Destined

The crowd was all moving from inside the city toward the outside. Just moments ago, Liu Yuru had been going against the flow, but now, moving with the crowd, she made much faster progress.

As she walked, she pondered the situation. It was clear that a riot had broken out—a common occurrence in large-scale projects like the Yellow River repairs. The slightest mishap could easily lead to such chaos. However, such incidents usually arose from official corruption, which forced civilians into harsh labor and sparked conflicts. Yet, Gu Jiusi had been relentlessly overseeing every aspect—from the distribution of wages to daily meals and accommodations for the river workers. Even if a riot had truly erupted, it would never have been under the pretext of targeting Gu Jiusi.

Moreover, the river workers' shouts were unusually unified, loud, and without any discord—clearly the result of prior training, not a spontaneous outburst. After careful consideration, she concluded that it must be the local gentry, driven to desperation after Wang Siyuan's death, attempting to assassinate Gu Jiusi under the guise of a fabricated riot.

Having reasoned through the causes and assessed the circumstances, Liu Yuru roughly grasped the current state of affairs.

She hurried with her people to the County Government Office. Upon arrival, she saw it surrounded by a tight crowd dressed as river workers, who were ramming the main gate. At the sight, Liu Yuru led her group forward and shouted angrily, "How dare you ruffians act so recklessly in front of the County Government Office?!"

The river workers were momentarily stunned by her outburst. Liu Yuru folded her hands in front of her, maintaining a dignified posture, and declared loudly, "Step aside at once! Assaulting a government office and defying authority is punishable by death without mercy. Get out of here!"

"Talking like that, she must be some official's wife," someone in the crowd sneered. At this, the crowd grew even more agitated. Liu Yuru's gaze swept over and fixed on the speaker. "Tell your master to come out and speak," she said.

"Master?" the man retorted immediately. "I'm just an ordinary citizen seeking justice. What master are you talking about? Don't slander people!"

"Enough of your nonsense," Liu Yuru said coldly. "I know exactly what you're plotting. If you want to play the part of rebels, I'll let you. But make sure you tell Wang Shusheng clearly: inciting civilians to attack a government office is an act of treason."

Liu Yuru curled her lips into a smile. "That's different from assassinating an imperial envoy. He wouldn't dare order someone to kill the envoy, but he's bold enough to instigate a rebellion. Quite the nerve."

"You're slandering us!" the man roared.

Liu Yuru laughed mockingly. "I thought you said you had no master?"

The man's face stiffened. Liu Yuru calmly clasped her hands in front of her. "Before I entered the city, I had people waiting outside. The moment I give the signal, they will take my handwritten confession to the Eastern Capital. Let's see if the Wang family has enough heads to chop!"

"You..." The man lunged toward Liu Yuru. She stepped back, simultaneously pulling out a signal flare. Her guards shielded her as she brandished it and shouted sharply, "Take one more step and see what happens!"

The man froze in his tracks. From this, Liu Yuru knew they must not have captured Gu Jiusi yet.

If they had caught Gu Jiusi, they would have had nothing to fear. With their connections still in the Eastern Capital, even if everyone here died, they could manipulate the situation so that her confession might never reach the emperor's ears.But Gu Jiusi hadn't been captured. If Gu Jiusi returned to the Eastern Capital with a confession, they would truly be unable to protect themselves.

Liu Yu Ru felt somewhat reassured. She looked calmly at the man staring intently at the signal flare in front of her and said lightly, "Did you think I would just lead my people back to the city to let you catch us like turtles in a jar? Don't even think about it. Why would I return without a foolproof plan? I came back only because I'm concerned about the goods. You can fight all you want, but don't touch my property. All of you, step aside. I'm looking for Lord Li!"

No one moved. Liu Yu Ru smiled coldly, "What? Not letting me through?"

Her words sent a chill down everyone's spines. They all looked at the man speaking with Liu Yu Ru. He stared at her, and she met his gaze directly, stating plainly, "If you don't step aside, don't blame me for taking action. A mob besieging government offices—if I act, you'll only have yourselves to blame for the consequences. No matter what," Liu Yu Ru lowered her voice, "my husband hasn't been caught. Even if I lent you the courage, you wouldn't dare kill me. If you want to kill me, why not ask Wang Shusheng if he's willing?"

"Madam, I don't understand what you're saying."

The man calmed down. He knew he couldn't reveal his identity—after all, this was still a riot by unruly civilians. Even if the court investigated later, everything would be blamed on the rioters, with no connection to their Wang family.

