Kuang Youzhi could not tell from the expressions of the soldiers if they had good or malicious intentions. He was also uncertain if he should admit or deny anything.
Just when Kuang Youzhi was hesitating, a soldier whispered into the ear of another solider, "Lao Mu, do you think that he is really Kuang Youzhi? If he is, then wouldn"t he be the general"s..."
The soldier called Lao Mu, also sized Kuang Youzhi up, and nodded. "If it is true... You keep watch on him. I will go and ask."
After Lao Mu sized Kuang Youzhi up once more, he turned and left.
Kuang Youzhi looked at his wife, who was tied to the pillar in the distance, and could not help but ask the soldier before him, "Hey little brother, what happened to that woman?"
The soldier glanced at Baili Ziyi, who was far away and he casually replied, "That woman was a spy we caught. After a while, we will hand her over to our superior to be dealt with."
"Spy? Little brother, she is not a spy. You must be mistaken!" When Kuang Youzhi heard the word "spy", his heart immediately panicked. If she was deemed to be a spy, then the result will certainly be death.
"Misunderstanding? Look, her clothes and style of dressing are all from Zhongxi Country. How could it be a misunderstanding?"
Baili Ziyi had been staying in Zhongxi Country these few years, so her clothes were entirely purchased from Zhongxi Country. This time, she returned and only crossed the border not long ago, so she had yet to have the time to buy clothes from the country of Mu Xia. Hence, she was still dressed in clothes from Zhongxi Country.
Suddenly, Kuang Youzhi did not know how to explain. However, his heart was very anxious as he heard how Baili Ziyi was deemed to be a spy.
At that moment, Lao Mu ran back from afar.
"The general said to bring him over, so he can have a look."
Before Kuang Youzhi followed Lao Mu, he instructed the little soldier, "Little brother, she is really not a spy. Wait for me to come back! You must definitely wait for me to return!"
Not long after, Kuang Youzhi saw Dongfang f.u.kong. When Dongfang f.u.kong saw Kuang Youzhi, he instantly felt a sense of joy in his heart.
"Brother You, it really is you!" Dongfang f.u.kong laughed, and approached him.
"f.u.kong, it"s been a long time since we met."
After the two of them exchanged a round of conventional greetings, Kuang Youzhi kept thinking about his wife and he said to Dongfang f.u.kong, "f.u.kong, your soldiers caught my wife. Now, she was mistakenly thought to be a spy. Brother, I plead with you to look into this carefully!"
When Dongfang f.u.kong heard this, he immediately turned his gaze towards his subordinate and asked, "Lieutenant Xue, is there truly such a matter?"
"General, we did indeed catch a female spy earlier on. They are now waiting to carry out the sentence."
When Kuang Youzhi heard the word "sentence", his heart instantly sank. "She certainly must not be sentenced. Brother f.u.kong, my wife left home, as she was angry with me. During her journey, she met merchants from Zhongxi Country and was tricked into going to Zhongxi Country. I came here to look for her. She is really not a spy."
"Oh? If that"s the case, Brother You, how would you know that she did not become a renegade of Zhongxi Country, during the past few years?"
"f.u.kong, I understand my wife"s character. She definitely will not rebel. Please look into this carefully."
"Well, Brother You, you are placing me in a difficult position! You also know me well. I certainly will not show favoritism, and everything will be handled impartially."
"f.u.kong, you and I have been brothers for many years. You understand my personality. I can vouch with my character, that my wife will never be a rebel."
"Brother You, you really are making this difficult for me!"
"Well, if so, I was the one who brought my wife back from Zhongxi Country. Do you also suspect that I am a spy as well?"
At that moment, Kuang Youzhi completely lost his rationality. He spoke without measuring his words and he did not know what he was saying, as well. This, undoubtedly made his words sound worse than it actually was.
When Dongfang f.u.kong heard this, he was also slightly angry. "Brother You, I will pretend that I did not hear anything just now. If you continue to spout nonsense, do not blame me for arresting you as well."
