Chapter 57

The horses galloped lightly, the sound of their hooves becoming lighter and faster, shedding the tension and pressure. Su Ci asked, “How much longer until we arrive?”

“About an hour.”

She responded with an “Oh,” then turned back and asked, “Do you want to take a nap?”

He looked like he hadn’t rested in a long time, and who knew how busy he’d be later? She winked at him and patted her shoulder, offering it as a pillow.

Yang Yanzong chuckled softly, raising an eyebrow as he glanced at her slender shoulder. Alright, he handed her the reins, wrapped his arms around her waist, and rested his head on her shoulder, closing his eyes. A slight smile played on his lips.

Su Ci thought, Oh my, so heavy. She felt her left shoulder suddenly sag under the weight of his head. She quickly steadied herself to avoid both of them falling off the horse.

Yang Yanzong initially intended to tease her, his fingers lightly tapping her waist. Su Ci felt like laughing but held it in, muttering under her breath, “Sleep or don’t sleep, you…”

Gradually, his eyelids grew heavy. Yang Yanzong had indeed slept on horseback before, more than once. During battles, when they had to rush through the night, he could sleep even on a galloping horse when utterly exhausted. He felt like he had just closed his eyes, but when he opened them again, they had already left Gaobian City and were galloping towards the ancient pass. About ten miles away, they turned into the mountains.

The road became bumpy, and the jolt woke Yang Yanzong. He didn’t move, just leaned quietly on her shoulder. Su Ci’s slender neck looked hazy in the moonlight as she tried to keep her back straight. He leaned quietly for a while, then kissed her neck.

Su Ci squealed. That spot was as sensitive as her ribs. She had been struggling to endure his breath all the way, and the sudden attack made her unable to hold back. Knowing he was awake, she got bolder and squirmed, laughing, “Oh, that tickles!”

The horse swerved, and Yang Yanzong quickly pulled the reins, bringing the big brown horse back on track. “Hey?” Su Ci suddenly noticed, “Where’s Big Black? Why isn’t he here?”

“Injured, being treated,” Yang Yanzong said softly.

But that wasn’t true. Big Black had sacrificed itself. After the Northern Rong army retreated, Yang Yanzong personally closed its eyes and ordered it to be carried back for burial.

Big Black had been Yang Yanzong’s battlefield companion for many years. But he patted her head, deciding not to tell her this to avoid making her sad.

“That’s great!” Su Ci was genuinely happy. For a moment, she had feared Big Black was gone and felt sad.

Yang Yanzong smiled, too. After a nap, he felt much better. He kissed her cheek, wrapped an arm around her to hold the reins, and reached into his belt, pulling out something and placing it in her hand.

Su Ci held up the small grasshopper in the moonlight. It was tiny and intricately woven from grass. It had turned a dry yellow from its original green, indicating it had been made some time ago.

It was very delicate, even with antennae. Su Ci couldn’t help but laugh in delight. This thoughtful gesture was far more meaningful than any expensive gift. She chuckled, remembering the box of gold and silver jewelry Yang Yanzong had left in her room the night before their wedding. The contrast in his approach was amusing.

Seeing her smile, Yang Yanzong asked what she was laughing about. She whispered her thoughts, and he couldn’t help but laugh, too, giving her a sidelong glance. “What? Not happy with my gift?”

That box had been selected from his private stash of war trophies, some with foreign designs, others newly crafted from gold and silver.

“No, no, I love it. The more, the merrier.” Money, after all, was always welcome. She giggled and pecked his cheek.

Yang Yanzong hummed softly, giving her a sidelong glance, but his lips curved into a slight smile.

---

This lighthearted atmosphere continued until they met Yang Yanzong’s friend.

Ahead, A Zhao’s horse slowed down, and Yang Yanzong said, “We’re here.”

Su Ci quickly tucked the little grasshopper into her pouch and looked up.

This place was near the ancient mountain pass, in the mountains. Ahead was a dark cave entrance, seemingly a temporary find. The ground was uneven and clearly not a well-trodden path. Inside and outside the cave, bonfires were lit, with yellow flames dancing. A man squatted outside, chewing and spitting out wild mint leaves, complaining about the old mint leaves A Chuan had found.

Hearing the sound of hooves, a few people outside the cave looked up. The man, around thirty, had fair skin but sported a goatee and wore a half-worn felt hat. His attire was similar to A Chuan’s, making him quite inconspicuous.

