Return of the Swallow c1-644

by Edited by Deyna up to chapter ~100.

  Jiyun bobbed her head and flew out the door.

  Gu Shixiong had been waiting on pins and needles when news came that a Qin servant requested an audience.

  Joy blossoming over his face, he rushed out and saw Jiyun. Upon learning that Qin Yining wanted to invite him over, he paid no thought to manners and custom. He hastily ordered servants to drive his carriage to the Qins.

  This time, Qin Yining stood at the main door in welcome and welcomed her guest to the front hall. After tea was served, she broached the subject apologetically. “Old Master Gu, I’m afraid I can’t do what you ask for.”

  Having come with great hope and expectations, an incredulous hammer hit him over the head. His beard shook as the old man asked, “What, what makes you say that?”

  “Old Master Gu, a change of sovereigns brings a change of officials. My loyalty belonged to His Majesty the moment I arrived in Great Zhou. Though I think of my old home fondly, I cannot betray my loyalty to the emperor. Even if you tell me where the treasure is, I’ll tell the emperor with my next move.”

  “You! You, don’t you forget that you’re a Great Yan citizen!”

  Qin Yining smiled faintly. “Great Yan is no more. We are in Great Zhou now.”

  “Aren’t you afraid that the emperor will make a move against Pang once you marry the prince? You can help your husband with this treasure in hand!”

  Chapter 403: Counterattack (I)

  The girl sighed with a noncommittal smile.

  “I can tell that His Majesty values the prince highly. After all, the prince is a founding member of the dynasty! He enjoys quite a bit of prestige in the army. The emperor won’t do anything to the prince, if only out of consideration for imperial reputation. You worry too much, Old Master Gu.”

  The response so irked the old official that a knot of words stuck in his chest. Even when right, a scholar could never win an argument against a soldier!

  People described the daughter of Qin Huaiyuan as brave, decisive, and intelligent, that she had a uniquely keen eye for politics.

  It now seemed that the rumors were false. They’d probably been circulated in an attempt to curry favor with that stinking Qin Huaiyuan! His daughter was just an ordinary, foolish girl who couldn’t even see the crux of such dangerous circumstances.

  The old man analyzed the situation for the Qin fourth miss with a solemn expression. “Miss Qin, you shouldn’t be too simple or naive in this. The emperor’s wariness of the Faithful Prince of the First Rank is more than readily apparent. It may not be obvious to you because you don’t normally pay much attention to what happens at court.

  “This old man feels that the treasure would be wasted in the hands of any other. If in the future, it helps the prince due to being in your hands, then that would be like gifting a treasured sword to a hero.

  “Besides, don’t forget that even with the imperial decree, the old feud of Minister Qin dooming the prince’s father will still exist. With this treasure in your pocket, you’ll be able to stand up straighter after entering the Pang manor doors.”

  The old official’s analysis seemed highly logical and rational; each and every single word was out of consideration for Qin Yining’s future.

  The senior official is truly an old hand at playing with people’s hearts! She’d likely already believe him if she was any ordinary girl.

  It’d always been her perspective that everyone relied on their own skills and talent in finding their own place at court. Open plotting and underhanded schemes were all very normal.

  But Gu Shixiong was willing to drag the innocent Qins and an unmarried girl into his plans, all in the name of reaching his goals!

  Even if these actions stemmed out of loyalty to his old nation, they still induced contempt from Qin Yining.

  “You are very right, but I’m afraid that this little girl will have to disappoint Old Master Gu. I am sympathetic, but truly have no way to help.” The fourth miss curtsied in apology.

  The old official’s wizened eyes dimmed when he met the girl’s resolute expression.

  Despair truly descended at this time.

  Everyone was out for their own gain and cared only about their own safety. No one cared at all about rebuilding Great Yan. Was he to stand by and watch the only legitimate bloodline of his nation be cruelly injured?

  Gu Shixiong slumped against the round chair, shaking his head with resignation.

