Chapter 87: Hidden Motives

Jiangning.

Yang Xue Ruo ascended the towering city gate alongside her father, Yang Qi, standing upon the ramparts to gaze out across the vast, snow-covered landscape. The spectacle of the snow, stretching endlessly northward to the banks of the mighty river, filled her heart with awe. The river itself was shrouded in heavy mist, and between heaven and earth, a bleak, desolate atmosphere lingered.

Yang Qi, wrapped in a cloak, glanced back at his daughter and spoke in a calm tone, “Kong Sheng departed Jiangning in haste—most likely snowbound on the road by now. That young man, having received an official post, simply could not restrain his eagerness to take up his duties.”

Yang Xue Ruo bowed respectfully. “Father, Kong has gone to Henan, undaunted by danger. His heart burns with patriotic ambition; though his rank is humble, I believe that in time, he will achieve greatness and return to the South in triumph.”

Yang Qi's lips curled in a half-smile, half-sneer. “Is that so? I will be watching closely. Daughter, rest assured, my promise still stands. If he meets my expectations in two years, I will not oppose your marriage.”

Yang Xue Ruo smiled gently and bowed deeply. “Thank you, Father. I am deeply grateful, and express my thanks on behalf of Kong.”

Yang Qi turned away, his smile fading.

Kong Sheng’s hurried departure from Jiangning did not concern Yang Qi; he considered it perfectly normal. Young men who attain official posts are bound to be impatient—he himself had been no different in his youth. His attention remained fixed on the imperial campaign to quell the rebellion. He had dispatched scouts in every direction—north of the river, south of the mountains, and as far as Henan, Hedong, and Hexi. Any news would be swiftly relayed back to the South.

What irritated him, however, was that at last night’s banquet, Li Fuguo had openly asked when he would muster troops to march north and serve the emperor, using the imperial court’s authority as leverage.

Though Yang Qi deflected with excuses of preparing troops and gathering provisions, he could not stall forever. If Li Fuguo reported him to the emperor, his reign as the southern overlord would be in jeopardy.

Hong Mian handed a hand-warmer to Yang Xue Ruo, who wrapped it in her palm and gazed up at the endless snowscape, silently wishing Kong Sheng a safe journey and success in all things.

At the courier station.

Li Fuguo paced the hall with a darkened expression. In recent days, he had tested Yang Qi’s attitude both openly and covertly, and discovered troubling signs.

Though Yang Qi outwardly complied with the imperial summons, his actions remained purely verbal; nothing tangible had been set in motion. His talk of “preparing provisions and troops” was mere empty rhetoric. Jiangning was calm, and Yang Qi’s southern armies remained stationed at their barracks, with not the slightest sign of movement.

Li Fuguo would one day become a notorious power-wielder, dominating the court; he had exceptional talents. Deeply calculating and adept at reading others, he sensed something amiss in Yang Qi’s demeanor.

His political instincts were sharp. To confirm his suspicions, he disguised himself and two young eunuchs, leaving the station for a stroll through the city. He soon realized that Yang Qi had agents secretly monitoring his movements.

The squad of palace guards he brought had been tightly confined to a side courtyard of the station. Though they were served well with food and drink, and their needs meticulously attended to, it was clear that at the slightest provocation, these guards would become helpless victims of Yang Qi’s forces.

A fine sheen of sweat appeared on Li Fuguo’s brow.

He sensed danger looming. All his ambition and fondness for the prosperous South were swept away. He knew he could not linger; he had to leave Jiangning at once, or else he might face a path of no return.

But if Yang Qi was indeed as he suspected, he had already fallen into Yang Qi’s hands. How could Yang Qi allow him to slip away so easily?

What to do?!

Li Fuguo’s anxiety was like an ant on a hot pan. He paced back and forth with a grim face. The two young eunuchs attending him, oblivious to his distress, cheerfully suggested, “Master, we hear there is a scenic Riverside Pavilion outside Jiangning. Why not let us accompany you for a stroll to relax?”

Li Fuguo erupted in anger. “Relax? Are you fools blind to the situation? Get out, both of you, and stop testing my patience!”

The two eunuchs withdrew, baffled by his sudden outburst.

Li Fuguo watched their retreating figures, his brows arching with sudden delight. Why not use the pretext of a city outing to gather the palace guards, cross the river, and escape north—leaving Yang Qi’s territory far behind? Once in Huainan, he would be beyond Yang Qi’s reach.

He immediately summoned the captain of the guards, Xian Yu Lie.

Xian Yu Lie, a sixth-rank officer in the imperial army, was a burly man with thick brows and a commanding presence. Dressed in regulation armor, he marched in, saluted, and spoke gruffly, “Reporting to the imperial envoy!”

“Xian Yu Lie, tomorrow I wish to leave the city for the Riverside Pavilion. Gather the palace guards—we depart at dawn!”

“Yes, sir!” Xian Yu Lie clasped his hands and turned to leave.

Li Fuguo hesitated, then added, “This place is safe—no need for a large escort. Just bring a dozen guards with me tomorrow.”

Li Fuguo was cunning; he knew that marching out with all his guards would arouse Yang Qi’s suspicion. With only a handful, Yang Qi would still send men to monitor him, but he might have a chance to slip away.

“Yang Qi, you traitor! If I escape, I will report your disloyalty to the emperor. Just wait—when the imperial army arrives, you will have no way out!” Li Fuguo cursed under his breath. “Wretched rebel, daring to defy imperial command, with treacherous ambitions like An Lushan—such villains deserve death!”

In the Yang residence, Yang Qi received word that the imperial envoy, Li Fuguo, intended to leave the city at dawn for the Riverside Pavilion. He paid it little mind.

Confident in his overwhelming power in the South, Yang Qi regarded Li Fuguo as an insect on a string—no matter how far he jumped, he would never escape his grasp.

Nor did Yang Qi expect Li Fuguo to be so cunning as to plot an immediate escape from Jiangning.

Yang Qi glanced at Yang Kuan, his expression cold. “Let him go if he wishes. Yang Kuan, in this frozen world, arrange for attendants to serve the envoy along the way. He is a distinguished guest from the court; make sure he is not neglected.”

Yang Kuan acknowledged the order, bowed, and withdrew.