“You came to assassinate Chief Pei, and now you want to go with the Mystic Eagle Guards?” Zhai Heming retorted.
Yuan Fuyu pushed aside the sword Pei Du had pressed against her shoulder and stood up.
She turned to face Zhai Heming and said, “Pei Du hasn’t explained what happened on the night the Princess passed away. How can we leave?”
Zhai Heming stared unblinkingly at the person standing behind Xie Huaizhou, a faint suspicion growing in his mind… Was this some scheme Xie Huaizhou had specifically set up for him?
But when he shifted his gaze, he saw that Xie Huaizhou was also looking sideways at Yuan Fuyu.
Zhai Heming rubbed the horsewhip in his hand, contemplating.
“Uncle of the Emperor from the Zhai family can take the people from Qianjin Pavilion, while we enter the Xuan Ying Wei Prison,” Yuan Fuyu looked at Qiancheng, pausing briefly, “Just as Lord Xie said, we suspect the Princess’s death is suspicious, caused by Pei Du betraying his master and colluding with Lord Xie! If we go with the Golden Wu Guards and die in their prison, Lord Xie and Chief Pei won’t be able to clear their names. Entering the Xuan Ying Wei Prison is actually safer for us.”
Zhai Heming had indeed been thinking exactly that – to pin the death of the Princess’s confidant on Xie Huaizhou.
He scanned the Mystic Eagle Guards, then returned his gaze to Yuan Fuyu: “This wouldn’t be some trap Minister Xie specifically set for me, would it? First, a confidant of the Princess and He Yichen appear with the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards to kill Chief Pei, claiming Chief Pei conspired with Minister Xie to harm the Princess! Then after being imprisoned, not long after they’re released… they’ll say I was the one who killed the Princess?”
“What is Uncle Zhai afraid of?” Xie Huaizhou chuckled softly, “Could it be that you’re actually involved in the Princess’s death?”
“Everything requires evidence,” Yuan Fuyu spoke up, “Even though we’re the Princess’s confidants, we can’t make baseless accusations! Uncle Zhai… You only need to guard against us dying in the Xuan Ying Wei Prison and someone pinning the blame on you.”
Zhai Heming understood that it would probably be difficult to take these people from Xie Huaizhou and Pei Du today.
However, the current situation was actually advantageous for Zhai Heming.
Once day broke and the matter became public, his opportunity would come.
Whether the story about the Princess’s confidants assassinating Xie Huaizhou was true or false didn’t matter.
This incident would give Uncle Zhai a legitimate reason to coerce and persuade court factions to realign with him.
Moreover, Xie Huaizhou’s power originated from the Princess. Even if Xie Huaizhou wanted to set a trap for him, he wouldn’t risk his own foundation.
“Fine! But… aside from Qianjin Pavilion, I want to take the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards!” Zhai Heming looked at Yu Yunyan, Liu Mei, and Du Baorong, who had Mystic Eagle Guard blades at their throats, anger evident in his eyes, “They all followed the Princess to conquer the realm and have rendered outstanding service. They even saved the Emperor’s life! They… cannot be humiliated by the Mystic Eagle Guards.”
Xie Huaizhou sneered, “Uncle Zhai certainly knows how to put on a show with this Miss Cui. Did I say the Golden Wu Guards could take the people from Qianjin Pavilion?”
The Mystic Eagle Guards uniformly assumed defensive postures, their bodies tense.
The Golden Wu Guards also tightened their grip on their swords.
“In that case, there’s no need for interrogation,” Xie Huaizhou said, standing with his hands behind his back as he looked at Yuan Fuyu, “You were sent by Uncle Zhai.”
“Does it matter who sent me?” Yuan Fuyu raised her brows slightly. “He Yichen, who was once as important to the Princess as Pei Du, along with another trusted aide of the Princess and the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards, came together to kill Pei Du and Minister Xie. They all claimed in unison that the Princess’s death was due to Pei Du and Minister Xie colluding. Not only Uncle of the Emperor from the Zhai family… even the noble families could use this to shake Minister Xie’s power foundation.”
Xie Huaizhou’s deep-set eyes turned cold and somber.
Yuan Fuyu leisurely took a step closer to Xie Huaizhou and said lightly, “Minister Xie must understand that your innocence… rests with me. He Yichen and the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards—they listen to me.”
Whether they could take away the people from Qianjin Pavilion concerned Madam Wei’s ability to leave Qianjin Pavilion, and Qiancheng was more anxious than anyone.
