Destined

Upon hearing this, everyone froze.

Just then, a bizarre scream erupted from the crowd: "It's terrible! The officials are going to kill people! They're going to slaughter the city!"

The crowd instantly fell into chaos, pushing forward aggressively. Luo Zishang scanned the surroundings and ordered the soldiers to raise their spears, roaring, "Anyone who dares step forward will be killed on the spot!"

Only after this threat did the crowd quiet down.

Hidden in the shadows, Ye Shi'an glanced into the distance and saw Ye Yun's maid rushing over anxiously. She approached him quietly and whispered, "The young lady says you should leave first."

"Where is she?"

"The young lady knows Luo Zishang has locked down the city. She said she'll find a way."

Ye Shi'an gritted his teeth. "What way could she possibly have?"

With that, he took a deep breath and discreetly summoned his hidden guards, immediately instructing them, "Quickly find the young lady! Bring her here at all costs!"

"But what about you..."

"Don't worry about me!"

Ye Shi'an looked up at the hidden guards. "Protect the young lady, understand?"

The guards dared not say more and hurried off to carry out the order.

Ye Shi'an surveyed his surroundings—everyone was locked in a standoff with Luo Zishang. At that moment, a sudden cry erupted from the crowd as a group of masked figures charged at the government soldiers, raising their blades without a word and slashing wildly!

"Run quickly!"

"Charge!"

"Yangzhou is descending into chaos—let's get out first!"

Screams filled the air as chaos erupted. Ye Shi'an could no longer restrain himself and dashed toward the city gate.

Mounted on his horse, Luo Zishang immediately spotted Ye Shi'an in the crowd and shouted, "Capture him!"

Everyone surged toward Ye Shi'an, but just then, a tremendous explosion echoed from afar, followed by flames shooting into the sky.

"Young master," someone urgently reported to Luo Zishang, "it's coming from the direction of the Granary."

A second explosion followed shortly after: "Young master, that's the Armory's direction."

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

No one knew who shouted it, but residents of Yangzhou began pouring out of their homes, rushing toward the city gate.

"Open the gates, my lord! Please, let us out!"

The citizens panicked wildly. Soldiers tangled with Ye Shi'an while Shen Ming and his men covertly engaged the troops, shielding Ye Shi'an as they fought their way out. Luo Zishang snatched a bow from nearby and, without hesitation, aimed it at Ye Shi'an.

"My lord," a soldier galloped from afar, rushing up to Luo Zishang and exclaiming, "Lord Wang has been assassinated!"

Luo Zishang's hand trembled slightly, and the arrow shot forth. Ye Shi'an swiftly dodged, but a blade from the side struck his arm.

Fortunately, Shen Ming blocked the blade in time, preventing a deep wound. He kicked aside the attacker and pulled Ye Shi'an outward, urging, "Go!"

"My lord," the soldiers surrounded Luo Zishang, "you must return immediately! We can't afford to linger at the gate. The Granary and Armory need reinforcements—we can't exhaust all our resources here."

No matter how critical the situation, nothing was more urgent than Wang Shanquan's assassination.

Wang Shanquan was the emperor of Yangzhou. At this moment, whether to reassure the people or stabilize the situation, Luo Zishang had to return and manage the crisis.

Gritting his teeth, Luo Zishang immediately ordered, "Chase them down at once! Don't let that man escape!"

After giving the command, Luo Zishang led his men on horseback, galloping back toward the Wang residence.

Shen Ming fought a retreat with Ye Shi'an. Once Luo Zishang departed, the soldiers dispersed. Combined with the massive crowd of civilians, most soldiers found it impossible to wield their blades effectively.Shen Ming shoved Ye Shi'an outward: "Get going, now!"

Ye Shi'an stumbled as he rushed out. He discarded his blade, clutching his injured arm as he pushed forward through the crowd.

A carriage stood parked by the roadside. Just as Ye Shi'an was anxiously running, he heard a woman's clear voice say, "Get in."