  “If you don’t help me, then there really is no one who can save the Commandery Prince of Yan,” murmured the old man.

  Qin Yining seemed unable to bear the old official’s helplessness. She compressed her lips in momentary thought. “Old Master Gu, don’t panic yet. Listen to me first.”

  The old man lifted his eyes to look at Qin Yining.

  “You don’t necessarily have to come to me. As an unmarried girl, the only person I can rely on is my father. My father isn’t home and my future in-laws are ambivalent towards me. Who can I entreat at this time?

  “I feel that you should reach out to those with the ability to help. Think about it, who else has the ability to go toe-to-toe against the emperor in the capital?”

  Gu Shixiong sat upright and looked down in thought. Inspiration struck.

  “Do you mean the Lu clan?”

  The girl smiled without a response, but for Gu Shixiong, it felt as if the walls had shifted in the dead end in front of him, revealing a bright avenue leading off into the distance.

  “The Lus are a good choice indeed.”

  There was none other in the capital who could oppose the emperor with such strength. The power of House Lu was not to be underestimated.

  Hope flourished anew in the old official’s heart, but he shook his head with resignation after a moment. “But, what if the Lu moral character doesn’t pass muster? If they take the treasure but still don’t help the commandery prince—what then?”

  The Qin fourth miss flashed a smile. “Old Master Gu is too closely involved to see clearly. When you came to me, weren’t you also worried that I would do nothing after taking the treasure?”

  That response provided another stroke of enlightenment.

  Indeed, whether it was the Lus or Qin Yining, either party could possibly take the treasure for themselves and then send the old official away.

  Seen in that light, what difference was there in seeking help from the Lus compared to Qin Yining?

  As inadequate as the Lus might be, at least they could call the shots for themselves.

  Meanwhile, a mere woman like Qin Yining would still have to look to Pang Xiao for help after obtaining the treasure. In light of that comparison, it was better to seek out the Lus directly for help.

  “Your words make sense, but I have no relationship with the Lus. There are no doors for me to bring my petition to. Why would they see me, and why should they believe me?”

  Qin Yining took a deep look at Gu Shixiong, seeming to make up her mind after a while. “We are both of Great Yan. I find myself compelled to act at this point. Well then. Jiyun.”

  The girl turned back to her guard. “Go fetch the box I placed in the bottom of that cabinet.”

  Jiyun murmured her assent and backed out of the room, returning before long with the box that her mistress had prepared beforehand.

  Qin Yining put the box on the side table and pushed it over to the old official.

  “Old Master Gu, to be honest, I have some connections with the second official young master of their house. Take this token with you to see him. He will absolutely help you once he sees it.”

  The old official picked up the wooden box to find that it was completely nailed shut. There was no way of opening it.

  “What is in the box, pray tell?”

  “Don’t open it yourself, Old Master Gu. The Lu second master will be able to open it, and he’ll help you when he sees the token. I’m just a weak girl, and this is all the help that I can offer to you.”

  Gu Shixiong knew that there was nothing else that could be done a
fter hearing this. Offering his thanks to the Qin fourth miss, he stowed the box away and rushed back home.

  The Gu Manor was very far away from the residence of the Commandery Prince of Yan; it was an abode only two houses deep. It had been bestowed unto Gu Shixiong as a display of imperial benevolence, seeing that the old official had served three emperors.

  He hastily summoned servants after setting foot through the door. “Quickly now, go find out where the Lu second master is at this very moment.”

  His confidante hastily scurried off to carry out his orders.

  A response was quickly forthcoming. “In response to milord, the Minister of Military Affairs is out for an inspection tour of the Division of the Three Thousand. The Lu second master has gone with Minister Cheng to the division’s camp outside of the city.”

  Gu Shixiong thought for a bit and handed the box to his confidante. “Take this token with you to the division. Ask for an audience with Lu Heng and say that I have urgent business to discuss with him.”

  “Understood!” The confidante bowed solemnly before taking his leave. He’d only taken a few steps when his master called him to a halt.

