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If her life truly hung in the balance, this little lass would surely know the gravity of the situation!
Indeed, after a brief spell of weeping, Princess Yang Ying finally steadied her emotions. She looked up at Wei Tingyu and spoke slowly, "I wish for my Imperial Brother to write an imperial decree, bestowing me upon you..."
"He had already agreed, but then all of a sudden..."
"But what?" Wei Tingyu sneered upon hearing this. He had already guessed the matter with an accuracy of eight or nine tenths. In the original plot, the Wudi Emperor had used the reputation of the Six Doors to threaten Ning Yuanzhou into saving him. Now, he was undoubtedly using Princess Yang Ying as a hostage to force Wei Tingyu to rescue him!
This fellow truly hadn't changed at all!
"Emperor Brother said he doesn't believe you would truly save him!" Yang Ying sniffled, then continued, "For you to take me as your wife... the Marquis must first rescue him and bring him back to Great Wu!"
"Alright, alright!" Wei Tingyu nodded, offering a few more words of comfort to the little princess, all the while a cold smirk played in his heart.
If the Wudi Emperor had simply written the decree, then Princess Yang Ying would be his woman, and the Emperor would be his brother-in-law! For her sake alone, Wei Tingyu would have done his utmost to rescue the man.
Yet, how could a person as consistently selfish and obstinate as the Emperor ever believe in the importance of emotional bonds? Thus, Wei Tingyu was not surprised in the slightest by this decision.
"I knew it all along. This matter was never going to be so simple," Wei Tingyu said with a laugh.
Of course, he had never truly cared for the decree or the so-called imperial marriage. He desired Yang Ying, and Yang Ying was willing to follow him; for Wei Tingyu, that was all that mattered. The princess's desire for the decree was merely to set her own heart at ease. Wei Tingyu's cooperation was born purely from his love and care for his woman.
"Marquis! I am so sorry..." Princess Yang Ying's heart was filled with guilt at this moment. She felt she had wronged Wei Tingyu, and her eyes welled up with tears once more. "I never imagined Imperial Brother would become like this..." Her heart was now filled with disappointment, and even contempt, for the Wudi Emperor. The towering image of her Imperial Brother she once held had completely shattered just a short while ago in the tower.
"He hasn't become this way," Wei Tingyu said, gently patting her slender back. "He has always been this way."
"He has always regarded the lives of others as worthless grass, while his own slightest discomfort outweighs Mount Tai."
"It seems that the bloody storm at Tianmen Pass did not make him grow in the least."
Princess Yang Ying was first stunned by Wei Tingyu's words, but deep down, she found herself agreeing. Even in the brief exchange she had with the Emperor in the tower, she had already seen through his true nature. Wei Tingyu was absolutely right!
And yet, this man was her own brother, they shared the same blood! A wave of self-loathing washed over Princess Yang Ying, and she feared Wei Tingyu would look down on her because of it.
But when she nervously looked up at him, she saw him looking back at her. Their eyes met, and she finally relaxed. In his gaze, there was only tenderness and affection, not a hint of disdain.
"Thankfully, this Marquis's little princess is not that kind of person!" Wei Tingyu, seeing her anxiety and worry, quickly spoke with a smile.
Hearing his words, Yang Ying truly let go of her fears. She closed her eyes and slowly rested her head on his shoulder.
...
The next day at noon, Wei Tingyu was enjoying his midday meal, attended to by the two maidens, Ren Ruyi and Yang Ying. Suddenly, a female Golden Shadow Guard entered to report.
"Madam! A person claiming to be from the Golden Sands Gang has just contacted us and asked us to deliver a message!" The female guard showed immense respect for Ren Ruyi, cupping her fist and bowing. "They ask that you step outside and look to the southwest!"
Princess Yang Ying turned her head to look at Ren Ruyi, her face filled with confusion. The jade pot she was using to pour wine for Wei Tingyu was forgotten, and the liquor spilled all over the table. As she scrambled to clean up with the help of a maid, Wei Tingyu followed Ren Ruyi to the veranda outside the great hall.
Together, they looked to the southwest. In the distance, on the eaves of an ornate building, hung four red lanterns and one white one.
"What is that?" Wei Tingyu blinked and asked.
"A secret signal from the Crimson Robe Guard," Ren Ruyi answered without a hint of hesitation, as she kept no secrets from Wei Tingyu. "Someone wishes to meet me at midnight tonight at the City South Earth God Temple."
Wei Tingyu nodded. It seemed the intelligence network of the Crimson Robe Guard was not to be underestimated. Ren Ruyi had caused a great stir at the Crimson Robe Guard's headquarters just yesterday, killing the current Left Envoy Chen Gui. Yet, they had already found her whereabouts and knew she was hidden in the courier station.
