BOUND IN MARRIAGE

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Chapter 43: A Lone Ride Through the Night

The spring chill was biting.

A thin mist rose over Qinglong County, drifting across the wilderness where only scattered glimmers of lamplight remained. In the silence of the plains, a horse and rider galloped through the darkness. They moved with incredible speed, like a bolt of dark lightning merging with the night, appearing and disappearing within the mist.

The wind whipped stray hairs across her face. Xiang Yi leaned low, pressing her body against the horse, letting the pitch-black night swallow the light and the wind sting her cheeks.

This was only her third time seriously riding a horse, and she was riding the old mare borrowed from Manager Jiang. Yet, whether it was the aging beast or the novice rider, there was not a moment’s delay in this midnight dash. They dared not linger, racing toward the prearranged riverbank meeting point.

The image of Chen Fuyou leaving the Tan estate flashed before Xiang Yi’s eyes. He had been so confident, riding away in haste. Before that, he had ceased his searches in Qinglong for several days and secretly mobilized his men. This meant he had obtained the location of the rendezvous between her elder brother, Official Yang, and the Eastern Palace through some unknown channel.

Xiang Yi had no time for hesitation.

As a member of the commoner class, she could not, like her brother, hide her identity to serve by the Emperor’s side and fight for the commoners despite the court’s scorn. Nor could she, like Official Yang, risk her life in her twilight years to travel thousands of miles to deliver evidence of the examination fraud.

There was so little she could do.

But when her father had been falsely accused of corruption, there were officials of commoner origin who had sacrificed their careers to speak for him. If not for them, the Emperor would not have merely sentenced her father to exile and spared the three siblings. Her father had still died on the road to exile, and the officials who spoke for him were mostly marginalized afterward, walking on thin ice even if they kept their posts.

Since they had been willing to speak for her father then, Xiang Yi could not stand by and watch coldly now.

A sudden gust of wind buffeted her, causing her to wobble in the saddle. She quickly leaned down and hugged the horse’s neck tightly. The old mare seemed to possess a spiritual intuition; sensing that the person on her back was a novice who had never ridden like this at night, she gave a low whinny. Her pace became steadier, yet she retained the speed of her prime.

Xiang Yi hugged the horse, whispering words of gratitude and comfort. Together, they sped into the distance.

On the other side, after Chen Fuyou left the Tan estate, he quickly gathered his men. With a sharp order, they galloped toward the riverbank.

He had received reliable intelligence that Gu Yansheng and Yang Muhong would board the Eastern Palace’s ship there. If he could capture them at the meeting point before the ship arrived, his months of pursuit across thousands of miles would not be in vain. Otherwise, not only would these days be wasted, but he would also find it difficult to answer to the main clan back in the capital.

Determined to succeed, Chen Fuyou led his men toward the river.

At the riverbank, Yang Muhong stood up uneasily and paced. The river was a sheet of clear ripples, but no ship had arrived yet. He looked back toward the road they had come from. In the distance, only a few stray lights flickered in the silence; there was no movement.

Qiu Ying called out to him, "Official Yang, you’ve stood up to look five or six times now. Shall I take the watch instead?"

Yang Muhong waved his hand. "I simply feel that the Fengling Chen clan is not benevolent. I fear our departure will not be so smooth."

As he spoke, Gu Yansheng, who was sitting nearby wiping his sword, paused slightly. Chen Fuyou’s lack of movement for several days was indeed strange, which was why he had decided to leave early without further delay. He couldn't help but think of Xiang Yi. Leaving early would prevent further trouble for her. In the end, he had been the one to burden her.

He wiped the blade once more. Seeing Yang Muhong still staring tensely at the road, he gave a light laugh. "Sit and rest, Old Official. Let me take a turn standing." His voice usually held a hint of a smile; even in such urgent moments, he spoke with an air of nonchalance.

Yang Muhong felt a slight relief. But at that moment, someone suddenly burst out from the boundless curtain of night. Yang Muhong and Gu Yansheng were both stunned.

The chaotic sound of galloping hooves startled the nearby villages, and lights were quickly extinguished one by one. Chen Fuyou cared for nothing else, urging his men not to delay. Upon reaching the riverbank, he ordered them to surround the area for three miles, leaving Gu and Yang with no escape.

After another burst of speed, the light reflecting off the river appeared before his eyes. He suddenly raised his hand to give an order. In the next instant, his subordinates fanned out. The sound of hooves echoed all around. Within a few breaths, they had surrounded the three-mile radius of the riverbank, even seizing fishermen's boats to control the waterway.

