Crossing the Mountains

Chapter 172 It's Better to Return West
Listening to the brothers bickering, Fufeng couldn't help but ask, "Since you're going to travel together, are you planning to keep it from her forever?"

The previously noisy atmosphere suddenly fell silent.

Shentu Zhuo leaned back on the couch, glanced at his elder brother, and said sarcastically, "If he wants to say it, let him say it himself. I didn't stop him. He died without a clear reason, and he lived without a clear reason. He's forcibly taking a new bride for himself. Where is justice?"

Fu Feng couldn't help but complain, "I'm not a person who can keep a secret. It was fine when I was here for the marriage alliance, but I was afraid that I might cause trouble if I wasn't careful. Now that everyone is gathered together, it's too much to ask of me to keep it a secret for you."

He got more and more agitated as he spoke, “No matter how much you try to hide your original identity, I recognize you, your brother recognizes you, and once you go back to Hexi, even more people will recognize you. Are you just going to keep it from her? You really don’t consider her one of your own.”

Shen Tu Heng waved his hand: "I am also going to Hexi, but I will not travel with you. My mission this time is to secretly escort the King of Qin to his fiefdom, monitor the movements of Yangguan and the western border, and send timely messages to the Eastern Palace."

"So you're going to stay by the King of Qin's side?" Shen Tu Zhuo asked.

“I act alone, and the King of Qin is unaware of my existence. The enemy is in the open, you are in the open, and I am in the dark. If I were to blend in with you, I might actually bring danger to you.”

"So, all you want to do is not reunite with your loved ones," Fu Feng said, pursing his lips. "You people from Da Xuan are really awkward. You always think you're right, worrying about this one minute and that the next, but you don't know how to cherish the people in front of you."

“It’s not that I don’t want to, it’s that I can’t…” Shen Tu Heng said helplessly. “If we have to go through another life-and-death separation after recognizing each other, it’s better not to recognize each other at all. It’s the same for her, and it’s the same for my mother. If it weren’t for the circumstances, I wouldn’t even want to recognize Xiao Zhuo. You don’t need to worry about me. It’s good to be a lonely ghost for now, without any ties.”

"Is that so? Listen to what you're saying!" Shentu Zhuo scoffed. "No ties? Then why did you come to visit me while I was sick, and why did you try to steal the money my sister-in-law gave me? You clearly can't let go of any of these things!"

“…” Shen Tu Heng remained silent.

"Do you think we don't worry about you? You always appear and disappear without a trace, and we can't find you no matter how hard we try. You saved her life, and she is very grateful and respectful of you, fearing that you might be harmed by villains one day and lie dead in some dark corner. But what about you? You can't even face her honestly!"

Shen Tu Heng was also annoyed by his scolding, and snorted coldly, "You're so enthusiastic about scolding me, but if I were to openly and honestly reveal my identity to her, would you really be willing to accept it?"

"..." Now it was Shen Tu Zhuo's turn to fall silent.

“Besides, I’m not blind. She knows how she feels about you now…” Shen Tu Heng subconsciously adjusted his mask. “I’m already dead, so why make things difficult for her? It would only cause her more trouble.”

"Your victory is dishonorable! How can I fight a dead man?"

Click click click.

Fu Feng had somehow grabbed a handful of melon seeds and was eating them while watching the two of them argue.

The two brothers were furious with each other, but finally remembered the doctor who loved to stir up trouble. Shentu Zhuo cursed, "You're the one who started this! You'd better sew your mouth shut the whole way back west!"

Shen Tu Heng chimed in: "If you dare to let it slip, I'll make your 'return to the West' turn into 'return to the West'."

Fu Feng was startled and forced a dry laugh as he made a gesture of sealing his mouth to show his determination.
-
The three of them finally calmed down and were in the mood to talk about serious matters.

Shen Tu Heng said, "That day you were framed by the Prefect of the Capital. In order to get you out, she went to see Tao Wei. I don't know what Tao Wei said to her, but recently she has been inquiring about the whereabouts of that merchant surnamed Li in the Chamber of Commerce."

Shentu Zhuo was surprised: "The Crown Prince knows about this too? He sent people to keep an eye on my sister-in-law?"

"The Crown Prince didn't pay much attention, it was me... who was afraid she would attract the attention of those people, so I kept a close eye on her." Shen Tu Heng covered up his embarrassment. "Given the current situation, we know who our enemies are, both personally and publicly, but we still can't bring them down. We need to be even more cautious in everything we do."

