Chapter 62

Ji Weiqiu rested one hand on his knee and said slowly, "Commander Zhou, you said they have sharpshooters, so why didn't they just shoot and kill Cao Zhiyu?"

Zhou Qing was stunned for a moment, then his expression turned extremely grim. He bowed his head and replied, "Yes, this subordinate will make arrangements at once! Please rest assured, Your Highness!"

Ji Weiqiu picked up his teacup. Zhou Qing bowed once more and took his leave. Mian Li, listening at the side, was terrified. He asked with a tremor, "Your Highness, was that about last time...?"

"Your Prince is precious," Ji Weiqiu said. "Every stray cat and dog wants to take a bite."

Ji Weiqiu was also sighing in his heart; he just didn't let it show on his face. That bastard, the False King, if he had any guts, he should go and make trouble for Ji Su directly! What was he doing targeting a powerless Prince like him?! —although he didn't know if the False King did it, he would just assume it was him!

After all, the local authorities wouldn't have the nerve. What good would killing him do? And kidnapping him would be like holding a hot potato. If they truly felt they couldn't escape the Cao Zhiyu case, rather than kidnapping him to threaten Ji Su, they would be better off surrendering honestly and offering him, the Prince of Rui, a bribe. The survival rate would be higher that way.

After tonight's events, the atmosphere had clearly grown tense. Ji Weiqiu ordered Mian Li to inspect the water sources. For such a large retinue, a head-on confrontation was unlikely. Since their goal was to capture him, the Prince of Rui, they wouldn't resort to schemes like rolling boulders down a mountain. The most convenient method was to poison the water supply.

When traveling, they brought their own food. A group this large couldn't rely on hunting, or they'd never make any progress on the road. They all carried provisions, which were replenished at posthouses. Water, however, was generally refilled wherever it was available. In this era, drinking hot water wasn't a strict custom, and besides, in this untamed wilderness, the water was naturally unpolluted, appearing clean and sweet.

Like that famous spring water, a little sweet, get it?

So, in an uncertain situation, he started by checking the most easily poisoned source, the water, followed by the provisions. Ji Weiqiu also emphasized a careful check of the seasonings—he felt the most convenient way to poison someone wasn't to put it in some soup, but to add it directly to the seasonings, like salt. What dish didn't require salt when cooking? Even roasted meat needed a sprinkle, right?

Refined salt was rare in this era. It was usually a mix of coarse and fine grains, often with sand that hadn't been fully filtered out. Who would notice a little extra powder in it? This wasn't the Imperial Kitchen, where ingredients were randomly inspected at unscheduled times every day.

Thinking of this, Ji Weiqiu couldn't help but smile—he had seen the Imperial Kitchen's ingredient inspections, and they were much like a police raid.

The head eunuch in charge would arrive with the imperial guards and an imperial physician, kick open the doors of the Imperial Kitchen with a loud bang, and order everyone to drop what they were doing, not to move or speak, and to take their hands off the countertops. The physicians would then quickly inspect everything, from the ingredients down to the cutting boards, kitchen knives, and even the dirt under the fingernails of any kitchen helper. Once finished, they would depart just as quickly.

At that time, he was hiding in a side room of the Imperial Kitchen, secretly eating pork cracklings. That sort of thing would never make it to the dining tables of the Empress or the Crown Prince, but on that particular day, he had a craving for it, so he had changed into a young eunuch's clothes and run off to the Imperial Kitchen. When the guards came in, he was stunned. He thought Ji Su had found out, his mind filled with, 'Does my brother really have to do this? Isn't it just sneaking out for a snack? Does he need to send the imperial guards to arrest me?!'

As it turned out, before he could speak, a guard asked for his name in a very cold and hard tone. Ji Weiqiu sighed in relief, knowing Ji Su hadn't sent them. He casually gave a random name. The guard checked a list and said there was no such person, and without another word, seized him. In the end, it was the head eunuch of the Imperial Kitchen who came running to his rescue; otherwise, it would have been a huge mess.

Oh right, Ji Su found out in the end, of course. The head eunuch had no need to report such a trivial matter, but the loyal commander of the imperial guards reported that they had caught a young eunuch in the Imperial Kitchen who wasn't on the roster, and that the head eunuch had claimed he was his newly adopted godson and let him go. Later, feeling the head eunuch's expression had been too nervous, he reported it. Ji Su summoned the man for questioning and exposed Ji Weiqiu, the "godson."

