Chapter 72

The New Year passed quickly, and the lingering sounds of firecrackers and smoke still hung in the air. Before long, more than half of the year had gone by.

On the tenth day, before dawn, Su Ci woke up. She dressed in the dark, and Nanny Zhang entered with a maid carrying a lantern. “Young Madam, why so early?”

Su Ci smiled, “Couldn’t sleep, so I got up early.”

“I’m going to Hongruitang. Put on your thick clothes and come with me.”

Those who served in the main courtyard were carefully selected, mostly the sisters, daughters, and orphans of personal soldiers. They were all trusted people and, of course, had to come along.

Once they passed through the secret passage, they could stay at the house. They weren’t key figures, so even if they had to leave later, it wouldn’t be too late.

The group felt a sense of unease, exchanged glances, and quickly nodded, tightening their clothes. Su Ci put on a fox fur cloak, opened the door, and stepped into the cold, dark night. She pulled up her hood, the black, fluffy fox fur framing her porcelain-white face, her expression serious.

A Zheng and others were already standing in the corridor, fully dressed and ready. When they saw the door open, they silently bowed.

Su Ci whispered, “Let’s go!”

They crept along the corridor, their boots making no sound on the wet steps and courtyard. They opened the side door, and Su Ci led them into the back courtyard.

The back courtyard was already prepared. Su Ci first went to Hongruitang, located at the junction of the east road and the front and back courtyards. Yang Chongying was already dressed. The recent bad weather had caused some of his old ailments to flare up, but he had gotten up in the dark, looking solemn. When he saw Su Ci, she called out, “Father.” He nodded and immediately ordered, “Alright, go wake everyone up.”

No one in the family knew about this plan except Su Ci and Yang Chongying, and they hadn’t leaked any information. The family members were woken up quietly.

Su Ci glanced back, and A Zheng understood, immediately giving instructions. A personal guard quickly took Nanny Zhang and rushed to Su Rong’s courtyard.

The guard and Nanny Zhang climbed over the wall into the courtyard. Nanny Zhang silently unlatched the door with a dagger and rushed in to wake Su Rong.

Startled, Su Rong sat up, and Nanny Zhang quickly dressed her in thick clothes. “The old master is unwell, suddenly fell ill at midnight. Second young mistress, come with me!”

Su Rong, confused, quickly agreed, but she felt strange. Yang Chongying was unwell, yet a maid from the main courtyard came to wake her, and a personal guard was waiting outside. They were heading towards Shou’antang.

Su Rong’s heart raced. She kept her mouth shut and hurriedly followed.

Rushing into Shou’antang, Mrs. Yan had already been woken up. In the cold, dark night, she cursed, “What’s going on? Who?! Are you trying to die?!”

“Mother, there’s something urgent. We need to leave immediately.” It was Su Ci. The maids and personal guards were always hesitant around Mrs. Yan.

Su Ci quickly entered the inner room, smiled, and said, “Father is already waiting outside. Mother, please hurry.” She nodded to the maids, who were mostly raised on the estate or had some skills. With their mistress’s signal, they quickly dressed Mrs. Yan, combed her hair, and put on her hat.

Mrs. Yan, still groggy, was helped out by Nanny Feng and a maid. Yang Chongying impatiently glanced at her and shouted, “Hurry, follow!”

Without lighting a lamp, the family, surrounded by personal guards, quickly passed through the corridor between the front and back courtyards. Su Ci led the way, and A Kang, who had been waiting at the back door of Yang Yanzong’s study, nodded and led them to the corner room.

The corner room door opened, and A Kang had already opened the secret passage. He led the way, protecting Su Ci as they passed through the narrow, three-mile-long passage.

The lantern’s light was dim, and the people behind stumbled, but they hurriedly followed. After several turns, they emerged in a small two-room house.

The inner city was indeed a residential area for the nobility, but these nobles typically had hundreds of household servants. These servants, along with guests, tutors, and extended family members, often formed a large cluster of ordinary residences behind the grand streets of the nobility, creating a vast area of interconnected houses.

