Chapter Eight, the winds of Fen River are strong

This night, although her feet were still shackled and the wounds on her body throbbed painfully, it was the most peaceful and relaxed night Bai Yingyu had experienced in a long time

In order to sit at the outer edge for the convenience of throwing herself into the water, Bai Yingyu pretended to trip over her shackles and fell heavily. By the time she got back up, the crowd had already surged past her. Her group was indeed the last to board the ship, and they successfully sat in the outermost part of the cabin. However, she found herself seated between two constables, making it somewhat difficult to suddenly leap out and throw herself into the water.

Bai Yingyu was momentarily taken aback: "Has the great hero Xiao also arrived?"

Mo Yan's mind was racing: "What's so difficult about this? At night, when they are asleep, just sneak out the wooden stocks and throw them away, and that will be it"

She scratched her ear, feeling that this remark was somewhat strange. Just as she was unsure how to smooth over the conversation, Bai Yingyu had already wiped away her tear stains with her sleeve and looked at her with a smile, saying, "Please thank Hero Xiao and Hero Li for me."

Sir, please accept my bow

"I am fine," Bai Yingyu said with a slight smile as Mo Yan sat down beside her. For some reason, seeing Mo Yan at this moment and in this place felt particularly intimate, even more so than when she had seen her in the Kaifeng Prefecture prison.

Xiao Chen nodded, realizing that in order to uncover the truth, he would need to make a trip to Fujian: "Thank you, sir!"

"Alright." Mo Yan nodded, "I haven't taken much of the medicine, so I can't stay too long. You should rest well."

Xiao Chen expressed his confusion: "If we remain inactive... then it should not be considered as collusion from within and without."

Upon hearing this, Mo Yan and Li Xu exchanged a glance, deeply in agreement.

Fortunately, I was not beaten or scolded

After waiting for nearly half an hour, a dilapidated ferry finally arrived with great difficulty. A large crowd gathered on the shore, eagerly pushing to board, while the porters hurriedly urged Bai Yingyu to get on the boat

Bai Yingyu was burdened with a wooden yoke, which was not only heavy but also limited her line of sight. The ruggedness of the road made it difficult for her to walk, and she easily stumbled over stones and tree roots, risking falls. Although the two officers did not make things difficult for her, after walking for two or three days, her shoulders, neck, and wrists were chafed and bleeding from the wooden yoke. Her ankles were also raw from the shackles, and several large blisters had formed on the soles of her feet. Her knees were bruised and bloodied from the falls, leaving her in a truly miserable state. Although the two officers did not make things difficult for her, after walking for two or three days, her shoulders, neck, and wrists were chafed and bleeding from the wooden yoke. Her ankles were also raw from the shackles, and several large blisters had formed on the soles of her feet. Her knees were bruised and bloodied from the falls, leaving her in a truly miserable state

Bao Zheng was still in his study reviewing documents, while Zhang Long and Zhao Hu stood guard outside the door; Zhan Zhao was in his own room, having just extinguished the lamp, yet he did not go to bed to rest, but stood in a daze in front of the half-open window; Mo Yan and Li Xu were both soundly asleep in their respective rooms.

While waiting for the ferry, Bai Yingyu gazed intently at the Fen River. Indeed, as Mo Yan had said, it was quite turbulent, with waves crashing against the rocky shore one after another, splashing droplets of water. The strong wind sweeping across the river carried moisture, making it difficult for one to stand firm.

Li Xubai glanced at her and said, "Just make sure you don't take too much of the medicine."

Even Li Xu could not bear to watch any longer, shaking his head and saying: "I need to think of a way; otherwise, with her current condition, it is very uncertain whether she can even reach the Fen River."

You all ... ... towards a daughter of a convicted minister like me ... ...

Indeed, Second Brother said that you saved Fifth Brother, and you have shown us great kindness on the mountain. This time, both he and Fifth Brother have come along with me. " Mo Yan pointed to the next room: " They are currently staying right next door, just a wall apart. So you need not be afraid; we have actually been with you all along the way.

The moon hangs high in the sky, and a faint scent of osmanthus subtly wafts through the night.