Ji Su's expression at that time was very strange, especially when he learned he had gone to eat pork cracklings. His look became even stranger, as if wondering where his education had gone wrong, how Ji Weiqiu, a prince, could run to the Imperial Kitchen and specifically ask for pork cracklings.

Ji Weiqiu smiled softly. Back then, he thought Ji Su felt he shouldn't have known about something like pork cracklings. Thinking back now, Ji Su must have found him embarrassing—there was nothing wrong with wanting to eat pork cracklings. If you wanted them, you should have ordered a cook to make them. Instead, he had snuck into the Imperial Kitchen himself, even wearing a young eunuch's clothes and claiming to be a eunuch's godson. It was utterly, disgracefully embarrassing.

The phrase "losing face all the way to grandma's house" was a literal account, not a figure of speech, because when he later went to visit his mother's family, his maternal grandmother, who was still alive at the time, really did have a maid bring him a plate of pork cracklings, saying with a smile, "I heard from your Mother Empress that you love this. Good boy, Ah Qiu, open your mouth and try grandma's and see if it's tasty."

Later... his maternal family was gone. He, his Mother Empress, and Ji Su had escaped death several times, until finally, Ji Su ascended the throne, and everything settled.

Ji Weiqiu propped his chin on his hand, gazing at the bright moon in the sky. At this moment, he felt an impatient urge to return to Yanjing, to return to the palace, to see his Mother Empress, to see Ji Su.

He missed them so much... This trip had been so rushed. He had only gone into the city that one day to attract attention, buying a few things along the way. They certainly couldn't compare to the tribute items, and he didn't know if his Mother Empress and Imperial Elder Brother would even like them.

Ji Weiqiu noticed that several people were missing from the ranks of the Qingxuan Guard, yet the security around his carriage had become even tighter. Hearing a commotion in the camp, Ji Weiqiu looked into the distance and saw Gao Yong raising his sword. The snowy blade glinted like the moon, fresh blood spurted, and a head flew through the air.

Gao Yong roared, "The audacity of a bear's heart and a leopard's gall! How did I end up leading such a spineless piece of trash! Daring to poison your own brothers! You disloyal, treacherous dog! All of you, open your eyes and watch! This is what happens when you dare to harm your own brothers!"

As expected.

Ji Weiqiu sighed. They really were after him. He beckoned, and a Qingxuan Guard approached the carriage window, bowing his head. "Your Highness, your orders?"

Ji Weiqiu handed him the box of medicated silk he had made out of boredom during the day. "Distribute these. Two pieces per person. They're soaked in Jade Dew Ointment, the best thing for external wounds."

The Qingxuan Guard naturally knew what Jade Dew Ointment was. A trace of astonishment appeared in his eyes. Ji Weiqiu was a little curious, but his face remained cold. "Still not thanking me for my grace?"

The Qingxuan Guard quickly said, "This subordinate thanks Your Highness on behalf of my brothers for your reward!"

"You may leave," Ji Weiqiu commanded. The Qingxuan Guard bowed once more and withdrew, quickly distributing the oil-paper packets from the box to the men. Ji Weiqiu watched for a moment before letting the curtain fall—normally, he would have offered a few polite words, but not now.

Even if it was just a temporary act, when faced with a situation where assassins could appear at any moment, projecting a clear sense of hierarchy was far more useful than appearing amicable. Most of the people here would subconsciously see amicability as a sign of his lack of authority and immaturity, making him unreliable. Conversely, acting high and mighty would more easily make them realize he was an incomparably noble Prince. By following and protecting him, they could achieve promotion and wealth in life, or bring fortune to their families in death.

It was a strange way of thinking, but Ji Weiqiu couldn't stop it. At a time like this, he could only go with the flow.

They traveled on the mountain road for another day. Tomorrow, they could finally leave the mountains completely and reach the posthouse. Ji Weiqiu thought that someone would probably be there to meet them, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. Things should be peaceful once they were on the main road. With that thought, he was finally able to fall asleep.

He also felt he was a bit of a disappointment, unable to eat or sleep well over such a small matter, lacking the bearing of a great general.

That night, Ji Weiqiu was abruptly startled awake. He snapped his eyes open to see Mian Li dozing against the carriage wall. His wildly beating heart relaxed in that instant. He even found it a little difficult to breathe. He thought it was just from waking up suddenly, combined with his poor sleep over the past few days, which had strained his heart. He took a moment to recover, then with difficulty, reached out and pushed Mian Li.