The area was swarming with Chen clan men. Chen Fuyou felt somewhat at ease and ordered a search. Gu Yansheng likely never imagined he had his own channels for information. While Gu and Yang were hiding in Qinglong, he didn't know who was secretly helping them, but the Eastern Palace was not without his own spies.

However, as the reports came in from various directions, they had found no trace of Gu Yansheng and his companions.

"Search carefully! Are there really no people?!"

A hundred torches illuminated the lake and the night sky. Chen Fuyou’s men searched again, but aside from nearby fishermen, there wasn't a shadow of Gu or Yang.

"Reporting to the Chiliarch, there is truly no one!"

As the words landed, Chen Fuyou’s mind went blank. He looked around in disbelief. The surroundings were silent. He drew the saber from his waist with a sharp shing that echoed through the crowd.

"How is this possible?" The location was correct, yet he had caught no one. He was filled with disbelief, which quickly turned to rage. He threw his sword to the ground. "Could it be that Gu Yansheng and the others were also warned?!"

His angry voice echoed from a distance, reaching a grove of trees where it was only a faint, indistinguishable murmur.

Behind a tree, Yang Muhong stood trembling, his heart still racing. He looked at the woman beside him who was panting heavily and said in amazement, "Madam, you have truly saved our lives!"

Just moments ago, they had seen someone charge out of the darkness and instinctively prepared to hide, only to find it was a woman on horseback. Gu Yansheng had recognized her instantly. He had rushed forward, but before he could speak, Xiang Yi cried out, "Brother! Chen Fuyou’s men are coming! Leave this place quickly!"

As the words fell, the sound of hooves echoed in the distance. Startled, the group retreated toward the high ground in the woods without time for words. They had barely hidden themselves when Chen Fuyou arrived at the head of his men and began the massive search.

Yang Muhong’s unease throughout the night had finally been vindicated, but it was Xiang Yi’s appearance that had turned the tide. He couldn't help but bow to thank her. As a junior, Xiang Yi could not accept such a gesture and quickly stepped aside. "There is no need for such courtesy, Official. This is what I ought to do."

She waved her hands repeatedly, trying to catch her breath while comforting Manager Jiang’s old mare. Qiu Ying, who was better with horses, brought some water from a small stream and gathered some fodder.

Gu Yansheng knelt beside Xiang Yi, frowning as he studied the panting woman with disbelief. "Yizhen, you didn't know how to ride before, did you?"

Xiang Yi indeed did not; she had only just learned. Fortunately, the old mare was steady, and the journey had been smooth. Gu Yansheng stared at her for a long moment without looking away.

Xiang Yi did not wish to dwell on it. Looking at the meeting dock below the woods, her brow furrowed. She asked Gu Yansheng, "Though you and the Official are safe for now, Chen Fuyou’s men have occupied the dock. When the Eastern Palace’s ship arrives, how will you board?"

Her question struck at the heart of the problem. Gu Yansheng did not deflect. Looking at the bright torches of Chen Fuyou’s men surrounding the dock, he gave a faint smile. "It will not be easy. We must think of a way."

By now, it was too late to change the meeting point. Chen Fuyou’s men clearly had no intention of leaving. Even if he failed to catch Gu and Yang tonight, by preventing them from boarding the ship and trapping them here, he would still have a chance.

But Gu Yansheng could not wait any longer.

As the night deepened, the group discussed several plans in the hidden woods, but none seemed feasible. Just then, a large ship gradually approached the wide riverbank. The ship was grand and lofty, brightly lit with lanterns reflecting off yellow curtains—it was the ship from the Eastern Palace.

This time, the Crown Prince had arranged for the Palace Aide, Xu Yuanming, to arrive under the guise of the Crown Prince’s secondary consort visiting her family. It was an official ship of the Eastern Palace, and no one would dare act insolently toward it.

But while the ship had arrived, Gu Yansheng’s group was trapped outside the dock and could not board. On the dock, Chen Fuyou also saw the arriving vessel. Since the ship had just arrived, it meant Gu Yansheng and the others were indeed still in Qinglong and had not escaped. If he kept the place surrounded, what could Gu Yansheng do, even with secret help?

He felt more settled. As the ship neared, he ordered his men to remain respectful. Far off, standing at the bow, Xu Yuanming saw the brightly lit dock. For a secret rendezvous, so many people were not a good sign. He stroked his long beard and ordered the ship to dock, immediately spotting Chen Fuyou in the crowd.

