48 Secured The Package

Early the next morning, Chinua was forced to get up early and go to the pier to wait for Emperor Xin, Empress Yan, the concubines, princes and princess. Wearing the royal dress prepared by Yagaan, Chinua stood in the early morning sunshine, feeling a little uncomfortable. In order to relieve her discomfort, Chinua turned her attention to the structure of the pier and the wall that protected Jianping's mansion from sea invasion.

While other princes and princesses stood patiently waiting for Emperor Xin, many scenarios emerged in Chinua's mind about how to knock down that impenetrable solid wall. After so many scenes, Chinua came up with the same conclusion. Even if the walls are knocked down, the soil buried inside the walls will turn into dirt mounts, making it difficult for the invaders to continue invading.

"What are you thinking?" Hye whispered in Chinua's ear.

Chinua said, "I ran through all different scenarios of destroying the ant nest."

Hye asked, "What do you come up with?"

Chinua said, "All the scenarios ended up with the same conclusion. As you said, the ant nest is still indestructible."

Hye smiled and said, "Unlikely. If a nest can be built, there is always a way to destroy it, and maybe the naivest method is the best and most efficient way. Look around you Chinua. Tell me what you see."

Chinua looked around and discovered the continuous mountains surrounding Haishi City. She knew that if the city wall was knocked down, the soldiers inside Haishi City first layer of defense would be the dirt mounts, and the second layer of defense would be the mountains connected behind the city.

Chinua said, "A large puddle of water and a mountain of trees." 

Hye turned to look at Chinua with a smile. "What else?" He asked.

Chinua continued to look around until her eyes met the four walls as high as the mountain standing not far away. "I saw four metal walls," Chinua said.

Hye smiled, getting very close to Chinua until his lips touched Chinua's ear. He whispered, "They are not walls, they are dams."

Chinua finally understood what Hye wanted to tell her. She looked at the sea and said, "I understand now, and I think I might be able to destroy the queen's impenetrable nest."

"Chinua..." Khunbish walked up to Chinua. Khunbish stood next to Chinua and Hye and said, "The package has been found, and the route has been determined."

Chinua said, "Very good. The package will be ready to be shipped to the final destination tonight."

Seeing Chinua surrounded by an unknown beggar, Geming quickly walked towards Chinua and Hye.

Seeing Geming walking towards Chinua, Khunbish knelt down and grabbed Chinua's left ankle. "I need to eat tonight, but I don't have any money," he pleaded. "Please give me some change."

Geming said, "What's going on? Who allowed you to approach Her Highness without authorization?"

Chinua turned around and saw that Khunbish was well disguised. She asked, "How much do you need?"

Khunbish said, "Five coins."

Chinua took out two coins from her belt slash and gave it to Khunbish. She said, "Two coins. I only have two coins. Next time you want more money, you should ask those who stand in the front." 

Khunbuish said, "Understood. Thank you, Your Highness."

Geming stared at the beggar and said, "Go quickly, lest you be put in jail."

Hye said, "He is just a beggar. Your Highness does not need to make a fuss. Today is Emperor Xin's birthday, let us say we are doing merit for His Majesty." He turned to looked at Khunbish. "Leave quickly."

Khunbish slowly backed away from Chinua, Hye and Geming and towards the group of citizens standing in line waiting for Emperor Xin's arrival. When Khunbish reached the back of the line, he continued toward the other two beggars.

Och asked, "How is it?"

Khunbish said, "Tonight, at two in the morning."

Chaghatai said, "I will prepare the horse."

Khunbish said, "Tell Muunokhoi and Erden that they need to be ready when the package arrives. We have about an hour before the guards come to look for the package."

Chaghatai said, "Understood."

That night, the throne room was very lively, with palace maids and servants coming and going, serving wine and food to the distinguished guests in the throne hall. By one o'clock in the morning, most of the guests were either too tired or drunk.

At around two in the morning, Khunbish, Och, Chaghatai, and Od, rushed into Zhiyuan's yard. They had surveyed the area the night before and knew exactly where the package was stored.

"What's so special about those Magoli? Why did Lord Zhiyuan drag all the guards to guard their courtyard?" the first guard complained.

"I don't know, do you think Lord Zhiyuan fear them?" the second guard said.

"If you want to keep your head, do not speak of Lord Zhiyuan in that way again," the first guard said. 

