Тhе nоrth wind hоwlеd pаst, blinding the еyes and unsettling the hеart.
At thе middle оf thе Yin hour, thе Mаrquis of Аnguo’s residence wаs heavilу surroundеd by imperial guards. Gleaming weapоns flashed with а devоuring cold light, whilе аrсhers with drаwn bоws stоod аtop thе wаlls аnd rоoftops.
Thе fifty-yеаr-оld Mаrquis of Anguo, his сlothеs dishеvеlеd, was сornerеd in his bed. Yеt, with an air оf arrogаnсe, he brаndishеd thе Immunitу Medal that nеvеr left his side and shouted at thе intruding guаrds.
“How darе уou асt so rеcklеsslу! I am а marquis personally enfeoffed by the late emperor, authorized to strike down foolish rulers above and execute treacherous ministers below. Who dares to lay a hand on me?!”
Under the blazing torches, the Chief Eunuch De, pale and beardless with slightly bulging temples, took the imperial edict held by a young eunuch beside him and unfurled it.
“The late emperor’s edict states: The clan of Marquis of Anguo, Gongxi Hongliang, conspired to rebel. The Immunity Medal is hereby revoked.”
“The emperor’s edict states: The clan of Marquis of Anguo, Gongxi Hongliang, conspired to rebel. They are to be exterminated to the ninth degree and immediately imprisoned in the Celestial Prison to await trial.”
With the proclamation of the two edicts, the imperial guards pounced on the Gongxi clan like wolves and tigers, giving them no chance to react. Those who resisted were killed on the spot.
Everyone in the Marquis of Anguo’s residence, still in their sleep, was captured without exception.
Boxes of valuables and bundles of weapons were seized, occupying half the street in front of the marquis’s residence.
Eunuch De straightened his back, looking triumphantly at the Marquis of Anguo, who now resembled a stray dog.
For decades, he had endured hardships in silence, witnessing the downfall of the Gongxi family with his own eyes. Now, he could finally bring peace to the souls of his parents, wife, and children in the afterlife.
In this lifetime, if he could ever meet his benefactor, he would pledge his unwavering loyalty and serve with utmost devotion until his last breath.
…
Celestial Prison.
Emperor Tianqing, in his early thirties and dressed in plain clothes, grew furious upon seeing Gongxi Hongliang, who had endured severe torture but still refused to confess the whereabouts of the secret ledger containing millions in valuables.
“Interrogate every male member of the Gongxi family, one by one, regardless of age! If they won’t talk, move on to the women. Let’s see how stubborn his mouth is!”
Emperor Tianqing, now triumphant, would not miss the chance to torment his greatest adversary. The concubines from the Gongxi family who had been forced into the palace had already been dealt with when they left.
As for the princesses and princes with Gongxi blood, he would not allow them any chance of survival.
If the roots are not removed, the weeds will grow again with the spring breeze.
Gongxi Hongliang had no knowledge of the whereabouts of the stolen gold and silver from his residence. Witnessing his two-year-old great-grandson die under torture, he knew his family could not escape death. With a sinister laugh, he said:
“Tianqing, you brat! The victor becomes king, the loser a bandit. I will wait for you in hell!”
“Carry out the punishment!” Enraged, Emperor Tianqing waved his hand. Every torture method in the prison was exhausted, yet he still failed to obtain the results he desired.
Frustrated and furious, Emperor Tianqing ended the interrogation fruitlessly. Finally, he ordered the Gongxi clan, to the ninth degree, to be taken to the Meridian Gate for immediate execution.
The missing gold and silver became an eternal mystery, attracting pursuit from all manner of people.
The restoration of imperial power was bound to stir conflicts over authority, but the treacherous struggles in the imperial court had nothing to do with Ziyu, who had already left the city. In this lifetime, she would no longer sacrifice herself for anyone.
She would live only for herself!
…
Noon, at an unnamed small hill thirty miles outside Yun Capital.
“Xiao Luo, we can only bury Father and Mother here for now. When you grow up, come back and move them. You must remember the location,” Ziyu said to Ziluo, who was crying so hard she was hiccupping.
“Sister, I miss Father and Mother so much. Will I never see them again?”
