Stirring

After returning from the grave, Xin Yi stayed in Rouhui for another half a month. Wu Yu's side, which had been all thunder and no rain, fell silent, and Chou Deyao, perhaps having heeded Xin Yi's threat from that day, also made no move. The trade routes were stable, and Ji Baiyue sent people several times, but Xin Yi didn't leave. Bai Jiu, however, sent seasonal fresh fruits several times, without urging him to return.

Xin Yi actually wanted to detour to Shanyin, as almost all the things he couldn't understand were linked to Shanyin, and he couldn't feel at peace. Unfortunately, even if he left the capital, he couldn't cross that territory; the emperor still had a chain tied around his neck, and he hadn't even inherited his title yet, so how could he go wherever he pleased?

On this day, Xin Yi and Meng Chen went hunting in a forest a dozen li outside Rouhui. This was because Xu Qingniang was not only skilled in medicine but also excellent at cooking, and particularly good with wild game. Xin Yi, having tasted it, couldn't resist his cravings, so he came out with Meng Chen to gather ingredients themselves.

Of course, there was also the intention of exploring the terrain near the border.

"This forest connects to the wild mountains." Meng Chen's horse stopped at the sparse edge of the forest. Outside, vast grasslands could be seen, with a gently rolling hill that rose up, like a makeshift wild fence. Beyond this mountain lay the barren lands sandwiched between Great Yuan and Great Lan, and another few dozen li further was Wan Ze.

It was mid-June, and the weather was hot and dry, though it was somewhat better now, close to dusk. Xin Yi tugged at his collar, watching the orange-red sunset cast its light diagonally over the mountain's back, illuminating the world in a burning crimson. He wanted to gaze upon Jianan Mountain, which had carried his forefathers, but he could only glimpse a few wisps of clouds. He then asked, "Is Jianan Mountain also like this?"

Meng Chen held his saber and shook his head, "The wild mountains are far from it. Calling this a mountain is just for convenience; how can a grassy slope compare to Jianan Mountain? Sky-Draping Iron Wings stands as tall as a colossal city wall, a treacherous natural chasm." He then pointed to the sky, "Jianan Mountain always has eagles circling, a sight you won't see here."

Xin Yi had never seen it; he had only seen the raptor circling over the capital in winter. So he didn't continue the conversation, but instead lifted the securely tied rabbits on his horse's back and said, "Let's go. We'll head back before dark and can have meat tonight."

The thought of meat immediately pulled Meng Chen back from his reverie, and he and Xin Yi turned back. The two chatted along the way, and after riding for several li, a team of horsemen suddenly burst out onto the road ahead. Swift horses, carrying a similarly galloping carriage, charged straight towards them. Meng Chen instantly spotted their sabers; he gripped Hundred Battles at his waist and stopped his horse beside Xin Yi. Both of them maneuvered their horses to the side, clearing the road.

Xin Yi reined in his horse. The leading man was just passing them, and in a flash, Xin Yi seemed to hear the sound of a bell.

"Heir?" After the horsemen passed, Meng Chen saw him rein in his horse and remain motionless, so he couldn't help but whisper, "The people just now had quite an imposing aura; they don't seem like ordinary folk."

This was Rouhui, where Xu Hu commanded the Rouhui Garrison Army, a genuine, legitimate force. It was impossible for bandits or brigands to appear here. Yet, these were all unfamiliar faces, not members of the garrison army. Each of them carried a saber, which could only mean danger.

The two continued their journey back. Just as their horses began to trot a few steps and Meng Chen was about to say something, he saw Xin Yi's expression change, and he abruptly turned his horse to give chase.

"Uncle Meng, go find General Xu! Bring men and then pursue!"

Meng Chen was startled, "Heir!"

Chiye had already kicked up dust and galloped away.

Xin Yi thought rapidly on horseback. It had indeed been the sound of a bell just now; it couldn't have been his imagination. It was Xu Qingniang's bell.

These people were taking Xu Qingniang with them!

Chiye was very fast. In just a moment, he could already see the horsemen in the distance. By now, the sky was dim, and the carriage, sandwiched in the middle, was almost forcefully dragged along by the riders, bumping and shaking as if it could fall apart at any moment.

Xin Yi pulled on the reins, and Chiye immediately slowed his pace. He maintained that distance, following behind, watching the horsemen charge straight into the woods before the wild mountains, intending to pass through the forest and enter them.

As soon as the other party entered the forest, Xin Yi squeezed his legs, and Chiye immediately galloped forward. He crouched on the horse's back and followed into the woods. The sky had already darkened, the branches and leaves in the forest were tangled, and the sound of hooves was not as clear as before.

The leading man suddenly reined in his horse, and the people behind him also abruptly stopped. Inside the carriage, there was a clang, clearly something had collided.

"Eagle Eye."

The hushed voice was unclear, but as soon as it fell, a person rode forward. This person dismounted, climbed a tall tree on one side like a monkey, scaling directly to a high point with an open view, gazed towards the wild mountains, and then gave a reassuring gesture to those below.

At this moment, banging sounds came from inside the carriage; someone was hitting her head against the carriage wall.

