Chapter 156

Feng Feng outside was shouted at, and his drunkenness dissipated a bit. He hurriedly pushed the door open with a creak and entered.

The shallow moonlight slipped into the room again. The person in the room still felt it was not enough and said, "Everyone outside, come in."

Kuang Ye and Bai Jianping looked at each other, not daring to disobey.

So in just a moment, the scene in the room was completely different. A row of tall and sturdy generals lined up in front of Qin Shaozong, as if forming a hard and high wall.

Du Manxiang faced Qin Shaozong, and behind her were a group of drunken and masculine generals. Caught in the middle, she was like a petal blown by the wind in the wild yellow sand, quickly eroding and withering in the dust.

Feeling like she had thorns on her back, Du Manxiang froze, feeling completely uncomfortable. She couldn't help but quietly lift up her deliberately slipped outer garment a little.

Only then did Qin Shaozong speak, "Tell me, who arranged for you to come to Chang'an?"

Before his wedding, he gave each of the concubines in the backyard a sum of money and the deeds to houses and shops, and then sent them all out of the mansion. As for what happened after they left, whether they were taken back by their maiden families or married someone else, it had nothing to do with him.

Except, if it involved a conspiracy against the North.

From Yuyang to Chang'an, it was more than a thousand miles away. If Du Ji had no one to help her, how could she safely arrive at the imperial city?

Dong Zhou was fond of women, and it was normal for him to take a fancy to Du Ji. But he didn't take her into his backyard, but sent her to Changle Garden as a dancer...

When things go wrong, there must be a demon!

*

In the next courtyard.

"Knock, knock." Someone knocked on the door.

Xie Yuanyue, who had already laid down in the room, vaguely asked who it was upon hearing the sound.

"Governor Xie of Sizhou, I am Xinglin of Changle Garden. I have been ordered by Prime Minister Dong to treat you," the person replied.

Xie Yuanyue's chaotic brain cleared up a bit, remembering that when he left the banquet, Dong Zhou casually mentioned that he would send a Xinglin to see him after he returned to his room.

He had been kicked by Qin Changgeng at the banquet. Although he immediately summoned a doctor, in order not to show weakness in front of others, he only briefly checked it and waved him away.

Now, he really felt uncomfortable.

Xie Yuanyue took a breath and stood up to open the door. A man carrying a wooden box stood at the door. Just as he was about to let the other party in, he suddenly saw a familiar figure pass through the guarded courtyard gate and come alone.

Who else could the visitor be but Jiang Shi?

"Brother Xie, I have something important to find you for." Jiang Shi seemed drunk, his steps heavy.

Xie Yuanyue welcomed him at the door, "What is it that makes you come in the middle of the night?"

Jiang Shi seemed to realize later that there was a third person present. He burped and said with a thick tongue, "Brother Xie, you treat your injury first. After the doctor finishes seeing you, I will tell you in detail how to deal with that arrogant Marquis of Wu'an. This time, we must cut him into a thousand pieces!"

Xie Yuanyue originally wanted to refuse Jiang Shi and tell him to talk about it tomorrow, as it wouldn't make a difference. But when he heard his astonishing words, he hurriedly covered his mouth and dragged him into the room.

"Speak carefully!" Xie Yuanyue said in a deep voice.

He and the people from the North lived in the same area, separated by only a few walls.

Walls have ears, so one cannot speak carelessly.

Once the door was closed, the three of them were in the same room.

Jiang Shi mumbled, his words so vague that Xie Yuanyue couldn't hear what he was saying. The latter simply threw him aside and took off his clothes for Xinglin to check his bones and dispel the bruises. "Governor Jiang of Yuzhou, you sober up first."

After a long while, Xinglin withdrew his hand and said, "Governor Xie of Sizhou, I have ordered a maid to brew a bruise-dispelling medicine. The medicine will be delivered shortly. Please drink it while it's hot. The medicine also has a sleep-inducing effect. It is normal to feel sleepy after taking it."

Xie Yuanyue nodded, "I know. You can go out first."

It was indeed "delivered shortly." As soon as Xinglin left, the maid carrying the medicine arrived.

"Put it down and step back," Xie Yuanyue waved his hand.

The door closed again.

"Has brother sobered up?" Xie Yuanyue sat cross-legged next to the desk.

Jiang Shi pressed his temples, "I really drank too much tonight. I made a fool of myself in front of brother."

"Since you've sobered up, go back and rest early. We have to return to the city tomorrow." Xie Yuanyue picked up the medicine bowl. The temperature was just right, and he drank it all in one gulp.

Jiang Shi watched him drink the medicine in the bowl cleanly, a strange dark light flashing in his eyes. "Does brother think I was just talking nonsense when I said I had a way? No, I really have a brilliant plan that will make Qin Changgeng overwhelmed, become the target of public criticism, and have to bear a bad name and be at the mercy of others."

He spoke so firmly that Xie Yuanyue heard this, and his loose spine slowly straightened. "What brilliant plan does brother have?"

