However, if Fu Zhao could see Wei Tianze, how could Wei Tianze not see him?
Having honed his skills over the years and remained hidden in the shadows, Wei Tianze controlled half of Fu Yu's spies and informants. His alertness and keenness were no less than Fu Yu's. He pretended not to notice and ran a few steps. When he turned around and saw Fu Zhao abandoning his bow and arrows and running away, he knew his intention and immediately ordered his men to chase after him.
Those who infiltrated Qizhou to provide backup were all highly skilled; how could Fu Zhao and He Qinglan possibly be a match for them?
Less than half an incense stick's time after the encounter, he was captured alive and knocked unconscious, without even having time to call for help or warn others.
Although Wei Tianze didn't know He Qinglan, he knew Fu Zhao was a treasure. Qizhou was shrouded in a tight net; he couldn't take Fu Zhao hostage, but he could hide him. In a truly dire situation, he might be able to exchange him for his life from the Fu family father and son. Therefore, he ordered his men to quickly move Fu Zhao and the girl to the back mountain of Donglin Temple and hand them over to the wandering monk who had traveled a long way to be there to meet them. He then had someone create a false impression to clear the temple of suspicion.
...
What You Tong saw at that moment was that the monk, avoiding eye contact, together with the monks who had come with him, hid Fu Zhao in the hermitage.
Donglin Temple is not a famous scenic spot. The monks live around the Buddha Hall, and the hermitage on the back mountain is not usually open to tourists. It is only for monks with ordination certificates to stay there. You Tong was able to set foot there today because of the Fu family's influence in the area. Fu Lanyin made arrangements before leaving, and the abbot made an exception and allowed her to rest in the quiet hermitage on the back mountain.
When You Tong woke up, the surrounding mountain birds were chirping and the breeze was gentle, like a secluded paradise where no one could disturb her.
She was half asleep, sitting on the veranda enjoying the breeze, when she noticed some monks acting suspiciously in the distance. Instinctively, she hid in a corner, but a moment later, she witnessed their actions.
She could clearly see Fu Zhao's clothes and figure, and the monks' swift movements were even more alarming.
If any disturbance were to occur at this moment, she and her entourage would likely end up in the same predicament as Fu Zhao!
But Fu Zhao is in trouble, and the other party's origins are unknown. How can we sit idly by and do nothing?
You Tong held her breath and hid in the corner, not daring to make a sound. Her fingernails were so tightly clenched that they almost dug into her flesh. Only after the monks entered the monastery and closed the door did she tiptoe back to her quarters. Then, pretending nothing had happened, she called Chuncao and Yanbo, who were with her, and hurriedly returned to the front Buddha hall to borrow pen and ink from the abbot.
She was powerless to save Fu Zhao, and even if she rushed to the Fu family to deliver the message, she might not be able to see Fu Deqing.
But some people can.
You Tong suppressed her nervousness, quickly wrote down the reason, sealed it, and left Donglin Temple.
She always carried the bronze whistle given to her by Fu Yu. She hadn't dared to blow it when it startled the monks in the back mountain, but now she had less to worry about. She found a secluded spot, away from others, put it in her mouth, and blew it forcefully. The whistle was clear and resounded through the mountains. She blew it without any particular technique, but it was meant to warn and call for help. Others couldn't understand what she meant, but Fu Yu's men understood it perfectly.
In less than half an incense stick's time, two men rode up on horseback. Both were dressed as travelers, but they were quite capable.
Because You Tong was afraid that too many people would attract attention and make a commotion, which would alert the evil monks in the back mountain, she chose a secluded and deserted place.
The two men didn't see the commotion. They only saw a young and beautiful girl standing by the red wall, with two maids waiting in the distance, looking at each other in surprise.
Seeing You Tong standing outside the temple wall and whistling softly again, they dismounted and strode over. The two men didn't recognize her, but they knew that whoever could obtain this bronze whistle was either a fellow traveler or someone closely connected to the Fu family, someone of extraordinary status. So they bowed and asked, "Miss, what brings you to this bronze whistle?"
"Which general is in charge of the two of them?" You Tong asked.
"General Zuo."
You Tong, of course, did not know who this person was, but since the other party was sensible and clearly not an idle person, he asked again, "May I see the token?"
The other party did not refuse and indeed showed it to her. It was very similar to the one Fu Yu had shown her before. If she remembered correctly, based on the insignia, the owner of this token was not of a low rank.
