Xin Commandery, Xinglong Inn.
A knock sounded on the door, followed by a voice drifting in from outside, "Mom, can I come in?"
Dai Li, who was getting ready to rest, paused for a moment. She walked over and unlocked the door. "Zhou Zhou, what is it?"
The young man entered. He had changed into a fresh set of clothes and was dressed neatly, not looking at all like he was about to go to sleep. "I have something I want to ask you."
The guest rooms at the inn rarely had separate inner and outer chambers. The room contained only a bed, a desk, and a few wooden chairs; it was exceedingly simple. Dai Li walked over to the desk, poured her son a cup of water, and asked with a smile, "You were up all night yesterday. Why don't you go rest first?"
Qin Yanzhou shook his head and said he wasn't tired.
Dai Li said, "Alright, then what is it that you must ask before you can sleep?"
"Mom, you didn't give me an answer before. Now that we have left the Marquis of Wu'an, could you tell me your reason for wanting to leave?" Qin Yanzhou looked at her steadily.
Back when he was told they were leaving, aside from being stunned, he was mostly confused, unable to understand his mother's choice. Later, he sought out Nianxia and managed to get some information out of her. It turned out that two noblewomen had been gossiping at a palace banquet.
But initially, he thought his father had found a new lover, yet his mother's reaction didn't seem like she was worried about that...
Unable to make sense of it, Qin Yanzhou simply came to ask for the reason directly. He had a premonition that he would get his answer this time.
Dai Li froze, not expecting him to come for this. She opened her mouth to say something, but looking at the tall young man whose face had lost almost all of its youthful baby fat, she swallowed some of her words back down.
"Sit down," Dai Li lowered her eyes.
Qin Yanzhou took a seat.
Dai Li poured herself a cup of tea as well and slowly began to explain, "It all started when you acted as a scout and led troops to track the Xuzhou army. You hadn't returned for a long time, so I wanted to go find Qin Changgeng to ask for news. But just as I reached the door, I heard them discussing matters. Later, a soldier even reported that you, Zhou Zhou, burned down the Xuzhou army's granary with less than twenty men..."
Dai Li propped her forehead on her hand. Her thick eyelashes lowered, making her look even more fatigued. "You achieved a great merit. Mom was very happy and proud of you. I even sighed in admiration that my son is just as outstanding no matter what era he is in. But my happiness didn't last long before I heard the two gentlemen in the hall speaking."
As if recalling that moment, Dai Li pressed her lips tightly together before continuing, "It is no exaggeration to say that after hearing it, I felt a chill rise from my heart. Goosebumps covered both my arms and even my back. It was terrifying."
Qin Yanzhou couldn't help but lean forward. "Who was speaking at the time, and what did they say?"
"Your teacher Nalan, and Qinian's teacher Mr. Cui," Dai Li said.
"What did they say?" Qin Yanzhou frowned.
Those two were both core figures in the North, and it was said they had followed the Marquis of Wu'an for over a decade or two.
His teacher was even on good terms with his mother. He truly couldn't imagine what outrageous things they could have said to make his mother's expression change so drastically. Not to mention that all the generals were present at the time; they had no reason to...
Dai Li slowly raised her eyes. "Nalan praised you, and Mr. Cui praised Qinian. It was like they were fighting in a ring, neither willing to yield. And the advisors who praised you or Qinian rarely praised the other party. Zhou Zhou, you should be able to see that it is only a matter of time before Qin Changgeng claims the throne. When that time comes, the vast new dynasty will also need an heir. Who will this crown prince be? Will it be you, or Qinian..."
"Mom, I have never thought about those things." Qin Yanzhou was stunned.
Dai Li said softly, "I know you haven't. But even if you don't, there will always be people who do. Your teacher will, your teacher's close friends will, and your comrades who are like brothers to you will too. When you completely represent their interests, your own thoughts often won't matter anymore."
Qin Yanzhou stiffened.
Dai Li blinked her sore eyes. "The current Qin Changgeng does treat us very well, but the human heart is always hard to control. I don't know if he will remain the same ten or twenty years from now. Furthermore... regarding Nalan taking sides, I don't believe he hasn't noticed at all, yet he never mentioned it to me. I'm afraid. I'm afraid he will use you as a whetstone for Qinian, and I'm afraid my child will eventually die in a bloody power struggle."
This was a thorn in her heart. Every time it was lightly touched, it pricked her so much that she couldn't sit still.
Such a major matter that concerned the future fates of so many people, why didn't Qin Changgeng talk to her about it?
Was it because he felt she was just a woman and there was no need? Or did he not want her to interfere, so he simply didn't bring it up? Or perhaps, he had never trusted her from the very beginning?
The night was deep. The inn was not luxurious, and there was only a single lamp in the room, casting a dim light.
Dai Li looked at her son's face, clearly divided by light and shadow, and tears welled up in her sore eyes. "I'm sorry, Mom made this decision on her own. I know that compared to this life of hiding, you definitely preferred how things were before. I also understand that this goes against your ambitions. But I really..."
