Volume? ?1:? ?Chapter? ?16? ?-? ?Imperial? ?Concubine? ?Hu? ?

  ?

  In? ?Longjing,? ?the? ?court? ?appears? ?rather? ?solemn,? ?as? ?Xu? ?Jin,? ?and? ?much? ?of? ?his? ?supporters? ?in? ?the? ?

  military? ?are? ?missing.? ?

  ?

  However,? ?that? ?pales? ?in? ?significance? ?against? ?the? ?missing? ?person? ?meant? ?to? ?be? ?on? ?the? ?throne,? ?

  elevated? ?above? ?the? ?court,? ?blocked? ?by? ?a? ?wall? ?of? ?beads.? ?

  ?

  One? ?of? ?the? ?officials? ?can’t? ?resist? ?his? ?concern? ?and? ?asked? ?the? ?old? ?official? ?beside? ?him.? ?

  ?

  “Senior,? ?I? ?have? ?just? ?returned? ?from? ?an? ?envoy? ?mission,? ?what? ?has? ?happened? ?to? ?the? ?imperial? ?court,”? ?

  the? ?official? ?said,? ?attempting? ?to? ?suppress? ?his? ?voice.? ?

  ?

  Giving? ?off? ?a? ?long? ?sigh,? ?the? ?man? ?beside? ?him? ?replied? ?in? ?a? ?tired? ?manner,”? ?The? ?emperor? ?had? ?been? ?sick? ?

  for? ?almost? ?a? ?month,? ?while? ?the? ?imperial? ?physician? ?refuses? ?to? ?answer? ?about? ?his? ?majesty’s? ?health,? ?

  everyone? ?knows? ?that? ?the? ?emperor? ?has? ?not? ?long? ?to? ?live.”? ?

  ?

  “You? ?have? ?been? ?lucky? ?to? ?have? ?been? ?away? ?from? ?the? ?capital,? ?during? ?this? ?time,? ?Concubine? ?Hu? ?had? ?

  nearly? ?replaced? ?everyone? ?in? ?the? ?court? ?with? ?her? ?supporters,? ?while? ?those? ?supporting? ?general? ?Xu? ?had? ?

  been? ?accused? ?of? ?corruption? ?and? ?had? ?been? ?exiled? ?from? ?the? ?capital,? ?at? ?least? ?you? ?are? ?an? ?honest? ?man? ?

  working? ?for? ?the? ?well? ?being? ?of? ?the? ?empire”? ?the? ?man,? ?with? ?his? ?greying? ?hair? ?tied? ?into? ?a? ?bun,? ?replied.? ?

  ?

  “Concubine? ?Hu? ?had? ?only? ?not? ?gotten? ?rid? ?of? ?me? ?as? ?I? ?have? ?some? ?relative? ?prestige? ?among? ?the? ?court,? ?

  and? ?my? ?declining? ?health,”? ?the? ?official? ?continued.? ?

  ?

  “Junior,? ?it? ?is? ?best? ?if? ?you? ?bring? ?your? ?family? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?capital,? ?I? ?predict? ?that? ?in? ?a? ?few? ?weeks,? ?the? ?

  capital? ?will? ?be? ?running? ?red? ?with? ?blood,”? ?the? ?old? ?official? ?finally? ?finished? ?explaining,? ?before? ?

  secretly? ?handing? ?a? ?couple? ?of? ?banknotes? ?into? ?the? ?hand? ?of? ?the? ?young? ?envoy.? ?

  ?

  “Senior,? ?I? ?cannot? ?possibly? ?accept? ?this? ?much!”? ?the? ?official,? ?startled? ?by? ?the? ?amount? ?on? ?the? ?notes,? ?

  hastily? ?returned? ?it? ?back? ?into? ?the? ?hands? ?of? ?the? ?old? ?official.? ?

  ?

