Chapter 226: Chapter 206: There Should Be No Way Forward Chapter 226: Chapter 206: There Should Be No Way Forward Snow fell relentlessly, one storm after another, as the winter frost pressed in like swords and daggers. Liu Ziyue’s brutality peaked during that season. Like a wounded beast, he would lash out in insane fury the mont anything went awry, eventually decreeing death for Shen Qingzhi, who could no longer refrain from advising him as his actions increasingly beca intolerable. After Shen Qingzhi resigned his official post, Liu Ziyue had sent him a cup of poisoned wine through Shen Qingzhi’s nephew, Shen Youzhi.
Upon hearing this, Chu Yu was slightly taken aback but decided not to intervene. Liu Ziyue was destroying his own great wall. Although Shen Qingzhi’s integrity heavily constrained him, that man would never betray him. With him around, he would have been a safe barrier for Liu Ziyue. Regrettably, Liu Ziyue had destroyed that very barrier himself.
In the past, Chu Yu might have tried to stop it. Now, however, she had no desire to ddle in such matters. If Liu Ziyue wanted to rush headlong into hell, why should she stop him?
However, Chu Yu was unaware of the underlying reasons behind Shen Qingzhi’s death.
A few years ago, Shen Youzhi’s uncle had prevented his promotion, and he had harbored resentnt ever since. Influenced by an attendant, he had repeatedly spoken ill of Shen Qingzhi to Liu Ziyue, which eventually led to this opportunity. Finally, he killed the seasoned and valiant general with a cup of poisoned wine.
The attendant’s na was Shen Guangzuo. It was said he was a distant relative of the Shen Family, barely related, yet known only by very few, he was originally from the Princess Mansion.
Before Hua Cuo could intervene, Rong Zhi’s plans had already begun. Hua Cuo only managed to halt the remaining steps.
So actions that should have been initiated were executed while others were not; the intricately designed chain of events was violently destroyed by an unforeseen external force, resulting in a problematic and embarrassing situation.
And all the eager pawns, losing the controlling hand, beca restless—so held back, while others rushed ahead impulsively.
What was originally a tightly woven, comprehensive net, omnipresent and ubiquitous, was now full of gaping holes. Rong Zhi’s arrangents required close linkages, and sotis even a small incident to trigger another, forming a chain reaction to achieve the goal in a circuitous manner.
But having lost the person to execute his plans, the situation was chaotic, yet not in the way he had anticipated. The local forces should have been strengthened first, further weakening the central authority to prevent the center from being too strong and the locales too weak, which was essential for prolonging the chaos. However, due to Hua Cuo’s interference, the balance was not yet ford when it was disrupted.
Rong Zhi could not see it; he could not prevent it.
Chu Yu had always rembered that date, November 29—it was supposed to be the day Liu Ziyue would die. As the day approached, and though Rong Zhi showed no signs of regaining consciousness, she had no choice but to prepare to leave.
She had intended to wait until Rong Zhi woke up before leaving, as he seed to be just deeply asleep. However, as ti passed, this wish seed increasingly unrealistic.
On November 27, at noon, Chu Yu finally had everything ready, determined to leave the Princess Mansion with Huan Yuan and their group by nightfall—Liu Sang, Amman, Hua Cuo, Liu Se, and even the unconscious Rong Zhi, none could be left behind.
Before that, Chu Yu had gathered everyone, including Hua Cuo and Liu Se, telling them of her plans to leave. Naturally, she did not say it was due to foreseeing a coup and her own death, only stating that Liu Ziyue’s cruelty was intensifying and, with their hearts already estranged, it was unpredictable when disaster might strike—better to escape early.
In the past half-month, the security for the Princess Mansion’s outer garden, managed by He Ji, had relaxed significantly. With the powerful assistance of Hua Cuo and insiders, all necessary items for the journey had been prepared in advance. These included the indispensable luggage and carriages, as well as gold, jewelry, and dicinal materials, which Hua Cuo had transported out of the city days ago.
Tonight was the night they were to leave. Chu Yu felt uneasy and slightly restless as she awaited nightfall; however, she received an urgent summons from He Ji on behalf of Liu Ziyue: to enter the palace.
Liu Ziyue wanted to see her—today, now, imdiately.
Chu Yu was taken aback by the ssage and wondered why Liu Ziyue wanted to see her. Hadn’t it been about two months since their last eting?
Why the summons at this mont?
If she went, she didn’t know what awaited her; but if she chose not to go at this ti, she might anger Liu Ziyue, which could prove even more dangerous. Now, her relationship with Liu Ziyue was not as it had been before; even if he didn’t kill her, he might vent his anger on those close to her—Fendai was a precedent.
Seizing the opportunity to change her clothes, Chu Yu told Huan Yuan that it would be best if she could return by 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. If she couldn’t make it, then at exactly 9 p.m., they should proceed with the plan as previously arranged, and Huan Yuan and the others should leave.
After Chu Yu spoke these words, Huan Yuan looked solemn and did not respond imdiately. After a while, he muttered in a low voice, “Then, what about the Princess?” If they left, what would beco of her? Though they could flee first and have Hua Cuo co back to rescue others, what if sothing unforeseen occurred in the anti?
Chu Yu said helplessly, “Jiankang is not a place to stay for long; we should have left earlier, but I delayed it due to my own selfish reasons. We can’t stay tonight.” She had a bad premonition today, feeling that sothing was bound to go wrong. She even suspected Liu Ziyue might be planning to kill her, but since he wanted to see her and even had He Ji escort her, escaping would be difficult. Defying him might endanger others.
Chu Yu did not share these thoughts with Huan Yuan, but after so persuasion, she convinced him to leave first. However, Huan Yuan also made her promise that after leaving the city, they would imdiately send Hua Cuo back to search for her. If they did not reunite within three days, they would not stray far from Jiankang but would return to search for her.
Having persuaded Huan Yuan, Chu Yu then went to her study and wrote a letter to give to him, instructing him to hand it to Hua Cuo.
The letter urged Hua Cuo, no matter what, after the night of the twenty-ninth, to force Huan Yuan to leave—whether by binding him or knocking him out—to depart from this land of trouble, finding her was not the priority.
After quickly finishing the letter, Chu Yu sealed it and handed it to Huan Yuan, instructing him to personally deliver it. Huan Yuan, a straightforward and humble gentleman, would certainly not open the letter ant for Hua Cuo. On this point, Chu Yu was very confident.
After settling these matters, she then changed her clothes and, with a calm deanor, approached the impatiently waiting He Ji. Facing his anxious eyes, she slightly smiled and said, “Let’s go.”
No matter what the journey entailed, be it hardship or death, she was determined to see it through.
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