  “Wait, I should go myself to show the depths of my sincerity. Just you alone won’t show enough significance. Prepare the carriage for me.”

  The confidante ran off to prepare the vehicle after seeing how serious Gu Shixiong was.

  Fifteen minutes later, the old official was sitting in a galloping carriage, hugging the wooden box to himself.

  His heart on afire with worry for the commandery prince, but he gradually calmed down after the carriage was halfway to its destination point.

  The more he thought about it, the more things seemed off.

  Chapter 404: Counterattack (II)

  It seemed nonsensical that Qin Yining would be so kindhearted as to help Gu Shixiong. Why was she willing to bear the risk of introducing him to the Lu second master?

  Was it really because both of them were from Great Yan?

  But if the girl had this kind of patriotism to start with, she would’ve agreed to help him long ago. She wouldn’t wait until now.

  Inconsistencies abounded in the Qin fourth miss’ performance.

  Gu Shixiong’s blood froze in his veins when his thoughts travelled here and he quickly called out to the groomsman, “Stop the carriage!”

  The groom twitched with surprise when the old official’s aged voice rasped out shrilly. He hastily jumped off the carriage.

  Gu Shixiong clambered down from the carriage and took out a dagger. Making use of the fading light from the setting sun and dim glow of the wind lamps, he pried at the tightly nailed wooden box.

  After heavy exertions, he finally pried the lid up and discovered a piece of paper lying inside.

  Notes of strangeness rang with increasing volume. He picked up the paper and moved it close to the light for a close look. His heart sank.

  It was a hand-drawn map. Rivers, mountains, and creeks crossed it, and clearly labelled were the forests and copses. A circle of vermilion marked a spot in the upper right hand corner.

  What map is this?

  Gu Shixiong looked carefully at the markings next to the mountains and creeks, trying to decipher any familiar names.

  But at this time, a chaotic drumming of hooves sounded from the direction of the Division of the Three Thousand.

  The old official started and looked gravely in their direction.

  A middle-aged man dressed in a general’s uniform and wearing a dark expression charged at head of forty cavalry. He waved a hand and surrounded Gu Shixiong and the official’s carriage before the latter had the time to react.

  His heartbeat raced, but the old official remained as calm and steady as before.

  “Who are you and what do you want?!”

  The one in the lead didn’t reply. “Give me what you hold in your hand.”

  Gu Shixiong frowned. “Why should I do that!”

  The general pulled out the sword at his waist. “Hand it over!”

  “Hand it over!” Members of the cavalry all unsheathed their swords.

  In the dim light, their swords glinted frostily like snow. Gu Shixiong’s calves trembled from fear.

  The old official frowned. “Just who are you? If you’re not the one I’m looking for, I won’t easily hand things over. I can see that you’re soldiers, and we’re close to the Division of the Three Thousand. Are you from there? Or are you Minister Cheng’s people?”

  “Cut the nonsense! Don’t ask what you shouldn’t ask!”

  Based on their reactions, Gu Shixiong understood that the group was indeed from Minister Cheng.

  He heaved a sigh of relief. “If you’re from Minister Cheng, you don’t need to take this from me. Bring me to the minister and Lu second master. I’ll hand it to Minister Cheng with both hands.”

  The general started and was about to respond when another drumming of hoofbeats came from the direction of the capital. The sound seemed to indicate a party at least a hundred strong, much more than the first group already present.

  Gu Shixiong naturally heard the disturbance as well. With how things had developed, he had a few speculations of his own.

  The party from the capital swiftly drew near and formed another circle around the perimeter of the one already present. The military officer in the lead called out, “Is Old Master Gu, Gu Shixiong, present? The emperor has issued a decree requesting the senior official for an imperial audience!”

  In the first group, the general leaned down with a frown and yanked away the mysterious map and wooden box.

  Caught off guard, Gu Shixiong didn’t have time to react before his possessions were taken from him.

  “Is Old Master Gu present?” asked the latecomer again.

