Chapter 123: News Of Marriage Alliance

Xiao Dingfei’s “low-profile” horse jingled with bells as it walked, initially annoying but gradually becoming a strange source of amusement, adding a unique touch to the monotonous journey.

As evening approached, they finally reached the outskirts of Tongzhou.

Jiang Xuening remembered the plan she and Zhang Zhe had discussed by the river at noon and felt a bit nervous about entering the city. Unexpectedly, Huang Qian, who was riding ahead, reined in his horse and helped Feng Mingyu dismount, saying to everyone, “Brothers, let’s rest outside the city for a while and enter later.”

The journey from the capital to Tongzhou usually took only a few hours, but they had traveled the entire day.

In the afternoon, not only Jiang Xuening and Zhang Zhe but also the Heavenly Sect members and the escaped criminals noticed that the pace was slow, as if they were waiting for something or being cautious.

This made everyone uneasy.

Especially those with serious criminal records, who were immediately dissatisfied: “We’re already outside the city gates, and we’ve changed our appearances. We could enter in groups, so why wait outside? What’s the meaning of this?”

Feng Mingyu and Huang Qian, the leaders of the Heavenly Sect, had released the prisoners from the prison, hoping to recruit them. Hearing the complaints, they couldn’t help but frown.

The Heavenly Sect members naturally obeyed them.

So Huang Qian wasn’t worried about them. He politely explained to the escaped prisoners, “Brothers, please be patient. These are different times. The case involving the Prince Pingnan faction has just implicated the Marquis of Yongyi. We escaped from prison, so we must be cautious. Our scouts have already gone ahead to check the city. If they report that it’s safe, we’ll enter. Please understand.”

A hot-tempered man caught the implication: “Are you saying we’re a burden to your sect?”

Huang Qian’s expression changed.

Feng Mingyu, an old fox, smiled and said, “We mean no such thing. We’re just looking out for you.”

The man, burly and angry, seemed ready to argue.

But the situation was dire.

Without the Heavenly Sect’s prison break, they would still be in prison, awaiting execution.

A clever man, fearing conflict, quickly pulled the angry man aside, acting as a mediator, “Master Huang is a renowned hero. What are you talking about, Brother Li?”

This wasn’t the place for them to speak.

Seeing the man named Li still frowning, he signaled him to look at Meng Yang, who had quietly sat down nearby.

At noon, they had changed out of their prison clothes at a village.

Meng Yang now wore a gray robe.

He had been in prison for a long time, his scars visible from his chest to his neck. His messy hair was tied with a cloth, revealing a calm face, with no trace of fierceness in his eyes, looking quite ordinary.

He heard the heated discussion but, seeing everyone’s eyes on him, looked up with a gentle smile, showing his white teeth, “Why are you all standing? Sit down.”

It was a refined and kind smile.

But everyone who saw it shivered, feeling an inexplicable fear.

The escaped criminals fell silent, swallowing their complaints and sitting down quietly in the wilderness.

The tough fear the ruthless, and the ruthless fear the fearless.

Though the prisoners didn’t cause trouble, and Meng Yang seemed indifferent, Huang Qian and Feng Mingyu frowned.

Jiang Xuening and Zhang Zhe exchanged a knowing glance: the Heavenly Sect wanted to recruit these men, but they were unruly and hard to control, with Meng Yang as their leader.

The two were outnumbered.

Though the court had reinforcements in the city, the plan was risky, and they didn’t know what news the scouts would bring. If the group was united, it would be hard to find a weakness. But the signs of discord could be exploited.

They didn’t speak but understood each other.

They had no objections to the Heavenly Sect’s decision to stop.

Dismounting, they sat with the others.

The area outside the city seemed a common resting place, with thatched shelters. They tied their horses to graze and lit a bonfire as the sky darkened.

The bright firelight drove away some of the cold.

When they left the village, everyone brought dry food and water pouches, and they all sat around the bonfire. After a day of shared hardship, conversations became more relaxed.

Zhang Zhe was naturally quiet, but Jiang Xuening was quite talkative.

After all, in her previous life, she had relied on her words to charm people.

Seeing such a beautiful person, others were willing to listen to her speak.

Originally, Xiao Bao sat next to her, but after Xiao Dingfei threw down his saddle, he shamelessly squeezed in next to Jiang Xuening, pushing Xiao Bao away.