"Chiliarch Chen, why are you here?"

Chen Fuyou did not hide. He cupped his hands in greeting. "Ah, I did not expect Official Xu to arrive here. If I have offended you, it was unintentional. However, there are water bandits in this area, and the government has posted a bounty for a long time. The Brocade Guard is acting on orders; I fear our men cannot withdraw for the time being."

He feigned politeness while harboring malicious intent. Xu Yuanming naturally understood Chen Fuyou’s thoughts, but seeing the place surrounded so tightly, he did not know where Gu Yansheng and the others were. He could only order the ship to halt temporarily. But the consort’s fleet was moving forward; he could not wait here for Gu and Yang for long.

In the woods, Yang Muhong sighed repeatedly as he watched the ship he could not reach. "What should we do?" If they appeared, they would likely be captured by Chen Fuyou’s men before the Eastern Palace’s people even noticed them. Chen Fuyou had far too many men.

Gu Yansheng gave a light laugh. In the cold night wind, he spoke, "In this situation, the only way is to lure the tiger away from the mountain."

Everyone knew the only solution was for someone to go out and draw away part of Chen Fuyou’s force, perhaps even Chen Fuyou himself. Once the guard at the dock was weakened, they could make a break for it. If Xu Yuanming noticed them, they could break through the predicament and board the ship.

Gu Yansheng spoke and tossed his sword to Qiu Ying. "Qiu Ying, protect Official Yang. With your skills, I believe you can hold them off until the Eastern Palace notices."

But as he finished, Yang Muhong immediately refused. "How can that be? I am a man with one foot in the grave. Having delivered the evidence of fraud this far, I am already satisfied. You must go to the capital and present it to the Crown Prince. I should be the one to lead them away!"

Before coming here, he had never expected to return or to keep his old life. As the two men argued over who would sacrifice themselves, Qiu Ying grew anxious. "Both of you stay. My injuries are much better now, and I can hold off those soldiers. I should be the one to lure them!"

Even he began to argue with the two. Gu Yansheng laughed. "What is there to argue about? Though my injuries have healed, my internal strength is not yet restored. Qiu Ying must stay to protect Official Yang as he boards."

The night wind blew from the riverside, carrying the heat from the torches. Seeing Yang Muhong about to speak again, Gu Yansheng stopped him in a low voice. "The most important thing is for you to deliver the evidence to the Eastern Palace. The hope for us commoner officials depends on that evidence!"

He turned, intending to arrange for Xiang Yi to leave safely. She should never have been involved in such danger; he was the one who had dragged her in. But when he turned, the woman was no longer under the tree. Instead, the horse had stood up, and she had flipped into the saddle.

Her movements were still somewhat unpracticed, but she sat firmly on the horse.

"Brother, Official Yang, Qiu Ying—none of you need to argue anymore." She curled her lips into a smile. The distant firelight illuminated half of her face, and her quiet smile seemed to leap with life. "Get on the ship quickly. I am the one most familiar with the roads of Qinglong!"

As the words fell, Gu Yansheng’s heart jolted. The smile left his lips as he rushed forward. "Yizhen, you must not!"

But he was a step too late. The woman spurred the horse, and she disappeared down a small forest path. In an instant, she was gone from Gu Yansheng’s sight.

Chen Fuyou, not wanting to stand eye-to-eye with Xu Yuanming, excused himself and went to a nearby mound. Everyone knew each other's intentions; no matter what, he would not let Gu Yansheng leave today.

Suddenly, someone on horseback charged toward the area. Chen Fuyou stood up abruptly and shouted to his men, "Block that person! Do not let him enter this area, lest he offend the Eastern Palace’s ship!" If Gu Yansheng thought he could just charge in, he was mistaken!

However, the horse and rider suddenly veered off just as they reached the perimeter, heading toward another road. In the deep night, the figure was unclear, but Chen Fuyou instinctively felt it must be Gu Yansheng. He had been hunting him for half a year; the man was elusive, almost as if he practiced sorcery, and had recently appeared frequently in his dreams. Yet even in his dreams, he could never catch him.

Knowing it was a diversion, Chen Fuyou’s desire to capture him was still unbearable. He ordered his men to keep guarding the dock while he gathered a portion of his force. "Follow me and catch that man!"

Chen Fuyou set off with a large group, galloping in pursuit of the figure disappearing into the night. The rider initially pushed hard, but the horse beneath her was not as fast as Chen Fuyou’s steed and gradually slowed down.

