Transmigrated to the Northern Song Dynasty as a County Magistrate (GL) - Chapter 80

80: Already Considered Brutal

With Shang Yan’s capture as precedent and Ma Zhusege’s unknown whereabouts in Kaifeng—plus Imperial City Department surveillance—Tian Qingyi had to proceed with extreme caution. The consequences of exposure required no explanation; unlike Shang Yan’s fanatical loyalty to Liao, she lacked both his endurance and willingness to die for the cause.

The next noon, Qingyu finally found an opportunity to slip away. Noticing only Xiaozhu remained by her side, Tian Qingyi deduced Qingyu’s departure and relaxed slightly. Why not simply order Qingyu out on errands?

Maintaining normalcy was paramount—even under potential surveillance. Qingyu’s independent initiative appeared most natural, though Tian Qingyi burned with impatience for news. During rituals, she distracted herself with mental scenarios: best-case—Shi Wan successfully retrieving Aunt Liu’s family; worst—complete failure.

She could only pray against the latter. Though desperate to escape Ma Zhusege’s familial blackmail, she genuinely wished Aunt Liu well.

Qingyu returned that afternoon, but Tian Qingyi endured until midnight in her study before demanding the report.

Qingyu’s stony silence preceded her producing a letter from her robe. Overeager, Tian Qingyi missed Qingyu’s expression as she verified and opened it.

The contents upended all expectations.

Written by Ruoshui, it detailed their journey: smooth to the border, then scammed during Liao entry—doubling costs and wasting twenty-plus days. By Nanjing, funds neared depletion. Shi Wan took accounting work to replenish coffers while Ruoshui searched using memorized addresses.

Time had altered the landscape. Liu Daniang’s former home now stood as a manor under different ownership. Only an elderly neighbor provided clues. The year-long search ended in a poorer, remote village where they found Liu Daniang—pregnant, raising a six-year-old alone after her husband eloped with another woman.

Wary from hardship, Liu Daniang took over a year to trust Ruoshui fully. Piecing together her tragic history—forced relocation after her father’s death, a daughter’s demise that nearly blinded her with grief, then her husband’s gambling addiction bankrupting them within a year—even Ruoshui pitied her.

The final betrayal came when the man abandoned pregnant Aunt Liu and their son for a wealthy widow in the capital. Beaten when resisting his thefts, she could only curse futilely before relocating to their current destitution. Failing eyesight limited her embroidery—their sole income.

Shi Wan’s accounting wages barely sustained all four. When funds nearly sufficed for departure, Liu Daniang’s son drowned with friends. Her hair whitened overnight; only her infant daughter prevented suicide.

Upon recovering, Liu Daniang received Tian Qingyi’s hairpin token and proposition—but demanded her ex-husband’s death first. Shi Wan and Ruoshui chose assassination over hiring killers to save time.

Killing proved easy; escaping with ailing Aunt Liu and her baby wasn’t. Pursuers found them within two weeks—two silent, ruthless attackers. Though Shi Wan was injured, they prevailed.

Greater caution followed, yet their hunters were skilled. Liu Daniang was fatally stabbed before Song borders, dying without last words. They buried her hastily, unable to transport the body.

At the border, massed attackers forced Shi Wan’s last stand to cover Ruoshui’s escape with the child. Within Song territory, disguises and merchant charity finally brought them to Kaifeng by mid-September.

The letter left Tian Qingyi grief-stricken and furious—Liu Daniang, who’d loved the original host so deeply, dead by assassination. Ma Zhusege’s involvement seemed certain; spy families were routinely monitored.

Shi Wan’s death shocked her more. Though unfamiliar with him, losing a life she’d dispatched weighed heavily. Both deaths bore her indirect responsibility—had she not intervened, they might still live.

This unforeseen bloodshed from her decisions crushed her like boulders on her chest.

Calmer analysis raised questions: Where was Liao’s spy family subsidy? Why Liu Daniang’s destitution? Ma Zhusege must have intervened—explaining Aunt Liu’s silence about the original host.

No wonder letters ceased after her transmigration—Liu Daniang’s circumstances had collapsed. What worthless man had the original host’s father chosen?

At least Liu Daniang had exacted revenge. Tian Qingyi would have done the same.

Ruoshui couldn’t recover Shi Wan’s full remains—pursuers had burned his body, leaving only bones she paid to retrieve.

Though anticipating difficulties, Tian Qingyi never imagined such costs—in time and lives. Yet even foreknowing, she’d likely have proceeded, lacking the original host’s blind faith in Ma Zhusege.

Her suspicions were validated: Liao’s care for spy families was performative. When subsidies stopped and what lies Ma Zhusege told remained unknown.

His recent appearance likely suspected her involvement—fortunately, her ignorance then made reactions convincingly innocent.

“How is Shi Qian?” Tian Qingyi’s guilt about Shi Wan was palpable.

Qingyu frowned. “Not well. She’s clung to his bones without eating or drinking for a full day and night.”

“Have Ruoshui hire a steady, taciturn elder woman to care for her. She’ll need time. I’ll visit year’s end of the year.” Though ashamed to face Shi Qian, Tian Qingyi owed her this.

“Understood.” Qingyu, unaware of the mission details, recognized its brutal outcome. Tian Qingyi’s prioritization of Shi Qian over the child reassured her—she’d followed the right master.

“Bury him with dignity. Ruoshui will arrange a plausible funeral. The tavern can pause if unmanageable.” Though the true cause couldn’t be disclosed, Shi Wan deserved standard rites.

Qingyu grasped the implicit instructions. “Ruoshui will handle it. The tavern’s manager can maintain operations.”

“Tomorrow, pawn some premium hairpins and jades for Shi Qian and Ruoshui—except Yun Jingchu’s gifts.” With only a string of cash left, pawning unused accessories was Tian Qingyi’s only option.

“Unacceptable! Those are your daily wear. Shi Qian has savings—I can supplement if needed.” Qingyu protested her master’s sacrifice for subordinates.