“Father and Mother live in your heart. You can see them anytime. We must leave now.”
Ziyu quickly removed her outer garments, revealing the Mystic Black Martial Attire underneath, over which she wore a Rabbit Fur Jacket of even, flaxen-gray fur.
With a single cut of the scissors, her waist-length black hair was reduced to the length of two palms, tied into a high bun and secured with a silver crown.
Wearing a Chivalrous Hat and stepping in half-calf square-toed Deer Leather Platform Boots, the exquisite craftsmanship far exceeded Ziyu’s understanding of this era.
“Xiao Luo, let’s go!”
“Sister, I want to change clothes too!”
Ziluo, with rabbit-like eyes, pouted, his small hands awkwardly holding up the hem of his skirt that reached his shoes. Dressed in a delicate pink satin gown with a pure white Rabbit Fur Jacket over it, he wore a pair of small pink embroidered shoes on his feet.
When he raised his head, the pearl flowers on his hair buns shimmered with a soft glow under the sunlight, and the pink satin ribbons danced lightly in the wind.
“Remember, I am your brother, and you are my sister.
Make a mistake once, and you’ll go hungry for a meal. Starve a few times, and you’ll remember.
From now on, our surname is Zi. Don’t say the wrong things, and remember the three rules I told you,” Ziyu said sternly.
From this moment on, she had no intention of using the Mei family’s identity. The two needed new identity documents to wander freely.
No matter how curious the naive Ziluo was, it couldn’t outweigh the threat of hunger. All he knew was that he had to stay with his sister.
“Brother! Where are we going?”
“Good boy, I’ll first take you to experience the customs and cultures of different places.
Then we’ll find a place with the sea in front and mountains behind, to build the safest fortress where Xiao Luo can grow up freely.”
Ziyu dug a small pit beside the new grave and buried the clothes they had changed out of, piling up a small mound as a cenotaph for little Ziyu.
The broken cart had already been dismantled by her to make a simple coffin, leaving only the iron hoe in her hand. When Ziyu shouldered the basket and left again, the iron hoe disappeared from her grasp.
In its place was a brown Flexible Whip coiled around her wrist. Inside the basket, Ziluo opened a small gap and watched the gradually receding hill.
Young as he was, he didn’t understand what parting meant, only firmly remembering what his brother said—that their parents lived on in their hearts.
Ziyu, who didn’t know where her ancestral home was, had no intention of searching for the roots of the Mei family, nor would she rely on others to survive.
Returning to the main road, she saw pedestrians looking fearful, all hurrying along the roadside.
“Clip-clop, clip-clop…”
The rapid sound of horse hooves approached from afar. A team of cavalry in black clothes and red cloaks swept past like the wind, stirring up clouds of dust.
Those who stopped by the roadside and lowered their heads to make way were as silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to breathe heavily for fear of attracting the cavalry’s attention.
Out of the corner of her eye, Ziyu caught sight of the sturdy, tall horses and felt a pang of envy, regretting that she had forgotten about the stables of the Duke’s residence.
The carriage she had stored away was too luxurious and couldn’t be revealed within the Yun Capital area. She could only rely on her own legs to reach the next town before making further plans.
Along the way, they walked and stopped intermittently, with so many cavalry rushing past that it became numbing.
Seeing this scene, Ziyu knew that what she had left behind had played a decisive role. She had, in a way, helped the old emperor eliminate a great scourge!
Would there be a reward posted?
Thinking of this, Ziyu couldn’t help but find it amusing. How had changing bodies made her thoughts so childish?
This must be what it means to let go!
Having experienced too much, Ziyu had naturally accepted this identity. Now, she could be considered wealthy beyond measure, with no need to struggle for survival.
2.5 million taels of silver, 1 million taels of gold, not to mention the value of other items—she believed even the lofty old emperor wouldn’t have this much ready cash.
All that remained was to enjoy life in this different time and space. Perhaps one day, she would settle somewhere and establish her own influence.
Ziyu understood clearly that fairness, in any dynasty or era, was built upon absolute power.
Who knows when she might fully implement Chairman Mao’s principle of “political power grows out of the barrel of a gun” in this alternate time and space.
Better to be a solitary eagle than a helpless ant to be trampled upon.