Gu Jianli was stunned when she saw Xiao Liuzi.
Wasn’t Xiao Liuzi always serving Ji Lan? Gu Jianli still remembered that before Ji Lan ascended the throne, Xiao Liuzi was always by Ji Lan’s side. If she recalled correctly, Xiao Liuzi had been with Ji Lan since he was young.
But now, Xiao Liuzi had run over to report something?
Did this mean he was Ji Wujing’s man?
Ji Wujing had never mentioned it to Gu Jianli. In fact, Ji Wujing, with his peculiar personality, rarely explained his plans.
For a moment, Gu Jianli hesitantly scrutinized Xiao Liuzi.
Was Xiao Liuzi a spy Ji Wujing had planted beside Ji Lan a long time ago, or was he sent by Ji Lan as a diversion? Regardless of which it was, one thing was certain: Ji Lan had already discovered Ji Xinglou’s true identity. Just this alone made Gu Jianli cautious.
And what was going on with Ji Jingyi?
It was at this moment that Gu Jianli suddenly realized that while tacit understanding was precious, she and Ji Wujing communicated far too little. She knew that Ji Wujing’s eccentric nature had always been like this, and she couldn’t help but blame herself for not being more proactive.
Xiao Liuzi kneeled on the ground, both knees touching the floor. He bent over, supporting himself, and vomited violently, staining the green bricks beneath him. He struggled to finish his message: “The people of Xuanjing Sect are highly skilled in martial arts, but with fifty thousand imperial guards besieging… cough, cough, cough… given Ji Lan’s nature, he is very likely to set the mountain on fire, trapping everyone inside… cough, cough, cough…”
Xiao Liuzi had a severe coughing fit, his body slowly collapsing as he fell unconscious beside them. Changsheng immediately stepped forward to check his breathing and looked at Gu Jianli, shaking his head: “He’s gone.”
“Madam, do you believe his words?” Jixia leaned in close to Gu Jianli, whispering.
Gu Jianli stared at Xiao Liuzi for a long moment, gritted her teeth, and gave orders.
“Jixia, prepare the horses immediately.”
“Yuanping, quickly pack up our belongings, and bring cold-weather clothing, food, and water.”
“Yuan’an, wake up Nanny Lin and Lizi, and have them wake up Xinglan and Xinglou and get them ready.”
“Yuanshun, go to the young master’s aunt and explain the situation, help her pack.”
“Changsheng, notify the people of Xuanjing Sect to evacuate quickly and head in different directions away from Xuanjing Sect.”
“And what about me?” Yansui asked.
Gu Jianli said solemnly, “You will ride a fast horse to Western Depot, do not deliver any messages through others, meet Chen He in person. Tell him… to save his senior brother’s life, and to negotiate in the palace to recall the imperial guards as soon as possible. This journey is dangerous, Western Depot is also not a safe place, you must be careful.”
Yansui nodded solemnly.
After giving all these instructions, Gu Jianli hurriedly turned and went inside to fetch clothes for Ji Wujing and helped him dress.
No one spoke, everyone quietly busy with their tasks, their footsteps hurried. Soon, everything was ready.
Wen Jingshan hobbled over to Gu Jianli with the aid of a crutch. Smiling and shaking her head, she said, “I’ve fulfilled my purpose in coming here this time, so I won’t go with you and burden you. Perhaps it’s just a false alarm; I’ll wait here for your return.”
“No,” Gu Jianli said firmly.
“Jianli,” Wen Jingshan smiled and shook her head, “This isn’t the time for sentimentality. Look at me, in this state, I’ll only be a hindrance. Not everything in the world can be perfect; minimizing harm is the best strategy.”
“I said no.” Gu Jianli turned to Yuanshun and ordered, “Yuanshun, take good care of Madam along the way.”
“Jianli!” Wen Jingshan frowned and shook her head.
“What happened? I’m so sleepy.” Ji Xinglan rubbed her eyes and ran to Gu Jianli, hugging her leg.
Gu Jianli patted Ji Xinglan’s head and looked directly at Wen Jingshan, speaking calmly, “Sister Jingshan, I’m not as easily swayed by emotions as you think. When necessary, I will make sacrifices. But we’re not at that point yet. We can’t delay any longer. Let’s talk on the carriage.”
After saying this, she bent down, picked up Ji Xinglan, and handed her to Lizi, saying seriously, “Lizi, I’m entrusting Xinglan to you. You can protect her, right?”
“Yes!” Lizi said loudly, her face showing a carefree smile.
Gu Jianli walked quickly toward the carriage, giving orders as she went: “Nanny Lin, keep an eye on Xinglou.”
Wen Jingshan hesitated for a moment before following.
Three carriages set off simultaneously, heading west. Xuanjing Sect was located in a valley, and heading west led to an endless stretch of mountains. If they hid in the mountains, even if the imperial guards searched, they wouldn’t find them quickly. It was winter, the mountains were barren, and the guards couldn’t set them on fire. She just needed to stall for three days until Ji Wujing woke up. Then, there would be nothing to fear from the imperial guards.
In the jolting carriage, Gu Jianli turned her head to look at the sleeping Ji Wujing.
Ji Wujing’s face was a dark blue, with black blood vessels visible beneath his greenish skin.
Seeing Ji Wujing in this state, Gu Jianli couldn’t help but worry. She feared the jostling carriage would disturb Ji Wujing’s detoxification process and delay his recovery, preventing him from waking up in three days.
“Where are we going?” Ji Xinglou asked.