Jiang Shi stood up and walked to him. "Prime Minister Dong declared at the banquet that our gathering at Changle Garden was not only to connect our feelings but also to plan for the subsequent elimination of treacherous officials. In fact, you and I both know well that this trip is only to eliminate treacherous officials. But the treacherous thief is cunning and hides in his shell, refusing to come out. If left alone, when the golden crow rises tomorrow and the gates of Chang'an City open, it will only be a waste of effort."

Xie Yuanyue hesitated and guessed, "Brother, do you want to lure the snake out of its hole?"

"No." Jiang Shi smiled and shook his head. "Qin Changgeng has made up his mind to be a shrinking turtle, so how could he not endure this short night? Luring the snake out of its hole will not work. Only by stepping on the snake hole and smashing his turtle shell to pieces can we subdue him."

Xie Yuanyue didn't understand. "How to smash?"

"Naturally, use a sharp weapon to break the situation," Jiang Shi smiled even deeper.

The light and shadow in front of Xie Yuanyue suddenly separated and merged. He felt dizzy, as if the jars of wine he had drunk earlier rushed to his head together.

Oh, it might be the bruise-dispelling medicine prescribed by Xinglin earlier taking effect. It indeed made people sleepy, but Governor Jiang of Yuzhou was still there, so he couldn't fall asleep.

Xie Yuanyue shook his head, but the symptoms only increased. Unwilling to drop the ball at such an important juncture, he forced himself to ask, "Where does the sharp weapon come from?"

"Sharp weapon..." Jiang Shi stared closely at Xie Yuanyue. Taking advantage of the moment when the other party lowered his head and dozed off, he suddenly pulled out the short knife at his waist and stabbed it hard into the other party's chest. "Naturally, take it from in front of you!"

A faint line of blood shot out with a "hiss."

Xie Yuanyue's pupils contracted and dilated, and he stiffly raised his head: "You..."

The Prime Minister held a banquet, and it was inconvenient for everyone present to wear armor, which naturally included Xie Yuanyue.

Jiang Shi was thin. In terms of strength alone, even three of him couldn't beat Xie Yuanyue. But his advantage was that the other party was drugged and not as good as before, that Xie Yuanyue was already injured, and even more so, his surprise attack and ruthlessness.

The wrist holding the knife handle turned fiercely, and then pulled out forcefully. Jiang Shi watched coldly as the other party fell.

The person was dead, but he didn't leave immediately. Jiang Shi picked up the bedding on the couch, wrapped a tea set in it, and threw it heavily on the ground.

The movement was not loud. The high-quality tea set was completely destroyed, pretending that a dispute had occurred on the scene.

The quilt was put back on the couch. Jiang Shi turned and walked out. Midway, he seemed to remember something, paused slightly, took out a dark-colored purse he had temporarily asked for from his arms, and threw it casually on the ground.

*

In the next courtyard.

There was a bit of fear in Du Manxiang's eyes. "After leaving the Marquis's mansion, I originally wanted to seek refuge with my cousin in Jizhou. But not long after leaving Yuyang, I unluckily met some bad people. The other party had evil thoughts and wanted to take both my money and my body..."

When she said this, Du Manxiang quietly observed Qin Shaozong in front of her.

He sat by the desk. On the desk was a bright lamp, its light falling on his profile, illuminating his full forehead and straight nose. The man's deep brown eyes remained like a frozen pool in winter, perfectly still, without the slightest ripple.

She lowered her eyes in disappointment. "Perhaps the heavens took pity on me; I was saved by a group of traveling merchants. They claimed I owed them my life and could not leave until I repaid their kindness. They took me all the way south, finally arriving in Chang'an."

She said she was so terrified later on that she accidentally revealed she came from the Marquis's estate in the North. This made the merchant, who originally intended to give her to a minor official in Chang'an, change his mind. He handed her over to Dong Zhou instead, explaining her origins.

"...My Lord, I only want to survive. Coming to Chang'an was not my wish, nor was dancing at the banquet my true intention. I was forced into all of this. Could you, for the sake of our past years together, save me from this tiger's den?" Du Manxiang said, her eyes brimming with tears.

She was undoubtedly beautiful. Seeing a beauty weep, many would sigh with pity.

But this clearly did not include Qin Shaozong. The candlelight could not add even a fraction of softness to his face. Expressionless, he asked, "What is the name of the key figure in that merchant caravan, and what does he look like? Also, where did you stay when you first arrived in Chang'an, and who did you contact before Dong Zhou? Tell me everything."

Du Manxiang choked slightly, almost imperceptibly, before speaking slowly.

Qin Shaozong rested his hand on his knee, his long fingers tapping against his kneecap rhythmically as he listened to Du Manxiang's description.

Qin Shaozong did not fully believe her words, but the basic framework of her information seemed true.

Her appearance at Changle Estate was deliberate. This person—or rather, the leader of these merchants—had known long ago that the imperial court was going to confer a title upon his wife. He had the means to reach Dong Zhou and viewed the North as an enemy...

There were truly very few candidates left.

Concubine Du was a "brick." The other party had calculated that his guard and curiosity would be aroused simultaneously, and he would definitely seek her out to ask for the truth. Therefore, the subsequent sparring match was inevitable.

