Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Jiang Heng wondered why Gu Yu had asked her that.

It wasn't really her decision whether she could see Yan Hui off. Deep down, she yearned to go—not just to bid him farewell, but to leave with her brother.

But given her current status, would Gu Yu truly permit it?

These past few days, consumed by unrequited love, he had been exceptionally cruel, even readily condemning his former subordinate to death. She dared not provoke him further at this critical juncture, lest he turn his murderous intent toward her brother.

"I won’t go," Jiang Heng lowered her gaze, making no effort to conceal her disappointment.

Even if she feigned indifference, he wouldn't believe her; he would only suspect she was hiding something.

To her surprise, Gu Yu then said, "I will be seeing him off. If you wish to go, you may accompany me."

Jiang Heng grew even more bewildered by his intentions.

Was this a genuine invitation? Had he, also experiencing the pain of unrequited love, momentarily understood her plight and mercifully allowed her to bid her brother farewell?

Or was it a deliberate test? To ascertain if she still harbored the desire to see her brother off?

"I’m not going," Jiang Heng reiterated her refusal, regardless of his motives.

"Are you truly not going?" His lifeless eyes fixed on her as he asked again.

"Yes," Jiang Heng turned to leave.

"Stop," Gu Yu called out coldly, extending an envelope. "These are his officially reported travel plans. If you change your mind, you may go see him off."

As Prince Zhennan's envoy, Yan Hui was required to report every action he took within the dynasty, and his return journey was no exception.

Jiang Heng could no longer suppress her astonishment. She turned back, gazing intently at Gu Yu for a moment before taking the envelope and opening it. Inside was indeed a detailed itinerary.

"As long as he strictly adheres to the reported itinerary on his return, he will proceed safely and unimpeded. However, any deviation will be deemed a crime of deceiving the sovereign and harboring malicious intent. At that point, his fate—whether he lives or dies—will be uncertain," Gu Yu stated calmly.

He had been eerily composed these past few days—whether dealing with unsettling matters like punishing servants or plotting deaths, or engaging in leisurely activities like shopping, he displayed no emotion, neither joy nor anger.

What was he trying to achieve by telling her this? Was he asking her to convey a message to her brother to strictly follow the route and avoid provoking him?

What did he truly mean? How could he be so certain she would go to meet her brother?

Whatever his purpose or meaning, she would not heed him. Who knew if this itinerary was genuine or fabricated? Who knew what sinister plots he was concocting?

She trusted only her brother and the messages he sent.

"I will not change my mind," Jiang Heng said, returning the itinerary to the envelope and placing it on Gu Yu’s desk.

"You may take it. Tomorrow, you can go anytime you wish."

Jiang Heng couldn’t comprehend why Gu Yu had suddenly become so… merciful, in a way that sent shivers down her spine.

What was he truly doing? Was he genuinely offering her a chance to see her brother off?

Did he want her to go, or did he not?

"Examine it closely. This itinerary bears an official seal. It is the archived copy kept in the capital. One copy has been dispatched to the various counties along the route for dissemination, and another is with the envoy, serving as his official travel permit."

He was informing her that this itinerary was absolutely authentic, without any fabrication.

Since he was offering her this opportunity to see her brother off, her continued refusal would appear suspicious.

Jiang Heng turned back, picked up the envelope again, and examined the itinerary. Just as he had stated, it not only bore an official seal but also layers of approvals, signatures, and fingerprints—from minor officials to Gu Yu, and even to Prince Qin. These were on the reverse side, which she had not noticed earlier.

"Is this an archived document? Can it be removed so freely?" Jiang Heng inquired.

"It will naturally be returned to the archives later," Gu Yu said, looking into her eyes with grave emphasis. "Remember to return it to me after you have finished with it."

It had to be returned? Jiang Heng’s eyelashes fluttered slightly as she gave a barely perceptible nod. "Of course."

"I have matters to attend to tomorrow and will likely return in the evening," Gu Yu added.

Jiang Heng looked at him in surprise. Since when did he ever inform her of his whereabouts? Why did he need to tell her what he was doing or when he would return home? Why had he suddenly… undergone such a drastic change in character?