So, even in the inner city, there were ordinary residential areas. Early risers emptied chamber pots, went to work and busied themselves with various tasks. While the grand mansions of the nobility still slept, the ordinary residential areas were already bustling.

These inner-city ordinary residential areas had the characteristic of being relatively quiet and not too noisy.

The small house from which Su Ci and her group emerged was located in such an area. By now, the sky was beginning to lighten, and outside, the sound of cartwheels rolling over cobblestones, footsteps, and the hustle and bustle of people and vehicles filled the air.

The group quickly changed into prepared clothes, adjusted their hair, and boarded the mule carts that had been ready in the small courtyard. A Kang and the others also changed into driver outfits. The main gate opened, and several small carts quietly merged into the flow of people and vehicles, turning onto the main street.

They left the inner city, and by the time they reached the south gate, the sky was fully bright. The south gate was bustling with traffic, and they queued up and smoothly exited the city. Afterward, they switched to horse-drawn carriages and headed straight for the Yangling villa.

They arrived in the afternoon. The Great Xiling Mountains stretch hundreds of miles from east to west, and Yangling is one of its branches, semi-surrounding Yangdu in the distant suburbs.

Spring had quietly arrived, and some resilient buds had already started to bloom in the mountains. The evergreen trees were a deep green, and the Yangling hills stretched on, making the mountains even colder, with breath turning to frost.

Su Ci tightened her fox fur cloak, but her feet were still cold. A Kang quickly said, “There are heated floors inside, Young Madam. Let’s go in.”

Su Ci took one last look around and nodded. She had been to this Yangling villa before; it was one of Yang Yanzong’s backup secret bases. However, when she last visited, the villa wasn’t finished. Now, it was complete, though its appearance was unremarkable. The main buildings were made of ordinary blue bricks and black tiles, and a few scattered villages were at the foot of the mountain. No one saw the villa’s owner as particularly wealthy, and the arrival of a half-old carriage didn’t raise any eyebrows.

However, this Yangling villa was a good place. It was located on the left shoulder of a gorge. According to Yang Yanzong, following the gorge southward through the mountains would lead directly out of Yangdu’s territory. From there, they could follow the Yang River downstream, heading straight to the southwest.

After entering the villa, A Kang opened a hidden compartment, took out a brown bundle, and presented it to Su Ci. “Young Madam.”

This was something Yang Yanzong had prepared earlier.

Su Ci took it and opened it. Inside were two large boxes, both filled with silver notes. Each note wasn’t of an exaggerated amount, but there were many, stacked over a palm’s width thick, giving off the scent of silver. A Kang added, “There are also silver coins in Peng County. One box is for the old master and mistress, and the other is for you.”

As A Kang spoke, his voice grew somber. This time, Yang Yanzong hadn’t taken him along. Master hadn’t said it, but A Kang knew that if it came to that, he would follow Young Madam. He understood his master’s intentions and knew his task was important, but not being able to fight alongside his master and comrades left him feeling a bit down.

A Kang pulled himself together. “There are also household registration documents below.”

Su Ci flipped through the contents and quickly found the documents A Kang mentioned. She opened them and was momentarily stunned.

The documents were in order, containing records for the Yang family, the Su family, and herself.

A stack of aged household registration papers shows three generations returning to their ancestral home in Peng County with simple and ordinary identities. Notably, Su Ci’s registration was separate, not with the Yang or Su families. She could choose to rejoin the Su family if she wished, but she could also remain independent.

There was also a simple commendation document from the county, praising her as a righteous woman who had resisted bandits, helped the people, and donated resources to aid her disaster-stricken hometown.

Simple and free, a widow praised by the county magistrate, a role model for local women, making ordinary life less troublesome.

Of course, she likely wouldn’t face much trouble, even if she were alone, as A Kang and A Zheng would still be with her.

Additionally, A Kang said, “The governor of Yinzhou is Master’s long-time confidant and can be trusted. Peng County is under Yinzhou. If you encounter difficulties in the future, you can seek help from the governor.”

