Chapter One Hundred Fourteen: Reinforcements

Jiang Li had no time to spare for the commands of Feng Yutang and Princess Yongning. She was no fool; having dealt with the princess in her past life, she knew full well that Yongning would hunt her down without mercy. The title of "daughter of the Chief Minister" might have intimidated Tong Zhiyang or Feng Yutang, but it meant nothing to Yongning. They would eventually attempt to kill her, but for now, the priority was to ensure the safety of Peng Xiao and his men. Time was running out; two days of their seven-day window had already passed.

The secret chamber Jiang Li spoke of was hidden within an abandoned, "haunted" farmhouse in Tongxiang. An underground tunnel lay beneath the farmhouse, its entrance concealed by a stone wall along the lake, masked by thick, wild grasses that made it invisible to outsiders.

Ye Mingyu settled Peng Xiao and his companions in the chamber, arranging for them to have fresh clothes and food. While Peng Xiao and He Jun were merely weak, Gu Da and Gu Er were in poor condition, and Xiao Hei was the worst off. When Ye Mingyu followed Jiang Li’s instructions to summon Doctor Zhong, the physician shook his head repeatedly.

Ye Mingyu had brought along the doctor’s only son and offered the man five hundred taels of silver. He promised that if the doctor could save Xiao Hei and the others, he would arrange for their safe passage out of Tongxiang and provide an additional fifteen hundred taels—enough for them to establish a new life elsewhere.

In a small county like Tongxiang, the common folk had never seen such a fortune. Moreover, Ye Mingyu’s scarred, menacing face terrified the doctor, who, motivated by both fear and the promise of wealth, poured all his efforts into tending to Xiao Hei.

While Xiao Hei, Gu Da, and Gu Er rested, Jiang Li stepped outside to speak with the others.

Ye Mingyu sat on a stone near the chamber entrance. "Ah Li, you found a great spot. Even if Feng Yutang dug three feet into the earth, he’d never find a place like this. It even has stone tables and stools; I wonder who left them here?"

Who had left them? Naturally, it was Xue Zhao. In those days, Xue Zhao had been obsessed with tales of the strange and the supernatural, often saying, "One day, just like in these stories, we’ll find a fallen hero being hunted by the authorities and hide him here. No one will ever find him, and he’ll teach me martial arts. In three or five years, I’ll be a great hero! No one will dare cross me. If anyone dares to touch a hair on your head, sister, I’ll—I'll make them kneel and beg for mercy with one swing of my sword!"

The carefree laughter of the youth seemed to echo in the deep, silent chamber. It was a prophecy fulfilled; years later, they were truly hiding people hunted by the authorities, but there was no Xue Zhao left to learn the martial arts.

Jiang Li pulled herself back to reality, meeting the gazes of Peng Xiao and his men. "I heard about this place by chance. It is safe for now; at least for the next seven days, Feng Yutang’s men will not find it. Once those seven days pass, everything will change."

"Second Miss Jiang, thank you," Peng Xiao said. He now knew Jiang Li’s identity and understood some of what she had been doing in Tongxiang. Though he still did not fully grasp why she was so dedicated to clearing the Xue family’s name, the five survivors who had been lucky enough to escape all trusted her.

Perhaps "trust" was too strong a word; it was more a desperate willingness to believe. Like drowning men catching hold of a piece of straw, they swam toward it with all their might, refusing to believe it might be a mirage. To them, Xue Huaiyuan was not just a superior, but a mentor. They would seize any chance to save him.

"What can we do?" He Jun asked.

Jiang Li looked at He Jun. She had once thought him too weak for a government post, but after everything they had endured, he seemed to have grown up overnight. This young man, who used to beg Xue Fangfei for books to read, was now gritting his teeth to fight for the justice he believed in. They could do little, but staying alive was their way of refusing to submit to fate.

And fate still offered a chance to turn the tables.