Ye Shi'an turned to see Liu Yu Ru holding the reins in the carriage, her veiled hat pushed back to reveal her gentle yet steady smile.

Ye Shi'an felt an immediate wave of relief. He quickly climbed into the carriage and murmured, "Thank you."

"There are clothes inside. Change into them."

As Liu Yu Ru spoke, Ye Shi'an noticed a set of deep blue cloth garments inside the carriage, along with medicinal powder and bandages. Without asking further questions, he followed her instructions—applying the medicine to his wound, wrapping it with the bandage, and changing his clothes. As he dressed, he asked, "That young man who stayed behind just now—will he be alright?"

"He'll be fine," Liu Yu Ru reassured him calmly. "He's used to moving around and has plenty of experience dealing with officials. They all wear extra layers under their clothes. In a moment, he'll tear off the cloth covering his face, shed his outer robe, discard his blade, and blend into the crowd. No one will recognize him. Don't worry."

Hearing this, Ye Shi'an felt somewhat relieved. He then asked, "What about Master Gu?"

"He's already left."

Liu Yu Ru replied evenly, "I had someone escort him by land. The official travel documents and permits were all ready. Luo Zishang didn't even know he was here. As long as the two of us are safe, he'll be fine."

"Yu Ru..." Ye Shi'an began, sounding hesitant. Liu Yu Ru looked up at him, already knowing what he was about to say, and responded calmly, "We'll be boarding someone else's boat shortly. When we reach the dock, if Yun'er arrives by then, we leave. If she doesn't, we still have to go."

Ye Shi'an gritted his teeth. "When the time comes, I'll stay behind alone."

Liu Yu Ru fell silent, knowing she couldn't change Ye Shi'an's mind. She remained quiet, pondering whether there was any other way.

The two drove the carriage all the way to the riverbank, where chaos had already erupted. The merchant fleet was arguing with soldiers who refused to let the ships depart, while the merchants naturally resisted.

The people at the dock were all traveling merchants, different from the local residents. After Wang Shanquan's massacre of Yangzhou's merchant families, every merchant had been living in fear, only daring to come for business because of the profits. Now, with ships and people being detained, who wouldn't feel panicked?

The soldiers already looked down on these merchants, speaking to them with contempt. After some negotiation, the soldiers grew impatient, and the merchants, both frightened and angry, fueled the tense atmosphere at the dock. Liu Yu Ru helped Ye Shi'an down, intending to guide him onto a boat.

"No need," Ye Shi'an said decisively. "Yu Ru, you board first. I'll wait here for Yun'er. If she doesn't come, I can't possibly leave. Don't stay with me—don't delay because of me."

Liu Yu Ru pressed her lips together. Not only had Ye Shi'an repeatedly helped her and the Gu Family, but given her ties to the Ye Family, she couldn't just stand by and watch him remain here.

She took a deep breath and finally said, "Brother Shi'an, here's what we'll do. You're injured, and you're too conspicuous—too many people know you. You board the boat first. I'll wait here. If Yun'er comes, I'll bring her on board. If the boat departs and we haven't arrived, you can come back down and wait for us."Hearing this reason, Ye Shi'an fell silent for a moment. He pressed his lips together and finally boarded the ship.

Liu Yu Ru was a lady from a respectable family, and aside from close acquaintances, few had seen her before. But he was a renowned young talent of Yangzhou. Standing there like this, he was like a lantern in the dark night, his entire being practically screaming "Come arrest me!"

After Ye Shi'an boarded the ship, Liu Yu Ru stood waiting at the dock entrance. Not long after, Shen Ming also hurried over. He glanced at Liu Yu Ru, wiped his face, and said, "Why are you still here?"

Liu Yu Ru looked at the soldiers and merchants arguing nearby.

