No title, no marriage? Do you think I'm some kind of lapdog?

"Brother Xinyang, you have to help me..."

"I'll help, I'll definitely help!" Yue Xinyang's eyes reddened, and he lowered his head to kiss her.

Ye Qingyue reached out and pressed her hand against his lips, her eyes glistening with tears, her voice both sweet and aggrieved:

"Now that Yumen Pass can no longer be defended, the capital is summoning me back... This trip back will likely be fraught with danger."

Her eyes were slightly red, and tears welled up in her eyes at any moment.

"My father is weak in the court, and although Uncle Yue is high-ranking and powerful, there are still many people in the court watching our two families... This time, Eunuch Li's death was clearly a frame-up, an attempt to ruin the Ye family and the Yue family."

Yue Xinyang hugged her tightly, his heart aching: "Qingyue, don't be afraid. With my father here, no one dares to harm you!"

"But I'm just afraid..." Ye Qingyue buried her head in his chest, her voice muffled, "I'm afraid that if I go back, I'll never see you again."

She looked up at Yue Xinyang, her eyes blurry with tears:

"Brother Xinyang, promise me one thing, okay?"

"Tell me! I'll agree to a hundred things!" Yue Xinyang patted his chest.

Ye Qingyue leaned close to his ear and whispered:

"Send a message to Uncle Yue and tell him... to find a way to leave the capital."

Yue Xinyang was taken aback: "Leaving Beijing? Where to?"

"Anywhere is fine, Jiangnan, Sichuan, Lingnan... as long as we leave the capital, this place of trouble." Ye Qingyue's eyes flickered. "And the Ye family, they have to leave too."

She paused, then lowered her voice even further:

"Over the years, our two families have accumulated too much wealth in Beijing... But the bigger the tree, the more the wind will blow against it, and now is the time to move on."

Yue Xinyang's pupils contracted: "You mean..."

"Yes." Ye Qingyue nodded. "While the situation hasn't completely descended into chaos, move everything you can. Gold, silver, valuables, antiques, paintings, land deeds... leave nothing behind."

She grasped Yue Xinyang's hand, her eyes earnest:

"Brother Xinyang, you are the one I love most in this world. I can't bear to see you, the Yue family, the Ye family... get stuck in this quagmire of the capital."

Yue Xinyang felt a surge of warmth in his heart and nodded vigorously:

"Alright! I'll send a message to my father right away!"

Ye Qingyue stopped crying and smiled, then leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.

"I knew it, Brother Xinyang loves me the most."

This kiss completely overwhelmed Yue Xinyang, and his hands began to wander again. This time, Ye Qingyue didn't stop him; instead, she half-heartedly resisted, and the two tumbled onto the soft couch.

The candlelight flickered, casting overlapping shadows of people.

But Yue Xinyang didn't see that Ye Qingyue's eyes behind him were as cold as poisoned knives.

idiot.

Once the Yue family and the Ye family have transferred their wealth out of the capital, Ye Qingyue... will be able to keep most of it for herself!

---

Looking at Beitai, Tsuchiya.

Su Chuang squatted on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), holding the newly delivered imperial edict in his hand, his expression strange.

The imperial edict was delivered personally by Eunuch Wang—the old eunuch who served Eunuch Gui. He was very respectful, read the edict aloud, and then left without taking a single penny.

The content is very simple:

"The situation at Yumen Pass is critical. Therefore, the Duke of Xin, Su Chuang, is hereby appointed to temporarily assume military command in the northern frontier, oversee defense, and act expediently."

"General Ye Qingyue, the former General of Yangwei, shall return to the capital immediately to report on his duties without delay."

Su Chuang threw the imperial edict on the table and grinned:

"Is Emperor Wu... handing Ye Qingyue over to me for disposal?"

Jia Xu stood to the side, his gray robe spotless, his eyes half-closed.

"My lord, this is both a good thing and a bad thing."

"How so?"

"The good thing is that our lord now has a legitimate claim in the northern frontier and can act freely." Jia Xu paused, "The bad thing is... Ye Qingyue may not die this time she returns to the capital."

Su Chuang raised an eyebrow: "She colluded with the Xiongnu and killed the eunuch who delivered the imperial edict, how could she still be alive?"

"Yes." Jia Xu nodded. "As long as Yue Zhanpeng is still in the Ministry of War, and as long as the Ye family still has a foothold in the court, she has a way to survive."

He looked up at Su Chuang, his half-closed eyes flashing with a cold light:

"My lord, we must nip this in the bud."

Su Chuang rubbed his hands together: "Then, in your opinion, how should we get rid of it?"