Su Ci looked closely and exclaimed, “Hey, he looks familiar.”

At that moment, the big brown horse leaped up, and Yang Yanzong dismounted, helping Su Ci down with a slight effort. The man jumped up, “Oh, oh, oh, is this your little wife?” He looked at Su Ci with curiosity and amusement. The young girl, small in stature and age, had managed to win over the cold and ruthless Yang Shenxing. Remarkable!

He clicked his tongue, muttering half to himself until Yang Yanzong kicked him. The man nimbly jumped back, and Yang Yanzong, slightly annoyed, introduced him to Su Ci in a low voice, “This is Qiu Yuanming.”

He was the friend Yang Yanzong wanted her to meet.

Su Ci immediately understood. “Isn’t he an advisor to the Sixth Prince?” She gave Qiu Yuanming a knowing look and smiled, clasping her hands in greeting, “Brother Qiu, hello.”

“Madam, a pleasure,” Qiu Yuanming replied, pretending to be formal.

Su Ci had seen him a few times at banquets at the Sixth Prince’s residence, where he had been very serious. She hadn’t expected him to be so amusing in private.

Yang Yanzong laughed, “He’s also from Tongxiang.”

Tongxiang was a small place, the hometown of both Yang Yanzong and Su Ci.

Su Ci suddenly realized, “So, you’re childhood friends! No wonder you’re so familiar with each other.”

Indeed, Yang Yanzong and Qiu Yuanming were childhood friends. The Qiu family lived in the alley next to the Yang family. They had attended the same school as children. Qiu Yuanming was actually only twenty-seven, and his youthful face was hidden behind a goatee he grew to appear more mature.

Yang Yanzong joined the military, while Qiu Yuanming, by chance, became a master of criminal law. Yes, Qiu Yuanming was an expert in criminal law and was specifically responsible for this area in the Sixth Prince’s residence.

When they were around ten years old, one joined the military, and the other pursued criminal law. Later, Qiu Yuanming caught the eye of the Sixth Prince, who set a trap to first frame and then rescue him (a fact they only learned later). After that, Qiu Yuanming entered the Sixth Prince’s residence, and the two remained in contact. The most important source of information for Yang Yanzong from the Sixth Prince’s side came from Qiu Yuanming.

This time, they captured an important suspect at the ancient pass. Yang Yanzong was too busy, and his subordinate skilled in interrogation, Ah Sheng, was injured. So, he quietly called Qiu Yuanming for help. With Ji Ye absent, Qiu Yuanming could easily come and assist, managing both the front and rear lines.

“We’ve got a confession. This person is indeed significant,” Qiu Yuanming said after some banter among old friends. He hooked his arm around Yang Yanzong’s shoulder and whispered, “This person was responsible for leading the malaria outbreak. There’s someone above him.”

Additionally, Qiu Yuanming whispered, “Tong Jien has already arrived.”

Yang Yanzong nodded. He had already noticed the black-clad guards of the Inspectorate near the cave entrance.

Without further ado, the group turned and headed into the cave.

It was a narrow, winding tunnel that stretched for about twenty to thirty yards before opening up into a larger space. Inside were four hastily but sturdily constructed cross-shaped racks, each holding a person who looked like a blood-soaked gourd, their bodies twitching. Su Ci took one look and couldn’t bear to see more. It was frightening; their skin seemed to be peeled off in places, and their nails were gone.

Everyone else in the cave remained calm. Ji Yuanhao, who had been standing at the edge since Tong Jien arrived, slowly walked forward when he saw Yang Yanzong and nodded.

Ji Yuanhao was also dressed in black, without armor, and his attire was unremarkable. Tong Jien only noticed him then, shifting his gaze from the blood-soaked figures to Ji Yuanhao, but he said nothing.

Yang Yanzong and Ji Yuanhao exchanged glances. Ji Yuanhao’s appearance in front of Tong Jien was not just because this opportunity was too rare to avoid but also to show his determination.

Tong Jien understood this well. For the old emperor, this was a great thing, and he didn’t mind at all.

Everyone knew what was going on, so no one wasted words. Tong Jien said, “Since we have a lead, what are we waiting for?”

First, they needed to verify whether the suspect’s confession was true.

Tong Jien glanced at the guards beside him. Immediately, seven or eight black-clad guards stepped forward, paired up, and examined the blood-soaked figures in front of them. Then, they each supported one under the arms.

