Chapter 102: With Me Here, Go Without Worry!
This thumb ring is a white jade thumb ring, engraved with intricate patterns on top, but there are several places where the traces have been worn smooth. The moment she took it, Yue Tang clearly saw the words engraved on the inside of the ring.
This was a trophy her imperial grandfather had seized from the enemy country in the past, later bestowed upon her father king Prince Duan. He had worn it on his hand all his life and almost never taken it off.
In other words, this was Prince Duan’s relic.
Yet at this moment, it had suddenly been delivered into the hands of this Official Li!
How could Yue Tang believe this was just an accident?
This was the follow-up move by Chu Ying and Mu Chang!
They wanted to kill her first before she could appear publicly as the princess.
As long as she was dead, even if the matter came to light in the future, the emperor, who could not yet fully control the imperial court, would have no choice but to obey their words.
As for whether Yan Bei would cause trouble afterward—
Since they chose to act beside the moat, as long as they moved fast enough and disposed of her corpse as well, what more could Yan Bei do?
This method was vicious enough and direct enough.
The whole matter was orchestrated by the Chu Family. To obtain evidence of crimes against Chu Ying, one could say to start from the He Family and follow the trail step by step; sooner or later, it would lead to the Chu Family. This was methodical.
But the Mu Family had left no handles to this day!
For such division-of-labor collaborations, often a single verbal instruction was enough; there was no need to leave written proof at all.
Determining the Mu Family as the masterminds made it far less easy to capture him than capturing the Chu Family.
Now that they had set up the trap and were waiting, why not go and probe it?
After Yue Tang finished speaking calmly, Li Yue immediately cupped his hands: “That would be excellent. This official suddenly leaving the yamen with Madam accompanying him would also be easier to explain to the prince later.”
After speaking, he glanced twice at the row of guards behind Yue Tang, then waved a hand at the yamen runners gathered at the bottom of the steps, descended the stairs, and mounted his horse.
The nearby Wei Zhang immediately said to Yue Tang: “Princess!”
Yue Tang slightly turned her gaze: “Follow first. Once in a dark place, send a guard to tell the prince to meet at beside the moat. After that, go find Dou Yun and relay the truth. They will know what to do.
“But remember to send more people, taking different routes to cross-deliver the message.
“The Chu Family is at the end of the road now and must have several contingency plans. We need to guard against mishaps along the way.”
Wei Zhang looked back once, nodded, took a step back, and blended into the group of guards.
Yue Tang mounted her horse and, while adjusting the horse reins, whispered to a nearby guard: “Send someone ahead to scout the situation by the riverbank.”
The guard also slipped into the crowd.
Only then did Yue Tang hook the thumb ring in her palm and nod to Li Yue: “Let’s go.”
Li Yue smiled at her and ordered them to set off.
The people hidden on the wall top saw the team start moving, exchanged a glance with their companions on either side, and quietly withdrew.
Clusters of rain threads fell into the water surface. Inside the horse carriage by the shore, Chu Ying listened and slowly said: “Go inform the Grand Tutor that in half a shichen, he and I will meet on the riverbank.”
Footsteps faded into the rain sounds and soon arrived at the Mu Mansion along with the wind roaming through the city.
Mu Chang was still wearing his cloak, sitting under the lamp. Lu Zhao went out and returned: “Grand Tutor, news has come. Princess Yongjia is already heading to beside the moat with Supreme Court Official Li Yue. This is the route they will take.”
Mu Chang looked at the route map he handed over and raised his eyes: “What else did the messenger say? What ambushes have been set along the way?”
“In fact, there are ambushes all along the way. The real place to strike is probably not set beside the moat.”
“Probably?” Mu Chang said. “This means Chu Ying did not inform the exact location of the strike?”
“The messenger said they will try to delay to ensure ample time for the Grand Tutor to mobilize troops.” At this point, Lu Zhao glanced at the water clock. “A quarter shichen has already passed. Mobilizing the troops will take at least two quarter shichen.”
If no order was given soon, it would be too late.
Mu Chang slowly straightened up but said: “Do you think Yue Tang will take the bait?”
