Chapter 25: Luodu
The Xiahou Clan ordered Lu Xin to lead troops, assisting them in searching the mountain for a full day and night. They also mobilized local troops to set up checkpoints on major and minor roads for inspections, and even dispatched the Taihu Lake naval forces to search the lake.
But it was all for nothing, not even a single strand of hair was found…
When Lu Xin received the order to withdraw and returned to Bai Liu Village with his exhausted subordinates on the verge of collapse, the group of experts from the Xiahou Clan had already vanished without a trace.
However, during the mountain search, he had crossed paths with Xiahou Bubai. Surprisingly, the other party still remembered him, this minor figure, and what shocked Lu Xin even more was that Xiahou Bubai even nodded slightly to him, who knows what medicine he was selling in his gourd.
“Sigh, who knows if Lu Yun has safely returned?” Lu Xin was truly afraid that the kid would lose control and go seek revenge from Xiahou Bubai.
Unknowingly arriving at the imperial envoy’s residence, Lu Xin hurriedly gathered his scattered thoughts and went in to report to Xiahou Lei.
Inside the room, Xiahou Bupo was also there. Having not slept for two days, his complexion was very poor, and his coughing had become much heavier.
“Sit.” Xiahou Lei drooped his head dejectedly like a fighting cock that had been defeated. If everything had gone smoothly this time, no one would pursue what happened on West Lake. But now with failure to achieve success, the Clan Leader would surely be furious beyond measure! Upon returning, what awaited him would definitely be punishment under family law…
Lu Xin thanked him and knelt sitting at the lower seat.
A silence fell in the room, then Xiahou Bupo gave a bitter smile and said: “Man proposes, Heaven disposes. Who would have thought it would end up like this.” As he spoke, he glanced at Lu Xin and said: “Brother, you’re not an outsider, to tell you the truth, this time our Xiahou Clan has jumped into the Yellow River and still can’t wash clean.”
Speaking of frustration, Xiahou Bupo was the one hit the hardest. He had always been proud of his intelligence, and this operation was entirely his plan. In the original plan, once the Xiahou Clan obtained the Imperial Seal of the State, they would silence everyone, and even if the Emperor had suspicions, without evidence, he could not flare up.
But two unexpected things foiled Xiahou Bupo’s schemes. First, they hadn’t expected the other side to still have a Heavenly Rank Grandmaster hidden! One must know, the Grandmasters under Heaven could be counted on one’s fingers. The Xiahou Clan had calculated that the other side only had one Zhou Huang, so they dispatched two Grandmasters and ten masters! It should have been sufficient, but who would have thought another Huan Daoji would pop out!
The second unexpected thing was that Taiping Dao! Although Taiping Dao had countless believers north and south of the Yangtze, the Xiahou Clan had been extremely cautious this time, and the action was very sudden. Even if Sun Yuanlang noticed immediately, he wouldn’t have time to rush over… How did they manage to stick their oar in?!
Now it’s good, the Imperial Seal was snatched away, and snatched by Taiping Dao whom even the Xiahou Clan is helpless against. How can the secret be kept now?
Even more so, at present, recovering the Imperial Seal is no longer the top priority. Instead, they must first find a way to pass the Emperor’s scrutiny, then communicate with the various clans to stabilize the situation in the Capital City!
Truly, attempting to steal a chicken only to end up caught instead. The Xiahou Clan’s face has been completely lost!
Suppressing the irritation in his heart, Xiahou Bupo coughed twice and looked at Lu Xin: “Brother, are you willing to stand together with our Xiahou Clan, to tide over this crisis?”
Xiahou Lei also stared fixedly at Lu Xin. Lu Xin remained composed and said: “Brother Xiahou, why say such things? Lu has already made his stance clear long ago. Could it be you still don’t believe me?”