The leading man seemed not to hear, and raised his whip again. The team continued through the forest. After running for a while, the leading man suddenly turned back, scanned the dim surroundings, and raised his voice.

"Eagle Eye!"

The person who should have stepped forward made no move. The man called out again, and a horse galloped out of the gloom, its back empty. The man's eyes hardened, and he growled, "Who's there!"

The team stirred, muttering in surprise, and even their horses began to stomp in disarray. A whistle sounded from somewhere, and the runaway horse suddenly reared and neighed, charging wildly through the ranks, throwing everyone into utter confusion.

The leading man's saber was already half-drawn from its sheath, but suddenly there was a weight on his back. He felt a gust of wind at his heart, making his hairs stand on end, and he lunged to the side in surprise, narrowly dodging an elbow strike. But the person behind him was relentless, flipping a hand to grab his shoulder and forcefully yanking him back. The man tried to draw his saber, but the person behind him had already anticipated this, sweeping a hand horizontally to slap the half-drawn saber back into its sheath. The man raised his fist to counterattack, but it was also firmly blocked by a palm. His horse, panicked, reared its hooves, and he was kicked off and rolled to the ground.

Xin Yi turned his horse towards the carriage, took a leap from his horse's back onto the carriage, and climbed along the edge to the carriage door. He smashed open the door; it was pitch black inside, and Xu Qingniang lay bleeding by the side. Xin Yi dragged her up and slung her onto his back, then whistled. Chiye immediately turned and galloped over, and Xin Yi, carrying her, flipped onto the horse's back.

Chiye galloped, and the man whose horse Xin Yi had seized earlier had already recovered.

"Catch him!"

The disorganized team barely regrouped and then chased after Xin Yi in a rush. Chiye charged out of the forest in one breath, but Xin Yi looked up and realized they were heading towards the wild mountains! However, turning back at this point was impossible. Xin Yi could only steady Xu Qingniang behind him and race straight forward, with the people behind him in hot pursuit.

Xu Qingniang suddenly stirred. Xin Yi spurred his horse and said, "Xu—"

The chill of a cold blade grazed the back of his neck!

Xin Yi immediately sensed something was wrong. He reached back with one hand, intending to grab the person's hand, but to his surprise, the opponent skillfully and strangely slipped away. Xin Yi raised his arm to block, each move fending off at a crucial point. Amidst the clashes, a long saber slashed directly from the front. Xin Yi couldn't dodge either way, so he fiercely kicked the head of the horse ridden by the person in front, and the long saber grazed past him diagonally. The person behind seized the opportunity to strike hard. Xin Yi felt a sharp pain, having been stabbed squarely by a dagger. He pressed against the horse's back, spun around to face the back, his palm grasping the next blade, and his other hand immediately delivered a punch to the opponent's face, fiercely kicking the person down!

'He didn't even notice this move, and just blundered out!'

Xin Yi wanted to slap himself for Uncle Meng, but the situation didn't allow for self-reflection. Amidst the jolting, his palms were covered in sticky blood, but Xin Yi wiped it casually on his body, not even having time to feel how much it hurt.

The sound of the bell was mixed with the thundering hooves and shouts. Xin Yi quickly scanned the pursuing team behind him and indeed saw that the last two people were on horseback.

Xu Qingniang was there!

He flipped back around, gripped the reins, and Chiye abruptly turned back. This time, Xin Yi didn't dodge or hide; instead, he charged straight forward with a fierce momentum, his eyes filled with murderous intent, as if leading an army of thousands.

Fearing a trick, the leading man raised his hand, signaling his team to scatter, and drew his saber to meet Xin Yi head-on.

Both men were like drawn sabers, eager to strike the other several times. The man's saber was already raised horizontally. Chiye had already reached him. He let out a low shout and swept his saber across. The expected clash of blades didn't occur; Xin Yi, in a crouch, charged straight past from under that magnificent saber.

Caught off guard, he even snatched the saber of the person he brushed past. The last horse, already agitatedly pawing the ground as Chiye angrily charged, neighed in futility. Xin Yi had already lunged forward.

He flipped from Chiye's back onto the opponent's horse, then used a backhand strike with his saber to smash the opponent's neck, knocking the person off the horse. He then grabbed the person huddled in a cloak who was behind where the opponent had been. Lifting the cloak, he indeed found Xu Qingniang's face, her body tightly bound with ropes, and her bell clanged a few times. Only then did he feel relieved. He brought her from that horse's back to Chiye's back, and then plunged back into the forest.

Torches flickered ahead. Xin Yi heard the sound of Meng Chen rapidly approaching, and then Xu Hu called out, "Young Heir!"

Branches whipped his head and face. Xin Yi burst out of half the forest, meeting Meng Chen head-on. He finally gasped for breath, then whispered, "Leave the leader; for the rest..." He paused, then added, "Leave no survivors!"

Meng Chen asked, "Who are they?"

Xin Yi wiped the dust from his face, but forgot about the blood on his hands, immediately smearing it all over himself. He gritted his teeth and said, "They're people from Great Yuan!"