In the darkness, the figure remained obscure. Chen Fuyou spurred his horse forward. "Wretched sorcerer, where do you think you’re running?!"

He leaped forward, the distance between the two horses closing. But the rider ahead seemed extremely familiar with the roads of Qinglong, taking a sharp turn into a small path that was barely visible. Chen Fuyou nearly failed to keep up, cursing the "sorcerer’s" skill. Then the horse ahead turned again into another path.

After several such turns, Chen Fuyou began to lose his sense of direction. He started to feel something was wrong. No matter how long Gu Yansheng had stayed in Qinglong, he couldn't be this familiar with the terrain. Squinting to catch the rider’s silhouette, he realized the person on the horse was much shorter than the Daoist.

"No, it's not that sorcerer!" he suddenly realized. "It must be someone from Qinglong helping him!"

Compared to this person, Chen Fuyou naturally cared more about the Gu Yansheng he could never catch. He hated that he had fallen for the diversion so completely despite knowing better. He reined in his horse sharply. Pointing to a group on the left, he ordered, "You lot keep chasing! Do not let the sorcerer’s accomplice escape!" Then he shouted, "The rest of you, return to the dock with me!"

At the dock, the soaring firelight turned chaotic. Xu Yuanming on the ship naturally noticed the anomaly and immediately sent men to investigate. However, the men Chen Fuyou left behind were not to be trifled with. A Centurion and his men blocked them.

"The gentlemen of the Palace should know that water bandits are causing trouble here. The Brocade Guard is on official business; it's best if you don't come over!"

But he was merely stalling. The Eastern Palace possessed authority that overrode the Brocade Guard. Xu Yuanming personally stepped forward and led his group toward the chaos, ignoring the interference.

However, before they could arrive, Chen Fuyou returned in haste. He immediately spotted the figures in the distance—figures that were different from the rider just now. This was the real Gu Yansheng he wanted to catch! But the Eastern Palace’s people had also noticed and were rushing forward.

Chen Fuyou grew anxious. He could not allow his efforts to fail at this final moment, or he would truly have no way to answer to the main clan. Disregarding everything, his eyes narrowed with ruthlessness.

"Pass my order! Water bandits are causing trouble tonight. Kill any rebels on sight! Anyone who brings a head will be rewarded with a thousand taels of silver!"

As the order spread, his men surged toward the center of the commotion. The so-called "water bandit trouble" was a total lie. He intended to muddy the waters and take the opportunity to kill Gu and Yang. He had many men, and even the Eastern Palace’s people could not stop them all.

Gu Yansheng and Yang Muhong saw Chen Fuyou’s men charging with drawn blades while the Eastern Palace’s people were being crowded out. Their hearts sank. Their resistance grew weak; Chen Fuyou had too many men.

Yang Muhong was stabbed in the leg and fell to his knees. Gu Yansheng tried to defend him but was already exhausted, and a spear struck his old wound. He laughed bitterly. "Is this truly heaven’s will? Is it heaven’s will that commoners shall never rise?"

Just as he finished speaking, a louder sound of galloping hooves surrounded them from all sides. Within a few breaths, Gu, Yang, and the others saw a man arrive on horseback.

With a single order from Tan Ting, the chaotic dock was completely surrounded by countless men. The Chen clan’s forces were momentarily bewildered, and in the next instant, they were disarmed by the Tan family men who stepped forward.

Chen Fuyou looked at the Tan family men, who outnumbered his own by three to five times, and looked at Tan Ting in disbelief. His voice turned shrill. "Master Tan, what is the meaning of this?!"

The wind whipped the black cloak of the man on the horse. He heard the Tan clan leader say in a deep voice, "The Tan family no longer wishes to stand by and watch. Today, we shall lend a hand."

Chen Fuyou’s mind roared. "The Tan family is a prestigious clan! How can you help them?!" He pointed at Yang Muhong. "Master Tan, have you forgotten? This is the man who killed your father!"

Everything went silent at those words. The night wind howled. Tan Ting did not look at Yang Muhong; instead, he looked at Chen Fuyou. "How is your Chen clan so certain? Or rather, did your Fengling Chen clan have a hand in my father’s death back then?"

He stared intently at Chen Fuyou. At the question, Chen Fuyou’s expression tightened. He did not answer immediately but seemed stunned for a moment. That reaction was fully captured by Tan Ting.

