Chapter 303: Chapter 280: Let’s Go to Daxing
After leaving the Eastern Palace, Shang Ruyi, as she had done every time before, sat in the sedan carried by several little eunuchs and proceeded on her way out.
This time, no one stopped them.
After passing through the Xuanren Gate, the sedan was slowly lowered. When Eunuch Lu helped her out with a smile, Shang Ruyi still couldn’t quite believe it. After getting onto the carriage and returning to the Yuwen Mansion, it wasn’t until she saw Tushere and Wo Xue coming to support her, and they saluted and thanked Eunuch Lu, that her heart finally settled back into place.
She couldn’t help but let out a long sigh of relief.
Eunuch Lu seemed to understand what had been worrying her all along, and with a smile, he said, "Madam, you can be at ease now."
Shang Ruyi forced a smile and said, "I troubled you along the way, Eunuch."
Eunuch Lu replied with a smile, "Not at all. Madam has also exerted herself for half a day; go and rest quickly. I must go to the city gate to pass on a message, and tomorrow, you shall be allowed to leave the city with your entourage."
Shang Ruyi gratefully said, "Thank you, Eunuch."
Eunuch Lu just waved his hand and then turned to board the carriage, leaving.
As soon as he left, Tushere, holding Shang Ruyi, immediately asked, "Miss, are we leaving the city tomorrow?"
Shang Ruyi nodded.
Wo Xue asked, "Young Madam, what are we leaving the city for?"
As she walked inside, Shang Ruyi responded unhurriedly, "Didn’t I mention earlier that I need to go to the estate to handle some matters? When I entered the palace just now, I mentioned it to Her Majesty, and she advised me to go early and return early, to avoid missing the departure with His Majesty."
Wo Xue added, "Indeed, that place is far away; just going back and forth takes one or two days."
Shang Ruyi said, "You all go inside and quickly pack your luggage. Don’t bring too many things; just what you need for these few days. And—Chang Wan, give the order to prepare the carriage."
Chang Wan immediately replied, "Yes."
She turned and left, while Wo Xue went to pack things. Tushere continued to support Shang Ruyi into the room to rest, then poured her a cup of hot tea to warm her hands, and only then did she smile and say, "I thought Miss would be riding a horse to the estate, but you are taking a carriage."
Shang Ruyi held the cup of tea, remained silent for a moment, then also smiled and said, "Why can’t I take the carriage?"
Tushere laughed and said, "It’s just that Miss usually prefers riding to taking a carriage."
Shang Ruyi said, "The weather is so cold, riding a horse could easily lead to catching a cold. The Empress couldn’t accompany His Majesty south this time precisely because she carelessly caught a cold."
"Ah... is that so?"
"You all should be careful as well; the weather changes rapidly these days."
"Understood, Madam."
So, that night, the few remaining servants at the Yuwen Mansion busied themselves preparing for the Young Madam’s upcoming departure. Early the next morning, after having breakfast, Shang Ruyi set off.
When the carriage reached the North City Gate, there were quite a few people entering and leaving, and the soldiers guarding the gate immediately noticed her carriage and quickly came forward.
The captain among them bowed to her with clasped hands and said, "Are you Mrs. Yuwen?"
Shang Ruyi lifted a corner of the curtain and nodded calmly, "Yes, I am."
The man said, "Why is Madam leaving the city with only a few people?"
Shang Ruyi gave a faint smile and said, "I’m just going to the estate outside the city for a look; I’ll be back in three or five days. I’m not moving house; there’s no need for a large entourage."
The man also smiled and said, "Madam is truly carefree."
With that, he waved his hand, "Let them pass."
So, the soldiers in front immediately moved the wooden barrier aside. Just as the carriage was about to pass through the gate, Shang Ruyi looked around and suddenly said, "There seem to be quite a few people entering the city recently."
The man instinctively glanced around—indeed, previously, the wealthy people of Eastern Capital City had left one after another, followed by the commoners moving like ants. When they closed the city gates at night, they couldn’t help but joke that at this rate, Eastern Capital City would be empty, and there would be no need to close the gates.
However, in the past two days, for some reason, more people have been entering the city, and they are all young and strong.
The man laughed and said, "Yes, there’s some life in the city again."
Shang Ruyi smiled again, glanced around, then waved her hand, and the carriage wobbled forward.
Once out of the city, they were on the official road. This road Tushere had traveled once before to inform Jiang Kesong and the others to head to the Xingluo Granary to assist Yu Wenye. She had returned overnight on horseback. This time, taking a carriage felt more relaxed than before, but looking at the scenery along the way, no one’s mood could lighten.
Although they traveled on the official road, the desolate state on both sides of the road was even worse than before.
Traveling all day, they hardly saw any villages or people.
Finally, at dusk, they saw the outline of houses at the foot of the mountain under the afterglow of the sunset, which belonged to Duke Sheng’s estate. A river ran through the front, the murmuring sound of water accompanied by the clamor of crows rising and falling, stomping on the snow on bare branches, causing it to fall with a rustle, making the place seem all the more silent.