Liu Yu Ru didn't waste words with him. She directly ordered Munan, "Draw your blades and clear the way. Anyone who obstructs us will be killed without mercy. Let's go!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the guards surrounding her simultaneously drew their swords. Liu Yu Ru stood in the center, head held high and chest out, striding confidently toward the County Government Office.

Her steps were extremely steady, showing no fear even amidst the armed rioters. Her composure helped calm the surrounding guards. The group parted the chaotic crowd and arrived at the entrance of the County Government Office. Liu Yu Ru announced her name and waited at the gate.

Outside, nearly a thousand people watched Liu Yu Ru and her group with hostile eyes, but her expression remained unchanged.

Inside, Li Yuchang felt considerably relieved upon hearing that Liu Yu Ru had arrived and urgently ordered the main gate of the County Government Office to be opened.

The gatekeeper, aware of the massive crowd outside, trembled as he opened the gate. When the door swung open, he saw the woman standing tall and composed. She nodded to him, and suddenly he felt calmer. He stepped back, opening the door wider, and said, "Please come in, Madam."

Liu Yu Ru acknowledged him and then led her people inside in an orderly file. Nearly a hundred people entered, filling the courtyard completely.

Luo Zishang and Li Yuchang were both in the County Government Office. When Li Yuchang saw Liu Yu Ru leading her people in, he stepped forward and asked, "Where is Lord Gu?"

"Lord Li, let's speak inside."

Liu Yu Ru gestured for Li Yuchang to lead the way inside. Li Yuchang glanced outside, hesitated for a moment, then followed Liu Yu Ru into the room.

Once inside, Li Yuchang urgently asked, "What did Lord Gu say?"

"I didn't see him," Liu Yu Ru replied immediately. "He probably hasn't been captured yet."

"Indeed not," Li Yuchang said quickly. "A young man came to me earlier and reported that Lord Gu was attacked on the riverbank. He escaped and seemed to be heading toward the woods on the outskirts of the city."

Hearing this, Liu Yu Ru grew quite worried. Gu Jiusi had few people with him, and being pursued by so many, she feared something might happen to him.

Seeing her concerned expression, Li Yuchang asked again, "How did you end up here?"

"I was on my way to rescue him, but I didn't expect to get trapped in the city."Liu Yu Ru spoke, then smiled and said, "But Lord Li need not worry," she reassured him, "Jiusi is outside, and he will surely find a way to rescue us."

"He wants to save us, but how can he?"

Li Yuchang was somewhat anxious: "Now that Sizhou has delayed sending troops, and they've pulled this stunt, it's clear they're ready to act. With Sizhou ignoring us, what can he alone do?"

"Don't worry," Liu Yu Ru said calmly, "There will always be a way."

Li Yuchang fell silent. Seeing Liu Yu Ru so composed, he couldn't afford to lose his composure more than a woman. He sighed and finally said, "You should go rest. I'll think of something."

Liu Yu Ru acknowledged, then after a moment's thought added, "I've brought eighty-nine people with me, all top-notch experts. Combined with everyone in the County Government Office, we should have nearly three hundred people. Even if they launch a strong assault, we can hold them off for a while. Lord Li should assess what supplies we have in the County Government Office—if worst comes to worst, how many days we can hold out, and whether we can break through."

Li Yuchang nodded: "Understood."

After comforting Li Yuchang a few more words, Liu Yu Ru left the room. Not long after stepping out, she saw Luo Zishang sitting by the corridor, quietly gazing at the small pond in the distance.

Liu Yu Ru paused, thought for a moment, and finally said, "Lord Luo."

"Manager Liu."

Luo Zishang turned to look at Liu Yu Ru, smiling as he said, "Manager Liu should be at the docks. What brings you into the city?"

"I came under orders."

Liu Yu Ru didn't dare trust Luo Zishang. Her current story to the Wang family was that she had entered the city intentionally, so she couldn't reveal her true intentions in front of Luo Zishang. Hearing this, Luo Zishang laughed: "Manager Liu never tells me the truth."

Liu Yu Ru ignored his remark and instead asked, "Lord Luo is also trapped in this city now. Do you have any plans?"

Upon hearing her words, Luo Zishang turned to face her. He quietly watched her for a long time before finally smiling: "You're afraid."

Liu Yu Ru's expression remained unchanged, as if she hadn't heard his words. Luo Zishang raised a hand to support his head, lazily and leisurely saying, "I thought Manager Liu was invulnerable, but it turns out you're just a young girl after all."

"Lord Luo should rest well," Liu Yu Ru directly bowed, "I shall take my leave."

With that, Liu Yu Ru turned to leave, but Luo Zishang stopped her, saying calmly, "Don't be afraid."

