Hearing this, even though she had been prepared, Chu Yu was still startled.
She had long known that something would happen at Phoenix Mausoleum, but according to the original timeline, the incident should have occurred after Song Wenchang's death, when Chu Linyang led troops to ambush the Northern Di and was trapped at Phoenix Mausoleum. Why were they already sending for reinforcements now?
Chu Yu took out the intelligence reports on Phoenix Mausoleum and confirmed repeatedly that it was indeed not under siege. Frowning, she said, "They've sent three waves of people to Hua Jing. What exactly are they trying to deliver into the capital?"
"I'll have someone investigate," Wei Yun said after a moment's thought. "Phoenix Mausoleum is only two days away from here. I'll send scouts."
After speaking, Wei Yun summoned his men and dispatched them to Phoenix Mausoleum.
During this time, Chu Yu went through intelligence reports from other regions. The battlefront was almost entirely in retreat, with no strange phenomena reported. Chu Linyang had sent a carrier pigeon to Wei Yun just a day ago, placing his position at Yang Pass, about a day's journey from Phoenix Mausoleum.
Still uneasy, she wrote a letter to Chu Linyang inquiring about the current frontline situation. Then she looked up at Wei Yun and said, "Send a letter to Song Shilan for me. If the opportunity arises, he may kill Song Wenchang."
"So urgently?" Wei Yun was surprised.
Chu Yu lowered her gaze. Killing Song Wenchang now was indeed premature. However, the incident at Wei Manor had taught her that to change fate, one must resolve matters at their root.
If Song Wenchang died, Chu Jin wouldn't go seeking reinforcements, Chu Linyang wouldn't attempt a rescue, and thus wouldn't perish for it.
After all, Song Wenchang was destined to die. Whether sooner or later, it might as well serve a purpose.
After a pause, she added, "Tell him if he finds it difficult, I'll assist him."
This puzzled Wei Yun even more. He frowned. "Do you have a grudge against Song Wenchang?"
"Not exactly," Chu Yu replied calmly, still reading the reports. "I just have reason to believe he must die within the next two months."
As they spoke, Wei Qiu arrived with a stack of papers and reported to Wei Yun, "Marquis, we've extracted some information from the prisoner in the dungeon."
Wei Yun acknowledged and had Wei Qiu present the documents.
The prisoner was Shen You, indeed born in the city the Wei family had abandoned years ago. At twenty-three, he had grown up on the border between Great Chu and Northern Di. His appearance made him unwelcome on both sides, yet he managed to survive by moving between them. Before thirteen, he was a street ruffian. At thirteen, Yao Yong discovered and trained him as a spy. By seventeen, he infiltrated the Northern Di army, remaining until twenty-three. Upon returning, he changed his identity and became one of Yao Yong's assassins.
The mission to kill Gu Chusheng shouldn't have involved him, but Gu Chusheng proved exceptionally difficult to track. Yao Yong had nearly emptied his ranks, sending all available assassins after him.
After reviewing the documents, Wei Yun frowned. "If he was a spy, why did he suddenly return?"
"He won't say," Wei Qiu replied impassively. "We've beaten him severely. Any further interrogation might be fatal, so I came to report first."
"You..." Wei Yun was taken aback. "Didn't I say not to resort to excessive force?"
"I didn't hit him much," Wei Qiu said calmly. "Just superficial wounds. His constitution is weak—he couldn't withstand it."
The revelation that this burly man was actually so fragile left everyone present with mixed feelings.Wei Yun was the first to regain his composure and didn’t press the matter further. Instead, he turned to Chu Yu and said, “You have to admit, Yao Yong is quite something. If you say he’s capable—well, on the battlefield, he’s full of schemes, and when it comes to fighting, all he does is abandon cities or flee. But if you say he’s useless—look how skilled he is at training spies to infiltrate the Northern Di. That’s impressive in its own way.”
Chu Yu remained silent, feeling that something about this situation was off. Seeing her quiet, Wei Yun handed the papers to Wei Xia to organize into a dossier and instructed, “Go back and question him again. Find out why he refused to be a spy. If there’s no major issue, release him.”
“But he’s Yao Yong’s man…” Wei Qiu hesitated.