“Indeed,” Shen Tu Zhuo reluctantly admitted, “If those people dared to attack me, they might use her as a threat.”

He disregarded worldly conventions and etiquette, and he was even capable of forcibly taking his brother's bride. However, he had to consider the complex situation at hand. The Shentu family wanted to seek justice and exonerate their father, while the Crown Prince and the Prince of Qin wanted to overthrow their political enemies. If they failed, it would mean the extermination of their entire clan. Tan Huai Ke had already done enough for them; how could he bear to put her in danger again?
On this matter, he and Shen Tu Heng were on the same side.

Fu Feng shook his head at Shen Tu Zhuo, clicking his tongue: "You've suffered so much this time, it's clear that you really can't stay in An Du for long."

Shen Tu Heng frowned and said, "But the clues have gone cold again, and we still can't find any concrete evidence..."

Just then, Tan Huaike returned from the Chamber of Commerce. He pushed open the door and saw the three of them, but didn't find anything amiss: "Are you all here? Fufeng, how is my uncle's recovery going?"

Fufeng started eating sunflower seeds again: "I'm almost fully recovered."

"Is there anything I can help you with, Lord Yansha?"

"It's nothing." Shen Tu Heng glanced at Fu Feng with a warning look and said, "The King of Qin is going west to his fiefdom. After you recover, Lord Shen Tu will be ordered to open up trade routes in the west. The selection of imperial merchants is imminent, and you will also have to return to Zhangye County to manage your shops... I suppose you will be returning to Hexi soon. The Crown Prince asked me to give you a few words of advice."

“Yes, we’re all making preparations.” Tan Huai Ke looked at him and said bluntly, “I guess His Highness the Crown Prince sent you here for more than just a few instructions, right? Lord Yan Sha, aren’t you coming west with us this time?”

Fufeng bowed to her in admiration and praised, "Nothing can be hidden from Madam Shentu."

Shen Tu Heng had no choice but to nod and admit, "I have a mission to complete. Although we are going the same way, I cannot travel with you."

Tan Huaike looked regretful: "That's such a pity." She thought for a moment, walked to the cabinet in the room, rummaged through it and found a bag of silver coins, handed it to him and said, "I know you are used to being alone and have no one to take care of you, so take more silver coins with you. In short, don't mistreat yourself."

Shentu Zhuo was stunned: "No, that's all my private savings! Why did I give it to him again... Why should I give him so much!"

Tan Huai Ke retorted, "It's not your salary, so why are you so upset? He's my benefactor, so what's wrong with repaying his kindness with some money? I haven't even said anything to you yet. Last time I gave you money to help the gentry, how come a whole bag is missing? Where did you spend it all? You didn't go to this brothel or that pleasure house again, did you? No wonder Fu Feng said you're weak!"

"Huh? I didn't... I..." With the robber right in front of him, Shen Tu Zhuo was speechless with anger, almost spitting blood. After a long while, he managed to stammer out, "I... I already gave him a bag of travel money!"

"Oh, it's alright, it's fine to give him more." Tan Huai Ke did not withdraw his hand.

"Thank you." Shen Tu Heng readily accepted the second bag of his private savings.

"..." Shen Tu Zhuo lay slumped on the couch, reaching out to Fu Feng, "Prescribe me some more herbal medicine to clear heat and reduce internal fire."

Fu Feng laughed so hard he almost choked on the sunflower seeds.

After chatting, Tan Huai Ke glanced at Fu Feng, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back, clearly wanting to talk to the other two.

After watching the commotion, Fu Feng picked up his medicine box and tactfully left, saying, "I won't bother you anymore."

After seeing him off, Tan Huaike made sure no one was outside before turning back to them and saying, "I found out where that merchant surnamed Li went... Lord Tao is right, it's probably really related to Uncle Jun's case."

Shentu Heng asked, "What makes you say that?"

Shentu Zhuo asked, "Where did that person go?"

Tan Huaike replied, "After the merchant surnamed Li sold the house, he left Andu with his family. Because someone in the family had been ill for a long time, he went to a familiar medicine merchant before leaving to buy enough medicinal herbs. According to that medicine merchant, the family used the money from selling the house to hire several servants and guards to go to Hexi."

Hexi? The four prefectures of Hexi? —
Next chapter: My state of mind is completely different from when I arrived.