Chapter 33: Quite the Ladies’ Man
“Insolent!” “This subject begs forgiveness.”
The candlelight flickered for an instant.
Inside that gloomy cellar in Pingling Village, Tang Rouās servant spoke in a hushed voice: “Please, look.”
Only then did Xie Qianli take a step forward.
Ying Xi followed close behind, discerning shapes in the darkness. The temperature of the cellar had preserved the corpse; indeed, the person on the bed was not a woman.
Tang Rou had delicate, handsome features and a straight nose bridge. Even after years of suffering from illness, one could still glimpse the elegance of his prime.
Xie Qianli gazed at the bed for a long while, as if recognizing him.
“Master was the Squad Leader of the Fifth Squad back then, and General Feng Ze was their Colonel. They met in the military camp and became friends in life and death. Later, affection grew between them, and they thought that one day they would stay together forever.”
“But they…” Xie Qianliās voice trailed off.
Considering that both Feng Ze and Tang Rou were men, Xie Qianli suddenly understood why Feng Ze refused to make their relationship public.
The refusal of marriage proposals, the small ivory comb… Feng Ze hadn’t hidden it very well; it was just that Xie Qianli had never thought in that direction.
Perhaps Feng Ze feared being reviled?
The servant said, “General Feng accidentally caused the death of the Duke of Ying due to a strange combination of circumstances. He couldn’t sleep day or night, wanting to confess but lacking the courage. The high official who sold him the inferior iron ore used this to hold leverage over him, tying the two of them to the same sinking ship.”
“Now that the Imperial Court is vigorously investigating corrupt officials, that high official is about to lose his position. Thus, he threatened General Feng to use the Flower Appreciation Banquet to assassinate the Emperor, hoping to completely eliminate this anti-corruption storm.”
“General Feng returned to Pingling Village to bid farewell to my Master and hid Master in the cellar.”
“Master believed himself to be a sinner. With his crippled body, he had caused the death of a pillar of the court and might even cause the death of the Son of Heaven. He felt guilt in his heart. Infected by the plague on top of his consumption, within a few days, he followed General Feng, passing away one after the other.”
So that was it. Ying Xi finally connected all the dots. No wonder Feng Ze didn’t say a word until his death. His motive, his mastermind, and all the inside information weighing on his heartāhe couldn’t speak of any of it.
The servant suddenly raised his eyes.
In the dark silence, the candlelight flickered.
“Master left a final command: his body is not to be buried!”
“He knew the descendants of the Duke of Ying would surely find this place. The silver and his remains are left for the Xie Residence to dispose of as they see fit. He is willing to have his corpse whipped and his bones ground to dust!”
“General Xie!” The servant cried out, losing his composure. “I saw with my own eyes how the two masters were congenial and in love, yet suffered such torture. They never had the heart to harm anyone, yet they sank deeper step by step, until they were beyond redemption!”
“Master showed me great kindness. Now that the task entrusted to me is complete, this lowly one can no longer live on in shame. I leave myself to the Generalās punishment. Please, General, kill me!”
Having spoken, the servant pulled a short blade from beneath the bed.
Before he could unsheathe it, the tip of Xie Qianliās spear flicked it away, and the weapon clattered to the ground.
Xie Qianli lifted the servant with one hand and asked in a chilling voice, “Who is the high official that deceived him?”
The one who killed his father, the one who plotted to assassinate the monarch, the one who harmed his vice general, the one who caused the innocent sacrifice of soldiers… it was all this mastermind.
Xie Qianli, harboring the desire to immediately stab this man to death with the Swimming Dragon Glaive, turned into an uncontrollable beast.
The servant answered with difficulty: “FengāFeng Yong!!!”
On the mountain road in mid-spring, a powerful gale blew through the night, the wind howling like ghosts.
Funeral banners flew everywhere, and paper money drifted in the wind.
In a hidden corner of Pingling Village, the servant carried Tang Rouās body out of the cellar to find a place for burial.
The silver and tokens Feng Ze left in the cellar indeed contained records of transactions related to Feng Yong. This was irrefutable evidence that could convict him.
Ying Xi tucked them into his sleeve.
Under the moonlight, Ying Xi broke into a smile that was angry to the extremeābright, beautiful, and cruel.
No wonder Feng Yong refused to leave the Department of State Affairs even when mocked openly and secretly; he was there to circle money.
No wonder Feng Yong was willing to flatter Su Xueyi, letting Su treat him as a foil and a waste; he was there to circle money.
And no wonder that day when Lian Qing slipped up and accidentally cursed Feng Yong, saying he would be haunted by Xie Jiās vengeful spirit, it scared Feng Yong into fainting directly. He had a guilty conscience.
He loved money.
Ying Xi hadn’t expected it.
