“With assassins from the Qianjin Pavilion?”
Yuan Fuyu, forced to kneel on the ground unable to rise, looked at him with a faint smile but gave no answer.
Responding to Xie Huaizhou was the sound of marching footsteps from a large troop rapidly approaching.
Xie Huaizhou lifted his gaze toward the long street outside the gate. Though there were no torchlights, the distinct friction of armor moving could be clearly heard.
There were many people coming!
“The Golden Wu Guards received a report that someone claiming to be the Princess’s confidant, along with former School Affairs Office Military Pacification Guard Commander He Yichen, is carrying out assassinations at Chief Pei’s residence…”
Qiancheng, the Commandant of the Golden Wu Guards, gripping the sword at his waist, led his troops striding boldly into Pei Du’s residence, shouting loudly.
When Qiancheng saw Xie Huaizhou standing before the brightly lit main hall, his eyes suddenly lit up.
He had come as agreed with Yuan Fuyu, originally intending to drag Xie Huaizhou’s ally Pei Du into the mess—both to eliminate the Qianjin Pavilion and to gain merit with the Emperor’s Uncle.
He never expected Xie Huaizhou to be here!
Xie Huaizhou’s current position in the court was entirely due to his status as the Princess’s Imperial Son-in-Law, and because Pei Du, the Princess’s confidant, had personally stated that the Princess entrusted the court affairs to him before her death.
Thus, most of the Princess’s influence in the court had fallen into Xie Huaizhou’s hands.
But if the Princess’s confidant came to kill Xie Huaizhou, for the Emperor’s Uncle from the Zhai family… wouldn’t that be even more perfect.
Qiancheng quickly changed his tune: “Men, arrest all these people who attempted to assassinate Minister Xie, a high-ranking court official, at Chief Pei’s private residence!”
The Golden Wu Guards immediately joined the chaotic battle between the Mystic Eagle Guards and the Qianjin Pavilion, apprehending the assassins from the Qianjin Pavilion.
With the Golden Wu Guards joining the fray, all sixteen members of the Qianjin Pavilion were captured.
The assassins of the Qianjin Pavilion were skilled, but not that skilled.
Their reputation was largely built on collusion with government officials… who often turned a blind eye.
Xie Huaizhou withdrew his gaze, looking down at Yuan Fuyu who was being forced to kneel before him by Pei Du.
The Qianjin Pavilion, the Golden Wu Guards—all gathered in Pei Du’s small courtyard.
This Cui Siniang before him intended to muddy the waters of the capital.
It seemed her ambitions were not small.
“There’s no need for the Left Commandant to trouble himself.” Xie Huaizhou gave Yuan Fuyu a deep look before stepping forward to the stone steps of the main hall, standing with his hands behind his back as he looked down upon Qiancheng. “This matter will be handled by the Mystic Eagle Guards.”
As soon as Xie Huaizhou finished speaking, Pei Du blew the Mystic Eagle Guards’ bone whistle.
Masked Mystic Eagle Guards sprang up like bamboo shoots after rain from the rooftops surrounding them, each holding crossbows aimed at Qiancheng in the courtyard and the large contingent of Golden Wu Guards outside.
The Golden Wu Guards immediately drew their blades in confrontation.
Qiancheng scanned the surrounding Mystic Eagle Guards, tightening his grip on the sword at his waist: “The Golden Wu Guards are instruments of the state, tasked with enforcing curfews and patrolling the capital. Anything that happens during curfew in the capital should rightfully be under our jurisdiction! Since merging with the Xiaoshi Bureau, the Mystic Eagle Guards have been responsible for monitoring officials and gathering civilian intelligence. For you to now interfere with capital security… this oversteps your authority!”
“After the Princess’s passing, the Mystic Eagle Guards were incorporated into the state apparatus, just like the Golden Wu Guards—both are instruments of the state.” Pei Du continued to press Yuan Fuyu down with his sheathed sword, his gaze toward Qiancheng unfriendly. “Want to make arrests in my residence? Are the Golden Wu Guards trying to assert authority over my Mystic Eagle Guards?”
Hearing the sound of hoofbeats approaching from outside, Qiancheng knew the reinforcements he had sent for had arrived.
“Whether the Mystic Eagle Guards have truly returned to the state’s service or become Minister Xie’s private claws and fangs…” Qiancheng chuckled lightly as he looked at Xie Huaizhou, “That remains to be seen.”