"Remember to feed the colt. Spend more time with it, and it will learn to obey you and be loyal to you," he instructed.

Since acquiring the nursing colt, Gu Yu had often accompanied her to feed it over the past few days, advising her on what the colt could and could not eat, and how to approach it without incurring the mare's hostility.

Unexpectedly, he reiterated this instruction before his departure. It seemed he genuinely intended to teach her how to raise the colt.

"Yes," Jiang Heng nodded with a faint smile.

"If you ride out, ensure someone accompanies you. You have only recently learned to ride and are still quite inexperienced. Do not gallop recklessly."

Though his expression and tone were cold, his words conveyed concern. Jiang Heng nodded gently and said softly, "I will be careful."

After a moment’s thought, she added, "I will likely still practice at the riding arena. There are people there, so there’s no need for someone to follow me."

Gu Yu had been taking her to the riding ground for practice these past few days, so her statement should not arouse suspicion.

Gu Yu said nothing further, as if he had no strong opinion on whether she was accompanied or not.

...

Jiang Heng meticulously studied the itinerary. None of the locations coincided with or were even remotely close to the places her brother had given her.

If Gu Yu’s itinerary was genuine, her brother would have to adhere to it strictly. If he detoured to pick her up, he would inevitably deviate from the planned route. And Gu Yu had stated that any deviation, however slight, would be considered a crime of deceiving the sovereign and harboring malicious intent.

Gu Yu would not be home tomorrow—was he planning to monitor her brother’s movements?

Should she disregard her brother’s message and, on her own initiative, wait for him at one of the locations on this itinerary?

No… she couldn’t…

Her brother must have known that the reported itinerary was under surveillance, making a meeting inconvenient. That was why he had given her a seemingly unrelated location. If she foolishly trusted Gu Yu’s words and failed to meet her brother, not only would she needlessly endanger him, but she might also fall into Gu Yu’s trap, be caught red-handed, and be unable to leave.

Her brother must have had valid reasons for choosing that location. How could she distrust her brother and instead trust Gu Yu?

She had to keep the appointment at the time and place her brother had given her.

Despite this decision, Jiang Heng made a copy of the itinerary, just in case. If she missed her brother, she could still follow the route south to catch up.

Then, she placed the original itinerary back into the envelope and stored it in a chest along with the letter of divorce she had written.

She began counting her silver ingots.

The adult horse was for her to ride, so she would pay for it herself. But the mare and the colt—Gu Yu had insisted on buying them on his own, so she would not cover the cost for him.

As for the saddle, bridle, and other tack, she only used one set, so she would only pay for one set.

She had no use for the polo mallets either. They were all brand new; Gu Yu could still give them to someone else in the future. She should not have to pay for this.

Regarding the headpieces and jewelry, although she had never worn them, they had been purchased for her. She couldn't simply leave them for Gu Yu’s future wife—that would be rather distasteful. So, she would pay for these herself.

Additionally, Gu Yu had been teaching her to ride these past few days with considerable care and patience. She would give him a little extra for his trouble, settling their accounts.

After tallying everything, the one hundred fifty taels of silver Jiang Heng had just withdrawn from the Incense Shop all ended up in the box she was leaving for Gu Yu.

She had originally intended to keep thirty taels for herself, but upon calculation, she found she was a little short.

After some thought, Jiang Heng took thirty taels out and put them back into her own purse.

Although Gu Yu had taught her to ride with care and patience, she had also managed the Gu family’s accounts diligently and meticulously. They could consider their efforts mutually offsetting.

Jiang Heng reviewed the calculations once more to ensure nothing was missing from the box she was leaving for Gu Yu. The archived itinerary, the divorce agreement she had signed and sealed, and the money she owed for recent expenses—all were properly accounted for.

She locked the box, placed the key in an envelope, and began writing a letter to her elder sister.

After finishing the letter, she sealed it in the envelope, pressed it shut with sealing wax, and signed her name across the seal flap. Only then did she summoned Rui Zhu and Chun Jin to give them instructions.

"Tomorrow evening during the Xu hour (7-9 PM), deliver this letter to my elder sister. Remember, it must be delivered into her hands personally, and only she is allowed to read it."