Wei Yun sighed helplessly. “The Wei family acted unjustly first. How can we blame others for their resentment?”
Back then, when the Wei family abandoned the city, they had managed to save most of the civilians. But those they failed to protect—for them, the Wei family’s actions were undeniably unjust.
Whether it made sense or not, most people in this world made decisions based on their own perspectives. There was no right or wrong to it.
“If he poses no significant threat, settle him properly and leave him be. If we cross paths as enemies again, we can deal with him then.”
Wei Yun issued the order, and this time, Wei Qiu didn’t object, simply replying, “Understood.”
While Wei Yun and Chu Yu were speaking, deep in the dungeon, Shen You—whom everyone believed had passed out—slowly opened his eyes. He had been feigning unconsciousness, lying motionless with his back to the guards. Seeing him unresponsive, the guards had let their guard down.
The most vigilant of them, Wei Qiu, had already left. After waiting for so long, now was the time.
He quietly reached to the inside of his thigh and retrieved a slender tube. Pouring out the powder inside, he silently scattered it behind him.
The powder had an intensely pungent odor. Almost immediately, the guards caught a whiff of something strange. One frowned and muttered, “What—”
Before he could finish, his vision darkened, and he collapsed with a thud. The others quickly realized something was wrong and sprang up to act, but none lasted long before they, too, fell one after another.
Shen You stood up, using the chain on his wrist to twist the lock on the cell door into an odd angle. After a few deft movements, there was a sharp click—the chain snapped. He then pulled a small rod from his ear, which unfolded into several slender pieces. Inserting it into the lock, he fiddled briefly before the lock gave way.
Moving swiftly, he stole a key from one of the guards, along with a knife, basic medical supplies, and some silver. After changing into the guard’s uniform, he hurried out.
His actions were executed with practiced precision, as if he’d done this countless times before.
Above the Wei Manor’s dungeon stood an artificial hill, beyond which lay the manor’s gardens.
At that moment, Wang Lan, supporting her heavily pregnant belly, was strolling along the hill. Her maid fretted, “It’s so cold today, my lady. You really shouldn’t be out walking.”
“Today is A Rong’s birthday,” Wang Lan said softly. “He always loved playing in the artificial hills in the rear garden on his birthday. I just… wanted to remember him today.”
“My lady…” The maid sighed. “You’re about to give birth. Please don’t dwell on such things.”"It's alright." Wang Lan smiled, glancing up at the sky. "Go fetch me a robe. I'd like to be alone for a while. I won't leave this spot, so be quick."
The maid acknowledged and withdrew. Wang Lan sat on a rock, gazing at the nearby pond as thoughts of Wei Rong surfaced in her mind.
Wei Rong was childlike at heart. Even after serving as an official for years, he still enjoyed playing hide-and-seek with her among the rockeries to startle her.
Remembering her husband, Wang Lan couldn't help but laugh softly. She sighed aloud, "Sixth Brother, in two more years I'll have to leave. What do you think will happen when—"
Before she could finish, she heard rapid breathing and footsteps from behind the rockery. Puzzled, she turned her head just as a man materialized from the artificial hills!
Wang Lan gasped in shock, but before the sound fully escaped her lips, the stranger rushed forward to cover her mouth. Simultaneously, he snatched her hairpin and pressed it against her throat, growling, "Quiet!"
His movements were too swift for her to follow. Shen You saw before him a girl of sixteen or seventeen, her eyes brimming with tears from his sudden intimidation.
Women from the borderlands were typically fierce—he'd never encountered someone as delicate as a flower. Judging by her exquisite attire, she must hold considerable status within Wei Manor.
She stared at him timidly, docile and completely silent.
Shen You found himself unable to maintain his ferocity. In a hoarse voice, he said, "Stay quiet, and I'll release you. Make a sound, and I'll kill you instantly. Understood?"
Wang Lan nodded frantically. As he slowly withdrew his hand and saw she truly offered no resistance, Shen You gradually relaxed. Pale-faced, Wang Lan watched him fearfully. His gaze fell to her abdomen, and he sheathed his blade. "I don't usually kill women or children."
"You... you have the bearing of a noble warrior."
Wang Lan's face was deathly white, beads of sweat trickling down.