Zhai Heming, dressed in casual attire, seemed to have arrived in great haste. He wore only a cloak, with snow covering his head and shoulders.
He arrived with armored soldiers, holding a black-gold horsewhip. Reining in his horse before the Pei residence, he leaped down and strode into the compound.
As he advanced, Zhai Heming spotted Li Yunping, Su Ziyi, and Lin Changxue being forced back by Golden Wu Guards pointing swords at them. He paused mid-step, his eyes wide with astonishment.
Qiancheng had sent someone to inform Zhai Heming that He Yichen and someone claiming to be the Princess’s confidant had spent silver at Qianjin Pavilion to hire assassins to kill Pei Du at his residence, seeking revenge for the Princess. Zhai Heming had rushed over without even changing his clothes.
But the messenger hadn’t mentioned that the remaining six of the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards were also present!
Zhai Heming raised his whip and struck a Golden Wu Guard across the face, shouting harshly, “Lower your blade! Who gave you the nerve to point swords at them! Do you even know who they are? The Golden Banner Eighteen Guards! How dare you raise a blade against them!”
The Golden Wu Guard immediately sheathed his sword, clutching his face as he retreated to the side.
Recognizing Zhai Heming, Xie Huaizhou’s lips curled lazily. “So this is who lent our Left Commandant the courage to speak to me so boldly today—it turns out to be Uncle Zhai.”
Yuan Fuyu truly hadn’t expected today’s surprises to keep coming one after another.
Originally, she had only intended to use the plot to kill Pei Du to draw three factions into elevating her position in the game.
Unexpectedly, first Xie Huaizhou himself appeared here, and now even Zhai Heming had personally condescended to visit Pei Du’s residence.
It seemed Pei Du’s home was situated on particularly auspicious ground.
What a lively scene indeed.
Zhai Heming turned his gaze toward Xie Huaizhou standing under the corridor, let out a cold laugh, and gripping his horsewhip, strode through the falling snow into the courtyard.
“Are you all useless?” Zhai Heming scolded the Golden Wu Guards making way for him. “Assassins have come to Chief Pei’s residence, and you’re still standing around in a stalemate?” Take them away at once!”
“Uncle, it’s not that we aren’t making arrests,” Qiancheng said respectfully with clasped fists. “It’s that Minister Xie and Chief Pei won’t allow it.”
“Today the Mystic Eagle Guards set a trap in my residence and captured the culprits, yet the Golden Wu Guards come interfering!” Pei Du said coldly. “If we let the Golden Wu Guards take anyone from my home, the entire Mystic Eagle Guard would become the laughingstock of Da Zhao.”
Xie Huaizhou smiled ambiguously. “Did you hear that, Uncle Zhai?”
Zhai Heming showed no urgency. Standing in the snow, he tapped his horsewitch rhythmically against his palm.
“The Golden Wu Guards reported to me that He Yichen and another of the Princess’s confidants came to assassinate Pei Du to avenge the Princess! I put down my wine cup and rushed here immediately. I imagine… this matter will spread throughout the capital before dawn! Minister Xie… since this matter involves you and Chief Pei, the two of you should recuse yourselves.”
“Precisely because this matter involves Xie and Pei Du,” Xie Huaizhou countered, “that’s exactly why we cannot let the Golden Wu Guards take them. Otherwise, if they end up dead, I wouldn’t be able to clear my name even if I grew mouths all over my body.”
Yuan Fuyu raised her hand to push away the sword sheath Pei Du had pressed against her shoulder. Pei Du’s eyes darkened, increasing the pressure on Yuan Fuyu with a gaze full of warning.
“Uncle of the Emperor from the Zhai family…” Yuan Fuyu looked at Pei Du, though her words were directed at Zhai Heming. “Since both the Mystic Eagle Guards and Golden Wu Guards wish to take us away, why not ask for our opinion? Let’s see who we’d prefer to go with?”
Hearing Yuan Fuyu’s voice, Zhai Heming’s gaze finally shifted past Xie Huaizhou and settled upon her.
That… was the so-called trusted aide of the Princess who came with He Yichen?
When Qiancheng sent someone to inform him, he had been convinced that the Princess’ confidant accompanying He Yichen was an imposter. But upon seeing the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards, Zhai Heming began to doubt his initial certainty.