Because ships weren't allowed to depart, the conflict between merchants and soldiers was escalating. The sky had completely darkened, and a light drizzle was falling. Liu Yu Ru bought an umbrella from a nearby shop and walked toward the dock entrance holding it. She glanced over and saw the burly leader of the merchants shouting angrily at the soldiers. The man had a northern accent and a fiery temper. The soldier, annoyed by his yelling, drew his sword and roared, "What are you shouting about? You're not allowed to set sail, and that's final! What are you yelling at me for? Do you despise the court? Tired of living?!"

"You merchants, all you do is buy low and sell high—shameless practices! Talking to you is already giving you face. Don't push us officials too far, or we'll cut you down one by one, and the people will even applaud us for it!"

Hearing this, Liu Yu Ru, standing to the side, smiled. Her voice was gentle as she said calmly, "So, with the bloodstains of Yangzhou not yet dry from six months ago, is Yangzhou planning to send more fresh souls to the grave?"

"You woman, what nonsense are you spouting?!"

The soldier, seeing that Liu Yu Ru was just a woman, angrily rushed toward her. Shen Ming quickly stepped in to block the soldier, offering an apologetic smile. "Sir, she's just a young girl. Please don't take it to heart."

Liu Yu Ru put on a frightened expression and repeatedly apologized.

Everyone who witnessed the scene felt a simmering anger at seeing those in front bowing and scraping.

Liu Yu Ru sighed and advised, "Everyone, let's not argue anymore. It's useless. Let's all return to our ships. I'm going to wait for my family."

With that, Liu Yu Ru gracefully walked away.

The soldier looked at the merchants and sneered, "Not one of you has as much sense as that young girl! Did you hear her? Arguing is useless!"

No one spoke further; the words weighed heavily on their minds. Liu Yu Ru glanced at the expressions of everyone behind her and whispered to Shen Ming, "Go stir the pot a little. See if they're planning to resist the authorities together. If they are, help them come up with a plan. Later, the ships need to depart one after another in an orderly manner. Someone has to take charge, or they'll crash into each other before the authorities even catch them. There needs to be a leader to command and guide them."

"Understood."

Shen Ming nodded, already forming a plan in his mind.

In the six months of turmoil, everyone had grown bolder. Though they claimed to be merchants, those who traded across the land had all seen blades and bloodshed.

What had happened in Yangzhou in the past was an insurmountable hurdle in the hearts of every merchant. Now, trapped here for no reason, everyone was afraid.

At that moment, thousands of people were docked at the port. They had ships and guards, and most were not from Yangzhou. Once they left, it would be like birds flying freely under the vast sky.These men who had traveled north and south were all revered figures in their own territories. Already unsettled, they now felt further humiliated by the officers. Liu Yu Ru's words struck a chord in their hearts, plunging them into complete silence.

If words were useless, then what would work?

Everyone knew the answer in their hearts. As Shen Ming approached, he saw several leaders of merchant fleets talking. Crossing his arms, he smiled and said, "I say, why don't we cooperate and discuss how to proceed?"

After observing for a while, Liu Yu Ru saw Shen Ming leave with the others and knew he had gone to negotiate with them. She paid them no further mind, standing at the entrance of the ferry and watching as people continuously poured out from the city.

These were all refugees fleeing the city, and their arrival intensified the chaos at the dock. Holding an umbrella, dressed in plain clothes, Liu Yu Ru stood firm and composed, as if carving out a tranquil space around herself amidst the turmoil.

Amid the crowd, she spotted a woman with clothing draped over her head, being escorted and jostled through the throng. Not far behind, Luo Zishang arrived on horseback with his men, urgently giving chase.

He had returned to the Wang residence, issued all necessary orders, and pushed the third young master, Wang Lingxiu, forward to stabilize the situation before rushing to the dock.

He knew clearly that Ye Shi'an's departure on this day was no coincidence—the mastermind behind the grain prices must have ties to Ye Shi'an, which explained their synchronized actions. As for Ye Yun, her killing of Wang Shanquan was no impulsive act. If she had wanted to kill him, she would have done so earlier. She had waited until now precisely to force his return and delay him.

