HMHSE - 73

As the sky turned a pale grey, another volley of oil-soaked arrows shot down, incinerating a large area beneath the pass city. Enemy figures, like ants, gradually retreated into the mountain forest.

Hu Shiyi, his face smudged with ash and smoke, jogged back near the mine entrance, panting as he reported, “Boss, we finally made them retreat this wave!”

Shan Zong sat on a large rock, his sleeves rolled up, a white cloth strip in his mouth as he wrapped it around his forearm. After covering a mottled tattoo near his wrist, he tied it off and pulled down his sleeve. “Alright, proceed as I planned last night.”

Last night, upon his return, he immediately adjusted their strategy. While defending against the pass city’s incursions, he also ordered the temporary closure of Youzhou city gates, intending to thoroughly sweep the area from the mountain to the entire route.

Hu Shiyi felt much more at ease. He wiped his face, unknowingly leaving a black smudge. He pulled out a paper-wrapped military ration from his pocket, unwrapped it, broke off a piece of dry, hard jerky, and offered it. “Boss, you’ve been rushing back all this way without rest, and you’re injured. Why don’t you see a military doctor and rest for a bit?”

Shan Zong took it, glanced at the mountain in front of him. “It’s nothing. Just guard this mountain.”

Hu Shiyi knew. This was a gold mine. The Saint in the Chang’an palace must be valuing it highly now.

Thinking of Chang’an, he found it a rare chance to make some small talk. “Boss, you only stayed in Chang’an for a few days this time, right? What did you do?”

Shan Zong pinched the jerky, a smirk on his lips. “Less nonsense. Nothing good to say.”

His objective wasn’t achieved, so naturally there was nothing good to say.

He bit into the jerky, thinking of Shen Rong. He wondered what she would think when she heard his message. The more he thought, the deeper his smirk became.

Hu Shiyi fell silent. He hadn’t even brought up Jin Jiaojiao, and Shan Zong already stopped talking. He could only guess based on his expression.

The sky brightened a little more, and mist swirled in the mountain forest.

Beneath the pits, the group of convicts were successively brought up. Only then were they allowed out for some fresh air and to attend to their eating and drinking needs.

Shan Zong glanced over. Chains clanked. The group walked slowly, one by one, their shackles heavy, their hair grown long, mostly reaching their shoulders.

Only Weishen Wu turned his head to look at him, his eyes grim, his left eye’s white scar twisted, smiling mockingly.

Hu Shiyi saw it and couldn’t help but want to punch him. “Does this monster want a beating again? We’re fighting for our lives here, and he’s watching like it’s a good show!”

Weishen Wu actually heard it, spat, and squatted down beside a clump of weeds. “I’m watching the show, but I’m watching the one surnamed Shan! The bastard didn’t die this time either, good. It’s best if he dies by my hand someday.”

This time, Hu Shiyi truly couldn’t resist making a move, but he saw Shan Zong move beside him, standing up and drawing his saber, heading in that direction.

The convicts were scattered in twos and threes nearby. Suddenly seeing him draw his saber, they all looked over in unison, their chains clanking, their expressions wary.

The soldiers nearby stood guard, holding their whips tightly.

Weishen Wu had already tensed his body, ready, his eyes glaring at him with malice.

Shan Zong, however, walked directly past him, a section of his arm, wrapped in cloth, exposed with mottled bruises. He carried his saber and walked towards Jiachen San, who was squatting furthest away.

Weishen Wu’s face immediately contorted with ferocity. “What do you want to do, you son of a bitch! Come at me if you dare!”

Shan Zong ignored him. He suddenly quickened his pace, grabbing Jiachen San by the back of the neck, and throwing his saber out of his hand.

At the same time, two other convicts nearby clanked their chains, trying to lunge forward.

But at the spot where the saber flew, two or three trees away, a half-crouching figure fell, disheveled.

Two soldiers quickly went over and dragged out the enemy soldier. The opponent had a small crossbow tied to his arm, with an arrow already notched on the bowstring.

Just one step away, that arrow would have hit Jiachen San, who was closest.

Shan Zong strode over, drew his blood-stained saber, and turning back, he ordered in a deep voice, “Go up the pass city and block them again!”

Only then did Hu Shiyi understand what was happening. These damned scoundrels had come again! He immediately followed, rallying his men. “Follow me! Quick!”

As Shan Zong left with his saber, he only glanced at Weishen Wu. His horse boots stepped over the broken stones in the mountain, and he walked away without saying a single word to him.

Jiachen San then climbed up from the ground where he had fallen.

Weishen Wu half-rose. He had thought Shan Zong was going to attack Jiachen San, and almost rushed over to fight to the death. Now, he slowly squatted back down, staring at Shan Zong’s retreating back. After a long while, he let out another strange, mocking spit.

The other convicts around, however, remained silent.

________________________________________

Changsun Xin galloped for a night and a day until he reached the territory of Danzhou.

He had been trapped in the mountains for many days already, and his stamina was completely depleted. He couldn’t resist any longer, and his horse was also exhausted, forcing them to stop and rest.

