Chapter 389: Ambush

Su Zhao looked at him, unsure what to say. She could understand his killing of Madam Ruan and her son. He had been forced into it and had done so to preserve his own life. But this time, she found herself unwilling to think any further.

She did not know whether being with An Taiping had changed the way she saw Shao Pingbo. Several times, words rose to her lips only to be swallowed again.

In the end, however, she could not stop herself from asking, "Have you considered Liuer's feelings? Are you planning to force her to marry him?"

Shao Pingbo said calmly, "If she is unwilling, I won't force her."

"Really?" Su Zhao's face plainly said she did not believe him.

Shao Pingbo nodded. Unwilling to dwell on the subject, he changed topics. "As for what we discussed today, it's enough that you know. Don't let your superiors find out."

Su Zhao asked, "What are you worried about?"

Shao Pingbo said, "The fact that Xiaoyue Pavilion can collude with the Prince of the Western Court proves it has already involved itself in the internal affairs of the imperial clan of the State of Qi. I don't want whatever Xiaoyue Pavilion is planning to come into conflict with Hao Zhen's side."

Su Zhao said, "You had us assassinate Hao Zhen's wife, then you turn around and marry your younger sister to Hao Zhen. It would be difficult for us not to think too much about that. My superiors are definitely going to question me afterward."

Shao Pingbo said, "There is ample reason to explain it away. I need this marriage alliance to pressure the State of Yan and the State of Han. Tell them that, and they will certainly understand. Sister Zhao, I don't trust Xiaoyue Pavilion, but I trust you. I've never hidden anything from you."

As he spoke, he suddenly rose and slowly approached her. One stood, one sat, their eyes meeting.

Su Zhao had been accustomed to this in the past. Now, however, she felt uncomfortable and instinctively wanted to retreat. Before she could, Shao Pingbo reached out and took her hand.

Su Zhao panicked slightly and tried to pull away. Then she remembered the instructions from above.

The matter with An Taiping was one thing, but she was absolutely forbidden to ruin matters in Beizhou. At the very least, on the surface, she had to maintain her relationship with Shao Pingbo.

After what had happened with An Taiping, she had finally seen something clearly. Her superiors had probably understood it long ago as well. Even if Shao Pingbo ultimately succeeded, he might not necessarily marry her. Yet those above had always turned a blind eye to the matter.

And Shao Pingbo had probably known for a long time that Xiaoyue Pavilion intended to use him.

Both sides had their own schemes. She was merely a chess piece caught between them.

There were many things she had been unable to see when she was lost in her feelings for Shao Pingbo. Or perhaps she simply had not wanted to wake from the dream. Now she understood a great deal.

After getting together with An Taiping, she had actually wanted to withdraw. But withdrawal was no longer hers to choose.

If she dared act recklessly, never mind that her superiors would not spare An Taiping—even the Spirit-Torment Pill antidote was an obstacle he had no way past.

While she hesitated, Shao Pingbo pressed his advantage. He opened his arms and pulled her directly into his embrace.

Su Zhao reacted as though bitten by a snake. She shoved him away violently and retreated several quick steps.

"..."

Shao Pingbo froze. In the past, she had been the one willing to embrace him, while he had gently refused her. Today, the situation seemed to have reversed.

Su Zhao also realized something was wrong. Embarrassed, she said, "Pingbo, this isn't an appropriate place."

"You're thinking too much. It's fine." Shao Pingbo stepped forward again and tried once more to take her into his arms.

Su Zhao turned sideways and avoided him, circling behind a table. She forced a laugh. "Pingbo, this is a pleasure house."

Shao Pingbo stared at her for a while. Then he smiled. He did not press the matter further.

He could not remain here too long. After the two sides discussed several more matters, he left.

The moment he came out of Among the White Clouds and boarded the carriage, he tore the false mask from his face. His expression darkened slightly.

In the past, Su Zhao had always wanted to be "together" with him, while he had held back.

After the warhorse affair, however, he had sensed something abnormal in Su Zhao. This time, one reason he had come was that he wanted to consummate their relationship and bind her more firmly to him. Yet Su Zhao had changed. She now resisted him. Compared with before, this was highly abnormal.