  Giving? ?off? ?a? ?tired? ?laugh,? ?he? ?proposed,”? ?This? ?isn’t? ?much? ?to? ?an? ?old? ?official? ?like? ?me,? ?just? ?take? ?this? ?

  and? ?go? ?into? ?the? ?countryside? ?and? ?live? ?a? ?good? ?life,”? ?he? ?paused,? ?before? ?continuing,”? ?If? ?you? ?truly? ?wish? ?

  to? ?repay? ?me,? ?just? ?tell? ?me? ?your? ?name.”? ? ?

  ?

  “My? ?surname? ?is? ?Hong,? ?and? ?my? ?given? ?name? ?is? ?Wang,”? ?Hong? ?Wang,? ?holding? ?back? ?his? ?emotions,? ?

  took? ?the? ?notes? ?from? ?the? ?man? ?with? ?a? ?bow,? ?before? ?remaining? ?in? ?wait? ?for? ?the? ?court? ?to? ?begin.? ?

  ?

  Before? ?long,? ?the? ?sound? ?of? ?light? ?footsteps? ?could? ?be? ?heard,? ?and? ?an? ?incredibly? ?alluring? ?figure? ?could? ?

  be? ?seen.? ?

  ?

  Concubine? ?Hu’s? ?reputation? ?as? ?the? ?woman? ?most? ?powerful? ?woman? ?is? ?certainly? ?not? ?baseless,? ?her? ?

  figure? ?appearance? ?is? ?one? ?that? ?makes? ?a? ?person? ?instinctively? ?want? ?to? ?protect? ?her? ?as? ?if? ?a? ?small? ?doe.? ?

  ?

  When? ?she? ?had? ?first? ?entered? ?the? ?palace? ?as? ?a? ?lowly? ?concubine,? ?it? ?was? ?said? ?that? ?the? ?emperor? ?was? ?

  instantly? ?smitten? ?by? ?her? ?looks,? ?and? ?turned? ?a? ?blind? ?eye? ?toward? ?all? ?her? ?actions,? ?even? ?after? ?she? ?had? ?

  ordered? ?the? ?execution? ?of? ?a? ?well-respected? ?official,? ?did? ?the? ?emperor? ?not? ?punish? ?her.? ?

  ?

  Due? ?to? ?this,? ?her? ?power? ?grew? ?under? ?the? ?watch? ?of? ?the? ?emperor,? ?who? ?not? ?only? ?permitted? ?her? ?

  treacherous? ?actions? ?but? ?had? ?even? ?protected? ?her.? ?

  ?

  While? ?standing? ?beside? ?the? ?throne? ?blocked? ?by? ?a? ?curtain? ?of? ?beads,? ?she? ?still? ?maintains? ?a? ?position? ?of? ?

  superiority? ?above? ?the? ?court,? ?standing? ?idly? ?until? ?a? ?eunuch? ?announced? ?the? ?beginning? ?of? ?the? ?court? ?

  session.? ?

  ?

  “The? ?rising? ?revolt? ?is? ?an? ?issue? ?that? ?must? ?be? ?dealt? ?with,? ?I? ?propose? ?sending? ?general? ?Peng? ?with? ?eight? ?

  hundred? ?thousand? ?men? ?to? ?deal? ?with? ?the? ?rebels,”? ?Concubine? ?Hu,? ?soon? ?after? ?the? ?beginning? ?of? ?court,? ?

  began? ?to? ?speak.? ?

  ?

  The? ?court? ?agreed? ?almost? ?unanimously? ?to? ?her? ?proposal,? ?except? ?for? ?the? ?old? ?official? ?beside? ?Hong? ?

  Wang.? ?

  ?