The surroundings were an uninhabited wilderness. The few officials accompanying him dismounted and immediately sat on the ground, panting heavily, completely disregarding their capital official’s demeanor.

The few guards who had accompanied him into the mountains also came out. One of them came over at this time to help him dismount.

Changsun Xin dismounted, but could only barely maintain his usual composure. He straightened his robes, leaning on the horse’s back, breathing heavily.

The soldiers escorting him from the military post distributed military rations to the officials and guards, and also handed him a portion. “Please, Assistant Minister, have some.”

Changsun Xin frowned and waved his hand upon seeing it.

He had been trapped for so many days, and he didn’t know how many times he had eaten this stuff. It was so hard and dry, he couldn’t possibly eat it. He didn’t want to touch it, no matter how hungry he was.

The soldier had no choice but to take it back.

Changsun Xin looked back. “Are there still enemy soldiers pursuing us?”

The soldier clasped his hands. “Assistant Minister, rest assured. We shook them off once we left Youzhou territory.”

Changsun Xin still felt a lingering fear. Shan Zong had actually been right; a few stragglers had slipped out of the mountains, with traces heading towards Youzhou city, possibly trying to sneak into the city.

Fortunately, they had gone in the opposite direction, leaving Youzhou.

Suddenly, a team of people and horses appeared in the distance, approaching from the end of the barren expanse.

An official stood up, asking anxiously, “Are those government soldiers?”

A soldier from the military post looked. “They’re Commandant Zhou of Danzhou’s men, probably on patrol. If the Assistant Minister decides to stay here, then we’ll return.”

Changsun Xin recalled being invited to Zhou Jun’s mansion earlier. He still remembered that Commandant Zhou was displeased with Shan Zong, likely not welcoming the Youzhou army, so it was no surprise they said they were leaving.

He felt a bit awkward about Shen Rong bluntly snubbing Zhou Jun that day and found it troublesome. He simply said, “We won’t stay here. We’ll go further, out of this entire Hebei region, and directly to Hedong.”

Since he said so, the other officials resignedly climbed back onto their horses.

Changsun Xin led the way. “Let’s bypass them and head towards the mountains over there.”

Before that group of people and horses approached, they changed direction and headed towards the secluded mountains.

This path was untrodden and truly difficult to traverse. It was covered with weeds and scattered stones, mixed with thorns in the mountain forest. They were practically forging a path with their horses’ hooves.

Fortunately, Changsun Xin possessed knowledge of mountain ranges, so he wouldn’t get lost.

It wasn’t until just before dark that they finally bypassed this mountain range.

Passing through the woods in the wilderness, just as they were about to return to the official road, another set of hoofbeats came from the distance.

Changsun Xin had been greatly startled these past few days. As soon as he heard the hoofbeats getting closer, only seeing a formation of about a dozen people, whether it was Zhou Jun’s men or enemy bandits, his first reaction was to spur his horse back into the wild forest.

The hoofbeats outside stopped, but a single fast horse charged in by itself.

The soldiers and guards all drew their sabers to defend, then heard a female voice shout, “Wait!”

Changsun Xin turned his head on his horse, directly meeting the other’s scrutinizing face. He immediately leaned back, surprised. “How is it you?”

Shan Ying sat on her horse, wearing a lapel-embroidered Hu-style jacket, her hair tied in a man’s topknot. She leaned closer to look at him, equally surprised. “I just saw someone who looked like you flash out of the woods and thought I was mistaken. I chased after them and found it really was you! How did you end up like this?”

Changsun Xin was in a sorry state at the moment. His moon-white robe was stained with dust, his hair, tied with a jade coronet, was disheveled. He was tired and hungry, and he had lost a noticeable amount of weight.

He was aware of his appearance. He cleared his throat dryly, deliberately avoiding an answer. “Why are you in Danzhou?”

Shan Ying’s thoughts were diverted, and she forgot to press the question. She sat up straight and said, “I’m here to find you. An imperial decree arrived from Chang’an, delivered by urgent dispatch, saying you are summoned back to the capital for an audience to receive your reward. As Hedong is not yet open, our Shan family army is delivering the message on their behalf.”

In truth, there was no need for her to come personally. It was merely that she wanted to seize this opportunity to quietly see her eldest cousin. Shan Zhao wanted to come but couldn’t.

Changsun Xin immediately remembered Shan Zong’s words; he had been perfectly correct.

Then, he suddenly realized that a truly long time had passed. As he spurred his horse out of the forest, he said, “Quickly, let me write a letter to send back, preferably also by urgent dispatch!”

Shan Ying followed, spurring her horse. “Now?”

“Just find a place, won’t you?” Changsun Xin was in a hurry, fearing his family might be even more anxious now.

Shan Ying had no choice but to say, “Alright then, you certainly need to rest.” She looked back. “By the way, where are you taking these people?”

Changsun Xin was too tired and hungry to speak. “To your place. Where else?”

Shan Ying sensed something was amiss. She turned her head and looked north. “Could something have happened in Youzhou?”

