Transmigrated to the Northern Song Dynasty as a County Magistrate (GL) - Chapter 90

90: I Hope There’s Still Time

Ma Zhusege found himself more pleased than displeased with Tian Qingyi’s performance today. He remembered Guihai as nothing more than a stubborn child whose every thought showed plainly on her face. Now she has grown into someone courageous, resourceful, and bold – truly remarkable.

Regarding Yuchen’s identity, he hadn’t been certain. There was no concrete evidence proving Yuchen was Dongxue. But considering the entire incident of Liu Daniang being taken away, Guihai was the only one with motive. Though Yuchen’s gender, timing of appearance, and age didn’t match Dongxue’s, these could all be altered.

Though uncertain, he had already made his judgment. Facts proved him right – Yuchen was indeed Dongxue. His subordinate had surpassed her teacher, secretly orchestrating the kidnapping without leaving him any evidence.

With Guihai’s intelligence, navigating the Song court wouldn’t be difficult. Becoming chief minister was likely just a matter of time. Given this, why not play the long game?

The more valuable intelligence he obtained, the more the Khan would value him, bringing the power and status he desired ever closer. From every angle, his deal with Guihai profited him greatly. Even with that page burned, he knew everything that mattered. Besides, Guihai still had Yuchen as her weakness.

As for Tian Qingyi and Yun Jingchu’s relationship, Ma Zhusege knew what most people knew, but fundamentally didn’t believe it. The idea of women loving women was beyond his comprehension – to him, they simply had an agreement to pretend to be married in public.

Thus, in Ma Zhusege’s view, the only hostage who could truly control Guihai was Dongxue. This was why he had searched for Dongxue so persistently. As for Yun Jingchu and others, they weren’t qualified as hostages, though they could certainly be implicated.

Ma Zhusege’s group of three met two others on a small path before taking backroads north. With his business concluded, he saw no reason to linger.

Meanwhile, after Ma Zhusege left, Tian Qingyi prepared to remove the arrow. The thought of potential bl00d loss made her hesitate. She called for help repeatedly but got no response. Without sunlight, she couldn’t determine the exact time.

She hadn’t anticipated Ma Zhusege changing locations. Winter days ended early, and all this back-and-forth had consumed much time. She could only hope Qingyu would come quickly so they could return before dark. Otherwise…

More than Yun Jingchu seeing that letter, she feared Yun Jingchu’s resulting heartbreak. She desperately hoped there was still time, that nothing irreversible had happened yet.

After waiting with no sign of Qingyu, Tian Qingyi grew increasingly anxious. Gritting her teeth, she finally pulled out the arrow, hastily applying medicine and bandaging the wound with torn cloth. Only when the bleeding stopped did she realize she was drenched in sweat from pain and exhaustion.

When Qingyu arrived, she found Tian Qingyi lying on the ground in a pool of bl00d, her frown deep enough to crush a mosquito. Before she could check for breathing, Tian Qingyi turned her head, looking at Qingyu like a drowning woman seeing land.

To Tian Qingyi, Qingyu truly was her savior now. With her injured leg, cleaning the scene alone would have been difficult but necessary. Thankfully, Qingyu had finally come.

With Qingyu’s help, Tian Qingyi’s wound received proper treatment. They quickly cleaned the scene, with Qingyu scouting the area to find the temple’s only two monks still asleep past noon – clearly drugged.

Before the monks woke, Tian Qingyi changed into clean robes Qingyu had brought. After confirming the scene was clean, they departed swiftly. Following Tian Qingyi’s instructions, Qingyu had brought a different carriage in case of delay.

To avoid arousing the driver’s suspicion, Tian Qingyi walked unaided despite the pain, only relaxing – and wincing – once inside the carriage.

To the driver, this looked like a scholar with too much leisure time, misled into visiting a rural temple, with his wife coming to retrieve him after an argument.

Unaware of the driver’s assumptions, Tian Qingyi wiped sweat from her forehead. In both her lives, this was the most severe injury she’d suffered.

Though physically and mentally exhausted, at least her worst fears hadn’t materialized – a silver lining. Most importantly, without the main mission, she could finally follow her heart, no longer forcing herself to bribe for promotions.

Her urgency made the driver assume the couple couldn’t wait to be rid of each other. But their return faced constant delays – first crowds of villagers returning from the market slowed them, then a carriage accident blocked the road. As darkness fell, Tian Qingyi grew increasingly anxious.

Were it not for her injury, she’d have run back herself. She considered sending Qingyu ahead but doubted she’d outpace the carriage. She could only repeatedly urge the driver faster.

Despite his efforts, night had fully fallen when they finally reached Kaifeng. At Wansheng Gate, they dismissed the carriage. Only when alone did Tian Qingyi instruct Qingyu: “I’ll handle matters at Fan Tower. Quickly hire another carriage home. Find Wei Shier and retrieve the letter I gave him this morning. If he’s already given it to Madam, answer her questions truthfully. I’ll return as soon as possible. Go now.”

Qingyu departed swiftly, easily finding a carriage in Kaifeng’s bustling rental industry, heading straight for Xinsong Gate.

Watching the departing carriage under dim lantern light, Tian Qingyi also hired one to Fan Tower. To avoid suspicion, she walked normally despite the pain until safely inside the carriage.

When Tian Qingyi slipped back into the private room, she found Shi Qian boredly staring at a chessboard. At the sound, Shi Qian turned, her face lighting up.

“Master! You’re finally back! I couldn’t have kept this up much longer.” Maintaining the charade – periodically making noise or stepping out – had exhausted Shi Qian more than her usual work at the tavern.