"The Xue family case can only be handled by Feng Yutang in Tongxiang. As long as he is in charge, even a favorable case will be twisted against them. You know yourselves that Feng Yutang deliberately sent Assistant Magistrate Xue to prison. Therefore, this case cannot stay in his hands. I have thought it over: the only way to create room for maneuvering is to implicate Feng Yutang himself and have the case transferred to the Grand Court of Revision."

Peng Xiao and He Jun exchanged a look. "You want us to testify against Feng Yutang?"

Dealing with intelligent people was easy. Jiang Li nodded. "Exactly. I thought it might be difficult to get you to testify, especially since he could easily cover up the fact that he tortured you in private. But Feng Yutang made a fatal mistake by sending you to the Dongshan mines. He is walking toward his own destruction, and no one can stop him."

"What does that mean?" Ye Mingyu interjected. "If not for his brutality, what are we testifying about?"

"Testify that he has been mining gold privately without reporting it to the imperial court. Everyone knows Dongshan is an abandoned mine and that no gold could be extracted, but that was over a decade ago. Many have forgotten. If we spread the rumor that there is gold to be found, and that Feng Yutang has been secretly dispatching men to mine it behind the court’s back, his charges will be grave."

He Jun murmured, "Private mining is a capital offense punishable by the extermination of one’s entire clan..."

"Everything under heaven belongs to the Emperor. To steal from the people is one thing, but to steal from the Son of Heaven is a crime that deserves no mercy," Jiang Li said with a faint smile. "Furthermore, this Magistrate Feng seems to have a powerful backer. The waters in Yanjing are murky. Who knows what he intended to do with that gold? If such a vast fortune were used to raise an army, it would reek of treason. Treason is a matter of state, far too large to be settled in a tiny place like Tongxiang. An appeal directly to the throne would be more than justified."

Ye Mingyu was stunned, and He Jun and Peng Xiao were left speechless.

In just a few short sentences, Jiang Li had elevated Feng Yutang’s crimes to the level of treason. Yet, everything she said held weight. They finally witnessed how words could kill without drawing a drop of blood.

"Exactly," He Jun said, gritting his teeth with a bitter, vindictive joy. "Their crimes are too numerous to recount. Calling it treason is letting them off easy. Second Miss Jiang, you are absolutely right! Feng Yutang forced all fifteen of us to mine for gold. When the time comes, we will serve as witnesses to his wild ambitions! He wanted the gold but feared discovery, so he used us, the subordinates of Magistrate Xue, to do his dirty work. Working day and night without rest—if we died, there was no one to collect our bodies. It was the perfect way to keep his secret!"

Jiang Li smiled. He Jun had truly grown up. Facing an enemy, he realized that not every honorable method worked, though his maturity made her heart ache.

Peng Xiao said in a deep voice, "It is not just us, but the ten brothers who died. The Magistrate was always kind to us. We fifteen were all orphans, but we had wives and children. Now, they have been tortured to death by Feng Yutang, their bodies thrown in the wilderness of Dongshan to be eaten by dogs. Some of them had just married, or had newborn sons... I, Peng Xiao, will risk my life to avenge my brothers!"

The tall man did not shed a tear, but every word was etched in blood. Ye Mingyu felt his own heart surge. "Count me in! That bastard Feng Yutang has done enough evil to deserve retribution. If Heaven won't punish him, then I, by God, will!"

Perhaps when hearts are united, things that seemed difficult at first no longer seem impossible.

"But..." He Jun paused, composing himself before looking at Jiang Li. "We are accusing Feng Yutang, but what about our Magistrate?" He remained fixated on Xue Huaiyuan.

"The charges against Assistant Magistrate Xue are utter nonsense. As for the accusation of embezzling relief funds, the people of Tongxiang can testify otherwise. During the disaster, the money was distributed directly to the people. Xue Huaiyuan never touched a single coin."

"We all know that," Peng Xiao lowered his head. "But the problem is, no one in Tongxiang is willing to stand up."