Su Ci looked up in surprise, and A Kang took out a letter from his pocket.

Su Ci hesitated and then took it. It was written by Yang Yanzong, but not to her—it was addressed to Yang Chongying. A Kang explained, “If you and the old lady have a dispute in the future, you can give this letter to the old master.”

The so-called dispute referred to the independent household registration Su Ci held. She stared at the letter for a while, then called for a candle, holding the letter’s seal over the flame to melt the wax. She carefully opened the letter.

A Kang watched but said nothing.

Su Ci read the letter in Yang Yanzong’s handwriting, “Father, if you are reading this, I am no longer here. I have been unfilial and unable to serve you. The matter of Miss Su was my decision. Please do not blame her. Our marriage has ended, and there is no need to force her to stay. Please take care of Mother. With deep respect, I beg you to take care.”

She could leave the Yang family to remarry, live alone, or return to her family as a wealthy young lady.

Su Ci was stunned. She finally understood what Yang Yanzong meant when he said he had arranged everything and that she could leave if she didn’t want to stay with the family.

It was very thoughtful. Everything that needed to be considered and arranged had been taken care of. If she went to the southwest, she could start a new life. Under such conditions, she would likely live happily. If the worst happened, this was the last thing he could arrange for her.

Su Ci felt a bit uneasy, holding the letter and staring at it for a long time, feeling a mix of emotions.

At this moment, she couldn’t help but be touched. Su Ci had always known he was sincere. At least, at this moment, he was. He was stubborn, bad-tempered, and overbearing, but his feelings for her were genuine at this moment.

After a while, she sighed softly, feeling a bit sentimental. If this were modern times, having such a boyfriend would be wonderful!

Even someone like her, who wasn’t keen on romance, might develop the desire to love someone truly. But alas, there were no “ifs.”

Who knew what the future held for her and Yang Yanzong? Never mind, she thought. She never liked wasting energy on hypothetical scenarios.

Su Ci rubbed the letter for a moment, collected herself, carefully refolded the letter, and put it back in the envelope, handing it to A Kang to reseal with wax.

The room felt a bit stifling. A Kang silently took the envelope, and just as Su Ci was about to speak, they heard a commotion outside!

It was Mrs. Yan’s voice.

The villa wasn’t large, with Su Ci in the center, Yang Chongying on the left, and Mrs. Yan and Su Rong on the right. The quiet mountain setting made any disturbance easily audible, and Su Ci immediately heard the noise.

The clamor outside continued, starting with Su Rong and Nanny Zhang’s voices, followed by their exclamations, then the guards speaking in low tones, and finally, Mrs. Yan’s angry screams.

Su Ci frowned, rubbed her temples, and quickly stood up to go outside.

“Young Madam, Young Madam.”

The guards greeted her as she emerged. Su Ci asked what was happening and learned that Mrs. Yan wanted to take a carriage to fetch Aunt Yan.

Aunt Yan was still at the villa in the southern suburbs. Earlier that morning, Mrs. Yan had been complaining, but upon seeing the secret passage, she had quieted down, likely realizing the gravity of the situation. She had been cooperative until they reached the villa. If there was anyone Mrs. Yan was most concerned about, her sister was definitely at the top of the list. Upon arrival, Su Rong nervously asked what was happening, and the guards vaguely mentioned changes in the city.

Changes in the city are significant enough to warrant relocating the family.

Mrs. Yan had immediately panicked, insisting they couldn’t forget Aunt Yan, who was still at the southern suburbs villa, only twenty or thirty miles from Yangdu!

She demanded a carriage to fetch her sister. But the guards didn’t comply. Mrs. Yan became furious and tried to go herself, but was stopped, leading to a confrontation.

Mrs. Yan tried to force her way out, and the guards, not wanting to harm her, blocked her path. Su Rong tried to help but was pushed to the ground, clutching her abdomen in pain.