“Good!” Xiahou Bupo praised heartily: “It was superfluous of me to ask!” Then he solemnly instructed Lu Xin: “Trouble brother to lead the troops and escort all the key prisoners of the Zhou Family to the Capital City. After entering the capital, there will surely be people questioning you about the whole matter…”
Lu Xin understood the implication and said: “This subordinate will follow the imperial envoy lord’s instructions and insist that it was a clue I discovered!”
“Good!” Xiahou Bupo and Xiahou Lei nodded emphatically. The latter reassured him: “Rest assured, you are one of our Xiahou Clan, no one dares to make things difficult for you!” Pausing, he added: “After it’s done, stay in the Capital City, no need to return!”
Xiahou Bupo also nodded, clearly this had all been discussed beforehand…
Lu Xin hurriedly put on a grateful expression, thanking profusely.
Xiahou Lei stroked his beard and laughed heartily: “The Xiahou Clan never mistreats meritorious ministers!”
Once Lu Xin had thanked them profusely and withdrawn, the smiles vanished completely from the faces of uncle and nephew Xiahou.
“Who would have thought, we acted so secretly, yet still got targeted by Taiping Dao…” Xiahou Lei said with a mournful face.
“It’s too late to say anything now,” Xiahou Bupo said with a bitter smile: “Hurry back to the capital and await punishment…”
.
Lu Xin returned to the military camp. As soon as he entered his own tent, he saw that Lu Yun had already returned.
Lu Xin let out a long sigh of relief, sat down and drank several cups of water in a row before slightly relieving the dryness in his chest. In a deep voice, he asked: “Any gains?”
While pouring water for his father, Lu Yun softly recounted the entire course of events from start to finish. Lu Xin listened dumbfounded, sized up Lu Yun for a long while, then let out a long sigh: “Heaven’s Will…” Then, full of worry, he said: “It won’t be found out by someone, right?”
“It shouldn’t be.” Lu Yun had already repeatedly mulled over the events, believing that no matter how rich anyone’s imagination, they wouldn’t think that the youngest son of the Wu Commandery Commandery Lieutenant could accomplish such a earth-shattering feat.
“That’s good.” Lu Xin trusted Lu Yun’s capabilities, but still uneasily cautioned: “Must keep it absolutely confidential, not a single bit can leak!”
“Your son knows the gravity.” Lu Yun nodded solemnly.
After fully digesting the shock brought by the Imperial Seal of the State, Lu Xin remembered the main matter and said to Lu Yun: “Father cannot return to Yuhang. The Xiahou Clan ordered me to escort the Zhou Family members to the Capital City for trial.” Pausing, he sighed with a complicated expression: “After you go back, you can prepare to move the family, to avoid chaos later.”
“Father…” Lu Yun was momentarily speechless. He hadn’t expected this day to come so soon; the first step of his plan had thus been realized!
“The situation in the Capital City is a hundred times more complex than here…” But Lu Xin was full of worry: “And with this incident, it will likely become even more full of intrigue and undercurrents. Returning to the capital at this time, if there’s any action, a slight misstep will lead to complete destruction.” He was deeply touched by the Zhou Family’s calamity, inevitably feeling sorrow for the fallen hare as the fox grieves.
“Your son remembers,” Lu Yun nodded solemnly, guaranteeing to Lu Xin: “I will certainly be exceedingly cautious.”
.
Within a few days, news of the incident at Bai Liu Village reached Luojing, the capital of Great Xuan.
Luojing, also known as Eastern Capital, corresponds to the old capital Chang’an within the Passes. The Great Xuan imperial family and the Seven Great Noble Clans rose from within the Passes, but after pacifying Under Heaven, the Founding Emperor established the capital at Luojing outside the Passes. There were naturally many considerations, but the most direct benefit was that in constructing Luojing City, it learned from the lessons of Chang’an City. In design, it no longer blindly emphasized symmetry but focused on utility, fully integrating the terrain, making this new capital far superior to the old one in every aspect.