Xiao Chen lay in bed, fully aware that he would be setting off early the next morning and should get some rest. However, he tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. The words spoken by Gongsun Ce echoed in his mind repeatedly. He tried to identify any discrepancies within them, but realized that due to his complete ignorance of the situation in Shunde Prefecture twenty years ago, he had no way to begin.

Xiao Chen then bid farewell to Gongsun Ce and, relying solely on the path in his memory, returned to the Kaifeng Prefecture

Is my father truly colluding with him from within and without

Bai Yingyu's eyes were already red, and tears were streaming down her face. No matter how much hardship she had to endure on this journey, she knew she had to grit her teeth and persevere, yet at this moment, after hearing Mo Yan's words, she couldn't help but burst into tears

Bai Yingyu nodded with a smile, watching Mo Yan leave

When should I water it

How can I afford this!" Gongsun Ce exclaimed anxiously

That evening, Mo Yan secretly slipped in after putting some sleeping powder into the tea they were drinking, waiting for the two constables to fall asleep. The wooden stocks were placed in the corner, and she took out a silver hairpin from her bosom, inserting it into the keyhole. After a few taps, she managed to break the lock. Only then did she rise and enter the inner chamber

It seems that Brother Zhan's words still hold some weight. Mo Yan pouted, lowered her head to examine her, and couldn't help but shake her head repeatedly, "Your neck is all bleeding; don't they buy you any medicine to apply?"

The Xian Wang is the younger brother of the late emperor. He has a fondness for horseback riding and archery, often residing in the Shunde area, where he has also trained a considerable number of personal soldiers to accompany him in hunting. According to him, at that time, the Western Xia was invading, yet your father remained inactive. It was he who led his personal soldiers to bravely resist the Western Xia people.

The ship has arrived, the ship has arrived

The events of the Western Xia military disaster that year were known to Gongsun Ce only through reports submitted to the court by others. Historically, the local conditions reported to the court have always varied, and there have even been instances where defeats were reported as great victories. It seems that I must first visit Shunde and inquire with some local elders to gather information.

Due to the inconvenience of appearing in public, they merely followed stealthily from a distance. Although Xiao Chen could not see Bai Yingyu, he could occasionally hear Mo Yan's exclamations of surprise.

Is the King of Xian still around? And where is the strategist Yi Shangwen now?

What happened later

I do have some medicine on me, but if I apply it to you, it might raise their suspicions later on. " Mo Yan scratched the back of her ear awkwardly

Just bear with it for now, it will be fine when we reach Fen Shui

Mo Yan walked over to her with a smile and quietly asked with concern, "Have they made things difficult for you on this journey?"

The boat slowly sailed towards the center of the river, and Bai Yingyu's heart grew increasingly tense. Less than 2 feet away from her was the rolling river water. She could not swim, and naturally felt a bit apprehensive. The thought of having to jump into the water made her heart race even more.

Where is he from

Xiao Chen said: "It can't be that serious, it's just walking."

When the two hundred thousand troops arrived, they heard that the battle was almost over, so they pursued the Western Xia forces and fought for a while longer. Later, following the suggestion of Yi Shangwen, the late emperor left behind one hundred thousand troops to garrison the area. From then on, the border was peaceful, and there were no more military disasters. Not long after this incident, your esteemed father was reported.

However, she has been kind to us on the mountain, so let us find a way to remove her shackles

"Oh dear! I fell again!" Mo Yan looked on from a distance, shaking her head and sighing

"Do not cry, do not cry..." Mo Yan hurriedly wiped her tears, "What does it matter if you are the daughter of a criminal? We are people of the rivers and lakes, how could we care about that? Moreover, my second brother has always disliked officials the most, and now you..."

This idea is excellent! Mo Yan clapped her hands and laughed, saying, "Why not give those two constables some sleeping powder? It would make our actions much more convenient."

Hmm. Bai Yingyu recalled that there was an important matter she needed to ask her, "By the way, your letter mentioned that I should intentionally throw myself into the water when crossing the river? But what should I do if I can't swim?"

