Chapter 403: Chapter 403. Unease
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Ji Shuisheng saw that Yan Shikuan was still unwilling to hand over the army to him without the commander’s seal. He looked at Su Qing. When Su Qing came and said that there would be a key at Jingshi Dao. It would be best if what she said was true.
Su Qing shook her head slightly when she saw Ji Shuisheng looking at her. Ji Shuisheng’s eyes were confused. Su Qing spread her hands. This time, Ji Shuisheng understood that the key was gone. He was instantly anxious.
He had come to Jingshi Dao full of hope but still failed. So, he could only go to the big cities in the south to find craftsmen who could make keys?
“Uncle Yan, is anyone in our city who knows how to make keys based on models?”
Ji Shuisheng had placed his hopes on Yan Shikuan. Yan Shikuan had seen the interaction between Ji Shuisheng and Su Qing. When Ji Shuisheng suddenly asked him, Yan Shikuan did not answer immediately. Instead, he asked.
“Why is Young Master asking this?”
“Uncle Yan, to tell you the truth, the box of the commander’s seal is in my hands, but the key was given to my fiancee by my father. Now that my fiancee has gone missing, the key has also gone missing.”
Ji Shuisheng wanted to subdue Yan Shikuan, so there was no harm in telling him this secret. The commander’s seal was in his hands, and as long as he had the key, he could take it out immediately.
“Can’t you use Young Master’s Luan Dao to open the box?”
Yan Shikuan felt that it was unnecessary. Wasn’t it easy to cut iron like mud and open a box? Why did he have to look for the key?
“Uncle Yan, you might not know this, but the box is equipped with a mechanism. If the key does not open, the box will self-destruct along with the commander’s seal.”
Ji Shuisheng explained, and Yan Shikuan’s expression turned grave.
“Young Master, I suggest that we find the key. Don’t try to make a key so easily.”
Hearing Yan Shikuan’s words, Ji Shuisheng was also terrified. This box was so exquisitely made. Could a fake key open it?
Su Qing saw Ji Shuisheng’s worried face and knew the key’s importance to him. She threw the reins to him and said,
“Shuisheng, we have to leave immediately.”
“Alright.”
Ji Shuisheng did not ask Su Qing why. Since she suggested leaving, she must have her reasons. He took the reins and got on the horse. He cupped his fists and said goodbye to Yan Shikuan.
“Uncle Yan, take care.”
“Young Master, have a safe journey.”
Yan Shikuan had a complicated look in his eyes. He cupped his fists at Ji Shuisheng with a respectful expression.
“Alright.”
Ji Shuisheng could feel the change in Yan Shikuan’s att.i.tude. He nodded and followed Su Qing on his horse. The horses’ hoofs kicked up the snow and sped out of the city.
Yan Shikuan looked at their brave and heroic horses galloping with gratification in his eyes. The young master was so wise and mighty. He would avenge the general. General, please bless the young master in heaven to obtain the commander’s seal.
Ji Shuisheng and Su Qing left Jingshi Dao before asking her,
“Qing’er, where are we going?”
Luo City.”
Su Qing rode her horse and shouted against the wind and snow. Her cold voice drifted into Ji Shuisheng’s ears along with the snowflakes. He thought he had misheard.
“Luo City?”
“Yes, Luo City.”
Su Qing raised her horsewhip and whipped it in the air. Big Black seemed to have heard the signal to charge. It stepped on the snow with its four hooves and ran forward like an arrow.
Ji Shuisheng followed closely behind. He really couldn’t understand what Su Qing was doing in Luo City.
If he wanted to find a skilled craftsman who could duplicate keys, Jin City was more prosperous than Luo City. Finding a skilled craftsman in Jin City than Luo City was much better.
Besides, Jin City was near, and Luo City was two days away. Going to Luo City would be a long journey.
If it was for her family, Su Qing’s relatives have all moved to Jingshi Dao. There was no one left in Luo City. He couldn’t figure out why she wanted to go to Luo City.
Before she found the key, Su Qing did not want to tell Ji Shuisheng that she might be his fiancee.
She wanted to confirm that her silver bell was the engagement token that General Xiao Heng had given her father. After confirming it, she surprised Shuisheng to avoid making a mistake.
Ji Shuisheng saw that Su Qing was unwilling to tell him, so he did not ask further. He rode his horse and came alongside Su Qing.
When they were almost at Mo City, Su Qing turned around and said to Ji Shuisheng,
“Shuisheng, why don’t you return to Mo City first? I’m afraid that Qiu Yongkang will defect to the court, and Uncle Cheng won’t be able to handle him alone.”
Ji Shuisheng held onto the horse’s bridle and looked at Su Qing, whose face was red from the cold. She looked even more delicate, like a rose that had just bloomed, incomparably beautiful.
“I’m worried about you being alone.”
Even though he knew Su Qing’s power, Ji Shuisheng worried she would go to Luo City alone. She had killed the Zhizhou there and committed significant crimes, such as breaking into a prison. The city gates were probably already plastered with arrest notices. She would be like a sheep entering a tiger’s den if she went.
Su Qing sat on the horse and leaned forward. She looked sideways at the worried Ji Shuisheng and said domineeringly,
“What’s there to worry about? Those who wanted to capture me were all killed by me.”
These words were very arrogant, but Ji Shuisheng knew that Su Qing was not boasting. She was alone amid thousands of troops and horses, as if she had entered an uninhabited land. Even though he was inferior to her, he was still worried. After careful consideration, he said to Su Qing,
“I’ll go back and tell them I’ll go with you. Even if Yongkang defected to Wan Shengchang, it would take at least half a month for the imperial court to send troops to attack Mo City.”
“Alright.”
Of course, Su Qing was happy that Ji Shuisheng could stay by her side. The moment she found the key, she could open the box and take out the commander’s seal to give him a surprise.
The two of them spent less time together and more time apart. After the last misunderstanding, Su Qing did not want to be separated from Ji Shuisheng. With him on the road, she would not be lonely.
Su Qing and Ji Shuisheng returned to Mo City to confirm they had not found Qiu Yongkang. Ji Shuisheng told Cheng Yu to be careful.
Thinking that they still had a few bundles of detonators in their hands, they could resist the Wan family army for a while if they attacked, so they were not too worried.
Yongkang’s parents knew that Su Qing and Ji Shuisheng had returned, so they ran to the government office to beg for mercy. Ji Shuisheng hardened his heart and did not see them. He asked Cheng Yu to drive them away.
After settling things in Mo City, Su Qing, and Ji Shuisheng rushed to Luo City without delay.
Two days later, they arrived outside Jin City and realized there were more Wan Clan soldiers than before. The guards were tight and only allowed entry. It was as if they were facing a great enemy.
Ji Shuisheng sat on the horse’s back and looked at the city gate of Jin City. He felt strange.
“Why are you suddenly so strict?”
“I killed the Zhizhou of Jin City and burned the government office.”
Su Qingyun said lightly, which shocked Ji Shuisheng. “Why haven’t I heard you mention it before?”
“It’s a small matter. It’s not worth mentioning.”
After Su Qing finished speaking, she spurred her horse and galloped away. Ji Shuisheng hurriedly chased after her.
Wan Shengchang’s nephew, Wan Delong, had just taken over Jin City. Today, he went up to the city wall to check on it. He casually glanced down the city wall and saw Su Qing and Ji Shuisheng standing one after the other.
Wan Delong felt that the man’s back looked familiar. He felt uneasy and immediately called for the city guards to chase after him..