Chapter 54

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Chapter 54: "So, are you willing to come with me?"

Save them for everyone to eat tomorrow. No.

Let Du Yinsui eat a few. No.

After being politely refused several times by Du Yinsui, Jiang Wu finally finished the handfuls of fruit.

The rustling beside him stopped. Du Yinsui stayed quiet for a long time until she sensed the person next to her had fallen asleep.

Once asleep, emotions gradually faded.

Even as that bittersweet scent weakened, it never fully vanished.

What would Jiang Wu smell like after learning those things at daybreak? Du Yinsui didn’t want to think about it.

But things never went by Du Yinsui’s will.

Before dawn, Tan Wang and his companions finished handling matters in the forest, returned to camp under night’s cover, and quietly made final preparations.

The thick blood scent still hung heavy when Zheng Yi and Ma Datou put on a show, rousing the four remaining guards and Tan Wang who’d just lain down to fake sleep.

As night watchmen, Zheng Yi and Ma Datou claimed Chen Gang had accompanied Xu Lv into the woods to relieve himself but hadn’t returned, waking everyone.

Two guards stayed to watch the prisoners while Tan Wang, Zheng Yi, Ma Datou, and two others entered the dark forest with torches.

Soon, they found Xu Lv and Chen Gang’s bodies nearby, as mangled as Zhao Qi and Cui Wu the previous night—or worse, more torn apart.

In the shadowy woods, Tan Wang, Zheng Yi, and Ma Datou gave the bodies a quick look. With a few words, they led the two hesitant guards to a conclusion.

Wolves had followed them.

They hastily retreated from the cramped woods where beasts might lurk, leaving the bodies for daylight.

Back at camp, Tan Wang instantly spotted another problem.

The Li family’s donkey cart stood empty.

Shackles meant to chain someone to a tree held only a torn limb.

“Wolves?” Ma Datou lifted a shackled severed foot, looking at Tan Wang.

“Jagged break, like a bite. Might not be wolves—could be other beasts.” Tan Wang eyed the blood near the cart. “At least three predators. Otherwise, three people couldn’t die silently. Did night patrol notice anything?”

“No signs.” Ma Datou tossed the leg aside, rubbing his arms. “Some beast den nearby? How many eaten in two nights!”

“Rouse everyone. Merge all fires into one big blaze. Gather round it—no more sleep tonight.” Tan Wang ordered the guards sternly, scanning their panicked faces but finding nothing amiss.

Nearby, Du Yinsui listened to their lies.

Well, well. They were using her scum-killing excuse quite nicely.

Tan Wang truly was insane—risking bringing back limbs and blood to honor Sun Xinang’s request. That surprised Du Yinsui.

But fine. A beast den?

Everyone could spin tales. The wilder the story, the better for her plans.

Tan Wang’s arrangements were for the four free-moving guards, not the prisoners.

So the camp only heard Zheng Yi and Ma Datou’s loud wake-up shouts, saw guards briefly enter the woods and return, then whisper while working somewhere unseen. They knew nothing until…

Guards started unlocking shackles, herding prisoners toward Xu Lv’s carriage by the central fire. Only then did they learn more had died—at least two confirmed, three more missing. With legs bitten off silently, survival seemed impossible.

The prisoners instantly needed no urging from the guards and hurriedly ran toward the seemingly safer large fire.

As Du Yinsui had anticipated earlier, the person who came to remove their shackles and relay news of Sun Xinang and the others’ disappearance was Tan Wang.

Amid overwhelming shock lay an unmistakable sadness so palpable that without turning, Du Yinsui could imagine Jiang Wu’s expression.

"It’s just… broken legs. Maybe they fainted from fright and couldn’t cry out. They might still be alive in the forest?" Jiang Wu almost instinctively asked Tan Wang.

How foolish, Du Yinsui thought while gathering the bedding, closing her eyes unwillingly. This was why she’d endured saying nothing to Jiang Wu after returning. Whatever Tan Wang planned next, having heard Sun Xinang’s accounts, he’d surely test whether Jiang Wu truly knew nothing as described.

Tan Wang must be satisfied with Jiang Wu’s reaction.

"The deposed crown prince has quite the heart," Tan Wang sneered. "Then let’s hope they survive till dawn. We won’t risk reentering the forest tonight."