Mrs. Yan had scratched one of the guards’ faces, leaving red marks, and the scene was chaotic.

Su Ci frowned and quickly ordered someone to help Su Rong up. “Is she pregnant? We can’t have any accidents. Call Doctor Liu immediately and take the second young mistress back to her room!” She glared at the flustered maids and servants behind Mrs. Yan, sharply commanding, “What are you standing around for? Help the old mistress inside, now!!”

The maids and servants snapped out of their daze, quickly finding their backbone and rushing to restrain Mrs. Yan, finally freeing the young guards from her grasp.

Mrs. Yan was furious, “Su girl, how dare you defy me?!”

Su Ci’s lips twitched. This woman sure knew how to make accusations. She wanted to say, do you even know your son is out there fighting for his life?

But she held back and simply said, “The eldest son is struggling outside. We can’t help him, but we mustn’t drag him down either.”

Mrs. Yan retorted, “Your aunt is still at the villa in Shengping! How can we leave her behind? Fine, I won’t go, but you must send someone to fetch her!”

Su Ci sighed and calmly replied, “Mother, this villa is a secret base. Until things are resolved, no outsiders can know about it.”

“Outsiders? How is your aunt an outsider?!”

The word “outsider” infuriated Mrs. Yan. She was both anxious and angry, knowing the villa was still dozens of miles away from Shengping.

Mrs. Yan exploded, “Su, are you going or not?!”

“Fine, fine! If you won’t go, I will!!”

But no matter how she pleaded or raged, Su Ci remained firm, saying only, “No.”

Mrs. Yan tried to storm out, but Su Ci ordered the guards to stop her. “Mother, rest assured, no one will trouble Aunt.”

She understood Mrs. Yan’s feelings for her sister, just as everyone knew Yang Yanzong had no affection for his aunt. The likelihood of Aunt Yan being in trouble was nearly zero.

Mrs. Yan’s face turned red with anger, glaring at Su Ci. This was their first direct confrontation. “Fine, fine! Su, just you wait!…”

Before Mrs. Yan could finish her threats, Yang Chongying stormed in, slapping Mrs. Yan to the ground!

“Foolish woman, wretch! You care so much about your sister? I’ll give you a divorce letter, and you can go to her!!”

Yang Chongying, furious, grabbed Mrs. Yan’s hair and slapped her several more times!

It was quite satisfying! Su Ci felt a secret thrill but quickly signaled A Zheng to help separate them.

Yang Chongying’s health was poor. His old injuries had left him with chronic issues, and he had been bedridden since the end of last year. He had only recently been able to get out of bed, but he was still weak. Wrapped in two layers of heavy cloaks, he had rushed over and was exhausted. Just as he lay down, he received the news, making him furious.

“Wretched woman, fool, you don’t know anything!” Yang Chongying cursed Mrs. Yan in front of everyone, not caring about saving face. Mrs. Yan, enraged and humiliated, tried to fight back but was dragged inside by Nanny Zhang and the others, ending the commotion.

Su Ci quickly said to Yang Chongying, “Father, you should rest.”

Seeing his flushed face and sweating forehead, she knew the weather was no joke. Mrs. Chen also urged, “Yes, brother, go back inside.”

Su Ci directed the servants, “Make sure the fire is burning hot, help him change and wipe his sweat before he sleeps. Hurry.”

They quickly sent Yang Chongying back, waiting outside until everything was settled. Su Ci and Chen then stepped out.

The right courtyard had quieted down.

Su Ci rubbed her temples, standing on the hillside, gazing at the slightly green plains below.

She was worried, not just about Yang Yanzong but also about her father and sister. Her father, being one of Yang Yanzong’s trusted aides, would definitely be involved in the action if he were healthy. As for her sister, the entire reconnaissance team was involved, and she insisted on going along: “Of course I’m going. Otherwise, what kind of person would I be?”

Su Ci had no choice but to let her go. It had been almost two days without any news. Just like Yang Yanzong.

It made her anxious. Su Ci paced on the hillside for a long time. Just as A Kang persuaded her to return, they suddenly heard hurried footsteps approaching!