When Luo Zishang's men arrived, the already tense merchants could no longer restrain themselves. They had been discussing plans, and now, seeing no alternative, they followed the lead of the burly man who had earlier negotiated with the officers. He killed a guard stationed by the anchor, and they began forcibly preparing to set sail.

The burly man was capable, directing everyone as they gradually set the ships in motion. Liu Yu Ru saw Ye Yun hurrying over, then watched as hidden guards swiftly guided her into a concealed spot. Glancing up, she saw Luo Zishang riding directly toward them, clearly with a target in mind.

Liu Yu Ru quickly moved toward Ye Yun's hiding place. As she approached, Ye Yun's guards instinctively reached for their swords, but Liu Yu Ru immediately said, "It's me."

Ye Yun was taken aback. Liu Yu Ru removed her outer robe, draping it over Ye Yun, and handed her the official travel document and route pass. She spoke rapidly, "The thirteenth ship from the back—your brother is waiting for you on board. Circle around behind these buildings, take the fifth alley facing the ship. There's a path in between. Luo Zishang will spot you if you emerge, so I'll draw his attention. When he speaks to me, board the ship immediately."

"You..."

"Go, quickly."

Liu Yu Ru turned, opened her umbrella, and walked out. She moved against the flow of the crowd.

Meanwhile, Luo Zishang urged his horse to the ferry. He had glimpsed Ye Yun moments earlier, but she had vanished in an instant. Yet he knew she must be here.

By now, the conflict between the officers and the merchants' guards had erupted fully. Ships, one after another, began sailing away in an orderly fashion under direction. His shouts and commands were lost in the chaos—there were too many people, and his horse could advance no further. He dismounted and pushed his way into the crowd.

He had seen Ye Yun. If he could capture her, he would at least be able to apprehend Ye Shi'an!He charged forward, pushing through the crowd with all his might. Just then, someone lightly bumped into him, followed by a familiar yet startled exclamation: "Ah, Young Master Luo?"

Luo Zishang turned around and saw a woman in plain clothes standing under an umbrella in the drizzling rain. Her smile was gentle and serene, standing out from the surroundings.

Luo Zishang frowned: "Who are you?"

Liu Yu Ru raised her hand to cover half her face and said softly with a smile, "We meet again."

Seeing this half-covered face, Luo Zishang finally realized: "It's you? What are you doing here?"

"The person I was looking for wasn't found. I intended to leave, but it's too chaotic today, so I decided to head back instead."

Luo Zishang nodded and turned away: "In that case, please go ahead, miss. I have urgent matters to attend to. Farewell."

As Luo Zishang prepared to leave, Liu Yu Ru noticed that Ye Yun was still not quite on the boat. In her urgency, she grabbed his sleeve: "Young Master Luo."

Luo Zishang turned back, his eyes flashing with killing intent. At that moment, Liu Yu Ru held her umbrella over his head and said gently, "The night is deep and the rain heavy. My residence isn't far. Please take this umbrella, young master."

Luo Zishang was momentarily stunned. Liu Yu Ru handed the umbrella to him, made a slight curtsey, and turned to leave. Luo Zishang watched her retreating figure, momentarily lost in thought, until his guard hurriedly asked: "Young master?"

"Continue searching."

Luo Zishang turned away and said coldly: "Dispatch troops immediately to suppress these people."

With that, Luo Zishang closed the umbrella and continued searching through the crowd.

Liu Yu Ru moved to the side, quickly circling around to wait in a house opposite the boat. When the boat was about to weigh anchor, she seized the moment and rushed toward it. Ye Shi'an stood at the bow and, seeing Liu Yu Ru approach, quickly reached out to pull her aboard.

Meanwhile, on the dock, Luo Zishang suddenly turned around. He saw the large ship slowly leaving the shore, and on its deck stood a woman in plain clothes with a young man beside her.

The young man's figure closely resembled Ye Shi'an, and the woman had just greeted him moments before!

Various moments from his conversation with Liu Yu Ru flashed through Luo Zishang's mind.