He glanced at Yuan Fuyu and, seeing her speaking with Xie Huaizhou about something unknown, felt uneasy. Raising his voice, he said, “Minister Xie, the Golden Wu Guards have come today and will absolutely not return empty-handed. Uncle of the Emperor from the Zhai family is willing to compromise, but if Minister Xie refuses to yield even an inch, then we can only confront each other until tomorrow’s morning court and let His Majesty see for himself.”
“Fine…” Xie Huaizhou’s gaze at Yuan Fuyu was profound and inscrutable. “The Golden Wu Guards may take the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards and the people from Qianjin Pavilion.”
Zhai Heming ordered, “Take them away!”
“Wait!” Liu Mei spoke up. “I’d rather stay with Miss Cui. I came here with Miss Cui to investigate the Princess’s death. Until the cause of her death is clear, I won’t leave.”
“I’m not leaving either!” Yu Yunyan glanced back at Yuan Fuyu. “I’m staying with her. If Pei Du dares to kill anyone, then he’d better… kill me too!”
Du Baorong nodded. “Me too, I’ll also go to the Xuan Ying Wei Prison!”
Zhai Heming was so angry he nearly staggered backward. Pointing his horsewhip at Du Baorong, Liu Mei, and Yu Yunyan, he then turned to look at Lin Changxue, Li Yunping, and Su Ziyi, who were holding the Mystic Eagle Guards hostage at the entrance.
“What about you? Will you come with me or not?”
“Thank you for your kindness, Uncle of the Emperor from the Zhai family, but… since we all came together, we should leave together,” Su Ziyi said with a smile.
Lin Changxue nodded in agreement, and Li Yunping followed suit.
Left Commandant Qiancheng of the Golden Wu Guards, seeing Zhai Heming’s livid face, hurriedly advised in a low voice, “Uncle of the Emperor from the Zhai family, if we can’t take the others, we must take the people from Qianjin Pavilion. Behind Qianjin Pavilion are the noble families. We can’t let them come to negotiate terms with Xie Huaizhou—it would be disadvantageous for you.”
Zhai Heming gave Xie Huaizhou a deep look, then turned and strode out, cursing inwardly… Back then, when the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards were decimated, why were the smart ones all killed, leaving these six stubborn ones behind!
Do they really think the Xuan Ying Wei Prison is some kind of good place?
Zhai Heming had already stepped out of the main gate of the Pei residence when he turned back and pointed his horsewhip at Pei Du. “Pei Du, if even a single hair is missing from these six members of the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards…”
“No need for your concern, Uncle of the Emperor from the Zhai family!” Pei Du gripped his sword tightly, his voice cold and resolute. “The Princess decreed with her golden words that the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards should live in peace until old age. Even if I die, I will not let the Princess’s words come to nothing.”
Yuan Fuyu turned to look at Pei Du.
He Yichen, who was being forced to kneel on the ground, also looked at Pei Du upon hearing this.
Zhai Heming stepped out of the Pei residence but did not mount his horse. Fuming, he hurriedly walked away through the alley.
Qiancheng quickly followed at Zhai Heming’s side: “Uncle, is it… to expose the incident where the Princess’s confidant and the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards, along with Qianjin Pavilion’s assassins, attempted to kill Xie Huaizhou? This way… we can prevent Xie Huaizhou from using this opportunity to negotiate and collude with the noble families. I thought if they could fight among themselves, you… would be in a position to profit from their conflict!”
Qiancheng was solely focused on dismantling Qianjin Pavilion and rescuing Madam Wei.
But to leverage Uncle Zhai’s influence for his own purposes, he had to clearly articulate the benefits for Uncle Zhai in this matter.
Zhai Heming paused mid-step, pondered for a moment, then turned to look at Qiancheng: “You discovered this matter promptly and handled it well!”
“This is what your subordinate ought to do,” Qiancheng promptly clasped his fists in salute.
Zhai Heming patted Qiancheng’s shoulder: “Interrogate the people from Qianjin Pavilion thoroughly! Don’t let the Mystic Eagle Guards pin He Yichen and the others’ killing of Pei Du on me. And that Miss Cui who claims to be the Princess’s confidant—investigate her thoroughly!”
This meant he was being tasked to handle Qianjin Pavilion.
Suppressing his inner joy, Qiancheng clasped his fists: “Your subordinate understands. Rest assured, Uncle.”
Watching Zhai Heming mount his horse and ride away, Qiancheng straightened his posture with renewed confidence.
While the Golden Wu Guards were busy arresting and interrogating Qianjin Pavilion’s members, Yuan Fuyu, He Yichen, and the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards were also taken by the Mystic Eagle Guards to the Princess Manor Private Prison.