Mian Li did not wake immediately. Ji Weiqiu's heart tensed again. What happened to Mian Li? He called out in a low voice, but his voice was pitifully hoarse. Only then did Mian Li stir. He instantly looked at Ji Weiqiu, and just as he was about to check on him, his legs suddenly went weak, and he fell to the floor. He looked up and said, "...Poison..."

Ji Weiqiu closed his eyes, confirming his suspicion. He watched Mian Li struggle to retrieve a pill from his waist pouch, place it under his tongue, and then hand one to Ji Weiqiu. Ji Weiqiu copied him and held it under his tongue—it would take effect faster this way. Nanzhu's medical skills were not advanced enough to produce a pill that could cure you in a second after swallowing.

Neither of them moved, quietly waiting for the medicine to take full effect. Ji Weiqiu had felt like he couldn't hold on any longer, but after holding the pill for a while, he felt some of his strength return. At least his mind was sharp again. He wasn't sure if it was because the pill was too bitter or because it was actually working.

Was it a sleeping draught?

Before he could even wonder how the drug had been administered to him, or whether only he and Mian Li were affected or if everyone was, the carriage door creaked open. Ji Weiqiu subconsciously opened his eyes a crack and saw it was Zhou Qing.

Ji Weiqiu sighed in relief. It was good that it was Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing had clearly noticed he was awake. He said in a low voice, "Your Highness, it is dangerous here. This subject has been ordered to send Your Highness back ahead of schedule."

Instead, he closed the carriage door again. The sound of horse hooves approached from a distance. The carriage was soon moved about, as if they were changing horses, and then it started moving.

Ji Weiqiu's expression grew colder. He said, "Zhou Qing."

Zhou Qing's voice passed through the carriage wall. He seemed to be driving the carriage. He said, "Your Highness, there is no need to panic. You have been affected by a mild sleeping drug. You will be fine after some rest."

Ji Weiqiu's limbs were still weak. Mian Li gripped Ji Weiqiu's ankle and slowly shook his head.

This was no ordinary sleeping draught, or they would have recovered by now.

Ji Weiqiu said calmly, "I don't care what my Imperial Elder Brother says. When a general is in the field, he is not bound by the orders of his sovereign. I am currently an imperial envoy and cannot leave my post. Take me back."

Zhou Qing did not answer. The moonlight cast his shadow on the carriage door, flickering in and out of view. Ji Weiqiu was almost certain this was definitely not Ji Su's order.

The last time Ji Su had brought him back this way, it was because he was afraid Ji Weiqiu would cause trouble outside, ignoring danger and refusing to return. Besides, he had just started his tour then, and there was still a long time before his scheduled return. What about this time? He was already on his way back to the capital, he had official duties, and he was being escorted by a general with soldiers. Under the same conditions, it was definitely safer than having a few Qingxuan Guards escort him out of the mountains alone.

Gao Yong would never rebel. Besides, he was a military general, a commander. After accepting the task of escorting Ji Weiqiu, if Ji Weiqiu died, he and his entire clan for nine generations would face certain death.

So why would Ji Su have Zhou Qing take him away at this time?

After all his calculations, he never expected that Zhou Qing, assigned to him by Ji Su, was the traitor—did Ji Su know? That the deputy commander of the Qingxuan Guard was a traitor, was Ji Su truly unaware? Assuming Ji Su did know, what did it mean to send Zhou Qing to him?

Ji Weiqiu forced himself to stop these thoughts. Don't overthink it, there was nothing to overthink—to become the deputy commander of the Qingxuan Guard, one must have Ji Su's trust. Even the wisest are not immune to error. Ji Su was no god. If someone was truly so cunning as to hide their intentions for over a decade, who could possibly see through it?

Ji Weiqiu bit the tip of his tongue, his mind growing clearer. He took another detoxification pill. Although he didn't know what specific poison he had been given, a general antidote should help a little. He gestured for Mian Li to take one as well, only to find that Mian Li had already passed out. He tried to pry open Mian Li's mouth, but then he heard Zhou Qing say, "Your Highness, the mountain road is steep. Please hold on tight."

Was that a warning?

Ji Weiqiu, however, stood up and walked over. He said, "Zhou Qing, this is a capital offense."

For a moment, only the creaking of the carriage echoed inside. After a long while, Zhou Qing finally said, "Your Highness, this subordinate cannot defy orders."