Sensing something amiss but pressed for time, Shen You found himself inexplicably speaking with caution: "Then... I'll go?"
The words left him feeling foolish—here he was fleeing for his life, yet bidding farewell as if they were acquaintances. What was wrong with him?
Shen You turned to leave, only to hear a loud thud. The woman had suddenly collapsed against the rock, lying sideways as she began panting rapidly.
He instantly rushed back. Seeing Wang Lan's state, he asked apprehensively, "You... what's wrong?"
Hearing his voice, Wang Lan grasped at hope. She clutched Shen You's sleeve, pleading desperately, "Sir, this humble wife is timid... your earlier fright... now... I fear... I'm going into labor."
"What?!!"
Shen You stood frozen momentarily before stammering, "You... wait here, I'll call for help."
But the moment he spoke, he realized the absurdity—he was escaping! Calling for help would mean summoning his pursuers. Was he out of his mind?
"Thank you..." Wang Lan gasped. "Thank you, noble warrior..."
Hearing this, Shen You was truly at a loss.
This situation was undeniably his fault. He was a man who owned his actions, especially toward women.
After a brief internal struggle, Shen You gritted his teeth. "Fine."
Rising to his feet, he declared, "Wait here. I'll get help."
"Don't leave!" Wang Lan refused to let him go, gripping his sleeve tightly. "This humble wife is terrified..."As she spoke, Wang Lan's tears began to fall. Seeing her cry, Shen You was at a loss and could only say, "Alright, alright, I'll call someone for you here."
With that, Shen You took a deep breath and, using his Internal Force, bellowed at the top of his lungs: "HELP! SOMEONE! THERE'S A WOMAN GIVING BIRTH BY THE ROCK GARDEN!!"
Shen You's shout, infused with Internal Force, echoed throughout the entire Wei Manor, front to back.
After shouting several more times, even the slowest to react would have understood.
At that time, the only one in Wei Manor about to give birth was Wang Lan. The moment they heard the commotion, Chu Yu and Wei Yun immediately sensed something was wrong. They prepared a delivery room, summoned physicians and midwives, and rushed toward the source of the shouting.
Meanwhile, after finishing his cries for help, Shen You turned back to Wang Lan and said, "Madam, I'm making my escape now. I've called for help, so I'll be on my way, alright?"
"Hero, it was you who bumped into me and caused this..." Wang Lan sobbed. "How can you abandon me here alone? You must take responsibility for what you've done."
"My heavens," Shen You gasped, sucking in a sharp breath. "That child isn't mine! I bumped into you, and I called for help—what more do you want?"
"At least... wait until someone arrives... What if... what if I die here? What then?"
The more Wang Lan thought about it, the more terrified she became, and soon, red stains appeared beneath her skirt.
Shen You had never seen such a scene before and was instantly petrified with fear. Staring at the red spreading beneath the woman's skirt, he stammered, "Then... then... what should I do now?"
Wang Lan couldn't speak anymore. She panted weakly, and Shen You quickly placed his hand on hers, channeling his Internal Force into her without pause.
With Shen You sustaining her through his Internal Force, Wang Lan barely managed to stay conscious. By then, Chu Yu and Wei Yun had arrived. Seeing the situation, they immediately ordered someone to feed Wang Lan ginseng soup and had her carried to the delivery room.
As she was lifted onto the stretcher, Wang Lan smiled weakly at Shen You and said, "I've caused you... so much trouble, Hero. You're truly a good person."
Shen You froze. No one had ever spoken to him like that in his life.
For some reason, he suddenly felt his face grow warm.
He watched as Wang Lan was carried away. Wei Yun, noticing how Shen You kept staring in her direction, slowly approached him.
"Brother," Wei Yun said, sizing him up with a smirk. "Impressive, huh?"
Finally, Shen You snapped back to reality.
Damn it all—this time, he really had called people over to capture himself!
Maintaining a calm facade, he said coolly, "So you're here to take me back, right?"
He stretched out his hands. "Go ahead, tie me up."
"Why would I tie you up?" Wei Yun chuckled. "Come, come—this way. I'll personally take care of you."
Shen You paled.
He knew it—once he was dragged back, he was done for.
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