Lu Zhao pondered silently: “Since they have already set off, it shows that thumb ring did play a role. It depends on whether she will notice alertly midway. But isn’t this exactly the role for this batch of imperial guards to play? As long as she takes the step, the plan is just one last step away.”
After hearing this, Mu Chang merely tapped his knuckles on the table without a word.
Lu Zhao said: “Does the Grand Tutor still have doubts?”
Mu Chang gazed at the lamp flame: “No.”
Lu Zhao sighed: “Matters are divided into doing or not doing. This official deeply knows the adult’s benevolent heart. If not forced by circumstances, he would never resort to such extermination. But since it was done back then, there’s no point in stopping now.”
Mu Chang lowered his gaze, stopped his knuckles, and took a bronze token from beside his hand: “Send someone with this imperial decree to the yamen to mobilize men. Have them prepare twice the number of troops. Follow the route on the map and head immediately to beside the moat. Seal off everything within two li around.
“If Prince Jingyang’s Mansion people or Imperial City Department people are found, order them to stop in the name of the imperial decree. Kill any who force their way through without mercy.”
Receiving this instruction, even Lu Zhao, who had been waiting for his order, was slightly stunned.
A hundred troops assassinating a woman of commoner status in the rainy night was already a sure thing. With double the troops to seal the area, not only killing her but mincing her into meat sauce would be more than enough.
“This official will arrange it immediately!”
“Wait.” Mu Chang looked at him and took out a memorial. “After passing the message, have Xun’er deliver this to the palace and present it to the emperor. Remember to have him deliver it in person.”
Without waiting for Lu Zhao’s response, he stood up and went behind the screen to change clothes.
……
The place where Yan Bei was holding Chu Xin was at the north side of the prince’s mansion. Because the prince’s mansion covered too much ground, he had no choice but to split into two routes with Yue Tang.
The pill dug from Chu Xin’s mouth was still in his hand. This dark red pill always made him uneasy.
After watching Jiang Shao arrange the guards in three layers inside and out to watch over him, he could no longer stay put, mounted his horse, and galloped toward the front gate of the prince’s mansion.
“Prince!”
Halfway there, he encountered head-on the guard sent to follow Yue Tang.
“Prince, there are ghosts in the yamen!”
The guard came up and recounted everything in detail. Yan Bei’s face suddenly turned cold, then he abruptly reined in his horse, turned around on the spot: “Damn Chu Ying, trying to harm me and my father! Follow this prince to kill over there!”
The messenger guard hurriedly said: “Prince, wait! The princess has more instructions!”
He leaned to Yan Bei’s ear and explained in detail.
Yan Bei gritted his teeth, raised his face, then dismounted, looked back at the guards behind him, and said: “Leave one person to tell Jiang Shao to bring men to meet Dou Yun, then come to the riverbank to meet me!
“The rest of you go get night clothes and follow me!”
……
The fine rain pelted the face, making one exceptionally clear-headed.
When the team turned the corner in the dark, the two guards dispatched by Wei Zhang quietly melted into the night.
Yue Tang’s group, including herself, originally had twenty-two people. After three left, only nineteen remained, about the same number as when they returned to the capital from the outskirts initially.
The yamen was just two or three li from beside the moat. After mounting horses and turning onto the street, passing through one alley would get them there.
By distance, Yan Bei and Dou Yun could arrive in at most half a shichen.
Even if there were mishaps along the way, one shichen was enough to get there.
Yue Tang lagged slightly behind Official Li. Along the way, calm and collected, as they exited the street and entered the alley toward beside the moat, she glanced at the pitch-black alley ahead, then at the wall tops on both sides, exchanged a look with Wei Zhang, and called out: “Official Li.”
Li Yue turned back: “What instructions does Madam have?”
A lofty Supreme Court official—even seeing the lady he had brought along last time—why would he humble himself to ask what instructions she had?
This clearly showed he knew her identity.
Yue Tang slightly tugged the corner of her mouth: “You wait first. It’s too dark ahead. Let me have someone light a few torches.”
Li Yue gripped the horse reins, glanced deep into the alley, then back: “We’re almost there, and the matter is urgent. Better to hurry on.”
