Hua Zhi had never known a man's emotional turmoil could be so heartbreaking. Watching Zhu Ling, a man in his forties, tremble uncontrollably with a choked voice as he bowed—his spine that had remained straight even when imprisoned now bent—she couldn't accept this gesture with a clear conscience.
Rising to her feet, Hua Zhi returned a half-bow. She had educated imperial princes, established the Salt Transport Administration through her efforts, and broken the Chao Li Tribe's influence in Jin Yang. These accumulated contributions, however modest, had mostly benefited the Hua family, while a smaller portion was used to secure a foothold for people like Zhu Ling. Surely, she thought, they wouldn't deny her this. Moreover, these individuals who had hidden themselves so deeply couldn't be entirely useless. Previously forced to work for the Chao Li Tribe, they were now fighting for their own survival—how could they not give their all?
"What does the young lady wish to know?" With his change in attitude, Zhu Ling immediately became proactive.
Collecting her thoughts, Hua Zhi asked the question that concerned her most: "How many Chao Li Tribe members remain in Jin Yang?"
"Excluding those already captured, thirty-seven remain, including myself."
Hua Zhi breathed a sigh of relief—at least there were no escapees. "What is Qi Qiu's status?"
"Qi Qiu, like us, has a maternal lineage from Daqing, but he and I are not aligned." Zhu Ling rubbed his previously bound wrists. "Our group is divided into two factions: one like me, with little affinity for the Chao Li Tribe—some even hold hatred. I was fortunate to protect my maternal family, while others watched theirs die off during their upbringing under various pretexts. Ignorance might have been bliss, but exposure to the outside world revealed the truth, breeding inevitable resentment."
Zhu Ling spoke dispassionately, as if recounting another's story. "The other faction, like Qi Qiu, wholly dedicates themselves to the Chao Li Tribe, identifying as Chao Li people. Some are even more radical than the tribe itself, desperate to restore the Chao Li Kingdom's former glory. According to my intelligence, Qi Qiu was personally selected by the Wise Man for Jin Yang. Had your forces not uprooted us, he would have used my and the Zeng family's connections to take the Lock Hall Examination in April, legitimately entering the capital."
Hua Zhi immediately grasped the key information. "Qi Qiu has met the Wise Man? Do you have more details about him?"
"Whether Qi Qiu met him, I don't know. I only know he's highly regarded by them. My knowledge of the Wise Man is limited, gleaned from occasional mentions by tribe members. They call him Ao, claiming he knows heaven and earth, omniscient and omnipotent. The Chao Li Tribe once split into three factions but was reunified under his leadership."
Pausing, Zhu Ling added, "Essentially, the Wise Man is their deity. They'd obey without hesitation even if ordered to die."
A spiritual leader, Hua Zhi mused, her brow furrowing. A physically formidable tribe with such a figure posed dire news for Daqing.
Yet bad news was better than none. Setting this aside, she asked, "Do you know where the silver transported from Jin Yang by the Chao Li Tribe was sent?"
"Ostensibly to Pengkou in Yanzhou, but that's a decoy—no silver there, only waiting Chao Li tribesmen. Actually, it went to Songzhu."
Hua Zhi sprang to her feet, taking two steps forward. "Is this true?""Truly." Zhu Ling sensed something amiss and rose to his feet, his expression turning grave. "All of us must find ways to gather more information to ensure our own survival at critical moments. This is something I spent two years confirming."
"I believe you." Hua Zhi gave him a steady look before turning away. "Yu Mu, is there any way to catch up with Yan Xi?"
"This subordinate will immediately ride at full speed, changing horses at each Seven Constellation Bureau outpost along the way. Traveling day and night without rest should allow me to catch up."
"You must catch up. You absolutely must, understand?"
"Yes! This subordinate departs immediately!" As Yu Mu turned to leave, Hua Zhi called him back, but her lips parted without words emerging. What could she say? "Prioritize safety"? Or "preserve your life at all costs"? Such words couldn't be spoken - when narrow paths cross, the brave prevail. She could be Yan Xi's weakness, but she mustn't become his cowardice.
Closing her eyes briefly to suppress her overwhelming concern, Hua Zhi said solemnly, "Everyone must return alive."
Yu Mu bowed deeply and strode away without looking back.
Hua Zhi unconsciously followed him to the doorway, only then noticing that night had fully fallen. The hazy moonlight cast a gray pall over her heart, making it impossible to feel at ease.
But there was no time for excessive contemplation. Turning back, she continued questioning, "How many people like Lord Zhu are there?"
"I know of twenty-seven, though this isn't the entire number in Daqing. Among these twenty-seven, nineteen share my perspective, while the other eight belong to Qi Qiu's faction."
"Do you usually interact with each other?"
"The Chao Li Tribe allows us to know of each other's existence for mutual support when needed, but they don't permit regular contact. However, knowing there are so many people sharing our fate, how could we do nothing?" A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched Hua Zhi's lips. "It took me several years to determine who could be trusted and who wasn't on the same path. After confirming this, we spent years building trust through correspondence. Sometimes we exchange information, but overall our interactions remain limited for fear of the Chao Li Tribe discovering us."
"Which faction did Yuan Shifang previously belong to?"
"Him?" Zhu Ling snorted derisively. "He originally belonged to Qi Qiu's faction, but as he gradually gained higher status and power, his allegiances shifted. A regional governor - Daqing has only nine such positions. How glorious."
Hua Zhi sat down again. "Can they be persuaded to serve our cause?"
"I will contact them as soon as possible. With your assurance on behalf of the Seven Constellation Bureau, I believe they'll be willing to take the risk."
"Then I'll trouble you with this matter, Lord Zhu. It must be handled quickly and without alerting the Chao Li Tribe. Since you've been sleeper agents, remain so - only your allegiance has changed."
Zhu Ling readily agreed, though he felt somewhat surprised. He had expected Hua Zhi to demand a list of names - whether to contact them herself or otherwise, that would have been the most secure approach. Yet she didn't, just as she had immediately believed him when he mentioned the trap at Pengkou and promptly devised countermeasures.
Such trust wouldn't be remarkable among allies, but the problem was - he wasn't yet considered one of them.
"Aren't you afraid I might be falsely surrendering?"Hua Zhi seemed to smile faintly. "I trust my own eyes. Though Lord Zhu may not hold much affection for Daqing, I also believe that if one can live openly and honorably, no one would willingly remain a rat in the sewers, forever hidden from the light. Moreover... how could someone with descendants lack hope for the future?"
PS: Half of the next chapter is already written. I’ll definitely post two updates tomorrow. Thank you for your concern, everyone. My hand is bandaged and makes typing difficult, but it doesn’t hurt as much now.
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