Chapter 26: Lingering Aftermath — The Little Wolf-Dog Captain of the Guard comes to the table!
Thrusting out those flower shears took the last of Feng Ze’s strength.
Before Ying Xi, everything was chaotic.
First, he saw a bloody figure surrounded by a forest of swords and halberds. Then, his Captain of the Guard was sent flying a considerable distance. And then, that bloody figure stood before him, blocking the way.
Ying Xi looked straight ahead at Xie Qianli’s shoulders.
Xie Qianli was forced back sharply by the momentum of Feng Ze’s body, causing Ying Xi to stumble a few steps with him.
When Ying Xi steadied himself, he saw blood right before the tips of Xie Qianli’s boots!
He turned slightly sideways and saw that the shears had pierced right through the web of Xie Qianli’s hand, the sharp metal sinking deep into his flesh.
Strings of blood beads continued to flow, splashing onto the smooth white marble floor like ink forming red plum blossoms.
Ying Xi found the sight stinging to his eyes, his features scrunching tight for a brief moment.
By this time, Feng Ze had completely lost his strength. Hacked by the chaotic blades of guards arriving from all directions, he vomited a final mouthful of fresh blood!
“…” Feng Ze was soaked in gore, blood seeping even from the gaps between his teeth.
Yet, despite the unimaginable agony, he did not utter a single word, not even a scream.
Feng Ze did not mention the reason for the assassination.
Nor did he mention if there was a mastermind behind him.
Naturally, no one could see that when Feng Ze fell, the expression on his face was not one of pain, but of relief and liberation.
The Study of Weiyang Palace.
The air was thick with the bitter scent of herbal medicine.
Pale blue smoke from soothing incense curled upward, slowly drifting from the bronze burner.
Ying Xi leaned back on the Dragon Throne. He had just finished a bowl of medicine so sour and bitter he could hardly feel his tongue.
Yu Jing attended to him carefully, taking the empty bowl. The corners of the eunuch’s eyes and brows betrayed his exhaustion, the rims of his eyes still faintly red.
Since Cheng Shun died, Weiyang Palace, which had only just regained some vitality, felt as though a basin of cold water had been poured over it. It was freezing everywhere.
Before this, no one could have predicted that the death of a mere eunuch would affect the Emperor’s heart so deeply.
But it was true. Every night, the colorful lanterns were changed as usual, but since the murder, the Emperor had no mood to view them. Ying Xi had been sick for two days straight. whenever he stepped out of the study, he walked directly to his sleeping quarters in silence, never looking up.
—So, the Emperor really does take the people below him to heart.
Yu Jing was moved in secret, but he dared not mention Cheng Shun again.
That respectful sentiment turned into worry for the Emperor’s health. Yu Jing spoke gently, “Your Majesty, shall I order some pastries for you to taste? You haven’t eaten much. The Imperial Kitchen has been preparing the Spleen-Awakening Cake for a long time.”
Ying Xi shook his head. In the end, this body was useless. It was just some wind, a run, and an assassination attempt in Shanglin Park… nothing major, yet he had been sick for two days.
He couldn’t eat, but Yu Jing wanted to persuade him further.
Ying Xi ordered him to take the Spleen-Awakening Cake out and distribute it to the guards on duty, finally gaining a moment of peace.
More than food, many mysteries weighed on his heart after the flower viewing banquet. During the days his fever was at its worst, his mind had been groggy. Now that his condition had stabilized, he finally had the leisure to think.
First, Feng Ze’s motive for assassination?
If it was to avenge Xie Ji’s death, Feng Ze should have at least cursed him before dying.
But he neither cursed the “tyrant” nor offered any explanation. There was no thrill of revenge, but rather a sense of suffocation, like someone hiding their head and showing their tail.
It didn’t look like revenge!
Second, was Xie Qianli the mastermind?
Beneath the walls of Shanglin Park, when he saw with his own eyes that the assassin was Feng Ze, a strong suspicion had flashed through Ying Xi’s mind.
But subsequent developments made Ying Xi waver.
During Feng Ze’s final strike, it was Xie Qianli who saved him.
He saw Xie Qianli instantly break through the encirclement and knock his Captain of the Guard far away. If Xie wanted to act, Ying Xi would undoubtedly be dead!
But the result was Xie Qianli getting viciously stabbed by Feng Ze’s shears.
Furthermore, regarding the analysis of Cheng Shun’s body on Yingzhou Island, Xie Qianli had hit the mark with every word. If he had sent Feng Ze, why would he sell him out?