Seeing that something was wrong with his expression, Shao Sansheng ventured, "Eldest Young Master, what happened?"

Shao Pingbo raised a hand and touched his own hair. "My hair has turned white. Does it look ugly?"

"..."

Shao Sansheng was momentarily speechless. Since when had the Eldest Young Master become so shallow?

Once he recovered, he hurriedly said, "How could Eldest Young Master's bearing be affected by a little white hair? If anything, those strands only add to your distinction. How could they possibly make you ugly?"

Shao Pingbo was silent for a while.

Then he said, "Later, have Dachan Mountain's people investigate someone for me. A tall, powerfully built man with a red face."

Shao Sansheng looked puzzled. "A red-faced man? Eldest Young Master, that's rather broad. This isn't our territory either. Do you have any other clues?"

Shao Pingbo said, "A red-faced man who can enter the rear courtyard of Among the White Clouds. That's all I know. But I expect this won't be the only time he goes there. Have people keep watch."

"All right." Shao Sansheng nodded to show he would remember.

He still had doubts, however. Combined with Shao Pingbo's earlier question about his hair, a faint suspicion had begun to form in his mind...

Within the imperial palace, Hao Yuntu stood against the wind at the rail of a dragon boat gliding across the blue waters of the lake.

Bu Xun skimmed over the surface and landed on the deck. He hurried upstairs, saluted Hao Yuntu, then stepped closer and reported, "Shao Pingbo secretly went to Among the White Clouds."

A strange light flickered in Hao Yuntu's eyes. He gave a cold chuckle. "It seems the assassination of my daughter-in-law really may have had something to do with Xiaoyue Pavilion."

Bu Xun asked, "Then what about Prince Ying's marriage?"

Hao Yuntu lifted a hand and waved it lightly. "If the new daughter-in-law proves unsatisfactory, she can always be replaced again. A dignified imperial prince needn't fear being unable to find a wife."

"But Beizhou cannot be allowed to descend into chaos. Beizhou needs this marriage alliance. First stabilize Shao Pingbo and Beizhou. There is an order to priorities. Matters of the future can be dealt with in the future..."

At the Tofu House, in the rear courtyard, Yuan Gang hung upside down bare-chested while two men hammered his body with solid steel rods.

Bang! Bang!

Yuan Feng hurried into the rear courtyard and waved at the two men, signaling them to withdraw.

Yuan Gang's feet were hooked over an iron bar. He curled his legs, hauled his entire body upward, then flipped through the air and landed solidly on both feet. Without a word, he strode into the house. Yuan Feng followed. The two stopped before a map.

Yuan Feng pointed to one location. "After the man left Among the White Clouds, he went to a courtyard here in the western part of the city, not too far from the imperial palace. We asked around. They only rented the place recently."

"Have the brothers watch every street intersection. No unnecessary movement. Don't expose yourselves." Yuan Gang stared at the map as he spoke.

After leaving Among the White Clouds, he had not taken a boat straight back to the Tofu House.

He had disembarked halfway and pretended to ask about business at one of the tofu stalls in the street while secretly passing down an order to put the man under surveillance.

His manpower was not large, but throughout the streets of the capital his people formed a web. Tracking one or two people was still well within their ability...

Several days later, early in the morning, Yuan Feng once again hurried back to the rear courtyard of the Tofu House. Once again, he and Yuan Gang stood before the map.

"The target has set out. He left through the eastern city gate in a carriage. For now, it looks like he's following the official road. We've already arranged for the brothers to rotate pursuit while changing their disguises."

Yuan Feng pointed at the map as he reported.

Yuan Gang asked, "The official road? This man is cunning. Are you certain the target truly left?"

Yuan Feng nodded. "Confirmed. We had someone pretend to be delivering vegetables and go to the residence to verify it. The courtyard is empty. Only servants sent by the landlord are there cleaning. They also said the tenants had just checked out and left. They personally saw a white-haired young master get into the carriage."

