The Blood Crown - Chapter 253

After nightfall, the sound of firecrackers and fireworks filled the air, the music and festive sounds so loud that even in his prison cell, Yan Sikong could vaguely hear them. The scent of gunpowder lingered in the air, refusing to dissipate.

Yan Sikong could imagine the scene outside the Fu mansion, decorated with lanterns and filled with guests, while his heart was filled with anxiety. He couldn’t tell whether it was because Feng Ye was marrying, or because he feared their escape would fail.

Through the narrow iron window, Yan Sikong gazed at the moon. The passing time, like tiny needles, pricked at his heart, tormenting him.

He couldn’t help but imagine what Feng Ye was doing at that moment.

He must be receiving the bride now, starting the wedding ceremony. The feast was probably laid out throughout the mansion, and it must be the time for toasts. Soon, the wedding night would begin…

Back when Feng Ye was imprisoned, did he also think about how he and Wan Yang were married in the same way? Now, with this gnawing feeling in his heart, he finally understood.

But what could he do?

The moonlight grew stronger, and Yan Sikong, restless and uneasy, finally heard from She Zhun.

Taiyuan was not like the capital. The prison here was far less guarded compared to the capital’s prison, so She Zhun had made a quick disguise, wearing the uniform of Feng Ye’s army, still carrying the faint smell of fireworks from the Fu mansion. In his hand, he held the key to the prison door. As he opened the door, he quickly said, “I’ve drugged the guards, and the horses are ready. My people have already freed Ali, but the plan is rushed and can’t be more perfect. Once the city gates are closed, it’ll depend on you.”

“…Rely on me?”

“Yes.” She Zhun opened the prison door, threw a cloth bundle to him. “Change into these.”

Yan Sikong opened the bundle, and inside were not only the mask but also Yuan Nanyu’s clothes. Taking a deep breath, Yan Sikong steeled himself, there was no room for hesitation now. He quickly changed into the clothes and put on the mask.

She Zhun stepped forward, fixing his hair and placing cotton pads on his shoulders. Yuan Nanyu was of similar height but more muscular than Yan Sikong.

After some adjustments, She Zhun looked at Yan Sikong, who was now dressed as Yuan Nanyu, and sighed softly.

“What’s wrong?”

“I saw him today,” She Zhun said. “Even through the mask, I can tell you two look alike. How could the others not notice?”

“It’s not that they didn’t notice, it’s just that they don’t know our background. They only think we look somewhat similar, but you know, once you know, you can’t stop seeing it.”

“That’s true.” She Zhun patted Yan Sikong’s shoulder. “Drink up. If this mask doesn’t work at the city gate, we’ll have to force our way through.”

Yan Sikong took a deep breath and gulped down the wine She Zhun had brought. Then, he tossed the wine jug aside and said with firm determination, “Let’s go.” He strode out of the cell.

“You’re still carrying something?” She Zhun tried to grab the thin bundle in his hand.

“It’s just some personal belongings, lightweight, won’t get in the way.” Yan Sikong dodged and walked straight out.

After knocking out the prison guard, She Zhun’s men had cleared the escape route. They quietly snuck out through the back door, where they were met by horses and She Zhun’s men, all wearing uniforms like his own.

“Ah Li!” Yan Sikong walked over quickly.

Ah Li’s eyes reddened, and he almost kneeled down as soon as he saw Yan Sikong.

Yan Sikong grabbed his arm and looked him up and down. “Have you been tortured?”

Ah Li shook his head, trying to say something but only managed to make a sound.

She Zhun urged, “Don’t waste time, hurry up.” He pushed Ah Li’s hat lower. “Bend over later, don’t let anyone see you.”

Ah Li nodded vigorously.

The group mounted their horses and headed for the west city gate, which had the fewest guards.

The gatekeeper at the west city gate had the lowest rank and rarely interacted with Yuan Nanyu, so he would be the least likely to notice something unusual.

By now, it was late into the night. They didn’t encounter anyone on their way, and soon arrived at the city gate. The gatekeeper, Zhao Xian, seeing the leading figure, quickly saluted, “Greetings, General Que. Shouldn’t you be at the Wolf King’s wedding banquet? What are you doing here…”

Yan Sikong lowered his voice slightly, feigning drunkenness, as if he had just come from the feast. “Zhao Xian, I’m leaving the city on the Wolf King’s orders. Open the gate quickly.”

“Please present your command token.”

“The Wolf King is in his bridal chamber right now, with no time to give me a command token,” Yan Sikong barked. “Open the gate quickly, don’t delay my mission.”

“This…” Zhao Xian hesitated. “The Wolf King has issued orders that anyone leaving the city after dark must show a command token.”

Yan Sikong coldly said, “Are you disobeying orders? This is urgent and imminent. If you stop me again, I’ll charge you with delaying the military’s progress!”

Zhao Xian dropped to his knees, and the other guards followed suit. He trembled, saying, “I dare not, but the Wolf King’s military orders are as heavy as a mountain. I cannot disobey them.”

Yan Sikong swiftly drew his sword, the tip almost touching Zhao Xian’s forehead. He sternly said, “Zhao Xian, I am leaving the city on the Wolf King’s orders. The Wolf King will not pursue you for this afterward. But if you delay this important matter, you won’t need the Wolf King’s punishment. I’ll kill you right here to uphold military law!”

Zhao Xian gritted his teeth and shouted, “Open the gate!”

