Chapter 65

Yang Yanzong returned to his room very late. He pushed open the door with a creak, and a dim light flickered. He lowered his head, unbuttoned his sleeves, and washed his hands and face.

Su Ci was already asleep, but not deeply. When he lifted the curtain and got into bed, she woke up, rubbed her eyes, and turned over, facing away from him. She hugged the quilt and said, “You’re back?”

He responded with a faint “Hmm.” The light was already out, and in the dark, she could only see the outline of his nose and brow. He didn’t turn his head, lying down with his hands on his chest and eyes closed.

Su Ci shrugged, rustled around for a while, and then fell back asleep.

The room fell silent again, and the night passed without words.

The following day, both of them got up quite early. When Yang Yanzong got up, Su Ci also rubbed her eyes and climbed out of bed. She washed her face, tied her hair into two buns, changed her clothes, and was ready. She said to Yang Yanzong, who was adjusting his belt, “I’m going back to Suiping today.”

He knew this because today was the day they were moving from Suiping.

Yang Yanzong nodded, indicating he understood.

Su Ci saw that it was getting late. She was in a hurry to leave but gradually became more at ease. Smiling, she said, “I’m off then!” She grabbed the whip from the table, turned, and left. The sound of her small boots tapping along the corridor gradually faded away.

At dawn, Yang Yanzong stood by the window, adjusting his appearance. He didn’t turn around. He continued to adjust his sleeves slowly, the sound of footsteps already distant and inaudible. He looked out the window.

The cluster of canna lilies was still lush, swaying gently in the autumn morning breeze.

Gradually letting go of his emotions and treating Su Ci as an ordinary wife during this time, Yang Yanzong felt it was working well. He felt much calmer emotionally. He no longer got angry or sad easily. When he was busy, he thought of her less and less. This was good.

He handled matters professionally and didn’t even mind the idea of marital life, though he currently had no such desires. He thought that in the near future, if he needed to, he wouldn’t mind being intimate.

Nothing is impossible! He didn’t linger any longer and quickly left the warm, fragrant room he once cherished.

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Su Ci didn’t think too much about it. In over half a month, hot topics could become old news. Life had to go on, and there was no point in making things difficult for herself. After feeling melancholic and sentimental, she quickly adapted and continued to live each day energetically.

The early September wind was already quite chilly, the wild grass tips turning yellow, and geese flying south. Farmers were busy but smiling, their simple faces bringing joy to anyone who saw them.

Riding a fast horse early in the morning, she sped past the yellowing fields and countryside, returning home to Suiping around the hour of Chen. Su Ci first went back to the East Courtyard for breakfast, as she didn’t feel comfortable without eating. She hadn’t yet developed the iron stomach of Yang Yanzong, A Kang, and A Zheng.

A Kang would often tease her. Being down-to-earth and humorous, Su Ci shared a similar sense of humor with A Kang, so he felt comfortable joking with her.

Su Ci gave him a sidelong glance and tossed him a bun. A Kang, quick and agile, caught it with one hand, took a bite, and complained, “The dough didn’t rise well today.”

Whether it rose well or not, filling the stomach was the priority. Su Ci quickly finished her breakfast and hurried to the backyard.

By this time, the move was ready to commence. The large items had already been transported to Yangdu, leaving only smaller items and valuables. However, there were still over a dozen large carts with the cook’s usual pots, pans, and other belongings. Yang Zhongying had already reported to the left camp in Yangdu, and so had Su Di. Today, the move was overseen by the women of the household. The front carts had already started to leave, and Mrs. Yan, feeling uneasy, called Su Ci over and instructed her to keep an eye on her bed.

Mrs. Yan’s most significant piece of luggage was her canopy bed. Though not made of precious wood, it held great sentimental value for Mrs. Yan. All three of her sons were born on this bed, and it had been a source of pride for her over the past twenty years. To her, it was a bed of good fortune, and she had never been willing to replace it.

Su Ci’s mouth twitched slightly. Alright, she would watch the bed. She fell to the back of the convoy, riding alongside Mrs. Yan’s large bed. Finding it amusing, Su Yan ran over and asked, “Sister, what are you doing?”

“Watching the bed.” They exchanged a helpless look. Compared to Su Rong, Su Ci felt her situation was better. She just had to watch the bed, stay away from Mrs. Yan, and avoid trouble.

Su Rong had it worse, constantly getting on and off the cart, serving tea and water, and attending to Mrs. Yan’s needs.

Su Yan, seeing this, was relieved. “Watching the bed isn’t so bad.”

Su Ci chuckled and urged her sister, “Alright, you should get back on the cart.”

Mrs. Chen had been suffering from back pain and had been lying down for the past two days. This was a condition she had since giving birth to Su Ci, flaring up with changes in the weather. Despite seeing many doctors and using various ointments, it hadn’t improved much. Fortunately, it wasn’t a severe issue, usually subsiding after a few days.

The moving date had been set and couldn’t be changed. Su Yan and Su Ci helped Mrs. Chen onto the cart, with Su Ci urging Su Yan to take care of their mother.

