Chapter 10: Sunrise, Sunset

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Sunrise, sunset.

Day after day, a caravan stretching for miles would set off each morning facing the rising sun, and each evening, bathed in the afterglow, would make camp.

Clad in dark military uniforms, sword-wielding cavalry, towering warriors carrying halberds, beautiful maidens riding camels, magnificent four-horse carriages, and simple coffins...

Such a distinctive procession appeared daily on the Long Plains, adding a splash of vivid color to the otherwise monotonous natural scenery.

“Miss, have some honey water. We’ve been traveling most of the day,” Qingmei said, handing over a gilded silver cup.

Taking the opportunity to offer the cup, Qingmei carefully studied Suo Chanzhi for a few moments.

She was quite curious; the young lady had grown more beautiful with each passing day, radiant and glowing.

Her skin, already fair and delicate, now seemed so flawless it was as if jade light flowed beneath it—a beauty beyond description.

Had the young lady secretly started using some special cosmetics?

But all her makeup supplies had always been purchased by me, and none of those powders ever had such an effect...

Suo Chanzhi took the silver cup, her lips lightly brushing the rim as she took a small sip.

The honey water was perfectly balanced, never overly sweet.

“And... cough, how much longer until we reach Tianshui?” Suo Chanzhi asked softly; her once clear voice now carried a slight huskiness.

Yet that huskiness was not unpleasant; rather, it held a strange allure, stirring a subtle thrill inside.

The dough she had kneaded—“three folds, three rests”—seemed to have gradually adapted to Yang Can’s rubbing, becoming resilient and soft, bitterness turning to sweetness.

Of course, she would never admit that.

Qingmei replied, “I’ve already found out. At this pace, we should be able to cross the mountain ahead by tomorrow morning.

Once we cross that mountain, we’ll be entering Tianshui territory.”

Suo Chanzhi gave a faint hum in response, her gaze returning to the window.

In the distance, mountains loomed like ink-washed shadows; nearer, wild grasses swayed thickly; and not far off, a few wild rabbits startled by the caravan dashed swiftly into the bushes.

Her eyes quickly found Yang Can’s figure—the elegant silhouette of him straddling his saddle like a wave—and a familiar itch tingled at her teeth.

That scoundrel’s ways of tormenting her just kept increasing.

How could he possibly know so much?

The thought that she might not be the first to have her dough kneaded by Yang Can unsettled her deeply.

The border mountain into Tianshui was just ahead; according to Granny Tu’s plan, Yang Can’s role was about to end.

He wouldn’t be able to cross that mountain; tonight could very well be his death.

Suo Chanzhi resolved silently that when the camp was set up tonight, she would find Granny Suo to talk things over.

Why must Yang Can die?

It wasn’t that she was particularly fond of him; she simply recognized that Yang Can was an attendant of the eldest son of the Yu family’s main branch, a position of some standing within the family.

Thus, sparing his life would clearly serve a greater purpose.

Granny Tu sat inside the carriage, eyes closed lightly as if resting.

Beside the carriage, a Suo family warrior controlled the horses’ pace, whispering a report inside:

“Granny Tu, at our current pace, we should cross that mountain tomorrow and enter Yu family territory.”

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“Hmm, has the Yu family sent someone to receive the coffin?”

“The young master’s death was sudden. If the Yu family had sent anyone, there would have been no time to inform us in advance. I have no way to track their movements,” the warrior replied.

“Very well...” Granny Tu waved her hand and slowly opened her eyes.

By her estimation, even if the Yu family sent someone immediately upon receiving the news, they wouldn’t arrive until after the caravan had entered Yu territory.

So... even at the earliest, the two sides would only meet tomorrow.

In that case, Yang Can could die tonight.

Not just Yang Can; at some future opportunity, that little Qingmei would also have to be eliminated.

That way, besides Suo Chanzhi, only she would hold the secret.

A slight smile crept onto Granny Tu’s face at the thought of it.

When she first sent word to the Suo family in Jincheng about the death, she hadn’t thought of such a clever plan.

By the time she came up with the idea, Leopard Head Cheng Dakuan had already stepped up security, making it difficult to send people out without attracting attention.

But now, she no longer wished to dispatch anyone, for she suddenly felt that it was better for her alone to keep the secret.

Holding the secret alone would grant her leverage and maximize her gains.

For this, she had informed Suo Chanzhi of the plan, to prevent her from accidentally revealing anything when she met her family.

Of course, her true motive was not disclosed; Granny Tu told Suo Chanzhi that:

“After all, this concerns your reputation and is a matter of great importance. It’s best that fewer people know.”

Having made up her mind, Granny Tu whispered a command to the rider outside the carriage window:

“After tonight’s camp, have our men find a pretext to provoke the Yu family’s people. Stir up a big commotion!”