Liu Yu Ru paused. Luo Zishang's voice was even: "Gu Jiusi wasn't captured. He'll find a way outside. We just need to wait. As for this city," he said, picking up a fallen leaf from beside him, "I'm still here. It's fine."

Hearing this, Liu Yu Ru finally felt relieved. Only now was she certain that Luo Zishang didn't intend to side with the Wang family this time.

She let out a soft sigh and bowed to Luo Zishang again. Though no words were spoken, her gesture expressed gratitude.

Luo Zishang glanced at her lightly, gave a slight nod, and said nothing more.

Liu Yu Ru turned and walked away, leading Yin Hong and Munan back to the bedroom arranged by Li Yuchang.

Sitting in the bedroom, Liu Yu Ru pondered the situation.

According to Li Yuchang, Gu Jiusi had last gone to the outskirts of the city. The fact that the Wang family hadn't reacted yet meant they probably hadn't caught him. Since he entered the outskirts and still hadn't been captured, Gu Jiusi must have already gotten far away.He would not abandon her and leave. After escaping, no matter what, he would go to the dock once. Based on this route and timing, he likely would not enter the city. So now, he must not be trapped inside.

Currently, there is no movement in Sizhou, yet Xingyang has gone to such lengths to end their lives with a riot. The news of Gu Jiusi going to Sizhou to mobilize troops has most likely fallen into the hands of the Wang family. The Wang family must have people in Sizhou now. If Gu Jiusi goes there himself, he would be walking into a trap. Given his intelligence, he certainly would not go to Sizhou alone now.

The most likely alternative is to seek reinforcements from the Eastern Capital. Traveling day and night, it would take him two or three days to reach the Eastern Capital. Once there, he would likely bring a reliable and influential ally to Sizhou to mobilize troops, which would take another three or four days.

So she had to hold out in the city for at least seven days, giving Gu Jiusi time to return with help. However, even if he did bring troops after seven days, if the Wang family were cornered, she might become a shield for Xingyang or end up as a sacrificial casualty.

Thinking of this, her heart ached. Yin Hong was nearby, making the bed. Once it was done, Liu Yu Ru said to her, "I’ll rest for a while."

"I’ll go to the small kitchen to prepare some congee for you."

Liu Yu Ru nodded, and Yin Hong left. After she was gone, Liu Yu Ru took off her shoes, sat on the bed, and drew the curtains, enclosing herself in a secluded space. She hugged her knees and buried her face in them.

Luo Zishang was right, after all.

Her composure was only because she could not afford to panic in such a situation. Anyone would be afraid in these circumstances. If she lost her calm, the nearly three hundred people would truly become a disorganized mess.

She had to believe that everyone could survive—and she had to hold onto that belief firmly.

As soon as the gates of Xingyang City closed, Gu Jiusi, standing outside, heard the bell toll and understood.

He stood by the dock for a moment before someone on the boat called out, "Sir, the boat is about to leave. Will you be joining us?"

Gu Jiusi looked up, and the person on the boat added, "Boss Liu instructed us to wait for you."

Hearing this, a sharp pain pierced Gu Jiusi’s heart.

He took a deep breath and finally asked, "Are you all from Willow Reach Commerce?"

"Yes," the speaker replied. "I am the manager here in Xingyang, Xu Feng. You’ve met me before."

"I remember."

Gu Jiusi nodded. After a moment’s thought, he said, "I need some money and manpower. Leave me some silver. Those willing to stay can remain with me. Those who aren’t should follow Yu Ru’s instructions and leave."

Xu Feng acknowledged the order, gathered the people, and tallied those willing to stay. He then handed the silver to Gu Jiusi and said, "Sir, as I am responsible for overseeing the cargo on this trip, I cannot stay with you. However, my eldest son, Xu Luo, though only seventeen, has some martial skills and is quick-witted. He wishes to remain by your side and serve you."

Gu Jiusi expressed his gratitude and had Xu Luo gather the volunteers before departing with them.

He could not linger at the dock for long. Wang Shusheng would surely send people to search the area sooner or later. He needed to leave quickly.

Gu Jiusi led Xu Luo into the nearby mountains, where they found a cave to take shelter.The merchant fleet left him twenty men, all young and strong. They had always been on good terms with Liu Yu Ru and stayed behind with the intention of rescuing her. After the group settled down, Gu Jiusi dispatched two of them to take separate routes to the Eastern Capital to find Jiang He.

Once the messengers were sent, Xu Luo sat down beside Gu Jiusi and asked, "Sir, what should we do next?"

"First, we go to Sizhou," Gu Jiusi said calmly. "We'll assess the situation there and then I'll recruit a few more people."

"But what about the mistress..."