Without further hesitation, You Tong took out the sealed letter and handed it over.
"Someone has kidnapped the young master of the Fu family and is hiding him in the mountains behind the Buddhist temple. I would like to ask you two to have someone keep an eye on him and not to alert him. Please make sure this letter reaches the military governor and ask him to find a way to rescue him." After saying this, fearing that they would not believe him, he added, "He recognizes this handwriting, so there is no need to worry. The other party looks fierce, so please be careful to avoid harming the young master's life."
Her voice was very low, but to the two people opposite her, it sounded like thunder.
Kidnapping the governor's son in Qizhou territory—what audacity! Moreover, not long ago, something happened at the military prison, and the higher-ups were busy mobilizing people to investigate. The situation was extremely tense, and it was hard to guarantee that they wouldn't be implicated in this matter.
The two men's expressions changed slightly, and they dared not be negligent, so they immediately bowed and thanked You Tong.
Fu Yu's subordinates were disciplined and methodical, with prior agreements on how to handle emergencies. Knowing the importance of the situation, one rode swiftly into the city to deliver a message, while the other went to find his superior to dispatch men around Donglin Temple. The clatter of hooves faded into the distance, soon disappearing around the bend in the mountain path.
You Tong was worried about Fu Zhao, but dared not venture alone into the back mountain. Her heart was in her throat, and her palms were sweaty.
After the message was delivered, he dared not linger and immediately headed towards the spring grass and misty waves, wanting to hurry back to the temple where there were many people.
Little did she know that someone was rushing over to the stone pagoda behind the wall, and when he saw her, his gaze froze instantly.
...
Wei Tianze captured Fu Zhao and He Qinglan, ordered them to be hidden in a temple for emergencies, and instructed his accomplices to create a diversion and lure them elsewhere before attempting to escape alone. However, the military prison reacted quickly, and it seems they soon discovered his escape. Less than half an hour after he escaped, there were already signs of reinforcements being deployed to surround and suppress him in the vicinity.
If Wei Tianze hadn't served under Fu Yu for so long and been well-versed in the intricacies of the situation, he would probably have already fallen into their trap.
Fortunately, the other party was only searching and had not yet found his whereabouts. Wei Tianze dared not rush forward and could only retreat to Donglin Temple.
The enemy outnumbered him, and even with Wei Jian's men providing backup, he was alone and helpless in the deep mountains and dense forests, unable to escape the Fu family's trap. But Donglin Temple was different. There were monks and worshippers there, with Wei Jian's spies mixed among the monks, and the worshippers were a diverse mix of men and women, the elderly, women, and children, making it easy for him to take advantage of the chaos. He had escaped unscathed many times before when carrying out orders, thanks to such circumstances.
Once Wei Tianze had made up his mind, he headed towards Donglin Temple, knocked out a lone pilgrim, and quickly changed his clothes.
While changing clothes, I heard a familiar whistle, but I didn't know what it was. After I finished changing, I crept over.
By sheer coincidence, they saw You Tong standing alone outside the wall, walking towards the maid, seemingly doing something.
Chapter 107 Gone Mad
Donglin Temple is located in a remote area on the outskirts of Beijing, and it is not considered a famous ancient temple. Most of the people who come here to burn incense are local residents. Occasionally, a few groups pass by on their way to hunt or watch the game on the neighboring mountain. The incense offerings are not very strong, but they are not deserted either. Now that the weather has turned cold, the wealthy families and nobles in the city have rarely gone out since the Double Ninth Festival, and can only come to enjoy the scenery when the first snow falls. Originally, there were not many tourists.
Who would have thought that Wei Tianze would run into two groups today?
Having honed his skills over the years and once managed a significant portion of Fu Yu's covert intelligence network, Wei Tianze possesses exceptional ability to pinpoint locations by sound.
The whistle just now came from this direction, and there was no one else around, so the person who blew the whistle was most likely Wei Youtong, who was standing in front of us.
He had known Fu Yu for ten years and understood her temperament very well. He had also witnessed the various changes in Fu Yu after their marriage. Such a proud and unyielding man would yield and divorce for a woman, which showed how deeply he loved her. The fact that she still kept Fu Yu's bronze whistle after the divorce also showed that this woman still held some weight in the Fu family. Moreover, the whistle's sound came abruptly, and if he didn't find out what was going on, he would remain uneasy.
