"At least it's not a white-eyed wolf..." Mo Sigui muttered, turning over to continue sleeping facing the wall.
An Jiu stood for a while before leaving the room.
The rain intensified, pouring down in sheets, forming a curtain in the night sky.
An Jiu opened her umbrella and stepped into the rain.
After leaving Plum Blossom Village, she spotted a figure standing by the roadside near the plum grove, holding an umbrella like a towering monument.
An Jiu was all too familiar with the aura he exuded and quickened her pace toward him. "Chu Dingjiang."
Chu Dingjiang gave an acknowledging hum.
Under the umbrella, Chu Dingjiang was dressed as usual—a black mantle covering his entire body, the hood obscuring most of his face, revealing only his chin.
After her rounds today, An Jiu realized he had indeed made thorough preparations for their departure. It wasn't just the two of them leaving; he was taking many others along.
"Won't Sheng Changying be coming with us?" An Jiu asked him.
If Sheng Changying remained in the Crane Control Army, his relationship with Zhu Pianxian would inevitably end without resolution.
Chu Dingjiang noticed her sudden tendency to meddle in others' affairs but didn't call her out on it. "If he wants to leave, it's even more complicated for him than for me."
Sheng Changying was an imperial official. Though his duties were covert, his official position was publicly recognized. Moreover, once someone became involved with the Crane Control Army, there was no possibility of leaving for the rest of their life.
An Jiu said, "Back then, Old Madam Mei Shi went through so much trouble just to extricate herself, and even afterward, she could only remain hidden. How were you able to arrange for so many people to leave?"
"Times are different now. The Crane Control Army has long been in decline. The army of the previous dynasty still served some purpose, but now it's completely fragmented." Chu Dingjiang thought for a moment, then took An Jiu's hand, explaining slowly, "There are two reasons for the current situation. On one hand, the Song emperor has grown increasingly distrustful of the Crane Control Army and has been gradually weakening its power. On the other hand, after Yelü Huangwu's divisive tactics last time, irreparable rifts formed both within the Crane Control Army and between the army and the emperor."
An Jiu's clenched fist was enveloped in his palm, the warmth dispelling the damp chill of the rainy night. She relaxed her hand and clasped his in return, pressing her palm closer to the warmth.
Chu Dingjiang was momentarily surprised but then understood—An Jiu's actions likely had nothing to do with romantic feelings.
"If you were the emperor of Song, things might be much better," An Jiu remarked.
Chu Dingjiang laughed. "You think so highly of me?"
An Jiu nodded.
In all of Song, probably only An Jiu and Chu Dingjiang would dare to discuss such treasonous thoughts so openly. Those who dared to covet the throne were either imperial relatives or powerful officials—ordinary people wouldn't even entertain the idea.
It wasn't that Chu Dingjiang had never considered it, but he had given up on the notion. He knew his own capabilities well—he would excel at seizing power, but if he actually became emperor, Song might not fare any better than it did now. Sometimes, action could be more terrifying than inaction.
His soul had been forged in an era of blood and fire—he was a warmonger through and through. He could endure the Khitan's bullying for five or ten years, but not for a lifetime. Yet in Song's Confucian-influenced environment, officials and commoners alike had grown meek, clinging only to a largely useless sense of moral integrity. This cultural atmosphere couldn't be reversed in ten or twenty years, nor was it suited for life-and-death warfare.
The ferocity of Warring States-era warriors was something Song people probably couldn't even imagine in their dreams. Faced with such a climate, Chu Dingjiang felt a profound sense of powerlessness. His expertise had always lain in military strategy—he knew nothing of the art of rulership."The current trend isn't bad for Confucianism, but today's Confucianism has changed a lot." Chu Dingjiang was beginning to miss the straightforwardness and intensity of Legalism.
"I don't understand," An Jiu admitted honestly.
Chu Dingjiang tightened his grip on her hand slightly. "These are just idle words. I came to tell you something."
An Jiu asked, "What is it?"
"I might need to stay in Bianjing for about a year or so." Chu Dingjiang turned his head to look at her.
"Mm." An Jiu nodded to show she understood.
Chu Dingjiang felt somewhat disappointed—did An Jiu truly not care at all about whether he stayed or left?
"Where should we meet up?" An Jiu looked up and asked.
Chu Dingjiang's mood improved slightly. "Hangzhou. I have a house in Green Bamboo Lane. You can stay there first, and I'll come find you as soon as I finish my business."
Nearly everyone who needed to be evacuated had already been sent away by Chu Dingjiang. An Jiu couldn't think of anything else that would require so much effort. "If you're staying this long, is the situation really bad?"
"It's the Hua Clan." Chu Dingjiang sighed. "Last time I went to Liao to investigate whether Prime Minister Hua had colluded with the enemy, it turned out to be completely unfounded. But someone insisted it was true and even produced letters as evidence. The Hua Clan is now in imminent danger..."
"To kick them while they're down?" An Jiu remembered he hated the Hua Clan.
In An Jiu's understanding, hatred meant eradicating its existence.
Chu Dingjiang shook his head.
An Jiu was surprised. "Are you going to save the Hua Clan?"
He didn't seem like the kind of person to repay resentment with kindness!
"Perhaps I came here precisely for the Hua Clan's calamity—or maybe to resolve my own inner conflict." Chu Dingjiang wasn't an indecisive person, but when it came to family, he couldn't bring himself to destroy it completely, nor could he let go.
An Jiu didn't even have a clear concept of family, let alone Chu Dingjiang's deep-rooted familial sentiments, which were beyond her comprehension. What she thought was: if the Hua Clan fell, Mei Jiu, as the eldest daughter-in-law of the clan, would definitely be implicated. "Will they exterminate nine generations of the family?"
"I don't know. But if the charge of treason is confirmed, the family will undoubtedly be purged." Chu Dingjiang said. (To be continued...)
PS: My mouth is severely inflamed, full of blisters, and the ulcers are driving me crazy with pain. I'll sleep early tonight and write more tomorrow.
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