The launching ceremony was canceled, but the ship still had to be blown up, and there needed to be as many Qi soldiers on the ship as possible to achieve their goal. Though they couldn’t annihilate them completely, eliminating part of them would still be good. The Yucheng Army didn’t have numerical superiority—only by first weakening the Qi forces could they have an advantage even in direct confrontation afterward.
Tang Rong had been informed beforehand to perform this bitter stratagem. But Madam Gantang was kept unaware—she was actually the lead actress in this play. The more genuine her emotions, the more credible Tang Rong’s confession would be.
Xie Queshan felt sorry for Second Sister, putting her in that dangerous position. An ordinary woman would probably be scared out of her wits, but the situation was urgent—this was a method of no alternatives. Though they had fortunately managed to pass false information to Wanyan Jun at this moment, Xie Queshan still felt somewhat powerless. All along, he seemed to be sacrificing himself and those around him, but these were choices he had to make… He thought of Nanyi for no particular reason—perhaps letting her leave really was the best choice.
These were the final days. He had to maintain Wanyan Jun’s trust and couldn’t fail at the crucial moment. If he could gather intelligence in advance, it would be vital to the situation. Zhang Yuehui had won him several precious days—he had to help Song Muchuan complete the final plan within these days.
At this moment, the cold midnight watch bell rang out from afar.
The Nirvana Plan, the day before.
Zhang Yuehui lay on his bed in boredom, thinking: what does the success or failure of the Bingzhu Bureau have to do with me?
Knowing something couldn’t be done yet doing it anyway—that was originally a dead end. When people themselves are inadequate, even the greatest immortals can’t save them.
He was naturally the biggest winner—staying far from conflict, withdrawing completely unharmed, and even winning the beauty.
What did he have to lose sleep over?
Yet he kept tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep, always feeling something was about to happen, his heart very unsettled. Fragments flashed through his mind, and in his half-dreaming, half-waking state, it seemed as if the intervening years didn’t exist—he had returned as usual to the old mansion in Bianjing, but when he pushed open the door, he saw wild grass growing rampantly in his homeland, everything in ruins.
With a creak, the door was suddenly pushed open. Zhang Yuehui woke with a start, his back breaking out in cold sweat. Just as he caught his breath, he heard Luo Ci’s tense voice from outside the tent.
“Master, the Qi people are pursuing us.”
Zhang Yuehui wanted to sit up with a carp-like flip, but one leg couldn’t exert force. His face reddened from the effort before he could barely get up, saying somewhat anxiously: “If they’re pursuing us, then prepare to run! What are you standing here for?”
“Master, you’re injured and can’t withstand the jolting of mountain paths. This subordinate thinks we should disguise ourselves and take the main road instead.”
“No good—that’s too dangerous.” Zhang Yuehui immediately refused.
“But with your leg, no matter which route we take, we can’t move fast… If we’re caught up with in the wilderness, our people won’t be able to reinforce us in time. Even if you don’t consider yourself, you must consider Miss Nanyi.”
Zhang Yuehui fell silent. Luo Ci’s reasoning wasn’t without merit. The problem was that he was an invalid, holding everyone back.
Luo Ci carefully suggested: “Master, how about… we split into two groups? Let Miss Nanyi evacuate via the original planned route, while this subordinate escorts you via the main road. We can rendezvous at Xuping County ahead.”
“I definitely can’t go alone.” Nanyi walked in carrying her bundle, interrupting their dispute.
Nanyi glanced at Luo Ci: “I have to stay by your master’s side, to die together with him if necessary, otherwise he’ll always think I want to run away.”
Though Nanyi spoke quite naturally, even with some teasing, when these words reached Zhang Yuehui’s ears, they made his face flush red.
It made it seem like he was some kind of paranoid maniac, knowing it was dangerous yet insisting on tying her to his side.
“No need to say more. Luo Ci, arrange for Nanyi to leave first. I’ll cover the rear. It’s decided.”
Playing the hero—who couldn’t do that?
Could he, Zhang Yuehui, really not handle a mere Wanyan Jun?
“Don’t speak in anger,” Nanyi looked at him speechlessly. “If you really make me go alone, I might just run away by myself.”
“You wouldn’t.” Zhang Yuehui said with complete confidence.
Nanyi was still bantering back and forth with him, as if deliberately trying to ease the tense atmosphere of parting: “You’re so certain?”
“Could you bear to?” Zhang Yuehui suddenly looked up, asking back with an aggrieved expression.
“…” Nanyi was struck speechless.
“Master, Miss Nanyi, we should hurry and get on the road. Now is not the time for talking.”
Zhang Yuehui leaned on his crutch and walked with difficulty a few steps toward Nanyi, stopping before her and reaching out to caress her face.
“It’s just over a day’s journey from here to Xuping County. Don’t miss me too much.”
Unexpectedly, Nanyi didn’t slap away Zhang Yuehui’s hand as she usually would. She looked at Zhang Yuehui half-jokingly, half-seriously, saying: “You don’t miss me either. We’ll… see each other again soon.”
Zhang Yuehui answered with a playful smile: “Why do you say it as if we won’t see each other again?”
A strange expression flashed across Nanyi’s face, quickly covered by a joking demeanor: “I’m afraid you’ll hold me back. I’m telling you, I’ll only wait one day—no waiting beyond that.”
Zhang Yuehui laughed: “If you’re late, I’ll keep waiting for you, waiting until you come.”
Nanyi was stunned. He had clearly spoken with false sentiment, yet somehow seemed very serious too.
Feeling guilty, she couldn’t continue this conversation. She shouldered her bundle and walked out boldly: “I’m leaving.”
“Luo Ci, settle her in well and be sure to send people to escort her the entire way.”
“Yes, Master.”
Luo Ci immediately followed her out.
In the stable, Luo Ci brought a horse for Nanyi and handed her a sheepskin map.
“Yajiu set out from Qingzhou’s Cliff Dao Temple and is now almost at the Li Du Mansion border. If you pursue him via this shortcut, you might catch up within half a day.”
Nanyi took the map and tucked it into her sleeve. She and Luo Ci had jointly deceived Zhang Yuehui.
Luo Ci had come to find her, telling her that Yajiu had discovered core intelligence about the Nirvana Plan, but their master didn’t intend to intervene. He spoke frankly, expressing his hope that Nanyi could leave their master—she had her loyalty to home and country, but their master was definitely not her fellow traveler.
In Li Du Mansion were Nanyi’s lover, friends, and countless innocent common people. If the Nirvana Plan failed, everyone would die. She couldn’t ignore this—she had to intercept Yajiu before he entered Li Du Mansion.
She didn’t want to judge whether Zhang Yuehui was fundamentally good or bad. Whatever decision he made was beyond reproach. People who don’t look out for themselves will be destroyed by heaven and earth. Moreover, no matter what, he had given her his true heart. When she agreed to go with him, she had indeed prepared to spend the rest of her life with him. But things obtained by force are ultimately fragile.
She was going to break her word. From now on, she would owe him. If there was no chance to meet again, then in the next life, and the life after that, she would gradually repay him bit by bit.
“If I can kill Yajiu and return safely, that would be best. If I don’t return, tell him I died. Tell him not to wait, tell him to live happily for the rest of his days.”
Nanyi mounted her horse and rode away in a cloud of dust.