From Dragon Gate Yique to the Shangqing Palace on Mount Mang as the central axis of the Capital City, the Imperial City sits atop the northwest highlands, grand and spectacular, overlooking the checkerboard-like streets and alleys below that stretch endlessly. Not only does it resemble the Ziwei Emperor Star in form, but it also has excellent defensive capabilities, deterring countless ambitious usurpers.
The Imperial City is named Ziwei City, with palace walls six zhang high. In front of the palace gates, along the imperial road paved with long slabs of white Han jade stone, are planted precious trees like pomegranates and cherries. At the height of spring, the trees are full of blossoms, like two magnificent long brocades, adding a touch of charm to the majestic and imposing Ziwei City.
A pitch-black carriage rumbled along the bluestone road beside the imperial road. Inside, an old man dressed as an eunuch with snow-white hair and brows had no heart to appreciate the sea of flowers outside the window. He slumped on a cushion, one hand holding fish flakes to feed the black cat in his lap, the other scratching the cat’s itch. His face showed no expression, but his dim yellow eyes gleamed with bone-chilling coldness!
There was another person on the carriage, wearing a distinctive black official robe and a black straight-brimmed conical hat—this was the unique attire of the Great Xuan Investigative Bureau. And this person had a golden feather inserted at the top of his hat, indicating his identity as the Director of the Investigative Bureau!
Investigative Bureau Director Lin Chao commanded eight thousand hounds of the Imperial Court, surveilling Under Heaven and investigating treason, glaring like tigers and wolves with rampant ferocity! He could even bypass the judiciary to directly arrest mid- and low-level officials!
But at this moment, this Director Lin, who could stop children from crying at night, was trembling and kneeling at the feet of the old eunuch, carefully reporting: “This subordinate deserves ten thousand deaths for letting the Xiahou Clan conceal it so thoroughly!”
Because the old eunuch was Zuo Yanqing, formerly the Founding Emperor’s trusted aide and the founder of the Investigative Bureau, an unparalleled expert who ascended to Heavenly Rank with a crippled body! Even though the Emperor had changed three times and he had retired behind the scenes, he was still deeply trusted by the Initial Emperor and firmly controlled the Investigative Bureau, intimidating the Seven Great Noble Clans for the Emperor!
“You indeed deserve death!” Old Eunuch Zuo snorted coldly. The black cat in his lap opened its oily green eyes and stared fixedly at Director Lin, sending chills down his spine as he hurriedly kowtowed like pounding garlic, expressing willingness to accept any punishment.
At this time, the carriage slowly approached the Left Side Gate. The old eunuch reached out and lifted the carriage curtain. The Imperial Guards outside, upon seeing him, hurriedly saluted respectfully and made way!
Zuo Yanqing lowered the curtain and said eerily to Director Lin: “Being deceived by Xiahou Lei is one thing, but how could you not even detect Xiahou Bubai and Xiahou Bumie leaving the capital? Does the Investigative Bureau live up to the Emperor’s grace?”
“This subordinate has already imprisoned all those derelict in their duties, to await punishment alongside this subordinate!” Director Lin said with a face full of shame: “So many people watching the Xiahou Clan, yet they hoodwinked the heavens and crossed the sea—it’s utterly indefensible!”
“The Investigative Bureau doesn’t keep wastes; execute them all.” Zuo Yanqing stroked the black cat on his knee, glanced at the trembling Director Lin and said: “As for you, after seeing the Emperor, receive two hundred court staff blows, demoted to Seventh Rank Investigator…” Pausing, the old eunuch sighed: “Temporarily lead the Investigative Bureau, to see future performance.”
“Thank you, Old Ancestor, for your protection. This subordinate will surely redeem himself with merits!” Director Lin finally breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly pledged.
“Thank Taiping Dao; if not for them sticking their oar in, executing your entire clan would not be enough pity!” Zuo Yanqing snorted and closed his eyes.