  “This? ?servant? ?disagree,? ?the? ?enemy? ?troop? ?only? ?contains? ?at? ?most? ?two? ?hundred? ?thousand? ?men,? ?to? ?

  remove? ?troops? ?from? ?our? ?frontiers? ?and? ?trade? ?routes? ?would? ?cause? ?the? ?empire’s? ?financial? ?income? ?to? ?

  be? ?greatly? ?reduced,? ?it? ?would? ?be? ?far? ?better? ?to? ?send? ?an? ?envoy? ?to? ?stall? ?for? ?time,? ?until? ?we? ?are? ?able? ?to? ?

  mass? ?a? ?large? ?army? ?to? ?crush? ?the? ?rebels”? ?the? ?old? ?official? ?said,? ?before? ?bowing? ?toward? ?the? ?dragon? ?

  throne.? ?

  ?

  Other? ?than? ?a? ?few? ?younger? ?officials,? ?who? ?were? ?inexperienced,? ?the? ?majority? ?of? ?the? ?officials? ?

  remained? ?silent? ?out? ?of? ?respect? ?toward? ?the? ?old? ?official,? ?with? ?some? ?even? ?showing? ?approval? ?in? ?their? ?

  eyes.? ?

  ?

  “That? ?is? ?not? ?possible? ?if? ?it? ?were? ?to? ?come? ?to? ?effect,? ?this? ?servant? ?believes? ?the? ?troops? ?stationed? ?at? ?

  important? ?trade? ?routes? ?will? ?have? ?to? ?be? ?needed? ?to? ?transfer? ?to? ?reach? ?such? ?an? ?amount? ?of? ?man? ?to? ?

  oppose? ?the? ?rebels,? ?causing? ?banditry? ?to? ?run? ?ride? ?in? ?those? ?regions? ?and? ?income? ?from? ?trade? ?to? ?be? ?

  greatly? ?,”? ?the? ?old? ?official? ?beside? ?Hong? ?Wang? ?spoke? ?out,? ?before? ?continuing,”? ?This? ?servant? ?

  proposes? ?we? ?sent? ?an? ?envoy? ?toward? ?the? ?rebels,? ?and? ?stall? ?for? ?time? ?until? ?we? ?are? ?able? ?to? ?field? ?a? ?

  massive? ?army? ?to? ?decisively? ?defeat? ?them? ?in? ?battle.”? ? ?

  ?

  “Imperial? ?Regent,? ?it? ?would? ?be? ?foolish? ?to? ?follow? ?such? ?a? ?tactic,? ?the? ?rebels? ?are? ?undoubtedly? ?the? ?

  cause? ?of? ?the? ?emperor’s? ?sickness,? ?if? ?defeated? ?now,? ?the? ?heavens? ?would? ?surely? ?be? ?overjoyed,? ?and? ?

  would? ?furthermore? ?extend? ?the? ?life? ?of? ?our? ?emperor,”? ?a? ?high? ?ranking? ?official? ?rebutted,? ?before? ?

  looking? ?slightly? ?below? ?Concubine? ?Hu? ?for? ?her? ?to? ?input? ?her? ?opinion.? ?

  ?

  “Elder? ?Yang,? ?you? ?have? ?been? ?working? ?in? ?court? ?even? ?before? ?the? ?reign? ?of? ?our? ?current? ?emperor,? ?and? ?

  the? ?majority? ?of? ?the? ?court? ?respect? ?you,”? ?Concubine? ?Hu? ?said? ?as? ?she? ?shook? ?her? ?head,”? ?However,? ?

  your? ?prime? ?long? ?past? ?matters? ?little? ?to? ?me,? ?out? ?of? ?respect,? ?I? ?will? ?simply? ?allow? ?you? ?to? ?remain? ?within? ?

  court,? ?however,? ?if? ?you? ?continue? ?once? ?more,”? ?Concubine? ?Hu? ?did? ?not? ?continue,? ?cutting? ?off? ?her? ?

  sentence.? ?

  ?

  Elder? ?Yang? ?showed? ?a? ?slightly? ?bitter? ?smile,? ?before? ?once? ?again? ?bowing? ?toward? ?the? ?dragon? ?throne.? ?