The tears in her eyes finally fell. Dai Li choked with emotion, "Last time, I didn't know that school bus would get into an accident, so I couldn't stop it. But this time, I had a premonition. I really couldn't just ignore it."
A handkerchief was handed over.
"Mom, actually, things are much better now than in the beginning. When I was still in the Green Lotus Sect, and still at the Fan Manor, I never thought that one day I would be able to break free from that sect and reunite with you." Qin Yanzhou smiled faintly. "Teacher once said that if things don't go as planned in the end, please believe that heaven must have made other arrangements."
Dai Li stared at him blankly, as if she wasn't quite looking at him. A bizarre and vivid scene flashed before her eyes.
A little boy carrying a small backpack with a cartoon water bottle hanging around his neck waved to her, then turned around and gradually walked away with his back to the setting sun.
At the same time, a tall and slender young man walked toward her against the setting sun. The large and small figures crossed paths. The small figure walked further and further away, while the young man drew closer and closer until he finally stood before her.
He was taller and stronger than her, full of vitality, like a large tree one could lean against for shade.
Dai Li's face was covered in tears, and she sobbed uncontrollably.
*
The golden sun climbed over the horizon, flapping its wings a couple of times as it slowly soared higher. Xin Commandery, awakened by the sunlight, was incredibly bustling. A commandery was one level higher than a county; even as a smaller commandery in Yuzhou, Xin Commandery still had a population of over a hundred thousand.
The Xinglong Inn was situated at the edge of the busy market. People came and went all around, and the noise of the crowd was deafening.
"Have you heard? A noble from above has arrived in the commandery."
"How could I not have heard? All four city gates are sealed... No, you can't say sealed, more like strictly inspected. I wonder what they're looking for? Could it be that the river bandits from the Min River snuck into Xin Commandery the day before yesterday?"
"Who knows. But having more guards in the city is a good thing overall. Didn't Uncle Zhao say his house was burgled the other day? This time, those petty thieves will definitely be like turtles hiding in their shells, not daring to make a move."
...
Qin Yanzhou stood by the open window, blankly listening to the idle gossip of the passersby below. A few breaths later, his expression suddenly changed drastically.
Tossing his washcloth into the basin, he quickly walked to the door, pulled it open, and headed out.
The light outside the door was even brighter. The daylight was in full glory; it was long past the early morning when he and Dai Li had agreed to set off yesterday.
Qin Yanzhou had woken up late.
He hadn't slept for a day and a night prior, and had done a lot of physical labor. Plus, after Dai Li's confession last night, he was thinking about the future, so even though his body was exhausted, he couldn't fall asleep right away.
As a result, once he did fall asleep, he accidentally overslept.
"Mother," Qin Yanzhou knocked on the door next door.
He knocked for quite a while before the door opened. Behind it stood Dai Li, her eyes heavy with sleep and her dark hair disheveled, clearly having just woken up as well.
"Mother, it is already the hour of Si," Qin Yanzhou said.
That single sentence instantly scared away the last remnants of Dai Li's sleepiness.
The hour of Si, ten in the morning!
"Oh no, we woke up late," Dai Li said with a headache.
Her emotions had fluctuated wildly last night. After crying, she was utterly exhausted, not to mention she had barely closed her eyes for most of the previous night, which was why she slept until now. Had she not been woken by her son, Dai Li could have slept for another two hours before getting up.
"So be it. It doesn't matter if we are a little late; we still have time to leave the city now," Dai Li quickly composed herself.
However, as soon as she spoke, she saw her son shake his head.
"Mother, I heard that several city gates of Xin Commandery have been placed under martial law this morning." Qin Yanzhou looked at his mother's suddenly pale face and said softly, "It seems the Marquis of Wu'an's men have found their way here."
It felt as though something exploded in her mind. Dai Li grew dizzy and reached out to hold the doorframe just to steady herself. "Are you sure they are really his men?"
Qin Yanzhou truthfully replied that he wasn't certain. Seeing Dai Li looking dazed, he said, "Mother, I will go find out the truth and be back soon."
Before he could even take a step, his arm was grabbed.
"Zhou Zhou, don't go! There are quite a few soldiers from the North who recognize you. If it really is Qin Changgeng's men, you might be discovered the moment you step out." Dai Li was filled with worry.
Qin Yanzhou explained, "Yesterday I saw a few children playing at the back door of the inn. They are likely the children of the hired help or locals from the neighborhood. Mother, I won't go far. I'll just ask them to help me find out what's going on and return shortly."
Only then did Dai Li let go of him.
After her son left, Dai Li was filled with anxiety.
Could it be that Bai Jianping successfully regrouped with the river troops and informed everyone of her "defection"?
