Those correspondences soon appeared on Emperor Cheng Kang's desk, documenting Yu Pin Yan's conspiracy with the Second Prince of the Western Barbarians to exchange two cities for high-quality war horses and superior weapons, which would be used to force the Emperor to abdicate.
Yu Pin Yan lost two cities in this battle, namely Wulan Province and Feng Xing City, as agreed in the letter. Even if Yu Pin Yan had been hunted down by the Second Prince of Western Barbarians and his life and death was unknown, the correspondences would have been leaked to the public. Subsequently, those who had the intention could fabricate a story that he went to 'strip off the tiger's skin,[1] but instead, fell in love with the tiger'. In any case, he was no longer alive, and with no proof of his death, any kind of dirty water could be thrown on his head.
While the real traitor who was, in actual fact, collaborating with the enemy was hidden in the shadows and manipulating the entire situation. Not only had he infiltrated the Dragon Scale Guards, the Imperial Hospital, the Forbidden Palace, Marquis Yongle manor, but he also possessed contacts within the army. Otherwise, Yu Pin Yan's galiantry would never have been easily defeated at the hands of the Second Prince, who was a novice in the battlefield.
After reading the secret correspondences, Emperor Cheng Kang's face was surprisingly ugly, and the killing intent permeated from his body could clearly be seen. Ao Ping thought his plan was successful, thus he buried his head and waited for his next order.
After a long silence, Emperor Cheng Kang beckoned and said, "Take people to search the Crown Prince manor. Other than the Crown Prince and the young imperial grandsons, if the rest of the people resist, they will be killed!"
Ao Ping accepted the orders with a bow.
Emperor Cheng Kang had to admit that this person in the shadows was as capable as, if not more, the Crown Prince. But so what? The more exceptional he was, the more Emperor Cheng Kang would have to put him to death.
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Regardless of how matters were changing rapidly and unpredictably in the capital, Yu Pin Yan was experiencing the greatest calamity in his life far away from the capital. He was hit in the back by an arrow, but the arrow struck in his bone and thankfully missed his heart. However, he had been immersed in the cold water for a long time, and after going ashore, he had been fleeing for his life for five days. If the arrow was not removed, his body would develop rust poisoning and he would die from high fever.
But the arrow was too close to his heart, and it could injure the heart if it was carelessly removed. He could die from too much blood lost, unless he could escape as soon as possible and find a doctor who was highly skilled in medicine.
Right now, Yu Pin Yan and his two lieutenants were hiding in a cave, taking a short rest. The lower stream of the Wu River was the barbarian's territory, and getting to shore would definitely cause them to die. So Yu Pin Yan, with the help of his two lieutenants, swam desperately to the shore and headed upstream.
Along the way, it wasn't that they did not encounter the Han army's soldiers searching and rescuing, but they kept their distance. The battle should not have suffered such a major defeat. The central army led by Yu Pin Yan did not receive reinforcement from the right flank. Moreover, the left flank arrived in time, but united with the Western Barbarians to besiege the central army. They were all killed without leaving a single man behind. There were countless casualties.
At this juncture, how could Yu Pin Yan fail to have guessed that the army had defected to the enemy? Therefore, he did not trust anyone and only took the only two surviving subordinates to the dense forest to avoid the search and rescue party.
Zhang Meng, the Left General, said in a worried voice, "Commander, you are still running a fever."
"I'll boil some boiling water for the Commander to drink. There is also leftover roasted rabbit from yesterday. Hold on, let me warm it up." Lin Jie, the Right General, was drilling wood for the fire. The match sticks in their clothes were drenched with water and they had to use this ancient method.
"Take care of the wound on your leg. It's bleeding again." Yu Pin Yan's face was flushed and his voice was hoarse.
Lin Jie agreed, but he still stubbornly went to make a fire. Zhang Meng tore the hem of his battle robe and wrapped the wound on his leg. Not a single word was exchanged between them for a while.
