"I deliberately concealed it, but now I see I was too foolish. I underestimated your magnanimity, Madam. I am willing to tell you all the names I know."
After careful consideration, she decided to tell Feng Jin everything she knew. Perhaps this way, she could help her other sisters survive.
"Aren't you afraid that once I have the list, I will hunt them down mercilessly? They are all your sisters."
Cui'er shook her head firmly. "I'm not afraid. I know you are not a cruel person, Madam. You are kind; you saved me, whom you had never met. You certainly wouldn't kill innocents. Instead, I believe that by telling you these things, my sisters might have a chance to live like the three of us."
After this incident, she finally understood that if they continued to follow Granny Sun, no matter the outcome, they would not escape death.
Granny Sun and the Xiliang imperial family did not consider them palace maids as human beings. In their eyes, they were merely tools to be used. Once they lost their value, death was the only end.
Cui'er took out an embroidered sachet from her embrace. Inside, there was a white handkerchief and half a jade pendant. She placed the handkerchief in the sunlight for a while, and dense characters immediately appeared on the pure white cloth.
"Madam, this handkerchief lists all the spies I know of, just like me."
Feng Jin scanned it briefly. There were at least a hundred people. It was imaginable that once these people entered the capital, they would infiltrate all the large and small places within it.
Once Dongchu and Xiliang went to war, Dongchu would be entirely under Xiliang's control and bound to lose. Cui'er's list was a great fortune for Dongchu.
"There is one more thing I would like to ask of you, Madam."
"Just say it. If I can do it, I will spare no effort."
Since Cui'er had given her such a great gift, she would naturally do her best.
"This half of the jade pendant is a token between my sister and me. I beg you to save my sister."
This was her only concern. Her sister had always been loyal to Granny Sun, hoping to achieve a great merit one day and gain her freedom.
But now that she had escaped by chance, her only concern was her sister. She revealed everything in the hope of exchanging it for her sister's safety.
"I will try my best, but I cannot guarantee whether I can save your sister."
After all, this person was from Xiliang. Even if she had the intention to save her, she might not be able to intervene.
Being able to save Cui'er and the other two safely was already a stroke of great fortune. Saving another person was truly beyond her ability.
Moreover, if Cui'er's sister was a loyal person, her rash attempt to save her might put her in danger.
"I know this is very difficult, but I only ask you to try your best. If she truly cannot be saved, then it is fate."
She knew better how difficult it was. Moreover, her sister was still extremely trusting and loyal to Granny Sun. Even she herself found it hard to persuade her sister. It would be difficult to make her turn back voluntarily.
"Madam, if one day my sister commits a wrongdoing and falls into your hands, I implore you to spare her life, considering that I have handed over the list."
All she could do was to protect her sister's life, just as her sister had protected her before.
"I promise you." After a moment's hesitation, Feng Jin agreed. After all, Cui'er had helped them greatly by giving her the list. She should help with what was within her capabilities.
"Thank you, Madam."
Upon receiving Feng Jin's personal promise, Cui'er felt much relieved, a long-lost smile appearing on her lips.
"It's getting late. Hurry and leave this place. Only then will you be completely safe."
Feng Jin glanced at the setting sun outside the window and reminded Cui'er that it was time to leave. Only by completely distancing themselves from this place could they be truly safe.
After seeing off Cui'er and the other two, Feng Jin watched the departing carriage. From now on, the lives of the three of them would begin anew, leaving behind a life of scheming and intrigue, and enjoying a simple life. They would be very happy in the future.
"What's wrong? Are you unhappy?" Ling Mohan noticed a fleeting look of melancholy on Feng Jin's face and asked.
"It's nothing. I'm just a bit wistful, and also envious..."
Envious of their simple lives, envious of their freedom.
"Envious... Envious of what?"
Ling Mohan asked, puzzled. He couldn't quite fathom Feng Jin's thoughts.
"I envy them for being able to live a simple life, far from the strife and intrigue. If it were truly possible, I would also like to live like this, in a quiet countryside village, cultivating a few acres of fertile land, with the man farming and the woman weaving, working at sunrise and resting at sunset. Although it would be tiring and arduous, it would be worth it for the simple happiness..."
She couldn't help but sketch out a fantasy in her mind: her and Ling Mohan sitting in the courtyard watching the stars, with two children playing around them.
If they could live such a life one day, it would truly be quite nice.
"Such a life is indeed worth yearning for. But in this chaotic world with constant warfare, people cannot even feed themselves and are displaced. Merely surviving is difficult."
He abandoned scholarly pursuits for martial arts and went to the battlefield precisely to give the common people a peaceful world. Only when everyone could live a life of sufficiency and peace could it be called true peace.
"The world has been divided for a hundred years, and there has been continuous warfare. Only by unifying the world can the war be completely ended, and the people can truly have peaceful days."
"Unifying the world, how easy is that?"
He vowed to unify the world when he was young, but the hardships involved were even more difficult.
Being able to protect the people of Dongchu and allow them to live and work in peace was already a great fortune.
"I believe in you. I believe you can end this war and give the people a peaceful world. I believe you can lay down your arms and retire to a life of tranquility with me."
Feng Jin looked at Ling Mohan, her eyes full of unwavering conviction. She believed Ling Mohan could achieve it.
It wasn't for any other reason, but simply a pure belief in Ling Mohan's ability to achieve it. He would surely give the people a peaceful world.
"With your words, my wife, I will certainly do my utmost."
Ling Mohan reached out and embraced Feng Jin, gently resting his chin on her forehead. The faint scent of Feng Jin's hair filled his nose, and he savored the rare moment of tranquility.
He also longed for the day when he could end the war, lay down his arms, and retire to live a simple life with Feng Jin.
"By the way, Cui'er just gave me a list. It contains the names of all the spies from Xiliang's expedition. I just looked, and there are easily over a hundred."
She had almost forgotten this important matter. Feng Jin took out the handkerchief containing the list from her sleeve and handed it to Ling Mohan.