"And you can't blame them," He Jun added. "Feng Yutang uses their families as leverage. Everyone is afraid to testify for the Magistrate. Second Miss Jiang, ever since Feng Yutang became the county magistrate, he has been a tyrant. The people are furious but dare not speak. He is a thug at heart, and his methods are so vile that no one dares to take the risk."

"I know," Jiang Li said softly. "I do not blame them." In truth, it was the same for her; if she were asked to plead for a good man at the cost of the lives of Xue Huaiyuan and Xue Zhao, she would hesitate too. Human nature is such; one does not feel the pain until the blade cuts one's own skin.

"Then what do we do?" Ye Mingyu scratched his head.

"Although the people have their reasons, we need them to stand up. I know it is dangerous, but there is no other way. This is the state of the world—justice now comes at a price. Only if the people step forward can they become the final straw that breaks the camel's back. I want to ensure the villains who framed the Xue family suffer, even if it doesn't kill them, I will make them pay a heavy price!" Jiang Li’s tone grew heavy, a fire burning in her eyes before she calmed herself.

"I will do it. There are five hundred and sixty-eight households in Tongxiang. I will persuade them myself. There are five days left. Every single household has received some kindness from Assistant Magistrate Xue. A drop of water received should be repaid with a spring. Though he never asked for repayment, the time has come to give it. People have hearts. I will knock on every door, ask every family. I do not believe that among five hundred and sixty-eight households, not one will be willing to stand up." She looked at them. "There will be at least one, right?"

They were all silent.

Jiang Li’s eyes held expectation. She was usually gentle and composed, even when dealing with urgent matters, making her seem unhurried. She rarely showed her own emotions, and this look of hopeful anticipation was something Ye Mingyu had never seen before.

Now he had.

In this moment, she looked like a true young girl, full of hope for something good to happen. Anyone who shattered this delicate expectation would be committing an unforgivable sin.

Peng Xiao said, "Yes, there will be more than one. Many more. The people of Tongxiang are not ungrateful. Second Miss Jiang, do not underestimate them."

Jiang Li’s lips curled up. "I won't. I have always believed in them."

Just as her father had believed in them.

...

Leaving the chamber, Jiang Li and Ye Mingyu walked back.

Ye Mingyu said, "Ah Li, when you go to persuade the people, let me come with you. I’m afraid you won’t be able to handle it alone. Five hundred and sixty-eight households is no small number."

Jiang Li thought for a moment. "Uncle, you don’t know what kind of kindness they received from Magistrate Xue, so you might not be able to persuade them. How about I write it down in a booklet for you to read first?"

Ye Mingyu was stunned. "You actually know what kindness they each received?"

"In a way," Jiang Li smiled. She and Xue Zhao had often felt that Xue Huaiyuan was a rare, truly kind man. Whenever anyone in Tongxiang was in trouble, he would help. When Tongxiang was poor and no one wanted to come here, Xue Huaiyuan arrived and never once thought of leaving. In his eyes, every citizen of Tongxiang was his kin. As a parent-official, it was his duty to solve their problems; if they couldn't rely on him, they had no one left to rely on.

In the past, she had thought that having a clear conscience was enough, but now she felt a bit lost, wondering if all the things Xue Huaiyuan did had truly been meaningful.

If only Xue Zhao were here, Jiang Li thought. He would surely understand her current confusion and know how to comfort her heart in the shortest amount of time.

The carriage circumvented the road Jiang Li had taken and returned to the main path. She had changed back into her original attire. Feng Yutang must have discovered that the people from Dongshan had been taken and was likely searching for them in a frenzy. Her disguise could not last long, so she might as well appear openly. Feng Yutang knew it was her people who had taken Peng Xiao, but he would never find them, and he would not dare to pressure her directly for their location. She felt secure in this.

Sitting in the carriage, Jiang Li thought intently about what to do next. Night had fallen before she realized it.

The day had been intense, yet time had flown by. Jiang Li felt more and more that time was insufficient. Two days of the seven had passed; she wondered if the remaining five would be enough.

