How Dare You?! 成何体统 (Cheng He Ti Tong)
By 七英俊 Qi Ying Jun
Translation by Spider
I no longer have a hometown; you are my hometown. That’s what I planned back then.
But I never expected this day would come so soon. I had hoped to take down Prince Duan for you. Tomorrow, I will do my best. If I succeed, your burden will be lighter. If I fail, follow the instructions on the last piece of paper, and you should be able to escape.
After that, you will have to go on alone. The road is long and dangerous; be very careful.
Although I have told you many lies, this sentence is not one of them: You are the most formidable and courageous person I’ve met in these two lifetimes. You will definitely have the last laugh and carve out a path to clarity and peace.
When that time comes, if you can forgive me, have a hot pot together on holidays. Consider it my way of accompanying you.
Zhang San
…
In addition to this, there was a page full of writing in the envelope, and a small item.
After finishing the last word, the evening sun had completely disappeared from the sky. A guard pulled vines to cover the entrance of the cave and softly advised her to rest early.
She tucked the letter into her bosom against her chest and lay down fully clothed for the night. The mountain night was cold, and gradually she felt the chill starting from her feet, eventually freezing her into a stiff, cold stone. Afraid she might not wake up if she slept, she kept her eyes open and silently counted. She heard the slight movements of the guards changing shifts, as well as the mournful cry of a fox in the distance.
The next morning, they set out again, finding a small stream to wash away the blood stains on her body. She was already dressed in men’s clothes, likely changed by Xiahou Dan for her escape. The bundle also contained her usual disguise tools, spare clothes, flint knife, and other necessities.
Yue Wanyin applied makeup using the stream water, stuck on a beard, and stood on the bank to light the letter, watching it curl up in flames, turn into scattered ashes, and flow away with the current.
She noticed out of the corner of her eye that several guards were looking at her hesitantly, only then realising that she hadn’t said a word since finishing the letter last night.
She cleared her dry throat. “How are your injuries?”
The guards all replied, “Just minor wounds, all healed.”
“Mm. We need to reach a populated area to inquire about the situation in the capital.”
Seeing her calm demeanour, the Shadow Guards stopped insisting on returning to the capital and felt a sense of relief. One quickly said, “My Lady, we are under orders to protect you. The current situation is unpredictable. As long as Prince Duan remains alive, the three border armies he has positioned will continue to converge here to suppress the Imperial Guards and help him seize power. These three forces are coming from the north, east, and south. I suggest we find a gap before they join forces. “
“We head south,” Yu Wanyin said, lifting her bundle and starting off.
The Shadow Guard was stunned but quickly caught up to carry her bundle. “My Lady, the southern direction is where the Right Army is coming from.”
Yu Wanyin, without looking back, said, “We head south to Peiyang. This is the Emperor’s instruction.”
Peiyang was a small, unremarkable town with nothing particularly notable about its location. The Shadow Guard couldn’t fathom why they needed to go there. Could it be that Xiahou Dan had arranged reinforcements there? But if there were reinforcements, they should have been used yesterday. Why wait until now?
Yu Wanyin kept her thoughts to herself, continuing her brisk pace. “Thank you all for escorting me. Is there any food?”
She took the dry rations handed to her, chewing and swallowing them as she walked, forcing herself to eat.
The Shadow Guards exchanged worried glances behind her. Not knowing the contents of the letter, they couldn’t tell if giving it to her in advance was a mistake.
They travelled in silence for half a day, eventually spotting some scattered villages ahead.
Apart from their group, there were hardly any people on the road, and those they did see were hurried and looked like startled birds.
The Shadow Guard tried to talk to some villagers, but upon seeing strangers, the villagers instead asked them for news. Both sides were equally clueless, exchanging bits of information only to learn that the capital had been in chaos yesterday with blood flowing like rivers. Today, the city was sealed and deathly silent. The villagers couldn’t say who had won or lost, or even who was fighting whom.
By evening, Yu Wanyin began feeling waves of cold, becoming increasingly dizzy and unable to walk. She belatedly touched her forehead, finding it burning hot.
The Shadow Guards panicked, but she remained expressionless. “It’s nothing. I just need to sleep it off. We can’t go to an inn, or our whereabouts will be exposed. Find us a place to stay.”
After another half a mile, the sky grew dark, and they saw a flicker of firelight from within a courtyard ahead.
A Shadow Guard knocked on the door, and an old woman with swollen eyes answered, “Who is it?”
The Shadow Guard smiled apologetically, “Good madam, we were on our way to the capital to visit relatives, but our belongings were stolen on the road. We heard the capital is in turmoil and can’t go any further. Now, one of our companions has fallen ill. We have some money left and would like to buy some food.”
He handed her a handful of copper coins.
The old woman sighed, “Come in. We’re all suffering people. Many families in the village have been robbed recently. It seems there’s a formidable thief around…”
Muttering, she led them inside. The Shadow Guards supported Yu Wanyin as they followed her in, discovering the firelight came from a clay basin in the courtyard. The old woman led them into a room, then returned to the courtyard and added some paper money to the fire.
The Shadow Guard asked, “Good madam, what is this for…?”
The old woman shook her head without turning around, sobbing quietly. An old man emerged from the inner room, whispering, “Her brother lived near Mount Bei. Yesterday, he got caught in Prince Duan’s rebellion. In the chaos, he went missing.”
Yu Wanyin’s heart skipped a beat. She asked hoarsely, “Did Prince Duan succeed in his rebellion?”
The old man shook his head repeatedly, “The messenger only said many people died, mostly Imperial Guards. He couldn’t tell us anything else.”
Yu Wanyin’s vision darkened, and she swayed on her feet.
Mostly Imperial Guards dead…
It could either mean internal conflict within the guards or that Prince Duan had hidden troops. Either way, Xiahou Dan was in grave danger.
A Shadow Guard quickly supported her. “Sir, we apologise for the inconvenience, but our companion is very ill. Could you please cook some noodles for her?”
Moments later, they were gulping down bowls of noodles under the dim light of an oil lamp.