But then again, this was Andu, the capital, and the very heart of the Crimson Robe Guard's operations! Who knew how many of the merchants and common folk on the streets were their spies and informants?
"Has the serpent stirred?" Wei Tingyu had naturally anticipated this. He turned to Ren Ruyi and asked.
"Mm," Ren Ruyi nodded. "The chaos I caused yesterday was precisely to draw her out."
"It seems it is not Deng Hui, but Jialing."
Upon hearing Ren Ruyi's words, Wei Tingyu's heart stirred. Deng Hui was the commander of the Crimson Robe Guard, but based on the plot Wei Tingyu recalled, the one who set this trap was indeed not him.
As for Jialing... she was the Right Envoy of the Crimson Robe Guard, a beauty in her own right. She excelled at planning and assassination, but her martial prowess was a step below Ren Ruyi's. By all accounts, this woman was a talented individual, but her ambition was far too great. Wei Tingyu knew that no one could truly control her. She was like a venomous snake in slumber, ready to awaken at any moment and strike a fatal bite.
Furthermore, the enmity between her and Ren Ruyi was too deep, a blood feud that could only end in death. Thus, Wei Tingyu had no other thoughts regarding this woman.
...
At the stroke of midnight, in the old, dilapidated Earth God Temple south of Andu, Ren Ruyi appeared clad in a heroic, deep-red martial robe, her hair tied in a high ponytail. By all rights, she was already a married woman, though not yet formally wed to Wei Tingyu. As she was often engaged in combat, she had not yet styled her hair in a proper chignon.
The moment Ren Ruyi appeared, a woman in white robes slowly emerged from behind the temple. Seeing her face, Ren Ruyi was momentarily lost in a daze. It had been years since they last met, and the sight of her brought a strange, otherworldly sensation.
The newcomer was none other than Jialing, the current Right Envoy of the Crimson Robe Guard. From her appearance alone, she seemed like a dignified and graceful matron. However, Ren Ruyi's gaze was filled with caution. She knew the woman before her was a true viper, a heartless beauty. A single moment of carelessness could mean her death.
"It truly is you!" Jialing said, her expression betraying no surprise or emotion. She simply stared at Ren Ruyi and spoke in a soft, gentle voice, "Left Envoy Ren!" Her voice was like a gentle breeze and a fine drizzle, so soft that an ordinary person would never detect the hidden killing intent within.
"You don't remember me? I am Lin Ji!" Seeing that Ren Ruyi was merely staring without speaking, Jialing forced a slightly pained smile. "But now, I am the Right Envoy!"
"My new name is Jialing," she continued, as Ren Ruyi remained silent. "Because I no longer wish for others to call me by a heavenly stem or earthly branch designation."
"Did you specially summon me here just to reminisce?" Ren Ruyi's heart was filled with cold mockery. The woman's pathetic expression had no effect on her.
"I came alone because I wanted to confess something to you," Jialing said, seeing that Ren Ruyi was unmoved. Her expression turned to one of deep sorrow, and she spoke softly. She then lifted her skirt and slowly knelt before Ren Ruyi.
"It was I who betrayed the Wudu branch of the Six Doors and issued the order for their extermination!" Jialing looked at Ren Ruyi and confessed directly. However, Ren Ruyi did not react with anger or madness as Jialing had anticipated. Instead, she stared at the woman with a serene expression, as if looking at a lifeless stone.
"It was the superior's order! I had no choice but to obey!" After these eight words, Jialing stood up again.
"Are you saying... Deng Hui threatened your life, forcing you to betray dozens of your comrades?" Ren Ruyi's voice was still icy, but her eyes began to sharpen.
"It was a vow of loyalty!" Jialing replied with a bitter smile. "If I didn't burn my bridges, how could Deng Hui ever believe that I would willingly submit to him?"
"You've investigated his past, haven't you?"
"His father was killed by a White Sparrow!"
"He despises the Crimson Robe Guard! But the Emperor, fearing the Crimson Robe Guard would grow too powerful... still appointed him to be in charge!"
Jialing began to pace, even turning her back to Ren Ruyi, as if completely defenseless.
"Ah-Xin! When he hinted that I should take three thousand gold from the money meant for bribing the eunuch Hu, and kill the Wudu branch to silence them..."
"I was terrified! I had no choice but to follow his orders!"
"If I were still alone, it would have been different... but now..." Jialing gently placed a hand on her lower abdomen as she spoke.
Only then did Ren Ruyi notice that beneath the woman's loose robes, her belly was slightly swollen.
"You're pregnant?" Ren Ruyi's gaze hardened, and she frowned.
"Yes," Jialing replied, looking a little embarrassed. "Only four months..."