Jia Xu took half a step forward, his voice extremely low:

"Ye Qingyue wants to run away, and the Yue family and the Ye family also want to run away... Well then, let's make sure they can't run away."

He took a slip of paper out of his sleeve and handed it to Su Chuang.

Su Chuang took it and saw a few lines written on it:

"A secret letter from the Yue family: Within three days, transfer the wealth of the capital to Jiangnan."

"Secret letter from the Ye family: Within five days, evacuate relatives and friends from the capital in batches."

Meeting point: Tongguan.

Su Chuang's eyes lit up: "Intercepted by the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

"Yes." Jia Xu nodded. "The news from Lu Bing's side is that the carrier pigeon that Yue Xinyang just released was shot down by our people."

He paused, then continued:

"My lord, this is an opportunity."

"What opportunity?"

"An opportunity to empty the capital." Jia Xu's lips curled into a faint smile. "The wealth embezzled by the Yue and Ye families over the years is enough to arm an army of 100,000. Now that they're moving, why don't we... intercept them?"

Su Chuang's heart skipped a beat: "Intercept? How?"

"It's very simple." Jia Xu held up three fingers. "First, have the Imperial Guards disguise themselves as bandits and ambush their caravan outside Tongguan."

"Secondly, after looting, they disguised themselves as Huns—since the northern frontier is in chaos, it's perfectly reasonable for Hun cavalry to infiltrate and plunder."

"Third..." He paused, "The loot will not be taken through Tongguan, but through Wild Wolf Valley, and will be sent back to Wangbeitai via a detour."

Su Chuang's eyes lit up upon hearing this, but he immediately frowned:

"But can we really swallow so much wealth? What if we get caught..."

"We can't find anything." Jia Xu shook his head. "My lord, have you forgotten? We are now 'ordered to oversee military affairs in the northern frontier'."

He leaned closer, his voice even lower:

"The Imperial Guards robbed the valuables and transported them directly to Wolf Valley. Then, under the guise of 'seized goods from bandit suppression,' we openly and legitimately transported them back to Wangbeitai."

"Even if someone suspects something, they can only suspect the Ye and Yue families of colluding with the Xiongnu to transport contraband—what does that have to do with us?"

Su Chuang stared at Jia Xu for three breaths, then suddenly grinned and laughed:

"Wenhe, Wenhe, your heart is truly black to the core!"

Jia Xu bowed and said, "It is my duty to share the burdens of my lord."

"Alright!" Su Chuang slapped his thigh. "That's settled! Have Lu Bing lead the team personally, bring plenty of skilled men, and make sure to empty the Yue and Ye families' coffers!"

"Yes." Jia Xu turned to leave.

Su Chuang called out to him again, "Wait."

"Does my lord have any further instructions?"

"What about Ye Qingyue..." Su Chuang narrowed his eyes, "Didn't she want to run away? Let her run."

Jia Xu was taken aback: "Does my lord mean...?"

"Let her out of Yumen Pass." Su Chuang grinned, his smile icy. "Then... on the way, give her a 'big gift'."

---

Late at night, at Yumen Pass.

Dressed in plain clothes, wrapped in a black cloak, Ye Qingyue, accompanied only by Yue Xinyang and four personal guards, quietly slipped out of the pass through the south gate.

Five fast horses had already been prepared in the snowy fields beyond the Great Wall.

"Qingyue, do you really not need to bring more people?" Yue Xinyang asked with some concern.

"Too many people, too many eyes." Ye Qingyue mounted her horse. "The interior is in chaos right now, who has the mind to care about us? Let's go!"

The five men rode south, galloping through the snowy night.

Ye Qingyue glanced back at the beacon fires at Yumen Pass, a cold smile playing on her lips.

Su Chuang, do you want me to die here?

dream.

Once we get to the capital, and once my father and Uncle Yue get things going... let's see who dies first!

She spurred her horse and galloped away, her mind racing with calculations.

The wealth of the Yue and Ye families should have already begun to be transferred. Once she reaches Tongguan, she will be able to take over most of it—at that time, even if she can no longer stay in the capital, she will have enough capital to become a wealthy man in Jiangnan.

Perhaps... one could even go to the southern border and seek refuge with the Xu family?

No, that bitch Xu Mengran is in cahoots with Su Chuang.

Then go to Western Shu, or overseas...

As Ye Qingyue was thinking, a sharp whistle suddenly rang out from ahead!

"Whoa—!"

She suddenly reined in her horse.

In the snow, a dozen dark figures emerged from the trees on both sides, carrying gleaming knives, and surrounded them.

The leader was a masked, burly man with a hoarse voice:

"This road was built by me, these trees were planted by me—"

"If you want to pass, leave some money behind!"