This peasant household seemed to be quite well off, as Yu Wanyin’s bowl even had an egg in it. She drank a few mouthfuls of the hot soup, her trembling hands steadying themselves and her sluggish mind slowly starting to work again.
If Prince Duan had won, Xiahou Dan might already be dead or could be imprisoned in the palace, awaiting his death to ensure Prince Duan’s smooth ascension. They could only hope for the latter.
The old woman finished burning the paper, returned inside, and wiped her tears. She cursed, “That damn Prince Duan! Even Heaven can’t tolerate him, causing earthquakes to get rid of him.”
“Keep your voice down,” the old man cautioned in a low voice. “And what kind of good thing is the Emperor? The old folks always said, earthquakes mean the ruler lacks virtue! That tyrant even killed the Empress Dowager…”
Yu Wanyin’s chopsticks paused in her hand.
The old woman said, “Are we certain the Empress Dowager was killed by him? How can we possibly understand the affairs of the royal family?”
The old man waved his hand dismissively. “Old woman, you know little. I’m not going to argue with you.”
“I might know little, but did my brother know little?” the old woman retorted angrily. “He said the Emperor was making people equal… equal land distribution, reducing taxes! And he killed many corrupt officials!”
Yu Wanyin asked, “Corrupt officials?”
A Shadow Guard gave her a startled glance, seeming to hope she wouldn’t speak.
The old woman, oblivious, began listing names on her fingers. “My brother said these were all major corrupt officials who exploited the people. The Emperor has done a lot to rid the people of such pests over the years.”
The old man gave her a light slap. “You don’t even know if those names are real. Don’t embarrass yourself.”
Indeed, she had mispronounced a few names and mixed up high-ranking and low-ranking officials, indicating that this information likely came from the half-true, half-false rumours circulating in the streets of the capital. The citizens living under the Emperor’s rule loved gossip like this.
Having been here for so long, Yu Wanyin knew some of these officials belonged to the Empress Dowager’s faction, while others supported Prince Duan. But she had never bothered to investigate their backgrounds and couldn’t recall if their names appeared in the original work.
After all, she had never cared about which officials the “original tyrant” had killed, assuming they were simply part of a predetermined list in the book. A tyrant, after all, was expected to indiscriminately kill both the loyal and the treacherous.
Perhaps even Xiahou Dan himself didn’t know how many he had killed correctly and how many wrongly before she arrived.
Perhaps he didn’t want to face the exact numbers either.
Yu Wanyin suddenly remembered a long time ago, when Xiahou Dan, while rehearsing lines with her, had dramatically said, “I’m nothing but a mad king, blindfolded and deafened. Whether one is loyal or treacherous, it all depends on what is written in a memorial.”
At the time, she had thought he was just deeply in character, delivering those lines with an air of self-mockery and desolation.
The old man was still arguing with the old woman. “Do you remember Elder Xu?”
That’s right, Elder Xu.
Yu Wanyin remembered after Xu Yao’s death, Xiahou Dan asked her, “What was Xu Yao’s fate in the original story?”
“He seemed to stick with Prince Duan and became a civil official.”
Xiahou Dan had been silent for a moment, then smiled. “So, we killed him.”
After that, he never asked about the original fates of the characters again. He proceeded with his plans without hesitation, deciding life and death with a blank expression. He had said, “If you ever need to eliminate someone, tell me, and I’ll handle it.”
He also said, “I’ll repay their debts in hell when I get there.”
He denied that fictional characters had souls, yet he believed in a hell within a fictional world.
At this moment, she wished he didn’t believe in it.
The old woman continued, “Anyway, if the Emperor is replaced, our lives won’t be as good as they are now, do you believe that? Oh, what’s wrong with this young man?”
The Shadow Guard stepped in to shield Yu Wanyin, forcing a smile. “He might be worried about relatives in the capital.”
The old woman muttered a prayer and got up to serve another bowl of soup.
After finishing the noodles, the Shadow Guards helped clean up the dishes. Not wanting to appear special, Yu Wanyin tried to stand but her legs gave way, and she had to steady herself by holding onto the table.
The old woman raised her hand to feel Yu Wanyin’s forehead. “Oh dear, he’s burning up. We need to get a doctor.”
Yu Wanyin quickly stopped her, saying it was just exhaustion from the journey and that they only needed a place to stay for the night.
The old woman hesitated, but the old man was not as accommodating. “It’s not that we’re unkind, but with so many of you young men, we only have one bed, and not enough bedding.”
A Shadow Guard pulled out more copper coins. “Sir, just one blanket for the sick person to sleep on the floor. The rest of us can sit and rest.”
The old man pulled the old woman aside. “Who knows where they came from? Have you forgotten how many houses in the village have been robbed lately?”
His voice was not particularly low, and everyone heard it.
The Shadow Guard’s expression changed as he glanced at Yu Wanyin.
Yu Wanyin forced a pale smile. “Since that’s the case, we won’t trouble you any further. Thank you for the meal.”
She summoned her strength and headed for the door.
At that moment, there was a barely audible noise from the direction of the kitchen, like a window sash rattling in the wind.
The old couple noticed nothing, but the Shadow Guards were instantly alert. They exchanged a silent signal, then all turned and rushed towards the kitchen.
The old man called out, “Hey, what are you doing. “
Yu Wanyin, equally surprised, turned back, her hand gripping the gun hidden in her sleeve.
There was a brief commotion in the kitchen, mixed with unfamiliar cries of pain. The Shadow Guards emerged, struggling with a small, writhing figure.
“This person just climbed in through the window and we caught him red-handed,” one guard explained.
The intruder was small and monkey-like, with a dirty, unkempt appearance. His sunken eyes glared at them with ferocity. Yu Wanyin felt a strange discomfort as his gaze swept over her, like being pricked by a needle.
He clutched a bundle tightly in his hands, which the Shadow Guards pried open, revealing an assortment of items. purses, jade pendants, cured meat. all spread out on the table.
The old woman exclaimed, “Ah, that’s our New Year’s meat!” Then she looked closer. “And this jade pendant looks like it belongs to the Wang family?”
