The Splendor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 27 Going Their Separate Ways

"never."

Guo Wuniang stood close to Chai Shouyu and said coquettishly, "I want to go with you, Mother."

“Listen to me. How can I take all these women and children in this house with me? We’ll leave in batches. Don’t upset me.”

"Oh."

Guo Wuniang lowered her head and saw that Chai Shouyu had let go of her hand, so she had no choice but to obediently walk out and said, "Then I will ask Amei to go and call Yige'er."

"There's no need for me to bring this servant."

"But they..."

"I will release them from the manor myself."

"Very well then, daughter will take her leave."

Guo Wuniang curtsied, bid farewell to Chai Shouyu as usual, and left the flower hall.

Chai Shouyu looked at Xiao Yi and said, "Young Master Xiao, your official robes and credentials can come in handy. I want to entrust Yi Ge'er to you. He is the child you saved from under the horse's hooves. He is destined to be with you. Let him act as your servant, and I will act as your maid."

At this point, she turned to look at Guo Xin, who was craning his neck to look outside.

"Sanlang, you will disguise yourself as Xiao Lang's bodyguard and accompany them all the way."

"what?"

Guo Xin was unwilling, shaking his head and shouting, "Mother, I don't want to. I'll protect you. If any thieves dare to stop me, I'll just fight my way out! What's wrong with sneaking away like this..."

"Shut up!"

Chai Shouyu's face hardened, and his tone immediately became stern.

"I still have dozens of people to take care of, and I don't have time to say goodbye to each of you. Today, my order is absolute, and anyone who disobeys will be punished according to family rules!"

Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority.

Guo Xin had no choice but to lower his head and say, "Your son obeys."

"Remember, along the way, whatever happens, you must follow Xiao Lang's arrangements and not be a burden to him."

“Mother underestimates her child and overestimates him…”

"Are you still going to make a racket? Go change your clothes and prepare the horse."

"Yes, kid, please leave."

Guo Xin was so frightened that he dared not utter a sound. The old man bowed and withdrew.

Chai Shouyu watched his two children's backs as they walked away, his gaze seemingly conveying a thousand unspoken words, but in the end, he only let out a soft sigh.

In the hall, Guo Tong said, "Mother, let them bring a few more guards."

"No, too many people will attract attention."

"Yes."

“My sons are impulsive, my daughters are naughty, and my eldest grandson is ignorant. Please bear with them.”

Xiao Yi knew that if the Shi family were in the same situation, they would definitely kill him, confiscate his official robes and credentials, and force more of his family members to leave the city.

Chai Shouyu entrusted his underage eldest grandson and two children to him, which was a sign of trust and also a way of taking care of him.
As for which route she thought would make survival easier and how she planned to allocate the personnel, Xiao Yi didn't speculate. As a mother, both children were her flesh and blood, and every choice was filled with helplessness; she could only make a quick decision.

He was deeply grateful, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and replied, "I will certainly live up to your expectations, Madam!"

Chai Shouyu added, "If the city gates don't open, do not return to the Guo residence; find a place to hide..."

Just as we were getting to this point, the gatekeeper suddenly arrived.

"My lady, more than ten people have arrived on the main street. The leader is an official in a red robe. They're about to turn into the alley!"

"coming!"

Guo Tong was on high alert and immediately drew his sword, ready to leave.

"Wait a minute."

Chai Shouyu stopped her son, calmly tidied her hair, and slowly stood up.

At the same time, she seized the last moment and instructed Xiao Yi: "Xiao Lang, you should leave the mansion through the back gate. After leaving the city, do not wait. Go straight north, cross the Yellow River, and meet up at Liyang Town on the north bank of Baimajin."

"Okay, take care, see you in Liyang."

Xiao Yi accepted the greeting without hesitation, then turned and left.

"See you again, Liyang."

Chai Shouyu muttered something to himself and said to Guo Tong, "Send someone to check on Wang Yin's residence."

"Yes."

When she spoke again, her tone carried the authority of Guo Wei himself: "Since guests have arrived, open the main gate, and I will personally welcome them..."

After Xiao Yi left the flower hall, no further conversation could be heard.

Led by a servant, they hurried along the corridor, only to find a young woman in her early twenties standing there, holding the hands of two even younger children.

One of the children, who was only about four years old, looked up and asked in a childish voice, "Mother, where is brother going? I want to go too."

“Brother is going to school with this young man.”

"School? Then Sanwa won't go."

As Xiao Yi approached, the woman curtsied and said, "Greetings, sir. My surname is Liu, and I am the eldest daughter-in-law of the Guo family and the mother of Yi-ge'er."

"Young Madam is polite."

"This is a letter from me to my husband. Please pass it on." Madam Liu released the child's hand and took out a letter.

Xiao Yi knew that her actions indicated extreme pessimism about the future. He put the letter into his pocket and said in a calm but firm tone, "Why doesn't the young mistress wait until we get to Yedu to say it in person?"

"My body is weak, the journey is long, and the weather is freezing cold. This is just to be on the safe side."

Tears welled up in Liu's eyes without her realizing it. She didn't reach for her four-year-old son's hand; her hand trembled for a long time, and she hesitated to speak.

"Mother, hold on." Xiao Yi felt a pang of pity, yet knew he couldn't bring any more people with him.