"Hold these." Du Yinsui shoved the large bedding roll into Jiang Wu’s arms. "Take this with the teacher first. Find us a warm spot. We’ll finish here and join you."

Jiang Wu looked at Du Yinsui, who pushed his back firmly before he could speak, applying real force.

The push finally cleared Jiang Wu’s mind—cluttered from solving problems earlier with Qin Chongli. He fell silent, obediently carrying the bedding toward the large fire.

Having observed all he needed, Tan Wang showed no intention to follow. Instead, he turned toward Zheng Yi, who was herding people elsewhere.

Rumors of a beast den spread swiftly among prisoners huddled around the fire.

But lies remained lies. Though everyone stayed vigilant and fearful till dawn… no beast packs appeared, not even a single howl was heard.

At daybreak, Tan Wang ordered Ma Datou and another guard to follow the blood trail from the Li family’s campsite into the forest. They easily found the three corpses.

"Who knows what beast did this—how vicious," a guard remarked, kicking Li Dayong’s mangled arm toward the body.

"Dig a pit. Hurry—we still must bury Master Xu," Tan Wang urged.

He knew this guard squad well. Apart from himself, Zheng Yi, and the wilderness-raised Ma Datou, none could distinguish tooth marks.

By altering the sword wounds slightly, the four guards who followed his lead wouldn’t question further.

The wolves had done well those prior nights. If Zhao Qi—Xu Lv’s reckless ally—hadn’t died, he’d have stirred trouble even without doubts.

When Tan Wang considered it, both nights felt like retribution.

After two burials, despite sleep deprivation, the group dared not linger in this "beast den." They distributed black bread loaves and set off like refugees fleeing disaster.

They moved fast yet seemed to drift slightly westward.

Contrary to what Du Yinsui overheard last night, Tan Wang didn’t fetch anyone at dawn. He stayed with the group until near evening, when they stopped at a ruined temple. Only then did he unhitch a carriage horse and leave alone.

The group had departed early, skipped noon rest, and halted while daylight remained—Du Yinsui guessed only three or four in the afternoon.

Though early, Du Yinsui had much to say and do…

Once certain Tan Wang was gone, she gripped Jiang Wu—who was clearing a sleeping space in the temple corner.

Given a choice, Du Yinsui wouldn’t have told Jiang Wu any of this.

It felt no different than forcing someone to hear a horror story…

Well, one difference existed.

It was unfinished…

An ongoing horror story, still unfolding.

Yet concealment rarely bore good fruit.

This was one of the lessons Du Yinsui had learned early in the apocalypse.

Even unwilling, Du Yinsui had to speak.

Yet… despite softening her tone and carefully choosing her words, Jiang Wu’s face turned deathly pale and grew paler still.

The stench of scorched metal, the bitter tang of stagnant seawater, the creeping damp of mildew…

As the murky blend of anger, sorrow, and pain thickened in the air, the once-overpowering scent of secret affection faded entirely.

Jiang Wu smelled terrible now.

Forcing herself to continue explaining, Du Yinsui found herself desperately missing the familiar scent she’d always tried to avoid on Jiang Wu.

She’d shared everything overheard last night, yet the matter remained unresolved.

Not daring to look at Jiang Wu’s expression, Du Yinsui gave his hand a light squeeze, leaving him alone for a moment before heading to the donkey cart to speak with Chu Xiulan.

Unlike the secrets shared with Jiang Wu, Du Yinsui didn’t lower her voice when talking to Chu Xiulan.

But judging by the scents lingering in the air, Jiang Wu probably wasn’t listening…

A heavy stone seemed to press on Du Yinsui’s chest, making each breath feel thin and stifling.

"I know what I just said sounds… hard to believe." Though she detected no doubt from Jiang Wu, time was short; she needed to turn his lack of disbelief into absolute certainty. "Come. I’ll show you proof."

Du Yinsui grabbed Jiang Wu’s hand and pulled him up from the broken stone block.

With the shelter of the roof and daylight still holding, the prisoners who’d been tense since last night relaxed slightly.

Behind the ruined temple, the Kong family’s last two children played with three boys from the Liu family.

Leading Jiang Wu past the laughing children, Du Yinsui approached Wang Yuerong, who was watching them.

Leaning against the wall, Wang Yuerong frowned as they stopped beside her and moved to leave.