The newcomer was a familiar member of the reconnaissance team. A Kang quickly asked, “Da Fei, what’s the situation over there now?”

Given the time, it was unlikely there would be results so soon. Was there a major development?

Da Fei looked serious: “By early morning, Master led the troops in a fierce battle with Huang Dewei’s forces. The latter didn’t fall for the trap, and our people are at risk of being surrounded!” He was responsible for reporting back to facilitate a timely retreat. This was the first message, and it wasn’t good news.

Su Ci’s heart sank.

Mrs. Chen staggered back a few steps, nearly pulling Su Ci off balance. She steadied herself and forced a smile.

“Don’t panic, don’t worry! He can do it!!”

“Until the last moment, no one is allowed to panic! Do you hear me?!”

Su Ci calmed herself down. She believed in Yang Yanzong. Don’t panic, don’t worry. She thought this, but her heart tightened, and her nerves were on edge.

—

Yang Yanzong indeed faced difficulties.

Things didn’t go smoothly at first. Huang Dewei, as the commander of the Imperial Guards, responsible for the safety of the entire imperial city, was indeed formidable—a tough opponent.

Yang Yanzong, attacking from the outside with limited manpower, faced extreme danger at times.

The old emperor was no saint. He used Yang Yanzong and Ji Yuanhao but never let his guard down, closely monitoring the guards.

Yang Yanzong knew this well, so he didn’t use the left guard. Instead, he relied on his long-time trusted subordinates from the Qingfeng and Baisun camps to complete the disguise and redeployment with the Kun family’s assistance.

On a cold night, after handling all necessary matters, Yang Yanzong led his troops downstream of the Imperial River, a few miles west of the palace. He waved his hand, and his trusted subordinates, including Yang Yanxin and Yang Yanzhen, immediately led their troops into the water.

The passage was already open. They infiltrated the palace’s outer perimeter through the Imperial River, ready to attack the Imperial Guards.

The palace’s Imperial River, benefiting from the hot spring’s geothermal heat, did not freeze and was warmer than the city of Yangdu. However, Yang Yanxin’s face was pale with nervousness.

Yang Yanzong sternly said, “Stay calm!”

Yang Yanxin clenched his fists, nodded firmly, and followed Yang Yanzhen into the water.

The troops silently advanced, and after about a quarter of an hour, Yang Yanzong estimated they were close enough. He mounted his horse, clad in armor with some dust and bloodstains. Officially, his task was to lead the Left Guard Army to protect the southern routes of the Great Xiling’s outermost layer.

Leading a few riders, Yang Yanzong galloped towards the palace. From a distance, the sentries recognized him and quickly opened the gate.

“What’s going on?!” He hurried in and soon met with Huang Dewei. Yang Yanzong gravely said, “It’s bad. The Kun family is plotting treason. The south was just attacked, several Left Guard officers have defected, most soldiers have mutinied, and the Left Guard is overwhelmed. The rebels are approaching the palace!”

Huang Dewei was shocked.

At that moment, faint shouts and hoofbeats could be heard outside the palace!

The south was a wide-open area, and the sound carried well. Judging by the noise, the rebels were only seven or eight miles away.

Yang Yanzong’s usually cold face was stained with blood, his eyes heavy, but he watched Huang Dewei closely.

Huang Dewei commanded 30,000 Imperial Guards, with 10,000 on the west side. Yang Yanzong’s forces were inferior in number, and his goal was to divert one-third of Huang Dewei’s troops.

If Huang Dewei took the bait, Yang Yanzong’s men would seize the palace gate, and his forces would attack from the Imperial River, aiming to resolve the battle within an hour!

Huang Dewei initially believed him and ordered his deputy to send 3,000 troops to assist. However, being a sharp and cautious man, he glanced at the shimmering, unfrozen Imperial River and hesitated.

He suddenly stopped, turned to Yang Yanzong, and after a moment, changed his strategy: “No need to go. Close the palace gates immediately, bar them, and defend against the enemy from the walls!!”