Although f.u.kong was angry, he still left some leeway for Kuang Youzhi. However, the current Kuang Youzhi could only think of Baili Ziyi, and did not actually think that Dongfang f.u.kong"s words, were actually meant to give him a way out.
"If you want to arrest me, then..." The words that Kuang Youzhi said in a fit of pique, became increasingly outrageous.
However, Dongfang f.u.kong hollered loudly and interrupted before Kuang Youzhi could finish speaking. "Brother You, stop pretending to be a rogue, in front of me."
When he said this, Kuang Youzhi was instantly stunned. Dongfang f.u.kong"s words seemed to have struck the top of his head, like a hammer.
"Brother You, I understand your feelings, but the present is no longer like the past. Today, there is a countrywide order from the emperor, to arrest a wanted criminal. Thus, all evil persons who are possible rebels, will have to be strictly investigated into. There is nothing that I can do. In the cusp of the storm, the good and the bad are mixed together, and it is very hard for me to deal with this as well."
The words of Dongfang f.u.kong was certainly a wake-up call for Kuang Youzhi. It then suddenly dawned upon him that Dongfang f.u.kong had been helping him all along.
"f.u.kong, what do you mean? What is the deal with the wanted criminal?"
Dongfang f.u.kong explained to Kuang Youzhi about the emperor"s orders to arrest a traitor in the capital who pretended to be Prince Yu, disrupted the inside of the imperial city, and also fomented dissension, and stirred the hearts of the people.
When Kuang Youzhi heard this, his heart went cold. He looked up and asked Dongfang f.u.kong in puzzlement, "Brother f.u.kong, what do you think about this matter? Why do I feel like there is something fishy in this?"
Dongfang f.u.kong took one look around the inside of the camp. Other than Lieutenant Xue, there was no one else, so he said softly, "It was said that this matter was done by the Prince. It is highly likely to be directed towards Prince Yu."
Dongfang f.u.kong did not dare to speak much and merely touched on the surface of the issue. Kuang Youzhi was presumably a smart person and should be able to understand certain things on his own.
When Kuang Youzhi heard this, he asked hesitantly, "Xiao Yu appeared?"
Dongfang f.u.kong shook his head. "I have been guarding the borders all along and now, I know what happened in Jin Lin City, so..."
"I understand. I want to return to Jin Lin City as soon as possible. But, my wife..." Kuang Youzhi looked at Dongfang f.u.kong brightly, and the meaning behind it, was self-evident.
"We still have to run through the basic protocols. Do not make it too difficult for me."
Since Dongfang f.u.kong already said this, Kuang Youzhi was not in a position to comment further. Thus, he merely cupped his hands in obeisance. "I"ll trouble Brother f.u.kong then!"
"However, Brother You, there is one more thing! Jin Lin City sent out men to search for you!"
"Oh? To look for me? When was that?"
"I do not know. It might be to visit the sick or it might be something else. n.o.body knows the specifics."
"It seems that I really have to return to Jin Lin City quickly. When can my wife"s matters be resolved?"
"Probably tomorrow!"
"Alright, thank you Brother f.u.kong."
Afterwards, the two men talked casually, and Dongfang f.u.kong prepared a banquet to host Kuang Youzhi.
The next day, Dongfang f.u.kong fulfilled his promise and released Baili Ziyi in the afternoon. Under Dongfang f.u.kong"s secret instructions, Baili Ziyi was not punished, and merely went through the protocols, in order to deceive the public.
Kuang Youzhi set off with Baili Ziyi in the afternoon. In order to avoid trouble, Dongfang f.u.kong even helped Baili Ziyi to prepare clothes from the country of Mu Xia. He also prepared two high-grade fast steeds, and an ample amount of dried goods, for the two of them.
The couple quickly rode their horses, and rushed back to Jin Lin City, within a week.