The woman in the thatched cottage shyly smiling behind a round fan, the woman standing calmly with an umbrella at the ferry.

It was raining, yet she wore no outer robe, only a single layer.

She had just said she was returning home, yet here she was on that very ship, and the person beside her looked exactly like Ye Shi'an.

She was a woman with no family, searching for a lover she met in Cangzhou. Since she hadn't found him, why would she leave?!

And she was a young lady of good family—previously attended by maids—so how could she be standing alone at the dock now? And how could her bumping into him be such a precise coincidence?

Connecting all the clues, Luo Zishang suddenly realized the truth.

"Stop that ship!"

He roared: "Now!"

But it was already too late.

His men couldn't possibly stop a ship that had already set sail. The surroundings were in complete chaos, and he couldn't mobilize anyone else.

He desperately pushed through the crowd, rushing toward the large ship. Liu Yu Ru saw Luo Zishang in the crowd and, from his expression, knew he had realized the truth.She froze for a moment, never expecting him to discover her so quickly. But now that she was already on the boat, there was nothing Luo Zishang could do to her. She stood at the bow, smiling as she watched him chase after the vessel.

Unsure if he could hear her, she raised her hand and bowed from afar, calling out clearly, "Farewell, Young Master Luo."

"Stop right there!"

Luo Zishang was forced to halt at the shore, roaring in frustration.

But Liu Yuru merely waved her hand, turned around, and entered the cabin.

Ye Shi'an followed her inside, where Ye Yun was seated. Having removed her outer robe, she still had bloodstains on her clothes. Seeing Ye Shi'an and Liu Yuru enter, Ye Yun was momentarily stunned before suddenly rushing forward to embrace her brother, trembling as she cried out, "Brother..."

"Don't be afraid."

Ye Shi'an patted her back steadily. "I'm here."

Ye Yun closed her eyes, her lower lip quivering. She said nothing for a long time before suddenly bursting into heart-wrenching sobs.

Ye Shi'an was momentarily at a loss. He looked up at Liu Yuru, who shook her head and made a "shushing" gesture.

Left with no choice, Ye Shi'an remained rigid, letting Ye Yun cry until she had exhausted herself. Afterward, Liu Yuru helped Ye Yun to bed, and they all retired for the night.

Both Ye Shi'an and Liu Yuru found it difficult to sleep, so they went to the deck. After the rain had passed, the boat sailed much more smoothly. As they stood in the night breeze, Liu Yuru smiled and asked, "Where do you plan to go next?"

"Once we reach Youzhou, we'll stay there."

Ye Shi'an gazed ahead. "Uncle Fan is a good official."

"I'd forgotten," Liu Yuru chuckled. "Your father and Lord Fan have deep ties."

Ye Shi'an smiled faintly, a trace of bitterness in his expression. Liu Yuru sighed as she looked at him. He was different from Gu Jiusi. Gu Jiusi would cry, speak his mind, and be open and sincere without concealment. But this man had been raised since childhood with the discipline of a pillar of the state—he could not allow himself to show even a moment of weakness or distress. She wanted to comfort him but didn't know how. After a moment, she could only smile and say, "Speaking of which, Yun'er seems to have misunderstood you deeply. I remember her telling me before that you only cared about your career, that you were a cold and unfeeling brother. But now it seems she was mistaken."

"Not entirely mistaken." Ye Shi'an lowered his head to watch the churning water in the darkness, his tone calm. "Compared to others, I truly don't know how to interact with my sister. I hardly spent any time with her growing up. All I know is that if she's in trouble, I'll protect her. That's my conviction and my responsibility."

"Having a brother like you is more than enough." Liu Yuru smiled. "When I was young, I often wished I had a brother like you."

"When we were children," Ye Shi'an asked curiously, "didn't you think I was dull?"

"Why would I think that?" Liu Yuru was surprised. Ye Shi'an pursed his lips into a smile. "Yun'er said I was boring."

"Then you don't understand her," Liu Yuru laughed. "She often boasted to us about how amazing you were."

