

Another important aspect: with the greedy wolves dead, what use was the butcher’s knife? Even Imperial Uncle Kun was forced to send messages to the Northern Rong. The old emperor was no benevolent ruler. And Ji Yuanhao, despite his appearance, was not in a better position. If given the chance, he would also want to break free from the Fourth Prince’s residence without falling. Action was necessary for opportunity.

Yang Yanzong didn’t elaborate, “I’ll be back by tomorrow night.” He stroked Su Ci’s cheek and asked, “Do you have the confidence to cover for my absence?”

This girl had eyes as bright as stars. She smiled and snapped her fingers, “Yes!” She also took something out of her small waist pouch and handed it to him, “I think you’ll need this.”

She blinked, playful and clever.

Without Yang Yanzong saying a word, he opened his palm to see a small porcelain bottle containing penicillin.

Yang Yanzong smiled, staring at her with a half-smile. He stood up and called A Kang, “While I’m away, listen to the young madam!” He gave Su Ci, who was sitting on the ground, a deep look before quickly turning and disappearing into the darkness.

—

Yang Yanzong quietly led his men away. That night, he found Ji Yuanhao.

The two stood facing each other, the wind howling through the poplar forest, the dry, dusty air reminiscent of their past campaigns against the Beirong.

“A rare guest indeed.” Ji Yuanhao smiled, taking slow steps forward. The wind whipped their robes, making them flutter. He sensed something, having already received news about Ji Yan earlier that night, but his face revealed nothing. “Eldest Yang, what brings you here at this hour?” He smiled, “The southwest and northwest are your old territories!”

Yang Yanzong had been operating here for many years, developing many covert lines. Ji Yan was indeed bold.

Yang Yanzong said calmly, “Those born without setbacks and having everything tend to be bolder.”

Ji Yuanhao genuinely agreed, “Indeed.”

For example, Ji Lin dared to chase the Northern Rong border, while he had many concerns and saw no need to take such risks.

“This trip was fruitless.” Ji Yuanhao smiled and sighed. The Fourth Prince’s residence had been busy for nothing. Unfamiliar with the terrain, he didn’t believe Ji Lin could intercept the silver cart successfully.

Yang Yanzong smiled, “Failing to intercept the silver cart doesn’t mean the trip was wasted. There may be unexpected gains.”

He tilted his head and raised an eyebrow, “What do you think, Bochen?”

“Oh?” Ji Yuanhao, intrigued, raised an eyebrow, “Please elaborate.”

They exchanged a look, seeing the same thing in each other’s eyes.

Yang Yanzong didn’t waste words, “The Fourth Prince’s residence is too stable,” steady and secure, the Fourth Prince’s abilities surpassing the Sixth Prince’s. He said bluntly, “This might not be good for you, Bochen.”

Bochen, Bochen, what a name. It was given to Ji Yuanhao by the Fourth Prince years ago.

Yang Yanzong’s greedy wolves were dead, and the butcher’s knife was useless. And Ji Yuanhao wasn’t much better off. He would be discarded like an old shoe if he didn’t act. Ji Yuanhao wouldn’t want to accept such a fate for life. Today was an excellent opportunity.

The old emperor was also very old. The relatively stable situation with him in charge would only last a while, and Ji Yuanhao wouldn’t want to wait any longer. The other party was looking for an opportunity. And this was it!

Ji Yuanhao smiled. Yang Yanzong was annoyingly clever! Indeed, over the years, he had gathered plenty of leverage and loopholes against the Fourth Prince’s residence. If he acted immediately, it wouldn’t be difficult to drag the Fourth Prince’s residence into this silver and treason scandal. Even the Seventh Prince’s residence could be implicated.

Ji Yuanhao didn’t waste words. He looked up at Yang Yanzong and raised an eyebrow, “I want something.”

Yang Yanzong smiled, raised his hand, and tossed something over. He said, “My wife says this cannot be mass-produced, but for your internal use, you can have as much as you need.”

Ji Yuanhao laughed heartily, “Good!” Straightforward and meaningful!

They raised their hands and gave a firm handshake, sealing the deal.

Ji Yuanhao tossed the small porcelain bottle in his hand and finally said, “You have a good wife.”

Yang Yanzong mounted his horse, and after hearing this, he turned back, “Indeed.” He said it calmly, then whipped his horse, and the group quickly disappeared over the hill.

—

Yang Yanzong naturally knew he had a good wife. Riding swiftly, he returned to the vicinity of Guangyin Mountain, following the tracks. He whistled.

Ahead, the sound of hooves echoed, and a gray-white horse appeared, carrying a delicate and charming figure in dark green. Seeing him, she laughed heartily and waved vigorously. The two horses galloped side by side, and Yang Yanzong, without slowing down, scooped her up onto his horse. Su Ci exclaimed in surprise, then laughed excitedly, wrapping her arms around his neck. They rode together, the wind in their faces.

No need for many words. With Yang Yanzong in action, Su Ci did not doubt the outcome. She had dealt with the guards, Imperial Uncle Kun, and Tong Jien’s summons, navigating various checkpoints. She disguised herself and decisively instructed A Kang to contact Feng Tiexiong, who posed as Northern Rong people, to intercept the silver cart, instantly diverting all attention. An entire day passed without a hitch.

Yang Yanzong had entrusted his back to her, and she hadn’t disappointed him at all.

As dusk fell, the vast northwestern land was gray and desolate, the wind fierce and bold. Yang Yanzong rode swiftly, listening to Su Ci’s chatter as she boasted about her achievements. She often praised herself, doubling the credit for her efforts. Yang Yanzong smiled and kissed her heavily on the cheek.

She wanted a reward. And that was it.

Su Ci gasped, eyes wide, covering her face, “Really? So stingy!” After all, he was a big shot.

Yang Yanzong coolly replied, “Learned from you.”

The wind swept past, wild and free. He smiled, looking ahead. This was his wife, his partner. At this moment, he truly believed that suppressing his initial dissatisfaction and insisting on the marriage was the best decision he had ever made.