Chapter 48: The Cold Night

Late at night.

In the Fu family residence, Elder Fu, Old Liu, Fu Rui, Lady Zhang, Lady Tao, and others gathered around the hearth, listening to the howl of the cold wind outside while eating steaming hot dishes.

“I heard that before nightfall, the prisoners of Ti County were all taken outside the city, apparently to be dispatched to Ti County. Who could be so audacious? If a prisoner mutiny occurs, heads will surely roll…” Lady Zhang sipped her hot broth, glancing at Lady Tao and Lady Tai as she spoke.

“Luckily the Li household has been busy these days, so there’s no time for lessons. Zhi and the granddaughter-in-law don’t need to go to the Li residence!” Elder Fu nodded in agreement.

Lady Tao and Fu Rui had also heard rumors about the conscription of prisoners in the city, but fortunately, it had nothing to do with commoners like them. Zihou was tending to his friend at the Li residence, and their own family sat together by the fire, enjoying their hot meal.

Inside the Li residence of Ti County.

Beneath the candlelight in the main hall, five elders of the Cui clan—Lord Cui Hebo, Lord Cui Jin, Cui Xiwen, Cui Yunying, and Cui Yunzong—sat behind wooden tables, discussing how best to negotiate with Zhang Jincheng.

The Cui clan of Qinghe had kin scattered throughout the land, but these five remained in Bohai County and Pingyuan County of Hebei. Upon hearing that Zhang Jincheng was attacking Qinghe County, they hurried to Ti County to deliberate.

“Word should have reached the north by now. Yang Yichen, the Senior Grand Marshal, is leading the Sui imperial army south, but at this moment, Qinghe County is on the verge of falling…”

“Zhang Jincheng is a madman. Since he wants to kill Yang Shanhuai, he probably no longer fears the Yang clan of Hongnong. If we, the Cui clan of Qinghe, don’t find a way to protect ourselves, we too may fall to Zhang Jincheng…”

As their heated discussion continued, the Li residence maids brought tray after tray of food, but the elders of the Cui clan had little appetite.

In a guest room, Li Qiong carried a meal to Cui Wenjin, who looked haggard and weary.

“Wenjin, eat a little,” Li Qiong urged, removing steaming dishes from the tray and setting them on the table.

“I can’t eat. Is there any news from outside?” Cui Wenjin lifted her tired, delicate face to look at Li Qiong.

“I heard that prisoners from Ti County have been conscripted, and the troops are splitting into two groups to rush to Qinghe overnight,” Li Qiong replied.

This matter had stirred quite a commotion in the courtyard earlier. Everyone was curious who dared to repeat what had happened decades ago—sending prisoners to the battlefield.

Li Qiong had read a few basic military treatises and knew that a skilled general could use prisoners to achieve great victories, as Zhang Han did in the Qin dynasty. But in most cases, it was a rabble, a disorganized mob that collapsed at the first blow. The records she read were nearly all disastrous.

But Li Qiong would not share these recorded failures with Cui Wenjin.

“Prisoners?” Cui Wenjin was surprised, never expecting Ti County would resort to using prisoners. She looked at her unconscious elder brother and sighed.

At that moment, Cui Wenjin suddenly thought of that fraudster and quickly turned to Li Qiong.

“Do you know who is leading them?” she asked.

“I heard it’s all Chief Scribe Zhou’s trusted aides, one named Zhang Wen and one named Ji Li,” Li Qiong replied, sharing everything she knew.

“Don’t worry, Wenjin, you must have met Chief Scribe Zhou! He is said to have received kindness from the Cui clan, so since Qinghe County was besieged, he has been recruiting men day and night. Even the order to use prisoners was issued not by Magistrate Wang, but by Chief Scribe Zhou himself,” Li Qiong assured her.

“Mm.”

Cui Wenjin naturally knew Chief Scribe Zhou. Because of her impulsive nature, she often confronted shrews or scoundrels in Ti County, sometimes even drawing her sword and injuring them. Each time, her brother would take her to see Chief Scribe Zhou.

But unlike what Li Qiong imagined, upon hearing this, Cui Wenjin seemed relieved, but her eyes flickered with disappointment and self-mockery.

A fraudster is, indeed, a fraudster!

She had worried about him, regretted and blamed herself. He took her sword, and even her brother’s identification token—she thought he would go to Chief Scribe Zhou to ask for men and head to Qinghe County to lift the siege.

But he was still the same as always, fond of deception. Perhaps when news of Qinghe County’s fall arrived tomorrow, he would return to her, putting on a show of sorrow and regret before her and the Cui elders.

“Wenjin, what’s wrong?” Li Qiong noticed her unease and asked with a frown.

“Nothing,” Cui Wenjin shook her head, keeping her thoughts to herself.

So many had already died outside Qinghe County; she could not blame Fu Zihou for deceiving her.

As for Fu Zihou’s matters, Cui Wenjin did not wish to share them with Li Qiong. At least, Fu Zihou had given her a moment of heartfelt emotion.

As for the sword and her brother’s token, she wasn’t worried. He was Li Cha’s fiancé, the grandson-in-law of the Li residence.

Though he liked to deceive, from his first trick she could tell he had limits—not so bad as to be beyond redemption.

