Chapter 86: Let the Bullets Fly
“How much longer are you going to keep rambling?”
Outside the private room, Su Qingmeng’s furious shout rang out. Her energy was formidable, like a raging storm. Just her voice alone made Sun Three and Sun Four’s bodies tremble.
“Young master,” Sun Three looked sorrowful, “you’ve been wronged.”
Li Yunjie sighed deeply—who could deny it?
He rose and opened the door.
Su Qingmeng waited outside, carrying her luggage. With a sidelong glance into the room, a flash of regret appeared in her eyes. Why hadn’t she overheard their scheming?
“Let me introduce you,” Li Yunjie turned to the two inside. “These two are old retainers of the Northern Tomb Prince’s household.”
“The thin one is Sun Three, the stout one is Sun Four.”
The pair grinned and bowed respectfully. “Greetings, young master’s lady.”
“Who’s your lady…” Su Qingmeng muttered under her breath.
She showed little warmth, turned briskly away, and her steps were swift as the wind. “You go on, I’ll prepare some provisions.”
“Young master, are you leaving?” Sun Three watched Su Qingmeng’s departing figure, anxiety flickering in his heart.
Li Yunjie nodded, pondering for a moment, deciding not to disclose their return to Northern Tomb.
“There’s a case I’m working on.”
“A case?” Sun Three’s mind was sharp, sensing something unusual. “I suppose this is your true purpose for coming to Jiangnan?”
Li Yunjie gave a brief affirmative, revealing nothing more.
He instructed Eleven to pack their bundles and bid farewell to the two.
“The affairs of Jiangnan are in your hands now.”
“If you face any trouble, seek out Lu Xin.”
The two clasped their hands and answered in unison, “Understood, young master.”
“Then let us part here.” Li Yunjie smiled lightly. “Once I’ve dealt with my business, I’ll return and drink with you all.”
With that, he turned and left.
The brothers watched Li Yunjie’s figure fade into the distance, tears glistening in their eyes.
“Prince, the young master can stand on his own now.”
“Yes, if you can see this from the afterlife, you’d surely be pleased…”
…
They departed from Linjiang Inn, boarded the carriage, rolled over the stone-paved road, heading north for three miles, reaching the north city gate.
Beneath the gate tower, Lu Xin stood tall and upright, hands clasped behind his back, seeming to have waited for some time.
“Master Li, leaving without saying a word? Truly disappointing,” Lu Xin teased, the corners of his mouth lifted.
“If I hadn’t kept it from you, you’d still have come, wouldn’t you?” Li Yunjie lifted the carriage curtain, bantering.
Lu Xin sighed, smiled calmly, and handed over a document.
“What’s this?” Li Yunjie took it.
“Prime Minister Su learned you’re heading to Northern Tomb and specially requested a decree from His Majesty,” Lu Xin explained. “With this decree, your journey should be much smoother.”
Li Yunjie unfolded it and read.
The decree instructed him to investigate the tax silver case, forbidding anyone from obstructing him.
It was, in effect, a pass.
To return to his own domain, he needed the emperor’s decree…
Li Yunjie smiled helplessly.
“Thank Prime Minister Su for his kindness.”
Lu Xin nodded slightly, and they parted.
Eleven whipped the horses, the wheels rolled forward, raising dust.
On the road, Su Qingmeng pressed her hand against the tightly shut window, lost in thought.
“What’s the matter?” Li Yunjie probed.
“Nothing.” Su Qingmeng snapped out of it, knitted her brows, and turned away.
After a long silence, she couldn’t hold back. “How did you do it?”
“What?” Li Yunjie looked bewildered.
“Liu Zhen!” Su Qingmeng’s voice rose, her curiosity blazing in her eyes. “How did you pull it off?”
“In just a few days, you toppled the dock order he’d built over decades?”
Li Yunjie smiled gently. “Didn’t you say I was making a fuss over nothing?”
Su Qingmeng pursed her lips. “I thought it over.”
“If you’d simply arrested him, it would’ve been too easy.”
“To make him fall at the hands of those he’d always bullied—now that’s truly unbearable for him!”
As she spoke, a complex expression flickered in her eyes. “You really got him where it hurt.”
“A trifling trick,” Li Yunjie replied calmly.
“How did you manage it?” Su Qingmeng moved closer, urgent and curious.
“Really want to know?” Li Yunjie smiled, speaking slowly.
Su Qingmeng nodded vigorously.
Su Xiyan also perked up, edging closer to listen.
Li Yunjie coughed twice, clearing his throat, and recounted the process in detail.
The sisters exchanged blank looks, stunned.
It took them a while to untangle the relationships.
“You’re just a twenty-something wastrel—where did you get such depth?” Su Qingmeng eyed him up and down, as if looking at a beggar with disdain.
Li Yunjie grinned, a mischievous spark in his eyes. “Jiang Wen taught me.”
“Who’s Jiang Wen?”
“Let the Bullets Fly.”
“What bullets fly?”
Su Qingmeng and Su Xiyan were momentarily baffled, then filled with confusion.
Li Yunjie shrugged, offering no further explanation.
Silence settled in the carriage once more.
Eleven drove the carriage for eighty miles, finally leaving the bounds of Jiangnan.
“I’ve only been in Jiangnan a short while, but I’m already reluctant to leave.” Li Yunjie gazed out the window at the receding scenery, sighing.
“Is it Yun Qiwu you’re reluctant to leave, or Gu Xian’er? Or perhaps the young lady at Zhang’s umbrella shop?”
“All of them.” Li Yunjie raised an eyebrow, his gaze tinged with mischief.
Su Qingmeng spat in anger, cursed him as a scoundrel, and turned away, ignoring him.
“Master.”
After another ten miles, Eleven stopped the carriage in an open field.
“It’s getting late. The nearest post station is fifty miles ahead.”
“We’ll have to spend the night here.”
Li Yunjie opened the curtain and looked outside—dusk was settling, the setting sun painting the horizon blood-red.
“Let’s make do here for tonight.”
With that, they all climbed down from the carriage.
Eleven tended the fire, Li Yunjie and Su Qingmeng roasted flatbread.
Su Xiyan stared hungrily at the food on the stick, drooling.
“Master,” Eleven added firewood, “do you think your second uncle will let us enter Northern Tomb?”
“After all, he went to great lengths to drive you out years ago.”
Li Yunjie turned the bread, sighed softly. “Once I reach Northern Tomb, he can’t stop me.”
Su Qingmeng caught the implication, frowning. “You mean, he might try to ambush us on the way?”
Li Yunjie’s expression darkened. “My second uncle is no gentle soul.”
“The Crown Prince has surely reported my investigation of the tax silver in Jiangnan to Northern Tomb.”
“Now the two share the same goal, both seeing me as a thorn in their side. An ambush en route is not out of the question.”
As his words faded, the leaves rustled in the distance…