Deng Mande stepped forward and interrupted Huangfu Yuchen, who was reading a book. “Your Majesty, isn’t it time to serve dinner now?”
Huangfu Yuchen looked at the sky outside. The winter days were short, and it was already dark. “Xiao Ge should be back soon. Serve the meal.”
“Yes.” Deng Mande smiled and said, “It’s cold today, and the Imperial Kitchen has prepared hot pot. Yan Caiqing will definitely like it.”
“Yes,” Huangfu Yuchen said, “keep the fire low.”
“Yes.”
After waiting for another quarter of an hour, Yan Ge still hadn’t returned. Huangfu Yuchen walked to the hall entrance in confusion but didn’t see any trace of Yan Ge.
“Send someone to the palace gate to check.”
“Yes.”
Huangfu Yuchen waited for a while longer, then suddenly realized something and his expression changed. “Someone, immediately go and see if Bai Guan is still in the stable, and send someone to Yongyi Palace to check if Prince Jin is there.”
“Yes!”
After about half an incense stick’s worth of time, the two groups of people returned almost at the same time.
“Reporting to Your Majesty, Bai Guan is not in the stable. The stableman said that Yan Caiqing took the horse around noon.”
“Reporting to Your Majesty, Prince Jin is not in Yongyi Palace. The people in Yongyi Palace said that Yan Caiqing took him away.”
“Yan Ge!” Huangfu Yuchen stood up abruptly. “Why don’t you listen!”
Yan Ge and Yan Jin, who were already in an inn a thousand miles away, were having dinner. Suddenly, Yan Ge sneezed.
Yan Jin smiled gloatingly, “Father must be scolding you. He won’t let you off when we go back.”
“Didn’t I leave him a note?” Yan Ge said.
Yan Jin’s mouth twitched. “You stuck the note on the top of the bed canopy. Do you think he can see it?”
“He’ll see it when he goes to sleep at night,” Yan Ge said. “Besides, I’m doing this for him. He won’t be angry.”
Yan Jin took a bite of the plump chicken leg, stared at him and said, “Why do I feel that although your words sound justified, you seem guilty?”
“Eat your chicken leg,” Yan Ge patted his head and changed the subject. “Bai Guan is really good. He runs steadily and fast. Minister Wei set off early in the morning, but they are a large group, so it’s impossible for them to be faster than us. I estimate that we can catch up with them by tomorrow noon.”
Yan Jian nodded. “We must catch up with them, otherwise we might lose them.”
As it turned out, Yan Jin was a little jinx. The next day, the two of them rushed on horseback and still hadn’t caught up with Minister Luo Wei’s team by noon. They had unknowingly taken the wrong road and had no choice but to return to Sanhu Town, inquire about the correct route, and continue chasing after confirming the information.
A day later, they finally caught up with the large group, who were resting by the roadside.
Hearing the urgent sound of hooves approaching, the Imperial Guards raised their swords in defense.
“Yan… Yan Caiqing? Prince Jin?”
On seeing who came, the Imperial Guards were dumbfounded.
Minister Luo Wei heard the commotion and quickly walked out from the back of the team. When he saw Yan Ge and Yan Jin, he was also surprised. “I have seen Yan Caiqing, and I have seen Prince Jin!”
“No need for formalities.” Yan Ge jumped off the horse with a smile. “Minister Luo Wei, you and your team ran really fast, but we finally caught up.”
Minister Luo Wei asked in confusion, “Yan Caiqing, why are you here?”
Yan Ge said, “The Emperor asked me to come with you.”
Minister Luo Wei muttered in his heart. The Emperor cared a lot about Yan Caiqing, and he rarely missed an opportunity to leave the palace with him. How could he let Yan Ge go to such a distant place alone? “Yan Caiqing, please forgive me for being daring, but did the Emperor really send you?”
Yan Ge said helplessly, “Alright, I came on my own. But I left a note for the Emperor, so he should have found out by now.”
“This…” Minister Luo Wei slapped his forehead. “Yan Caiqing, why are you… I will immediately have someone escort you and Prince Jin back.”
Yan Ge stopped him. “Since I have already come out, I have no intention of turning back. If the Emperor blames me, I will take full responsibility. It won’t fall on your head, so don’t worry.”
Minister Luo Wei hurriedly said, “It’s not that I’m afraid of the Emperor’s blame, but I’m worried about Yan Caiqing’s safety. This…”
“Alright, there’s no need for you to say more,” Yan Ge waved his hand, not allowing any more say about the matter.
Minister Luo Wei sighed helplessly. He had no other choice but to order the Imperial Guards to protect Yan Ge and Yan Jin. But he couldn’t help but wonder why Yan Caiqing had come and brought the little prince with him. It was such a cold day.
“Yan Caiqing, rest with Prince Jin. We can set off now.”
“Let’s set off now.”
The team continued on their journey.
They traveled at a fast pace and it took them half a month to reach Nanrun City, where the Southwest Garrison was located. The group headed straight for the southwestern military camp.
Wei Chi, the Southwest General stationed at the border had received advance notice and personally led his subordinates to welcome them outside the barracks.
“Southwest General Wei Chi and his troops respectfully welcome Minister Wei.”
Minister Luo Wei said, “General Wei Chi, first meet Yan Caiqing and Prince Jin.”