Feng Yong, that smiling tiger, had caused him to be wronged in his past life and caused the deaths of Xie Ji and so many elite soldiers!
If Xie Ji were still alive, Great Qin would have one more capable minister who could lead troops.
If those soldiers hadn’t died, the Qin army would have had that much more combat power.
But these were only ‘ifs’.
Ying Xi would not spare Feng Yong!
A long whistle sounded, and the sound of horse hooves approached from far to near, like white lightning tearing through the night curtain.
The black falcon flew from somewhere and circled overhead.
Xie Qianliās face was gloomy and cold. He led the horse over, speaking even less than before: “This subject will send you back to Chang’an first. Mount the horse.”
Indeed, Ying Xi shouldn’t stay long. He couldn’t wait for Lang Xun to regroup, nor was it appropriate to use the System in front of Xie Qianli.
“En.”
In the night, the coat of Xie Qianliās mount shone snow-bright. As soon as the white horse saw Ying Xi, it lowered its head with a whinny, waiting for him to climb onto its back, incredibly habituated and obedient.
This greatly astonished Sweet Tub: “The Big Wolf Dogās horse knows Your Majesty???”
Ying Xiās mind was entirely on his rage at Feng Yongās deception and treason; how could he possibly explain?
Besides, receiving heavy news one after another tonight required time to digest. He remained silent.
Behind him, Xie Qianli swung onto the horse. He hung the Swimming Dragon Glaive behind his back, reached around Ying Xiās side, and picked up the reins.
At this moment, his vision observed that Ying Xi was almost completely enveloped by him. The heavy armor made him appear even larger, while it made Ying Xi look thin and frail. Under the moonlight, the back of Ying Xiās neck was dazzlingly whiteālike the moon among clouds or snow on a high ridge. Xie Qianli averted his gaze.
“Hyahā”
The forward momentum caused Ying Xi to lean back rapidly.
Carrying the scent of palace incense, he involuntarily fell into that wall of metal.
He smelled a familiar scentāa mix of metallic coldness and the smell of grass and wood that clung to Xie Qianli.
Sweet Tub: “…”
Sweet Tub: “…”
There was too much to ship; Sweet Tub didn’t know what to ship first.
But the Host wasn’t saying a word right now, and Sweet Tub felt suffocated.
The pitch-black hunting falcon, tired of flying in the wind, flapped its wings around the galloping horse and finally landed on Ying Xiās shoulder. It hopped slightly, shy and well-behaved.
Sweet Tub: “!!!”
Sweet Tub: “~~~”
So the hawk knows the Host too! Wahhhh!
Silence spoke louder than words at this moment. Sweet Tub had countless topics it wanted to discuss with the Host.
But the Host seemed very unhappy, and so was General Xie.
The two bodies were pressed close together, yet each emitted a stern, chilling aura.
Sweet Tub saw Xie Qianliās hand controlling the reins. The veins on the back of his hand bulged, looking as if they possessed the terrifying power to tear everything to shreds.
Sweet Tub said weakly, “Big Wolf Dog is so fierce.”
Ying Xi: “He is going to seek revenge.”
A warhorse was unknown times faster than a carriage!
On both sides of the mountain road, trees flew backward rapidly.
Xie Qianliās scalding breath brushed past Ying Xiās ear, finally causing Ying Xi to turn his head: “Minister Xie.”
He didn’t answer.
“Xie Qianli.”
He gritted his teeth.
Ying Xi reminded him clearly from horseback: “Zhen knows you want to kill your enemy with your own hands. But if he does not undergo a trial in court, and you charge into his residence tonight to kill Feng Yong directly, it is a capital crime according to Great Qin law. Calm down.”
He still wanted to use Xie Qianli. It wouldn’t be useful if he was locked in prison. Ying Xi calculated.
However, persuading someone while on horseback reduced the effect by half.
He had to tilt his head back, unable to fully take in the otherās expression; he could only see Xie Qianliās tightly clenched jaw.
“Zhen permits you to carry out the execution personally.”
“Zhen will convict him and let you cut him into a thousand pieces. Do not take revenge on him directly.”
“Xie Qianli?”
“…”
Ying Xi looked up, his forehead brushing against the tassel of Xie Qianliās silver helmet. He saw a smear of blood on Xie Qianliās lip, bitten out in suppressed rage.
The other was enduring suffering.
Ying Xi saw a beast covered in scars yet holding on by sheer force of will. He weighed the situation for a moment and decided to temporarily suppress the blood feud between them.
He wanted to offer more conditions to divert the other’s attention.
But he was distracted by the distant city, which should have been under curfew. Ying Xi didn’t know what was happening, but beneath the towering city gate tower, the Golden Light Gate was wide open! Billowing thick smoke rushed straight into the sky!
The smell of burning pervaded the air, and wailing could be heard incessantly.
