good season

Chapter 267 Escape (Two chapters combined)

Cao Xianzi, also known as Cao Wuniang, is the leader of this operation, and Jin Shier is there to assist her.

Jin Shier stared at Zhao Shiqing, hoping to glean some clue from her face, but he was disappointed.

The little girl was calm and composed, her eyes radiating confidence.

She wasn't bluffing him; she genuinely knew!
That bitch Cao Wuniang, she really betrayed us, betrayed the strategist, and betrayed Hai Dongqing!

Jin Shier gritted his teeth, but Zhao Shiqing delivered another blow: "The Fourth Prince and his entourage should have arrived in Tongzhou half a month ago. Guess why they didn't?"

Before Jin Shier could speak, Zhao Shiqing answered her own question: "Because Cao Wuniang didn't want to come to Tongzhou, she cleverly left the Fourth Prince and Yang Shengqiu in Yanzhou. While you were being submerged in the flood, Cao Wuniang was accepting offerings from her followers while recognizing Yang Shengqiu in the comfortable official post station. And now, while you are being tortured and suffering a fate worse than death, they are discussing an auspicious day to go north in the sunny city of Yanzhou."

"Haha, Jin Twelve, in Fairy Cao's eyes, you are nothing but a bunch of brutes used to deceive me and the sect."

Zhao Shiqing can't read minds, but she understands people like Jin Shier.

Based on my observations of the nine members of the Lei family over the past few days, all the Lei brothers obeyed the eldest brother, Lei Dabao. Lei Dabao was relatively polite to his brothers, but he would scold his two wives at the drop of a hat and never give them a kind look.

In fact, the two wives, like the Lei brothers, were assassins of Hai Dongqing.

However, Jin Shier's attitude towards them and the Lei brothers was completely different.

Although Zhao Shiqing was young, she had seen many people like Jin Shier. They looked down on women to the core, even if the woman was a highly skilled assassin like them. In their eyes, women were still inferior to men.

Just like Cao Xianzi ranked fifth while Jin Shier ranked twelfth, the higher the ranking, the greater the gap between them. Cao Xianzi was much stronger than Jin Shier, both in terms of combat power and status in the sect. However, Jin Shier would still look down on her. He didn't think he was inferior to a woman; he only felt that this woman was blocking his way.

Therefore, Zhao Shiqing used Cao Xianzi as a knife to stab at Jin Shier's petty jealousy.

Jin Shier was indeed enraged.

He was extremely loyal to the strategist, so he didn't think it was a strategic arrangement by the strategist; he only thought that Cao Xianzi was playing a trick on him.

Just as Zhao Shiqing said, Fairy Cao used him and his people to mislead the sect.

He hates it!
Although they were Han Chinese, they grew up in the Dalu region. The Dalu had little water, so despite receiving training from a young age, none of them were good swimmers.

They had never seen such heavy rain, let alone a flood.

They struggled in the flood, and the fate of several of their companions remains unknown.

But Cao Wuniang did nothing, not even Tongzhou came. They had suspicions before, and now, after hearing Zhao Shiqing's words, all their suspicions were answered.

Yes, with Cao Wuniang's abilities, she could easily trap the Fourth Prince and his party in Yanzhou. If the Fourth Prince didn't come to Tongzhou, Yang Shengqiu certainly wouldn't come either. They wouldn't need to get involved in the mess in Tongzhou to take Yang Shengqiu away.

Jin Shier's face turned pale, and a murderous intent immediately appeared in his eyes.

Zhao Shiqing let out a soft breath; the knife had hit the right spot.

"That bitch Cao Wuniang deserves to die a horrible death! Does she think people will buy her act of pretending to be a ghost? Heh, I'll see how she manages to get that person out of Dayong without me!"

Zhao Shiqing turned and left.

After that, no one questioned Jin Shier. In the evening, Xiuxiu came in with a basket to deliver dinner.

Jin Shier knew Xiuxiu, and he had long known that Xiuxiu did not know martial arts. Not only Xiuxiu, but even that Miss Zhao Er was only mediocre in martial arts.

His eyes were slightly closed, still bearing that same expression of resignation to death.

Xiuxiu seemed a little scared. She placed a steamed bun made from two kinds of dough in front of him, her voice filled with fear: "This is your food, eat it quickly."

"How am I supposed to eat if you tie me up?" Jin Shier said irritably.

Xiuxiu was stunned. Yes, how could this person eat with his hands tied?

"But the second young lady said that she can't let you die. If you don't eat, you'll starve to death."

Jin Shier sneered, "Second Miss, Second Miss, are you her maid?"

Having stayed on the mountain for several days, Jin Shier naturally knew that Xiuxiu was not Zhao Shiqing's maid; he was just saying that on purpose.

Xiuxiu lowered her head and whispered, "The Second Miss saved my life."