Kuang Youzhi headed straight to Emperor Yu Mansion upon returning to the city. Not only did he not see Duanmu Gongyu, he also discovered that there was not a single person in the entire Emperor Yu Mansion. Upon asking around, he found out that all the people in Emperor Yu Mansion had been arrested the day before, and would be beheaded on a chosen date. Beyond that, no one saw Duanmu Gongyu return, and Dong Fangying and others had disappeared for many days already.
When Kuang Youzhi heard this, his heart was shocked. He did not think that so many things could happen within just a few days, and that Emperor Yu Mansion would actually be subjected to the disaster of annihilation.
Kuang Youzhi did not dare stay for long, and he quickly rushed back to his own home with Baili Ziyi, at the speed of lightning. When he was about to reach home, he discovered that something was amiss. He alone knew best about the formation that he had set up. Someone had entered his house.
He did not expect his own house to be invaded. He had been careful and even more careful, cautious beyond cautious.
The two of them entered their own home, cautiously, but unexpectedly, they saw Duanmu Gongyu and Yun Muxi. Even Dong Fangying and others were there.
"Xiao Yu!" Kuang Youzhi almost cried out in surprise the moment he saw Duanmu Gongyu. He originally thought that something untoward had happened to Duanmu Gongyu, but he did not expect to find him hiding in his own home.
"Master, you finally returned!" When Gong Yu saw Kuang Youzhi, there was also a sense of joy in his heart. Master"s return implied that there was half a hope for Xiao Xi.
Without further ado, Gong Yu dragged Kuang Youzhi to look for Murong Yunxi. Murong Yunxi was currently practicing his sword moves, in the open s.p.a.ce at the back of the house.
When Kuang Youzhi saw Murong Yunxi practicing the "Blind Spirit Sword", he was slightly stunned. "Xiao Xi is practicing..."
Gong Yu nodded his head. "It is the "Blind Spirit Sword"."
"But only visually impaired people could practice the "Blind Spirit Sword"!"
"You"re right! Right now, Xiao Xi"s eyes can"t see!"
"Cannot see? What happened?"
"Master, you came back at the right time. This time, we came back to look for Master, to save Xiao Xi."
Subsequently, Gong Yu told Kuang Youzhi about the things that happened in Murong Yunxi"s world. He already guessed where Kuang Youzhi had come from, so he should be able to understand everything that was told.
Kuang Youzhi was momentarily stunned. He did not expect Murong Yunxi to actually come from there.
"Master, did you come from there as well?"
Kuang Youzhi never expected Gong Yu to know about this. "How did you form this conclusion?"
Gong Yu told Kuang Youzhi about the things that Xu Qianru had said, and everything seemed increasingly clear.
"Master, is there any way to cure Xiao Xi"s eyes?"
Kuang Youzhi turned and took one look at Baili Ziyi. Baili Ziyi had yet to digest the things that Gong Yu said to Kuang Youzhi. She was still unable to extricate herself from the horror and astonishment, of all that had happened.
"Ziyi, can you find a solution for this type of poison?"
Baili Ziyi temporarily returned to her senses, but she was still slightly slow in her response. "Oh, huh? Poison? What poison?"
"The type of poison that Xiao Xi had."
Baili Ziyi was a toxicologist, so not only could she create poison, she could also distinguish the different types of poison.
"I need to take look at this first, before I can tell."
"Master, there is one more thing other than this." Gong Yu looked at Kuang Youzhi with some hesitation, since this was a big issue that concerned life. He could not guarantee that Kuang Youzhi would be willing to do it.
"Is it about Emperor Yu Mansion?" Kuang Youzhi probably guessed it had something to do with it.
"Yes, it is about Emperor Yu Mansion. Although I do not want to alert too many people about my return this time, but now, since it concerns the lives of dozens of people, I cannot sit back and watch."
Kuang Youzhi stared fixedly at Gong Yu. "What do you want to do?"