Chapter 97: with translation of chapter title

Late at night, a lone rider braved the wind and snow, leaving Flower Pool Ford Village and galloping straight toward the northwest.

Gu Xixi did not know what kind of person Mu Nan Zhao's political rivals were.

But judging from the actions of those four tonight, their ruthless scheming already hints at a bloody storm.

Therefore Gu Xixi dared not gamble.

If Mu Nan Zhao were captured afterward, it would be confirmed that he had faked his death and fled.

As the one who once sheltered him, Gu Xixi would either be suspected of knowing some secret and subjected to torture to extract a confession,

or simply be silenced once and for all.

Those in power at the imperial court, to prevent the plague from spreading to their own doorstep, could dispatch troops to burn an entire village.

They treat human lives as weeds; Gu Xixi has long felt this.

Thinking of Zhang Shen, Lao Langzhong, and Shitou, Gu Xixi's expression tightened: "Fengchi, hurry, go faster!"

Since Mu Nan Zhao has already reached an agreement with the Grand General, going to the Northwest Army for help now is the only way out.

Outside the west gate of Qing Tian Xiancheng lies a private manor.

It is already noon; Mu Nan Zhao sits leisurely indoors, sipping tea.

Doors and windows are locked, and eight people are stationed respectively at the windows and outside the door, keeping watch.

Someone muttered in a low voice, "Good food, good drink, good sleep, yet we're not allowed to tie him up—is this how a prisoner should be treated?"

"This brat has caused us trouble; several of us are stuck guarding him, we can't even sleep!"

"Just bear with it; when the person sent from above arrives and confirms his identity, you might get a chance to kill him and vent your anger!"

The guard outside peered through the crack in the door.

Mu Nan Zhao noticed, yet remained expressionless as he toyed with the celadon lotus-leaf cup.

The time should be about right; the person he is waiting for.

In fact, as early as when Gu Xixi first invited guests to a restaurant, at the Bai Li Xiang Wine House, that drunkard who bumped into their table.

Mu Nan Zhao then noticed the man was feigning drunkenness, grew wary, and had already begun covert investigation.

He confirmed that those people already suspected he had not really died, so he hid in the northwest.

Not long ago, Gu Xixi met another person at the village entrance, inquiring whether Chen Fang had come from the capital.

Step by step, all are the claws and fangs extended by the hidden mastermind.

Fortunately, the Northwest Army has long enjoyed prestige and has long controlled the entire northwest intelligence network.

Mu Nan Zhao's political rivals originally could not reach that far; moreover, once their forces entered the northwest, they would be detected immediately, so they could only adopt a roundabout method.

For example, hiring assassins.

Those guarding outside were all former deserters who later took up banditry and murder for profit.

However, the token they displayed at Gu Xixi's home is genuine.

Probably the magistrate of Qing Tian County has also been bribed.

Mu Nan Zhao was pondering when he heard the guards outside jump up in a fluster.

Surely someone is coming this way.

A somewhat aged voice, full of obsequiousness, said, "Please, Lord He and Miss He, this way."

"That thief is locked inside; I have ordered men to surround the house tightly, leaving no gap—surely he cannot fly away even with wings."

"I have already prepared a banquet and warmed some wine to welcome the two honored guests; why not first accompany me to warm up, and we can interrogate later without delay?"

The young man's voice carried a smile: "Makes sense; follow the host's lead."

"We will follow County Magistrate Ma's arrangements."

His tone was as gentle as a spring breeze, appearing very easy to talk to.

County Magistrate Ma of Qing Tian County secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Upon receiving the secret letter, he had originally worried that the official coming from the capital would be difficult to serve.

Furthermore, the other party comes from an aristocratic family, holds a higher rank than him, yet is very young; he feared they might not get along.

Unexpectedly, Lord He himself turned out to have no pretensions.

Accompanying him, a woman dressed in male attire is Lord He's younger sister. She is extremely beautiful, yet she has kept a cold face ever since entering the city, not uttering a single word.

Mu Nan Zhao listened as the laughter and chatter outside faded away, his expression inscrutable.

That noon, the Lord He who had come from the capital got drunk and could not wake up; the evening interrogation had to be postponed.

The next day, Lord He slept until mid-morning, then went out with his sister to shop, saying the rouge of the northwest was good and they should buy more to bring back.

County Magistrate Ma and the others were anxious as burning, yet dared not urge them.

Only at dusk did Lord He lift his head, glance at the sky turning completely black, and chuckle, "Let's go, let's go see that person."

County Magistrate Ma had long been stuck in a local petty post, with no connections to obtain news from the imperial court.

This time encountering Lord He, his curiosity was truly restless and hard to suppress; he carefully asked, "I have heard, my lord, that you and the person inside…… oh no, his identity has not yet been confirmed."

"In other words, you have known since childhood that rebel and traitor surnamed Mu?"

Lord He laughed, "Are you asking whether I once was his bosom friend, yet later helped Lord Zhao?"

County Magistrate Ma replied with cold sweat, "I dare not, I dare not."

Lord He gave a light chuckle, "What is there to dare not?"

"Frankly speaking, back then I even gave Lord Zhao a handle on Mu Nan Zhao!"

He looked meaningfully at County Magistrate Ma, "So-called bosom friends are just convenient for stabbing him in the back when needed, and pulling him out as a stepping stone at critical moments!"

County Magistrate Ma gave a dry laugh in agreement, "You are right."

He secretly wiped away a bead of cold sweat.

Although he himself is not a gentleman, like Lord He, putting betrayal and renunciation of righteousness out in the open and still not feeling ashamed.

The County Magistrate told himself he couldn't do it.

As the door opened, Mu Nan Zhao leaned against the bedside reading, not even flicking an eyelid.

The County Magistrate said displeased, "Bold Chen Fang, why don't you kneel when seeing an official?"

Mu Nan Zhao turned a page and said calmly, "Shouldn't seeing an official mean going to the hall?"

"The County Magistrate's shady dealings can't stand the light—drop the pretense."

The County Magistrate's lips trembled with anger, about to lash out, but Official He held him down.

Official He said with a friendly smile, "Don't rush; let me make sure whether he truly is my bosom friend, as close as a brother."

He stepped step by step toward Mu Nan Zhao.

Miss He stood beside the County Magistrate, unmoving.

Until Official He stepped up to Mu Nan Zhao, the County Magistrate, seeing him still silent, grew anxious.

"Official He, you were so close with him before—you must be able to tell."

Official He bent down, eye to eye with Mu Nan Zhao.

The atmosphere was so quiet it almost solidified.

The County Magistrate inwardly prayed that the person captured this time was Mu Nan Zhao.

He'd had enough of being magistrate.

Official Zhao promised him that if this succeeded, he could shift his position.

Just as the County Magistrate's nervous heart rose to his throat.

Official He suddenly turned and said, "I don't know this person."

"What did you say his name was? Chen something?"

The County Magistrate was shocked, unable to believe: "Impossible! The looks and bearing on the tip-off all match—who else could it be but him?"

Before his words were finished, the County Magistrate felt a sudden chill on his neck.

A woman's voice full of impatience: "Shut up—if you say you don't know, you don't know; quit the nonsense!"

The County Magistrate's gaze stiffly lowered, then slowly rose.

First he saw a dagger pressed against his neck, then he saw Miss He's cold beautiful face.