"Not likely. That's why he has a chance."Gu Yanxi lowered his gaze to the headless, incomplete wolf carcass." "General Lu should understand that the Chao Li Tribe wouldn't leave such a person in our hands."
"This humble official understands. I shall return immediately to make preparations."
"I have already dispatched messengers to the capital for reinforcements. The fastest support will take two days to arrive. However, Yuan Shifang cannot remain in the city. I will send him to the military camp and must request General Lu to keep him under close guard."
Having long heard of the Seven Constellation Bureau's reputation, this was Lu Peiyu's first interaction with them. With a clear conscience, he voiced his thoughts without reservation. "Should Yuan Shifang's whereabouts be kept concealed?"
Gu Yanxi observed Lu Peiyu through his mask. The Lu family educated their children with military strategy books from childhood, so he wasn't concerned about Lu Peiyu's competence. What worried him was Yu Province's army - after years without warfare, he wondered how much combat effectiveness remained.
"Outsiders will only know that Yuan Shifang remains as Yu Province's Chief Administrator, merely taking two days of sick leave due to health issues."
"Understood. This humble official knows how to proceed."
"Do not allow anyone to make contact with him."
"Yes."
Watching Lu Peiyu depart, Gu Yanxi called out, "Attendant."
"Your subordinate is here."
"Relay to the Three Constellations Guards: I require useful information before dawn."
"Understood."
As the room finally quieted, Gu Yanxi mentally reviewed all matters before turning his thoughts to Haoyue.
A person without even a family name - even if she were a celestial maiden descended to earth, he couldn't extend an ounce of trust. Without needing to see her, just hearing her tone revealed her overwhelming ambition.
The most ambitionless person he'd ever met was A Zhi. Even now, he hadn't fully grasped her depths. She seemed capable of everything - nothing in this world could stump her when it reached her hands. Yet such a person could quietly remain within inner courtyards for years without a trace. That was true lack of ambition. Someone who spoke of withdrawing from and engaging with the world surely harbored substantial schemes.
Marriage fate? Did she mean the next monarch, or perhaps... himself?
Since she dared use this to pledge allegiance, she must have confidence. Regardless, Jing Province's Xiangyang must be prepared.
Thinking of Jing Province softened Gu Yanxi's eyes. He wondered where A Zhi had reached - probably preparing to return. Fortunately, she had her own mind and hadn't truly waited to travel south with him. Entangled with Chao Li Tribe affairs, he likely couldn't go anywhere for some time.
Considering A Zhi's need to travel north after going south, Gu Yanxi lowered his gaze. No matter what, he would definitely follow north.
For A Zhi, only two places in this world concerned her: the capital and Yinshan Pass. He dared not speculate his own weight in A Zhi's heart, but he was certain that however heavy it might be, it couldn't compare to her family's importance to her. Southbound and northbound journeys held no comparison.
He could excuse himself from accompanying A Zhi to Jing Province due to official duties, but if she went north, unless the Chao Li Tribe had breached the border, he would follow.
As expected, Yuan Shifang proved tough. Only when the night watch drum sounded halfway through the Chou hour did Chen Qing finally knock on the door, holding freshly prepared documents still warm from transcription.Gu Yanxi scrutinized every word, his lips pressed tightly together. Forty-five years—the seeds had actually been sown forty-five years ago. The Chao Li Tribe’s treacherous ambitions never died. Back then, they had captured women from the Daqing Dynasty, forced them to bear children, and then swapped those children into the Yuan family. They raised these children by his side, making them aware of their identity from a young age so they would never develop a sense of belonging to the Daqing Dynasty. What a cunning strategy.
“Master, about the Yuan family…”
“Keep it quiet for now.” Gu Yanxi’s voice was cold, his expression icy. Yuan Shifang was truly a descendant of the Chao Li Tribe. Even if he wasn’t of the same bloodline, the Yuan family had raised him, and his adoptive father had doted on him for years. Yet, in the end, to eliminate any risks, he had silenced both of them. Such ruthlessness was chilling.
“Continue the interrogation. Since the Chao Li Tribe devised this method, Yuan Shifang can’t be the only one. After we return to the capital, take a team back to Yuzhou and follow the trail from Yuan Shifang. See if you can uncover a few more individuals.”
The thought of how many Chao Li tribesmen might be lurking within the Daqing Dynasty made Chen Qing shudder. With appearances like Yuan Shifang’s, indistinguishable from Daqing natives, how could they possibly identify them all?
“No one outside the Seven Constellation Bureau is to be involved in this matter.”
“But Master, if this becomes public, the Three Judicial Offices and Six Ministries will likely…”
“I forbid it.” Gu Yanxi’s tone deepened. “If they intervene, this matter will only become a tool for them to sabotage one another. I don’t want to end up with a list of innocent scapegoats.”
“Understood, I will follow your orders.”
“You have one hour with the Three Judicial Offices.” Gu Yanxi unfolded a map, tracing a path lightly with his finger. “The secret passage can no longer be considered secret. It’s no longer safe. In one hour, lead a team and take Yuan Shifang out of the city through here. Deliver him personally into General Lu’s hands. For safety, force him to take a Never Wake Pill.”
The name “Never Wake Pill” was so casually chosen it had to be Shaoyao’s doing. True to its name, once ingested, even bleeding him dry wouldn’t rouse him.
Outside, the pitter-patter of rain gradually ceased. The downpour had stopped, but a storm was brewing over Yuzhou. When it broke, it would be a torrential deluge.
The sun slowly rose from the horizon, piercing through the clouds with radiant beams, instantly illuminating the entire sky.
In her previous life, Hua Zhi had traveled to many places and savored countless delicacies, but sitting by the sea like this, thinking of nothing and doing nothing while watching the sunrise, was a first for her. Like the others, she was filled with awe, though she managed to conceal it better, not leaving her mouth agape in astonishment.
Their group sat aboard a boat, anchored at the farthest point the locals dared to venture. In every direction, the boundless sea stretched as far as the eye could see—so vast, so humbling. This feeling was incomparable to even the grandest rivers. Bao Xia’s face was deathly pale, the crimson hues of the dawn sky casting upon her cheeks like the finest rouge.
“So beautiful,” Shaoyao murmured, her chin resting in her hands, her expression utterly enchanted.
Hua Zhi smiled and gently patted her head. Only the purest of hearts could perceive the most beautiful things. Little Six was struck with awe, she herself was appreciative, but only Shaoyao could express such unadulterated wonder.
Glancing at the tight-lipped child, Hua Zhi turned her gaze back to the ascending sun. She felt she had fulfilled her duty on this trip. Such a vast ocean, such a mesmerizing sunrise—she hoped it would broaden his horizons and teach him to embrace the world with the magnanimity of the sea.
“Let’s head back.”Xu Ying was about to notify the captain when the Sixth Prince called out, "Wait." It was only during this trip that he had learned a prince was actually staying with the Hua family. His admiration for the eldest young lady had soared to the highest possible level—their eldest young lady truly could do anything!
"Sister Hua, I want to watch a little longer," the Sixth Prince said, gazing at Sister Hua, who seemed gentler now than ever before. He understood—he knew this was what Sister Hua wanted him to see. Whether it was the conflicts in small places or this vast, boundless ocean, Sister Hua wanted him to witness it all, to show him the immensity of the world and the grandeur of heaven and earth.
He understood.
And because he understood, he wanted to observe more carefully, to experience more deeply, so as not to waste Sister Hua's thoughtful efforts.
Hua Zhi looked at this clever yet not overly shrewd child, a faint smile gradually appearing in her eyes.
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