"As long as I remain free, she will be safe."

Gu Jiusi looked toward Yingyang and added, "If I were captured, that would be the real disaster."

Xu Luo didn’t fully grasp Gu Jiusi’s reasoning, but since Liu Yu Ru had always spoken highly of him and Gu Jiusi was his mistress’s husband—and thus his master—he refrained from further questions.

Watching the others gather firewood, Gu Jiusi rested briefly before addressing them: "You all stay here and rest. Xu Luo and I will go to Sizhou to investigate."

With that, Gu Jiusi mounted his horse and led Xu Luo galloping toward Sizhou.

While upheaval gripped Yingyang, within the Eastern Capital’s palace, Fan Xuan gazed steadily at Shen Ming. "Do you realize what you are saying?"

"This humble subject understands."

Shen Ming spoke calmly, lifting his head to meet Fan Xuan’s gaze. "I implore Your Majesty to dispatch suitable personnel and send troops to Yongzhou."

"I already gave Gu Jiusi a token," Fan Xuan replied coolly. "If he needs to mobilize troops, he can do so."

"What if the officials in Sizhou have been bribed?" Shen Ming countered. "Or what if Gu Jiusi’s men cannot reach Sizhou in time to deploy the troops?"

"How dare they?!"

"Why would they not dare?"

Shen Ming retorted calmly, pointing to the confession he had transcribed from Wang Siyuan. "Yongzhou is entirely controlled by local gentry families. Now that they know Wang Siyuan is dead, they will suspect he revealed everything. If we arrest people based on this list and investigate the evidence according to Wang Siyuan’s information, it’s only a matter of time before we catch them red-handed. If Yongzhou doesn’t fight back desperately now, when will they?"

"If they join forces to assassinate two high-ranking ministers of the third rank or above, would they resort to such methods? Are they afraid Your Majesty wouldn’t execute them? Your Majesty," Shen Ming kowtowed, "Yongzhou is now in grave peril. It took me three days to get here. Any further delay, and it may be too late."

"The Great Xia dynasty is newly established," Fan Xuan said slowly, stroking the imperial seal beside him. "I cannot disrupt legal order. There is no precedent for sending troops based solely on the words of a convict. If I dispatch troops to Yongzhou without evidence today, the other provinces may grow uneasy, potentially inciting unrest."

"Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty," Jiang He suddenly spoke up. Fan Xuan turned to look at him as Jiang He stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Your Majesty previously granted Gu Jiusi the token to mobilize Sizhou’s troops. Why not let this humble official accompany Young Lord Ye to investigate the officials in both provinces and assess their performance for this year?"

The Great Xia had inherited most of the systems from the previous Da Rong dynasty, including the annual evaluation of officials. An official’s salary and promotion the following year were closely tied to this assessment. By wielding this authority, Jiang He would effectively control the promotions and salaries of a large number of Sizhou officials for the next year, instantly gaining numerous allies upon arrival in Sizhou.He had always been rather frivolous, distinguishing between Ye Shi'an and Ye Qingwen as "Young Master Ye" and "Lord Ye" respectively. Fan Xuan had grown accustomed to it and paid no mind.

Seeing Fan Xuan lost in thought over his proposal without speaking, Jiang He continued, "Additionally, if Yongzhou truly encounters trouble, the court cannot stand idly by, lest the chaos escalates too far. A single city in rebellion need not warrant a massive campaign. Swift resolution followed by immediate restoration of order would minimize the impact."

"Your 'swift resolution,'" Fan Xuan pondered, "how many troops and how much time would it require?"

"Five thousand men, one day."

Jiang He answered decisively, then chuckled. "Forgive my boldness, Your Majesty, but with my capabilities, five thousand troops could capture Yingyang in a single day. If we can seize Yingyang in one day and cure its chronic ills, Your Majesty," Jiang He slowly bowed, his gaze meaningful, "for the newly established Great Xia dynasty, this would truly establish our national prestige."

Upon hearing this, a cold glint gathered in Fan Xuan's eyes.

"You're right."

Fan Xuan nodded. "Great Xia cannot follow in Great Rong's footsteps."

Having once been a military governor himself, he understood all too well how Great Rong had collapsed.

Seeing that the point had been made, Jiang He fell silent.

Fan Xuan quickly drafted an edict ordering Jiang He to depart immediately. Only after Jiang He received and acknowledged the imperial decree did Fan Xuan finally turn his attention to Shen Ming.

"As for you—"

Fan Xuan frowned at Shen Ming, who knelt on the ground. Having learned that Jiang He would handle the matter in Sizhou, Shen Ming finally felt relieved.