Gongsun Ce nodded slightly and said: "Yes, according to the date in the letter, he launched an attack on Song exactly half a month after your father finished writing the letter. The reason it is said to be as solid as iron evidence is precisely because of the astonishing coincidence of the facts, which leaves no room for disbelief. The Left Prime Minister Ouyang Changqing at that time was your father's teacher; if there were any room for maneuver, he would have intervened to offer assistance."

Salty King

That letter was written by your esteemed father to the Western Xia general Li Tengchong, urging him to mobilize troops against the Song Dynasty to plunder provisions. Your father promised in the letter to coordinate efforts from within and without.

Xiao Chen furrowed his brows and asked, "Has this Li Tengchong deployed his troops?"

Bai Yingyu raised her eyes and saw Mo Yan, exclaiming in surprise. She was in the inner room, having not yet drunk any tea, so she had not fallen into a deep sleep. Although the wooden collar around her neck had been removed, she still wore iron shackles on her feet, which would make noise with any movement

The next day, after bidding farewell to Bao Zheng, Xiao Chen set off with Mo Yan and Li Xu from the Kaifeng Prefecture, heading in the direction of escorting Bai Yingyu. It was not yet dark when they spotted her along with the officials.

Sir, do not regard me as the son of a criminal. Let us lay bare the events of that year and assist me in uncovering the truth. Such a great favor, how can I not express my gratitude

I am here! Mo Yan said confidently, "Although the water flow may be very swift, I will be waiting for you in the water, and nothing will happen."

No, this will definitely arouse the suspicion of the officials. Which thief stole that item? It would be embarrassing to speak of it! Since experiencing a loss, Li Xu has become much more cautious.

Xiao Chen pondered for a moment: "Every night during rest, the wooden stocks should be removed. You should find an opportunity to tamper with the keyhole, making them think it is broken."

During the subsequent journey, as there were no wooden stocks, the wounds on Bai Yingyu's neck and wrists gradually formed scabs and finally ceased to hurt. However, the leg shackles remained, and she had to walk dozens of miles each day, causing her ankles to be ground to a bloody pulp. Bai Yingyu endured it all and managed to hold on until she reached the banks of the Fen River

The Xian Wang passed away just two years ago, as for Yi Shangwen..." Gongsun Ce shook his head, "He served as the Jinglüe Shi for another two years before falling ill and returning to his hometown, and I have not heard any news of him since.

Gongsun Ce shook his head: "There is no need to thank me"

Gongsun Ce, feeling helpless, could not refuse him and had no choice but to return his bow, quickly helping him up

Gongsun Ce thought for a moment: "If I remember correctly, he is from Quanzhou, Fujian."

Xiao Chen coldly remarked: "These official daughters cannot lift a hand or carry a shoulder; I truly do not know what use they have besides marrying and bearing children"

I feel a bit seasick she paused for a moment and then continued I feel like throwing up

Bai Yingyu gave a bitter smile

Although there was nothing to do throughout the night, he only managed to take a short nap after the crowing of the rooster

The attendant beside her seemed to sense something, turning his head to give her a glance: "Have you never been on a boat?"

Xiao Chen sat quietly for a long time, with no further questions to ask. He then stood up and turned to bow down in the direction of Gongsun Ce. Gongsun Ce hurriedly went to help him, exerting effort several times, yet Xiao Chen remained completely unmoved

At that time, the situation on the battlefield was extremely chaotic, according to what King Xian later stated

Little Seven

She was inherently delicate and rarely moved; now, suddenly having to carry a heavy wooden frame around her neck for such a long distance, she would certainly struggle to cope with it. Mo Yan agreed with Li Xu's statement

At that time, the Governor of Shunde, Yi Shangwen, had sent an urgent document over a distance of eight hundred li, requesting the court to dispatch troops. The late emperor dispatched two hundred thousand troops to gather towards the direction of Shunde Prefecture. Some said that perhaps your esteemed father later felt there was no chance of victory, hence hesitated and did not deploy the troops.

Mo Yan's eyes twinkled as she smiled and said, "In that case, I will have my second brother play the flute, and it would be best to throw it into the water just as the tune is about to end"