Rushing out from the side of the prison, Khunbish and Od quickly rushed towards the two guards. Khunbish thrust his sword into the chest of the first guard, and Od grabbed the second guard by the neck and broke the guard's neck. The guards fell to the ground dead.

After the two guards were killed, Chaghatai and Terbish came out of hiding and saw Khunbish and Od entering the prison with the key. They quickly dragged the bodies of the two guards inside, put on the dead guards' armor, and returned to the prison gate.

Khunbish and Od found the cell the two elders and two children were kept. Khunbish quickly opened the door, and the frightened elders hugged the children shielding them from Khunbish and Od.

"Don't hurt the children?" Bo said. "If you want to hit someone to ease your anger, then hit me."

Khunbish said, "I'm here to take you to your son."

Bo looked up and found that the person in front of him did not speak with an Tanggolia dialect. He raised his head and asked, "Who are you?"

Od said, "We don't have time. Your son Suo Zhi is waiting for you in Hmagol."

Bo said, "My son can't be waiting for us in Hmagol. He was sent to be executed in front of the southern Hmagol army because he refused to carry out the order to kill the captured Hmagol children."

Khunbish said, "He was saved by my master. He sold his life to my master in exchange for your freedom. If you don't think about yourself, think about those two young children. Will you let them be executed with you in a few months? This is your chance to leave here and reunite with your son. If you miss this opportunity, there will be no other opportunity."

Bo said, "He is not dead yet?"

Od said, "We know you have questions, but we don't have time to explain to you now. We have to leave."

Bo looked at his wife, and the two nodded to each other, knowing that if they were outside, there was still hope that the strangers would take them to see their son. They each grabbed the children's hands and began to follow Khunbish and Od toward the door.

Terbish turned around and said, "What took you two so long? The next shift is in half an hour."

Chasing after the four strangers and asked, "What about my daughter-in-law?"

Khunbish said, "Others are rescuing her."

The easternmost part of Jianping's Mansion, dressed in women clothes, Och and Erden stops at the door and saw that the guard was on duty earlier than they thought. At this time, six guards were standing at the door of Madam Suo's room.

"What are you two doing here? Where are the other maids?" one of the guards asked.

Erden said softly, "Ah-yo, the other two maids were called to help organize the banquet. We are newcomers, so we were asked to bring some food to the lady inside." He smiled at the guards.

One guard opened the door and said, "Go in quickly and don't talk to Madame Suo."

Erden smiled seductively and said, "We understand."

After Erden and Och walked into the room, the door closed behind them. They saw Madame Suo sitting at the table with tears streaming down her face.

Och said, "Madame Suo..."

"Who are you?" Madame Suo said frighteningly. She quickly stood up and walked away from the table and the two strangers. "You are not Tanggolian."

Och said, "We are not Tanggolian. Your husband asked us to take you to see him."

Madame Suo smiled and took two steps towards Och and Edern. "He...he's still alive?" she asked in tears.

Och and Erden nodded. Erden said, "Right now, the others are at the prison rescuing your children and your in-laws. We're here to take you with us."

Madame Suo wiped her tears and said, "That's good, that's great." She took off her left shoe and took out a letter. "Please take this back to my husband." 

Och asked, "We will take you to see him." 

Madame Suo shook her head and said, "I am a woman who has been defiled by others. I dare not face my husband. After reading this, he will understand the reason why I am not coming with you."

Och said, "But..."

Madame Suo grabbed Och and Erden's hand. "If you two really want to help me, please take my children to a safe place and let them grow up well."

"Hey!" a soldier shouted from outside the room. "You two, come out quickly."

Madame Suo said, "Go... If I go with you, it will jeopardize your mission. Go..." 

Erden said, "We can defeat them."

Madame Suo said, "Fight them and prevent my child from successfully escaping. I would rather you not."

Erden took the letter and said, "You take care." He looked at Och. "Let's go."

Erden and Och grabbed the old dishes on the table and walked to the door. Madame Suo asked, "I want to know the name of the person who sent you."

Och turned around and said, "Chinua."

Madame lowered her head and said, "Please thank her for me."

