Chapter 393: Tipping Them Off

Shao Sansheng looked around, then lowered his voice. "Could he be targeting Miss Su? Should we warn her?"

He meant Su Zhao. There were people from Dachan Mountain nearby, so he could not speak too plainly and let them learn that this side had connections with Xiaoyue Pavilion.

The wind suddenly strengthened, sweeping across the endless yellow sands. It blew back the hood that half covered Shao Pingbo's face and opened his cloak. Beneath the white cloak, his robes were white as snow.

His hair half white, Shao Pingbo raised his face toward Heaven and gazed into the blue sky. He remembered scene after scene from that day in Su Zhao's bedchamber. His expression turned faintly pained, as though he had realized something.

"Her heart is no longer with me. I can't keep her. Tip off the people on her side and leave the rest to her fate," Shao Pingbo said mildly, still looking up at the sky.

Shao Sansheng's heart trembled. He understood the deeper meaning in those words. Shao Pingbo did not mean to warn Su Zhao. He meant to tell Xiaoyue Pavilion that Su Zhao had already been exposed. And how did Xiaoyue Pavilion deal with people whose identities were exposed?

Whether the person behind Su Zhao could protect her remained to be seen.

"One more thing. Her side has forbidden anyone from moving against Niu Youdao. I don't know what agreement they reached with him, but I'm afraid they may not necessarily act against Yuan Gang either... Inform the court of the State of Qi as well that An Taiping is a spy."

Shao Pingbo added this final instruction. He wanted Yuan Gang dead. The cloak behind him snapped and billowed in the wind. He looked like a white bird spreading its wings, as though he might ride the wind away at any moment...

At the Supreme General's Residence, a powerfully built eunuch led several men inside.

This burly eunuch was the same man who had once arrested Linghu Qiu. His name was Mo Zhe, and he was a disciple of Bu Xun, Chief Steward of the Inner Palace.

His attendants stopped in the courtyard, while Mo Zhe was invited into the main hall and served tea.

Before long, Zha Hu accompanied Huyan Wuhen inside. Mo Zhe immediately set down his teacup, rose, and cupped his hands. "This servant greets the Supreme General!"

Huyan Wuhen asked, "Does His Majesty have an edict?"

Mo Zhe replied respectfully, "No edict. But His Majesty did have this servant pass a message to the Supreme General."

Huyan Wuhen clasped his hands behind his back and walked up to him. "Speak."

Mo Zhe said, "An Taiping of the Tofu House is actually Yuan Gang, a trusted subordinate of Niu Youdao of Qingshan Commandery in Nanzhou, State of Yan."

Huyan Wuhen's tiger-like eyes tightened. Slowly, he turned to exchange a look with Zha Hu, who was equally surprised.

Huyan Wuhen said, "Could there be some misunderstanding? If he's a spy, why did he refuse to enter the Valiant Cavalry?"

Mo Zhe replied, "This servant doesn't know. His Majesty only instructed this servant to inform the Supreme General. How the matter is handled is entirely up to you."

Huyan Wuhen fell silent for a while before asking slowly, "Did His Majesty give any other instructions?"

"No. His Majesty only wanted to warn the Supreme General so you wouldn't suffer a loss. If the Supreme General has no other orders, this servant will return and report." Mo Zhe cupped his hands and took his leave.

Huyan Wuhen turned aside to clear the way and gestured for him to go. Then he told Zha Hu, "See him out for me."

"No need, no need." Mo Zhe hurriedly waved him off.

Zha Hu nevertheless escorted him all the way out through the main gates before returning. Huyan Wuhen stood silently in the hall.

When Zha Hu came back, he stepped closer and asked, "General, how do you intend to handle this?"

Huyan Wuhen stroked his beard in thought. "It's true that he deliberately approached the Huyan family, but he doesn't behave much like a spy. Nor have I seen him do anything harmful to the Huyan family."

"He hasn't done anything yet. That doesn't mean he never will." Zha Hu smiled. "Does the General still intend to use him?"

Huyan Wuhen said, "I even dare employ defeated generals from enemy states. Why wouldn't I dare use him, as long as he's willing to stay? Old Tiger, troops by the thousand are easy to obtain; one good general is hard to find. I've spent many years in the army. I don't misjudge men."

Zha Hu smiled without replying... The newly renovated western residence was perhaps the most luxurious courtyard in the entire Supreme General's Residence.

Huyan Wei returned with a dark expression, two cultivators following behind him. From the look of things, they were almost escorting him under guard.

"Oh? Haven't been up to anything good, have you?"

Hao Qingqing happened to emerge from the garden carrying a sword. Seeing his expression, she could not resist teasing him.

Huyan Wei did not even look at her. He went straight into the main hall, while the two cultivators remained outside in the courtyard.

"What happened?" Hao Qingqing asked the two of them.

One cultivator smiled and shook his head. "We don't know either. The Supreme General ordered us to keep watch on him. For the time being, he isn't allowed to contact anyone outside."

"Huh?" Hao Qingqing's curiosity was aroused. She turned and went into the main hall as well.

Huyan Wei was sitting inside, sullenly gulping tea.

"What's wrong? Which family's young lady offended you?"

Hao Qingqing sat nearby and mocked him.

Smash!

Huyan Wei seized the teacup and shattered it against the floor. "Stop bothering me!"

The abrupt outburst truly startled Hao Qingqing. But she was no one to swallow such treatment. If he smashed a cup, she immediately drew her sword with a clang and laid the blade across his neck.

"You're showing your temper to me now? Tired of living?"