He had known they were people from Great Yuan ever since he took down the first 'Eagle Eye'; their opened collars revealed Great Yuan material. Why would Great Yuan kidnap Xu Qingniang at this time? Once Xu Qingniang was captured, Xu Hu would be coerced. If Great Yuan then demanded that he open Rouhui wide, would he comply or not?!

Xu Hu had already arrived, and the garrison army immediately pursued, leaving the aftermath to them. Meng Chen saw Xin Yi covered in blood and his face paled, asking, "Are you injured?"

Xin Yi's mind was still on Great Yuan; he just shook his head. Meng Chen instantly saw blood still dripping from his palm, and immediately turned to call for the army doctor, while angrily saying, "Such a thing should have been left to me! The Heir had no saber; if—" His face turned ashen. He said, "If the Prince were here, he would surely give you a beating!"

Xin Yi twitched the corner of his lips, a semblance of a smile.

Back in Rouhui, Xin Yi's wounds were bandaged. The three of them gathered around a map in the room, and Meng Chen pointed to the wild mountains.

"Entering from here is the toughest route. Even if Chagatai doesn't understand, Arslang couldn't possibly not know. Moreover, even if they succeeded, Xu Hu wouldn't be able to open Rouhui."

Xu Hu nodded, nervously saying, "It's not the Prince of Yan's Manor in charge now; half of the garrison army's authority is held by the imperial court. Forget about taking my wife, even if they took me, it wouldn't work!"

"Not necessarily." Xin Yi pondered for a moment, "Precisely because they understand this, they chose this tough route. Previously, the Beiyang Army was as solid as an iron plate, with strict military orders, because there was only one Prince of Yan's Manor leading it. Even if General Xu were killed, someone else would quickly step up. But now, it's a dual leadership. Once something happens to a garrison commander, the question of who takes charge must first be reported to the capital through official documents, passed up layer by layer, until a qualified person takes command to continue. This back-and-forth travel time would already be enough to overwhelm Rouhui."

"Then wouldn't it be easier for them to attack from Shangjin?" Meng Chen couldn't help but ask, "Now Shangjin has become a commercial area, and the Beiyang Army is incomplete. It would be easy to pass through."

Xin Yi's dimple appeared slightly. He said, "That's a money-making route, it can't be blocked. Moreover, given the private relationship between Chagatai and the Crown Prince, there might be some sort of deal involved."

"A deal?" Xu Hu was taken aback, "What kind of deal?"

"I don't know." Xin Yi's finger circled the location of Shangjin. He furrowed his brows and shook his head, "Perhaps it's a deal for troops and horses, perhaps a land deal."

Meng Chen suddenly stood up, angrily exclaiming, "The dignified Crown Prince, making deals for troops and horses with Great Yuan barbarians?!"

Xin Yi sighed, leaning back in his chair and swaying slightly.

'Precisely because he is still the Crown Prince.'

'That's why he has to make such a deal.'

'But why so soon? According to Bai Jiu and his own speculation, it should be a few years later. Because the Crown Prince hasn't gained control of Beiyang's military power yet; even gaining Shangjin would only add a layer of future military provisions. If he lets Chagatai make a move now, even if the emperor dies in the future, what would he rely on to drive these wolves back?'

'Perhaps they've thrown all pretenses aside?'

'Chagatai isn't stupid either.'

'Two ambitious individuals feigning civility with each other—what rules could possibly bind either of them?'

But Xin Yi still felt something was off. Even if the Beiyang Army was difficult to mobilize, it was still the Beiyang Army; consolidation during wartime was by no means a fantasy. As long as Great Yuan's sabers were pressed against the emperor's neck, let alone the Beiyang Army, he could reassemble the local militia from all over Great Lan.

Thinking of the local militias, Xin Yi suddenly sat upright.

The Crown Prince has no troops, but the Prince of Tang does.

Bai Jiu slowly rotated the piece of wood between his fingers, his carving knife delicately shaping the curve of a strand of hair. Only one lamp was lit in the room, placed beside his hand. His narrow, lowered eyes were intently focused on the small wooden figure.

Lights suddenly came on in the corridor. Old Qu softly called out 'My Lord' from outside the door.

Bai Jiu hummed in acknowledgment.

Old Qu said, "A letter has arrived from Beiyang."

Bai Jiu's hand paused, then he finished the last few cuts, stroking the little wooden figure's face with a touch of reluctance before saying, "Come in and speak."

Old Qu entered, presented the letter and the box on the table, then withdrew. Bai Jiu opened the letter first. Seeing Xin Yi's handwriting, his lips relaxed slightly. The letter spoke of some trivial matters of Xin Yi in Rouhui, praised Xu Qingniang's culinary skills, and finally stated that the box contained something he wanted to give him.

Bai Jiu read the letter three times before slowly putting it away. Opening the box, he first found several packets of flower tree seeds, a smooth, beautiful pebble, and a crescent-shaped wolf's tooth. Bai Jiu caressed each item in his hand. When he reached the bottom, he felt a folded slip of paper.

He unfolded it and saw only two words on it.

The Prince of Tang.

Bai Jiu's narrow eyes deepened in color, slowly narrowing amidst the flickering candlelight.