  ?

  In? ?the? ?end,? ?it? ?was? ?unanimously? ?decided? ?to? ?send? ?troops? ?protecting? ?their? ?Northern? ?and? ?Western? ?

  trade? ?routes? ?to? ?intercept? ?Li? ?Ming’s? ?army.? ?

  ?

  “Furthermore,? ?I? ?propose? ?to? ?construct? ?a? ?garden? ?dedicated? ?toward? ?our? ?sickly? ?emperor,? ?in? ?the? ?hope? ?

  of? ?aiding? ?his? ?recovery,”? ?Concubine? ?Hu? ?asked? ?as? ?she? ?looked? ?down? ?the? ?court.? ?

  ?

  Of? ?course,? ?this? ?was? ?not? ?for? ?the? ?emperor? ?almost? ?near? ?death,? ?but? ?for? ?her? ?own? ?pleasures,? ?yet? ?the? ?

  court? ?remain? ?silent,? ?except? ?for? ?an? ?old? ?official.? ? ?

  ?

  “How? ?is? ?that? ?possible,? ?our? ?funds? ?will? ?be? ?exhausted? ?by? ?the? ?deployment? ?of? ?troops? ?toward? ?the? ?

  rebels,? ?we? ?cannot? ?dedicate? ?any? ?expenses? ?toward? ?such? ?a? ?worthless? ?project? ?for? ?your? ?own? ?

  enjoyment,”? ?Elder? ?Yang? ?appears? ?positively? ?livid? ?and? ?stopped? ?using? ?formal? ?language? ?and? ?did? ?not? ?

  disguise? ?Concubine? ?Hu’s? ?true? ?intentions.? ?

  ?

  “Elder? ?Yang,? ?you? ?have? ?insulted? ?the? ?intentions? ?of? ?his? ?majesty,”? ?Concubine? ?Hu? ?said? ?as? ?she? ?looked? ?

  disappointly? ?at? ?the? ?old? ?official? ?before? ?telling? ?men? ?to? ?chop? ?off? ?his? ?head.? ?

  ?

  Hong? ?Wang? ?fell? ?quite? ?uncomfortable? ?as? ?the? ?eunuchs? ?dragged? ?Elder? ?Yang? ?away,? ?within? ?his? ?hands,? ?

  the? ?banknotes? ?gave? ?to? ?him? ?still? ?felt? ?warm? ?from? ?Elder? ?Yang’s? ?body? ?heat.? ?

  ?

  “Concubine? ?Hu,? ?you? ?are? ?ambitious? ?and? ?cruel,? ?however,? ?you? ?do? ?not? ?know? ?how? ?to? ?use? ?man? ?to? ?their? ?

  talents,? ?furthermore,? ?you? ?possess? ?a? ?willful? ?nature,”? ?Elder? ?Yang? ?said? ?looking? ?toward? ?Concubine? ?

  Hu,? ?before? ?turning? ?toward? ?the? ?officials,”? ?Such? ?an? ?individual? ?will? ?lead? ?not? ?only? ?herself? ?to? ?ruins,? ?

  but? ?the? ?nation,? ?I? ?ask? ?of? ?you? ?to? ?abandon? ?the? ?darkness? ?before? ?it? ?is? ?too? ?late,? ?at? ?least? ?it? ?is? ?better? ?than? ?to? ?

  be? ?the? ?dog? ?of? ?a? ?madwoman.”? ?

  ?

  Concubine? ?Hu? ?appeared? ?not? ?the? ?slightest? ?perplex? ?by? ?Elder? ?Yang? ?and? ?continued? ?to? ?hold? ?court.? ?

  ?

  “Imperial? ?regent,? ?this? ?servant? ?propose? ?to? ?extract? ?funds? ?from? ?the? ?imperial? ?navy? ?to? ?fund? ?the? ?

  construction? ?of? ?the? ?garden? ?in? ?wish? ?for? ?his? ?majesty's? ?health,”? ?another? ?official? ?proposed? ?his? ?voice? ?

  slightly? ?shaky.? ?