The thief suddenly began to wail hysterically, his voice harsh and shrill, but the Shadow Guards pinned him to the ground, preventing him from moving.
The old man was speechless.
Just moments earlier, he had accused the guests of being thieves, only to see them catch a thief. Embarrassed, he mumbled an apology, which Yu Wanyin kindly accepted.
The old couple were simple and honest. They immediately prepared hot water and blankets for Yu Wanyin to sleep in. They also asked the Shadow Guards to tie up the thief and lock him in the woodshed, planning to report him to the authorities in the morning.
Yu Wanyin drank a bowl of ginger soup and, for the first time in two days, lay down in a proper bed. She fell into a deep sleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow.
However, she hadn’t slept long when she felt someone shaking her.
The room was already dark. The old couple had gone to their room, and the Shadow Guards were sitting against the wall near her makeshift bed.
The one shaking her was a Shadow Guard. “Forgive me, Your Highness. When we took the thief to the woodshed, he made such a commotion that it attracted some villagers. The old man returned the stolen items to the neighbours, and now five or six households know we are here.”
Strangers with extraordinary skills arriving and catching a thief immediately. News like this would spread throughout the village by morning.
They avoided staying in inns to keep their whereabouts secret. With this incident, the risk of exposure would increase significantly.
The Shadow Guard lowered his voice further. “Your Highness, should we kill them?”
Yu Wanyin, her mind muddled by fever, stared at him blankly, her thoughts lagging.
The Shadow Guard continued, “If we kill these families now under the cover of darkness, we can still frame the thief and erase any trace of our presence.”
Yu Wanyin instinctively replied, “No.”
After a few seconds, her thoughts cleared. “We need to leave now and head to Peiyang as quickly as possible.”
She tried to sit up, but her joints felt rusty and weak.
The Shadow Guard pressed her back down. “Your Highness, please rest a bit longer.”
Yu Wanyin knew that in her current state, forcing herself to travel would only slow them down. “Two hours. Wake me in two hours.”
But she didn’t get to sleep for two hours.
In the dead of night, the sound of hoofbeats invaded her dreams, dragging her into a nightmare of relentless slaughter. It was as if she were back at the foot of Mount Bei, watching helplessly as the rebel army overwhelmed Xiahou Dan. He was slashed into a skeleton within moments, yet he seemed unfazed by the pain, his eyes serene and gentle as they found hers through the chaos.
He mouthed a single word: “Run.”
Yu Wanyin jolted awake, forcefully dragging her consciousness back to reality.
The hoofbeats were real, resonating through the ground. Moments later, the village dogs began barking in a chaotic chorus.
The Shadow Guard helped her up and grabbed their bundle, motioning towards the door in the dim light.
From the direction of the village entrance, a man’s voice, amplified by inner strength, called out, “If anyone has seen suspicious guests seeking lodging, report immediately and receive a reward of ten taels of silver. ”
After a few seconds, he repeated the call.
Yu Wanyin cursed silently.
By the third shout, Yu Wanyin had already pushed the courtyard gate open a crack, only to hear the doors of several nearby houses creak open, followed by the sound of footsteps heading towards the village entrance. It was clear the villagers were eager for the ten taels reward.
She cursed again silently and turned, saying, “Escape through the backyard!”
There was no time for hesitation. They quickly ran towards the back of the house, passing the old couple’s bedroom, where light now shone through the window.
Without slowing down, the Shadow Guard leaped over the backyard fence and turned back to help Yu Wanyin over.
The sound of hundreds of footsteps approached, and the blazing torchlight reached the front gate.
The Shadow Guard hoisted Yu Wanyin onto his back and began running frantically.
The old couple’s house was on the edge of the village, with a forest not far behind it. In the darkness, it was impossible to tell how vast the forest was or where it led.
The cold wind whipped her face, and Yu Wanyin squinted, ready to direct the Shadow Guard into the forest when she noticed a shadow out of the corner of her eye.
She focused on the figure, who had just climbed over the backyard fence and was fleeing in the opposite direction. The figure was small and monkey-like. was distinctly familiar.
The thief had escaped the woodshed.
He ran, pulling at the ropes still tied around him. Upon seeing them, he froze momentarily before darting away into the darkness, disappearing into a narrow alley behind a neighbour’s house.
Yu Wanyin’s mind raced: If the thief had managed to steal from the village for so long without being caught, it meant he knew the area well.
From the old couple’s house came a burst of noise and a loud command, “Search in all directions!”
At the same time, Yu Wanyin made her decision. “Follow that thief!”
The Shadow Guards entered the narrow alley just in time to see the thief’s shadow vanish again ahead of them. They sped up, rounding the same corner in pursuit.
The thief looked puzzled. “?”
He ran for his life.
The Shadow Guards pursued relentlessly.
The thief’s chosen route was indeed extremely tricky. Clearly familiar with the village’s layout, he climbed over walls, crawled through dog holes, and slipped away like an eel. Despite the guards’ sharp eyesight, they nearly lost him several times.
The thief suddenly stopped, turned around, and glared at them in frustration. He shook his clothes wildly, indicating he no longer had any stolen goods and didn’t understand why they were chasing him so aggressively.
Yu Wanyin said, “We’re not after you. Don’t just stand there, lead the way!”
The thief looked even more confused. “???”
The shouting from behind grew louder, and the thief, reacting on instinct, changed direction and ran again. He soon realized that the pursuing soldiers were not after him at all.
He was merely leading the way for them.
The thief nearly went mad with anger, his eyes darting as he turned once more.
The commotion woke up the entire village. Lights came on in every house, and people began peeking out from their doors and windows.
One of the Shadow Guards suddenly shouted, “Where are you leading us?”
It turned out the thief had led them in a circle, straight into the path of the pursuers.
Realizing he’d been caught, the thief tried to slip away again.
A Shadow Guard pounced on him.
Flames flickered behind them as someone shouted, “I see shadows, over here. “
“Split up,” ordered the Shadow Guard.
