Half a Spoiler Chapter 65

The conversation from the main hall echoed into the back chamber. The head of the Lao clan closed his eyes briefly, then suddenly let out a cold laugh. “If she can be so ruthless, how can I not be ruthless too?” He looked at his granddaughter, who was attending to him, and said, “Send someone to inform the Inspector. Since she has sent a marriage proposal and our Lao clan owes her a debt of gratitude from the past, it would be unseemly to refuse. Pick a date to settle the marriage.” He continued, “Then send envoys to the Fuhe, Li, and Du clans – the children in our family are growing up, and it is time to arrange their marriages.”

The Wang clan had proposed marriage to the Lao clan, and the Lao clan responded by casting a wide net, seeking alliances through marriages far and wide. The Du clan, being weaker in influence, naturally dared not refuse. The Fuhe clan also agreed promptly, but the Li clan requested more time to consider.

Upon receiving this news, the head of the Lao clan addressed his clansmen, saying, “The Li clan’s hesitation suggests, with near certainty, that they are in league with Jianping.”

Wang You single-handedly stirred up the situation in Tai Province, yet she herself rested peacefully and undisturbed in the Inspector’s residence. Originally, the banquet was planned for five days, but once the five days had passed, he claimed they had not yet enjoyed themselves enough and extended it for another five days.

Since it was only a one-time extension, the guests could hardly insist on leaving immediately. They had no choice but to grit their teeth and endure, continuing to drink and feast. As for Cui Xinjing, she deliberately changed into a neat set of clothes and once again requested an audience with Wang You, intending to bid her farewell.

“…”

Wang You agreed to meet with Cui Xinjing. However, compared to the superficially peaceful and friendly tone of their previous meeting, this encounter was filled with palpable tension. A group of warriors stood not just with their hands on their hilts but gripping their blades directly, waiting for their lord’s order to strike the visitor.

They had good reason for their anger. Before Cui Xinjing came to say her farewells, Wang You had received news that her young daughter had gone missing right within the walls of her own residence.

Wang You narrowed his eyes, bypassing any pleasantries and getting straight to the point. “That wayward child of mine – might she currently be troubling Attendant Cui?”

Cui Xinjing clasped her hands in salute, behaving as if she hadn’t noticed the blades pointed at her, her demeanor no different from usual. “Inspector, you had already agreed to send your daughter to the capital. However, the journey from Tai Province to Jianzhou is long, and unforeseen events are inevitable along the way. Therefore, I took the liberty of sending escorts to accompany the young lady ahead of time. This way, while the attention of others is fixed on me, no one will trouble the young lady.”

Wang You stared at her for a long time, watching until cold sweat dripped down Cui Xinjing’s back, before finally speaking slowly. “Since my daughter has already departed, you should not linger here any longer. I will arrange for someone to escort you to Dan Province.” She looked at the young scholar before her and sneered. “You, a scholar from the Central Plains, swaggered so openly around Tai Province. Did you truly believe you could leave so easily?”

Cui Xinjing bowed deeply. “Thank you for your consideration, Inspector.” She added, “Please rest assured. Since the young lady is heading to the capital because of me, I will certainly look after her in the future.”

Wang You waved her hand somewhat dismissively, indicating that the other party could leave. However, just as Cui Xinjing was about to exit, she called out to stop her.

She rose from her chair draped with a tiger skin, walked to Cui Xinjing’s side, leaned in close to her ear, and whispered softly, “Convey two sentences to the young emperor for me: the situation in Tai Province has become like adding fuel to the fire, and I hope she values the speed of military action.”

Cui Xinjing paused for a moment, then bowed with her hands clasped and withdrew.

Wang You watched the other person depart. Only after Cui Xinjing had left did an advisor speak up. “My lord, the young lady is clearly still–”

“Clearly still within the residence, merely under the watch of Cui Xinjing and her people.”

Before the advisor could finish, Wang You cut him off. She let out a derisive laugh and said, “Do you think I am unaware of this? Otherwise, why would I insist on sending escorts to ensure their safety and see them all the way to Dan Province, if Cui Xinjing could simply leave on her own?”

The advisor lowered his head, not daring to say more.

After a moment, Wang You murmured pensively, “After all, the Cui clan is the Cui clan. Cui Xinbai did not fail Marquis of Quanling back then. I can only hope this Cui Xinjing will not fail me!”

With its many mountainous areas, Tai Province slowed down travel. It was only after entering Dan Province that Cui Xinjing and her party were able to pick up speed. Her intention was to return to Jianping as soon as possible to settle matters. Unexpectedly, before they even reached Shangxing Pass, they encountered an acquaintance.

“Is that Attendant Cui over there?”

An armored cavalryman had noticed Cui Xinjing’s group and hailed them from a distance.

Cui Xinjing, hailing from the Cui clan and renowned for her broad knowledge and keen observation of people, though slightly overshadowed by her cousin, was stumped this time – she simply couldn’t recognize who the other person was. She could only call back in response, “May I ask your honorable name?”

“I am Tao Jing.”

Cui Xinjing sat on her horse, thinking hard for a long while before suddenly realizing the other’s identity.

Tao Jing was the nephew of Tao Jia, who had fought in Tai Province in the past. When she left the capital, Tao Jing had been a commoner without any official rank. Yet now he appeared here – didn’t that mean the central authorities were already preparing to move against the Western Tribes?

Cui Xinjing, already exhausted from days of travel, felt a wave of dizziness upon realizing this and nearly fell from her horse.

Seeing this, Tao Jing quickly urged his horse forward to support her, apologizing, “It was my fault for startling Attendant Cui.”

Cui Xinjing shook her head slightly to indicate it was fine, then tightly grasped Tao Jing’s arm and asked in a low voice, “Her Majesty… where is Her Majesty now?”

Tao Jing smiled and replied, “As Attendant Cui surmised – if you had traveled any slower, you would have likely encountered the imperial procession at Shangxing Pass!”

At that time, it coincided with the Emperor’s birthday, but the highly anticipated Wen Yanran herself did not remain in Jianping to receive celebrations. Instead, stubbornly and with determination, she led the newly established Iron Cavalry Battalion on an imperial tour to Shangxing Pass in Dan Province. Although Yuan Yanshi and others strongly advised against it, they could not sway the decision of the increasingly independent young emperor.

Earlier, Wen Yanran had secretly instructed Lu Yuanguang to handle logistics and preparations. By the time she openly expressed her desire to go to Dan Province, everything was already in place: three thousand cavalrymen of the Iron Armor Battalion were ready to depart at any moment. Yuan Yanshi and the others, wanting to object, could not find a suitable reason to do so.

After the Emperor set out, governance in Jianping was entrusted to the three officials: Attendant Song, Yuan Yanshi, and State Preceptor Wen Jingmei. Wen Yanran herself proceeded with full imperial pomp, accompanied by a group of young ministers, and traveled unhurriedly toward Shangxing Pass.

Cui Xinjing, already weary from her official duties and the journey, felt her vision darken upon hearing this news. Overwhelmed, she was unable to continue immediately and rested for two full days before finally being able to set out again.

By then, the one who came to greet her was no longer the seldom-interacted-with Tao Jing, but Chi Yi.

Flags fluttered sharply in the wind, and horns echoed throughout the camp.

The Emperor had arrived in Dan Province.