Green Mountain-Chapter 642 - 499: Farewell Until We Meet Again

At the hour between 9 and 11 PM, the Imperial Capital fell silent, as if the departure of the royal procession had taken the noise with it.

A team of riders galloped out from Taiye Pond and stopped at the door of the Huitong Hall in East Rongmi Lane. The hall had its lights extinguished, seemingly abandoned.

The leader dismounted and strode into the hall: "Your Highness can come out now."

Footsteps echoed from the stairs as Princess Liyang unexpectedly descended from the darkness, dressed in men's attire, smiling at Lord Bai Long at the bottom of the stairs: "It's an honor to have Lord Bai Long personally escort me out."

Bai Long clasped his hands inside his sleeves, speaking calmly: "Your Highness's esteemed presence deserves grand treatment; I wouldn't be at ease with anyone else sending you off."

Princess Liyang asked: "Is it safe now?"

Bai Long replied placidly: "Chen Ji has drawn all attention away for Your Highness, so it's naturally much safer and secure."

Princess Liyang suddenly inquired: "Will he be in trouble?"

Bai Long looked closely at Princess Liyang: "Your Highness is worried about Chen Ji?"

Princess Liyang earnestly said: "Does Lord Bai Long think I am heartless? Without Mr. Chen, I would have perished outside the pass long ago. Someone who saved my life, how can I not feel any gratitude in my heart?"

Bai Long casually responded: "Then why doesn't Your Highness stay for a few more days to help Chen Ji divert the danger back?"

Princess Liyang smiled gently: "Wouldn't that waste Mr. Chen's painstaking efforts? It's best to leave tonight... Where is Yuan Cheng?"

Bai Long turned and left the Huitong Hall: "You'll know when we get there."

As Princess Liyang stepped out of the hall, she saw over a hundred spies standing with their horses, their mouths biting wooden sticks, and thick cotton wrapped around their hooves.

The group included Jiao Tu, Yun Yang, Xuan Snake, and Treasure Monkey. This time Princess Liyang was genuinely worried, frowning at Bai Long: "Lord Bai Long, have the spies indeed not left a backup with Chen Ji? And who is impersonating me?"

Bai Long mounted his horse, dismissively saying: "Your Highness and Yuan Cheng leaving safely is the most important thing; naturally, the personnel should all be left by your side."

Princess Liyang said solemnly: "He can also be considered a meritorious servant of your Ning Dynasty. Do you really not care about his life at all?"

Xuan Snake, concealed entirely within a large black cloak, spoke slowly: "Your Highness, he is part of the Chen family, while we are part of the Eunuch Party; we don't need to worry about his life or death. Whether he lives or dies is none of our business. Besides, the one trying to trap him is the Crown Prince, not us."

Bai Long, seated high on his horse, looked down at Princess Liyang: "Will Your Highness leave or not?"

Princess Liyang gritted her teeth and mounted her horse as well: "Let's go."

Bai Long led the way toward the east, to Chaoyang Gate, and the group moved swiftly. Before they reached the gate, spies holding a handwritten order from the Prime Minister commanded the Five Cities Military Department to open a slit in the gate, allowing the group to pass through.

Afterwards, Chaoyang Gate slowly closed again.

Not only Chaoyang Gate, but all nine inner gates of the capital required a handwritten order from the Prime Minister to open tonight, not allowing even cabinet ministers to enter or exit. Even if someone realized that Chen Ji's side was just a decoy, there was no time to respond.

...

...

The Spy Department escorted Princess Liyang southeast at full speed without a moment's pause.

Riding against the wind, Princess Liyang shouted: "Where are we going?"

But no one answered her.

When the moon was overhead, the Spy Department finally reached the first post station.

Seeing the sign of the Langfang Post Station, Princess Liyang suddenly realized: "You're taking me to Tanggu Port, to send me by sea to return to the Jing Dynasty?"

Still, no one answered her.

The spies dismounted in unison at the post station, and Xuan Snake's underlings kicked open the closed gates: "Get out here."

The Posthouse Governor and clerks stumbled out angrily: "Who dares to... Oh, my Lords!"

Seeing the dense mass of spies outside, the officials instantly sobered up, trembling in fear: "What has happened, my Lords?"

Bai Long led the people through the main hall of the station to the stables in the back: "Change horses. Due to the secret nature of this mission, we don't have a Ministry of War Fire Ticket today, but will compensate you tomorrow."

The Posthouse Governor hastily replied: "Yes, yes, as you wish, my Lords."

The spies led out over a hundred warhorses from the stable, saddled them, and set off once more in a whirlwind of dust.

The journey from the capital to Tanggu totals three hundred miles, with three post stations along the way. They changed horses at each station, galloping at the speed of four hundred miles per day.

Even though Princess Liyang had prepared herself mentally, she found it difficult to endure.

When the Spy Department reached Tanggu Port, dawn had broken, and the rising sun slowly pushed its golden-red outline from the edge of the sea. Watching the sunrise, Princess Liyang felt as if she'd had a bizarre dream.

She looked at Bai Long: "Where is Yuan Cheng?"

Bai Long dismounted and walked to the port, where a large two-masted ship was moored. A stout figure stood on the deck looking out, while a young man rested with closed eyes in the crow's nest.

Jin Zhu, Heavenly Horse.

Bai Long approached: "You've worked hard."

Jin Zhu smiled and said, "I've been eagerly waiting for you all. If you hadn't come, I might've ended up smelling like the sea."

