CHAPTER 324: CHAPTER 293: BANDIT LEADER, HE YUMEI

In the early morning at the Ten-mile Pavilion, a layer of mountain mist still veiled the top, and the tea stall outside, convenient for travelers, was already bustling. Merchants heading into the city always loved to sit down here, order a pot of hot tea, and add a few freshly steamed meat buns.

The person who was supposed to be drugged unconscious and snoring at the inn suddenly appeared inside the pavilion. Without needing to think, it was obvious that the two people had known his plan in advance and ran away early.

Su Xiang was secretly annoyed at his subordinates’ incompetence while keeping a stern face, saying, "I’m not hungry!"

With that, he swiftly put down the curtain and ordered the people to continue the journey.

After traveling a short distance, an accompanying guard came forward and handed him two packages wrapped in oil paper.

Su Xiang took them, one package was brined cooked beef and the other contained two meat buns.

The Prime Minister was not like the other overly refined ministers; he had this image-free skill of eating buns with one hand and grabbing beef with the other.

After eating, he would not pretend to be reserved due to face like his colleagues but would directly poke his head out and ask the guard if there were more.

Even though he had just stated a quarter of an hour ago that he was not hungry.

Guard: "..."

Song Wei and Wen Wan only began their journey to chase Su Xiang’s party after eating and drinking their fill at the Ten-mile Pavilion.

They stayed at the inn again that night.

The less Su Xiang wanted to see him, the more Song Wei intentionally mingled near him.

Su Xiang frowned and tried the same old trick overnight, only to find Song Wei and his attendant student already sitting there having wontons at the next city’s breakfast stall the following day.

Before departing, Hao Yun, the live-in son-in-law, had told him that Song Wei was a very eerie person.

Back then, Su Xiang didn’t believe it, but now, seeing how the other party had twice mysteriously escaped his confusing smoke, it was simply unbelievable.

Hao Yun also said that Song Wei was a natural-born jinx, whatever he did, he was never unlucky.

Su Xiang scoffed; ever since Song Wei entered the court, he hadn’t observed any unluckiness, except that he himself had been jinxed quite a bit by this little turtle bastard Song Wei.

Almost lost his son and ruined his career.

Su Xiang felt that Song Wei was simply his natural nemesis, even more annoying than the pi yao statue Lin Tudan had sent.

On the other hand, despite being schemed against by the Prime Minister multiple times, Song Wei never showed up with a gloomy face to confront him. Every time he saw the Prime Minister, he always displayed a gentle smile, as if he completely had no idea that Su Xiang kept contemplating ways to kill him every day.

Su Xiang had lived for half a lifetime, he had seen shameless people and more shameless people, but he had never seen someone so utterly shameless.

Others were scheming against him, and Song Wei clearly knew it, yet he could still act nonchalantly every day, flashing a smile that was sickening.

Song Wei didn’t get angry, but Su Xiang managed to annoy himself to the point where his soul was practically leaving his body; he couldn’t kill him, nor could he handle him. Throughout the journey, Su Xiang didn’t even want to deal with him anymore.

...

With soldiers following, the convoy moved slowly. By the time they reached Ningzhou, more than half a month had passed.

Three thousand elite soldiers were stationed at the Pingjiang Post Station.

Everyone was exhausted after the long journey.

Song Wei had just finished bathing when Wen Wan, holding a velvet towel, was drying his hair. There was a knock on the door—it was someone from Su Xiang, saying the Prime Minister summoned him.

Song Wei responded, telling the person to return first, as he would be ready shortly.

Wen Wan frowned, "Your hair is still wet, what should you do?"

"Just tie it up like this," Song Wei replied.

Although it was already nighttime, Song Wei could completely go over as he was, but Wen Wan knew her husband too well. He wouldn’t allow even the slightest slack when working; even if his hair wasn’t dry, he had to tie it immaculately.

Collecting her thoughts, Wen Wan picked up the wooden comb and began to style his hair.

It remained the most popular square bun among the men of Great Chu, a style she had been weaving for four or five years. Wen Wan’s technique was very skilled, and it didn’t take long for her to finish. After placing the jade hairpin in his hair, she reminded him, "Don’t get into a direct confrontation with the Prime Minister. That man is not easily provoked."

Looking into the bronze mirror, Song Wei met his little wife’s nervous gaze and chuckled lowly, "Worried about me?"

Wen Wan pursed her lips, "What do you think I’m following you for? The teacher has already gotten used to my habit of taking days off every now and then. You should have seen it; when I mentioned a long leave this time, it startled the teacher. If I weren’t normally obedient and well-behaved, she surely wouldn’t have allowed it."

Song Wei’s lips curled into a faint smile, "Then next time, I’ll request time off for you." He paused momentarily, "Yes, in the capacity of a guardian."

"I definitely don’t want that!" Wen Wan was both ashamed and embarrassed, "If you step forward, the teacher will definitely see through our relationship."

Song Wei: "Do you think the teacher doesn’t know you are married?"

"How could that be?" Wen Wan didn’t believe it, sure that she’d hidden it well.