"Defy an imperial edict?" Ji Weiqiu said. "Don't you know what kind of person I am? Take me back, and I will naturally plead for you when we return to the palace."

"Your Highness, this subordinate regrets that he cannot obey," Zhou Qing said. "When this is over, this subordinate is willing to atone with his life."

Ji Weiqiu almost blurted out, "Then go die now," but he held his tongue. Suddenly, the carriage took a sharp turn, and Ji Weiqiu was nearly thrown from his seat. But then the carriage stopped. Zhou Qing opened the door, his face like frost. Seeing Ji Weiqiu leaning against the carriage wall, he reached in, lifted him out, stuffed a pill into his mouth, and then carried him on his back as he ran deep into the mountain forest.

Ji Weiqiu's gaze was ice-cold. It was very difficult for him to have any good feelings towards Zhou Qing at this moment. Refraining from cursing him wasn't a matter of good upbringing, but simply a result of his fear of death. He had no idea what the pill he had been forced to swallow was. The memory of the addictive drug he had been given last time made him furious.

The mountain wind rushed past his face. The detoxification pill he had just taken was having some effect. Ji Weiqiu quietly waited for his strength to return. He definitely couldn't beat Zhou Qing; Zhou Qing could defeat him with one hand tied behind his back. But he couldn't just let Zhou Qing take him away like this.

The only one who would abduct him was the False King. Only with the False King would this hot potato of his become a golden nugget—no, a golden nugget was too cheap. He was more like an imperial seal, the one on which was carved "Having Received the Mandate from Heaven, May He Live Long and Prosper."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Zhou Qing's lightness skill was excellent. With a few leaps, he carried him deep into the forest. Seeing that he was heading uphill, he was probably planning to cross this mountain or head to the small path they came from, where he could be picked up.

Ji Weiqiu thought of the dagger in his boot, the blade strapped to his thigh... If he took out the blade now and slit Zhou Qing's throat, what were his chances of success?

In the end, Ji Weiqiu didn't make a move. The chance of success was too low. He would most likely end up with his arms and legs broken by Zhou Qing, which would hinder his subsequent escape—from what Zhou Qing said just now, he seemed to have some unavoidable difficulties. This might be something he could use later.

Suddenly, Zhou Qing said, "Why doesn't Your Highness make a move?"

Ji Weiqiu's expression changed. "You think you're worthy?" he said with displeasure.

"This subordinate's dagger is at my waist. Your Highness can draw it with a reach of your hand. My internal organs are positioned differently from a normal person's. If Your Highness stabs me in the center and severs my spine, I will be crippled, if not dead." Zhou Qing's voice was steady, betraying no emotion.

Ji Weiqiu suddenly asked curiously, "Commander Zhou, I remember you are an orphan."

"I am."

"And you are not yet married."

"I am not."

Ji Weiqiu thought for a moment and said, "Then did you take a bribe? Or fall for a honey trap? What leverage do they have on you to make you sell your life like this?"

Zhou Qing was silent for a long time before saying, "Your Highness, any later and it will be too late."

"So it is a honey trap," Ji Weiqiu sneered. "I didn't expect you to be so sentimental."

No wonder he hid it so well. Those who are blinded by love are either silent or shockingly bold.

Although Ji Su was strict, he was not a stingy master. Furthermore, Ji Su was currently considered an enlightened ruler, and the entire Nanzhu was flourishing under his hand. Other than matters of the heart, he couldn't think of anything else that would make Zhou Qing betray him.

Zhou Qing knew he was guilty, which was why he told him the dagger was at his waist, that he could kill him now, and that he wouldn't resist—perhaps they had threatened him with that beauty. If he didn't do this, that woman would suffer a fate worse than a dog's. There might even be spies among the retinue watching him, so he had no choice.

If he successfully brought the Prince of Rui out but died in the process, it would even be considered a meritorious act, and no blame would fall on that beauty.

"Your Highness has always been exceedingly intelligent," Zhou Qing said calmly. "Only through my death can both sides be satisfied."

Ji Weiqiu drew the dagger from Zhou Qing's waist. "Any last words?"

Zhou Qing said, "People will come to hunt you down. Your Highness, be careful."

