He was proud of his cleverness. But Yelü Quangcang saw through him, using him to the fullest extent when he was useful, and discarding him without hesitation when he was not.
The only grace Yelü Quangcang had shown him in all these years was not killing him in the end.
Yelü Quangcang’s way of commanding others was to subtly manipulate them into acting according to his will. Now, Wei Yuizhi finally understood that his own choice of this path was half due to Yelü Quangcang’s influence.
He had been orchestrating the entire time, unaware that he was also a mere pawn in someone else’s game.
For Wei Yuizhi, it was never too late to gain that realization, at least better than dying ignorantly.
Dawn was breaking.
After bathing, An Jiu returned to her room.
As soon as she entered, she sensed something was off. But there was no killing intent, only a feeling of someone behind her. She suddenly turned around.
In the hazy light, a familiar tall figure abruptly came into her vision.
After a moment of silence, Lu Dingjiang’s deep voice finally sounded, “Surprised, huh?”
An Jiu finally snapped out of it, pouncing on him with a loud cry, “Lu Dingjiang! You’re here!”
Her voice was full of unrestrained joy.
Hearing this, Lu Dingjiang couldn’t help but curve his lips, tightly embracing her.
The two stood silently in each other’s arms, no more words needed, the sense of solidity enough.
After a long while, they finally parted. An Jiu lit the lamp and began, “You came faster than expected. I thought the Mei family and the Emperor would have you tied up for a year or two before you could break free.”
“If I want to leave, nothing can hold me back,” Lu Dingjiang carefully looked around the room, “There are some more things outside, waiting to be brought in when the sun rises.”
“For me?” An Jiu asked.
Lu Dingjiang nodded, “Some of the foods you like.”
“Great.” An Jiu sat down and began to recount what happened after arriving in Hexi County, “There are so few people here, not even enough constables, but luckily the Mei family came, so we can use them for now. Oh, I recruited the first subordinate, called Blood Fiend, he seems to have been one of your people before.”
“I only have one person,” Lu Dingjiang said.
An Jiu didn’t think much of it, casually asking, “Who?”
Lu Dingjiang looked at her, smiling, “Guess.”
An Jiu immediately understood his meaning, refuting, “No, you’re mine.”
The expected reaction, Lu Dingjiang heard it with satisfaction and crinkled his eyes, “Mm.”
An Jiu realized he was teasing her in a roundabout way, pursing her lips, “I won’t play your game. Oh right, let me tell you what happened tonight.”
As soon as she entered, Lu Dingjiang had already caught the scent of blood, and she brought it up herself, sparing him the need to ask. He assumed an attentive listening posture.
An Jiu then recounted the night’s events from start to finish.
“Mm.” Lu Dingjiang poured her a cup of water, “Go tend to your own business, don’t think too much about it. I’m not just here to retire, so I’ll take care of it.”
“Okay.” An Jiu stared at his smiling face, then leaned in and kissed him.
Lu Dingjiang didn’t move, so she dragged a stool over and sat down, hugging his neck to kiss him.
“Ahjiu,” Lu Dingjiang’s voice was slightly hoarse, “I missed you.”
The softest part of An Jiu’s heart seemed to be gently pinched, a dull ache, and warm tears involuntarily spilled from the corners of her eyes down her cheeks.
This was the first time Lu Dingjiang had seen her with teary eyes, not the usual delicate beauty, but a bewildered look that made his heart melt.
The iron-blooded tomboy was still puzzled by her tears triggered by just a few words when Lu Dingjiang suddenly lifted her and carried her to the bed.
As their gazes met, it was like igniting something.
…
In the Liao Palace.
Yelü Quangcang stood holding a lantern, the shelves around him filled to the brim with books.
“You’ve come.” A voice spoke from the darkness ahead.
“National Teacher.” Yelü Quangcang placed the lantern on the table and stepped into the darkness, “Has the improvement of the Repeating Crossbow succeeded?”
The man did not answer, but instead asked, “Did you find the person I told you to look into?”
“Mei Shisi, codenamed Xuanren, also known as An Jiu,” Yelü Quangcang took a piece of paper from his sleeve and handed it to him, “This is her detailed information.”
The gloved hand in the darkness reached out and took the document, seeming in no hurry to look at it. He only sighed, “Accurately hitting a moving target across a ravine in a raging wind…truly fascinating.”
Yelü Quangcang felt that he was not marveling at this, and if he were truly curious, he would have acted already in these two years, but he had only been silently observing her.
“An Jiu,” he murmured.