Ye Qingyue's pupils contracted.

Bandits?

At this critical juncture, how could there be bandits?!

Yue Xinyang drew his sword and roared, "Are you all blind?! Do you even know who we are?!"

The masked man grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth:

"I don't care who you are! In this chaotic world, we're robbing fat sheep like you!"

He waved his hand: "Brothers, let's go!"

A dozen or so people rushed forward.

Ye Qingyue gritted her teeth, her gleaming silver spear in hand, and with a single thrust, she sent one of the charging bandits flying. Yue Xinyang and his four bodyguards also fought back desperately.

But these bandits... are too formidable.

Their swordsmanship was ruthless, and their teamwork was impeccable; they were nothing like ordinary bandits.

In a short while, all four guards fell down.

Yue Xinyang was stabbed in the leg, screamed in pain, and knelt down.

Ye Qingyue was unable to hold on alone and was forced to retreat repeatedly by the three bandits.

"Qingyue! Run!" Yue Xinyang shouted hoarsely.

Ye Qingyue's eyes hardened, she feinted with her spear, turned her horse around, and was about to charge out.

Just then, a crossbow bolt shot out from the darkness and hit the horse's leg!

"Hissing sound—!"

The warhorse let out a miserable neigh and collapsed to the ground.

Ye Qingyue rolled onto the snow, and before she could get up, several knives were already at her neck.

The masked man walked over, squatted down, and ripped off her mask.

"Hey, she's a beauty." He grinned. "Brothers, you're in for a treat tonight."

Ye Qingyue's face turned deathly pale, and she gritted her teeth, saying, "Who...who sent you?"

The masked man didn't answer, but simply reached out and touched her chest.

He pulled out a money pouch, weighed it in his hand, and tossed it to his henchman behind him. Then he pulled out a jade pendant, looked at it, and stuffed it into his pocket.

Finally, she pulled out the secret letter—the one Yue Xinyang had asked her to pass on to Yue Zhanpeng.

The masked man opened the letter, glanced at it, and smiled:

"Are the Yue family and the Ye family trying to flee? And also transfer their assets?"

He looked up at Ye Qingyue, his eyes filled with mockery:

"General Ye, you've got a pretty clever plan."

Ye Qingyue felt a chill in her heart: "You...you're one of Su Chuang's people?!"

The masked man remained noncommittal, simply standing up and waving his hand.

"Tie him up and take him away."

Two bandits stepped forward, tied Ye Qingyue up like a dumpling, and threw her onto the horse's back.

Yue Xinyang struggled to his feet: "Let her go! If you dare touch her, my father will not let you get away with it!"

The masked man glanced back at him, then suddenly grinned:

"Young Master Yue, don't be in a hurry."

He walked up to Yue Xinyang, squatted down, and lowered his voice:

"Those valuables your family was moving... they should be on their way by now, right?"

Yue Xinyang's pupils constricted sharply: "You...how did you know?!"

"How would I know?" The masked man laughed, a cold laugh. "Because... we're there to pick up the goods."

He stabbed Yue Xinyang in the heart with a knife.

Yue Xinyang's eyes widened, blood foam gushed from his mouth, and after taking one last look at Ye Qingyue on horseback, he collapsed.

The masked man drew his knife, wiped the blood off the snow, turned and waved.

"withdraw!"

A dozen or so men escorted Ye Qingyue and disappeared into the snowy night.

---

Looking at Beitai, Tsuchiya.

Su Chuang squatted on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), toying with the jade pendant he had taken from Ye Qingyue, grinning from ear to ear:

"This woman is quite wealthy."

Jia Xu stood to the side, bowing as he reported:

"My lord, news has come from Lu Bing's side that Ye Qingyue has been captured and Yue Xinyang is dead."

"The Yue family and Ye family's caravan will arrive at the 'Ghost's Sorrow' Canyon, thirty miles outside Tongguan, at noon tomorrow."

"The Embroidered Uniform Guards are already in ambush. Five hundred elite soldiers are enough to wipe out their three hundred-man guard."

Su Chuang nodded: "Tell Lu Bing to be clean, don't lose a single piece of valuables, and... leave no one alive."

"Well," Jia Xu paused, "that Ye Qingyue..."

"Keep her locked up for now." Su Chuang narrowed his eyes. "I'll interrogate her personally once the valuables are brought back."

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the swirling snow outside.

"Wenhe, tell me... what kind of expressions will the Yue family and the Ye family have when they discover their wealth has been robbed and their relatives have disappeared?"

Jia Xu bowed: "He'll probably... go mad."