Jiang Heng knew that only her elder sister might help her. If her father or brothers found out, they would surely try to hunt her down and bring her back, just as they had last time. In the letter, she had asked her sister to hand the key to the box to Gu Yu three days later—by then, she and her brother should have traveled far away. For these three days, her sister would need to find ways to cover for her and smooth things over with Gu Yu and her family.

"Also, the matter I’ve asked my sister to handle is quite complex. When you deliver the letter, both of you should go together. My sister will likely ask you to stay and help, so just remain there. Don't worry about things back here at the Gu residence."

Once Gu Yu learned the truth of her departure, there would surely be a furious outburst. She feared he might retaliate against Rui Zhu and Chun Jin, so she had implored her sister in the letter to take them into the Jiang household and care for them properly.

"One more thing: don’t breathe a word to anyone about delivering the letter. When the time comes tomorrow, just go and deliver it," Jiang Heng instructed.

Though Rui Zhu and Chun Jin didn’t understand why their lady was being so secretive and cautious, they both nodded in agreement.

With the plan settled, Jiang Heng let out a long sigh of relief and lay down on the couch, feeling inexplicably excited.

She and her brother were finally about to see the clouds part and the moon shine through, weren't they?

After tomorrow, she would be able to stay with her brother for a long, long time. She would make it up to him and treat him well, just as he had treated her when they were children.

The more she thought about it, the more excited she became, her heart pounding rapidly.

She couldn’t keep thinking about it; she needed to get some sleep. She had to rest well to have enough energy to meet her brother tomorrow.

"My lady, are you asleep? The master is looking for you," Chun Jin suddenly reported.

Jiang Heng found it strange. Gu Yu had been resting in his study these past few days and had never come looking for her in the middle of the night. Why had he suddenly come now?

Could it be… that he was having those kinds of thoughts?

He had always been vigorous in that regard, and after being pent up for so many days, if he really started, who knew how long he'd go on for…

"Tell him I’m already asleep. We can talk tomorrow," Jiang Heng lay back down and sent Chun Jin to reply, but she listened intently for any movement outside.

After a short while, Chun Jin returned to report: "My lady, rest easy. The master has gone back."

He went back? Just like that?

Though surprised that the man was so easily dismissed now, Jiang Heng didn’t dwell on it. She steadied her mind, closed her eyes, and went to sleep.

Unexpectedly, early the next morning, Gu Yu showed up again.

Fortunately, he only wanted to take her to feed the foal.

Over the past few days, even though he hadn’t been resting in the room, he would still come early in the morning to have breakfast with her and then go feed the foal.

The foal couldn’t eat the standard dry fodder that adult horses ate; it needed high-quality alfalfa hay. Gu Yu took a handful himself but didn’t feed the foal directly. Instead, he handed it to Jiang Heng and guided her to feed it.

Jiang Heng was actually a bit afraid the foal might bite her hand. When she saw the foal getting close to her fingers, she wanted to let go. Gu Yu promptly covered her hand with his large palm, fed all the hay to the foal, and then held her hand to guide her in stroking the foal’s neck and back.

"In the future, as long as you treat it like this every day, day after day, year after year, it will remember you well and recognize only you."

Gu Yu held her hand, letting it rest for a moment on the foal’s neck.

As he said this, he wasn't looking at her but at the foal, as if he were speaking only about how to raise a foal, with no other meaning.

He had been telling her this for days, over the past few days of feeding the foal: that with day after day, year after year of companionship, the foal would grow up and become her most loyal partner.

But where would there be any day after day, year after year?

Jiang Heng remained silent, as she had in the previous days, never responding to his words.

"Tomorrow, I should be able to return on time to feed it together."

When he said the word "together," he turned his head, and his gaze finally settled firmly on her, waiting for her response.

"Alright," Jiang Heng smiled and replied.

Gu Yu’s lips curved slightly, not quite a smile but an attempt at one. "It’s a promise."

...

The route Yan Hui had planned was to leave the capital and take a boat at Nanguan Ferry, after which there would be no more land travel on horseback. Instead, they would travel south along the interconnected canals, which was much faster than traveling by land.

