Chapter 1464: Perfect Timing

Niu Youdao said, “We cannot evacuate everyone. That would alert the enemy. Yuan Se is right next door to the Prince’s residence. I refuse to believe Misty Pavilion pays no attention at all to what happens inside it. You do not need to worry about the Prince’s side. You should not make too many moves over there. I’ll have Hongniang arrange it.”

Only evacuate the Commandery Princess?

Yun Ji was slightly taken aback. It was difficult not to misunderstand. Had Master Dao finally been moved by the Commandery Princess’s deep devotion?

Then she thought again and felt that could not be right. The Commandery Princess’s looks were, frankly, difficult to compliment. A man like Master Dao was unlikely to have fallen for her. Could it be because of Yin’er?

That was probably it. They could not keep Yin’er beside them forever. Eventually, they would still need the Commandery Princess to watch over her. So nothing could be allowed to happen to Shang Shuqing.

What Yun Ji did not know was that the true reason was the hundred thousand Crow Generals. Shang Shuqing held command authority over those hundred thousand Crow Generals. Nothing could be allowed to happen to her.

Lü Wushuang, standing nearby, was somewhat surprised as well. She had sensed Niu Youdao’s special treatment of Shang Shuqing. She could not help sorting through what she remembered about the woman. In her memory, Shang Shuqing had been no more than a passing mention. Only now did Lü Wushuang realize this woman might be someone Misty Pavilion had overlooked.

...

Guan Fangyi visiting the Prince’s residence next door was perfectly ordinary. Yuan Se’s people had not stopped Maolu Annex from functioning normally. At least on the surface, they had no desire to create suspicions that were too obvious.

After Guan Fangyi returned from her visit, the relevant people inside the Prince’s residence quietly grew tense.

Shang Shuqing continued teaching normally at the schoolhouse, but inwardly every nerve was drawn taut.

Guan Fangyi had informed her that after the students were dismissed that afternoon, she was to remain at the schoolhouse. Yun Ji would come and take her away.

Shang Shuqing asked what had happened. Guan Fangyi revealed very little, saying only that this was Master Dao’s instruction and that Shang Shuqing should behave exactly as usual and reveal nothing unusual.

It was one part of a meticulous operation that had been planned for some time. Maolu Annex would cover Shang Shuqing’s evacuation. Yuan Fang would wait until Shang Shuqing had been safely moved before allowing the kitchen to serve Yuan Se’s evening meal.

Inside the Prince’s residence, Shang Chaozong personally pushed Meng Shanming’s wheelchair. The two appeared to be idly chatting about one thing and another, but inwardly they were just as tense.

Guan Fangyi had told them clearly that sometime that evening, a sudden upheaval might erupt at Maolu Annex next door. There might be an extremely violent fight. It should not last long, perhaps only a very short time, but it would be extraordinarily dangerous. They were to make preparations.

Master Dao’s meaning was that not everyone could evacuate. Otherwise, Misty Pavilion would inevitably become suspicious afterward, and the consequences of that would be countless times more serious than facing the coming battle.

Lan Ruoting had already left. His departure would not arouse suspicion because he often traveled outside handling all manner of administrative affairs. He needed only leave on ordinary business.

Princess Consort Feng Ruonan did not even know a major upheaval might occur. Arrangements had been made for her to take the child out for an excursion.

Meng Shanming could not leave. He rarely left this place, so departing at a moment like this would be too conspicuous.

Shang Chaozong remained as well. Even if something happened, he could not leave. Only if the most important figure remained would the situation appear normal.

According to the plan, the moment the two heard sounds of fighting, they were to enter the secret passage immediately and take shelter.

...

Across the whole of Nanzhou’s provincial capital, across the Prince’s residence and Maolu Annex, everything appeared completely normal.

Yet in places no one could see, tension was quietly brewing.

As evening drew steadily nearer, the oppressive feeling of an arrow already set to the bowstring weighed heavily on everyone involved.

Niu Youdao stood at the entrance to the hidden cave, gazing toward Nanzhou’s provincial capital.

Lü Wushuang paced silently inside. Yuan Gang held the Three-Roars Saber and carefully wiped the blade.

In an inn near Maolu Annex, the disguised Luo Qiu sat silently before a window, his eyes occasionally shifting toward the narrow crack left open between the shutters.

Inside the Hall of Martial Valor, Shang Chaozong and Meng Shanming entered together and began discussing military affairs.

From an upper pavilion, Guan Fangyi saw a lantern being hung beneath the corner of a roof in the direction of the schoolhouse. She knew Shang Shuqing was safe and had already been moved. She immediately turned and descended from the pavilion.

As she passed the courtyard by the kitchen, she saw Yuan Fang beneath the eaves. Guan Fangyi raised the round fan in her hand and casually covered her mouth with it as she walked past.

Yuan Fang saw the signal. He immediately turned into the kitchen and urged the monks of Nanshan Temple to speed up serving the dishes. Until then, they had deliberately worked without haste.

Consort Yuan moved around Maolu Annex inspecting the defensive arrangements. After returning to the residence where Yuan Se was staying, she found the four maidservants Chun, Xia, Qiu, and Dong, who were specifically responsible for checking Yuan Se’s food.

She deliberately instructed them, “Luo Qiu has been here before. We cannot be careless about the Sacred Venerable’s safety. Bring out all your poison-testing equipment now and check whether everything is in order.”

Each of the four immediately produced a small silver bottle she kept on her person and examined it on the spot.

For the sake of caution, Consort Yuan personally took each woman’s testing equipment and checked it herself. Once she confirmed there seemed to be no problem, she told them to put everything away.

