Chapter 203: Chapter 202 Negligence"After all this time, it’s still about this. You used to advise me not to dwell on the past, that getting angry over what has already happened is pointless. Why have you forgotten all that now?"
"It’s just frustrating. It’s been so long, and we still haven’t found them."
He was genuinely frustrated.
The Capital City had already sent people to ask him to return and govern.
They also mentioned that rebels from Min State were gathering, possibly leading to unrest.
It seemed his departure from the capital to the sea had weakened his authority, giving those people a chance to exploit.
He really should return to the capital.
But the issue with He Hongzhao was holding him back.
He had never discussed these things with Sang Yan, not wanting to trouble her with them.
He just wanted her to live peacefully and joyfully by his side.
"If we can’t find them, we’ll continue searching. As long as she’s alive, she’ll slip up eventually. I have a feeling she’ll show up soon."
Sang Yan felt her premonitions were quite accurate.
She had often had such premonitions before encountering danger.
He Ying didn’t question it, just curiously asked, "Why do you say that?"
Sang Yan analyzed, "Commander Lu reacts quickly. Upon hearing that He Hongzhao had faked her death, he immediately went to track her. The city gates were then closed. I don’t think they would leave. We must have overlooked something."
But what had they overlooked?
"Knock, knock—"
The door was knocked.
Then came the voice of Gao Wenliang, "Emperor, your servant has something to report."
Upon hearing this, He Ying called out, "Come in."
Gao Wenliang then pushed the door open.
He was dressed in a black official uniform, holding a scroll in his hand.
"By the Emperor’s command, I’ve drawn a new map of Quanzhou for your review."
He slightly bowed, hastened a few steps forward, and presented the scroll on the table.
He Ying didn’t speak. He opened it and indeed, it was a newly drawn map of Quanzhou, much more detailed and complete than before.
Sang Yan had also seen the old map of Quanzhou. Hearing that this was a new map, she too came forward to see what the differences were.
Upon looking, she indeed noticed something new.
"What is this place?"
She pointed at a cluster of stone structures amidst the mountains.
Seeing this, Gao Wenliang explained, "Lady, this is Cangcui Mountain."
Sang Yan had seen the place name, so she gave a resigned smile, "I know this is Cangcui Mountain. I mean, what are these stone houses?"
Gao Wenliang realized what she was asking, his face turned awkward for a moment before he replied, "Lady, over thirty years ago, Quanzhou faced warfare. The three major families of Quanzhou contributed money, effort, and man-power, vowing to confront the enemy, and ultimately held Quanzhou. The people of Quanzhou, grateful to the martyrs from these families, buried them at Cangcui Mountain."
Sang Yan immediately understood: this was a martyrs’ cemetery.
She liked such passionate and tragic stories and asked, "Which three families were they?" sea??h thё N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
In her memory, in ancient times, these major families always had privileges and were usually protected first. It was rare to encounter such positive-energy families.
Seeing her interest, Gao Wenliang grew inexplicably excited, somewhat proudly stating, "Regarding these three families, the first was Zhou’s Escort Agency. This family had generations working as armed escorts, producing capable and valiant individuals. Unfortunately, almost all were lost in that great battle. Otherwise, those pirates might not be so rampant now. The second is Cheng Shipyard, this family has generations of shipbuilders, and the ships they built were known for their speed. Sadly, now only two daughters remain to hold up the family name. The last one..."
He stopped there, hesitant.
Sang Yan was listening intently and seeing him pause, looked at him puzzled, "What about the last one?"
"The last one... the last one..."
Gao Wenliang stammered, glancing toward He Ying, seemingly hesitant to continue.
Seeing him hesitate like this, He Ying, already irritated, sternly demanded, "Speak!"
Gao Wenliang wiped the sweat from his forehead and finally said, "The last one is... the He Family."
Sang Yan suddenly realized: no wonder he hesitated and dared not speak, it turned out to be the He Family.
Ever since the He Family met with disaster, no one dares to mention the word "He" now!
He Ying had already become interested: "Continue!"
Gao Wenliang then continued: "More than thirty years ago, the He Family was quite prestigious. They dealt in medicinal herbs and operated nearly a hundred clinics big and small, with their influence reaching as far as Qi State. Unfortunately, war broke out. The He Family, being a lineage of medics, were the first to bear the brunt—two consecutive family heads were assassinated and killed. Later, they fought with all their might, but the casualties were heavy. By the end of the war, only He Zhongwen remained. Strictly speaking, He Zhongwen was not from the main branch of the He Family, but a collateral relative. Because he was very talented in medicine, he caught Mr. He’s eye."
"So it seems the real He Family had already perished in that war."
Sang Yan pondered this, her eyes suddenly sharp: "Then, are the He Family members also buried in Cangcui Mountain?"
Gao Wenliang nodded: "Yes. The He Family’s ancestral tomb is here."
No sooner had his voice fallen than he saw the Emperor and Empress exchange a look, their minds connected: "The He Family’s ancestral tomb!"
He Hongzhao, after falling out with her parents, went into seclusion in Cangcui Mountain.
Cangcui Mountain has the He Family’s ancestral tomb.
Now He Hongzhao has vanished without a trace!
"Pei Muyang!"
He Ying bellowed, and then said to Gao Wenliang: "Arrange troops immediately, I want to go to Cangcui Mountain!"
"No!"
Sang Yan sternly refused: "You’re still injured; you can’t go!"
But He Ying was just as determined: "Ah Yan, I must go!"
He knew Sang Yan was worried about him, and quickly added: "Don’t worry, I’ll just be directing things and won’t engage in the fight or take any risks."
Sang Yan listened, but still shook her head: "No. What kind of emperor would put himself in danger? Just let Lu Zijin lead the troops! It’s definitely possible this time. Why use a cleaver to kill a chicken?"
Hearing the last remark, He Ying laughed: "But I really want to slaughter that chicken with this cleaver!"
Sang Yan: "..."
Knowing she couldn’t persuade him, she hugged his arm and said: "Then I’ll go with you!"
He Ying absolutely disagreed: "No. You wait here for me."
Sang Yan was displeased: "If you can go, why can’t I?"
He Ying paused, his expression serious: "This is my responsibility."
Sang Yan would not accept this: "And protecting you is my responsibility."
He Ying: "..."
Unexpectedly sweet words.
He liked them very much, and his heart was extremely sweet, but unfortunately, the timing was wrong.
Otherwise, he really wanted to hold her tight and kiss her fiercely, relentlessly!
"Cough—"
Thinking got him all fired up. He hurriedly took a sip of cold tea to cool down, then softened his voice: "Ah Yan, please listen, He Hongzhao can’t be alone there, and if there are accomplices, your presence would distract me."
"So, I would only add to the chaos?"
"You know that’s not what I mean."
"That’s exactly what you mean!"
Tears welled up in Sang Yan’s eyes, as she prepared to play the sympathy card: "I’ve brought you nothing but trouble since my arrival from Puluo Country. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have been poisoned, hurt, and nearly died several times. Although you don’t say it, I’m sure that’s what you think inside."
She intentionally misinterpreted his heart, even dragging her so-called husband-killing fate into it: "Yes, I shouldn’t go, I have a husband-killing fate, if I went, I’d doom you, and I would deserve to die—"
Her lips suddenly felt warm.
He Ying, unable to listen any further, kissed her directly.
Sang Yan: "!!!"
Why was this different from what she had imagined?
Gao Wenliang: "!!!"
Was this something he was supposed to see?