Four Shadow Guards dispersed. Two stayed with Yu Wanyin, while the other two deliberately ran in more visible directions to draw attention.
A Shadow Guard grabbed the thief, crushing his wrist with a sickening crack and muffling his cries of pain. “If you try any tricks, you’ll be the first to die. Got it?”
The thief, trembling with fear, nodded.
The two guards who had run off successfully diverted the pursuers. The noise behind them gradually faded.
The thief led them further into the village, eventually climbing into the courtyard of an unlit, overgrown house. Yu Wanyin hesitated but signalled to follow.
The backyard was deserted and wild, suggesting no one lived there. The thief quickly disappeared into the tall weeds.
The Shadow Guard set Yu Wanyin down, examined the spot, and whispered, “A tunnel.”
The three of them crawled into the tunnel and pulled the weeds over the entrance.
The tunnel was tiny, likely dug by the thief for hiding. With three people now inside, it was cramped and difficult to move.
The Shadow Guard held a knife to the thief’s throat, forcing him into the corner, where he dared not make a sound.
After a moment, voices grew closer.
A small group of pursuers arrived, rummaging through the backyard. Yu Wanyin gripped her gun, holding her breath.
Above them, two men conversed, “They must not be here. Everyone’s chasing into the forest.”
“Didn’t that village woman say it was a group of men? I bet we’ve got the wrong people again. How many villages has it been now?”
“Maybe they’re in disguise.”
“Ah, those women are good at running. The boss said if we catch her, dead or alive, we should let the brothers have some fun first…” The rest of the words were muffled by laughter.
The chaotic footsteps came within inches of their hiding spot, then gradually receded.
After a long while, ensuring the coast was clear, Yu Wanyin’s tense body finally began to relax, but she started trembling slightly.
She was exhausted from the fever and the chase, her vision swimming. She slumped against the tunnel wall, sliding down slowly.
She had held onto a slim hope that their pursuers weren’t Prince Duan’s men. But now, it was clear.
Prince Duan controlled the capital now.
What about Xiahou Dan? Was there any chance he was still alive?
The Shadow Guard removed his outer robe and draped it over her.
“Thank you,” Yu Wanyin said, her voice shaking as she wrapped the robe tightly around herself. “What about the two who split off?”
“They’ll use the forest for cover and wear down the pursuers,” the guard said calmly. “They’ll kill themselves before being captured, leaving no clues.”
Out of the twenty guards who had set out with her, only two remained.
Yu Wanyin was silent for a moment. “It’s my fault.”
She had spared the five village families but had cost the lives of eighteen Shadow Guards.
The guard was taken aback and tried to find words to comfort her. Yu Wanyin suddenly asked, “What are your names?”
Since arriving in this world, she had avoided this question. According to the original story, these young men were all destined to die. She didn’t want to know their names, as if keeping them faceless would lessen the burden on her conscience.
The Shadow Guard replied, “I am Twelve, and he is Forty-Seven. The ones who left were Sixty-Five and…”
Yu Wanyin interrupted, “Your real names.”
“We don’t have real names anymore. His Ma. ” The guard hesitated, aware of the thief’s presence, and changed his wording. “Our master said that when we received our numbers, our real names were already inscribed on our tombstones. From then on, our past lives were erased.”
Yu Wanyin hugged her knees, burying her face.
In this vast world, there was only one person who understood all her pain.
As she walked her lonely path, she realised every step followed his footprints. The long, dark road ahead, he had walked so far that even his shadow was out of sight.
The tunnel was silent except for the thief’s ragged breathing.
Yu Wanyin’s throat tightened as she insisted again, “Your real names.”
The Shadow Guard paused and seemed to smile slightly. “I am Twelve.”
Nearby, Forty-Seven was interrogating the thief about the escape route out of the village, but he couldn’t get a word out of the thief. Frustrated, he sliced with his knife, causing the thief to cry out in pain.
Forty-Seven remarked, “So, he’s a mute.”
Yu Wanyin said, “Search him. He must have tools on him since he managed to escape from the woodshed.”
After some rustling, Forty-Seven found a blade and another piece of information: “…It’s a mute woman.”
Lin Xuanying’s army had been advancing toward the capital. On the first day, they faced some resistance but crushed it effortlessly. By the second day, the resistance had dwindled to almost nothing. Some prefectures even surrendered without a fight, opening their gates wide in hopes of quickly passing these fierce soldiers.
The reason soon became clear. The capital was in chaos. The Emperor had ‘suddenly fallen gravely ill’ and now Prince Duan was acting as regent.
Prince Duan claimed that the demon queen, Yu Wanyin, had attempted to assassinate the Emperor and was now being hunted.
At the same time, new secret messages reached Lin Xuanying.
After quickly reading one, he tore it up. “Prince Duan is urging us again, telling us to keep an eye out along the way and help capture her.”
One of his subordinates frowned. “It’s strange. If Prince Duan has already won, why is he so anxious?”
Could it be that he was facing some unknown difficulty?
Lin Xuanying spurred his horse forward, squinting slightly. “Are you hoping for him to win or lose?”
The young subordinate hesitated, then quickly said, “We only serve the deputy general. Whoever you want us to kill, we’ll kill.”
Lin Xuanying laughed and shook his head. “Have you all finished practising?”
The subordinate swallowed. “Yes, we’re ready.”
Lin Xuanying urged his horse on. “Then let’s get moving.”
By the time the sky started to lighten, the village was quiet again, with no signs of the pursuers.
Twelve climbed out to check and returned to report, “The soldiers are gone, but a few villagers are still hanging around, likely hoping to capture us for the reward.”
Yu Wanyin cleared her throat. “Hey, you… girl.”
In the faint light, she could see the mute thief girl looking at her.
Yu Wanyin asked, “Peiyang isn’t far from here. Have you been there?”
Seeing the girl seemed to be a vagrant thief, Yu Wanyin came up with a plan.
The mute girl remained silent until Forty-Seven raised his knife again, making her nod warily.