The location he had given Jiang Heng seemed far from the itinerary, but once he picked her up, he knew a water route. Although the current was swift, it happened to be downstream. Chartering a private boat, they should quickly return to the normal itinerary at the next ferry.

By the time they reached Nanguan Ferry, night was beginning to fall. Yan Hui boarded the boat with his attendants but, just as the boat was about to depart, blended into the crowd of well-wishers, changed into rough, hemp clothing, disguised as ordinary commoners, and disembarked.

He then hired a plain, ordinary carriage and set off to pick up Jiang Heng.

Not long after leaving the ferry, he heard someone exclaim: "Fire!"

"The granary is on fire!"

The canals were built for transporting grain, so many granaries were located near ferries. The capital had an extensive water network, making water transport convenient. There were many granaries inside and outside the city, serving as the Qi Dynasty's most crucial military grain reserves.

The Luokou Granary near Nanguan Ferry was one of the most significant.

The flames from the granary were especially bright in the night. Some nearby residents spontaneously rushed to fetch water to help put out the fire, while others ran to spread the news and call for help. Many people at the ferry stopped to watch, lamenting: "This year’s harvest was already poor due to the hailstorm. If the grain in this granary burns too, how will we survive?"

Yan Hui watched for a moment before continuing to drive the carriage.

But then he heard the rapid clatter of hooves in the distance, horses galloping, some chasing, some pulling ahead, quickly arriving at the ferry.

"Catch the arsonist! Catch the arsonist!" Among the pursuing soldiers was Jiang Xing, who had recently been transferred to Luokou Granary as a low-ranking clerk.

"Quick! Launch the boats!"

There were four or five people fleeing; three turned back to confront the pursuing soldiers, while the other two rushed to seize a boat at the ferry, clashing with the guards stationed there.

Yan Hui recognized that all five escapees were elite operatives under Prince Zhennan.

He had known that, aside from himself, Prince Zhennan must have had other undercover operatives within the city—though he did not know how many, their specific identities, or the missions they carried out. This had been part of their plan: those operating in the open and those in the shadows were kept separate to prevent total annihilation.

But now, the pursuers were no longer just Jiang Xing and a few low-ranking soldiers; Gu Yu had also arrived with several close followers. The three defenders were clearly exhausted, and one had already been cut down by Gu Yu.

Yan Hui could not stand by and watch them die. He pulled out a prepared mask, tied it on to hide his face, then sharply cracked his whip and charged into the fray.

His arrival was sudden, and he did not linger in the fight. After rescuing two of the men, he rushed toward the dock, where his companions had already killed the Qi soldiers and seized a boat, waiting. As soon as the group leaped aboard, the boat set off immediately.

At the last moment before abandoning the carriage, Yan Hui reined in the horse, turned it around, and lashed out with his whip, spooking the animal into charging toward Gu Yu and his men, momentarily blocking their pursuit.

Once on the boat, with the waterways branching out everywhere and the southerners’ excellent boat-handling skills, evasion became much easier.

The four escapees let out sighs of relief. Their leader recognized Yan Hui and said with surprised delight, "You haven’t left yet? We were afraid of getting you involved, so we timed our move after you’d already boarded and departed. We never expected we’d owe you our lives—without you, we might have died here."

"Who ordered you to burn down the granary?" Yan Hui clearly disapproved of their actions.

Xiao Yihan scoffed. "Xiao Ziyuan, you haven’t forgotten our purpose, have we? We are heading north to drive those northerners back to their grasslands. Given the current situation, do you expect the prince to rely solely on his few tens of thousands of personal troops, winning against overwhelming odds all the way north? Without resorting to some tactics, how would that even be possible?"

Yan Hui frowned and dropped the argument, simply telling them, "Get off the boat. I have matters to attend to and need to go back."

Xiao Yihan assumed Yan Hui was unwilling to travel with them due to his disapproval of their methods and said, "You’re a gentleman—that’s precisely why the prince allowed you to be the perfect gentleman, isn’t it? During your time in the capital, you enjoyed good food, good drinks, and good rest, and even befriended a number of northern nobles. The prince didn’t assign you any difficult tasks; he’s been extremely generous with you. What more do you want?"