While she pondered, she heard coughing nearby and turned to see her brother slowly opening his eyes.

Cui Wenjin was overcome with joy. She quickly got up and rushed to his side.

“Brother, you’re finally awake! Brother, oh, brother!” she cried, her whole being trembling with excitement as she saw his dry lips. She hurried to fetch water for him.

Li Qiong, seeing Cui Yuzhe awake, quietly left to instruct servants to call for the physician.

Elsewhere.

Inside a modest residence in Ti County, Gao Shining stood angrily at the doorway.

Behind him, his wife Lady Xiao and the three women of the Changsun Wuji family remained silent.

“The Li family has gone too far! To let a lowborn child…” Gao Shining seethed.

Gao Jin and Gao Lvxing fell silent; neither expected that the youth they met today was a merchant’s son.

Merchants were ranked as low as servants, outcasts, and courtesans. Yet the Li family had betrothed Li Cha to a merchant’s son, and over the years, Li Jingjie had concealed this fact.

Had they not overheard scholars discussing it today, they would have remained in the dark.

“Uncle, but Cha doesn’t mind, and that Fu family youth treats her…” Guan Yinbi ventured hesitantly. She had seen today that Li Cha’s gaze when speaking of Fu was full of affection.

That youth, too, was sincere toward Li Cha, caring nothing for her disability.

“Silence!” Gao Shining bellowed at her.

Guan Yinbi shrank back; she rarely saw her uncle so furious.

Lady Gao quickly pulled her daughter aside, and Changsun Wuji glanced at his sister, signaling her not to speak again.

“From now on, none of you are to consort with the Li family, nor allow anyone from the Li household to step across our threshold! And Li Cha, and that lowborn Fu!” Gao Shining thundered, his aged eyes intimidating.

Seeing Guan Yinbi’s calm expression, clearly disagreeing, Gao Shining’s face darkened with rage. Were it not for his respect for her late father Changsun Sheng and her husband’s family, he would have taught her a lesson himself.

Now Gao Shining strictly forbade anyone from associating with the Li residence.

“Master, someone calling himself Lord Dou is at the door, requesting an audience,” a servant hurried up to report.

On hearing that Dou Jiande was seeking him, Gao Shining’s expression softened. He looked at his son Gao Jin, indicating he should join him in greeting Dou Jiande.

“Sister, why speak up? Uncle is clearly furious. Even if Li Cha’s mother were alive, uncle would break off relations with his own daughter to avoid disgracing the family!” Changsun Wuji sighed as uncle and cousin departed, looking helplessly at his sister. She was stubborn; once she made up her mind, no one could sway her.

She might seem gentle and agreeable, but when her temper flared, even Shimin said she was more stubborn than he.

Besides, Fu Zihou truly was a merchant’s son—an undeniable fact.

Their uncle hailed from the prestigious Bohai Gao family, had lived through Northern Qi, Northern Zhou, and now the Sui dynasty, nearly sixty years old, and valued family status above all. Li Cha was his granddaughter.

For the granddaughter of the Gao clan to marry a merchant’s son—how could uncle not be furious?

Had he not been mindful of the Cui clan guests at the Li residence and feared public disgrace, uncle would have smashed his cup and quarreled with Li Jingjie then and there.

“But Li Cha loves that Fu family youth, and he does not mind Li Cha’s disability! You may fear uncle, but I do not.” Guan Yinbi said, looked at her brother, and left the room.

Changsun Wuji and Gao Lvxing exchanged glances and sighed. Guan Yinbi’s stubbornness was in full force; no one could persuade her.

They dared not visit the Li residence, but they were certain Guan Yinbi would still see Li Cha.

…

Under the winter night.

On the frozen river, black figures moved forward on foot through the darkness.

The cutting wind swept over the river, which had not a single torch. Everyone relied on the moon’s reflection on the ice to find their way, walking silently toward their destination.

Along the way, soldiers with wooden sandals often stumbled and fell, but aside from faint grunts, they would rise and continue forward; none stopped.

Most of the soldiers had loved ones, and for them, their concern and resolve were the driving force pushing them onward, no matter how cold or far.

Among the rest, most had family in Qinghe County, which explained why, though defeated in battle and barely escaping with their lives, they still longed to return to Qinghe.

“Master, Qinghe County is not far ahead!” Xiong Ruixiang hurried to report to Fu Zihou.

In his youth he had hauled boats, so he was familiar with the river routes near Qinghe County, able to judge the distance even in the dark.

“Head to the opposite shore ahead and rest. Make sure everyone is well rested!” Fu Zihou ordered quietly. They had already bypassed Zhangnan and Wucheng in the night; all that remained was to strike Qinghe County at dawn. Before that, the troops had to recuperate.

“Yes!” Hearing his command, Xiong Ruixiang, familiar with the terrain, quickly led the soldiers to find a resting place.

Fu Zihou looked back at the stream of soldiers, then toward Qinghe County, his gaze heavy, knowing the attack would begin at dawn.

He had done everything possible; recalling how his teacher used insect meat to lure his ants, separating their forces on the battlefield until gaps appeared, he realized his own insect meat was now in place. What remained was to test his eye for choosing men and his ability to command in battle tomorrow.