They had been trekking through the Kuoshui Forest for five days and five nights. The deeper they ventured, the more lost they became. Now, they were at the mercy of the Heavens. As soldiers, the pain and hatred of being betrayed by a fellow soldier, who had not died at the hands of the enemy, was something that no ordinary people could understand.
The arrow in Yu Pin Yan's back had been cut off, leaving only a small piece lodged in his shoulder blade. He could not lie flat or sit while leaning against something. Currently, he was leaning on a rock while looking intensely at a copper coin he had taken out of his pocket.
If he had died here, Shen Yuan Qi would definitely have taken Xiang'er away and found her a husband to marry in a few years. His little sweetheart and sapling would be kissed, embraced and even possessed by another man... Just thinking about the foreseeable future made his eyes flushed red and his mind in turmoil. He wanted to use his sword and strike at everything he saw.
He strongly realized that he must not die here!
"Don't start a fire. We'll leave at once." He carefully put away the bronze coin and said in a decisive manner.
"You are running a fever for three days in a row, Commander. It's better to lie down and rest for a while." Lin Jie tossed the wood and stepped forward to stop him.
"What we lack most now is time. The only way to have a chance of survival is to get out of the jungle as soon as possible. Let's go, there's no time to lose." He pushed Lin Jie away, picked up the bow and arrows on the ground and walked out in large strides.
Left with no other choice, the two men escorted him towards the edge of the dense forest. About half an hour later, birds suddenly scattered in the forest, followed by the crisp sound of a branch being broken by someone and the faint sound of voices speaking.
Yu Pin Yan quickly climbed to the top of the three, while Lin Jie and Zhang Meng also lurked in the shadows. All three of them placed their hands on the bowstrings and pulled back, and their eyes were filled with murderous intent.
"I can feel that my elder brother is here, and he is getting closer to me. He's having a fever and his back is wounded. We must find him soon." Yu Xiang said as she held onto her burning forehead.
Ku Hai and Ku Hui softly comforted her. Seeing their master charging forward with all her might, Tao Hong and Liu Lu, who were already on the verge of exhaustion, had no choice but to follow.
Yu Xiang pushed aside a thick shrub and a sudden feeling of good fortune came over her, compelling her to look up abruptly.
Yu Pin Yan was aiming at the group of people while using the leaves of the tree as cover. The person walking ahead of the group was wearing a dirty monk's robe, her hair was tied firmly in a bun behind her head with a string. Her face was speckled with mud, hiding all her features, except for a pair of large, round, almond-shaped eyes that shone with determination.
Even though the person's appearance was beyond recognition, Yu Pin Yan would not have mistaken those eyes that had appeared countless times in his dreams . He shouted incredulously, "Xiang'er?"
"Elder Brother?" Yu Xiang also raised her head, her expression filled with joy.
Zhang Meng and Lin Jie, who were in hiding, loosened their bow strings and hesitantly stepped out. They were both aware that The Commander's most precious sister was called Yu Xiang. But they could never have imagined that the legendary arrogant and domineering young lady would appear in such a wretched state in the deadly Kuoshui Forest.
"Elder Brother, quickly come down!" Yu Xiang waved her hands while she screamed and jumped. Her face was filled with the most radiant smile, but the tears kept flowing, thus, creating two tear-trails down her face and making her look very comical.
Yu Pin Yan leapt down from the branch and walked over to her. His emotions were in a mess, and he opened his mouth to berate her, "How can you come to the Western Frontier alone? Are you seeking death?"
"I didn't come alone. The senior monks from Zhen Guo Temple escorted me here. Look!" Yu Xiang pointed behind her and Ku Hai and the others bowed with their palms together.
Zhang Meng and Lin Jie were overjoyed. The monks of Zhen Guo Temple were known for their trekking skills, and they travelled on their own foot. Although Kuoshui Forest was vast and treacherous, it was not enough to stop them. This was a lucky star rained down from heaven!
The two of them hurriedly greeted and paid their respect.