As soon as his voice fell, the faint sound of horse hooves could be heard ahead. Before Ji Weiqiu could act, Zhou Qing's hand loosened, and Ji Weiqiu fell instantly. Without hesitation, Zhou Qing grabbed Ji Weiqiu's hand and plunged the dagger into his own chest. A subtle resistance was felt, and hot blood sprayed onto Ji Weiqiu's hand. Zhou Qing gave Ji Weiqiu a deep look and said, "...Go!"

Ji Weiqiu instantly shed his cumbersome, wide-sleeved outer robe and tied it around his waist. His mind had been uneasy these past few days, so he had long stopped wearing bright yellow or dark red, opting for either dark green or black. Blending into the forest, he was not conspicuous at all. Ji Weiqiu's mind was still clear. On his two legs, he definitely couldn't outrun a horse on the path. But in the forest, everyone had to use their legs, which gave him a slight advantage.

The sound of horse hooves grew closer and then suddenly stopped. Ji Weiqiu vaguely heard someone curse "useless," followed by, "Search! He couldn't have gone far!"

Ji Weiqiu's heart pounded like a drum, but his steps as he moved through the forest became even lighter. These highly skilled martial artists were bugs in the system, in a way. Their senses were sharp. If he continued to run wildly through the woods, the rustling of leaves would, in all likelihood, be discovered by them.

Even in the mountains, large animals rarely moved about at night.

Ji Weiqiu caught his breath. Suddenly, he noticed a footstep extremely close to him. He froze and dove directly into a thicket, hiding inside and holding his breath. Sure enough, a figure soon approached at high speed. When he reached his vicinity, he looked around, seeming to search for traces of him.

The man did not leave. He bent down to examine the footprints on the ground.

Ji Weiqiu pinched his nose, hoping the man would leave quickly. To his dismay, the man slowly approached his direction, using a branch to poke through the grass and trees. Finally, he reached Ji Weiqiu's side. The branch probed into the thicket. Fortunately, Ji Weiqiu was hidden quite deep, and the branch did not reveal him as it pushed aside the foliage.

'Calm down, calm down.'

If he were discovered, what should he do? Oh, he probably wouldn't have to do anything. Judging by the situation, if he was found, he would likely get a chop to the neck, knocking him out and settling the matter.

Ji Weiqiu forced himself to look away. Perhaps staring for too long would also be noticed? After all, humans were strange creatures; sometimes you could vaguely feel someone watching you from behind.

The man finally left. Ji Weiqiu had held his breath to his limit. He slowly opened his mouth, resisting the urge to breathe immediately, and let the air enter slowly before relaxing his throat, exchanging air almost silently. He did not move.

Just when Ji Weiqiu was starting to feel safe and was about to flee again, a thought suddenly struck him. The black-clothed man from before had returned at some point and was now staring at this very spot.

That was close.

Ji Weiqiu cursed Ji Su inwardly for being so unreliable. Couldn't he be a little more concerned about his subordinates' love lives?! If he had arranged for his subordinates to get married and have children, with a wife, kids, and a warm bed, would he be suffering like this today?! No, if he made it back alive, he was definitely going to meddle in this matter!

The man finally left again. Ji Weiqiu hesitated for a moment between running and staying, then decided to stay put. These people were surely chasing further and further away. If they really couldn't find him, they would turn back. If he ran into the distance now, what if he ran right into them? It was better to stay here. It would be fine once dawn broke—someone would come looking for him.

These men in black were just taking advantage of the time difference.

Suddenly, Ji Weiqiu felt a tug on his collar. He was abruptly pulled out of the thicket. A masked man by his side sneered, "Quite patient! So you were hiding here. You almost fooled me!"

Ji Weiqiu instinctively turned his head, avoiding the man. "I thought I hid myself well. How did you find me?"

The man's gaze momentarily fell on Ji Weiqiu's hand. When Zhou Qing had killed himself, blood had splattered all over Ji Weiqiu's hand, staining half his sleeve crimson. The masked man didn't speak, raising his hand to knock Ji Weiqiu out. At that same moment, Ji Weiqiu stomped his foot hard. A blade shot out from the sole of his boot, flying into the masked man's calf.

The masked man grunted in pain and glanced down, but his other hand still held Ji Weiqiu tightly, his eyes filled with mockery—it was just a small blade. So what if it pierced him through?

Ji Weiqiu, however, was counting down in his heart: three, two...

Mian Li had once said that for medicine to take effect, swallowing was the slowest method, holding it under the tongue was faster, and the fastest was for it to directly enter the meridians. That was why it was essential to coat hidden weapons with poison.

One.

The masked man collapsed.