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Rong Shu lifted the carriage curtain to survey the sky and said, "There's no need to stop. The snow is getting heavier. If we linger here for two days, we might not be able to leave the mountain."

Chang Ji shared the same concern. His master had arranged this peasant cottage out of worry that Lady Rong might become exhausted.

But with the sudden change in weather and the fierce wind and snow, it would be unwise to delay their journey.

It was midday, yet the daylight was eerily dim. The blizzard in the mountains made it barely possible to see, forcing everyone to slow down their pace.

As the carriage passed through a mountain trail and turned into a narrow path, an unexpected event occurred. The horses leading the way suddenly reared up, letting out piercing screams.

Rong Shu, who was using a long silver spoon to stir the incense ashes in a Boshan censer, heard the heart-wrenching noise. Before she could comprehend what was happening, a thunderous "crash" echoed, followed by dizziness as the entire carriage was swept off the mountain path by a torrent of snow.

She collided fiercely against the carriage wall, a searing pain shooting through the back of her head. Then, her vision went black, and she lost consciousness entirely.

Chapter 109

General Jin Shangjiang of Liaodong had been close friends with the late Supreme Commander Qi Zhaung, the father of Empress Qi. He had maintained a close relationship with the Qi family and the former Second Prince, Xiao Yu.

Rong Yu had served under his command. When the Qi family had plotted their rebellion, General Jin Shangjiang must have been aware of it.

Emperor Jiayou, however, did not pursue the matter further. He merely ordered Rong Yu to be escorted back to the capital and continued to place great value on Jin Shangjiang's role.

Gu Changjin understood that this was because chaos in Liaodong could not be tolerated.

Great Yin was surrounded by powerful enemies, with Liaodong bordering the Jurchen tribes. Over the years, there had been increasing signs of unity among these tribes, and their military strength had grown stronger annually. Jin Shangjiang had long established his influence in Liaodong, with the commandants in charge of the various garrisons being his loyal confidants.

Should anything happen to Jin Shangjiang, the entire region of Liaodong would be thrown into turmoil.

That was why Emperor Jiayou turned a blind eye to his actions, punishing only Rong Yu.

Sending Rong Yu to serve his sentence in the capital served as a warning to Jin Shangjiang, but also as an act of grace.

By dispatching Gu Changjin to Liaodong, Emperor Jiayou had another motive – to have him gradually gain the loyalty of Liaodong's military leaders, turning Jin Shangjiang into a sharpening stone for his future use.

Thus, Gu Changjin's journey to Liaodong was essential.

Liaodong was over two thousand miles from the capital. With a light baggage and accompanied by a hundred skilled soldiers, Gu Changjin rode swiftly towards the northeastern province, conducting both overt and covert investigations along the way. In just four days, they reached the vicinity of the Liaodong Military Commission.

Joining him on this mission were Shiiun and Heng Ping.

The group settled in an inn within a secluded courtyard. The inn was usually quiet, but the elderly proprietor was overjoyed to have so many guests at once, attending to them eagerly with utmost dedication.

Though they were dressed in rough cloth, the old innkeeper, with his decades of experience and keen eyes, could tell that these people were no ordinary travelers. Especially the young man leading the group, whose demeanor exuded grace without arrogance, clearly indicating he was a noble from the capital.

Among them, Shiiun was the most skilled at engaging in conversation and extracting information.

The old innkeeper was a friendly soul with a straightforward nature. After a few cups of alcohol, he shared tales of the land and people of Liaodong, as well as recent significant events.

Learning that Shiiun came from the capital, he belched and whispered mysteriously, "Half a month ago, my son went to the capital to sell goods. Before leaving, he specifically sought a blessing for my safety at Daci'en Temple. Unexpectedly, on his way down the mountain, he stumbled upon something strange."

Strange occurrences were annual affairs at Daci'en Temple, typically involving miraculous sightings of Buddha or ancestors.

Shiiun was accustomed to such stories and wasn't particularly curious. However, he could tell the old innkeeper was eager to share, so he took up the conversation, smiling and asking, "Oh? What strange occurrence? Please tell me, Innkeeper, don't keep me in suspense!"

The old man stroked his white beard and said, "When my son descended the mountain, it was already night. Suddenly, a bright flame appeared within the temple. He thought it was a fire and hurried back to Daci'en Temple, intending to help extinguish it. But when he arrived, the fire had vanished without a trace. When he asked the monks there, they all claimed not to have seen any flames, nor was there any part of the temple on fire. Yet, my son clearly saw a blazing inferno soaring into the sky. How could it disappear in just an hour? Isn't that peculiar?"

The old shopkeeper, still tipsy from the alcohol, was in the midst of his storytelling when a deep, cold voice suddenly sounded in his ear.

"Which day did your son go to Daci'en Temple?"

Following the sound, the old man met a gaze as cold as an abyss, causing his heart to tremble. He paused for a moment before respectfully replying, "The twenty-third day of last month, about half a month ago."

The twenty-third of the previous month?

Gu Changjin's voice turned grave as he continued, "Did your son truly see flames?"

"Certainly! My son may not be skilled in other areas, but his eyesight is sharp." The old shopkeeper pounded his chest, assuring them with conviction.

Upon hearing this, even Shiiun and Heng Ping sensed something amiss. Daci'en Temple was the national temple; if it had indeed caught fire, the people in the Eastern Palace would not have missed such news.

It could only mean that someone had deliberately concealed the information.

But who in the capital had the power to keep even the slightest hint of the incident from reaching the Eastern Palace?

Shiiun and Heng Ping exchanged glances, both their expressions changing.

Their gazes turned to Gu Changjin, "Master?"

If they could guess, how could Gu Changjin not?

For a long while, he didn't respond. He merely stared at the white candle on the table, feeling as if his heart was being tightly gripped by an enormous hand, suffocating him.

The sound of autumn rain drizzling down echoed in his ears again.

Gu Changjin closed his eyes and forcefully calmed himself.

Perhaps it was the old shopkeeper's son who had mistaken the situation – there might have been no fire at Daci'en Temple that day. Or perhaps the old man had just fabricated a tale out of thin air.

His thoughts were in disarray.

But the more he tried to sort through these jumbled thoughts, the clearer it became to him – the old shopkeeper's son hadn't been wrong. The fire at Daci'en Temple had been extinguished swiftly, and news of it hadn't spread, likely because Gui Zhong, who had long been unseen in the palace, was right there, at Daci'en Temple.