She lifted the carriage curtain. Winter nights fell quickly. Tongxiang was never bustling at night, but now, perhaps because of Feng Yutang’s rule, the streets were deserted. Every house was locked and dark, making the town look like a ghost city. The sound of the carriage wheels on the street echoed with striking clarity.

Ye Mingyu grumbled outside, "Why is there not a single soul around?"

As the wind blew a corner of the curtain, Jiang Li’s heart suddenly leaped.

After turning a corner, they reached Qingshi Lane. It was a familiar street, yet an ominous premonition suddenly flooded her heart. She called out, "Uncle!"

"What is it, Ah—" Before Ye Mingyu could finish her name, a cold, whistling sound cut through the air. His reflexes were swift; without thinking, he drew his sword and parried. A loud "clang" rang out as blades clashed.

Shadows leaped from the eaves, moving with incredible speed, blending into the darkness. They lunged toward the carriage from all sides, their sword tips aimed straight at Jiang Li!

"Protect the Second Miss!" Ye Mingyu barely had time to shout before he was tangled in a fight with the black-clad assassins.

Jiang Li’s heart sank. She had anticipated that Yongning would order Feng Yutang to kill her, but she had not expected it to happen so soon! Setting aside the time it took for news to travel from Yanjing to Tongxiang, she had expected Feng Yutang to hesitate at least a little out of fear for her father’s status.

But one should never underestimate a villain. Feng Yutang, like his mistress Yongning, was born bold and ruthless. Perhaps he believed Princess Yongning would keep him safe, which was why he dared to act so brazenly!

Jiang Li looked out, her heart sinking further. Yongning had truly made a grand gesture. Their party consisted of only seven people, while Yongning’s men numbered over twenty. Among them, a few were clearly highly skilled, keeping Ye Mingyu busy, while the others pinned down the rest of her guards. They kept lunging toward the carriage; their target was her!

This could not go on! Jiang Li realized their goal was her, not Ye Mingyu. If the fight dragged on, Ye Mingyu would be in danger. Without hesitation, she jumped out of the carriage. Ye Mingyu was startled and shouted, "Ah Li, get back!"

"I’m fine, Uncle!" Jiang Li was as swift as a flash of lightning. She drew a dagger from her sleeve, cut the carriage ropes, leaped onto the horse, grabbed the reins, and galloped off into the darkness.

She vanished in the blink of an eye.

Seeing Jiang Li flee on horseback, the assassins abandoned their fight with Ye Mingyu to pursue her. Ye Mingyu would not let them succeed, but there were too many of them, and some managed to slip away, following Jiang Li’s trail.

On horseback, Jiang Li’s mind became clearer the more dangerous the situation became. She knew that panic led to mistakes, and she possessed a trump card others lacked: her familiarity with Tongxiang.

She realized the assassins were split into two groups. The smaller, highly skilled group belonged to Yongning, while the larger, less skilled group were the ruffians Feng Yutang had hired. The ones now closing in on her were clearly the Princess’s men.

After all, killing her was their mission.

Jiang Li smiled slightly as her horse skillfully leaped over the forest path. In the night, the moon was gradually obscured by thick clouds, leaving everything in shadow.

Yet, she moved through the woods as if she could see perfectly.

She grew up in Tongxiang; this was her home. She had watched Xue Zhao hunt here and knew that the key to hunting was to lure the prey into a trap, bit by bit. Every tree and every patch of earth was a natural barrier and a source of courage.

As the sound of pursuit drew closer, she could almost feel a shining silver sword hovering at her throat, ready to take her life in an instant.

But she simply hopped lightly over a patch of grass and stopped.

*Plop. Plop. Plop.*

Three sounds.

It was the sound of heavy objects sinking into water, followed by strange curses and panicked cries for help.

Jiang Li stopped and laughed softly on the other side of the grass.

The calm grass had become a hidden marsh, as if something thick and flowing had swallowed them whole. Figures struggled within.

"Stop struggling," Jiang Li said slowly. "This is the most dangerous marsh in the area. The more you struggle, the faster you sink."