This way, they could ensure safety. He would rather sacrifice the Left Guard than take risks!

Indeed, Huang Dewei was the most formidable opponent in this operation!!

The situation changed rapidly. Huang Dewei’s personal guards rushed to the watchtower, where a large bronze gong and signal fire were kept, manned by a dedicated soldier to alert the entire palace of any rebellion. The guard ran to the tower, whistled, and the soldier raised the bronze hammer to strike the gong!

Yang Yanzong raised his hand, and with a “whoosh,” a sleeve arrow shot out, hitting the soldier in the forehead and causing him to fall!

“Just as expected!!” Huang Dewei’s eyes widened!

The once silent outer palace erupted into chaos as Yang Yanzong and his men rushed towards the Imperial River. A sharp whistle pierced the air, and rushing water filled the palace, plunging it into turmoil!!

A fierce battle ensued!

Initially, Yang Yanzong’s side was at a disadvantage, outnumbered by the enemy. Worse, the plan to replace the Southern Army’s Seventh Guard had failed, forcing Ji Yuanhao to turn back and hold the line, unable to join Yang Yanzong in flanking Huang Dewei.

Yang Yanzong faced extreme difficulty.

The Imperial Guards were well-trained, elite soldiers, outnumbering Yang Yanzong’s forces. Fortunately, the Qingfeng and Baisun camps, seasoned in the northern frontier battles, were exceptionally fierce and managed to maintain their formation.

Even so, the battle was extremely unfavorable. They were in wet clothes and light armor, and the longer the fight dragged on, the worse the situation would become.

Yang Yanzong and Huang Dewei fought fiercely, both sustaining injuries. As they clashed, Huang Dewei was wounded, and a streak of blood appeared on Yang Yanzong’s left cheek. He retreated quickly, raising his arm and shouting, “Soldiers, you have followed me in battle for many years. Our blades have always been aimed at foreign invaders, but today, our emperor has poisoned the wives and children of his subjects without a second thought. His heart is more venomous than that of the Northern Rong people. He must be destroyed. He must be punished!!

“Today! We either succeed or die trying. We advance and retreat together, living and dying as one! If I, Yang, do not die today, and any of you are harmed, your parents will be my parents; your children will be my children. I will care for them, and I will teach them!! I will not fail you!!”

These soldiers had fought alongside Yang Yanzong for many years, sharing life and death. Though their backgrounds varied, each had faced their own struggles to become soldiers. Yang Yanzong ensured they were well-fed and well-treated, fostering a strong bond over the years. His words were never empty promises, and his speech ignited their anger, leading to a thunderous battle cry! They fought fiercely, quickly breaking through the encircling forces.

The brutal and bloody nature of battlefield combat reached its peak at that moment, and the elite Imperial Guards, despite their superior numbers, were momentarily overwhelmed by the ferocity of Yang Yanzong’s troops.

The sky was filled with swirling clouds, and the light snow turned to rain before hitting the ground, stinging their faces and bodies. Yang Yanzong wiped the blood from his face, thinking of Su Ci in this critical moment.

The woman who made him furious, exasperated, and deeply loved.

In a fit of anger, Yang Yanzong had once thought that if he didn’t return, she would be free to remarry and be happy. But now, with his life on the line, how could he accept that?!

“Why should I?!” He had to return!!

Their issues were far from resolved.

Yang Yanzong raised his sword, its sharp blade humming with energy. He launched himself at Huang Dewei, engaging in nearly a hundred close-quarters exchanges. Finally, his sword grazed Huang Dewei’s chest, and with a swift reverse strike, he drove his blade deep into Huang Dewei’s heart!

Huang Dewei’s sword had cut through Yang Yanzong’s armor and skin, drawing blood, but Yang Yanzong’s sword had pierced his opponent’s heart.

With a fierce pull, Yang Yanzong withdrew his sword, blood spraying over his head and face. He had finally killed the formidable Huang Dewei!

—