  ?

  Furrowing? ?her? ?brows,? ?Concubine? ?Hu? ?waited? ?for? ?a? ?moment,? ?before? ?writing? ?an? ?edict,? ?stamping? ?it? ?

  with? ?the? ?emperor’s? ?seal,? ?it? ?details? ?the? ?two? ?subjects? ?discussed? ?in? ?court? ?today.? ?After? ?the? ?edict? ?was? ?

  retrieved? ?by? ?a? ?eunuch,? ?Concubine? ?Hu? ?dismissed? ?the? ?court? ?session.? ?

  ?

  As? ?Hong? ?Wang? ?walked? ?out,? ?the? ?scene? ?of? ?Elder? ?Yang’s? ?body? ?detaching? ?from? ?his? ?head? ?could? ?be? ?

  observed,? ?appearing? ?slightly? ?pale,? ?Hong? ?Wang? ?gripped? ?the? ?banknotes? ?even? ?harder,? ?before? ?leaving? ?

  the? ?palace.? ?

  ?

  It? ?appears? ?many? ?officials? ?had? ?similarly? ?done? ?so,? ?with? ?some? ?even? ?paying? ?respect? ?to? ?the? ?old? ?

  official’s? ?corpse,? ?before? ?leaving? ?for? ?their? ?residence.? ?

  ?

  Hong? ?Wang? ?had? ?not? ?directly? ?gone? ?to? ?his? ?home,? ?instead,? ?following? ?the? ?directions? ?written? ?on? ?the? ?

  back? ?of? ?by? ?Elder? ?Yang’s? ?banknotes,? ?approaching? ?a? ?slightly? ?run-down? ?bank? ?building,? ?he? ?stepped? ?

  inside.? ?

  ?

  A? ?rotten? ?smell? ?could? ?be? ?smelled? ?as? ?he? ?walked? ?past? ?the? ?bodies? ?of? ?those? ?that? ?had? ?died? ?from? ?the? ?cold? ?

  or? ?hunger.? ?Wondering? ?what? ?form? ?of? ?a? ?bank? ?would? ?be? ?located? ?in? ?such? ?a? ?terrible? ?place,? ?he? ?walked? ?

  into? ?a? ?building,? ?of? ?which? ?the? ?wood? ?that? ?had? ?consisted? ?the? ?gate? ?appeared? ?to? ?be? ?rotten.? ?

  ?

  A? ?young? ?boy? ?greeted? ?him,? ?before? ?leading? ?him? ?toward? ?the? ?Northern? ?wing? ?of? ?the? ?building? ?silently,? ?

  before? ?leaving? ?without? ?a? ?trace.? ?

  ?

  Without? ?any? ?objectives,? ?Hong? ?Wang? ?simply? ?remained? ?in? ?place,? ?yet? ?before? ?long,? ?a? ?middle-aged? ?

  man? ?could? ?be? ?seen.? ? ?

  ?

  “Elder? ?Yang? ?had? ?instructed? ?me? ?to? ?ferry? ?away? ?anyone? ?who? ?enters? ?this? ?building,? ?change? ?your? ?

  clothes,? ?we’re? ?leaving? ?the? ?capital,”? ?the? ?middle-aged? ?man? ?said? ?as? ?he? ?threw? ?a? ?set? ?of? ?merchant’s? ?

  clothes? ?toward? ?Hong? ?Wang.? ?

  ?

  “There? ?are? ?horses? ?waiting? ?outside? ?the? ?city? ?gates,? ?the? ?guard? ?stationed? ?had? ?been? ?bribed? ?by? ?Elder? ?