“Any issues today?” Tian Qingyi asked while retrieving her discarded clothes. Fortunately, winter layers and her cloak concealed any bulk from the extra clothing.

Shi Qian helped while reporting: “A man named Yuan came seeking you, but I refused, saying you were reminiscing with a friend over chess and wouldn’t see outsiders today.”

“Yuan? Yuan Changzhong?” Tian Qingyi took the brocade cap. After a moment’s thought, Shi Qian nodded.

Surprised by this early encounter with her target, Tian Qingyi finished dressing and they quickly restored the room before parting ways at Fan Tower – Tian Qingyi homeward, Shi Qian to Taiping Xingguo Temple with the key. Their similar builds made their disguises convincing, especially in poor light.

Following instructions, Shi Qian stayed at the temple for three days before departing on the fourth morning for a popular rural temple. After worshiping and changing back to her normal clothes, she blended into the crowd returning to the city.

Uncertain of the outcome and prepared to die, Tian Qingyi had made dual preparations. Had she died, Qingyu would have found a letter on her body with final instructions. Surviving meant that letter would never surface.

But arriving home to find the gates already closed confirmed her worst fears. Knocking at the side gate, the guard quickly admitted her.

Wei Shier and Zhou Ba had strictly followed Tian Qingyi’s orders, remaining indoors all day. Zhou Ba had only left for routine patrols and exercise while watching for Tian Qingyi’s return.

They’d instructed the gatekeeper to notify them immediately if the master returned. But as time passed and darkness fell with no sign of him, Zhou Ba opened the letter at nightfall.

It contained two instructions: immediately seek out Yun Jingchu and follow her orders, and protect Yun Jingchu and the others’ safety.

Wei Shier similarly went to Yun Jingchu with his letter. Already in poor spirits and unsettled by Tian Qingyi’s absence, Yun Jingchu drowned herself in work – reviewing accounts, meeting subordinates, even skipping dinner with Yuchen.

Unaware of the situation, Yuchen dined alone in Shangfu Courtyard’s main hall. Hearing her mother had worked all day without rest, she grew concerned and headed to her study. As for her father’s absence, she assumed official business or a colleague’s banquet – she was accustomed to his intermittent absences from dinner.

Ruoshui had deliberately let Yuchen “overhear” servants discussing Yun Jingchu’s exhaustion. As hoped, Yuchen went to check on her mother without prompting.

Ruoshui’s orders were simple: if the master didn’t return by dark, guide Yuchen to Yun Jingchu, follow Yun Jingchu’s arrangements, and protect their safety; and don’t contact Shi Qian or Qingyu unless they reached out first.

Before reaching the study, lantern light revealed Wei Shier and Zhou Ba waiting outside. Yuchen approached and greeted them respectfully, with Ruoshui following suit.

The two men, having arrived separately to await Yun Jingchu’s summons, returned the greetings. As they began speaking, Yuanqi’s voice called them inside from within.

Wei Shier held the curtain for Yuchen and Ruoshui to enter first, followed by himself, then Zhou Ba. Inside, they found Yun Jingchu reviewing accounts with a heating pan, surrounded by ledgers. Yuanqi attended while three charcoal braziers blazed nearby.

Yuchen: “May Mother be blessed with peace and health.”
Ruoshui: “May the Madam be blessed.”
Wei Shier: “Madam’s safety and health.”
Zhou Ba: “Madam’s safety and health.”

After their greetings in turn, Yun Jingchu set down her brush and waved them forward.

Standing at the front, Yuchen said concernedly: “This child heard Mother has worked all day without leaving the study. I came to pay respects out of concern.”

Originally intending to urge rest, Yuchen changed tack upon seeing Wei Shier and Zhou Ba’s demeanor suggested official business.

Yun Jingchu happily beckoned Yuchen closer, but the girl stopped three paces away. With a sigh, Yun Jingchu lamented: “You clung to me as a child, but grown more dignified with age – and distant.”

Seeing Yun Jingchu’s expression darken, Yuchen hastily quoted: “The master said ‘If the gentleman is not serious, he will not inspire awe, nor will his learning be solid.'” Quickly stepping forward, she added: “This child naturally wishes to be close to Mother.” She took the stool Yuanqi brought, sitting beside Yun Jingchu.

Yun Jingchu never missed opportunities for Yuchen to learn through observation.

Her only regret was that Yuchen’s excessive formality might have been avoided had she raised the girl herself. That adorable child might have retained more spontaneity.

Handing Yuchen the heating pan, Yun Jingchu turned to Wei Shier and Zhou Ba. The blunt Zhou Ba reported first: “The master gave me a letter this morning, instructing me to open it if he hadn’t returned by dark. It said to come immediately to you and follow your orders.”

Puzzled by this arrangement, Yun Jingchu turned to Wei Shier without comment.

Wei Shier presented his letter: “The master instructed me to give you this if he hadn’t returned by nightfall.”

Yuanqi took the letter to Yun Jingchu. Though suspicious of Tian Qingyi’s motives, Yun Jingchu checked the letter’s integrity before opening it.

Clutching the warm heating pan, Yuchen watched curiously but didn’t peek without permission, instead studying the brazier.

Despite Yun Jingchu’s formidable composure, her face visibly paled upon reading. As the others grew uneasy, she wordlessly waved them away. Understanding, Yuanqi began ushering people out.

While the others left easily, Yuchen pretended obliviously to stay. At Yun Jingchu’s gesture, Yuanqi could only retreat.

Note: In case it slipped your mind, Tian Qingyi goes by the spy codename ‘Guihai’.