As daylight broke, the fighting in the mountain forest subsided, but the troops did not disperse.
"Checkpoints have been set up along the way," reported the scout returning from reconnaissance.
"Are they checking for bandits?" Mu Mianhong asked.
The messenger shook his head: "It seems they're searching for Western Liang spies."
Between bandit suppression and Western Liang spies, Mu Mianhong remarked: "It appears this road won't be easy to travel."
It wasn't impassable, but it would cause significant delays. Mu Mianhong's brow furrowed in concern.
"Besides bandits and Western Liang spies," Xie Yanlai said, "we could assume other identities."
Other identities? Mu Mianhong looked at him.
Xie Yanlai gazed ahead. Though that person overlooked the chessboard from above, she had fought step by step to reach this point, still managing to preserve her concealed vitality.
......
Outside the North Cao Town courier station, continuously galloping horses stirred up layers of dust on the road. Even standing inside the station, people coughed repeatedly from the choking dust.
"Station Chief Xu, Station Chief Xu." A courier approached from behind carrying a teapot. "Your requested tea is brewed."
Station Chief Xu couldn't bother covering his nose, urgently turning to protect the teapot: "Fool! Why deliver it through all this dust? This is my only pot of tea!"
The courier looked embarrassed, glancing at the troops passing outside: "Why so many soldiers? How many Western Liang spies could there be?"
Courier stations were the most well-informed places. They had received emergency orders last night and relayed them along the route.
Station Chief Xu narrowed his small eyes meaningfully. Beyond the official news, as station chief he had learned another piece of information that hadn't yet spread.
The Xie family residence of the Emperor's maternal grandfather in the capital had been surrounded. Troops were stationed there, and everyone had been imprisoned. Simultaneously besieged was the traveling general Liang's family - yes, that same Liang family that had been besieged once before and recently reinstated.
Western Liang spies, Station Chief Xu took a sip of tea. Who knew whether the Empress was truly searching for Western Liang spies or just using it as an excuse to eliminate the Xie family?
That young girl - since their parting at the courier station just a few years ago, she was already approaching the height of power.
I wonder if she still remembers me? The thought surfaced in Station Chief Xu's mind, but he immediately shook it off. Better that she doesn't remember him - anyone connected to this Miss Chu met with misfortune.
While lost in these thoughts, another group of seven or eight people galloped up. Instead of passing by the station, they stopped and entered.
Couriers? Station Chief Xu wondered, looking over. He saw the group wore messy, dirty military uniforms, their faces wrapped in scarves revealing only their eyes. But this wasn't particularly strange - soldiers often covered their heads and faces in winter for warmth and protection from wind and snow, and in summer to shield from sun and dust.
The courier had already smartly gone to greet them.
Couriers also needed to verify their identities, but after exchanging a few words with them, the courier returned with a strange expression.
"Station Chief Xu," he said, "they have no official warrant and waist tag."
No official warrant and waist tag? Station Chief Xu's small eyes immediately turned sharp, his plump body tensing. Currently, all troop movements were aimed at capturing spies - regardless of whether they were actually spies or someone else.
Government troops wouldn't mobilize without reason.
Nor would soldiers without official warrants and waist tags appear without cause.
He, Station Chief Xu, had served as station chief for over thirty years - this body of his hadn't grown fat for nothing—
"They gave this," the courier continued, producing a seal. "Said they're following a secret decree."
Station Chief Xu looked down and his gaze froze. It was a seal engraved with the character for "phoenix." More troubling, he had seen this token before - about two years ago, when headquarters had sent down new courier command templates. Besides various passwords and code words, there had been one secret command."This phoenix seal pattern," the soldier sent from above said gravely, pointing at the design for him to memorize, "marks the Empress's secret decree. It will be used by special envoys."
But he had never seen it before.
Never expected to witness it now, of all times.
"Xu Cheng, is this genuine?" the courier's voice whispered beside him. "What kind of secret decree is it?"
Xu Cheng's body tensed further.
Imperial troops never mobilized without reason.
Nor would soldiers appear without official warrants and waist tags without cause.
Having served as Station Chief for over thirty years, his bulk wasn't just for show—
When higher powers clashed, he knew better than to meddle, especially when it involved that girl.
Xu Cheng took a deep breath. "What decree could it be? Naturally, an imperial decree!" He glared at the courier and thrust the seal back at him. "Secret means don't ask, don't speak! Just follow protocol and attend to them!"
The courier, splattered with tea, hastily acknowledged and scurried away.
Xu Cheng still kept his distance. As Station Chief, hospitality wasn't his duty to begin with, and now more than ever he avoided approaching. Sipping his tea, he watched the group from the corner of his eye.
They were speaking with the courier.
Even from afar, Xu Cheng could guess: requesting horses and supplies, intending to depart immediately without lingering—standard practice for couriers, something the station attendants were accustomed to. The courier called other servants to prepare what they needed.
Mid-conversation, another party arrived—not soldiers this time, but a clamorous crowd of local officials and constables.
"Xu Ling—" the lead official called before even entering.
Xu Cheng hurriedly set down his teapot and went to greet him. "Qi Duyou, what brings you here in person?"