Su Yan agreed, handed Su Ci a flask of sweet soup, and turned her horse back. Since leaving the boudoir and taking on responsibilities, she had been cheerful and carefree, like a bird freed from a cage. Recently promoted to deputy team leader, her career was thriving, though her love life was less successful. According to Yang Yanzhen’s inside information, the young men who had shown interest in her had all been scared off or had become her brothers. But Su Yan didn’t mind and lived freely. When Mrs. Chen nagged her, she would use work as an excuse not to come home, driving Mrs. Chen half-mad with anger.

Seeing Su Yan like this made Su Ci happy but also reminded her of Yang Yanzong. Su Yan’s freedom was partly thanks to him. Feeling a bit melancholic, she acknowledged that Yang Yanzong had good qualities, which she had always known. But, it was a pity.

Shaking her head, Su Ci decided not to dwell on it. She needed to hurry; time was tight, and they wouldn’t reach home by nightfall if delayed.

Leaving the camp, the convoy moved steadily towards Yangdu, bypassing the western suburbs of Suiping. The pace was not slow, and they were on schedule to reach home. But who knew that something would go wrong in the latter half of the journey?

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The incident occurred about half a mile from Yongji Bridge.

Crossing Yongji Bridge would take them out of Suiping and into Yangdu territory. The sun was shining brightly, and the afternoon was warm. The wind wasn’t as cold, and the sound of drums and gongs could be heard from a distance. Su Ci glanced over and remarked, “So many people.”

Today was the Autumn Festival, a significant event in ancient times where villagers and townsfolk gathered to worship the land, celebrate the harvest, and pray for a bountiful year ahead. Many city dwellers also participated in the festivities. Additionally, it was the birthday of a Bodhisattva, and a nearby temple was bustling with worshippers, making the scene as lively as the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth of August.

The flow of people and vehicles was constant, with three bridges—Yongji, Da’an, and Tongming—nearby. The Yongji Bridge ahead had temporary officers directing traffic to prevent it from becoming too congested.

Su Ci called the external steward and asked him to communicate with the officers, as their convoy was quite large and needed some preparation. They gradually slowed down and eventually stopped to wait. With people and vehicles passing by in small groups, Su Ci, feeling a bit bored, watched a fire dragon dance in the distance. Just as she was finding it interesting, an unexpected event occurred!

The dragon ball tilted, and the fire dragon chased after it. The fire dragon had too much incense burning, creating a smoky haze. Su Ci, laughing, suggested they move back a bit to avoid setting the luggage carts on fire. Suddenly, there was a loud “bang,” and the long fire dragon, coiled tightly, was thrown towards them! The sweaty dragon dancer drew a long knife and charged at the convoy!

“Yang’s thief, surrender your life!!!”

Su Ci: What the heck! The change was so sudden!

In an instant, hundreds of dragon dancers turned into masked assassins, their eyes filled with hatred, and attacked fiercely!

The crowd erupted in chaos, people running and screaming, and the convoy was no exception. But the guards reacted quickly, drawing their long knives to meet the attackers!

Su Ci shouted, “Retreat, everyone! Those who can drive, drive! Those without carts, walk! No panic, no running! Under the emperor’s rule, why panic?!”

A Kang, sharp-eyed, noticed one of the agile assassins. Several assassins’ smoke masks had been knocked off in a short time, revealing their faces. A Kang frowned, “They’re from the Huang clan!”

Huang Shimao’s clan, possibly with some members of the Shi family.

Due to Princess Mingying’s presence, the Huang clan had been very prosperous for decades. They had carefully cultivated young members, and the clan was thriving. Many had scattered across the country as officials, and some had escaped early, becoming fugitives.

The Huang family didn’t believe Huang Shimao had betrayed the country—or perhaps they did, but they were filled with resentment. They hated Chen Qun, Yang Yanzong, Tong Jien, and others and always plotted revenge!

Some Shi family members were also involved, having suffered greatly due to the Marquis of Zhenbei’s mansion. Their enemy was clear: Yang Yanzong.

Yang Yanzong had received intelligence about these families, and precautions were in place. The mansion’s security and family outings, like this move from Suiping, had strengthened the guard, even sending A Kang.

There should have been no problem. But now, an unforeseen situation has arisen. The Huang and Shi families were just a front!

The battle was intense from the start. Su Ci’s side was relatively safe as she was at the rear, facing fewer attacks. But the front carts, clearly carrying women, were heavily attacked, with several guards injured in no time.

“A Kang, go! Quickly send people to the front!!”

Su Ci was anxious and worried about Mrs. Chen, and she feared Su Yan couldn’t handle it alone. And Mrs. Yan, though she didn’t like her, couldn’t be left to be slaughtered!

A Kang, responsible for overall coordination, quickly adjusted the guard density, sending over a dozen men to the front for reinforcement.

With reinforcements, the front guards were no longer overwhelmed and began to resist and counterattack effectively!

