The carriage jolted slightly and gradually stopped. Que’er looked outside and said, “Madam, they’ve arrived.”
“Go,” his mother said, smiling softly. “Take good care of yourself in Nan Rui. Although Hong Emperor is your maternal uncle and has been searching for you, he may not be as courteous as he appears. Be careful.” She hesitated before adding, “You and Jin will meet again. Don’t worry.”
I was stunned. “Mother-in-law, aren’t you coming with me?”
“No,” she smiled and shook her head. “I must stay in Qi country to do something for Jin’er. Your father-in-law is also here; I cannot leave him.”
My chest felt like it was being violently pulled in all directions.
The kind father-in-law, the mother-in-law who masked her tenderness with coldness, and the affectionate husband – this good family was finally falling apart. In parting, one realizes that each day spent dining together was a diminishing blessing.
“Go,” his mother said, nodding at me.
I gave her a final look before following Que’er off the carriage, standing on a small forest path outside Yan Feng city. The driver turned his horse around, the copper bells softly ringing as he disappeared into the misty night.
“Madam, they’re over there,” Que’er led me toward two soft, pale yellow light sources.
As we approached, two vermilion-doored carriages became visible, with several tall figures on horseback. Que’er strode forward, and one of the horsemen dismounted, greeted Que’er, and walked towards me.
“Madam, we must set off without delay,” he said.
This person was Tang Wei, whom I had met several times.
When his mother mentioned An Jin’s plan, I had anticipated the role the Tang family would play. The Tang family was An Jin’s final chess piece in Qi country, serving as a backup plan by the Secret Department. Nothing provided better cover than the Tang faction, trusted by the Qi Emperor despite being part of the jianghu.
Thus, An Jin arranged the Tang faction to escort me and my family out of Qi country.
Ultimately, strategy would always find a way. I understood why the founding emperor had entrusted the Secret Department to the An family; their meticulous approach seemed like a divine gift.