"The Crimson Robe Guard forbids private affairs, so I've had to hide it by binding my belly..."
"Enough!" Ren Ruyi cut her off. She looked directly at Jialing. "All you are saying is to try and sway me!"
"You know I have never killed a pregnant woman before!"
Jialing's expression faltered at being interrupted, but she quickly returned to her sorrowful look. "It's more than that! Do you know why His Majesty believes you killed the Late Empress?"
Seeing a spark of curiosity in Ren Ruyi's eyes, Jialing pressed on. "It was Deng Hui! At the time, he was the commander of the Emperor's Flying Flag Battalion!"
"He bribed the Late Empress's personal maid, Abi, to testify that you were the one who gave the Empress the wicked idea to threaten the Emperor with her own death, forcing him to name the Second Prince as Crown Prince! That's why the Empress went up to the Invitation Moon Pavilion!"
"The Emperor believed you were the one who sowed discord and had you thrown into the death prison without a second thought!"
"Impossible! I don't believe it!" Hearing this, the cold indifference on Ren Ruyi's face finally cracked a little.
"I swear upon the child in my belly! Not a single word is false!" Jialing seized the opportunity and pleaded.
At this, Ren Ruyi's expression softened further, seemingly convinced by Jialing's words.
"Ah-Xin! The Emperor is leaving the palace to burn incense today, and our Crimson Robe Guard has people among the guards!"
"Come with me to expose Deng Hui and clear your name, won't you?" Jialing took the chance to speak with sincerity, even offering to help Ren Ruyi prove her innocence.
"Where is the Emperor burning incense?" Ren Ruyi finally nodded, her faith in Jialing seemingly restored.
"Nanda Temple!" Jialing immediately replied, a joyous expression on her face. It was as if the misunderstandings between the two "sisters" had been resolved after so many years, and her heart was filled with delight.
...
On the road outside the city, Ren Ruyi and Jialing galloped on their horses, soon arriving at a three-way fork. Both women reined in their steeds simultaneously.
"Take this road," Ren Ruyi said, raising her chin and gesturing to the left. This particular path was a bit further from Nanda Temple and would undoubtedly take more time.
"You still don't trust me!" Jialing wore a wronged expression, as if her dear friend had misunderstood her, but she merely smiled helplessly. "You think I've laid an ambush for you? So be it!"
Ren Ruyi said nothing, simply pulling on her horse's reins and heading left. Jialing sighed and followed behind.
They rode in silence, one after the other, soon crossing a river and arriving at a shallow bank.
"Whoa!" The two women reined in their horses almost at the same time, their eyes turning to gaze into the distance. The lights of Nanda Temple, nestled among the mountain ridges, were faintly visible.
"Nanda Temple is just ahead!" Jialing said, turning to Ren Ruyi with a light and cheerful tone.
Ren Ruyi merely nodded, her eyes scanning the shallow bank before her. Tall grass grew everywhere, rustling softly in the evening breeze. This was indeed an excellent place for an ambush.
Thinking this, Ren Ruyi's eyes flashed, and she drew her sword, stabbing directly at Jialing beside her.
Jialing was startled, but her martial arts were not weak. She turned her head, narrowly dodging the blow, then leapt from her horse to create distance between them.
Ren Ruyi would not let her escape so easily. She too dismounted and gave chase, and the two women began to fight on the shallow bank. After a few exchanges, Jialing risked a maneuver, allowing Ren Ruyi's blade to slice a gash in her skirt just to create an opening and retreat a few paces.
"How did you see through my ruse?" Jialing, now at a safe distance, frowned and asked. By now, she knew she had been exposed, and this was the ambush she had meticulously planned. Since Ren Ruyi was already in the trap, there was no longer any need to keep up the pretense.
"First, the road I just led you down was lined with oleander flowers."
"Oleander is a plant most feared by pregnant women, yet you made no move to avoid them."
"This can only mean one thing! You are not pregnant at all!"
Ren Ruyi took slow, deliberate steps toward Jialing, speaking as she went.
"Second, you spoke of your pitiful plight, but you forgot one thing..."
"If you were merely forced to act against the Wudu branch, there would have been no need to hunt me down all this time! Nor would I have had to fake my death to escape your pursuit!"
Jialing subconsciously retreated as Ren Ruyi closed in, maintaining the distance between them. However, she could not refute Ren Ruyi's words, for she now realized her recent lies were indeed riddled with holes.
"Third, back at the Invitation Moon Pavilion, it was you who led the assault on me, claiming you would leave me a whole corpse!"
"I, Ren Xin, have never, and will never, trust my enemies!"
The moment Ren Ruyi finished her resolute words, a short sword shot out from the nearby grass, flying directly toward Jialing.