After leaving, Consort Yuan headed toward the kitchen to inspect matters there. On the way, she touched her sleeve. Four small silver bottles were hidden inside. At an opportune moment, she went about tampering with what needed to be done.

After the four maidservants dispersed, Yuan Chun entered her own room and took the small silver bottle from her sleeve to inspect it. When she turned the bottle over and examined the bottom, her gaze suddenly sharpened and her expression became grave.

She left her room, made a circuit around the area, then went directly into the main room where Yuan Se was staying.

Yuan Se appeared to be fast asleep on a lounge chair. If one opened the Dharma Eye to look, however, spiritual power could be seen coiling around his body. This was actually one of his cultivation states.

The moment Yuan Chun entered, Yuan Se opened his eyes to narrow slits. When he saw it was her, he opened them fully and ended his cultivation with a smile.

Yuan Chun took out the small silver bottle and placed it on the tea table beside his chair. “Something may be about to happen.”

Yuan Se glanced at the little bottle. “What is it?”

“This is what I normally use to test for poison. Just now, Consort Yuan said Luo Qiu had been here before and that we needed to be especially cautious. She inspected the poison-testing equipment used by all four of us.”

Yuan Se’s smile did not change. “Is there a problem?”

“She inspected them in front of all four of us. At the time, nothing looked wrong. But after I took this bottle back, I noticed something was off. I deliberately marked the bottom of my bottle, and whenever it has ever left my person, I inspect it again afterward. The scratch that was on the bottom is gone.” Yuan Chun’s voice sank. “This is not mine. It was switched.”

Yuan Se reached out, picked up the silver bottle, and turned it over in his hand. His cheerful smile narrowed into a smiling squint. “You’re certain it was switched just now? The problem didn’t occur earlier?”

“I already told you. This thing almost never leaves my person. Whenever it does, I check it again. I used it during your previous meal, and until just now it had remained on me the entire time. No one else could have touched it.”

Yuan Se opened the bottle, examined its contents, and sniffed the scent inside. Finding nothing unusual, he sealed it again and returned it to the tea table. “Has she gone out recently?”

“Three times over the past few days. The length of time varied.”

“Where is she now?”

“She went toward the kitchen. She should be inspecting your evening meal.”

“Ah...” Yuan Se sighed, looking incomparably melancholy. “It shouldn’t be. At a time like this, there is no one besides Luo Qiu. Looks like Luo Qiu is already nearby. Logically, if he had an opening like this, there was no need to wait until now. Let us hope the two of us are thinking too much.”

Yuan Chun asked, “What do we do?”

“She has followed me for so many years. Perhaps it is only a misunderstanding.” Yuan Se spoke gently. “Go arrange the manpower. Put reliable people in position. If she truly has lost her senses... once she leaves this place and shows signs of fleeing, do not rush to act.”

“Catch a thief with the stolen goods; catch adulterers as a pair. Wait until the hand behind her reveals itself, then take her immediately.”

“Capture her alive if possible. I want to know why.”

“If there is no other choice, then alive, I want to see the person; dead, I want to see the corpse. In any case, she must absolutely not be allowed to escape.”

Yuan Chun hesitated. “If Luo Qiu really is behind this and she has him to rely on, I’m afraid we may not be able to capture her unless you personally act.”

Yuan Se chuckled. “You’re thinking too much. Luo Qiu’s target is me. He will have no attention to spare for her. The moment she succeeds, Luo Qiu will come straight at me. There is no possibility he will remain beside her.”

“She will not dare come back here either. She will certainly flee.”

“Luo Qiu’s main strength will also be directed at this place. There will not be any major force protecting her. So long as you position our people properly, prepared against unprepared, she will not get away.”

“Luo Qiu’s reaction has been far too calm. I still had some uncertainty in my heart and did not dare leave this place. I was just thinking of giving him a taste of something harsh so he would not dare act recklessly again.”

Yuan Se’s smile deepened.

“Perfect timing! She’ll be back soon. Don’t alert her. Go.”

Yuan Chun understood. She nodded, retrieved the little silver bottle, and left quickly.

Yuan Se slowly closed his eyes again. As though nothing had happened at all, he returned to his cultivation.

...

The evening meal was ready. Several monks carried food boxes and followed behind Yuan Fang.

Yuan Fang did not know the full plan. He did not even know what was about to happen. He only knew to act according to the instructions he had been given.

Knowing less had its advantages. Ignorance meant less fear. In that respect, Niu Youdao truly understood him.

The food boxes were delivered to the entrance of the small courtyard where Yuan Se was staying and stopped there.

Consort Yuan gestured. The four maidservants Chun, Xia, Qiu, and Dong took the food boxes and carried them to the dining room.

The monks never even entered the courtyard. Yuan Fang bowed and scraped as he led them away.

From an upper pavilion, Guan Fangyi watched everything. She turned to Old Six Xu and instructed him in a low voice, “The few of you keep your eyes fixed on that woman. If she leaves, tell me immediately.”

“All right.” Old Six Xu nodded and hurried away.

...

Yuan Se sat at the dining table and watched dish after delicious dish come out of the food boxes. He smiled cheerfully and nodded again and again. “Good, good.”

The four maidservants Chun, Xia, Qiu, and Dong carefully cross-checked every dish on the table.

In effect, every single dish was inspected four times by four different people.

Only after confirming there was no problem did the four women take the empty food boxes and withdraw outside.

Yuan Se showed no restraint. He picked up his chopsticks and began enjoying the food with gusto.

Consort Yuan watched from the side, occasionally pouring wine for him and occasionally stepping away.

After Yuan Se had eaten more than half the feast covering the table, she went out again.

This time, however, she did not merely leave the dining room.

She also left the entire courtyard.

[End of Chapter 1464]