  Yang,? ?you? ?need? ?not? ?worry,”? ?the? ?middle-aged? ?man? ?began? ?to? ?speak? ?as? ?Hong? ?Wang? ?changed.? ?

  ?

  “How? ?did? ?you? ?know? ?I? ?had? ?came? ?here? ?with? ?instructions? ?from? ?Elder? ?Yang?”? ?Hong? ?Wang,? ?slightly? ?

  perplexed,? ?asked? ?the? ?middle-aged? ?man.? ?

  ?

  “Look? ?at? ?the? ?feng-shui? ?of? ?this? ?area,? ?it? ?would? ?cause? ?anyone? ?to? ?leave? ?without? ?second? ?thought,? ?

  furthermore,? ?your? ?clothes? ?dictate? ?your? ?status? ?and? ?the? ?smell? ?of? ?incense? ?used? ?for? ?court? ?still? ?lingers? ?

  on? ?you,? ?naturally? ?you? ?have? ?been? ?selected? ?by? ?Elder? ?Yang,”? ?the? ?middle-aged? ?man? ?replied.? ?

  ?

  “And? ?what? ?if? ?I? ?do? ?not? ?wish? ?to? ?leave? ?the? ?capital?”? ?Hong? ?Wang? ?had? ?finished? ?changing,? ?looking? ?

  toward? ?the? ?middle-aged? ?man,? ?who? ?asked? ?in? ?a? ?polite? ?manner.? ?

  ?

  “That? ?is? ?impossible,? ?Elder? ?Yang? ?had? ?carefully? ?observed? ?officials? ?before? ?he? ?ferries? ?them? ?away,”? ?

  looking? ?toward? ?Hong? ?Wang,? ?he? ?continued,”? ?Therefore? ?you? ?do? ?not? ?have? ?a? ?family? ?in? ?the? ?capital.”? ? ?

  ?

  Ultimately,? ?Hong? ?Wang? ?stopped? ?asking? ?questions? ?and? ?obediently? ?followed? ?the? ?middle-aged? ?man,? ?

  as? ?they? ?left? ?the? ?building? ?through? ?another? ?door,? ?they? ?soon? ?arrived? ?at? ?the? ?outside? ?of? ?the? ?city? ?gates,? ?

  where? ?a? ?carriage? ?commonly? ?used? ?by? ?merchants? ?could? ?be? ?seen.? ?

  ?

  “There? ?are? ?others? ?within? ?the? ?carriage,? ?make? ?sure? ?to? ?not? ?disturb? ?the? ?others,”? ?the? ?middle-aged? ?man? ?

  instructed,? ?before? ?jumping? ?onto? ?the? ?front? ?of? ?the? ?carriage.? ?

  ?

  When? ?Hong? ?Wang? ?entered,? ?it? ?was? ?a? ?quite? ?surprising? ?sight,? ?as? ?the? ?majority? ?of? ?the? ?people? ?within? ?

  seem? ?not? ?to? ?be? ?officials,? ?it? ?appears? ?some? ?commoners? ?had? ?been? ?mingled? ?along? ?with? ?them? ?to? ?

  appear? ?less? ?susceptible? ?to? ?detection.? ?

  ?

  The? ?sound? ?of? ?a? ?whip? ?could? ?be? ?heard,? ?and? ?the? ?carriage? ?soon? ?began? ?to? ?move.? ?Moving? ?toward? ?the? ?

  front? ?of? ?the? ?carriage,? ?Hong? ?Wang? ?sat? ?next? ?to? ?the? ?middle-aged? ?man.? ?

  ?

  “May? ?I? ?ask? ?this? ?gentleman? ?for? ?his? ?name?”? ?

  ?

  “I? ?was? ?orphaned? ?by? ?Elder? ?Yang,? ?and? ?therefore? ?do? ?not? ?have? ?a? ?surname,? ?I? ?simply? ?go? ?by? ?Ye,”? ?Ye? ?

  replied.? ?

  ?