Jin Shier understood: "I see. Little girl, you are a grateful person. You remind me of my sister. When we were young, my sister and I were separated. I don't know if she is alive or dead. If only she could be rescued. Sigh."

Xiuxiu's eyes lit up: "I didn't expect you to have a sister. I thought assassins were all ruthless and heartless."

Jin Shier gave a bitter smile: "I didn't come out of a rock. I also have parents and relatives, and a younger sister, but they are all dead. I even lost my only sister. I'm sorry to them."

Xiuxiu's eyes reddened, her eyes filled with a clear naiveté: "Don't be pessimistic. Maybe one day you'll find your sister. I know someone whose brother went missing but was found. I believe you can find your sister too. Your sister is waiting for you."

“Young lady, you are too kind. My sister must be just as kind as you. It’s a pity she won’t live to see me. For people like us, once we make a mistake, death awaits us. I won’t live much longer. Your second young lady will kill me. From the day I became an assassin, I knew this day would come sooner or later. Young lady, I’m not afraid of death. Death is a relief for me.”

Xiuxiu was so moved she almost cried. It was so touching, just like the storybook she had borrowed from Shen Wangxing.

“I will ask the Second Miss to erect a monument for you, so that one day when your sister finds you, she will have a place to go.”

Jin Shier sighed: "Little girl, I have to thank you no matter what. I used to worry that no one would bring me my last meal before I was killed, and that I would be a starving ghost."

Now, not only do I have a beautiful and kind girl like you bringing me my last meal before I die, but you've also listened to all this nonsense I've rambled on about. I can die in peace now.

Xiuxiu felt a little guilty. She looked at the two big steamed buns and said, "But you can't eat this last meal either."

Jin Shier sniffed: "It's alright, bring it over and let me smell it. I'll just pretend I'm eating it."

Xiuxiu pursed her lips, as if making a decision: "I'll untie you. Eat these two steamed buns. You can't go hungry on the road to the underworld."

Jin Shier looked troubled: "No, I can't let you break the rules for me. If that second young lady finds out, she will definitely blame you."

Xiuxiu shook her head: "It's okay. The Second Miss is very good to me. At most, she'll scold me a few times. Besides, there's no one else here. As long as I don't tell and you don't tell, the Second Miss won't know."

A glimmer of hope flashed in Jin Shier's eyes, like a drowning man clutching at a straw: "Really? Can I really eat my fill and die a full-bodied ghost?"

Xiuxiu felt a pang of sorrow: "It's true." Jin Shier was so excited he was about to cry. Xiuxiu suppressed her fear and, with trembling hands, went to untie the ropes from Jin Shier.

The rope was made of cowhide, and the knot was very special, making it difficult for the average person to untie.

Fortunately, Xiuxiu managed to untie him. The moment Jin Shier's hands were freed, he felt as if dawn had broken.

Just then, a voice called out from outside: "Xiuxiu, are you there?"

It was a woman's voice.

Jin Shier recognized the voice; it was the maidservant beside Zhao Shiqing.

Xiuxiu quickly replied, "Yes!"

Jin Shier lowered his voice: "Don't let her in."

Xiuxiu stood up and said to him, "Hurry up and eat your steamed bun. I'm going out to check on things and I'll be right back."

Jin Shier concealed the murderous intent in his eyes and nodded: "Okay."

Xiuxiu hurried out, and the wooden door closed behind her.

Jin Shier chuckled coldly, "Little girl, you're lucky."

He quickly untied the ropes binding his feet and jumped out of the back window.

As soon as Xiuxiu went out, Lingbo grabbed her and the two girls hugged tightly. They were terrified! They were really scared!
Half an hour later, Xia Dachuan came to report: "A boat has been lost down the mountain."

Jin Shier escaped successfully. Although he encountered some trouble along the way, he was lucky and escaped unharmed.

There were several small boats at the foot of the mountain. He knocked the boy who was rowing the boat unconscious with a single palm strike. The boy fell into the water, lying face up. Jin Shier then steered the small boat away.

A moment later, the boy surfaced from the water and cursed, "You bastard, thank goodness I'm a good swimmer!"

The next day, Xiao Zhen returned to the mountain and listened to Zhao Shiqing tell about Jin Shier and Hai Dongqing. Xiao Zhen sighed, "So it turns out that Yang Shengqiu went to the Dalu in his previous life. No wonder he didn't come back even after the Third Prince gained power."

Zhao Shiqing thought of Feng Yalan, who had spent half her life in solitude. Yang Shengqiu went to Dalu and even had his son taken away. Father and son were reunited, but in the end, only Feng Yalan was hurt.

Xiao Zhen sighed. It was a pity that he died too young in his previous life and didn't know what happened afterward.