That match was the "jade"—casting a brick to attract jade.

But why do this? What could a mere sparring match decide?

Qin Shaozong had drunk quite a bit tonight. He wasn't drunk, but the alcohol had made his thoughts much more sluggish. The doubts lingering in his mind yielded no answers.

He raised his hand to pinch the bridge of his nose and said, dividing his attention, "You and I have long severed our ties. It is useless for you to seek me out for this. If you want to leave Changle Estate, go find Governor Nangong."

Anxious, Du Manxiang moved forward on her knees a couple of steps. "Lord Qin! I do not know Governor Nangong at all; he certainly won't agree to my request. Are you worried that taking me back will displease the Marchioness? I promise that when I see her, I will kowtow and pay my deepest respects. I will put her first in everything and serve her tea every morning. If Madam dislikes seeing me, I can..."

"You are mistaken." Qin Shaozong lowered the hand pinching his brow, his brown eyes as cold as ever. "I am the one who does not wish to keep you; it has nothing to do with my wife."

The so-called jealousy of women was merely an excuse for men's own restless desires. Qin Shaozong knew this perfectly well. In the past, he hadn't cared, so he didn't point it out, didn't interfere, and didn't waste the slightest energy paying attention to it. But things were different now.

The bright moon already hung high in the sky; why would it need to compete with the stars for radiance?

Du Manxiang's lips parted, but she was too stunned to speak.

Qin Shaozong, however, stopped looking at her and directly called out a name. "Feng Feng, see our guest out."

Feng Feng had no choice but to step forward. He didn't speak, only gesturing with his hand for her to leave.

Looking at the rough palm before her, Du Manxiang's heart trembled repeatedly. She had the feeling that if she didn't cooperate, the man would just drag her out. She turned to look at Qin Shaozong, but before the words "Lord Qin" could leave her mouth, Feng Feng forcefully hauled her away.

After the two left, Qin Shaozong looked at his gathered military officers.

Kuang Ye and the others all wore solemn expressions. Just as they thought their superior was going to discuss the follow-up plans with them, they heard a light cough, followed by him saying:

"Do not tell my wife about what happened today, nor mention it in front of the two boys. If, by some misfortune, Madam finds out, you must tell her everything truthfully. Do not fabricate anything."

Everyone: "..."

Deathly silence.

Pretending not to notice their strange expressions, Qin Shaozong said, "Tell me, what was the other party's intention in provoking the sparring match?"

Everyone had drunk wine tonight, so their words were a bit wild and imaginative, covering all sorts of theories. Qin Shaozong listened for a moment but still couldn't find a clue, so he simply sent them back to sleep.

He also went to bed himself, closing his eyes to rest.

Scene after scene flashed through his mind. His thoughts slowly sank into the deep sea. Just as Qin Shaozong was about to fall asleep, a flash of lightning suddenly struck his mind.

Like crashing waves and a shattering sky.

Qin Shaozong abruptly opened his eyes.

He had been thinking in the wrong direction earlier. He shouldn't have looked for clues within the Green Lotus Sect, nor from Dong Zhou, who hosted the banquet.

Xie Yuanyue, he should be looking at Governor Xie of Sizhou, who had sparred with him! They were only staying at Changle Estate for one night. After tonight, they would all return to their respective estates, and it would be difficult to meet again in the future.

The incident was meant to happen tonight...

Qin Shaozong quickly got up and dressed. He had just fastened his belt and equipped his ring-pommel sword when he heard a commotion outside.

The noise spread like an incoming tide, rolling in from far to near.

"My Lord!"

"My Lord!"

Kuang Ye and the others also hurried out upon hearing the noise.

All of them were half-dressed, the only similarity being that they all held swords in their hands.

Qin Shaozong's narrow eyes swept over them, finally stopping on Bai Jianping, who had a special talent for mimicking the sounds of birds and beasts. "Bai Jianping, there is a mutiny tonight. You and Mo Yanyun will secretly leave Changle Estate and immediately notify Wei Qing at the foot of the mountain. Tell him to split the troops in two: one unit will come up the mountain, and the other must quickly return to the military camp outside Chang'an."

Bai Jianping and Mo Yanyun froze.

Qin Shaozong quickly estimated the time. "At the earliest, the soldiers from the suburban camp will reach Chang'an by tomorrow morning. When the city gates open at dawn, have them enter the city with my token. If the city guards block them, do not hesitate—force your way in. You must escort Madam back to the military camp. Go quickly!"

The two men shuddered, cupped their fists in salute, and quickly vanished into the darkness.

Kuang Ye said with concern, "My Lord, the reinforcements will arrive in Chang'an tomorrow at the earliest. If Chancellor Dong decides to rebel tonight, our Mistress will likely face enemies tonight."

Qin Shaozong looked toward Chang'an. As if answering Kuang Ye's question, or perhaps speaking to himself, he said, "Before leaving, I left two hundred elite soldiers for Madam, and I warned her that things might change tonight. She should understand, and she will definitely be able to wait until I return..."