With Jiang He going to Sizhou and all evidence provided, everything he could and should do had been done. The rest was beyond his control.

His path had reached its end—whether what lay ahead was a cliff or a long road no longer mattered.

He knelt silently for a long while before Fan Xuan finally declared, "Take him to the imperial prison for now. He shall be tried together with the Yongzhou case after its conclusion."

Shen Ming stared blankly at this, while Jiang He hurriedly said, "Thank His Majesty for his mercy."

"Thank Your Majesty for your grace!"

Shen Ming immediately kowtowed.

After Shen Ming and Jiang He left the hall together, Jiang He instructed Ye Shi'an to prepare for the journey. Shen Ming was carried on a soft sedan chair while Jiang He walked beside him, using a fan to shield himself from the sun. Smiling, Jiang He said, "His Majesty intends to pardon you. It seems you won't be dying."

Shen Ming grinned, looking somewhat foolish.

Jiang He curled his lips. "Since you've survived, cherish your life from now on. Find an opportunity to propose to the Ye Family."

Shen Ming was taken aback. After a moment, he stammered, "I... I'm still far from worthy."

Jiang He raised an eyebrow. Shen Ming looked at him, seeming to struggle for a moment before finally saying, "Actually, Ye Yun... doesn't have feelings for me."

Jiang He appeared surprised. Shen Ming continued, "She... she ought to... to like someone like you."

This left Jiang He momentarily speechless. After a pause, he laughed and said, "Isn't that perfectly normal?"

"You..."

"Young girls often fancy someone like me," Jiang He opened his fan, covering half his face as his beautiful eyes curved in amusement. "Nothing could be more ordinary."

Shen Ming fell silent, discomforted by Jiang He's words. After a while, he finally said, "She's a fine young woman. She wouldn't develop feelings for just anyone. I understand the way she looks at you."

"So you see," Jiang He looked at Shen Ming, a trace of nostalgia in his eyes, "you're still young. It's easy for someone to like another person - because they're dashing, handsome, gentle, capable, or because she's beautiful, comes from a noble family, understands emotions and interests... People naturally admire excellence, but this kind of liking is merely admiration, merely a momentary flutter of the heart. But to completely know someone's strengths and weaknesses, to accept everything about them, and still like them - that's truly difficult."

"You're still young." Jiang He's expression softened. "She's not entirely indifferent toward you, nor do you need to swing between arrogance and inferiority. Shen Ming, the most precious thing in life is genuine feeling."

Shen Ming remained silent. Just as Jiang He was about to offer more advice, he heard him say: "Whatever degree of affection she holds for you, it's genuine. Whether she'll continue to like you in the future, or whether she'll like someone else, I cannot say. But at this moment, her feelings for you, whether deep or shallow, can only be judged by her. You might not return her affection, but I hope you'll respect these feelings."

"In this world," Shen Ming looked at him, his expression bright and earnest, "everyone may plead her case to me, except you. Though I should be grateful to you, if you do this, she'll be hurt."

Jiang He fell silent, watching this young man who seemed like an unadorned blade - unpolished, quiet, asking for nothing in return - standing guard before that young girl called Ye Yun.

Everyone said he was foolish and naive about worldly affairs, but in this moment Jiang He clearly perceived how much effort he was expending to protect that person with such delicate tenderness.

Holding his fan, Jiang He raised his hands and bowed respectfully.

"My apologies," he said seriously, "please forgive my presumption."

Shen Ming shook his head: "I don't deserve such courtesy."

Jiang He smiled: "Your trip to Yongzhou has matured you considerably."

"When you have people and matters that concern you," Shen Ming said with a bitter smile, "you can no longer muddle through life."

As they finished speaking, the two arrived at the palace gates where Ye Shi'an stood waiting with attendants and horses. "I've obtained several sets of clothing from the palace that should fit us," Shi'an told Jiang He. "The official seals, travel documents, and silver are all prepared. I've instructed others to bring the remaining items later. Given the urgency, shall we depart immediately?"

Jiang He nodded. After bidding farewell to Shen Ming, the two mounted their horses and galloped out of the city.

Shen Ming leaned back in his sedan chair, tilting his head up to see the sky clear and blue as if freshly washed, utterly pure and bright.

Then he heard someone call: "Shen Ming."

He turned to see Ye Yun standing not far away. It was unclear how long she had been there, her expression somewhat nervous. Shen Ming gazed at her quietly for a moment before suddenly curving his lips into a smile. "Have you made the Red Bean Cake?" he asked.

Ye Yun was momentarily taken aback, then she too began to smile. "You, do you only know how to mooch food from me?"

"Let's go back," she said, her voice softening. "I'll make some for you when we return."