in2ebook Chapter 343 Save Me 995
Chapter 343 Save Me 995
Lately, the sky over Jiangzhou has been shrouded in mist and rain.
Yun Qing stood on the watchtower on the city wall, gazing at the faint outline of the imperial army camp at the end of her vision, her eyes deep and unwavering.
After several battles, the troops mobilized by the imperial court suffered heavy losses due to his layered defenses and surprise tactics, and their morale had plummeted. Now, they only dared to cower behind their camps, reinforcing their fortifications, and dared not venture out to provoke a fight. They could only lie low and wait for new orders or reinforcements.
On the surface, Jiangzhou seemed to have gained a temporary respite. However, the daily influx of intelligence reports to Yun Qing's desk indicated an even more serious situation.
That is, Jiangzhou only has Yu Haifeng's 20,000 troops, while Duan Qingzhou's 80,000-strong army, like a sword hanging over the head, is still the biggest threat to Jiangzhou.
“Duan Qingzhou…” Yun Qing’s slender fingers gently traced the mark representing the southern border on the map, her whisper carrying a complex sense of scrutiny.
This man is a steady strategist with a long-standing reputation; he is no mediocre individual. Multiple intelligence reports and limited past interactions have led Yun Qing to understand that a direct assault, even if successful, would result in mutual destruction, further jeopardizing the already fragile livelihood of Jiangzhou. Conversely, if Jiangzhou could be subdued… the crisis would be averted, and the overall situation in Jiangzhou could be stabilized.
The key to breaking the deadlock may not lie on the battlefield, but in human relationships, namely—Duan Qingzhou's two children!
Months ago, Duan Muchen mysteriously disappeared in the capital, and Mu Yao and Mu Qingcheng also vanished while watching lanterns. Yun Qing didn't need to investigate to guess who was behind all this!
These two siblings will surely fall into the hands of those people from Xiaoyue Manor. This is Duan Qingzhou's weakness that makes him vulnerable.
"Still no news?" Yun Qing turned around, her voice not loud, but carrying an unyielding coldness.
Mo Yu lowered his head: "Reporting to Master, Mo Xue is leading men in a covert investigation. They have expanded the search area and contacted all our remaining contacts in the capital region... However, there is no definite news yet." He paused and added, "General Pei also sent word that there is no news of the siblings at the manor!"
Pei Jingyuan has been hiding in Xiaoyue Manor for so many years, and since he still can't find the Duan siblings, it means that the Duan siblings are not in Xiaoyue Manor.
Yun Qing remained silent for a moment, gazing at the deepening twilight outside the window. Time—he needed time, but the situation always seemed to leave him less time than expected. He had to be faster and more precise.
On the official road hundreds of miles away from Jiangzhou, a caravan of carriages and horses was struggling through a storm.
Mu Qingcheng and Su Qingyan sat in a reinforced carriage, their clothes soaked by the rain. She anxiously lifted the curtain to check the situation outside.
The weather was terrible; torrential rain poured into the carriage, offering no respite. She knew how dangerous it was to travel in such weather, and even though she was eager to get home, she couldn't disregard her own life and the lives of everyone else!
"Let's find somewhere to take shelter from the rain before we leave!" she instructed the guards outside.
A guard rode up on horseback and reported, "Miss Liu Liu has already gone ahead to scout the way. Master Mu need not worry, we will soon have a place to stay."
Finally, in a small town on slightly higher ground, the convoy decided to take a short break.
When they arrived at the city gate, Liu Liu was already waiting there. She led the caravan to the largest carriage and horse shop in town.
Mu Qingcheng got out of the car, wanting to stretch her numb legs, and quickly went with Su Qingyan to the guest room to change her wet clothes.
This inn was quite simple, even a bit dilapidated, but it was excellent for pedestrians!
The restaurant was nearly deserted, filled with a musty smell of cooking oil and dust.
Mu Qingcheng changed her clothes, found a relatively clean table by the window and sat down, while her attendants went to make arrangements.
She sat wearily by the window, watching the torrential rain outside. The days of running around and her vague worries about Jiangzhou and Yunqing's situation left her looking exhausted.
While waiting, her gaze unconsciously swept over the mottled wooden tabletop. It was covered with scratches, oil stains, and some blurry marks, perhaps left by drinkers.
Suddenly, her gaze fixed on an inconspicuous corner of the table's edge. There were several engraved marks there, seemingly chaotic at first glance, but their arrangement made her blood run cold—they weren't characters common in this era, but rather composed of three distinct numbers: 9 9 5! They were Arabic numerals!
Mu Qingcheng's heart felt as if it had been gripped tightly by an invisible hand, suddenly stopping for a beat before pounding wildly against her chest. She leaned down abruptly, bringing her fingers close to the engraving, her fingertips trembling slightly as she lightly touched it; the cold wood felt like a branding fire.
Impossible... How could this be! In this timeline, besides her, who else would use Arabic numerals?
It seems she's not the only one who can do it!
When she was at the Mu family manor in the bamboo forest, she opened a small classroom where she taught Zijing, Zipei, Xiao Hei, and Mu Yao!
A name, accompanied by a strong premonition, struck her mind like lightning tearing through the night sky—Mu Yao! Could it be Mu Yao?
Could Mu Yao have been here before? Is this "995"... a coincidence, or... a distress signal? (A homophone for "Save me"?)
Countless questions and shock surged within her, and Mu Qingcheng forcibly suppressed the urge to cry out. She took several deep breaths of the dusty air, forcing herself to calm down.
If this was left by Mu Yao, then these numbers are both a cry for help and a way to guide them...
Mu Qingcheng returned to her room without making a sound, and gestured with her eyes for Liu Liu to come in with her.
In recent months, the two of them have been inseparable and have developed a tacit understanding. Liu Liu only needs a glance to know that her master is in trouble.
As soon as she entered the room, Mu Qingcheng eagerly told Liu Liu about her discovery.
Liu Liu was also stunned: "Master, you're saying this is a distress signal left by Mu Yao?"
“That’s right, I’m sure it’s her. The homonym for 995 points is ‘save me,’ there’s no mistake! But we can’t ask around in this inn. What if they’re a group of people? We’ll be exposed, and Mu Yao will be in danger.”
"so what should I do now?"
"Have someone investigate secretly. Immediately send your guards to search in all directions from this restaurant, especially along secluded paths and forks that might lead to remote areas! Look for similar markings, carefully examine any unusual markings, and report any findings immediately!"
Liu Liu accepted the order and turned to leave.
The waiting time was particularly agonizing. During this time, Su Qingyan came to see her, worried that she might catch a cold from being in the rain, and even asked Linglong to make some ginger soup for everyone.
Mu Qingcheng was restless, her gaze constantly drifting to the gray sky and muddy road outside the window. About an hour later, the first group of scouts returned with exciting yet nerve-wracking news: