Impératrice douairière Xiaoxuan

Chapitre 210

Outside, Xiao Guanyin stood there, leading her horse, waiting for Xiao Xin. Her gaze fell on a snow-white foal not far away. That foal was the one Yelü Hongji had given to Zhao Yu; she had been truly annoyed about it for a long time back then, and now…

Zhao Yu was also looking at Xiao Guanyin, and knew she was watching the horses. A mix of emotions welled up inside her, but ultimately, a long-lost sense of ease and gratitude surfaced. In any case, she was finally going to leave behind everything here—the wealth and glory, the high walls and deep palace, the grudges and sorrows.

A swirling breeze swept over her, but instead of feeling cold, she felt refreshed. This couldn't be better; a smile crept onto her lips.

As if sensing something, she turned around and looked around. In a secluded corner of a tent not far away, Su Zui was also looking at her, leading his horse, with the same faint smile on his lips.

The day-long foundation-laying ceremony passed without incident, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Ning Jin then made a special trip to see Yelü Zongzhen, citing the reason that the body should not be left indefinitely, and suggested that they set off back to Song in two days. Although no one could be blamed for such a serious incident, the person had ultimately died in Liao, and Yelü Zongzhen couldn't help but feel somewhat guilty. He agreed to whatever Ning Jin said.

"I will send more people to escort you," Yelü Zongzhen said very solicitously.

Ning Jin waved his hands repeatedly and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. When I came, Vice Envoy Yelü took very good care of me. If it is not too much trouble, you can have him escort us again." Ning Jin had his own plan. Yelü Pusa Nu was Zhan Zhao. He would have his own people all the way, which would be very convenient.

"Of course," Yelü Zongzhen readily agreed.

Ning Jin was overjoyed and thanked him repeatedly, but Yelü Zongzhen's next words poured cold water on his enthusiasm.

“Besides Deputy Envoy Yelü, I will also have my son accompany you and escort you all the way to the border.”

"Your Majesty, this... how could we allow His Highness to personally escort the coffin?"

Yelü Zongzhen said, "The princess and my son are only one step away from becoming husband and wife. It should be so. Don't you Song people also value affection and righteousness? We Liao people are no less than you."

These words left Ning Jin speechless, and he dared not utter another word of refusal. He thanked them and returned.

Therefore, the problem they faced next was very serious, so serious that Mo Yan, who had been hungry for a day, didn't even have the appetite to eat a roujiamo (Chinese hamburger). That night, Ning Jin used the excuse of needing to keep watch alone to send Wu Zichu to guard the tent entrance, while Zhan Zhao, Su Zui, and Zhao Yu gathered in the mourning hall.

"Nail me... nail me to a coffin until we enter Song territory before letting me out?" Mo Yan stammered as she spoke. Clearly, this was no longer a question of whether she would be hungry, but rather whether she could even breathe.

No one spoke.

"Why not put sandbags in the coffin? Anyway, once it's nailed up, no one will know it's a dead person inside."

Ning Jin, who had been silent for a long time, finally frowned and said, "Yelü Hongji said today that he would definitely come when the coffin is closed tomorrow. Otherwise, I wouldn't be so worried." Yelü Hongji's words meant that Mo Yan had to be nailed into the coffin in front of him. He couldn't fool her with a dummy.

"Will I suffocate?" Mo Yan swallowed hard; she had to ask this question that concerned her the most.

Su Zui touched the coffin. It was indeed a high-quality coffin, thick and hard. But he still said, "We can leave a small hole beforehand so you won't feel suffocated."

"What will happen if we get hungry after staying in the coffin for so long?" Mo Yan felt a chill run down her spine as she thought about how the journey from here to the border, including the procession of the coffin, would take at least seven or eight days.

After discussion, the group decided to prepare dry food in the coffin beforehand, and put water in small leather bags. If they ran out of water, they would send it in through small holes using reeds.

"Big brother..."

Mo Yan swallowed the sandwich in a few bites, holding onto Zhan Zhao's hand tightly. Zhan Zhao grasped her hand in return; her small hand was icy cold, and he knew she was scared. But things had progressed to this point, and there was no turning back.

"How about I lie inside instead?" Zhao Yu could see the fear in Mo Yan's heart, and since it was for her sake, she couldn't bear to say it.

Before anyone could speak, Mo Yan said, "No, no, you're not well yet, how could you endure this? Of course, I'm more suitable." She turned to meet Zhan Zhao's eyes and asked with concern, "Brother, you really will come with us, right?"

"Yes, I'll be right next to you. You don't need to be afraid of anything," Zhan Zhao comforted her. "You'll be fine after a few naps."

“Yes,” Su Zui said with a smile, “I will teach you another set of internal energy cultivation methods that you can practice while lying down. You can concentrate on your practice without any distractions while you are inside, and your power will definitely increase greatly when you come out.”

Mo Yan said with a worried look, "It sounds pretty good... Don't forget me when the time comes, bury the coffin underground..."

Zhan Zhao said softly, "That won't happen, don't worry."

"Anyway, don't worry. Apart from Yelü Hongji, everyone else along the way is one of our own. There shouldn't be any problems," Ning Jin reassured her. "Before I speak to you, I will knock on the coffin four times, two long and two short."

Mo Yan took a deep breath and instructed, "You must remember this, and also, don't let anyone cover my eyes, or I'll suffocate."

"You have a small silver hairpin on you, so even if it gets clogged with sand, you can easily clear it yourself. Don't worry," Zhan Zhao said with a smile.

“That’s true.” Mo Yan scratched her ear and laughed sheepishly, “I was dumbfounded.”

"Then it's settled!" Ning Jin made the decision. "The coffin will be closed tomorrow, and we'll set off the day after. ...By the way, what about you? You can't come with us, can you?" He turned to ask Su Zui.

Su Zui had already made up his mind and replied, "I will set off first tonight and wait for you in Yanxie Town."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yu let out a soft "Ah," looked up at him, and seemed to want to say something but couldn't. After a long while, she finally said, "You need to be careful."

“I know, so do you,” Su Zui said to her, her smile as gentle as a breeze.

Compared to him, Mo Yan's smile was truly unbearable to look at. She looked pitifully at Zhan Zhao, and thinking about the dark days to come, her smile was more painful than crying.

Because there were other people present, Zhan Zhao, though he desperately wanted to hug or kiss her, could only hold her hand tightly to comfort her.

"Big brother, when will I be able to see your true appearance?" Mo Yan pouted. "You look better the way you always did."

Zhan Zhao smiled slightly: "When you come out, I may have a break from disguising myself."

“Okay, then it’s settled.” Mo Yan said happily.

Zhan Zhao nodded with a smile.

Ning Jin, standing to the side, turned his face slightly away, bent down, took out a paper package, and handed it to Mo Yan: "There are twenty flatbreads inside. You have to hide them well and eat them sparingly."

"Please don't let it spoil." Mo Yan carefully took the food; these were her precious treasures for the next few days.

Everyone looked at her with pity.

Volume 3, Chapter 46

When the coffin was closed, Yelü Hongji indeed came. In addition to him, Yelü Zongzhen also sent a lot of people, presumably to make a show of support.