Yu Wanyin tried to sound as gentle as possible. “We need to get there by taking hidden paths. If you can guide us, you’ll be well rewarded and won’t need to steal anymore. How about it?”
The mute girl still didn’t react.
Forty-Seven threatened, “Or do you want to die here?”
Yu Wanyin quickly interjected, “Put down the knife and speak nicely.”
After a mix of threats and promises, they suddenly heard a rumbling noise. someone’s stomach growling.
The mute girl hesitated, then slowly extended her hand, making a gesture for food.
Yu Wanyin smiled kindly. “Do we have any food left? Give her something to eat.”
A moment later, the mute girl silently led them out of the village and headed south.
The route chosen by the mute girl avoided populated areas as much as possible, but a small town still blocked their way. Concerned about encountering the pursuers from the previous night, Yu Wanyin disguised herself and the two Shadow Guards, this time as an old woman.
However, the town was more heavily guarded than she had anticipated.
The streets were plastered with wanted posters, her portrait fluttering in the wind, bearing large characters like ‘Reincarnated Fox Demon’ and ‘Bringing Calamity to the Nation’
Several patrols roamed the streets, with the leaders shouting, “Report any suspicious men or women for a generous reward!”
The mute girl led them through a maze of alleys to avoid detection. After hearing the patrols’ shouts from a distance, she turned back and glanced meaningfully at Yu Wanyin.
Following closely behind, Twelve whispered, “Mistress, be wary of this girl.”
“Yes, she might betray us for the reward,” Yu Wanyin replied.
After three days of walking, Yu Wanyin’s feet were blistered. She felt increasingly cold, knowing she was at her limit. She gritted her teeth to keep silent, but her steps inevitably slowed.
Watching ahead, she instructed, “Keep a close watch. If necessary, kill her.”
Perhaps sensing the murderous intent behind her, the mute girl behaved unusually well, silently leading the way.
Just as they were about to leave the town, the mute girl suddenly disappeared from their sight. The Shadow Guards were alarmed and about to chase after her when she reappeared, this time seated on a donkey cart.
Yu Wanyin asked, “Did you steal this? For us to use?”
The mute girl rolled her eyes and motioned for them to hurry up and get on the cart and leave quickly.
With a Shadow Guard keeping an eye on the mute girl, Yu Wanyin finally lay down in the cart, taking a moment to catch her breath.
Her body was exhausted to the extreme, but her nerves were taut, and her mind continued to race.
Prince Duan’s exaggerated efforts to capture her seemed suspicious upon reflection.
Logically, she was just a woman with no soldiers or a real claim to the throne. Prince Duan, having just seized power, should be focusing all his efforts on stabilising the capital. Why then was he sending so many troops out to capture someone as insignificant as her?
Unless…
A faint glimmer of hope, almost extinguished, reignited within her.
What if he wasn’t only searching for her?
The patrols in the town were calling for “suspicious men or women.” Why emphasise men? Was it to prevent her from disguising herself, or was it because their original targets included both men and women?
Did Xiahou Dan manage to escape?
This was less a hypothesis and more a prayer.
If she could stand before him again… what would she say first?
As she pondered this question, a bitter calm settled over her like falling snow, covering her. On this desperate flight, she miraculously fell asleep for a moment.
When they reached a wild area impassable by the donkey cart, they dismounted and continued on foot.
Yu Wanyin sincerely thanked the mute girl and had the Shadow Guard tend to her wrist injury. To show her goodwill, she even handed the girl a small pouch of silver as an advance payment.
The mute girl, holding the money, smiled for the first time since they met.
Returning the favour, she sneaked into a nearby farmhouse that night and stole an ox cart.
Yu Wanyin was speechless.
After several changes in transportation, they finally arrived outside Peiyang City at dusk the next day without any major incidents.
As expected, the city gates were guarded by soldiers who were meticulously checking the people entering the city against the wanted posters. These soldiers stood straight and stern, exuding an aura of intimidation like that of earthly Yamas.
Twelve’s eyelids twitched. “Those men are wearing border army uniforms.”
Peiyang City wasn’t just occupied; it had clearly been completely taken over by the border army! But why would they keep the city gates open, allowing civilians to come and go? Were they hoping to capture the empress on the wanted posters this way?
While he was pondering, Yu Wanyin had already joined the queue to enter the city.
Twelve whispered, “Mistress, if we enter the city and get caught, there will be no escape for us.”
“Don’t worry,” Yu Wanyin said, taking something out from her sleeve.
It was the small item from Xiahou Dan’s letter, which she had hidden all along, and she now placed it in her hair.
Twelve asked, “What is it?”
“A token,” Yu Wanyin replied, taking a step forward and instructing, “Don’t make a move later.”
At the city gate, a soldier scrutinised Yu Wanyin from head to toe before waving her through.
Hunched over and supported by Twelve, Yu Wanyin had just taken a few steps when the soldier called out, “Stop.”
Twelve and Forty-Seven instinctively prepared to act, but Yu Wanyin sternly ordered, “Don’t move.”
She turned slowly and met the soldier’s probing gaze without flinching.
After a moment, the soldier said, “Follow me.”
The others were left behind as the soldier led Yu Wanyin alone to the county magistrate’s residence.
The original magistrate was nowhere to be seen, and the luxurious residence had been taken over and heavily guarded by the border army.
Inside the brightly lit study, Lin Xuanying was lounging on a grand chair, reading a military report. Upon hearing the announcement from outside, “Deputy General, the person has been found,” he glanced at Yu Wanyin and casually said, “Bring them in and then leave.”
The door closed.
Lin Xuanying put down the report, stood up, and walked over to Yu Wanyin, scrutinising her disguised face.
Yu Wanyin smiled, raised her hand to remove the swaying object from her head, and handed it to him.
It was a silver hairpin, shaped like a bird with outstretched wings, with long sparrow feathers hanging from the end instead of tassels.
Lin Xuanying’s eyes instantly reddened.
“…A’Bai, how have you been?” Yu Wanyin said softly,
The person before her was subtly different from the ‘A’Bai’ in her memory. Though it was the same face, it now seemed to shed the disguise of a boy, revealing the countenance of a young man.
