The trio started to act after they had talked it over.
Time flew like lightning.
In a flash, darkness had begun to descend.
Almost as soon as night fell, reed music rose from the mayor’s estate and carried on unceasingly.
Whether the nobles had lost all hope for tomorrow’s escape, or they were wanting to show that they did not care about life and death, they were now letting loose with their amusements and merry-making.
Inside her carriage, Chen Rong wrung her hands and nervously watched the mayor’s gate.
Wang Hong had barely returned when the mayor had come to whisk him away. Time trickled on as she waited for him to come out so that they could meet up with Sun Yan.
While Chen Rong sat tight in anticipation, a tall and familiar figure came into sight.
He soon appeared in front of her carriage, leaning against the carriage shaft with a smile. She was in a slight trance when he looked at her and softly remarked, “You always fall into a trance whenever you look at me, darling. What are we going to do?”
He sounded unbelievably caring.
Chen Rong’s face colored. She withdrew her gaze and returned, “Who looks at you in a trance? Hmph!”
The man curved his mouth in a smile and turned back to his carriage.
At present, Wang Hong was donning a black outfit. Chen Rong hadn’t known there to be a man like him, whose gorgeous clothes could only serve as superfluous embellishment but whose plain clothes could be worn with regal elegance.
As the evening wore on, the streets in Mo’yang became enveloped in silence. The wheels rolled at a monotonous rhythm, the kind of rhythm that distressed people.
The carriage stopped at length.
Chen Rong stepped down to the sight of soldiers lining in front of her. Armored and standing beside their horses, they stoically queued in straight rows.
Nearby, Sun Yan strode out to greet them.
After he gave her a reassuring glance, he turned to Wang Hong who had just gotten down from the carriage. “Something’s not right,” Sun Yan frowningly told him. “Since three quarters past the Rat hour (12:30 am), the number of barbarians outside the south gate has seemed to increase.”
“But that can’t be!” cried Chen Rong.
Sun Yan knitted his brow and turned around to look at Wang Hong.
Wang Hong nodded towards him and said, “Let’s go take a look.”
“All right.”
Wang Hong flapped his sleeves and began to climb the fortress stairs.
Because of the operation tonight, Sun Yan had taken complete control of the south gate.
Chen Rong followed behind them.
They soon reached the top.
There was a torch every ten paces. In the flickering light, they could clearly see the Hu camp below.
Something indeed seemed out of place. Troops were occasionally entering the Hu camp. Even under the dim starlight, one could see the billowing dust they provoked.
Sun Yan lowered his voice: “The situation is entirely contrary to what Ah Rong had said.”
Wang Hong didn’t make an answer. He slightly narrowed his eyes, quietly gazing down.
At this time, everyone looked at him waiting for an answer.
Of course, there were also those who turned to Chen Rong, but when they saw her ashen face and restless eyes, they couldn’t help thinking: She’s just a girl, after all.
It was deathly silent.
At length, Wang Hong suddenly laughed: “Good for Murong Ke!”
Everyone whirled around to look at him.
“Wang Qilang, did you see something?” Sun Yan quickly asked.
Wang Hong nodded. He pointed ahead and chuckled. “They aren’t lighting their torches and there are no drums. There’s just scattered smoke as if someone is constantly entering. Murong Ke always employs deceptions. It seems Ah Rong is right. Half of the forces guarding the south gate had been temporarily called away. He’s using this one trick to prevent us from breaking out.”