If Ye Yun hadn't built up such a perfect image of Ye Shi'an back then, she wouldn't have developed those feelings for him.

Thinking back to those feelings, she couldn't help but find it somewhat amusing.Ye Shi'an looked at her expression and knew she was recalling the past. He couldn't help but say, "Are you and Gu Jiusi doing well? Has he ever bullied you?"

At the mention of Gu Jiusi, Liu Yu Ru couldn't help but smile. She pressed her lips together and said, "What do you think?"

"Then it's probably not happening." Ye Shi'an nodded. After hesitating for a moment, he finally said, "Actually, I failed you in this matter..."

"No, no, no." Liu Yu Ru quickly waved her hand and said with a laugh, "It should be me thanking you for your kindness in not marrying me."

Ye Shi'an was momentarily stunned. Only then did Liu Yuru realize her words might have been inappropriate, and she quickly explained, "Actually, you can tell—my temperament isn't that of a refined lady from a noble family. It was all an act back then. If I had married into the Ye Family, I would have been deceiving myself and everyone else."

"Marrying Jiusi," Liu Yuru smiled, seeming somewhat embarrassed, "makes me genuinely happy. I don't have to abide by those rigid rules or hide my true self. Although I was quite upset at first, if you get to know him, you'll realize he's an exceptionally good person."

After a moment's thought, Liu Yuru felt her words still weren't quite right and added, "What I mean is..."

"I understand," Ye Shi'an interrupted, knowing she was worried about upsetting him. "In my heart, you and Yun'er are both like younger sisters to me. As long as your marriage hasn't been hindered and you're living well, I am at ease."

Ye Shi'an sighed. "Childhood friends are few and far between now. Yuru," he said earnestly, "I hope we can all live well."

Hearing this, Liu Yuru pressed her lips together and nodded. "Yes. Live well."

The boat moved quietly through the night, without wind or moonlight. Liu Yuru turned her head away, and in that instant, she suddenly thought of Gu Jiusi.

Missed him terribly.

On the third day after Liu Yuru's departure, Luo Zishang stabilized Yangzhou with an iron fist. Most of Liu Yuru's people had left, but one was carelessly captured by Luo Zishang. After a night of severe torture, the full story finally came to light.

Upon hearing how Liu Yuru had entered Yangzhou, stirred up trouble, and then left, Luo Zishang's face turned ashen with rage.

He couldn't believe it and repeatedly questioned, "Was there really no one else behind her?"

"No..."

The bound man gasped, "Madam Liu was already a prominent figure in Wangdu—no ordinary woman."

Luo Zishang remained silent. He stood up quietly and ordered the person beside him, "Kill him."

With that, he walked out and entered his study. Seated at his desk, he held the confession without moving, his mind repeatedly picturing how Liu Yuru had masterminded everything behind the scenes—from Qingzhou, Cangzhou, to Yangzhou.

He felt his blood boiling with a strange exhilaration. Resting his hand on the paper umbrella beside him, he slowly uttered the name he had just learned and would never forget: "Liu Yuru."

Meanwhile, Gu Jiusi was sitting in the Magistrate Office. Holding a brush, he looked up at the person who had come to report and said, "Say that again?"

"Madam sent the boat back with supplies and the others first. She asked you to bring people to Guangyang to fetch her."

Gu Jiusi gripped the brush tightly, struggling to control his emotions as he asked hoarsely, "Why did she stay behind?"

The messenger, sensing Gu Jiusi's anger, dared not speak. Gu Jiusi raised his eyes and said coldly, "Speak!"

"Madam said... to rescue someone."

"Who is she with now?" Gu Jiusi clenched the brush, feeling his emotions nearing their limit.

"Ye... Ye Shi'an, the eldest young master of the Ye Family."

Hearing this name, Gu Jiusi finally lost control. He slammed the brush down and roared, "She's being reckless!"

Author's Note: Gu Jiusi (drawing his sword): I'm warning all the men behind—none of you are allowed to follow.