His eyes were still as bright as ever, especially in the darkness, they shone like tempered glass. But paired with his current attire, those clear eyes now carried a hint of sharpness.
Yu Wanyin was momentarily unsure of how to speak to him.
Xiahou Dan had mentioned in his letter that Peiyang had reinforcements, but perhaps fearing the letter might be intercepted, he hadn’t explicitly stated A’Bai’s identity. When she received the hairpin, she had guessed that A’Bai was mixed in with the army, but she hadn’t expected him to have transformed into the leading figure.
Where was the carefree young hero she first met? Could his once wild and unruly nature have been an act?
Did Xiahou Dan know everything about him? Could she fully trust him? Even if he was a friend and not a foe, what about the soldiers under his command in this city?
She had just thought of this when Lin Xuanying grasped her shoulders tightly, saying, “It’s good that you’re alive, it’s good that you’re alive…”
Yu Wanyin had never been in such a dishevelled state since her transmigration; her body even smelled. Yet Lin Xuanying seemed oblivious, speaking with the same familiar tone as A’Bai.
Yu Wanyin stared at him blankly, recalling the fireflies and watermelons in the back courtyard of the cold palace. Countless questions surged up her throat, rendering her momentarily speechless.
Lin Xuanying didn’t give her a chance to speak. He checked her pulse, frowning, “You’re sick?”
“It’s nothing serious.”
“No, this will leave you with a lingering illness.” Lin Xuanying turned around and called for help without giving her a chance to argue.
There were no maids in the army, so a few soldiers were called and instructed to boil water and prepare medicine. Soon after, they escorted Yu Wanyin to a guest room with a bath barrel, saluted briefly, and left without even glancing at her.
This was clearly a highly disciplined unit.
On the other hand, if someone wanted her dead at this moment, there was no need for such elaborate measures.
Putting aside her thoughts, Yu Wanyin locked the door, took a medicinal bath, and washed away the grime and blood from her body.
By the bath barrel, there was a set of clean men’s clothing. She put on the clothes and was about to survey the surroundings when there was a knock on the door.
Lin Xuanying stood outside, holding a bowl of medicine. “Get under the covers.”
He sat on the edge of the bed, scooping up a spoonful of medicine and blowing on it. “Will you drink it yourself or should I feed you?”
Yu Wanyin thought for a moment, took the bowl, and downed it in one gulp. “Thank you, General Lin.”
Lin Xuanying paused and smiled wryly. “I figured you wouldn’t sleep without knowing what’s going on. Go ahead, ask, and I’ll answer.”
Yu Wanyin hesitated for a moment but then went straight to the point. “Are you General Lin or A’Bai?”
While soaking in the bath, a new possibility had occurred to her: the real Lin Xuanying might have been dealt with, and A’Bai was now impersonating him. This could explain his sudden change in identity.
But he responded, “I am Lin Xuanying.”
Seeing Yu Wanyin’s confusion, he grinned, revealing a set of white teeth. “Xuanying means ‘black ink,’ and A’Bai is a nickname given by my master. Look at my complexion. Who do you think is more wicked, my parents or my master?”
Yu Wanyin was even more puzzled. “So, you are indeed from the martial world? But how did you become a deputy general just after completing your apprenticeship?”
Lin Xuanying coughed, his eyes shifting. “Well, that’s because…”
Within those two seconds, Yu Wanyin figured it out. “Oh, because you didn’t just complete your apprenticeship.”
At that moment, Yu Wanyin recalled many things.
The first time A’Bai appeared before her was when General You returned to court for his debriefing.
A’Bai was well-versed in matters of Yan and Qiang.
A’Bai had once told her, “I know many things, I even killed…” but was interrupted by Xiahou Dan.
A’Bai had suggested placing Wang Zhao in the right army and escorting him to Yan, but Xiahou Dan refused, keeping him in his post. Even so, Wang Zhao eventually left via the southwest route.
A’Bai had played a part in their drama and then disappeared from the capital along with General You, claiming he had other tasks assigned by the emperor. She had wondered why Xiahou Dan trusted him so much at the time.
She had a moment of sudden clarity. “Our first meeting wasn’t your first meeting with His Majesty, was it? How long have you known each other?”
Lin Xuanying scratched his head. “That’s a bit of a secret.”
“If you mean His Majesty’s past, he left me a letter explaining everything.”
Lin Xuanying’s eyes widened in surprise. “He actually told you? He’s always tried to hide it from you, afraid you’d run away.”
Mentioning Xiahou Dan made them both feel a bit heavy-hearted.
Lin Xuanying squinted and reminisced, “Five years, now it’s six years ago. My master, Wuming Ke, received a celestial omen predicting the arrival of a child from another world who would change the nation’s fate. He intended to assist personally, but revealing such a secret drained his vitality, forcing him into seclusion to recuperate. So, he sent me out to find His Majesty.
“The Emperor said at the time that he had already trained a group of loyal Shadow Guards within the palace, so my protection was not essential. But he urgently needed to control military power. Without a trump card, no matter how he manoeuvred, he couldn’t defeat his enemies in court.”
Lin Xuanying thus infiltrated the Right Army. The Right Army was chosen because it had the least ties to Prince Duan, and its leader, General You, was the most incompetent, unable to lead the army effectively. This made their manoeuvres less likely to arouse Prince Duan’s suspicion.
To truly control tens of thousands of soldiers, a single military token was insufficient. Both military prowess and prestige were essential. This couldn’t be rushed and required several years of gradual efforts.
Fortunately, Lin Xuanying was already highly skilled. Through numerous battles, he gradually stood out, winning people’s hearts with his strength. He and Xiahou Dan, one in the open and one in the shadows, used every means to sideline General You, effectively becoming the actual leaders of the Right Army.
“By last year, we were almost ready, planning to purge the entire Right Army and then go to war. Although we still weren’t certain of victory, a surprise attack might at least take down the Empress Dowager and Prince Duan, even if we died in the process. Those were His Majesty’s words. But then,” Lin Xuanying smiled, “you appeared.”