A wise man did not court immediate disaster. Huyan Wei instantly softened. "Princess, what are you saying? I wasn't angry at you. I'm angry at that An Taiping. No, I should call him Yuan Gang. Damn it, he deceived me badly."

Hao Qingqing's bright eyes shifted.

She removed the sword from his neck. "Quickly. Tell me what happened."

Huyan Wei shook his head. "Ai, it's too aggravating. Better not to talk about it."

Swish!

Hao Qingqing thrust the sword against his chest. "Are you going to talk or not?"

This woman was always threatening him with a sword. Huyan Wei immediately became angry too. "What? If I don't talk, are you going to murder your own husband?"

Hao Qingqing chuckled. "The Supreme General's son? I wouldn't dare kill you casually. But I do dare poke a few holes in you."

As she spoke, she exerted force. The sword point instantly pierced his clothes.

"Hey, hey, hey! We can talk! We can talk!" Huyan Wei's attitude changed immediately, and he began pleading.

He knew this unruly woman truly was capable of anything.

Hao Qingqing stood over him, sword pressed to his chest. "Are you talking or not?"

Huyan Wei sighed. "It's genuinely aggravating. That An Taiping's real name is Yuan Gang. He's one of Commandery Prince Yongping Shang Chaozong's people from Qingshan Commandery in the State of Yan. He may be a spy. All this time, the Huyan family has treated him well, hasn't it? I truly regarded him as a brother, yet he deceived me like this. Father's people just questioned me about some related matters. That's when I learned Father has already begun making arrangements. Once everyone from the Tofu House closes their stalls and comes back, he's planning to sweep them all up in one net and arrest every last one. Father was afraid I'd lose my temper and give something away, so he had people keep watch on me..."

After listening, Hao Qingqing said disdainfully, "And here I thought it was something serious."

She gave a snort, sheathed her sword, and turned away.

"Bitch!" Huyan Wei cursed softly at her retreating back, then sat there sulking again.

Inside the study, Hao Qingqing paced back and forth for a while. In the end, she sat down, took up her brush, and wrote a letter.

After sealing it in an envelope, she summoned her maid and handed it over.

"Go to the Tofu House. Give this letter to its proprietor, An Taiping. Remember, you must place it in his own hands..."

At Fufang Garden, Mr. Yucang stood by the railing with a letter in his hand.

"Yuan Gang! If he deliberately approached Su Zhao, that means Niu Youdao already knows Su Zhao's identity."

Dugu Jing replied, "Most likely."

Mr. Yucang said, "For such a large hole to appear on our side, Elder Bai's indulgence cannot be separated from the blame. Didn't he say that if anything became implicated, he would personally clean it up? Give him this letter. Let him decide what to do."

"Yes!" Dugu Jing answered.

At the Tofu House, Yuan Gang likewise held a letter in his hand. It was the letter Hao Qingqing had sent someone to deliver. After reading it, Yuan Gang silently destroyed it. His mood was heavy.

Hao Qingqing had given him three days to withdraw. He had not expected his identity to be exposed after only two.

He understood why Hao Qingqing had sent this letter. Perhaps she wanted to prove that she had not been the one to inform on him. He looked around the Tofu House, which was much emptier than usual.

He had already withdrawn his brothers at first light that morning. Under the pretext of going out for training, he had sent them away before dawn had fully broken. The market stalls were left to other workers they had hired later.

There had not been enough hands to operate all the stalls, and Shopkeeper Gao had grumbled for quite a while.

As for why Yuan Gang himself had not left with them, there was another reason. He had been unable to make up his mind.

After seeing this letter, he understood there was no room left to delay. He had to decide.

Once his resolve was made, he quickly returned to his room, packed a few things to carry with him, and left the Tofu House at once. At the lakeshore, he boarded a boat and departed.

The small vessel cut through the waves all the way to the rear entrance of Among the White Clouds, where it stopped at the waterside pavilion. Yuan Gang disembarked, went straight inside, and found Su Zhao.

Su Zhao came out to receive him after hearing of his arrival, but before she could say anything, Yuan Gang glanced at Qin Mian, who was watching from not far away, and said quietly to Su Zhao, "Come with me."

Su Zhao did not know what he intended, but she followed him back to her bedchamber.

Once inside, Yuan Gang shut the door, took her by the arm, and quickly drew her farther into the room. Then he stared directly at her.

"What's wrong?" Su Zhao could tell something about him was different today.

Yuan Gang did not beat around the bush. He asked directly, "Are you willing to leave with me?"

Su Zhao was puzzled. "Where?"

"Leave Among the White Clouds. Come with me to Qingshan Commandery."

"..."

Su Zhao was speechless. The sudden mention of Qingshan Commandery touched one of the knots in her heart. She looked as though she wanted to speak but stopped herself.

Yuan Gang said, "My real name is Yuan Gang. Niu Youdao is my elder brother."

Su Zhao was shocked. She knocked his hand away and stared. "You... you're Yuan Gang?"

Naturally, she had heard of the man beside Niu Youdao.

Yuan Gang nodded. "I also know your true identity."

Su Zhao immediately understood something.

Grief and anger flooded her face. "You got together with me because you wanted to use me?"

"Yes." Yuan Gang did not evade the truth. "My identity has already been exposed. The Huyan family is preparing to act against me. I have to leave. Are you willing to come with me?"

Su Zhao bit her lower lip so hard her teeth whitened. She stared at him, grief in her voice. "If you've been deceiving me all this time, you still dare come here? Do you think I won't kill you?"

Yuan Gang said, "My identity has been exposed. Once I leave, Xiaoyue Pavilion will learn the truth sooner or later. That means they'll also learn that your identity has been exposed. Your situation will become very dangerous."

[End of Chapter 393]