Those fighting the fire, those escaping, and people from all over coming to support were constantly passing through the gate.
The Golden Light Gate seemed to have been forcibly awakened, erupting with an intense light in the rich night, just as its name suggested.
The city was on fire.
Inside the Golden Light Gate.
That great fire at the iron workshop burned to death the craftsmen who conspired with Feng Yong in the inferior iron ore incident, and also burned away all incriminating evidence.
The wind was strong tonight. Every residence feared the fire would reignite, so everyone was packing their belongings, creating chaos everywhere.
The Feng Residence, located in Jude Ward, used the arson to create the perfect conditions for escape.
Feng Yong had ridden a horse and left Chang’an long ago.
The Feng Residence was still intensely loading carts.
The servants were so busy their feet barely touched the ground.
Steward Cao Mingč³ was presiding over the retreat. The steward was dark and thin, with more whites in his eyes than pupils, looking both vicious and shrewd:
“Steward Cao, the supplies we disguised as water dragon carts have all been evacuated out of the city!”
“Those dozens of antique porcelain vases clatter when loaded into the water carts; it really doesn’t sound like water. What should we do?”
“Stuff them with straw!”
“There isn’t enough straw. We used a lot when packing the silver ingots earlier.”
“Abandon what must be abandoned.”
The servants immediately agreed.
Cao Mingfang paced uneasily in the courtyard. Having accompanied Prime Minister Feng, he knew Feng Yong was essentially a classless and greedy smiling tiger.
Feng Yong running meant he knew a great calamity was imminent. The estate they were temporarily staying at was twenty or thirty li from the Imperial Capital; he should leave quickly too.
Steward Cao hastily directed the servants to pack the final cart of valuables, and this cart was sent out as well.
Steward Cao breathed a slight sigh of relief.
The Prime Minister’s residence had about a hundred family guards. Feng Yong took half, and the remaining fifty were all tough and strong.
The burly leader reported to Cao Mingfang: “Steward Cao, do we bring those girls locked in the West Courtyard?”
Those were all female slaves with signed contracts.
Taking them wasn’t worth it. Leaving them might leak their destination.
Cao Mingfangās loose eyelids lifted slightly: “Set a fire. Burn this Prime Minister’s residence too.”
The burly man immediately agreed and started the fire from the West Courtyard first. Screams rose one after another, no different from the wailing of the residents outside the manor.
Cao Mingfangās expression didn’t change in the slightest. He threw on a silk cloak, mounted a large horse, and led the remaining dozens of able-bodied servants, galloping toward the Golden Light Gate. His goal was to meet up with Feng Yong outside the city.
This desperate team galloped wildly to escape!
Cao Mingfang went from inside the city to outside.
Xie Qianli went from outside the city to inside.
The two parties were going in opposite directions and happened to meet on the long street of Jude Ward.
Dozens of black horses swiftly brushed past a single white horse like flowing water.
On horseback, Xie Qianli and Cao Mingfang locked eyes.
Cao Mingfang naturally recognized Xie Qianli; after all, that white robe and silver armor of the Dragon Martial Army were too conspicuous, not to mention he was carrying the Swimming Dragon Glaive on his back.
Cao Mingfang was greatly alarmed!
He knew his master had done wicked things, but he didn’t believe the noble Duke of Ying would recognize a small character like him.
In the instant the horses passed each other, Cao Mingfang forced himself to remain calm.
Xie Qianli had already noticed the strange behavior of this horse team. Intuition made him want to investigate, but he had to ensure the Emperor’s safety. He furrowed his sword-like brows, had a sudden idea, and pulled Ying Xi into his cloak, hugging him tightly.
As if harboring a treasure he wouldn’t let anyone see.
It just so happened that Ying Xi was wearing women’s clothes, his hair hanging down softly. His fingers tried to push Xie Qianli away, but his wrist was grabbed. It was obvious they hadn’t been doing anything good since they were outside the city. The scene was incredibly romantic and suggestive.
Cao Mingfang was dazed: This Duke of Ying really has quite the luck with women.
Steward Cao whistled and spurred his horse to continue outward.
But in a place Cao Mingfang couldn’t seeā
Having just reached a safe place, Xie Qianli was shaken off by Ying Xi. The Emperor rubbed his wrist, turned back, and glared at him fiercely.
“Insolent!”
“This subject begs forgiveness.”
But he couldn’t care less about explaining his offense against the monarch. Instead, he struck Ying Xiās acupoint from behind, knocking him out, and settled him in a reliable private house in Jude Ward.
Xie Qianli released the falcon.
The black falcon would immediately report to the Dragon Martial Army. Someone would protect the Emperor and return him to the palace; he heard Lian Qing was nearby.
And if he didn’t chase now, that giant parasite who brought calamity to the country and people would escape.
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