In the distance, the officers, realizing something was wrong, hurriedly mounted their horses to seek reinforcements while others tried to support them with their swords. Just when the situation seemed to stabilize, another unexpected event occurred. As the rear personnel moved out to support the front, and Su Ci ordered a gradual approach forward, a dozen assassins suddenly emerged from the crowd. These dozen individuals had been relatively inconspicuous, some even injured with the officers’ support. But suddenly, they erupted with fierce energy. The flash of blades was blinding, and with a loud “bang,” Mrs. Yan’s large bed in front of Su Ci was split in two. A Zheng rolled with her to the ground, narrowly avoiding a fatal strike.

The dozen attackers swarmed, clearly coordinated. Su Ci’s bodyguards, A Kang and A Zheng, were top-notch fighters but were evenly matched with these assailants. The attackers, two against one, quickly entangled them, and two guards were lightly injured in the chaos!

Where did the Huang and Shi families get so many skilled fighters?!

Su Ci cursed, and A Zheng, upon landing, immediately sprang up to confront three attackers, each strike deadly!

The attackers were clearly prepared, with more skilled fighters than Su Ci’s side. Despite A Kang and the others’ best efforts, one slipped through, heading straight for Su Ci!

At that moment, several more figures emerged from the crowd. A Kang, sharp-eyed, saw them draw small curved knives from under their clothes and recognized their faces. He couldn’t help but curse, “Northern Rong people!”

Northern Rong spies, taking advantage of the chaos.

A Kang was in a panic, but he was heavily engaged, fighting three opponents and unable to break free. “Madam!!” he shouted desperately.

Seeing the danger, Su Ci turned and ran. She could still hear Mrs. Yan’s blood-curdling screams, too horrific to tell if she was injured or worse, but Su Ci couldn’t worry about that now. She was in serious trouble!

The skilled fighter and the Northern Rong spies were coming straight for her. Su Ci ran towards the crowd, where many curious onlookers had gathered, thinking the assassins were only targeting the convoy. She dove into the crowd, with her pursuers close behind. The crowd screamed and scattered, creating instant chaos!

But this method was only a temporary solution. She was quickly caught up. First, a Northern Rong man, Su Ci, rolled on the ground, showing fear. As he bent down, she fiercely stabbed him with a dagger. He screamed, and she sprang up, turning and running!

The sound of wind behind her indicated the skilled fighter was catching up. In a moment of quick thinking, as he approached, she threw a handful of dirt into his eyes! Then she quickly turned left and sprinted away!

Finally, she was caught up again. The skilled fighter was on her left, and two Northern Rong men were ahead. She reached the edge of Yongji Bridge, heard the wind behind her, quickly ducked, gritted her teeth, and charged headfirst!

With a splash, the Northern Rong man stumbled back, hitting the low railing of Yongji Bridge, losing his balance, and falling headfirst into the river.

But before he fell, he grabbed Su Ci’s collar. Su Ci bit his hand. He screamed but didn’t let go, pulling Su Ci down with him. Both plunged into the water, splashing as the swift current carried them away!

Another Northern Rong man jumped onto the railing, hesitated, and followed them into the water. The skilled fighter and his companion, who had just pushed through the crowd, exchanged glances, frowning. The Northern Rong people’s involvement was unexpected. They decided, “Let’s follow!”

They chased after them to see what would happen!

That day, the Yang and Su families’ convoy wasn’t the only one attacked. A Kang and his men were shocked and immediately pursued downstream. Several groups, both openly and covertly, chased for nearly eighty miles, all the way to the river’s mouth, but couldn’t catch up with the swift current.

Su Ci was missing, as were Mrs. Ren and her eldest son. They couldn’t be found. Night had fallen, and the vast wilderness and river were daunting. A Kang, horrified, spread out his men to continue searching and sent someone back to report. Heaven help us, please let the Madam be safe!!

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Meanwhile, Yang Yanzong had already received the terrible news. When he got the message, he was discussing matters with Ji Yuanhao. Mrs. Ren and her son had been the first to encounter trouble, and Ji Yuanhao’s face changed drastically.

At that moment, urgent footsteps rushed in from outside. For some reason, Yang Yanzong’s heart suddenly pounded with a sense of extreme foreboding.

With a loud crash, Da Ming burst in. He was one of the men A Kang had taken to Suiping to fetch people. His leg was injured, so he couldn’t run fast and was tasked with reporting back!

Da Ming’s face was bloody, his leg wound unbandaged, dripping blood as he ran. He fell to his knees as soon as he entered: “Master, Master, it’s terrible! The convoy was attacked! Young Madam was chased and fell into Yongji River. Currently, her whereabouts are unknown!!”

With a roar, the thread in Yang Yanzong’s mind snapped. He stood up abruptly, “What did you say?!”

His eyes widened, blood rushing to his head, making it buzz. He grabbed Da Ming’s collar and shouted, “What did you say? Say it again!!”

The calm facade shattered!

What ordinary couple, what professional detachment—all the supposed emotional detachment and coldness crumbled in the face of this terrible news. Yang Yanzong was beyond furious: “I sent so many of you out together, and this is how you protect her!!!”