"Go back? You’re not thinking of defecting to the enemy, are you?" Xiao Yihan stared at him and scoffed.

"If I wanted to surrender, I wouldn’t have waited until today," Yan Hui replied coldly.

It was almost the agreed-upon time, and he couldn’t keep Jiang Heng waiting any longer. Yan Hui stopped engaging in useless debate with them and said, "In any case, we cannot travel together. I will take the originally planned official route. You figure out your own path, and the sooner we part ways, the better."

"You helped us just now. Aren’t you afraid the Qi people will recognize you and not let you return?" Xiao Yihan asked.

"If Emperor Qi wanted to cut ties, he would have done so long ago. He wouldn’t have promised to let me return safely. As long as you don’t expose me or reveal my involvement, they won’t give me trouble." Yan Hui was growing impatient and said to the group, "Get off the boat and take the other one."

The two who had seized the boats earlier had taken two vessels, making it convenient to split up now.

But Xiao Yihan, convinced that Yan Hui intended to surrender, dug in his heels. "We’re not going."

Since they refused to leave, Yan Hui stopped arguing and decided to take the other boat himself. But as he turned, he was hit from behind and knocked unconscious.

Xiao Yihan ordered his men to bind Yan Hui and instructed, "We’re not taking the official route; we’ll take the fast channel."

The official routes consisted of wide, calm sections of river, while the fast channels—though swift with the wind and current in their favor—were often abandoned due to their danger. But these southerners, skilled in navigation and handling boats, were not overly afraid of such risks.

...

Jiang Heng waited at the designated location all night.

At first, she waited at the small intersection Yan Hui had specified, but he did not arrive even after a long time. Later, fearing that passersby might grow suspicious, she led her horse into a small grove near the intersection to wait.

The place was remote, and after dusk, hardly any travelers passed by. Jiang Heng moved back to the intersection to wait.

As dawn approached, farmers began heading out to work their fields, so Jiang Heng retreated into the woods again.

This going back and forth continued all night without sleep, until finally, the sky brightened completely.

Jiang Heng knew that Yan Hui must have been held up by something. She could not afford to wait any longer and would have to head south on her own.

According to the plan, Yan Hui was traveling by water. If she also took a boat, she might still catch up with him.

Jiang Heng rode to the nearest ferry but, before she could approach, saw that it was swarming with three times the usual number of soldiers, thoroughly inspecting everyone boarding boats.

Upon inquiry, she learned that someone had torched a granary the previous night and escaped by boat from Nanguan Ferry. All waterway exits were now under tight security.

"Which granary was it?" Jiang Heng asked urgently.

A passerby told her it was Luokou Granary.

"Was anyone injured? Was the fire put out in time?" Jiang Heng’s voice was filled with concern.

The passerby, assuming she was an ordinary citizen worried about hardships in an already difficult year, answered readily, "I heard the fire was extinguished quickly, so the losses weren’t severe. The culprits escaped, and no injuries were reported."

Jiang Heng breathed a slight sigh of relief. She knew Yan Hui would not do such a thing, but he might have been tangled up in the incident. With the sudden tightening of security at the waterways, he likely couldn’t change his course to fetch her.

She did not have a travel permit. Under normal circumstances, she could have hired a private boat at a high price, but in the current situation, no private boat would dare take the risk. That left only the land route. Without a travel permit, she would have to take back roads instead of the official highways.

...

Gu Yu returned home very late that night. As expected, Jiang Heng was gone—vanished without a trace, along with her two maids.

His close aides reported Jiang Heng’s movements to him and asked if they should bring her back.

Gu Yu fell silent for a long time before finally speaking in a grim, low voice, "No need. Continue following her."

He wanted to see how determined she was and what she was capable of.

A flower kept in a greenhouse for too long would assume the world was always peaceful and calm. Let her experience the storms outside for herself.

He went to the Ninghe Courtyard. Inside, everything was arranged as usual.

Her jewelry was left on the dressing table, freshly laundered and perfumed clothes hung on the rack, and half a cup of tea remained on the desk.

Everything seemed so ordinary, as if she had not left home but had merely gone out for a leisurely outing and would return soon.