According to the confessions, they traveled along the road and through the mountains for nearly two hours, finally reaching the described location.

It was a very hidden mountain hollow, covered by broad-leaved forests and vines in the height of summer. At night, without the confession, they wouldn’t have known it was there even if they stood on top.

They pushed through the vegetation and quickly reached the bottom, where they found many gauze-covered frames. These were used to carry mosquitoes. Large armies couldn’t move through the mountains, and Beirong soldiers couldn’t cross the Great Wall, but mosquitoes could. These carefully prepared malaria-carrying mosquitoes were quietly brought near Gaobian City and released at multiple points. The mosquitoes, attracted to light and blood, quickly flew towards the guards and then into the Gaobian camp.

As for why the plan was so successful? It was due to inside help. One of the blood-soaked figures stammered, “The general didn’t want to, but… once involved, there’s no way out. He finally ordered us to arrange it near Gaobian camp.”

After leaving that hollow, they went to several other points and found traces of mosquito frames.

Next, Tong Jien sneered, “Alright, let’s head to Xiyang now.”

---

Xiyang, three hundred miles from Gaobian, was also a major town on the northern border. The Pingshan Pass Yang Yanzong had previously exited was part of Xiyang. Fortunately, this traitor hadn’t fully aligned with Northern Rong yet, or the outcome could have been dangerous.

“Duke Ning, General Huang Zhengmao.” This was the confession from the lead suspect.

Su Ci was surprised, “But isn’t Duke Ning the nephew of General Xu?”

Because of his royal bloodline, being the grandson of the Grand Princess, he was easily granted the title of Duke. Many generals with outstanding military achievements didn’t have such titles. Moreover, the old emperor didn’t suspect General Xu at all.

Su Ci initially thought he was the least likely among the four suspects.

Tong Jien suddenly said, “This person might have Northern Rong blood.”

The Grand Princess’s second daughter, Princess Mingying, was once kidnapped by the Right Guli King of Beirong. Fortunately, General Xu rescued her the following year. However, her reputation was damaged, and she later married a minor general from a humble background named Huang. Huang Zhengmao was their eldest son.

Later, based on some old suspicions, the old emperor had doubts, but they were just suspicions. This was the main reason he was listed as a suspect, but there was no evidence. Now, it seemed likely to be true.

Northern Rong and Da Qing were mortal enemies. If his bloodline was exposed, Huang Zhengmao would be finished. His entire family would be unable to stay in Da Qing, and even his brothers’ families and General Xu might be implicated. There might also be some unknown stories between him and Northern Rong. The Right Guli King was a member of the Northern Rong royal family, and many stories could have happened.

The old emperor had indeed put a lot of effort into investigating. His hatred for being severely injured and the significant threat on the northern border were intolerable for an emperor.

Tong Jien had already gathered a lot of indirect evidence. Now, with the suspect’s confession, many things became clear. The traitor was identified as Duke Ning, General Huang Zhengmao.

Xiyang, one of the major towns on the northern border, had General Huang Zhengmao as one of its core defenders. He might have suspected he was under close surveillance, or perhaps he was unwillingly involved in dealings with Northern Rong and didn’t want to expose himself. Regardless, Northern Rong’s army chose Gaobian as their breakthrough point instead of Xiyang. The reasons for this are unclear, but the upcoming capture operation had many considerations. First, they couldn’t allow internal chaos in Xiyang; the military needed to remain stable. Second, the operation had to be swift to prevent the target from escaping. Their plan was clear: the target could die, but escape was not an option.

Su Ci whispered a few questions to Yang Yanzong, who explained that they needed to frame someone. She understood immediately.

The old emperor’s ultimate goal was still the three major princely estates. But whether it was her bad luck or not, after she summarized the plan, Yang Yanzong smiled, and the subsequent events were indeed very thrilling.

---

The capture operation went relatively smoothly. Tong Jien personally led the mission, secretly entering the city and meeting with General Tang Qun, another key commander in Xiyang, who was one of the old emperor’s most trusted individuals.

Tang Qun was initially incredulous, his eyes reddening as he murmured, “Impossible, impossible.”

But when Tong Jien presented the imperial arrow and the emperor’s decree, Tang Qun immediately knelt to accept the order, wiped his face, and hurried off.