But that didn't make sense either. If that were true, how could he be certain that she and Zhou Zhou were in Xin Commandery, rather than having crossed the mountains to go somewhere else? Or perhaps someone received them and they simply changed routes back to Wuwen. After all, if she had taken the official road back to Wuwen at that time, he wouldn't have known!
A move as grand as directly locking down the city gates sounded very much like a certain someone's style.
But how could it be, so fast?
...
The time spent in a daze passed especially quickly. It felt like just a blink of an eye for Dai Li before the person who had just left returned.
"Mother, I have bad news."
Qin Yanzhou's expression was complicated. "The children said there are no less than twenty soldiers guarding the city gates. And Xin Commandery has four gates, meaning nearly a hundred men just for guard duty, which already exceeds the total number of soldiers traveling by water. Moreover, there are many more military patrols going back and forth in the city, all wearing uniform black armor..."
Even though she was mentally prepared, Dai Li's vision still darkened for a moment.
More than a hundred men, black armor, the Xuanxiao Cavalry.
Qin Changgeng might have come in person.
Dai Li murmured, "It's over, he is going to find us..."
"Xin Commandery is so large, far beyond comparison to a small county. Furthermore, we didn't use our own travel passes to check into the inn yesterday, so he won't know," Qin Yanzhou comforted her.
Dai Li's brows were tightly furrowed; she was not as optimistic as he was.
This was not her first time running away. Having experienced this twice before, she knew deeply that Qin Changgeng was not only extremely sharp, but also incredibly meticulous.
More importantly, he held great power and had the authority to mobilize the army. All inns, shops, and residential houses in the city would unconditionally cooperate with his search.
Although she and Zhou Zhou used fake passes to check into the inn, the time of their check-in couldn't be faked. As long as Qin Changgeng sent someone to the inns to check the travelers who checked in yesterday, and specifically filtered for a man and a woman traveling together like her and Zhou Zhou, he would absolutely be able to lock onto his target swiftly.
Dai Li first explained this to her son, then said, "Zhou Zhou, those children at the door are already somewhat familiar with you. Why not bribe them again and have them help keep an eye on the entrance? If any soldiers come to the inn to ask questions today, have them place a bunch of wildflowers at the entrance of the back alley."
Qin Yanzhou nodded and agreed. "Mother, if we can't stay at this inn, how about we spend the night in the East District? The East District is where the commoners gather. If we offer them some silver and come up with an excuse, staying there shouldn't be a problem."
Dai Li rubbed her temples, not telling her son that the very first time she was caught and taken back was in exactly that kind of urban village. She only said tactfully, "We can't stay long in the East District either. As long as they post notices widely and attach a heavy reward, the commoners at the bottom will surely act like sharks smelling blood."
Qin Yanzhou pursed his lips.
"However, making do for a night or two shouldn't be a big problem. Zhou Zhou, I have an idea. Why don't we go ask around about the wealthy households in Xin Commandery..."
*
Xin Commandery.
"My Lord Marquis, we have a discovery!"
Bai Jianping returned with quick steps, looking excited. "The old physician in the medical clinic on the West Street has seen the Madam and Qin the Second. They indeed went to the clinic."
Hearing this, the crease between Qin Shaozong's brows finally softened a little.
The night before last, the "water bandits" attacked the ship fiercely, their numbers far exceeding the soldiers from the North. According to what Bai Jianping said, Qin the Second had taken up a sword and joined the battle at that time.
Fighting in the dark, on an unstable ship, outnumbered by the enemy, the chances of getting injured were certainly much higher than usual. And given how much she valued her son, once they escaped, she would definitely take him to a medical clinic to treat his wounds first.
Therefore, after returning to Xin Commandery today, he immediately dispatched men to the various medical clinics in the commandery without stopping to rest.
This investigation indeed yielded clues.
This was good news. It proved his previous assumption was correct; she was indeed in Xin Commandery!
"When did that old physician treat them yesterday?" Qin Shaozong asked.
Bai Jianping replied, "He treated them at noon. Qin the Second had a knife wound on his shoulder and another on his back. By the time they were treated, it was already the beginning of the hour of Wei."
"They didn't rest all night the night before last, arrived at Xin Commandery at noon yesterday, left the clinic at the hour of Wei, and still needed to prepare their luggage for a long journey afterwards." The man suddenly let out a low, deep laugh. Even though he was laughing, it exuded the oppressive feeling of an impending storm. "She definitely hasn't left! Pass down the order: strictly search all inns, big and small, in the commandery. Focus heavily on any male and female traveling pairs who checked in yesterday."
Bai Jianping cupped his hands to accept the order. He was just about to go carry it out when he was stopped by his superior.
Qin Shaozong turned the jade thumb ring on his finger. "Have people post notices around the city. I remember the East District of Xin Commandery is a mixed bag, mostly inhabited by poor families. That kind of place is the easiest to hide in. Post more notices over there. At the same time, send five squads of men to beat gongs and drums, making sure to inform every household that they are forbidden from taking in outsiders. Violators will be thrown in prison."
"Yes, My Lord."