Yu Pin Yan, however, did not care about the Masters and grabbed the little girl who wanted to jump into his arms and asked, "Are you hurt? Why didn't you obediently stay at home?"
"I am not hurt. I dreamed that you had been hit by a stray arrow and had fallen into the river. So I went to look for you. I didn't have any other thoughts. Even if I were to seek death, I will die together with you." Yu Xiang wiped away her tears and added, "But I know you'll be fine. Can we stop talking about this nonsense? You are running a fever and you are still wounded. We need to hurry and find a shelter. Come on!"
She carefully held her brother's arm for fear of touching any of his wounds. She wanted to use more strength but she forced herself to suppress the urge as she pulled him forward. Yu Pin Yan stared at the side of her anxious face, finally revealing the first smile in days.
Although Zhang Meng and Lin Jie were exchanging pleasantries with a few masters, their ears perked up to pick up the sibling's conversation. To come all the way to the Western Frontier to find him regardless of life and death based on a mere dream, this kind of sentiment was too unfathomable. Only then did they understand why the Commander was so fond of his arrogant younger sister.
If their loved ones had risked their lives for them, no amount of pampering would be rendered sufficient.
Ku Hai led everyone to look for a cave. Inside, the cave was spacious and dry. Yu Xiang untied her brother's robe, and her big eyes filled with tears once again when she saw the scars on his body and the arrowhead on his back. Tao Hong and Liu Lu took out a matchstick and lit a roaring fire as they boiled water in the alms bowl the great monks had brought with them.
"Don't cry. Seeing the way you shed your tears makes me feel worse than being hit by an arrow." Yu Pin Yan wiped away the tears, the mud and dust from her face with his fingertips. If it wasn't for the fact that Ku Hai was examining her wound, he would have pulled his sister into his arms, cuddled her and given her a kiss.
"I won't cry." Yu Xiang immediately wiped her tears with her sleeve. However, due to her clothes being too dirty, the fair face became even dirtier, and it streaked like a bobcat.
Yu Pin Yan couldn't help laughing.
Zhang Meng and Lin Jie were helping Tao Hong and Liu Lu to boil water. They were greatly surprised to hear that Commander's laugh. It was the first time they had seen such a tender and affectionate side of this 'cold and heartless' Commander. It was said that the Commander loved his sister more than his life, and it seemed that the rumours were true.
In that case, the Third Young Miss wasn't arrogant and domineering. If she could venture into dangerous situations for her elder brother without hesitation, and risked her life twice for him, then her feelings for him were not in the least insignificant.
The pair of siblings had such deep love and affection for one another, such kindred spirits, that one could only be envious.
Yu Xiang glanced at her elder brother and asked for some water from Tao Hong to clean her face. Ku Hui looked at the half-cut arrow and said slowly, "It only missed the heart pulse by a small margin. Benefactor Yu is indeed greatly blessed and very fortunate. This poor monk will help you to pull out the arrow. It may hurt a lot. So Benefactor Yu please prepare yourself."
"Wait, don't pull it out yet." Yu Xiang hastily stopped him. She folded a handkerchief into a strip from her wrapped package and stuffed it into her elder brother's mouth before saying, "Pull it out."
Ku Hui nodded and was about to pull the arrow when she stopped him again, "Wait!"
"Benefactor Yu Xiang, if you have anything to say, please say it once and for all, lest this poor monk's hands fumbled." Ku Hui was feeling very helpless.
"I'm sorry." Yu Xiang apologized sincerely and suggested, "Count one, two, three before you pull it out. It's frightening to pull it out all at once!"
Yu Pin Yan couldn't help laughing as he spat out his handkerchief, "As long as I have my little sapling with me, I am fearless. Master Ku Hui, pull it out as you like. I can withstand it."
Right now was undoubtedly the most bitter moment in his life. But with Xiang'er by his side, all the hardships and sufferings had turned into pleasure and sweetness. She came, so he had more reasons to stay alive. Who says that having a weakness makes a person weak? Quite the contrary, it is because of his weakness that makes him stronger.