Tan Ting suddenly closed his eyes, his heart aching for his father. He gave a mocking laugh. "I didn't expect there to be such hidden depths to this..."

In this situation, it was no longer possible for Tan Ting to remain neutral. With a single glance, the prepared Tan Clan men seized control of all the Chen clan men at the dock. The Eastern Palace’s people immediately stepped forward and finally took Gu Yansheng and Yang Muhong under their protection.

Chen Fuyou saw that the situation was decided. No matter how anxious he was, he had no other options. After hunting them for half a year on the orders of the main clan, his efforts had failed at the final moment. He was full of hate, but he could not fight the numerous Tan clan members. He turned his horse and led his remaining men away, disappearing into the night.

The dock suddenly fell silent. Yang Muhong looked at Tan Ting blankly, unable to believe it. "Master Tan is willing to believe this old man?"

Tan Ting did not speak, but his actions had said enough. The guilt Yang Muhong had harbored for so long, which he had intended to express during Tan Chaokuan’s funeral, could no longer be contained. Ignoring the looks of others, he knelt before Tan Ting’s horse.

"Your father’s matter was my fault. I have regretted it for a long time. I have no words to defend myself, but the transfer during the epidemic... I fear there was something sinister behind it. The Tan clan must be careful!"

The crowd was silent. Tan Ting’s hands clenched tightly. He did not look at Yang Muhong. After a long silence, he said, "From this point on, the grievances between the Tan clan and you are wiped clean."

The night wind blew across the river, bringing the scent of the tide. Yang Muhong had never expected to receive the Tan clan’s forgiveness. Hearing those words, he suddenly burst into tears. "Thank you... thank you..."

Xu Yuanming, the Aide of the Eastern Palace, stepped forward and cupped his hands to Tan Ting. "Regarding today’s events, I shall certainly report to the Crown Prince when I return to the capital. The Qinglong Tan clan has performed a great service!"

Tan Ting had no intention of claiming credit. He dismounted and returned the greeting. Even if there was credit, it belonged to his wife. He truly hadn't expected her to have such courage and insight.

But as he looked over the messy dock, he did not see his wife. Then he heard Gu Yansheng cry out urgently, "Yizhen may be in danger!"

In a patch of reeds at the edge of the wilderness, Xiang Yi held her breath. The sound of pursuing hooves behind her was drawing closer, and her entire body tensed. Manager Jiang’s old mare had run all night and could go no further; she had no choice but to hide with the horse in the reeds.

As the sound of hooves neared, even the horse seemed to sense the danger, its breathing becoming as shallow as Xiang Yi’s. Neither person nor horse dared to make a sound. Finally, the hoofbeats reached the road behind them, found nothing, and faded into the distance.

The sound disappeared completely. Xiang Yi let out a heavy sigh of relief. She quickly stroked the old mare’s mane and gave the horse some water. But her left leg began to throb with pain. During her frantic ride through the woods, she hadn't noticed a sharp branch that had sliced open a bloody gash on her calf.

She sat sideways, looking at the wound on her aching leg and sighed. She tried to clean it with water from a nearby pond, but the night was too deep to see anything clearly. The surroundings were silent. She didn't know how her brother and the others were faring. When she tried to stand up, a sharp pain shot through her leg, and she fell back down.

Xiang Yi smiled bitterly. She looked up at the sky; the stars and moon were bright. It seemed she would have to sit here until dawn. She couldn't help but think of the Tan estate in Guan’an Lane. She wondered how that man would react when he saw her letter.

Whether from the blood loss or pure exhaustion, Xiang Yi leaned against the old mare and slowly closed her eyes.

After an unknown amount of time, as she drifted in a daze despite the pain in her leg, the old mare suddenly whinnied. Xiang Yi woke slightly, only to realize someone was walking quickly into the reeds. Before she could react, the person knelt behind her and suddenly lifted her into their arms.

Xiang Yi was startled. The embrace initially carried the chill of the night air, but in the next second, a familiar warmth radiated from his chest. She turned her head in shock and saw the man’s strong jawline and deeply furrowed brow in the moonlight.

"Master?"

Tan Ting’s lips were pressed into a thin line. In the startled gaze of his wife, he stared at her for several breaths. He wanted to say something, but in the end, he could not speak.

He turned and placed the person in his arms directly onto his own horse, then flipped into the saddle behind her. He unfastened his cloak and wrapped her in it completely. Beneath the quiet, silver moonlight, he held her in his arms and rode back toward home.

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