  “I? ?see,? ?my? ?surname? ?is? ?Hong,? ?while? ?my? ?given? ?name? ?is? ?Wang,”? ?Hong? ?Wang? ?courteously? ?replied.? ?

  ?

  Giving? ?off? ?a? ?simple? ?grunt,? ?Ye? ?use? ?the? ?whip? ?to? ?increase? ?the? ?speed? ?of? ?the? ?horses,? ?before? ?instructing? ?

  Hong? ?Wang? ?to? ?return? ?to? ?the? ?back? ?of? ?the? ?carriage.? ?

  ?

  Aside? ?from? ?that? ?exchange,? ?the? ?two? ?did? ?not? ?speak? ?any? ?further.? ?

  ?

  Soon,? ?ten? ?days? ?passed.? ?As? ?the? ?carriage? ?went? ?further? ?inland,? ?garrisons? ?of? ?imperial? ?soldiers? ?could? ?

  be? ?seen,? ?but? ?upon? ?seeing? ?their? ?status? ?as? ?merchants,? ?did? ?not? ?disturb? ?them? ?any? ?further,? ?before? ?long,? ?

  they? ?had? ?reached? ?the? ?banks? ?of? ?Hejiang.? ?

  ?

  “There? ?will? ?be? ?a? ?boat? ?waiting? ?at? ?the? ?nearby? ?docks,? ?follow? ?me,”? ?it? ?was? ?the? ?first? ?time? ?the? ?

  middle-aged? ?man? ?spoke? ?since? ?leaving? ?the? ?city? ?and? ?thus? ?sounded? ?a? ?little? ?gruff,? ?leading? ?them? ?

  silently? ?toward? ?a? ?small? ?boat,? ?he? ?did? ?not? ?enter.? ?

  ?

  “Follow? ?this? ?boat? ?and? ?it? ?will? ?lead? ?you? ?to? ?Dongan,? ?you? ?will? ?escape? ?prosecution? ?from? ?Concubine? ?

  Hu,? ?if? ?desired,? ?you? ?may? ?join? ?her? ?as? ?a? ?civilian? ?worker.? ?

  ?

  Hong? ?Wang? ?and? ?much? ?of? ?the? ?passengers? ?on? ?the? ?carriage? ?were? ?surprised? ?but? ?did? ?not? ?ask? ?questions,? ?

  after? ?all,? ?it? ?is? ?well? ?known? ?that? ?Concubine? ?Hu’s? ?secret? ?police? ?covers? ?every? ?corner? ?of? ?the? ?empire,? ?to? ?

  truly? ?escape? ?would? ?require? ?one? ?to? ?leave? ?from? ?her? ?influence.? ?

  ?

  On? ?this? ?regard,? ?it? ?was? ?quite? ?surprising? ?that? ?their? ?trip? ?was? ?incredibly? ?smooth,? ?with? ?Hong? ?Wang? ?

  secretly? ?harbouring? ?many? ?concerns.? ?

  ?

  The? ?boat? ?soon? ?left? ?the? ?docks? ?and? ?sailed? ?toward? ?Dongan.? ?

  ?

  The? ?middle-aged? ?man? ?remains? ?on? ?the? ?dock,? ?looking? ?toward? ?the? ?direction? ?of? ?Longjing,? ?and? ?before? ?

  long,? ?a? ?group? ?of? ?a? ?man? ?donning? ?distinctive? ?yellow? ?uniforms? ?walked? ?onto? ?the? ?docks,? ?using? ?their? ?

  rather? ?strange? ?looking? ?sabre,? ?their? ?slashed? ?toward? ?the? ?middle-aged? ?man.? ?

  ?

  Still? ?looking? ?toward? ?the? ?capital,? ?he? ?gave? ?a? ?quick? ?sigh,? ?before? ?falling? ?onto? ?the? ?water.? ?

  ?

  ?

  ? ?

  ?

  ?

  ?