Yan Sikong exchanged a glance with She Zhun, but he couldn’t afford to relax his guard.

The gate opened, and they urged their horses forward, charging out of the city in succession, fleeing swiftly.

Yan Sikong couldn’t help but look back at the towering Taiyuan city. To capture this city, the key stronghold for controlling the path to the capital, he and Feng Ye had invested so much effort, enduring both victories and defeats, and countless young, capable soldiers had been buried far from home.

When they fought side by side back then, he thought they had put aside their past grudges and would march forward together, but little did he know that once Feng Ye had used him, he could turn on him in an instant. Perhaps, as Feng Ye had said, this was all something he learned from him. But the world believed him to be cold-hearted and fickle. Compared to the current Wolf King, he was still lacking.

He clearly understood now that the young Feng Ye was one person, and the Wolf King was another. The boy he once loved was no longer around, and there was no need to think of them as the same person anymore.

Taiyuan City was left far behind, along with the grand fireworks that filled the night sky, gradually fading into the distance.

Yan Sikong never looked back.

—

She Zhun’s subordinates escorted them for a day and night, before dispersing. Only the three of them continued their journey, not daring to enter the city or travel along the main roads. They could only follow the mountain paths, camping in the mountains each night. The cold weather made their journey even more difficult.

They needed to leave the central plains as soon as possible. They were not far from Qingyang, and once they passed it, they would be outside of Feng Ye’s influence. Only then would they truly be free from the pursuit.

However, they had been in the mountains for several days, and with no news, they didn’t know where Feng Ye’s pursuers had reached. It felt as though they were being relentlessly chased, and they couldn’t afford to relax for even a moment.

But they couldn’t stay on the mountain paths forever. Their provisions had run out, the snow hadn’t melted, and it was hard to find food for their horses. People could go without food, but the horses couldn’t move without it.

Reluctantly, they decided to change into civilian clothes and planned to blend into a small town to buy food and hay. However, Ali didn’t enter the town. His tall, sturdy figure and ugly face made him unforgettable to anyone who had seen him, making him too easy to recognize.

Once in the town, Yan Sikong and She Zhun found a noodle shop. When the steaming beef noodle soup arrived, they eagerly dug in, as if they hadn’t eaten in days.

With their stomachs filled, they finally felt warmth return to their bodies, and their exhaustion faded.

Yan Sikong took a sip of wine and sighed, “It’s not easy to enjoy a hot bowl of noodles.”

“Indeed,” She Zhun called the waiter over. “Bring us two more bowls.”

“Further south is Qingyang, the city Yuan Nanyu fought bloodily to capture. Afterward, he went on to take Pingliang and Fengxiang,” Yan Sikong thought of the past and sighed inwardly.

She Zhun snorted, “Both are from the Yuan family, but Yuan Nanyu and Yuan Shaoxu are worlds apart.”

Over the past few days, unable to resist She Zhun’s questioning, Yan Sikong had told him everything that had happened. She Zhun was furious, and Ali looked at him with eyes full of hatred. If Yuan Shaoxu were here, he would surely tear him apart.

“Yes, luckily, your father still has a good son.”

“But Yuan Shaoxu is a monster because of Feng Ye. Without him, he wouldn’t be causing such trouble,” She Zhun said with disgust. “For these two years, you’ve endured so much in front of Feng Ye, but you never told me. How did you become so weak? He’s no longer the little heir he once was.”

Yan Sikong sneered, “You’re right. I’m weak, not only weak, but I humiliated myself. I know he has changed, but I can’t forget the Feng Ye of the past… I’ve been deceiving myself all along. Anyone who suffers the loss of their family will change. I’ve gone through it myself…”

“His family’s downfall and his fall from grace are pitiful, but this isn’t your fault. Feng Jianping held power and was a threat to the throne. Which emperor could tolerate him? If not for you, he would have died in the imperial prison back then!” She Zhun grew more furious as he spoke. “He repays kindness with ingratitude, blaming you? How stupid can he be?”

“Talking about this now won’t change anything,” Yan Sikong said indifferently. “I’ve owed him, and I’ve repaid him. From now on, I… don’t want anything to do with him.”

She Zhun furrowed his brows. “What are your plans now?”

Yan Sikong forced a bitter smile. “I haven’t figured it out yet.”

“Si… Sikong,” She Zhun looked at him steadily. “Come back to Jiangnan with me. Live in hiding and spend the rest of your life in peace.”

Yan Sikong stared blankly at his empty bowl.

He had struggled and fought for twenty years, only to end up with nothing, unsure of where to go next.

“Sikong, I know you’re unwilling. You still have ambitions for governing and securing the country, but your great revenge has been avenged. Now, you must stay far from the courts, and you can’t let Feng Ye or Chen Mu find you. You can only retreat into seclusion.”

Yan Sikong sighed deeply, murmuring, “Twenty years, like flowers in a mirror, like the moon on the water—nothing but an empty illusion.”

Before She Zhun could say anything further, several boisterous men from the martial world entered the restaurant, sitting beside them. The tables and chairs rattled as they settled down.

“Waiter, bring us some wine and meat!”

“Please wait a moment—”

One of the men slammed his sword on the table and cursed, “Didn’t the Prince of Chu say he would come to Taiyuan in the spring? Why is he raising troops now? Made my recent escort mission go up in smoke!”

Yan Sikong’s heart skipped a beat.