Bai Long stepped on the plank and boarded the large ship: "Where's Yuan Cheng?"

Jin Zhu squinted and laughed, "The old fellow is having breakfast in the cabin. Yesterday he was complaining about being tired of eating fish and wanted dumplings."

Bai Long asked again, "What about the Jing Dynasty's troops?"

Jin Zhu pointed towards the distant sea, "I didn't let them dock, they're anchored near the shore."

After the Pingdong Army captured Yuan Cheng, they never took him back to the Imperial Capital, instead keeping him at Tanggu Port. From Tanggu to the sea, with favorable winds, it would take four days to reach Lushun, and seven days to Jinzhou.

At this time, the Spy Department personnel escorted Princess Liyang onto the ship. Someone signaled with flags, the sailors raised the sails, and the ship slowly sailed out to sea.

Bai Long stood on the deck, facing the wind, and waved others away, then called Jin Zhu aside: "Where is Mr. Feng?"

Jin Zhu whispered, "He stayed in the Jing Dynasty alone when we returned. I asked him why he didn't come back, he just said he still had things to do, but didn't say what... I didn't dare to ask further."

Bai Long looked at the golden sheen on the sea, saying nothing for a long time.

The man who preemptively gave himself the posthumous title "Wenzheng" had become a mystery, and who knows what kind of earth-shattering events might occur the next time he appears.

Bai Long waved at Jin Zhu: "Call Princess Liyang here."

As Princess Liyang approached, he spoke to her without turning around: "According to our knowledge, Lushun is now under Lu Jin's control. Don't go there. Be sure to land in Jinzhou."

Princess Liyang smiled, "Lord Bai Long is indeed capable, knowing more than I do."

Bai Long had no time for banter: "Make sure it's your people on the opposite ship before boarding. Someone risked their life to help you get here, don't ruin it in the end by failing to identify your own and wasting others' efforts."

Princess Liyang seemed thoughtful and subtly probed, "Is Lord Bai Long speaking on behalf of Chen Ji? I can sense the concern in your words. If so, why not leave someone by Chen Ji's side?"

"I am not concerned about him," Bai Long said calmly, "Last night, more than a hundred people left the capital, which must have caught the attention of interested parties. They'll realize that Chen Ji's side is just a decoy. Rest assured, he will be fine."

Princess Liyang laughed, "It's a pity we couldn't draw out Lu Jin's men."

Bai Long was indifferent, "It doesn't matter, there will be plenty of opportunities."

Princess Liyang held onto the ship's side, looking at the Jing Dynasty ships getting closer across the sea with some melancholy, "I was reluctant to come, but now I find it hard to leave."

Bai Long turned to look at her, "Why?"

Princess Liyang smiled and said, "In Shangjing, I dealt with schemes daily. Others did filthy things, and I had to too. Coming to the Ning Dynasty, following Mr. Chen and Second Miss Zhang desperately clinging to life, it felt like being in a storybook, surprisingly liberating. On that day, I followed him through Anding Gate, watching him drink in front of the gate, thinking such a man should have been born in the Jing Dynasty. But leaving is good too..."

Bai Long remained calm: "And why again?"

Princess Liyang gazed at the sunrise, "The sun rises and sets. Mr. Chen's youthful spirit will also wane one day. In this world, fame and profit wear people down. If such a person grows old and struggles with others for benefits, that's the real regret."

Bai Long said indifferently, "He won't."

Princess Liyang covered her mouth and laughed lightly, "Just now, you said you didn't care, but look, it showed. Seems like Lord Bai Long is indeed close to Mr. Chen."

At this moment, the two large ships were near, and across stood a row of soldiers. The leading one wore black armor, with a black tassel on his head, at least a general of the Jing Dynasty.

Bai Long asked, "Who is this?"

Princess Liyang curled her lips, "Executive Officer in the Seeking Dao Realm under the Military Governor of Tokyo Road, Jiang Pan, one of mine."

Bai Long waved to those behind, and spies set up several planks between the two ships, escorting the disheveled and exhausted Yuan Cheng onto the opposite ship.

Princess Liyang lifted her skirt and stepped onto the plank. Before she reached him, Jiang Pan extended his hand, supporting her to the other ship.

She turned back to Bai Long, "Within a month, eight thousand warhorses and two thousand military and civilian personnel will be sent to Chongli Pass. Lord Bai Long, until we meet again."

Bai Long's words carried no emotion, "We shall never meet again."

Princess Liyang smiled, "Not so absolute, life is long, who can say for sure?"

As the two large ships gradually parted, growing distant, they watched each other across the sea.

When they became small black dots in each other's eyes, Princess Liyang's smile faded, "Make sure to settle Lord Yuan well, he will be of great use upon returning to the court."

Jiang Pan whispered, "Lord Yuan has lost all his spirit, of what use could he be."

Princess Liyang softly said, "It's better that he has lost his spirit. If it remained, I would worry about controlling him... By the way, anything significant recently?"

Jiang Pan thought for a moment, "The news about the sword seed's successor has already spread in court circles. Someone from the Temple of Martial Arts has declared that they must find this person... Your Highness, you were also outside Chongli Pass then, do you know who it is? If we could hand over this person, perhaps the Temple of Martial Arts would stop supporting Lu Jin and turn to support us."

Princess Liyang remained silent for a long time, the sea wind blew, swirling her hair.

Finally, she turned and walked towards the cabin, "I don't know."