The moon peeked out from the clouds. Her dress was stained with the mud of the forest, but her face was unnervingly clean. She spoke with a gentle, smiling tone, though her words were chilling. "Oh my, I just noticed that you’ve already sunk halfway. There’s no saving you now. Even if someone came, they couldn't pull you out; they would only be dragged down with you." She covered her mouth and sighed. "How pitiful."

The assassins in black glared at her with fury, but they were already waist-deep. One man had his face half-submerged; his struggle had caused the marsh to cover his mouth, and it was about to reach his nose. Terror filled his eyes.

The experience of waiting for death while alive was truly agonizing. Jiang Li might as well have given them a sword to make it quick, but she clearly lacked such mercy. She turned, mounted her horse, and left the marsh.

Xue Huaiyuan had once strictly forbidden her and Xue Zhao from playing near this forest because of the marsh. But Xue Zhao, being mischievous, had considered it a natural trap. They had set many snares here to catch prey. Had Feng Yutang’s assassins not appeared so suddenly, it would have been easy for her to have Ye Mingyu set a proper trap for them. Like in war, strategy could sometimes overcome brute force.

Only three—what a pity.

Jiang Li rode back, planning to take a different route to return safely to Ye Mingyu. She wondered how he was faring.

The horse took a few steps, then suddenly stopped, its front hooves pawing the air as if it sensed danger.

In the bright moonlight, under the trees, dozens of black-clad figures emerged, surrounding her in a circle.

"The Second Miss is truly capable," the leader sneered. "No wonder the Madam sent so many of us. I thought it was overkill, but now I see we underestimated you."

Madam? Jiang Li frowned. "Ji Shuran?"

The man didn't answer, but Jiang Li understood instantly. It was indeed Ji Shuran.

She had known that upon returning to Xiangyang, Ji Shuran would inevitably plot against her. In Ji Shuran’s eyes, she was a stumbling block that had to be removed. But she hadn't expected Ji Shuran’s people to be so patient, waiting for her and Feng Yutang’s men to exhaust each other before striking.

*That was my mistake,* Jiang Li thought calmly.

There were ten or so of them, and she was alone. She had no weapon other than the short dagger in her sleeve, which was useless against such odds. She had nothing to distract them with, and after seeing their comrades sink into the marsh, these men would be even more vigilant.

Fate loved to play tricks, showing a broad, sunny road only to reveal that the path was doomed.

"Second Miss, don't look around for another escape plan," the leader said with a strange, malicious glee. "The Madam told us to use every method to torture you before killing you. But since you are so pure, beautiful, and brave, we hate to use such terrible methods. How about we choose something... more comfortable?"

The assassins around him burst into disgusting laughter. Jiang Li didn't need to guess what vile things they were thinking.

In an instant, she was transported back to that afternoon at the Shen household. That same feeling of humiliation and indignation had consumed her for the half-year she had spent on the brink of death. It had turned her life upside down, and these men had dredged up those sickening memories.

Jiang Li’s gaze deepened. She sneered, "Do you think you’ve already won? Do you think I have no other plans?"

The leader laughed again. "I know you’re just trying to buy time. But Uncle Ye is already injured, and Feng Yutang’s men are pinning him down. Besides, your horse ran too fast, and Uncle Ye’s horse doesn't know the way—he doesn't know about this forest and won't find you. Here, it’s just us, and you."

He spoke with extreme arrogance. Jiang Li was right; she could navigate the forest to lead the assassins into a trap, but even if Ye Mingyu escaped his pursuers, he could not find her—Tongxiang was completely foreign to him.

But Jiang Li only smiled. "Who said I was looking for Uncle Ye?"

The man froze.

Her voice, clear and tinged with an unreadable amusement, echoed through the forest.

"Duke, you’ve watched the show for long enough. Won't you come out and join us?"

***

*Ah Li: Surprised? Excited? Thrilled?*
*Assassin: ...*
*Happy Dragon Boat Festival! Remember to eat your zongzi!*