Lin Xuanying first heard of Yu Wanyin before he left his master. Wuming Ke predicted the arrival of another person from another world who would be intertwined with Xiahou Dan’s fate, though it was unclear when and where. Whether it would be a good or bad fate remained uncertain.
He later asked Xiahou Dan about it. Xiahou Dan, as if suddenly remembering, nonchalantly said, “There is such a person.”
“How could you almost forget such a big matter?” Lin Xuanying gaped.
The young emperor, head lowered, seemed to mutter, “She probably won’t come.”
They didn’t mention it again for years.
When Lin Xuanying nearly forgot, Xiahou Dan’s secret letter suddenly mentioned a new name.
Though both were otherworldly souls, this mysterious Consort Yu was very different from Xiahou Dan. Their original plan was simple – mutual destruction. But she aimed for a grand plan, taking many detours to minimise casualties. To her, every commoner’s life was precious.
Lin Xuanying was resistant at first. He had seen too many idealistic people untouched by harsh reality. In war, success is built on countless bones; if everyone hesitated, they’d have died long ago. Besides, the situation was constantly changing, and delaying could cost them their last chance at victory.
But Xiahou Dan accepted her naive dreams wholeheartedly, abandoning their existing plans and ordered Lin Xuanying to retreat and lie low.
For a few days, Lin Xuanying seriously considered quitting.
Then he returned to the capital and finally met Yu Wanyin in person.
He understood her but also saw her as less capable. Disguised as a commoner, without her demonic consort makeup, she stood lightly and beautifully beside the perpetually shadowed Xiahou Dan, like a small lark in a storm. She clearly didn’t belong in the inner palace but should be a carefree wanderer.
When Lin Xuanying tried to persuade Xiahou Dan to let her go, he expected anger or refusal.
But Xiahou Dan’s response surprised him: “She has her own aspirations.”
The subsequent developments overturned his expectations even more. Yu Wanyin’s seemingly dreamy plan succeeded step by step. While there were battles in the capital, peace reigned elsewhere. In border legends, the emperor was said to have suddenly gained divine favour, effortlessly resolving conflicts and disasters.
Who could have guessed that Heaven’s will bears the surname Yu?
Yu Wanyin’s heart was struck by a sudden realisation.
Yu Wanyin said, “Just before the negotiations with Tur, His Majesty mentioned lending him troops to deal with Prince Duan. I never understood where he could borrow troops from. He said it was A’Bai, and I foolishly asked him how A’Bai could manage on his own.
Lin Xuanying couldn’t help but chuckle. “Indeed, that wouldn’t be feasible. I lent a select group of elite troops to Tur, but to avoid attention, the number was actually quite small. Fortunately, Tur was competent and immediately mobilised his own forces upon entering Yan.”
He looked at her with mixed emotions, his voice tinged with an unknown sorrow. “I misjudged you, but His Majesty did not. From the moment you arrived, he said you were exactly this kind of person, because where you come from, every life is precious.”
Yu Wanyin remained silent for a long time.
When she first read the letter, she had wondered if Xiahou Dan had given up during those long, sunless years. So when she arrived and saw this battered world and a man so close to being a tyrant, she had assumed otherwise.
But that wasn’t the case.
If he hadn’t painstakingly cultivated Lin Xuanying as his powerful trump card, even with her holding the script, she would have been restricted and struggled every step of the way. Her original plans would have been in vain.
She could hardly imagine how a middle school student, poisoned from the start, had managed to survive. Maybe he didn’t even want to find out if this survivor was human or ghost. Perhaps, since her arrival, every conversation about his past, identity and being manipulated like a puppet had been like a thousand arrows piercing his heart.
Despite this, he had entrusted everything to her almost as soon as they met.
Yu Wanyin’s voice trembled slightly when she finally spoke. “Is there any news of him?”
Lin Xuanying shook his head. “We agreed that if he survived, he would meet us in Peiyang. I rushed here to take control of this place, expecting to meet all of you, but I only found you. Prince Duan claims the Emperor suddenly fell seriously ill and is recuperating in the palace, but the truth is unclear. The capital is now sealed tight, and my spies are still trying to find a way in.”
He stood up and patted Yu Wanyin on the shoulder. “Go to sleep. I’ll go arrange accommodations for the three people you brought. Tomorrow morning, I’ll show you something good.”
“What?”
But Lin Xuanying had already closed the door behind him.
Intentionally or not, Lin Xuanying left her hanging. She tossed and turned in bed. But the suspense also kept her emotions from sinking into despair. Eventually, she drifted off to sleep with a glimmer of hope in her heart for the ‘something good’ he mentioned.
Before dawn, she woke abruptly, momentarily thinking she was still on the run. She sat up suddenly, staring blankly at the magnificent paintings in the guest room.
Outside the door, two guards stood watch. After she finished dressing and grooming herself, they knocked and brought in her breakfast.
Yu Wanyin asked, “Could you call General Lin for me?”
“I’m here,” Lin Xuanying replied, promptly taking a seat opposite her.
“What did you want to show me?” Yu Wanyin inquired.
With evident enjoyment, Lin Xuanying shook his head. “No rush. Finish your porridge first. You can’t afford to fall ill now…”
Yu Wanyin picked up the porridge bowl and drank it in one gulp.
“…..”
Lin Xuanying led her to the study of the county magistrate’s office, stopped, and then invited her in.
As soon as Yu Wanyin stepped in, several probing gazes immediately focused on her from midair.
Inside stood four or five burly soldiers, each towering over eight feet tall, looking like they could punch through city walls with ease.
Yu Wanyin: “…”
Following behind her, Lin Xuanying closed the door and suddenly turned serious, kneeling on one knee to bow deeply. “I am late to escort you, please forgive me, Your Majesty!”
The giants hesitated for half a second before hurriedly kneeling down in unison, echoing, “Please forgive us, Your Majesty!”
