Chapter 365 - Chapter 365: Return
Chapter 365: Return
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The garrison on the city wall of Yunzhou also saw the towering fire on the top of the mountain. Those who did not know the truth were guessing what was going on. Chu Sihai, Zhou Jia, and the garrison general stood on the city wall and looked at the red sky that was burned by the mountain fire. They were worried about Li Yu and Shen Shuo.
Deputy General Ouyang, the garrison general, turned to look at Chu Sihai and
Zhou Jia. “Lord Zhou, Shopkeeper Chu, we received news this morning that the Qingzhou Prefecture has also discovered the abnormal movements of the Qi soldiers. A war is about to break out. The general ordered us to defend Yunzhou City to death. Seeing that the war is about to break out, it will be troublesome if someone colludes from the inside and outside. Shopkeeper Chu, have you captured the Wei family who colluded with the Qi people?”
Chu Sihai cupped his hands at the two of them and said, ‘General Ouyang, don’t worry. That day, I sent a pigeon to spread the news everywhere and even sent out all the people in the bank. Otherwise, why would I ask Madam Li to take the risk to send a letter to General Shen and make Lord Zhou worry?
Zhou Jia muttered to himself,” You still know that I’m worried? Then why didn’t you let the military go? Why did you let my wife help?”
Zhou Jia looked at the two of them and smiled bitterly. “It’s a small matter that I’m worried about. As long as we can eliminate those evil people from the Wei family as soon as possible and eliminate the Qi soldiers.”
Chu Sihai and Ouyang said in unison, “Yes, let’s work together and destroy the
Qi army as soon as possible.”
After a few days of traveling, Li Yu and Ji Xiang had already arrived at the wooden hunters’ shack. Li Yu looked at the equally exhausted Ji Xiang. “Let’s rest for four hours tonight before setting off.”
Ji Xiang panted. “That’s good. Rest first, Madam. I’ll get something to eat.”
“You’ll take a long time if you do it alone. I’ll go get water too.” After saying that, Li Yu carried the hanging pot to the stream and fetched water to boil. The two of them ate some dry food with boiling water and prepared their sleeping bags before falling asleep.
Four hours later, it was already dawn. Li Yu turned over and sat up. Ji Xiang also turned over and sat up. The two of them packed their things and led the horses down the mountain with torches. They arrived at the cornfield before noon.
Ji Xiang looked at the bare cornfield and said to Li Yu with a smile, “Madam, the corn is all collected.”
“That’s right! In the blink of an eye, we’ve been gone for more than half a month.” The two of them arrived outside the manor. Seeing that it was so quiet that no sound could be heard, Li Yu thought that Ruyi had already brought them back to the city. It seemed that the situation was very serious.
“Giddyup!” The two of them whipped the horse twice and rushed toward Yunzhou City. The two of them rushed to the city gate and saw the closed city gate and the garrison standing on the city wall.
Ji Xiang raised his hand and shouted at the defenders on the city wall, “Please open the city gate.”
Ruyi, who was sitting against the battlement of the city wall, suddenly stood up. He turned around and saw the two people riding horses under the city wall. He waved at Ji Xiang and Li Yu excitedly and shouted, “You’re back! Open the city gate quickly. Madam is back.” Ruyi ran towards the city gate as she shouted.
The guards slowly opened the city gate a little. Li Yu and Ji Xiang rode their horses past the city gate. Ruyi rushed in front of the two of them and pulled the bridle. He looked at the two of them happily and muttered, “It’s good that you’re back. It’s good that you’re back. Madam, Ji Xiang, you must be tired! I rushed the carriage over. Go sit in the carriage for a while. Master has gone to settle those who fled into the city.”
Li Yu nodded. The two of them smiled as they watched Ruyi get off the horse. Ruyi took the reins from the two of them and walked to the carriage. He tied the reins to the shaft of the carriage. The horse moved leisurely with the carriage. Li Yu leaned against the carriage and fell asleep. Ji Xiang leaned against the carriage door and narrowed his eyes. Ruyi smiled and looked at Ji Xiang from time to time.
When the few of them returned to the entrance of the government office, Li Yu handed Shen Shuo’s letter to Ruyi and asked him to send it to Chu Sihai. Just as she was about to go home, she thought of the jade pendant that Shen Shuo had given her. She felt that Shen Shuo’s wife should still be looking forward to Shen Shuo’s news. She said to Ji Xiang, “Ji Xiang, go back first. I’ll go to General
Shen’s house first!”
“Yes, Madam.” After Ji Xiang agreed, he watched Li Yu ride her horse to Shen Shuo’s house.
When Li Yu arrived at the general’s residence, she said to the doorman, “Please inform the general’s wife that the magistrate’s wife is here to visit.”
The doorman looked at the travel-worn Li Yu and returned the greeting politely. “Madam, please wait a moment.” With that, he turned around and ran inside.
After a while, Li Y saw a middle-aged woman in an embroidered dress rushing out. Her beautiful face was a little haggard.
When the general’s wife saw the exhausted Li Yu in brown, her heart skipped a beat. She hurriedly went forward and bowed. “Sorry for the delay. Madam Magistrate, please.”
Li Yu and the general’s wife entered the general’s residence and passed through the drooping flower door into the courtyard. The general’s wife brought Li Yu into the living room and said politely to Li Yu, “Madam, please sit.”
“Madam General.” Li Yu glanced at her and handed her the jade pendant in her hand. “General Shen asked me to bring this back to Madam.”
Madam General took the jade pendant and tears flowed down her face involuntarily. She looked at the jade pendant in a daze and asked Li Yu in a choked voice, “Madam Li, what happened to my master?”
Li Yu glanced at Madam General’s tear-stained face and suddenly felt a little guilty. She told her about what had happened on the mountain with a heavy heart. “Madam, when I left, General Shen and the others were still advancing towards their destination. I’m not sure about the current situation.”
Madam Shen held the jade pendant tightly in her hand. She thought about how the general had said that the mountain fire on Mount Spindle would burn for a
few days before it was extinguished. Then she thought about how this pair of fish pendants was a token of love between her and Master. The two of them had agreed to pass the jade pendant to their son in a hundred years. Now that Master had asked the magistrate’s wife to help pass the jade pendant to her, he was probably doomed.
When Madam Shen thought of this, her heart ached. She suppressed the sadness in her heart and bowed to Li Yu. “Thank you, Madam. You’ve been running around for days and are very tired. I’ll visit you after you’re done.”
“Goodbye, Madam. Please wait.” Li Yu stopped the general’s wife from sending her off. After bowing, she came out of the Shen residence and mounted her horse to return.
When she arrived at the entrance of the government office, she saw Xiaoyu holding Yangyang, who was wearing a red silk jacket, and a pair of thin cotton pants, and Seven Pounds, who was wearing a big red jacket, waiting for Li Yu at the door.
When Yangyang saw Li Yu riding closer, he called out to Li Yu and ran toward her.
Li Yu jumped off the horse and quickly walked forward to pick him up. She kissed him. “Good baby, I miss you so much. Did Yang’er miss me at home?”
Yangyang kissed Li Yu. “I miss you. Yang’er and Father miss you together. Father is not obedient and refuses to eat properly.” With that, he looked at Li Yu and pouted.
Li Yu looked at him and smiled. “Yes! Father is not obedient. Yang’er is
obedient.
Xiaoyu walked up with Seven Pounds and smiled at the mother and son.
“Madam, you’re back!” Li Yu touched Seven Pounds’ smiling face. “I’m back.” Everyone walked into the house happily..