92 The Wai (1/2)
Meng Fuyao thought and thought about all the possibilities and impossibilities, and felt dizzy-eyed.
Ya Lanzhu kept her eyes on her at all times, until they turned red. She pulled the curtain aside, and two men could be seen shuffling their feet back and forth, waiting.
”I don't care anymore. It's so hard to see her like this.” It was Zhan Beiye who had spoken. He let out a deep sigh.
”Congrats, you can take advantage of her vulnerability,” Zong Yue stated.
”Bullshit!” Zhan Beiye burst out. ”Can you be more humane?”
Zong Yue responded with a low, cold laugh, before continuing with a higher voice, ”I think you all need another rain-soaking. Can news from King De's side be trusted? Can you believe what you hear? Just a few words and here you are, making so much noise?”
As if his ears had been pricked, Zhan Beiye retorted, ”Which eye of yours did you see her making a scene with?” He strode over and pulled the curtain out, carelessly carrying Meng Fuyao out and shouting, ”Eh, why are you still in a daze? Wake up, it's not that bad. Zhangsun Wuji isn't that lousy. He couldn't have died. I've been cursing him for 25 years now, but he's always alive and well...”
”Pfft. You started cursing others from within your mother's womb?” Meng Fuyao pushed him aside. ”Move. Don't disturb my toilet time.”
Upon seeing her reaction, Zhan Beiye turned evidently joyful, albeit mixed with bitterness and a contradicting ache.
Zong Yue remained expressionless, but there was relief in his eyes. Meng Fuyao stopped before him, asking, ”You have special news channels so you would know. What did they say on your side?”
Zong Yue sighed deeply, but Meng Fuyao stared him right in the eye, calming saying, ”I want the truth.”
”No one knows where Zhangsun Wuji is,” Zong Yue confessed, ”I didn't have much news to begin with but had just received information similar to what you've heard. There has been a collapse at Huya Ravine, and it is true that a dead body has been found. His imperial mark, his horse, and his flesh had all been mashed together due to the impact of the collapse. Technically speaking, no one has seen his corpse.”
Meng Fuyao shut her eyes for some time before responding, ”Alright, then.”
She set her gaze toward Wanzhou, speaking softly, ”I've given it some thought. He couldn't have died so easily. There's no way. I'm going to do what I should, and then, wait.”
'To wait.'
To wait for the dust to settle, to wait for destiny to uncover the truth, and to wait for everyone's future, or the lack thereof, to unveil.
'To wait for your return.'
...
On February 14th, on the 16th year under Wuji emperor's reign, the prince, who was supposed to manage the war between his nation and Gaoluo, had died in Huya Ravine, outside of Wuji and Wanzhou. It was a mountain near the inland city of the southern border, about 100 kilometers away from King De's camp and 85 kilometers from Yaocheng.
News spread and shocked the whole of Five Region Continent. Speculations, doubts rose, and people wanted to wait and observe. The whispers that were exchanged between national borders transformed into strong gusts of wind, gradually amassing high up in the sky.
On February 15th, King De, who was guarding the southern border camp, hurriedly negotiated for peace with the southern and northern Rongs, recruiting local soldiers to form an army of 300,000 and then raising a ”friendship flag.” He sent Yang Mi, his trusted aide, to lead the troop toward Wanzhou. Meanwhile, he announced to the world that the crown prince had been harmed and that he vowed to take down the perpetrator or he would never return.
Some praised his loyalty while others, who were scholars and more clear-headed, saw through his plan to plant his bum onto the Wuji's emperor seat, and would never return without it being secured.
Ignoring people's views, King De advanced vigorously, his vanguard quickly breaking through Wanzhou. Not stopping there, he used the commoners' anger as a reason to continue toward Jingcheng.
King De's ambition was abundantly clear, and it was as Meng Fuyao had guessed. He acted with disguised righteousness, and a revolt, something that was never allowed to happen in Wuji Nation, was about to succeed before his very eyes.
Almost, at least.
King De journeyed toward Jingcheng, indulging in his pending achievement, unaware that there was a female's shadow tailing behind and observing his every step. She was waiting to land a fatal strike any time possible.
On February 24th, Yang Mi was about to enter the border of Jingcheng.
Zhan Beiye had spread a secret order to lay an ambush in the mountains of the southern border. Dark Wind Horses disguised themselves as anguished citizens, running into the sight of King De and crying out, ”Yang Mi is burning, killing, robbing in the city and seizing the palace. He's after the ruler seal and throne!”
Anxious, King De hurriedly sent a letter to question Yang Mi, only for it to be destroyed along the way by Zong Yue's men. Not receiving a reply got King De feeling even more urgent, and he ordered his troops to speed forward non-stop.