Jiang Xuening glanced at him, amused by his roguish behavior, which was just like in her previous life. “Master Dingfei, you said on the road that you were lucky. I didn’t believe it then, but now I do. I’ve always heard that the Heavenly Sect is righteous and shares the joys and sorrows of the common people, but you don’t seem like a member of the Heavenly Sect at all.”

Xiao Dingfei rolled his eyes, “Don’t talk nonsense. I may look carefree, but I have the world in my heart. How does that saying go? ‘Worry before the world worries, and rejoice after the world rejoices’…”

Feng Mingyu and Huang Qian, who had just walked over, felt a rush of blood to their heads.

Feng Mingyu glared angrily.

Huang Qian, fearing that others would think all Heavenly Sect members were like Xiao Dingfei, quickly explained, “It’s ‘worry before the world worries, and rejoice after the world rejoices.’ But our sect’s doctrine is ‘universal harmony.’ Master Dingfei was just joking, don’t mind him.”

Everyone could see what kind of person Xiao Dingfei was.

Some smiled insincerely, while others nodded politely.

Jiang Xuening was one of the polite ones. Whether she understood or not, she nodded and said, “That’s impressive. It’s the ideal of ancient sages.”

Huang Qian thought this girl had some knowledge and was about to accept the compliment when a cold laugh interrupted, “Universal harmony? In today’s world, your sect’s doctrine is meaningless.”

The voice was hoarse and rough, grating on the ears.

Jiang Xuening’s eyelids twitched, and she, along with everyone else, looked towards the voice. It was Meng Yang, who had somehow acquired a jar of wine. He sat by the bonfire, drinking and speaking.

Feng Mingyu’s wrinkled face showed a hint of fear.

Jiang Xuening couldn’t gauge Meng Yang’s depth but instinctively felt a sense of danger.

No one responded.

But Meng Yang’s words resonated with some, and after a while, someone sighed, “Meng Yishi isn’t wrong. The world today is a mess. When I was in prison, I heard that the Marquis of Yongyi’s family was imprisoned. They fought countless battles for our dynasty, only to be falsely accused of colluding with rebels and thrown in jail. You came to break them out yesterday but were too late. The whole family was exiled to Huangzhou. It’s pitiful. The court is corrupt, taxes are heavy, and the people suffer. What ‘universal harmony’?”

The name of the Marquis of Yongyi was known to many in the dynasty.

Years ago, the Marquis, Yan Mu, led troops to repel invaders, bringing peace and prosperity to the people.

Trade flourished at the borders.

But recently, border merchants had been struggling.

Mentioning this brought back memories, and someone laughed, “Don’t laugh, but when I was forced to become a bandit, I thought about joining the army under General Yan. I heard his young son was also very capable. But before I could, I was caught by the court and thrown in jail. Who would have thought I’d meet General Yan in prison!”

The story ended on a somber note.

Meng Yang drank silently in the corner.

The man who had previously argued with Feng Mingyu and Huang Qian, Li, exploded again, “A capable court defends against enemies, an incapable one harms loyalists! Twenty years ago, the graves of 300 righteous children weren’t explained, causing an uproar. I heard General Yan’s nephew died mysteriously. Now the Yan family is imprisoned. The emperor might be making an example. What nonsense! The Tatar envoys are in the capital, demanding to marry our princess for peace. It’s outrageous!”

“Tatars, marriage alliance, princess.”

Jiang Xuening had been listening, hoping to learn about the Heavenly Sect, but she hadn’t expected to hear about the marriage alliance.

Her fingers holding the water pouch trembled slightly.

The man continued cursing, “What are the Tatars? Barbarians! When I die, my wife will be left for the clan! It’s inhuman! A few years ago, they begged for peace and tribute. Now, with the Marquis of Yongyi gone, all sorts of demons are acting up. The court is weak! A marriage alliance is just sending a princess to beg for peace and giving them gifts. Disgraceful!”

Zhang Zhe listened, remembering Shen Zhiyi’s fate and the tearful court welcoming her coffin, containing the princess who would never smile again. He lowered his eyes but couldn’t help glancing at the girl beside him.

She seemed unaware.

Sitting next to him, her long lashes cast shadows, hiding the light in her eyes. Her face, once warmed by the firelight, had turned pale and fragile.

Sometimes, leaving isn’t as easy as it seems.

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