Chapter 105: Mrs. Zhu's Secret Letter

Lu Han chuckled. “Well, I worked outside the village for a few years. Hence, compared to my uncle, I’ve seen a little more of the world. It’s really nothing worth bragging about.”

He Lingchuan cut in, “Oh, what did you do?”

“I used to run an escort bureau in Yunyang City, escorting caravans. But after a few years, the times grew rather troubled, and I couldn’t keep it up.”

He Chunhua mused, “Yunyang City? Ah, yes, six years ago, the rebels besieged it. If I recall correctly, they nearly took the place.”

He Lingchuan frowned. “But when times grow troubled, escort businesses should thrive.”

In troubled times, a sword was worth its weight in gold.

Lu Han only sighed. “Easier said than done.”

Just then, someone called from not far off, “Big Brother Lu!”

Lu Han excused himself, “Oh, it seems like something has come up in the village. I must take my leave for now.” After saying that, he turned, and his smile was nowhere to be seen.

“I expect supper’s ready. Let’s head back,” Madame Ying urged, her hunger gnawing.

* * *

Meanwhile, Lu Han gathered four or five of his men and sat boldly on the benches in the drying yard. The open space meant they would be able to see anyone approaching, thereby making it the perfect place to talk.

“That damned official’s sharp. He wouldn’t follow me to Twin Moon Bay.” Lu Han let out a cold snort. “A damn pity.”

Neutralize the leader, and the rest will fall apart. Lu Han’s original plan had been to lure the whole He Family off to a secluded spot, then cut them down one at a time... And the woman could be spared for later.

He asked his men, “And the cooking? Didn’t we have it arranged?”

The villager hosting He Chunhua and his wife grimaced. “My wife’s flatbreads looked too rough. The official’s wife wouldn’t eat them. She brought her own maid, cooked several dishes over our fire, and that rice wine. Hah, its sweet smell filled the whole house.” He swallowed hard at the memory.

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Lu Han’s face darkened. “And the water? Did you put the powder in?”

“I tried. But their old servant made me empty the pot and start over under his eyes. He watched every step, never blinking at all. I had no chance.”

Lu Han hissed through his teeth and turned to the three other men. “What about you? Any good news?”

The three, who were the very fellows He Lingchuan had flushed out with his skipping stones, stepped forward. “Yes. Seven hundred brothers have been sent from the town. They’ll be here soon.”

“The best time to move should be the fourth or fifth watch[1] when the soldiers are fast asleep,” Lu Han thought aloud. But then, he shook his head and added, “No... Since we haven’t been exposed yet, it’s actually better not to touch them at all.”

His men looked at him in surprise. “General, you’ve changed your mind?”

“Not exactly. If we can kill that damn official, so much the better. At that time, his men will scatter like birds. But if not, then tomorrow we simply let them go.” Lu Han smiled faintly and said, “Our utmost priority is to avoid jeopardizing tomorrow’s plan. Have the brothers from town lie in ambush. They just need to be ready in case we end up clashing with them.”

* * *

The He Family walked back together. He Yue chatted cheerfully with their parents, but He Lingchuan’s thoughts lingered on Lu Han.

In his dream of fighting beside the Gale Army, one of the deepest impressions had been the stench of blood on those veterans, a murderous aura born of a hundred battles. Strangely enough, he felt that same murderous aura clinging to Lu Han.

The man was doing his utmost to smother it. He claimed to have been in the line of escort businesses, marching south and riding north, wandering the rivers, the lakes, and the grasslands of the world.

But could such work really steep a man in blood like that, enough to reek of mass slaughter?

He Lingchuan lifted his head to the sky, recalling again the unnatural silence of the forest as they entered the village.

From that moment, something has felt really wrong.

The He Family had walked only half the way back when they saw the village chief hurrying past ahead, head lowered.

Weren’t we just told that the old man was unwell and had retired early?

The thought had barely formed when a woman suddenly stepped out from the roadside, blocking the village chief’s path. “Village Chief, what about the matter of the Water Spirit Tablet?”

The village chief, lost in his own worries, froze. “That? We’ll speak of it some other time!”

“Why some other time?” she pressed, refusing to yield. “This morning, you said tonight you’d demand justice from my husband!”

At the words “demand justice from my husband,” He Lingchuan’s curiosity was piqued. He stepped forward with interest and asked, “What Water Spirit Tablet?”

“Ah, it’s nothing,” the village chief cut in quickly, face changing. He wanted the matter buried. “It was likely that some wild monkey knocked it over. A trifle, nothing more!”

With that, he scuttled off, leaving no chance for the woman to pursue him.

She sighed, turned to go, but tripped on a root and fell heavily to the ground.

Thud!

It was no light fall.

He Yue hurried forward to help her up. “Are you alright?”

“I-I’m fine. Thank you, Young Master.” Her voice was soft, and her manners were composed as she gave him a slight bow.

He Yue blinked in surprise.

He Lingchuan gave her a smile and said, “Hoh, your manners are quite orderly and poised, and you don’t sound like an ordinary village woman. Hm, you’re not bad looking, either. What’s your name, and where do you live?”

There’s something odd about her.

This playboy act of mine has been coming easier and easier these days. What on earth is happening to me?

Seeing his son act like some wastrel, He Chunhua’s face darkened. “Chuan’er, mind your manners!”

The woman glanced at He Lingchuan once, murmured, “My surname is Zhu.” Then, she turned and walked away.

After this brief encounter, the four continued back toward their lodging.

He Yue fell behind a few steps until he was beside his brother. Quietly, he muttered, “Something’s wrong.”

He Lingchuan stiffened. “What is it?” His nerves had been taut all evening.

“When she got up, she slipped a paper ball into my hand. She used her sleeve to cover it so no one else could see.”

He Lingchuan let out a low chuckle. “Something’s wrong, alright. Maybe she’s taken a liking to you!”

“From the look of her, she’s in her early twenties at most. Maybe she fancies tender morsels like you—young, fresh, delicate!” He Lingchuan patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t be afraid. A young man should rise to every challenge!”

He Yue shot him a look of pure disdain. “Big Brother, are you really the one who should be saying things like that?”

After all, it was his older brother, not him, who had chosen to practice those dubious youth-preserving techniques.

Madame Ying turned at the sound, glaring. “Chuan’er, this isn’t Heishui City. Don’t fool around!”

“Yeah, yeah, I know.”

They had barely reached their lodgings when the smell of food wafted out to meet them.

But He Yue excused himself, claiming he needed the latrine.

He Lingchuan only smirked, knowing his younger brother meant to read the paper in secret.

He had just sat down and picked up two strips of bamboo shoots when He Yue rushed back in, bent low to whisper to their father, “Father, something’s wrong!” He handed over the crumpled note. “That woman gave it to me.”

The host was nowhere to be seen; only the four members of the He family were in the dining room.

He Chunhua set aside his bowl, unfolded the note, and his face changed instantly.

He passed it to He Lingchuan, then rose to the door, summoning his personal guard, Zhao Qinghe, and Old Steward Mo inside. He ordered more guards to keep watch around the house and allow no strangers near.

The hostess of the house was in the main room across the courtyard. With their own men stationed nearby, the He Family could speak in the dining hall without fear of prying ears.

He Lingchuan spread the scrap of paper. Madame Ying leaned over his shoulder.

Together, they read the single line written in crimson.

1. The fourth watch refers to 1 to 3 A.M., and the fifth watch refers to 3 to 5 A.M. ☜