Yuan Gang stared at the map. His finger traced the route, moving steadily forward. At last, it stopped over a stretch of wooded mountains.

His voice abruptly deepened. "Immediately notify everyone who hasn't gone out to set up a stall. Assemble!"

"Yes!" Yuan Feng turned and ran out at once.

Before long, the group that normally trained in the mornings at the Tofu House returned one after another.

By the time everyone had arrived, Yuan Gang had already prepared a stack of identical-sized bundles. The equipment was handed out. The group swiftly departed.

Outside the courtyard, Yuan Dahu and Gu Younian intercepted Yuan Gang.

Yuan Dahu smiled and asked, "Proprietor, are we still going outside the city for riding drills today?"

"Mm," Yuan Gang replied.

The two old men were just about to go along when Yuan Gang added, "You don't need to come today."

The two stopped and stared after him as he strode away. They looked at each other, baffled.

Yuan Gang, meanwhile, made no attempt whatsoever to hide what he was doing.

He led more than a hundred men jogging all the way toward the city gates. Passersby seemed long accustomed to the sight.

Once outside the city, they went to the ranch where they often rented mounts for their regular drills, hired more than a hundred fine horses, and thundered away.

When they reached deep into the grasslands, all the bundles carried by the hundred-plus men were concentrated onto fifty of them.

The rest, led by Yuan Huo and Niu Shan, continued their normal training to provide cover. Yuan Gang took the fifty men carrying bundles and galloped onward. Along the way, they found another ranch.

Yuan Gang still made no effort to conceal himself. He openly used the Huyan family's banner to change horses.

Less than half a day later, they caught up on the official road with a group of their own men who had already rotated out of the surveillance and changed appearances again.

"Is he still following the official road?" Yuan Gang asked.

One of the men replied, "Yes. He's not far ahead. Dayong is still following. If this weren't the official road with normal traffic coming and going, we really wouldn't dare keep so close. Continue what you were doing."

Yuan Gang gave the instruction, then immediately pulled out the map. He located their current position, checked the route, then put the map away just as quickly.

"The other side has carriages. They can't move fast. We'll take a shortcut and get ahead of them. Move!"

He wheeled his horse around and charged off the official road. Dozens of riders thundered after him...

Toward evening, in a mountainous forest region, an old man rode alone onto the official road between the trees.

Every so often, he made a soft birdcall while looking left and right.

"Shh... shh..."

A birdcall suddenly answered from one side of the forest. The old man immediately reined in his horse.

He found a gentle slope and rode up it, continuing deep into the mountains. Only after tying off his horse did he run back on foot.

When he reached the forest beside the road and looked around, a clump of grass moved. The grass parted.

Yuan Gang emerged, his head covered in grass and his face smeared with mud.

"How long until they arrive?"

The old man was none other than Dayong.

"At most, half an incense stick."

Yuan Gang tilted his head. "Prepare."

Dayong quickly straightened the grass his steps had disturbed and withdrew. Someone called softly behind him. He turned. A bundle came flying from somewhere with a clatter of metal inside. He caught it and retreated swiftly into a hollow among the hills. When the cloth wrapping opened, it revealed a pile of separate components.

His hands moved with practiced speed, fitting the pieces together one after another. Very soon, he had assembled a complete Nine-Bolt Repeating Crossbow. Then he rapidly camouflaged himself.

Just as he had said, roughly half an incense stick later, dozens of riders escorting two carriages entered the mountain road.

As the group approached, Yuan Gang lay prone on the ground and suddenly hauled hard on a rope buried beneath the earth.

Boom!

A heaven-shaking explosion erupted. Flames blasted outward. The mountains trembled. The surface of the official road burst skyward, the blast tearing apart the two carriages traveling one behind the other. Men and horses were thrown everywhere in an instant.

As dirt and shattered stone sprayed through the air, the men hidden on both sides of the forest took the explosion as their signal.

One grass-covered figure after another sprang up, leveled Nine-Bolt Repeating Crossbows, and unleashed volley after volley. They fired from both sides. Anyone they saw, they shot to kill.

[End of Chapter 389]