A sentence stuck in my throat.

Suddenly, Liu picked up the child and resolutely turned and left.

When Xiao Yi arrived at the back gate, he saw four fine horses with saddles and bridles in place, and their hooves were all wrapped in thick cloth.

A moment later, Guo Wuniang arrived with Guo Zongyi.

Guo Wuniang changed into a coarse cloth Confucian skirt and carried a bundle on her back. At first glance, she looked like a maid, but she was still wearing a pair of deerskin boots.

Guo Zongyi, dressed in a blue robe and hat, was still sleepy-eyed, with marks on his face. He seemed oblivious to what had happened. Upon seeing Xiao Yi, his face immediately lit up with surprise and joy. He quickly stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"Oh? It's my benefactor... Zongyi greets my benefactor. Have you taken up an official post? Shall we go out tonight?"

"I'll take you to Yedu to see your grandfather."

"Great! My benefactor, you're so good at riding horses, can you teach me?"

As they were talking, Guo Xin arrived, dressed in a dark, coarse linen martial robe. Holding a single-edged sword, he didn't walk properly, but instead vaulted over the railing, exuding confidence and arrogance.

"Let's go, we'll scout ahead first."

"Third Brother, why didn't you bring any luggage?"

"What need is there for luggage? A man out in the world takes the sky as his roof and the earth as his dwelling!"

As they spoke, the four men moved swiftly, mounting their horses and riding one by one toward the small gate.

Xiao Yi glanced at him and saw that Guo Zongyi was young and his feet couldn't reach the stirrups yet, but he sat steadily on the horse. Although Guo Wuniang was a woman, her riding skills were also excellent.

The next moment, a faint light shone on her face, and the fine downy hairs were clearly visible in the halo of light.

Xiao Yi was taken aback and turned to look into the Guo residence.

Before I knew it, it was already dawn, and it dawned very quickly.

Beside the snow-covered railing, a slender crape myrtle tree, its branches sparse and thin, reflected the bamboo by the wall, seemingly craning its neck to greet the morning sun. In an instant, the sunlight shone brightly, just like an ordinary morning.

He had been busy all night, braving dangers to rush to deliver the message, but he only managed to do so just before dawn.

Every time we race against time, we feel the ruthlessness of heaven and earth.

The alley was deserted.

The snow had accumulated overnight, and the horse's hooves left a trail of hoofprints. A moment later, a servant of the Guo family swept the hoofprints away with a broom, leaving no trace...

--------

Meanwhile, at the Daning Palace, Guangzheng Hall.

Dozens of warriors stood silently in the east corridor of the hall.

"despair."

A drop of blood fell onto the pool of blood.

Blood soaked the thick, luxurious brocade carpet, on which lay several corpses. Three of them, wrapped in purple robes, were the late emperor's appointed regents Shi Hongzhao and Yang Bin, along with their henchman Wang Zhang.

Shi Hongzhao's body was like a collapsed tower, with veins bulging on his neck and blades standing on his body. Scattered around him were the corpses of warriors he had killed before his death. Yang Bin lay supine beside a palace pillar, his throat gaping open, his eyes filled with shock. Wang Zhang's body was curled up, with blood-stained memorials pressed beneath him.

Suddenly, a slender finger pried open Shi Hongzhao's eyelids, revealing a fierce gaze filled with murderous intent beneath.

Upon seeing this, the boy squatting in front of the corpse let out a disdainful chuckle.

"Stare, keep staring at me."

"His Majesty……"

"Shhh."

Liu Chengyou pressed his finger to his lips, silencing Su Fengji who was about to speak.

A mocking smile curved at the corner of his eyes. He deliberately lowered his voice and said, "Don't speak. Grand Tutor Yang said, 'With me here, Your Majesty should remain silent.' Didn't you hear that?"

Su Fengji followed the emperor's finger to the void, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed.

He knelt on the ground, his voice trembling, breaking the eerie silence of the side room.

"Your Majesty, I congratulate you... The treacherous party has been eliminated, and the empire is now secure!"

"Ah."

Liu Chengyou smiled slightly, his pale, thin, and beautiful face appearing inexplicably profound.

He didn't look at Su Fengji's old face, but looked up at Li Ye, who was striding towards him.

Li Ye wore a luxurious cloak over his purple official robe, his handsome face bearing an unruly smile, but his deep eyes flashed with a sharp, hawk-like gaze.

"I have captured Shi Dechong, but I have not found the talisman."

"Oh?"

Liu Chengyou didn't turn his head and remained squatting in front of the corpse.

Li Ye said, "But please rest assured, Your Majesty, they will not be able to leave Kaifeng City."

"I trust my uncle to handle things," Liu Chengyou said casually. "And next? Whose turn is it?"

"Your Majesty," Su Fengji hurriedly said, "I believe..."

Halfway through his words, he stopped abruptly.

Because he suddenly saw the young emperor using his fingers to pry something out of Shi Hongzhao's eye socket.

That is?

Su Fengji's pupils contracted involuntarily, then widened suddenly, as if his throat had been choked.

The blood-stained sphere was toyed with in the palm of the hand, as if it would burst if squeezed... It was clearly an eyeball.

(End of this chapter)