The mounted rider nodded, tightened the reins, and galloped forward lightly.

...

Granny Tu hadn’t expected the Yu family’s people to arrive earlier than she anticipated.

By her messengers’ estimated pace, they shouldn’t have come so fast.

Unbeknownst to her, Leopard Head Cheng Dakuan, guided by Yang Can’s instructions, had quietly dispatched a party along a secret path to reach Phoenix Mountain ahead of time.

Thus, the Yu family’s men arrived that very evening.

At dusk, as they camped at the mountain’s foot, suddenly over forty horsemen thundered out of the valley.

Their mounts were tall, sturdy steeds from the northwest, and the riders were mostly young men in their twenties with athletic builds.

They wore matching, durable sky-blue cotton riding outfits, leather waistbands six inches wide cinched tightly around their waists.

Daggers were tucked into their waistbands; victory hooks hung from their belts; longbows slung over shoulders; quivers full of arrows at their hips—they were fully armed.

The leader, about forty years old, wore an indigo brocade riding robe, a long sword without tassels at his waist, and a flowing grayish-blue cloak billowing in the wind.

He had a broad face, thick eyebrows and beard, a stern expression, and carried an aura of undisputed authority without anger.

“Steward Yi,”

The Yu family’s guards, ready to act, relaxed upon recognizing him and saluted respectfully.

“Steward Yi!”

Yang Can shouted, leaping off his horse with a sidelong motion.

He ran forward a few steps smoothly, releasing his momentum, then cried mournfully:

“Steward Yi, the young master was unfortunately killed by horse bandits!”

Granny Tu cast a calm glance at Yang Can, not overly alarmed.

Yang Can was Yu Chengye’s attendant; showing grief at the arrival of Yu family members was natural.

Along the journey, Yang Can had behaved obediently before her, successfully lowering her guard.

The steward Yi ignored Yang Can and rode straight past him.

This Yi was Yi She, the third-ranking external steward of the Yu family’s Tianshui branch.

Yi She’s eyes immediately fell on the simple coffin; he dismounted swiftly and approached.

As he neared, his steps slowed and his expression grew graver.

With the eldest son of the Yu family’s main branch dead, the Yu clan would likely face unrest, placing great pressure on him.

Granny Tu descended from the carriage slowly.

The rider nearby whispered, “Granny Tu, the Yu family’s men have arrived. Should we cancel tonight’s plan?”

Granny Tu replied calmly, “Even if the Suo family sends people, so what? The young master died at the hands of bandits; we bear no blame.

What does it matter if another irrelevant attendant dies now?”

Having spoken, she ignored the rider and headed toward Yi She.

Meanwhile, Yang Can hurried up to Yi She, shouting, “Steward Yi, there’s something suspicious about the young master’s death!”

Yi She whirled sharply at this, his fierce gaze piercing Yang Can.

Granny Tu’s heart tightened, her aged eyes fixed on Yang Can.

Inside the four-horse carriage, Suo Chanzhi’s heart sank hearing Yang Can’s shout.

Only one thought occupied her mind: if Yang Can revealed the truth, what would become of her ruined reputation?

The overwhelming tension made her delicate body tremble.

Yi She stared intensely at Yang Can and asked in a low voice, “Mr. Yang, what do you mean by saying the young master’s death is suspicious?”

Yang Can ignored Granny Tu’s threatening glare and said to Yi She:

“Steward Yi, throughout the journey, the young master’s close protection was entirely managed by the Suo family.

Bandits attacked seeking plunder, but they ignored the large treasure and raced straight to the camp’s center to kill the young master.

All this is highly irregular; clearly, the Suo family is involved.”

Leopard Head’s eyes widened in surprise at the scene.

Damn! Is Master Yang really this bold?

Yes, I said it: the Yu and Suo families are like cat and mouse living under one roof, each obstructing the other; but matters like this cannot be aired openly.

Though I’ve fought with the Suo family, it was servant against servant, leaving room for maneuver.

But to accuse the Suo family of murdering the young master is like climbing onto the table to slap the head of the Suo clan!

Cheng Dakuan guessed Yang Can’s intention: he aimed to take a bold, confrontational stance against the Suo family to gain favor with the Yu family head.

But... the master is currently relying on the Suo family’s strength. Won’t this backfire?

Granny Tu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Yang Can dared not mention that he had entangled with the Yu family’s young mistress.

It seemed he was not foolish; he must have guessed she intended to kill him to cover up the truth.

So he forcibly claimed that the Suo family was highly suspicious in Yu Chengye’s death.

He hoped this trick would make her hesitate to harm him.

But if he suddenly died after accusing the Suo family, of course, suspicion would fall on them.

However, just because you say so, do you think I would spare your life to avoid suspicion?

Haha, don’t be naive!