Gu Jianli snapped out of her thoughts. She looked at Ji Xinglou and Ji Xinglan; their bright, clear eyes fixed on her, unable to hide their worry.
Gu Jianli smiled gently and said, “We’re going to play a game of hide-and-seek with the bad guys.”
“Hide-and-seek?” Ji Xinglan blinked in confusion.
“Yes, hide-and-seek. As long as we don’t get found by the bad guys before your father wakes up, we win.” Gu Jianli leaned over, patted Ji Xinglan and Ji Xinglou’s heads, and said seriously, “Xinglan, Xinglou, if you get separated from Mother, you need to hide and wait for me to find you, understood?”
“Separated?” Ji Xinglan was scared. She feared the dark; the pitch-black night felt like the open jaws of a beast. She didn’t want to be separated and walk alone in the dark.
“Don’t be afraid, Lanlan. If you get separated, don’t cry. Just hide and close your eyes, and wait for Mother to find you.” Gu Jianli’s voice was gentle. “Mother is saying if, meaning it might not happen. Lizi will be with you.”
Ji Xinglan’s long eyelashes fluttered, and she nodded vaguely. She had a vague sense that something was wrong at home, that everyone was in danger. At this time, no matter how scared she was, she couldn’t add to the adults’ troubles.
Ji Xinglou rarely sat quietly without saying a word. He looked at Gu Jianli, then at his sleeping father, frowning as he pondered something.
Wen Jingshan sat silently beside Gu Jianli, slightly surprised that at this moment, Gu Jianli could still use such a gentle tone to soothe the child.
There were no members of the Twelve Disciples of Xuanjing by Gu Jianli’s side, not even Gu Jingyuan was in the capital anymore. The day she captured Batur, she handed him over to her father, who quietly took him away. Although Gu Jianli had someone disguise themselves as Batur’s party to create the illusion that they left the Xuanjing Sect and then disappeared, she still worried that Ji Lan might suspect her and send people to her residence to search. Therefore, she had her father take Batur away quietly.
Moreover, Gu Jianli knew her limitations. When it came to military and political maneuvering, she was no match for her father, so she naturally entrusted the task of “borrowing soldiers” from Batur to him.
As for the Twelve Disciples of Xuanjing, since Gu Jianli was not a member of the Xuanjing Sect, she couldn’t summon them at will. After that day, five of the Twelve Disciples disappeared. Gu Jianli sent five people to assist her father, leaving only Changfeng and Changlin by her side.
The mountain roads were difficult, and the journey was bumpy. As the bumps continued, Gu Jianli pondered throughout the journey.
Just before dawn, when the sky was at its darkest, the sound of hoofbeats could be faintly heard.
The coachman, Changsheng, said, “Madam, the hoofbeats are uniform like those of an army, and there are many of them. Xiao Liuzi’s guess seems to be accurate; it must be the Imperial Guards.”
After another quarter-hour of travel, Changsheng said, “The mountain road ahead is too rough to continue in the carriage!”
Gu Jianli nodded and, according to the original plan, had everyone mount their horses and flee into the deep mountains in different directions.
Gu Jianli sent Yansui to the Western Depot, destined to return empty-handed because shortly after Gu Jianli’s group left, Chen He arrived at the Xuanjing Sect at full speed.
Looking at the deserted Xuanjing Sect, Chen He frowned. He raised his arm and turned his head. A white shadow leapt from a distance. Xuetuan obediently lay in his arm, licking its mouth after eating fish.
Chen He came to pick up Gu Jianli’s group. Before Ji Wujing fell asleep, he had sought him out, asking him to keep an eye on Ji Lan and rush over if anything changed in the palace.
Chen He gently stroked Xuetuan’s head and said softly, “Came up empty-handed. This Ji Zhao… what tricks is he playing?”
Chen He disappeared from the Xuanjing Sect. On his way back, he hid in the shadows, watching the approaching Imperial Guards, and softly asked Xuetuan, “Do you think… Ji Zhao might not have told that woman anything, and she took Ji Zhao and ran away herself? Hmm… Senior Brother didn’t explain it to me in detail either…”
Apart from coming to pick them up, Chen He knew nothing. He had no curiosity and didn’t want to know. He was content being the head of the Western Depot and didn’t want to meddle in other affairs.
“Meow…” Xuetuan lazily stretched.
In the palace, Ji Jingyi was hung up, covered in wounds. He was not young anymore, and after severe torture, he hung his head, barely alive.
Dou Hongyan smiled sinisterly. He twirled the whip in his hand with his orchid finger, speaking in a sharp voice, “Mr. Ji, you have truly disappointed His Majesty.”
Ji Jingyi closed his eyes, not listening to Dou Hongyan’s words, barely hearing anything.
Ji Lan was more than disappointed in just Ji Jingyi.
Priceless porcelain lay shattered on the ground, and Ji Lan stood amidst the fragments, his fury unabated. He was accustomed to concealing his emotions and rarely displayed them on his face. It had been many years since he had engaged in such an act of venting by breaking things.
He never expected that while he was bribing Ji Jingyi, Ji Wujing had used the same method to bribe Xiao Liuzi. However, Ji Jingyi’s loyalty was feigned, whereas Xiao Liuzi’s betrayal was real.
Xiao Liuzi had been his close companion for ten years, staying with him from the lowest point of his life to now…
Ji Lan was suspicious by nature and rarely entrusted anyone, but Xiao Liuzi was one of the few exceptions.
To kill someone’s spirit.
Ji Lan laughed self-deprecatingly.