Changsun Xin barely managed to keep his spirits up. “Didn’t you always say your eldest cousin is a brilliant genius? What’s there to worry about?” He then lightly coughed.

He had wanted to tell her directly, but remembering that Shan Zong had saved him once, and since he said not to mention the situation in Youzhou, then he wouldn’t.

________________________________________

Several days later, an urgent express letter traveled from Hedong to the Duke of Zhao’s mansion in Chang’an.

Shen Rong, draped in a light silk pibo, sat on a soft couch. She personally opened and read the letter, and only then, seeing her brother’s familiar handwriting, did she feel relieved.

She looked up and handed the letter to Lady Pei, who was waiting nearby. “Brother wrote that he has arrived safely in Hedong.”

Lady Pei took it, smiling gracefully. “That’s good.”

But immediately after, the smile on her face slowly faded, and she could no longer smile. Instead, she sighed and looked down at Changsun Xin’s letter. “He’s coming back soon, but now you have to make that trip.”

Shen Rong looked at her father, who was sitting opposite her.

The Duke of Zhao raised his teacup to his lips and also glanced at her.

Both father and daughter remembered the matter they had discussed that day.

The Duke of Zhao eventually had to speak, but telling Lady Pei would lead to the expected outcome, naturally bringing another bout of displeasure.

He put down his teacup, stood up, nodded to her, and exited the room first.

Shen Rong quietly rose and followed his steps outside the door. “Father, although Hedong has not yet been de-restricted, since brother has arrived safely in Hedong, I should also depart.”

The Duke of Zhao stopped and looked at her. “Since you say so, I won’t stop you.”

Shen Rong said softly, “Mother will still need Father to console her.”

The Duke of Zhao said, “She’ll understand it’s out of necessity once she hears about Marquis Heluo. There’s nothing to be done. I’ve been comforting her for all these years; who else could calm her down?” He even chuckled as he spoke.

Shen Rong couldn’t help but smile too, feeling unburdened for once. She curtsied and turned to return to her living quarters.

As she reached her room door, she recalled her brother’s letter again.

The letter only stated that he had arrived safely in Hedong, and said nothing about the situation in Youzhou.

Zirui walked over, glanced at her, and whispered, “Young Mistress, are you thinking of Commander Shan?”

Shen Rong replied, “Who said so?”

Zirui glanced at her hand.

Shen Rong lowered her eyes, discovering that she was clutching her sleeve, and half of the white jade pendant with the character ‘Chong’ was exposed at the cuff.

She calmly tucked it back in. “Prepare to depart.”

Zirui was momentarily stunned and quickly went to inform Donglai.

Shen Rong tucked the jade pendant deeper into her sleeve, pouting. She thought to herself that she was merely wondering if something had happened in Youzhou.

________________________________________

Deep within the palace, within the secluded halls, rows upon rows of tall wooden shelves stood.

The shelves housed old palace records: thick stacks of bamboo slips and bundles of yellow silk. They had not been visited for a long time, and fine dust had settled in many places.

Dim light streamed through the window lattice. In a corner, Pei Shaoyong stood silently, gently brushing dust off a roll of yellow silk.

It was said that after the late emperor’s demise, everything was moved here. He had entered multiple times but found no records of battles Shan Zong had participated in, only this.

This scroll was stored in the deepest part, seemingly never opened since it was closed. Now, a section was spread before his eyes.

As he looked, his eyes instantly froze.

A line of vertical characters read: “Forever guard Youzhou, never leave Youzhou.”

But it didn’t end there; there was another sentence: “Should there be any violation, punishment will be meted out.”

Below, a forceful handwritten signature: “Shan Zong.”

Accompanied by a fingerprint.

Pei Shaoyong’s hand on the scroll uncontrollably extended backward, but it was blank until a striking red seal appeared.

The Emperor’s imperial seal, beside it, a stark red brush-written character: “Secret.”

He was greatly alarmed, his hand recoiled, his heart seemingly lodged in his throat. He hastily rolled the yellow silk back up, fumbling to put it back in its original place, nearly knocking over the shelf.

Footsteps were heard outside, and he hurried out.

A small eunuch met him at the door and bowed in greeting. “Oh, it’s Assistant Minister of the Imperial Library. Why do you look so pale?”

Pei Shaoyong mumbled, “I came to the wrong place.”

The small eunuch smiled and pointed. “The current emperor’s scrolls are all over here. That’s where the late emperor’s sacred objects are stored.”

“Thank you...”

Half an hour later, Pei Shaoyong left the palace and rode straight to the Duke of Zhao’s mansion.

A servant quickly came out from the mansion gate to greet him. “Young Master Pei is here.”

Pei Shaoyong didn’t even wait to dismount before asking, “Is A-Rong here?”

The servant clasped his hands and replied, “The Young Mistress has left the mansion and won’t be in residence these days.”

“Where did she go?”

“I don’t know.”

Pei Shaoyong sat on his horse for a while, silently frowning, then turned his horse and rode away.