That night, it was unclear if Huang Zhengmao noticed the unusual military activity. He might have, given his guilty conscience.

Tong Jien, Yang Yanzong, Ji Yuanhao, and others rode swiftly to Huang Zhengmao’s headquarters.

Due to its terrain, Xiyang City was much larger than Gaobian. The military and civilian residences were all within the city. The sound of hooves echoed along the third main street of the military district, heading straight to the end.

The barracks were quiet. The group dismounted, and Tong Jien signaled the guards to quickly surround the three-entry barracks. The guards at the gate were about to question them but were stunned by the golden order Tong Jien presented, leaving them at a loss. The group quickly entered the courtyard.

Inside, it was eerily quiet. Huang Zhengmao had already sent away his long-time personal guards under various pretexts.

Yang Yanzong, with his years of battlefield experience, immediately sensed something was off. He shouted, “Stop!!!”

Ji Yuanhao, A Zhao, Su Ci, and the others halted instantly. Tong Jien took two more steps before stopping, puzzled and about to ask a question. Just then, the silhouette in the eastern study moved, and the candlelight flickered.

At the moment Yang Yanzong shouted, he heard the hiss of gunpowder and oil igniting. He was horrified and shouted, “Retreat, quickly retreat!!”

“Boom—”

From the center of the front courtyard study, the entire barracks exploded, with huge orange flames suddenly erupting and covering everything!

Yang Yanzong’s main concern was Su Ci, not Tong Jien. Among all the people there, she was the least skilled. She had fallen behind the others, and with so many people in the way, Yang Yanzong couldn’t reach her immediately.

In a critical moment, Su Ci exclaimed and quickly ran back, covering her head. She was only three or four steps from the gate! But just as she stepped forward, there was a sudden explosion behind her, causing her to lose her balance and fall. In a flash, someone grabbed her waist and threw her out!

It was Qiu Yuanming. He had been keeping a low profile, blending in with the guards. At the moment of the explosion, he was just ahead of Su Ci, at the perfect distance. Though not exceptionally skilled, he was just good enough. He took a risk, threw her out, and pushed off with his foot, causing them to fall outside the gate.

“Boom!” The two gates and the entire courtyard wall were blown away with a loud explosion!

Yang Yanzong arrived just in time, scooping Su Ci up with one arm and grabbing Qiu Yuanming’s collar with the other, pulling them out of the explosion’s range to safety.

It was a close call.

Qiu Yuanming coughed and complained, “Are you kidding me?” He was annoyed that Yang Yanzong was so gentle with his wife but rough with his old friend, nearly choking him.

Yang Yanzong patted his shoulder, “Thanks, brother.”

Su Ci quickly added, “Brother Qiu, thank goodness for you!”

Yang Yanzong’s words were brief but sincere. Without Qiu Yuanming, Su Ci would likely have been injured.

Qiu Yuanming brushed it off, “No big deal.”

Was it worth all the thanks? Everyone was fine, so they laughed it off and moved on.

Qiu Yuanming glanced over, “That Inspector Tong doesn’t look too good.”

---

As they had joked earlier, Huang Zhengmao’s death wasn’t a big deal as long as he didn’t escape. The only problem now was that Huang Zhengmao’s headquarters, especially the study, had been blown up, leaving nothing behind. But this wasn’t a major issue. Yang Yanzong had prepared for this. The group retreated a bit, avoiding too much attention from the Xiyang military. Yang Yanzhen quietly approached and reported, “Brother, we’ve found Huang Zhengmao’s private residence.” He had people watching it, and everyone was accounted for.

Huang Zhengmao’s wife and children—or rather, his concubines and children—were all there.

Generals stationed at the border for long periods often left their families in the capital but maintained another home at the border, taking concubines and having children. Huang Zhengmao was no exception.

Yang Yanzong smiled, “The private residence is intact.”

The group immediately turned and headed to Huang Zhengmao’s private residence.

Tong Jien couldn’t go; he was too injured, with a head wound and possibly a broken or sprained leg, covered in blood. He grabbed Yang Yanzong’s hand, his sharp eyes staring intently, and glanced at Ji Yuanhao, “General Yang, don’t forget the emperor’s decree!”

Yang Yanzong replied calmly, “I won’t forget.”

Although Tong Jien couldn’t go, he sent the remaining Inspectorate personnel along, led by a eunuch named Liang. Su Ci noticed that Eunuch Liang carried a large bundle on his back.