Wei Tianze's mind stirred slightly. Seeing that no one was around, he swayed slightly and easily climbed over the wall.
You Tong was walking nervously when suddenly a dark figure leaped over the wall. As the hand swept across, Chuncao Yanbo groaned and fell to the ground. The person was as swift as the wind, reaching her in an instant. Before she could cry out, a slightly rough hand reached out and tightly covered her mouth and nose, the force so great that it made her nose sting.
Her eyes widened, and she looked up in horror, only to meet a man's face.
Beneath his sword-like eyebrows were bright, piercing eyes, and a thick beard covered almost half his face. He wore unremarkable gray cloth clothes and a worn felt hat. The attire was utterly unfamiliar, but those sharp eyes were strangely familiar; she paused for a moment before suddenly remembering.
"Wei..." Her lips moved slightly in surprise, but were immediately covered tightly by the other party.
You Tong's remaining voice turned into sobs, and she stared at the other person as if she had seen a ghost, her eyes wide open.
Wei Tianze? Wasn't he locked up in jail? How did he suddenly appear at Donglin Temple?
The moment she confirmed his identity, her deep-seated worries found their direction—in this Qizhou region, there were probably very few who would dare to harm the Fu family and succeed. When she delivered the message earlier, she racked her brains trying to figure out who had attacked Fu Zhao, but upon seeing this face, her deep-seated doubts immediately became clear.
The person who kidnapped Fu Zhao must be connected to Wei Tianze. Does he know that she sent a message for help earlier?
You Tong's heart, which had just settled back into her stomach, leaped into her throat when she heard the man say viciously, "If they dare to make even the slightest sound, they will both die!"
As he spoke, the gleaming dagger hidden in his left sleeve flickered.
You Tong quickly and obediently nodded.
Wei Tianze loosened his grip slightly, seeing that she truly didn't dare call for help. He then turned around, took two steps, picked up Chuncao Yanbo, and threw her over the wall. His muscular physique allowed him to draw a heavy bow, weighing dozens of kilograms, making it easy for him to lift the girl, like throwing a sandbag. He then wrapped his arms around You Tong, rolled over, and climbed inside. He then lifted the thick thatch at the base of the wall, easily covering the two of them.
When she smoothed out the marks and looked up, You Tong was still standing there, as if she had been scared out of her wits.
Wei Tianze gestured with his eyes and led her toward the nearby monks' quarters.
The monks' quarters were unused, and when you climbed in through the window, the dust inside was choking.
You Tong had narrowly escaped death from an assassination attempt last time, and now, facing her nemesis again, she glared at Wei Tianze with a mixture of fear and resentment in her eyes. This complex expression didn't escape Wei Tianze's notice; he merely sneered and asked, "Was it you who blew that bronze whistle just now?"
Seeing that she didn't deny it, he stared intently into her eyes and asked, "What is it?"
"What's it to you?" You Tong's voice was cold, her almond-shaped eyes filled with hatred for her enemies, yet also with a hint of fear. She sneered, "Last year, your assassination attempt failed, and now you want to settle scores for no reason? Fu Yu actually makes friends with someone like you and keeps you around for important positions. He must be blind!"
"Don't mention Fu Yu to me." Wei Tianze grinned coldly, raising his dagger and pressing it straight against her throat.
What are you doing here?
Beneath the felt hat, his eyes were sharp and cold, carrying the ruthlessness of a desperate man.
You Tong was terrified and quickly shrank back against the wall, her voice trembling slightly. At this point, she certainly couldn't mention Fu Zhao and his sister; otherwise, if Wei Tianze became suspicious and guessed that her whistle was a way to tip off reinforcements, he might, in a desperate act, kill Fu Zhao or seriously injure him. But if her reason was too flimsy, it wouldn't fool a seasoned old fox like Wei Tianze.
In the blink of an eye, he remembered the monks behind Donglin Temple and began to make up a story without batting an eye.
"I've come to inquire about something." She hesitated for a moment, answering reluctantly, but seemingly forced to speak under duress. "Recently, several monks from Donglin Temple have come to study, and their behavior is said to be very suspicious. General Fu sent someone to question the abbot, but they couldn't find any clues. I thought that since I have no connection with the Fu family now, and can still barely discuss some Buddhist teachings, if I were to ask as a devout woman, perhaps I could find some clues. So I came to inquire indirectly. I just passed on the information I gathered. If General Fu has any instructions, I will continue to inquire later."