However, he felt that Yang Shengqiu from his previous life would definitely return. The strategist Wang Yin was in a precarious situation with the Dalu, and a man like him would not sit idly by and wait for his death. He must be plotting something big by finding Yang Shengqiu.

Did he intend to use Yang Shengqiu to start a rebellion?
Although Yang Shengqiu's surname was Yang, his mother was a descendant of Emperor Ai and was from the eldest son's family.

Zhao Shiqing guessed what he was thinking and said with a smile, "Let's not think about the past. Now that I've let Jin Shier go, let's see what he does. We'll just watch from the sidelines."

Then she thought of something and frowned slightly: "These people entered from Yan. Is Northern Yan so leaky that it's like a sieve? Can the Dalu people enter so easily?"

Xiao Zhen sneered: "If it were leaking like a sieve, that would be fine, but I'm afraid that Northern Yan has some kind of connection with that strategist."

Zhao Shiqing's expression turned serious. She was still too naive and had oversimplified things.

The strategist Wang Yin is currently being distrusted by the Dalu King, yet he is still thinking of bringing Yang Shengqiu over. This man must have something to rely on, or perhaps he has another trump card, one that the Dalu King fears even more than the gyrfalcon.

“Northern Yan? It’s Northern Yan?” Zhao Shiqing exclaimed.

Although the Prince of Yan's Mansion and the Prince of Liang's Mansion were both among the Eight Princes, the Prince of Liang's surname was Zhao, while the Prince of Yan's surname was different.

The king of Northern Yan was surnamed Han, and Zhao Shiqing's understanding of Northern Yan was limited to only three things.

First, when the old King Liang passed away, Han Song, the third son of the Northern Yan, and his uncle, Prince Hejin, came to the Liang King's mansion to pay their respects. Prince Hejin was a notorious playboy, and Madam Nie was very wary of him, fearing that he would corrupt Zhao Tingxuan.

The second matter was the two study companions of Zhao Tingxuan, the Nie brothers. They once mocked Yue Xiu, the study companion of the Crown Prince of Northern Yan, at the Imperial Academy, saying that Yue Xiu's feet were still covered in cow dung. This angered the Yan Xia, who beat him up. The matter even reached the Emperor's court, and Zhao Tingxuan was punished in the end.

The third matter is a past event. The previous King of Northern Yan had no sons, so his younger brother had to go to the capital as a hostage. Later, a young prince was born, but the young prince was not old enough to be a hostage when the King of Northern Yan died. The young prince ascended the throne at the age of five. He had neither sons nor brothers, so his uncle was still a hostage. It was not until his uncle had a son that his son was exchanged for a hostage, and he was able to return to Yan.

Apart from this, Zhao Shiqing knew nothing about Northern Yan.

Northern Yan has always been the northern gateway of the Great Yong Dynasty. Since its founding, it has been loyal and has never made a mistake, which has also deterred the Dalu from acting recklessly.

The fact that these Dalu assassins could easily enter the country from Northern Yan was a very serious matter for Dayong.

Zhao Shiqing asked, "Do the Dalu and Dayong have trade relations?"

Xiao Zhen nodded: "There is trade, but the management is very strict. Only merchants with licenses can enter the country, and after entering, they can only trade in designated trading posts. These trading posts have always been jointly managed by the Northern Yan Prince's Mansion and the imperial court, and the income is split equally between the two parties."

Thinking of something, Xiao Zhen added, "Even if the Dalu merchants have obtained a license, they can only bring five people into the country at a time. The goods they bring are handed over to the army as soon as they enter the country, and then the army delivers them to the trading post. When they leave, the purchased goods are also delivered to the border by the army, and then transported away by themselves after leaving the country."

Zhao Shiqing asked, "Won't we be exploited by the army in this way?"

Xiao Zhen smiled and said, "That's for sure, but merchants come for profit, and there's no other way but to accept it."

"Then the Northern Yan Prince's Mansion must be very wealthy?" Zhao Shiqing became interested; she had no idea about these things before.

“Indeed wealthy. Not only the Northern Yan Prince’s Mansion, but which of the eight princes’ mansions isn’t rich? Do you think the Liang Prince’s Mansion is poor?” Xiao Zhen laughed.

Zhao Shiqing shook her head. Of course, a country that can support an army wouldn't be poor; otherwise, the dog emperor wouldn't be afraid of the Liang Prince's Mansion.

The two chatted for a while before going to rest.

Meanwhile, at the official post station, Yang Shengqiu finally met the person who had given him the ring.

It was a woman, a woman dressed in a Taoist robe, yet with a dignified expression.

He suddenly thought of someone, someone the Fourth Prince wanted to visit but had no chance to meet.

"Are you Fairy Cao?"

Fairy Cao looked him over with satisfaction: "You have good taste. No wonder you are of royal blood."