Yu Wanyin: “…”
She understood that Lin Xuanying’s gesture was meant to establish her status, so she accepted the kneeling calmly and slowly said, “Rise quickly, all of you. You came a thousand miles to rescue me. What offence could there be?”
Lin Xuanying then stood up, still serious. “Reporting to Your Majesty, I delayed sending troops because I was secretly preparing a batch of weapons under His Majesty’s orders.”
Yu Wanyin’s heart skipped a beat.
Lin Xuanying waved his hand, directing two soldiers to bring in a heavy wooden crate, signalling her to inspect it.
It was guns.
A box full of guns.
Yu Wanyin swiftly assessed their killing power in her mind. “This batch… what is it…”
“Nine Heavens Mystic Rapid-Fire Sleeve Crossbow,” Lin Xuanying joyously reminded her.
“Nine Heavens Mystic Rapid-Fire Sleeve Crossbow.” Yu Wanyin repeated. “How many are there in total?”
The giant carrying the box said, “Reporting to Your Majesty, there are a total of a thousand, along with dozens of boxes of ammunition.”
Yu Wanyin was dumbfounded.
Standing beside her, Lin Xuanying added, “The schematics were sent by His Majesty. To prevent interception, they were divided into numerous mechanical parts and delivered in more than ten instalments. We found the best craftsmen, and after several failures, finally produced the first one. Obtaining these crossbows was extremely difficult, but their combat power is unprecedented. Even facing tens of thousands of enemy troops head-on, they will crush them like dry weeds, without needing much bloodshed.”
The latter explanation was unnecessary for Yu Wanyin. As a modern person, she understood well the killing power of firearms in this world. Moreover, the enemy was completely unaware, both in terms of equipment and tactics. a situation akin to having tens of thousands of standing targets ready to be swept away.
Lin Xuanying pointed to a sand table on the table, passionately declaring, “Today, the army sets out. We can intercept the left and central armies five hundred miles outside the capital on high ground. Your Majesty, I have silently endured under His Majesty’s orders for years, prepared for this day of inevitable victory. Prince Duan’s rebellion, with the armies as his pawns, merely awaits Your Majesty’s command to rid the realm of him!”
“To rid the realm of him!” echoed the giants.
Yu Wanyin took a deep breath, calming her pounding heart.
Just the day before, she had been fleeing in distress. Even upon encountering Lin Xuanying, she had only seen it as a temporary respite before facing a more gruelling struggle.
Who could have imagined that overnight, they would be so close to victory?
However…
“General Lin, may I have a word with you?”
She pulled Lin Xuanying behind the bookshelf in the corner of the study. “His Majesty is still missing. If we rush into war and he is indeed captured by Prince Duan, what then?”
Lin Xuanying fell silent for a moment, seemingly anticipating her question. He pulled out a scroll from his sleeve and handed it to her. “This is the final secret edict he sent before I departed.”
Yu Wanyin quickly scanned it, then closed her eyes as if pained by what she read.
Rather than a secret edict, it was more of a testament.
It was brief, consisting of only two paragraphs. The first paragraph named the Crown Prince as his successor and appointed Yu Wanyin as Empress Dowager, along with several trusted ministers to handle state affairs.
The second paragraph was even shorter, containing just one sentence: “Execute the traitor Xiahou Bo directly, without concern for my life or death.”
Translated plainly: Kill him, no matter what happens to me.
“He knew his time was short.” Lin Xuanying said, “He didn’t want to burden you in the end, nor did he want to suffer humiliation in enemy hands. But he also knew we couldn’t truly abandon him. That’s why he said early on, if captured by Prince Duan, he would find a chance to end it with him; if even that wasn’t possible, he would… take his own life.”
Yu Wanyin stared at him incredulously, blood rushing through her veins, feeling like an animal bristling with stress. “So, you’re just going along with this?”
“Of course not! I’m still sending people everywhere to find him!”
“Then find him first before taking military action!”
Lin Xuanying fell silent for a moment. “You know time is running out. The rebel army is relentlessly pushing towards the capital day and night. It seems Prince Duan plans to ascend directly. They are already searching for you everywhere, and they will soon trace you to me. Once exposed, we can’t catch them off guard.”
“…”
Lin Xuanying continued, “His Majesty left this secret edict to force us to consider the bigger picture and act decisively.” His tone was calm. “In fact, to intercept the rebel army outside the capital, our vanguard has just set out.”
Yu Wanyin’s chest rose and fell as she continued to stare at Lin Xuanying.
She had never truly understood him. Until yesterday, she didn’t even know his real name. This man now wielded heavy troops, possessed weapons of mass destruction, and even had a royal edict as a safeguard. If he wished, all power in the world would be within his grasp.
. If he wished.
Lin Xuanying could read her thoughts in her eyes and his expression darkened. “Believe it or not, I have no interest in any of this. I am here because my master ordered me to assist His Majesty, and His Majesty ordered me to obey you.”
He emphasised each word. “Don’t you understand yet? He wants to clear all obstacles for you, to ensure you ascend to power without hindrance, to live without worries for a hundred years. What he couldn’t achieve himself, he believes you can. As for what happens after everything is settled. whether you kick the Crown Prince aside and rule with military prowess, or leave it all behind and enjoy life. It is entirely up to you.”
…
Yu Wanyin asked, “Was the last sentence his words or yours?”
Lin Xuanying hesitated. “…”
“It was mine.”
A deathly silence fell over the county office.
No one spoke, but a faint tremor was felt beneath their feet. The main forces in the city had moved out.
In the standoff between Yu Wanyin and Lin Xuanying, the soldiers couldn’t wait any longer and approached, whispering, “General, should we distribute these crossbows to the army and prepare for battle?”
Lin Xuanying stood in the shadow of the bookshelf, not answering, raising an eyebrow at Yu Wanyin.
Thus, everyone in the room turned to look at Yu Wanyin.
An invisible tide swept her up to higher ground. She opened her mouth, with the lives and deaths of tens of thousands hanging on her every word. This time, there wasn’t a rehearsal, nor was there room for failure.
Translation by Spider
Next: Chapter 22
Previous: Chapter 20