It didn’t look like they were accomplices!
These were two points Ying Xi couldn’t figure out.
A request for an audience at the door interrupted Ying Xi’s thoughts. The visitor was a rare one—his Captain of the Guard. He remembered that his Captain, the heir of the old aristocratic Lang clan of Great Qin, had been recommended into the palace by his family. His ability was above average, and he was earnest in his duties.
As for anything else, his past life had been short and he had spent insufficient time governing; he didn’t have a deep impression of Guard Lang.
What was he here for?
—”Your Majesty, this subject comes to plead guilty!”
The Captain of the Guard spoke loudly: “This subject’s duty is to protect Your Majesty, yet I neither discovered the crossbow device on Yingzhou Island nor stopped Feng Ze. I was even protected by the Duke of Ying, falling pathetically several feet away.”
“Your Majesty was ill these past few days and did not hold me accountable.”
“Now that Your Majesty’s condition has improved, you still bestowed the Spleen-Awakening Cake upon this subject. This subject is overwhelmed with shame and asks for Your Majesty’s punishment!”
The Captain of the Guard knelt on one knee before Ying Xi.
He was tall and dark-skinned, with long, narrow eyes. He looked up sincerely awaiting judgment, his eyes shining bright black. But in a split second that Ying Xi didn’t notice, his gaze deepened as it lingered on the Emperor. Guard Lang quickly lowered his head.
Ying Xi hadn’t expected that casually giving away a plate of cake would lead the Captain to think of the assassination attempt. While it stirred Ying Xi’s confusion about Feng Ze again, he offered faint comfort:
“Xie Qianli joined the army at twelve, led light cavalry to capture cities at seventeen, and inherited Xie Ji’s military rank and title at twenty-two. He is a commander talent and a fierce general; losing to him is no disgrace.”
Not being held accountable did indeed make the Captain breathe a sigh of relief in secret.
But words are heard differently by different ears. What young man could stand being told he was inferior to another?
With a mix of frustration and stubbornness, the Captain said, “This subject will temper himself from now on to be of greater use! I will not let a situation like Feng Ze’s happen again!”
After speaking, the Captain stared tightly at Ying Xi, trying his best to make the Emperor believe him. His dark face had already flushed red.
But the Emperor’s mind wandered again at the mention of Feng Ze.
The matter of Feng Ze was like a poisoned thorn.
Who wanted to kill the Emperor? Was there a mastermind behind the scenes?
The more Ying Xi thought about it, the more he felt like a fishbone was stuck in his throat.
He tapped his knuckles lightly on the table and arranged, “Go and secretly investigate all information regarding Feng Ze for Me. Pay special attention to any abnormalities. You are all military men, and you just fought him; it wouldn’t be excessive to pay more attention to him.”
The Captain looked up blankly.
Every time the Emperor gave an order, he only understood half of it. He couldn’t figure out if this was related to his accountability, but he answered firmly, “This subject obeys the decree!”
—“Your Majesty, this little wolf-dog likes you~”
“Cough, cough cough cough…”
For the past two days, Ying Xi had been in poor spirits and hadn’t heard Sweet Tub speak.
Now that his body had recovered slightly, Sweet Tub appeared, spouting nonsense immediately.
Ying Xi choked and coughed. “What are you… blindly ‘shipping’ again?”
“I’m not blindly shipping. I said a few days ago that Your Majesty has a little wolf-dog fan; he must be that little wolf-dog.”
Ying Xi corrected, “My Captain of the Guard is named Lang Xun.”
“Oh well, Lang Lang (Wolf) Gou Gou (Dog), it’s all about the same.” Sweet Tub was dismissive and continued to explain the definition of a ‘little wolf-dog’ to Ying Xi. “Do you remember how fierce he was in front of General Xie, how spirited he usually is? But he blushes after saying less than a few sentences to you.”
How could Ying Xi have the mind to analyze Lang Xun’s sudden psychological changes?
After all, his past life was short, immersed in official duties, and he didn’t interact much with Lang Xun.
Ying Xi frowned slightly, feeling an indescribable emotion. “We cannot let him misunderstand. If Guard Lang has intentions, I must control this affection.”
Sweet Tub couldn’t understand at all. “Last time Your Majesty said you couldn’t be with someone because of official business. The little wolf-dog liking you is purely a private matter, yet you won’t be with him either?”
Ying Xi said, “I don’t like him.”