This coincides with the incident where Wei Jian's subordinates used fake ordination certificates to impersonate monks and come to meet him.
Wei Tianze's gaze was sharp as a sword, coldly scrutinizing him.
You Tong shrank back, looking terrified but trying hard not to show it.
She was, after all, a woman; under the threat of a knife, she wouldn't dare to lie.
With his worries subsiding, Wei Tianze had no time to inquire further. He tore off a piece of his clothing and used it to tie her hands behind her back. Then, he scanned her body, forcing her to reveal the location of the bronze whistle. He took it, removed a conspicuous hairpin as a token, tore off a piece of his clothing, crumpled it into a ball, and was about to stuff it into her mouth.
Judging from this, it's obvious they intend to leave her here as a hostage.
You Tong guessed that the people rescuing Fu Zhao were probably heading towards the back mountain. If Wei Tianze went out, given his quick wit and abilities, he might cause trouble. It was best to stall for time. Ignoring his ferocity, she quickly dodged to the side and angrily shouted, "Wei Tianze, you ungrateful bastard! The Fu family taught you skills, valued and promoted you, and Fu Yu and his brothers treated you like a comrade-in-arms. Even knowing you were a spy, they couldn't bear to kill you and spared your life. Is this how you repay them? Fu Yu treated you as a friend, can't you see that? Now you repay kindness with enmity, who are you being fair to?"
The voice, neither too loud nor too soft, was sharp and stern, striking at Wei Tianze's most hidden sore spot.
Wei Tianze paused slightly, hesitated for a moment, but still insisted, "Locking someone in a dark and sunless dungeon, that's not what friends do."
"You betrayed us first! Did the Fu family ever treat you badly? When Fu Hui and his brother died in battle, and when the lady of the West Courtyard passed away, they took you with them every year when they went to Jinzhao Temple to offer incense. They treated you like half a family member! And now, you want to draw your sword against us?"
Wei Tianze didn't want to pay attention to her, but her words still stirred up old memories.
The Fu family treated him very well, even to the point of being considered a second father. Not to mention others, even he sometimes couldn't help but think that way. So much so that even after capturing Fu Zhao, he couldn't bring himself to kill him. He only ordered his men to guard him closely and take him hostage. Before leaving, he specifically instructed them not to harm Fu Zhao.
At this moment, You Tong deliberately criticized the most sensitive points, stirring up old feelings and conscience.
It was You Tong's advice and scolding, but also an internal struggle between heaven and man.
But the situation forced him to leave no way out.
Wei Tianze turned away coldly, “The Fu family promoted me for military purposes, but they are using me as a weapon for their own selfish reasons. A man should stand tall between heaven and earth, make achievements and establish his career. Everyone has their own goals, so how can we be bound by these old matters! What do you know about grudges, right and wrong, politics and family affairs!”
His voice unconsciously rose, as if trying to persuade You Tong, or perhaps trying to persuade himself.
...
Outside Donglin Temple, Fu Yu and his son, their faces ashen, rode swiftly towards the temple.
You Tong's letter pleading for help was sent out, but before the messenger even entered the city, he encountered Fu Yu and his son. Not long after Wei Tianze escaped from the military prison, the warden sensed something was amiss and, in his anger and alarm, dared not conceal it, immediately sending someone to report to the city. Upon hearing the news, the father and son rushed to investigate, only to encounter the messenger shortly after leaving the city.
The lacquered seal was broken open, and the note contained brief words, but its contents caused Fu Deqing's expression to change drastically. He immediately handed it to Fu Yu.
How could Fu Yu not recognize that familiar handwriting?
In his shock and anger, he did not delay for a moment. After finding out the details of the letter delivery and learning that You Tong was unharmed, he was relieved and ordered Du He to go to the military prison. He and Fu Deqing led a few people to Donglin Temple.
Because General You Tong had written down the general's location in detail, Fu Yu and his son easily sneaked over there. The two monks on guard were caught off guard and were killed on the spot. However, one of the lookouts noticed something was wrong and quickly shot out a whistling arrow as a warning. By the time Fu Yu noticed, the arrow had already shot into the sky, its sharp whistling sound echoing all around.