General Wei Chi had already noticed the young man in civilian clothes and the child in his arms, who were different from the military attire. When he heard Yan Caiqing’s identity, he was greatly surprised. “I pay my respects to Yan Caiqing and Prince Jin.”
Yan Ge smiled and said, “There’s no need for so much ceremony.” He had originally wanted to conceal his identity, but it would be more convenient to use his real identity if he wanted to intervene in the matter of Cuncao Valley.
General Wei Chi said, “It’s cold outside. Please come inside and warm yourselves, Yan Caiqing, Prince Jin, and Minister Wei.”
“Please.”
Once inside the house, General Wei Chi ordered, “Quickly prepare hot tea and some snacks that children like.”
“Yes.”
Feeling bored, Yan Jin lay in Yan Ge’s arms. When he heard that snacks were coming, he perked up and looked at General Wei Chi curiously. He had a favorable impression of this middle-aged man who seemed very friendly. He walked over, smiled at him, and squeezed onto the same chair with him.
General Wei Chi’s face showed a smile. He was not a person bound by propriety so he didn’t stand up to give way, but moved to the side of the chair to make Yan Jin more comfortable.
He touched his head and said to Yan Ge, “I have heard that Prince Jin is lively and cute. Seeing him truly makes one happy.”
“General Wei Chi over praises.” Yan Ge said.
After some small talk, Minister Luo Wei brought up the main issue. “General Wei Chi, what exactly happened in Cuncao Valley?”
General Wei Chi remembered the troublesome matter that had been bothering him. He frowned and said, “It’s like this. About a month ago, a group of soldiers from Youji Kingdom suddenly invaded a village within our borders, plundered it and run away. Our patrolling soldiers discovered them, and a small-scale battle broke out between the two sides. For some reason, our army of nearly a thousand men was forced into Cuncao Valley. After learning of the news, I immediately sent a group of soldiers to search, but they never returned. Normally, even though Cuncao Valley is deep, if we call from above, we should be able to hear a response from below. But after they entered the valley, there was no movement at all. I felt that something was amiss, so I immediately wrote a report and sent it back to the capital. Now I am even more certain that something has happened to them. Otherwise, it’s impossible for none of them to return.”
Minister Luo Wei frowned and said, “Since no grass grows in the valley, I’m afraid that even if the soldiers were alive at first, they…”
General Wei Chi let out a deep sigh. “I also suspect this. But if we don’t go and search again, I will feel regretful. We must see them whether alive or dead.”
Minister Luo Wei said, “General Wei Chi, please rest assured. The Emperor has appointed capable individuals this time. I believe that they will have results when they enter Cuncao Valley.”
General Wei Chi nodded. “You all have traveled tirelessly. First, replenish your energy with a meal, and after eating, we will immediately set off.”
“Okay.”
After finishing their lunch, Ah Fei selected twenty skilled individuals and, together with Minister Luo Wei, followed General Wei Chi’s lead to Cuncao Valley. Yan Ge and Yan Jin also followed along.
Cuncao Valley could be better described as a mountain ravine rather than a valley. The entire ravine seemed as if the earth had been split in half by some internal force. The shapes of the mountain walls on both sides were almost identical, and if they could move, they would surely fit together. Whether it was the ground beneath their feet or the inner walls of the mountains, it was true that not a single blade of grass grew. Standing on the edge of the cliff and looking down into the valley, the uneven mountain walls blocked the sunlight and obstructed the view, making it impossible to see the situation at the bottom of the valley. However, it could be confirmed that the deep valley was at least a hundred feet deep, and the widest point between the two walls was about four or five feet. The narrow and cramped space looked quite terrifying.
Ah Fei asked, “General Wei Chi, do you know where they went down from?”
General Wei Chi said, “Please follow me. My men discovered traces of abrasion on this side of the ground. It hasn’t rained during this period, so the traces should still be there.”
While they were discussing important matters over there, Yan Ge squatted on the ground and examined the soil. He dug a few times with the iron shovel he brought but found no roots of any plants in the soil.
On the other side, the accompanying miners squatted on the ground, holding some clumps of soil in their hands, carefully examining them, and occasionally whispering to each other.
“Papa, is there really a vein here?” Yan Jin squatted, holding a small iron shovel in his hand and helping to dig the soil.
“We can only say that the possibility is high,” Yan Ge said. “There must be a reason for this. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be completely barren here.” He stood up, looked around, and said, “This area is at least four or five mu, and there is no plant growth at all. If there really is a vein, it must be of considerable scale.”
Ah Fei stood at the edge of the cliff and observed for a moment before saying, “We will descend from here. Everyone, check your equipment and make sure you have brought medical kits, three days’ worth of food, and water.” Yan Ge had given the idea of the medical kits. The soldiers in the army were issued one when they went on duty.
“Yes!”
After the soldiers finished their checks, Ah Fei continued, “I will tie a rope around my waist, and everyone should follow closely behind me.”
“Yes!”
After giving the instructions, Ah Fei turned to General Wei Chi and the others. “General Wei Chi, Minister Wei, Yan Caiqing, we’re about to go down.”
“Alright. Thank you all for your efforts and please be extremely careful,” General Wei Chi said.
“Don’t worry.” Ah Fei nodded.
The group of twenty-one people slowly crawled down the uneven rock face into the valley.