Three years—she had been his wife for over three years. Yet her resolve to leave remained so firm?

He had long suspected she would leave. The previous night, he had asked her repeatedly whether she intended to see Yan Hui off. He was not a petty man; if she had said yes, he would have taken her along to properly bid Yan Hui farewell.

That morning, she had even fed the foal with him, calmly agreeing to do so again the next day.

She had left with such decisiveness. None of the words he had whispered to her over the past few days had reached her heart.

Day after day, year after year—and indeed, she had never responded to him.

Gu Yu’s gaze shifted and settled on a locked chest.

Everything else was in its place; only this chest was incongruously secured with a lock.

Picking a lock was never difficult for Gu Yu. Once opened, the divorce letter immediately caught his eye.

She had already signed it and stamped it with her seal. Upon closer reading, the wording was indeed merciless.

"Married for three years, three years of resentment—like cat and mouse in mutual hatred, wolf and sheep forced together. Since two hearts are not in harmony, and the desire to part is firm, we seek separation before our relatives…"

Cat and mouse in mutual hatred, wolf and sheep forced together—was this how she viewed their relationship as husband and wife?

Beneath the letter of separation was another sheet of paper—a list detailing what the silver ingots were meant to compensate for.

One fully grown horse, a set of tack, three sets of hair ornaments, and... compensation for troubles of thirty taels, which had been crossed out.

In her eyes, everything he had done for her was only worth thirty taels of compensation for troubles?

She kept such precise accounts—neither taking advantage nor suffering losses.

Everything he had given her, whether physical goods or the time, effort, and care he had devoted to her, was clearly priced by her.

There was no affection between them, only meticulous calculations.

If that was the case, why not let her go? Whether she lived or died, he would no longer care what became of her.

Gu Yu took out the letter of separation, sat down at the desk, and after staring at it for a long while, picked up a brush to sign his name and add his thumbprint.

On the second night, it began to rain. The drizzle continued without stopping through the night, and by the third morning, the rain had grown even heavier.

A close aide reported that Jiang Heng was still heading south, traveling through the rain all night. Only when the rain intensified did she take shelter in a makeshift stone shelter temporarily built by farmers in the wilderness.

"Master, it seems the lady had little with her."

Her clothes were soaked, and she had no dry clothes to change into. Moreover, she was traveling along mountain paths where even shops were scarce.

Gu Yu stood up and ordered a servant to pack a set of women’s travel garments and fetch a straw rain cloak.

Thinking he intended to retrieve Jiang Heng, the attendant said, "Master, the rain is heavy outside. Please don’t go. Let me take Cheng Ping to bring the lady back."

"No need."

Gu Yu insisted on going himself to hand her the signed separation letter.

...

The rain, marking the change from summer to autumn, fell incessantly. The country paths had long become muddy and difficult to traverse. Fortunately, the official road was paved with sand, allowing for riding at speed.

While the lady had traveled for a day and a night, Gu Yu caught up to her in little more than half a day.

"Master, the lady is still in that stone hut and hasn’t come out."

The rain showed no sign of stopping. When Jiang Heng entered the hut, her clothes were almost completely drenched. The tracking aide dared not get too close.

Gu Yu gave a noncommittal grunt and entered the hut alone.

The crude stone hut provided poor shelter—while it rained heavily outside, it drizzled inside. Jiang Heng had curled up in a corner, and only because she was small and thin had she managed to avoid the worst of the dripping.

She seemed unaware of Gu Yu’s arrival, only looking up when he was right in front of her.

It was then that Gu Yu noticed her pale lips and the way her entire body, even her teeth, was shaking violently.

"Brother," she clutched his hand as if it were a lifeline, "you’ve finally come."

Gu Yu instinctively wrapped his hand tightly around hers, startled to find that her always-icy hand was now burning like a sun-baked stone.

"Brother, I knew you would come."

Thinking she had finally waited for the one she'd been waiting for, she let her forehead rest against his chest with relief.

Her forehead was burning with fever, just like her hand.

Gu Yu frowned and cursed himself under his breath, "Bastard."

He was not unaware of her stubbornness and determination—why hadn’t he come sooner?