As they had come unexpectedly and had not informed the people at the estate beforehand, it wasn’t until Shang Ruyi sent a follower inside to notify them that Jiang Kesong, along with a few people, hurried out to greet them.
They bowed respectfully to Shang Ruyi: "Young Madam."
Shang Ruyi got off the carriage, looked at them, and then smiled at Jiang Kesong: "I came suddenly, I hope I haven’t disturbed your rest."
Jiang Kesong hurriedly said: "Young Madam, we wouldn’t dare. We just finished our drills and haven’t settled down yet."
Shang Ruyi said: "Drilling even at this time?"
Jiang Kesong said: "The Duke’s prior orders were to drill three times daily, morning, noon, and evening, without slacking."
"..."
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi gently nodded her head.
The Duke really managed the military stringently; even his family’s ordinary attendants maintained military drill habits. It’s no wonder, with such diligence and effort, last time at Xingluo Granary, they were able to easily break through the court’s forces and rescue her and Yu Wenye.
Thus she said: "Good."
After a few brief words, Jiang Kesong led them inside. As soon as the sun set, the manor darkened, and Shang Ruyi could only hear the distant and close barking of dogs and crowing of roosters, with little human noise, truly resembling a disciplined military camp. Jiang Kesong held a torch as he led them along the central main road of the manor to a large courtyard gate and said: "Whenever the Duke and the young masters come to the manor, they stay here. Young Madam, rest assured, this place is regularly tidied and won’t be dirty."
Shang Ruyi said with a smile: "You’re overthinking."
She entered, finding that it was indeed clean but also simple, matching the typical Yu family residence style from Taiyuan to the Eastern Capital. Jiang Kesong quickly instructed someone to start the fire and incense, and Tushere and the others took their luggage to the inner courtyard to prepare Shang Ruyi’s sleeping quarters.
Shang Ruyi walked into the main hall, looked at the surrounding scenery, then sat down and said to Jiang Kesong: "How many people do you have here?"
Jiang Kesong immediately replied: "Originally there were two hundred people. During the battle at Xingluo Granary, seven died, twenty-five were injured, of which twenty-two have recovered. The remaining three can no longer practice martial arts and just work with others on the manor. So, we can use one hundred ninety people."
Shang Ruyi nodded.
Jiang Kesong said: "Do you want me to have them come greet Young Madam, or should we formally meet tomorrow?"
Shang Ruyi waved her hand: "No need for formalities."
She handed a few silver notes to Jiang Kesong and said: "These are for settling the matters of the dead and injured brothers. Distribute according to the usual protocol. If it’s not enough, come ask me."
Jiang Kesong took them without further comment: "I thank Young Madam on their behalf."
Shang Ruyi nodded again and said: "I have some matters that need you to do."
Jiang Kesong was not surprised and immediately said: "Young Madam, please tell."
Shang Ruyi said: "You have one hundred ninety people under you now, distribute half to follow three different routes south to Lingnan."
"Lingnan?"
Jiang Kesong was slightly stunned but quickly understood and said: "Young Madam wants us to rendezvous with Shen Family’s Master?"
Shang Ruyi nodded: "They have now received His Majesty’s pardon and are returning. But this journey is not easy, and I want you to provide support. However, the situation in the South is also unstable, and with His Majesty planning to tour Jiangdu, that side might become more complicated than the north. So, divide into three groups: one by waterway, one by path through Tongcheng, and one by the official road."
Jiang Kesong immediately understood her meaning and said: "Alright, I’ll go give the orders."
He turned but hesitated, stopped, and looked back to Shang Ruyi: "Young Madam, if we meet with Shen Family’s Master and his wife, where should we head to next?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi’s brow furrowed slightly.
This was something she had been considering throughout her journey, but even now, the answer was entangled in various thoughts, unable to emerge clearly.
Jiang Kesong thought for a moment and said: "Return directly to the Eastern Capital?"
Shang Ruyi immediately shook her head: "Liang Shide’s forces are not far from here. Even if they fail, the situation here won’t be optimistic. Uncle and aunt have barely managed to leave Lingnan; I don’t want them to fall into danger again."
Jiang Kesong said: "Then, to Taiyuan?"
"..."
"After all, the Duke is still in Taiyuan."
Shang Ruyi shook her head: "Father won’t stay in Taiyuan permanently."
Jiang Kesong glanced at her, a gleam in his eyes, but he didn’t pursue the matter further. He thought for a moment and said: "Or find a place to temporarily stay in the South?"
Shang Ruyi still shook her head: "I said the Southern situation is unstable. Moreover, once His Majesty reaches Jiangdu, conditions there will become more complex."
At this, even Jiang Kesong fell silent.
In fact, these three places were currently the safest places they could think of. Other places were either occupied by the rebel army or coveted by it, and the world seemed to lack any refuge for peace.
As the hall’s atmosphere plunged into a nearly suffocating silence, Shang Ruyi suddenly said: "Let’s go to Daxing."