  Gu Shixiong rasped back, “I am.”

  “Get out of the way, out of the way!”

  Horses jostled against each other as voices yelled and cursed. It would seem that the latecomers were parting the crowds.

  Seeing this, the first group retreated and undid their encirclement. Leaving Gu Shixiong to the latecomers, they left.

  What else would the old official not understand at this point?

  It was the first time ever in his life that he’d fallen so utterly into a trap, and at the hands of a little girl at that!

  He was most aware of his own machinations. Seeking out the Qins publicly would elicit the emperor’s attention. But after Qin Yining’s words, he’d stormed off to seek Lu Heng with her token, completely forgetting that he was under surveillance.

  With how tense things were in the capital, it would seem that more than one party was keeping an eye on the Qins. The ones who’d just taken his ‘token’ answered to the Minister of Military Affairs, so they more than likely belonged to the Lu faction.

  The latecomers had actually been rather polite. They must be the emperor’s men, here to intercept him as they knew they were bringing a ‘token’ to the Division of Three Thousand.

  Everyone probably thought that the map in the box was the treasure map!

  Gu Shixiong could now talk himself hoarse in denying that was the treasure map, but no one would believe him.

  But also, why would he tell anyone where the treasure really was?

  “Old Master Gu, please come with us to meet the emperor,” spoke the intimidating officer.

  The very image of scared out of his wits, Gu Shixiong trembled and shook as he climbed up into the carriage.

  The group set a fast pace back to the palace.

  Li Qitian had long received news of Gu Shixiong’s two visits to the Qins. After his second departure, he’d gone home and then hurriedly left to bring something to the Division of the Three Thousand. That was the moment when the emperor knew his plan of using Yuchi Yan as bait had worked.

  Old Master Gu was the strategist of the former Great Yan emperor emeritus. A dignified and highly esteemed senior, Li Qitian had long since suspected that Gu Shixiong knew of the treasure’s lo
cation.

  Unfortunately, while the old man may be lacking in everything else, he was incomparable when it came to playing dumb.

  He’d finally nabbed the old man good and proper today! The payoff for his hard work was on its way into his hands.

  “Your Majesty, Old Master Gu is here.” Li Guanwen murmured in front of the imperial study door.

  “Hurry, show him in.”

  “I hear and obey.” The eunuch dismissed himself and quickly brought the old official to the emperor.

  Gu Shixiong apprehensively performed the grand gesture of greeting to Li Qitian.

  “This humble commoner greets Your Majesty and prays for Your Majesty’s eternal health and prosperity!”

  Li Qitian sat rigidly behind his table, enunciating his words with dark clarity, “Old Master Gu, kindly explain to Us why you were in a rush to visit the Division of the Three Thousand before the evening curfew?”

  Gu Shixiong kowtowed frantically, “This humble commoner, humble commoner…”

  “Dare you not speak the truth when before Us?!” Li Qitian slammed his hand down on the table and shot to his feet.

  The old man trembled all over and was startled into tears.

  “This humble commoner, humble commoner is innocent! Although Your Majesty might be angered—when the humble commoner knew that the Commandery Prince of Yan was invited into the palace, I looked all over for people to plead for mercy on his behalf. I went to the Qins twice, but Miss Qin was powerless. This old man could only bring the treasure map to the Lus for help, but I didn’t even see a single Lu before their people took the map from me!”

  Chapter 405: Thumping One’s Chest and Stamping Feet in Sorrow

  Li Qitian’s expression was as tight as the fists balled in his sleeves. No sound was heard for a very long while.

  Clues to the treasure he’d searched high and low for had been in the hands of the grandfather of Yuchi Yan’s concubine all along!

  That old thing had been hiding the treasure map all this time—his so-called sincerity in surrendering to Great Zhou was obviously completely hollow!

  Li Qitian had been preoccupied with locating this sum of wealth in recent days. Though it hadn’t been made public knowledge, it was also no secret. Who would’ve thought that this old fellow would be able to keep it to himself for so long!