Qi Duyou, clad in official robes and riding horseback, had to maintain decorum—no umbrella, no face covering—leaving him sunburned, drenched in sweat, and coated in a layer of dust, utterly disheveled.
In such sweltering summer heat, Qi Duyou usually never stirred beyond his inner gates.
"Why else? The sudden orders from above to suppress bandits and investigate spies—" Qi Duyou grumbled, his gaze sweeping over the people standing in the relay station. "Xu Ling, any suspicious individuals here?"
Xu Cheng smiled. "How could undesirables reach our remote post? They're all couriers."
Qi Duyou snorted. "You've hosted plenty of questionable folk before—like—"
Xu Cheng quickly bowed to cut him off. "Let's not dredge up old matters, Lord Qi. After that incident, how would this old man dare entertain dubious characters again?"
Recalling the past event, Qi Duyou sighed with a mix of regret and inexplicable excitement—he had nearly captured the Empress with his own hands—
"Lord Qi, please come in and rest," Xu Cheng invited. "From here, you can monitor the crossroads and enforce strict inspections."
Eager to escape the heat, Qi Duyou dismounted and entered, instructing his subordinates, "Conduct thorough interrogations here."
As Xu Cheng led Qi Duyou inside, he glanced back while stepping into the main hall. In the courtyard, the unidentified soldiers had gathered their supplies, and over a dozen fine horses intended as reserves were brought forward. They were preparing to mount up when one of them looked up and met Xu Cheng's gaze.
Those eyes—sharp as arrows—sent a tremor through Xu Cheng, who quickly averted his own. The clamor of hooves and shouts filled his ears as the group departed in a cloud of dust.
Only then did Xu Cheng look up again, watching the rolling dust clouds on the main road.
Those eyes—slanting upward at the corners, deep and dark like abyssal pools, yet luminous as fine jade.
He had seen them before.
Those eyes, that girl—right here in his relay station—Later, he made a special effort to look out for that courier, but never saw him again. He remembered the courier being called A Jiu, and quietly inquired about him in private, only to receive a startling piece of news.
That A Jiu was a scion of the Xie family—Xie Yanlai.
Later, this name grew increasingly prominent.
Until his death.
"Magistrate Xu, what are you doing?" Qi Duyou called from inside.
Magistrate Xu snapped out of his daze with a start, hurriedly responding, "Coming, coming!" He lifted his foot to step forward but failed to notice the threshold, stumbling over it.
Qi Duyou laughed heartily from inside, "Are you alright? Have you grown so old you can't even walk steadily?"
Xu Cheng chuckled dismissively, "My lord, please don't say that. This old man still wants to work a few more years."
Indeed, he truly wished to work a few more years, so those bygone affairs, people, and such were all blurred in his memory, forgotten.
He had seen nothing, knew nothing.
……
……
In the capital, there were no troops galloping through the streets. Aside from increased guards at the city gates and soldiers stationed at the residences of the Xie and Liang families, everything remained as usual.
Since the Emperor and Empress were not in the Imperial City, court sessions were temporarily suspended, but officials still carried out their respective duties.
Officials strolled along the Imperial Street, chatting idly.
"How long will the Empress's summer retreat last?"
"Ten days to half a month should be enough, right?"
"In the previous emperor's time, summer retreats lasted three months at a stretch."
"Has she even ascended the throne yet, and already she's emulating the former emperor's neglect of state affairs?"
"Who says she's neglecting state affairs? Memorials and reports are delivered daily, reviewed, and returned. Besides, is the Empress idle?"
At this point, one official gestured with his chin toward a certain direction in the city.
"The Xie and Liang families are both under siege."
"Messages have been sent to all regions to suppress bandits and investigate Western Liang spies."
As they spoke, an official approached from ahead, his python-patterned robe glinting in the sunlight, causing the group to halt both their steps and their conversation.
"Lord Zhu," one official greeted proactively, "When did you return?"
Zhu Yong, Associate Administrator of the Garrison Guard, smiled and bowed to them, "I arrived last night."
It seemed the matter in Han County had been settled. The officials' glances swept over his hands—this former minor compiler had once again stained them with blood.
Zhu Yong did not engage in small talk with them, passing by as he headed toward the Garrison Guard office adjacent to the palace gates.
"If he's back, who knows who'll be unlucky next."
"Who else? Minister Xie is being detained by the Empress at the hunting grounds."
So, the Empress wasn't merely on a summer retreat—she was clearly targeting the Xie family. The officials murmured among themselves as they dispersed.
Zhu Yong did not look back. Though he couldn't hear clearly, he knew what they were discussing. He had learned of the capital's developments while en route and hurried his pace to return, going directly to the hunting grounds to see the Empress. But he was stopped outside, unable to enter.
The guards relayed the Empress's command: he was to oversee the Garrison Guard during this period and keep watch on the associates of the Xie and Liang families.
Zhu Yong stepped into the Garrison Guard office, gazing at the familiar government building, the familiar officials and guards.
But—something felt off.
Was it truly the Empress who had confined Xie Yanfang?
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