The weeping from the hillside seemed to stop all of a sudden, leaving only the sound of the suona tearing through the clear sky.
This wasn't because the mourners were paid to be here; it was because the coffin had now been buried.
The people have been laid to rest, and no one in the world can hold them back any longer. They too no longer cling to the world, ending their life's journey, awaiting the next reincarnation.
"When are you leaving?" Miss Jun asked.
"After the seventh day," Fang Chengyu replied with a smile.
Miss Jun gave him a sideways glance.
"Don't say things that will upset Grandmother and Aunt," she said, yet still reached out to stroke Fang Chengyu's head.
Fang Chengyu did not object; he obediently responded in agreement.
"Gongzhu, we won't keep you here, you should return to the capital soon," he said.
"The matters in the capital can't be resolved in just a moment," Miss Jun replied, "Besides, Lord Ning is there too."
Fang Chengyu mumbled a "Oh," pursed his lips, and looked down, playing with his fingers.
"Brother Ning is really impressive," he remarked.
Miss Jun chuckled.
"Chengyu is impressive too," she said, "You're all impressive, far more than me. I'm really lucky to know you all."
She spoke sincerely and earnestly.
Fang Chengyu lifted his head and gave her a smile.
"Someone once said power is relative," he said.
This was something she had told him, which was originally said to her by Master.
Miss Jun smiled with pressed lips.
"So what?" she asked.
"You feel lucky getting to know us, but perhaps we feel lucky getting to know you," Fang Chengyu said, "You think we're impressive, maybe it's because knowing you has made us impressive."
Is this a flawed logic? Miss Jun smiled without speaking.
"How could it be flawed!" Fang Chengyu said, pointing at himself, "If it wasn't for your amazing skills curing my illness, would I have the chance to become so impressive?"
Miss Jun laughed aloud, but then contained her laughter.
"You're right," she nodded earnestly once more.
Fang Chengyu also smiled, looking at Miss Jun.
"Let's not compare who's more impressive," he said, "I just feel a bit luckier."
Miss Jun voiced an "Oh," looking at him.
"I didn't die, and yet got a new life," Fang Chengyu said, "but some people die without a new life."
Miss Jun looked at him and did not speak.
Some people, referring to Chu Jiuling.
Chu Jiuling died, living with a new name and identity, yet she remains Chu Jiuling, carrying Chu Jiuling's vendetta, bearing Chu Jiuling's unfinished responsibilities, living Chu Jiuling's life.
"I hope that no matter who it is, they can live a new kind of life," Fang Chengyu said earnestly.
Miss Jun looked at him and nodded.
"They certainly will." She smiled slightly, nodding with sincerity once more, "It's a must."
She did not ask him why he said this, nor did she ask if Fang Chengyu saw through her identity. To them, these questions were unnecessary.
........
........
The early summer wind stirred the dust, then returned to calm.
No travelers passed by the road, nor was there a tea stall beneath the large trees, nor a single soul cooling in the shade.
Between heavens and earth was a quiet stillness, until two or three mounts escorting a carriage came, kicking up a billow of dust.
"Master, there's a village up ahead," a house servant on horseback shouted.
The coughing from inside the carriage paused.
"Then let's ask for a bowl of water," spoke an elderly voice inside the carriage.
This village seemed it should have been thriving, given the surrounding farmlands, yet now the crops grow abundantly in neglect, sprawling in chaotic disorder.
Looking around, there were no laborers in the fields, and the village ahead lay in a quiet desolation.
But just as their carriage ventured onto the road leading to the village, two people abruptly leapt from the fields, clutching hoes in their hands.
"What do you want?" they shouted.
The people here were startled, until they saw that the two individuals were dressed like villagers, and they relaxed a bit.
"We're passing by, requesting a bowl of water," they quickly replied.
The two villagers scrutinized them, but did not lower their hoes nor did they show any intention of letting them pass.
"Your accent isn't local," one of the villagers said warily.
"Fellow countrymen, we're from Luzhou," the house servant said quickly, "We suffered at the hands of the Jin thief, escaping here."
Luzhou is near the capital, so the villagers lowered their guard.
"Well, lucky you, managing to reach our Shandong," one villager said.
"Random fleeing, not knowing where to go, everywhere there's Jin thief," the house servant sighed, a look of terror on his face, showing the fear they've endured, "Making it here hasn't been easy."
The people they were with either scattered or were killed by Jurchen people, leaving just them here now.
"But outsiders can't enter our village," another villager interrupted their chatter, speaking in a gruff voice.
The carriage curtain was lifted, an elderly man covering his mouth and nose with one hand extended a money pouch with the other.
"Fellow countrymen, take some money, give us some convenience, just a bowl of clean hot water, rest, and we'll be off," he said, coughing continuously.
The two villagers glanced over, and the older man seemed to turn away his head to avoid being seen, his coughing worsening.
Perhaps he was ill?
"At such times, who cares about money..." one villager remarked.
"Alright then, wait here," the other villager could not bear to see the old man coughing so hard, "I'll fetch some water from the village."
He waved his hand.
"Keep your money; money can't buy life."
He said, turning to run towards the village.
The old man did not insist further, directly pulling back the money pouch.
"Sir, after this rest, we will be home." The house servant whispered, as much to comfort the elder as to comfort himself.
This journey was too exhausting, beyond his imagination.