As they galloped westward, Su Ci glanced at him and suddenly remembered something. “Hey, didn’t you say the Sixth Prince wanted to get rid of you?”

Su Ci knew exactly why they were going to Huang Zhengmao’s private residence. If Yang Yanzong made a move, it would mean a complete break with the Sixth Prince’s faction. But why hadn’t the Sixth Prince made any moves? It didn’t seem like his style.

Yang Yanzong smiled, “How do you know he hasn’t?” These days, he had faced countless overt and covert attacks.

“You’re fine, aren’t you?” Su Ci glared at him. “How would I know if you don’t tell me?”

“Alright, I’ll tell you next time.” He leaned down, kissed her lightly, and patted her back.

---

When they arrived at Huang Zhengmao’s private residence, Eunuch Liang opened the large bundle. Su Ci observed closely and discovered that the evidence the old emperor intended to use to eliminate the three major princely estates was the third batch of 21 million taels of silver that had gone missing in the river.

Yang Yanzong showed no surprise. Ji Yuanhao raised an eyebrow but remained composed.

— Alright, these are all experts. She decided to stay out of it and just watch.

The critical moment arrived. After arranging the secret compartment in the study, Eunuch Liang stuffed the bundle’s contents inside, making it indistinguishable from the real thing. He then turned, “General Yang.”

The next crucial step was up to them.

Ji Yuanhao spread out aged paper, dipped a brush in treated ink, and began writing. His strokes were firm and steady, mimicking the handwriting of the Fourth Prince!

Su Ci felt a twinge of anxiety. Never assume you can control everything; even the wisest can make mistakes.

Meanwhile, Yang Yanzong examined Eunuch Liang’s items, pondered his own preparations, and briefly discussed them with Qiu Yuanming, who nodded.

Qiu Yuanming then moved to the other side of the long table, spread paper, dipped his brush in ink, and Yang Yanzong produced a meticulously carved seal.

— Qiu Yuanming wasn’t just there for his expertise in criminal law; he was also an expert in forging handwriting, a remarkable skill.

Eunuch Liang’s eyes lit up, and he quickly discussed with Yang Yanzong, hoping to forge a letter for the Seventh Prince’s residence as well.

Alright, they could go all the way since they were already doing it.

So, three letters with different handwriting were quickly written, laid out on the table to dry, and then aged by someone on Eunuch Liang’s side.

Done.

Ji Yuanhao swiftly folded the letters and sealed them. He personally placed the deadly letter into the secret compartment.

Qiu Yuanming wasn’t slow either. He quickly folded the letter in the Sixth Prince’s style, turned around the treasure cabinet, and placed it in the secret compartment.

Eunuch Liang smiled, “Alright, these past few days have been hard on everyone. His Majesty won’t forget your contributions!”

The mission was a complete success. Now, it was time for a perfect exit. But unexpectedly, something happened that no one could have predicted. The atmosphere had been tense all along as they were dealing with matters that could affect the entire Da Qing dynasty.

Once everything was finally done, they relaxed a bit.

Yang Yanzong switched his sword to his left hand, patted Qiu Yuanming’s shoulder, and said, “Zhongqi, I’ve secured the position of Chief of the Dali Stone Prison for you. Once this is over, …”

The position of Chief of the Dali Stone Prison was Qiu Yuanming’s dream job. He didn’t like being an advisor; he preferred focusing on criminal law.

Qiu Yuanming turned and smiled at Yang Yanzong. But Yang Yanzong suddenly paused mid-sentence. When he patted Qiu Yuanming’s shoulder, his hand brushed against Qiu Yuanming’s arm and abdomen. At the rib area, he felt something like the edge of an envelope.

In a flash, Yang Yanzong’s instincts kicked in!

He was extremely perceptive, having survived many life-and-death situations by relying on his intuition. At that moment, he recalled Su Ci’s words on the way, “Hey, didn’t you say the Sixth Prince wanted to get rid of you?”

“You’re fine, aren’t you?”

Yang Yanzong quickly turned, strode into the treasure cabinet, and swiftly opened the secret compartment. He reached in and pulled out the letters he had just placed, flipping through them. There were letters from the Fourth Prince, the Seventh Prince, and… one from him.

It bore the seal of the Northern Pacification Commissioner and his own handwriting.

Yang Yanzong laughed. He let out a derisive laugh.