Through the bronze mirror, Song Wei observed the confident look on her small face, believing she wouldn’t be seen through and ultimately chose not to voice his thoughts.

As he remained silent, Wen Wan grew curious instead, "How do you know the teacher has already seen through me?"

Song Wei stood up, but just smiled without speaking.

Taking the opportunity, Wen Wan grabbed his wrist, "Tell me quickly!"

"The Prime Minister is still waiting; I’ll go for now," said Song Wei, gently removing her hand and walking briskly outside.

Wen Wan sat down with the flow, resting her chin in her hand, as she recalled Song Wei’s earlier words.

...

Song Wei was gone for most of the night, and Wen Wan, truly tired, washed up and went to bed first.

When the man returned, perhaps considering that she was already asleep, he walked very lightly.

But even so, Wen Wan faintly sensed it, she was just too tired to open her eyes.

After a while, she felt a hand placed on her forehead, the palm not exactly smooth, somewhat rough, but very warm.

As if confirming she wasn’t running a fever, the man quickly withdrew his hand.

Wen Wan found it secretly amusing, under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t get sick, not because she was strong, but because she would already sense it coming and avoid it one by one.

Wen Wan ultimately didn’t manage to open her eyes and say a word to him, sleeping until dawn.

Song Wei had already risen, and seeing her awake, he smiled and asked, "Still tired?"

Wen Wan habitually reached out to pinch her shoulder, then shook her head, "I’ve rested enough." Then she asked him, "The Prime Minister called you over last night, what did you discuss?"

"It was nothing but plans for eradicating the bandits." Song Wei said, "His two strategists couldn’t agree, so he asked me to help advise."

"So what was the result? Did they come up with a plan?"

"Both their plans had flaws."

Wen Wan’s eyes rolled, "Could it be that they ended up following your plan?"

Song Wei didn’t deny it, faintly smiling, "Although the Prime Minister looked a bit dark."

Wen Wan said, "I hadn’t interacted with the Prime Minister before, didn’t know what kind of person he was, but after this period, I’ve figured out that he particularly loves to blacken his face, pulls a long face like a coffin board whenever there’s a disagreement."

As if amused by her comparison, Song Wei laughed quietly, without picking up her words, he said, "Quickly wash up, it’s time for breakfast."

Wen Wan uttered an "oh," collected her playful thoughts, and swiftly got up to wash.

Breakfast was flatbread and thin porridge, Wen Wan ate while looking at Song Wei, "You didn’t finish what you were saying last night!"

"What words?" As if he had forgotten, he asked casually.

"...You said the professor had long known that I was already married."

Song Wei sipped the porridge with a spoon, his gaze falling on her face, "You’re not the only one in the Hongwen Academy who’s married."

"But Lin Xiaoyue also hid it well," Wen Wan said.

"Besides you two, there’s others."

Hearing this answer, Wen Wan was shocked, "Really?"

"If you could think of disguising yourself as a girl to enter the Hongwen Academy, why couldn’t others?"

"But... besides Lin Xiaoyue, I haven’t noticed anyone else!" Wen Wan muttered, "Does the professor know everything?"

Song Wei slightly curled his lips, "The professors teaching you are female officials from the palace, what experiences haven’t they had, seeing through a few little women like you is not hard?"

Before Wen Wan could speak, Song Wei continued, "Just like the Imperial College, there is no explicit age restriction for enrollment in the Hongwen Academy. However, most daughters, being sensitive about face, would enter while they are young, disguised as girls."

"Then why didn’t you tell me beforehand when I first enrolled? I always thought I and Lin Xiaoyue successfully fooled even the professors."

Turns out the professors were just turning a blind eye, they knew everything from start to finish.

Song Wei laughed, "If I told you beforehand, wouldn’t it spoil the novelty of just starting school?"

Wen Wan: "..."

...

On this day, three thousand elite soldiers followed Song Wei’s plan, distributing themselves into Black Wind Mountain, some scouting and some lying in ambush.

The bandits’ stronghold occupied dangerous terrain. It was not only concealed but also easy to defend and hard to attack.

The scouts reported back, detailing the situation there, which indeed was much like Song Wei’s prediction.

The Prime Minister asked, "Is there a high chance of winning with a fire attack?"

The scout said, "It’s not impossible, but in this season, wanting the fire to spread all the way up, there might be some difficulties with fuel."

The Prime Minister reluctantly cast a glance at the leisurely Song Wei beside him, "Then we’ll follow Mr. Song’s plan, some people block all their routes down the mountain, and some figure out how to cut off their water source."

This group had been entrenched in Black Wind Mountain for years. Song Wei deduced that there might already be land cultivated on the mountain, making it hard to cut off their food supply quickly, so they had to start with the water source.

Given Black Wind Mountain’s terrain, at most there could only be one water source on the mountain. If scouts could successfully find and cut it off while remaining hidden, it would be tantamount to cutting off the bandits’ lifeline.

...

Song Wei’s method indeed bore fruit. Five days later, the bandits, forced down the mountain with no water to drink, were captured in one fell swoop.

When Song Wei went up the mountain to clear the loot, he encountered the current leader of this bandit group—He Yumei.