He didn't expect the Jurchen people to be so brutal, didn't expect their warhorse to be like locusts, didn't expect that they, with their assumed multitude of troops, would be unable to withstand these bloodthirsty wolves.
Truly terrifying, even more so when facing such Jurchen people, the Duke of Chengguo has survived all these years.
"It will be good once we're home; when times are peaceful again, we'll return to the capital."
The elder's voice sounded in the ear.
But can they actually return to the capital? The house servant looked uneasy; after all, they had deceived the Emperor and fled...
"As long as the Emperor is there, we can go back." The elder said, covering his mouth and nose, though worn out, his eyes were resolute.
Their whispered conversation caught the villagers' attention, who became wary and perked their ears at the mention of the Emperor.
"With the Emperor in the capital, the Jin thief will surely be defeated." The villagers said loudly.
With those words, screams pierced from the village, followed by urgent hoofbeats.
"The Jin thief is here, the Jin thief is here."
This commotion threw the people and horses on the road into panic.
"How come there are Jurchen people here too?" The house servant cried out in shock.
In his sight appeared a group of more than ten woodcutters racing from the village, with dust boiling behind them, human voices mixing with horse neighs.
"Run quickly." The house servants immediately protected the carriage and turned it around.
But on the other side, the villagers had quickly jumped into the fields, running towards the dense crops.
"Don't be afraid; they're chased Jin thief. Just clear the way and run to the sides, and you'll be fine..." he shouted back, without forgetting.
But those few house servants completely ignored his words, guarding the carriage and running hurriedly on the main road.
Their carriage could not outrun the woodcutters, quickly being overtaken.
Behind them came beast-like shouts, a language they didn't understand; the house servants looked pale, just about to raise their knives and guns when a massive impact arrived from behind.
Several house servants were swept away, like being engulfed by a flood, instantly toppled to the ground, and the carriage also was turned over.
The world spinning made the elder dizzy; looking up, it seemed the sky was covered, reaching out instinctively.
"I am Huang Cheng, I know your Lord Yu..." he shouted.
He spoke in their language, but it was too late; the long scythe fell, lifting him, and he skidded along an arc, landing beside the road, his house servants similarly stabbed and thrown in moments.
"It seemed I heard this person speaking our language..." one woodcutter said, looking hesitantly at the elder thrown aside.
"Never mind, save your skin first." Another woodcutter shouted, urging his horse forward swiftly.
The woodcutter, hesitating no longer, turned his head for a final look; the ferocity of swinging the scythe faded, his face now cloaked in fear.
A group of people with horses, tinged with panic, galloped ahead.
Moments later, dust swirled once more with human cries and horse screams; yet another team of well-armored soldiers arrived, seeing the soldiers, the villagers hiding in the fields ran back with joy.
"Folks, you were frightened." The leading general shouted.
"We are still safe." The villager called, with sadness pointing at the roadside, "But those few wayfarers..."
The Zhou Soldier looked where he pointed, seeing four or five lying by the road, one still twitching, the others motionless, blood pooling beneath them.
"Said they came escaping from far away." The villager shook his head mournfully, "Didn't expect..."
"See that?" The general, solemn, addressed the soldiers behind him, "Why we persistently pursue these woodcutters is to prevent them from harming citizens; without clearing these remnants, who knows how many would suffer."
The soldiers responded in unison.
The general began to dismount to inspect the dead, suddenly a commotion arose ahead, everyone looked up, flags like clouds came from the horizon.
"Sir, look, they're reinforcements from the northern lands." One government soldier exclaimed joyfully.
"Sir, it's the Duke of Chengguo's forces." Another shouted, looking at the advancing banners.
At the mention of the Duke of Chengguo, not only the officials but the entire village erupted in excitement, an empty village suddenly flooded with people.
"The Duke of Chengguo is here!"
"We don't need to fear anymore!"
"Quick, greet the Duke of Chengguo!"
Seeing the jubilant villagers, the officials no longer lingered.
"Cover these bodies first." The general mounted his horse, remembered to say, glancing at the dead on the ground whose faces were indistinct, "Such age, see to it they're properly buried when the time comes."
The villagers naturally had no objections, immediately someone pulled out a mat to cover them, only then running toward where the Duke of Chengguo was arriving.
The commotion moved away, the few bodies lying by the road appeared especially forlorn.
Villagers passing by slowly could not help but sigh.
"What sin." They said, with hatred, "It's all the fault of the Jin thief."
......
........
Along the way, hearing the Duke of Chengguo's renowned name, the feudal authority were immensely pleased, but the capital citizens, especially dynasty officials, felt not only joy but also some awkwardness.
After all, people hadn't forgotten how the Duke of Chengguo left.
Conspiracy rebels and fugitives.
These were no small accusations; they required explanation.
Some officials proposed the idea of redemption through merit, but it was rejected by the Duke of Chengguo.
"I am not redeeming through merit."
After not seeing him for a long time, the Duke of Chengguo, still elegant, slowly stood in the hall, his gaze towards the officials present.
"This was His Majesty's far-sighted plan."
What?
How is it related to His Majesty?
How did it become far-sighted planning?
What foresight? What planning?
The officials frowned at the Duke of Chengguo.
Recent events had become increasingly peculiar and bewildering; everyone struggled to react.
....
.....
(Yesterday was too exciting... let's have only one update today. I'm debating whether to write to the end in one go; I'll try to see.)