“You have to develop it to know, give it a chance~”
Ying Xi wasn’t sure, but Sweet Tub now looked exactly like an active matchmaker in a park dating corner, even showing potential to march triumphantly toward running a pyramid scheme.
Sweet Tub kept pumping him up: “You have to believe you can do it! You have confidence! You have charm! You are the best Majesty!”
“I am.” In this life, Ying Xi never denied himself, and his concepts couldn’t be confused in the slightest. “But I won’t date.”
Sweet Tub failed: “Wuwuwuwu!”
While the host and the system were bickering as usual…
The mist of the soothing incense in the Weiyang Palace study trembled lightly. Yu Jing announced, “Prime Minister Su requests an audience.”
Ying Xi raised his eyebrows slightly, realizing Su Xueyi must have just finished handling the Department of State Affairs business and came to report. Just as well; there were many things he wanted to ask this person after the banquet.
Ying Xi: “Send him in.”
Upon the word, Su Xueyi entered.
The dignified and majestic official uniform of the Prime Minister of Great Qin couldn’t suppress Su Xueyi’s outstanding grace. His sleeves billowed in the wind, his steps were brisk, and his pale white hand grasped a scroll. despite such a dashing posture, he bowed properly upon seeing the Emperor: “This subject greets Your Majesty.”
Sweet Tub whispered: “The Scum Gong is here.”
Ying Xi frowned.
Unbeknownst to him, the expression triggered by Sweet Tub looked to Su Xueyi like a beauty being dissatisfied and picky with him.
Su Xueyi’s heart itched unbearably, unable to suppress the sharp rise of his lips. An Emperor capable of solving the Shanglin Park assassination case through mere observation was certainly qualified to judge him.
Su Xueyi immediately presented his work: “Regarding the investigation of official conduct and the promotion of clean governance, this subject has compiled the results of this operation here. I originally intended to report to Your Majesty after the flower viewing banquet, if not for Feng Ze’s assassination attempt…”
He paused, unfurling the scroll. It was densely packed with the names of fallen officials, sorted by the amount embezzled and categorized by the severity of their circumstances.
Su Xueyi: “This subject has drafted punishment measures and begs for the Holy Decision.”
Su Xueyi, treating his work seriously, was indeed different from before. Although Ying Xi still didn’t have a good impression of him, he would absolutely not reduce his summons just because of annoyance; public and private matters should be kept separate.
Su Xueyi reported, “Your Majesty, please look. Someone in this scroll has a case involving military affairs. The situation is special, so I circled his name.”
Military affairs touched a sensitive chord in Ying Xi’s heart.
The Emperor raised his brow. “Explain it to Me in detail.”
Su Xueyi: “The Censors discovered that although this petty official’s rank isn’t high, he is responsible for the final link in the distribution of military funds.”
“Normally, the approval of funds is a fixed number with a paper trail, leaving no room for manipulation.”
“But this person finds excuses to delay it by a few days every time.”
“Do not underestimate a mere few days,” Su Xueyi said. “It can cause outrage among tens of thousands. He became rich without capital using this method, as the military officers below all bribe him.”
Ying Xi was stunned.
Although he knew from his past life that Great Qin was a mess.
But he truly wanted to build up the army first in both lives. back then, he had been frugal to the point of denying himself food and clothing, avoiding all entertainment to save military funds.
Yet he still couldn’t guard against these parasites!
He didn’t even know how many more were hiding in the gutters after catching these.
Ying Xi: “Behead him.”
“Make a drum out of his skin and hang it in the main hall of the government office. Let his successor beat it. Every successor must beat it before taking office.”
“If I see anyone with greed again, they will be the next drum.”
Ying Xi added, “And for the people in this scroll, pick the most representative ones. Choose a day and execute them publicly in the West Market. Allow everyone to watch. Even in death, these bastards must provide value to Me.”
The bright lamp on the desk reflected Ying Xi’s exquisitely beautiful face on its metal surface. His nose was straight, his eyelashes long; everything was perfect. If this face were given to anyone else, they would be an outstanding beauty.
But this person was the Emperor of Great Qin. Majesty covered him like a canopy, wrapped in a layer of glacial ice.
Su Xueyi admired the moon in the clouds even more, wanting to be the one to scoop the moon from the water. He secretly licked the roof of his mouth, took the scroll back from the Emperor, and rubbed his fingertips hard against the silk surface Ying Xi had touched, as if the warmth and scent hadn’t yet dissipated.
Su Xueyi: “This humble subject obeys the decree.”
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