Madame Suo watched the door being closed. She walked to the dressing table, smiled, sat in front of the mirror and started putting on makeup. As she put on her makeup, she began to sing:

"The front door sighs, a lonely, hollow voice. As footsteps fade, and silence fills the night. Dust motes dance in the single shaft of light, where laughter echoed, warm and bright. "

"The wooden stool turn cold, where he would often sit, a breeze of warmth, a memory bittersweet. The teacup waits, for hands that used to roam, now bare and cold, within our empty home."

Madame Suo walked to the bed, sat on the edge of the bed, lifted up the pillow, took out the scissors, and slid the sharp side of the scissors over her left wrist.

Madame Suo smile and said, "Zhi, I will wait for you at home. Under the peach tree we planted in front of our house on our wedding day. When you are tired from fighting, you can come home, and I will cook your favorite meals for you."

Hye is reading in the room, waiting for Zhiyuan and his guards to appear. As he finished the first book and started reading the second, the door to the room he shared with Chinua was kicked open. Hye looked up and found Zhiyuan standing in front of the door with his guards.

"Search!" Zhiyuan shouted angrily.

Hye calmly placed the second book on top of the first, stood up and asked, "What's going on?" He saw five guards rushing past him and starting to throw things in the room to the floor. "Did you lose something?"

Zhiyuan asked through gritted teeth, "Where is the ugly princess?"

Hye said calmly, "I have never heard of any person by the name of ugly princess."

Zhiyuan grabbed Hye's collar and said angrily, "Peasant, where is the ugly Magoli princess? She stolen my prisoners and kill my guards."

Hye looked into Zhiyuan's eyes and slowly removed Zhiyuan's hand from his collar. He said, "Oh, you mean Chinua, I think Chinua is enjoying the moon somewhere in Haishi City with Prince Geming."

"If you're going to accuse me of a crime, you have to have solid evidence," Chinua said, standing with Geming at the front door.

"Magoli," slowly pulled out his sword and spoke. "Where are my prisoners?"

Geming said angrily, "Xin Zhiyuan, what do you think you are doing? Put down your sword right now."

Zhiyuan replied angrily, "As the crown Prince of Tanggolia, why do you prefer your enemies over your relatives?"

Geming said angrily, "By hurting an ambassador, or an honorable guest, this is an act of war. Do you really want to bring war to Tanggolia?" 

"I don't care who you are, if you dare to touch Chinua, I won't let you live," Khenbish said as he walked towards Chinua.

Seeing Khenbish, Chinua knew the package was safe and on its way to its final destination. "What crime have I committed?" Chinua asked.

Zhiyuan approached Chinua and said angrily, "You released the prisoners on death row and killed two of my guards?"

Geming asked, "Did you see Chinua do this with your own eyes?" He looked at the guards standing in the room. "Or did any of you see with your own eyes that it was Chinua?" 

Zhiyuan said, "She doesn't have to do it herself; she can order her dogs to do it."

Hye said, "Second Lord Xin, we just arrived in Haishi City. The prisoners are all on death row and have nothing to do with us. Even if we are brave enough, we dare not step on your toes. From the day we arrived in Haishi City, we have been closely guarded by your guards. Every move we make is reported to you. We don't have enough sense to put ourselves in danger and make ourselves the cause of war. No disrespect to you, but I dare ask you, where do we have the chance to complete such a dangerous mission?"

"No need to pretend anymore. I know that your family has always wanted the southern region of Hmagol, but failed to take it. Therefore, from the day we entered Tanggolia, you have treated us differently from other kingdoms. This is something I can ignore because of our differences, but tonight, you are accusing me of a crime for which I have not commit, which I cannot ignore," Chinua said and turned to Geming. "Prince Geming, it seems that we are not welcome in Tanggolia. The gift has been given to Emperor Xin. Please allow us to leave the city tonight."

"Chinua," Geming said, grabbing Chinua's hand. "You don't need to leave. We can resolve this misunderstanding tonight."

Chinua looked at Geming and said firmly, "There is no misunderstanding here, and the intention is clear. If you really know me, you should know that I will not allow others to trample on my dignity."

Geming sighed and said, "I'll send you out of the city." 

Chinua said, "Thank you." She looked at Hye and Khenbish. "Let's go."

Geming watched Chinua leave with Hye and Khenbish, heading towards Ankhtsetseg's room. He walked forward and stopped in front of Zhiyuan. He stared at Zhiyuan coldly and said, "You should be nicer to your future empress. Maybe one day, she can save your head from falling to the ground."