"Ever since your son hurt his head, you’ve clung to him, refusing to let him out of your sight. You love him very much, don’t you?" Du Yinsui’s direct question froze Wang Yuerong mid-step.

The reminder ignited Wang Yuerong’s anger—hadn’t those Qin family brats caused Shun’an’s injury!

"What do you want?" Wang Yuerong snapped.

"To show you something." Du Yinsui picked up a small stone and pointed beyond the playing children. "See that tree over there?"

Wang Yuerong tried to ignore her but found her eyes following the gesture.

Before spotting the tree, she saw Chu Xiulan beside it, crushing something—grass pulp or some mess—and slapping a palm-sized green blob onto the trunk.

"Watch," Du Yinsui said, flicking the stone from her hand.

Before Wang Yuerong could ask why, the stone whistled past and struck the green blob on the distant tree trunk, splattering it violently.

Not just the pulp—wood chips flew from the impact crater too.

"Which is harder—your son’s skull, or that tree?" Du Yinsui seized Wang Yuerong’s wrist. "Answer my questions truthfully. Remember: you can run but you can’t hide forever. No one can protect your son indefinitely."

Shocked and furious, Wang Yuerong hissed, "You know martial arts! I’ll tell the guards—"

"Hmm. Will guards protect him for life? We’re all bound for Linzhou. Cause trouble, and as long as I draw breath, your son won’t live. Understand?" Du Yinsui echoed Tan Wang’s menacing tone from last night.

Wang Yuerong choked back her words, glancing at the silent Jiang Wu.

One look at the grief and hatred burning in Jiang Wu’s eyes made her recoil instinctively toward Du Yinsui.

"Don’t look at him. Nothing stops me from crushing your son’s skull unless you answer honestly." Du Yinsui cut straight to it. "That birthmark on Jiang Wu’s ankle—you tattooed it there, didn’t you?"

If Wang Yuerong’s thoughts had been solely on protecting her son moments before, these words struck her like ice, dredging up bone-deep dread from years past.

Seeing the raw hatred still in Jiang Wu’s eyes, Wang Yuerong slumped to the ground without uttering a sound.

Last night, Sun Xinang had revealed the truth: the accidentally smothered little princess had a birthmark Jiang Wu lacked. Wang Yuerong, originally from the southwest, used special dye to fake one temporarily. Later, Liu Yaozu made her learn tattooing to permanently ink a "birthmark" onto Jiang Wu during visits to Liu Baozhu.

The irony was bitter. They’d meticulously recreated the birthmark Liu Baozhu had glimpsed before the baby swap. Yet once Jiang Wu was brought "home," Liu Baozhu showed no interest—never bathed him herself, barely unwrapped his swaddling even when holding him before Jiang Qiqian, then still a prince.

Prince Cheng, however, deemed the detail crucial. He ordered Sun Xinang to remind Liu Baozhu of it yearly, reinforcing the memory. Clearly, he schemed for future use.

To survive and prove her alliance with Tan Wang against Prince Cheng, Sun Xinang had spilled every secret.

Wang Yuerong… didn’t deny it.

She confessed everything, briefly recounting the events as Du Yinsui demanded, begging only for her son’s life.

"Your uncle orchestrated those evils! I was coerced! Shun’an is innocent! Hate your uncle, hate me—but don’t take it out on Shun’an…" Wang Yuerong tried clutching Jiang Wu’s sleeve, but Du Yinsui shoved her hand away.

"Want your son to live? Forget today happened." Du Yinsui hurled another stone. It struck the remnants of green pulp on the tree and embedded itself deep into the wood.

Wang Yuerong: "…"

Mind reeling, she scrambled up, dragged her son from the playing children, and fled into the ruined temple, ignoring his protests.

Du Yinsui watched Chu Xiulan use another rock to pry the embedded stone from the tree trunk.

An interrogation without silencing the witness would leak like a sieve eventually.

Du Yinsui didn’t need Wang Yuerong’s silence forever—just for a few days.

"I know this is overwhelming. You need time to process it." Du Yinsui kept hold of Jiang Wu’s hand, her voice lowering. "But time’s running out. I must ask now… Since the deposed Empress in the Capital—the one they used to control you—isn’t your birth mother, can’t even… well, she shouldn’t bind you anymore. Will you come with me?"