Yue Tang dismounted, hands on hips, and walked under his horse: “Get down.”
This command was flat and plain, yet full of intimidation.
Li Yue tensed his body and involuntarily looked back at the line of yamen runners. There were over twenty of them, but they clearly couldn’t compare to the tall, burly guards in front.
He turned back: “This official dares not delay the matter. Why not have Madam proceed slowly while I go ahead!”
With that, he kicked his horse’s belly with both legs and dashed forward rapidly!
But just as he spoke, before he could take three steps, Yue Tang’s figure flashed like lightning, pouncing forward to grab the back of his collar!
This big master was yanked off his horse in an instant and slammed to the ground with a “thud”!
And it didn’t stop there. After he hit the ground, Yue Tang stomped her foot on his waist and abdomen, pinning him immobile.
Li Yue, terrified and panicked: “This official is a court-appointed official. How dare you lay hands on me?!”
Yue Tang coldly drew back, while Wei Zhang and the guards came up from left and right, one person one long sword perfectly framing his neck.
“Speak! What trick did the Chu Family set up beside the moat?!”
Hearing this, Li Yue was greatly shocked again. He had done everything so covertly—how did she see through it? And when did she see through it?
The nearby yamen runners surged forward, all drawing knives to confront Wei Zhang and the others.
Yue Tang said: “Three years ago, the Chu Family murdered Princess Yongjia’s mother and child. There is both witness and physical evidence in the yamen. Now colluding with Li Yue for murder again—you all have families, right?
“Being dragged into being assassins for them in a muddle-headed way—is it worth it?”
The yamen runners had come out in the name of apprehending criminals, and Li Yue couldn’t have told them the truth.
Having just seen Yue Tang’s formidable skills, they were already intimidated. Hearing this, they exchanged looks, and the knives in their hands involuntarily drooped.
“Those unwilling to die, drop your knives immediately, raise your hands high, and stand against the wall!
“Any who overestimate themselves, come spar with me first!”
Wei Zhang roared like thunder, and the yamen runners immediately retreated, knives clanging to the ground regardless of their choice.
Wei Zhang shook his long sword, and together with three guards, they blocked all sides, trapping them in the middle.
Li Yue was stunned speechless by their swift and clean moves.
Yue Tang grabbed his hair: “I’ll count to three.”
Since Li Yue already knew her identity, and after these days of interrogations on the He Family blood case and Du Minghuan, he knew Yue Tang’s past actions like the back of his hand. Now she said she’d count to three—did he still think she was just bluffing?
He immediately trembled and pointed shakily toward the riverbank: “Am… ambush…”
Before he finished, a whistling sound suddenly rose from the darkness. In the dense rain curtain, several bright silver lights flashed toward them!
“Follow me up!”
As soon as this commotion arose, as if waiting for this moment, Wei Zhang swiftly charged toward the direction of the hidden weapons! The three guards who had been surrounding the yamen runners with him leaped up simultaneously, forming an encirclement with him around the three black shadows holding bows on the wall top.
Their movements were too fast; the three hadn’t even fully retracted their bow-drawing poses.
Almost at the same moment, Yue Tang swatted away an arrow aimed at Li Yue’s chest and ordered: “No live captures—kill them!” Then she called to two guards behind: “Go check the surroundings for any fish that slipped the net!”
After the guards leaped away, looking back at Li Yue on the ground, this lofty fourth-rank official had already scared himself into wetting his pants.
Yue Tang stepped on his chest: “What did the Chu Family tell you?!”
Li Yue cried: “Only to make sure to lead Madam to the riverbank. This official knows nothing else!”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it, that’s it!”
Yue Tang then raised her sword and sliced off one of his ears!
Li Yue let out a miserable scream and collapsed on the ground.
Yue Tang leaped onto the wall top, where Wei Zhang and the four had already taken down two of the opponents. The remaining one was no threat. She scanned around, and by then the two guards sent to check the surroundings had returned: “Princess, no one here, but ahead seems pitch black, still possibly hiding danger.”
“Princess!”
Just as the guards surrounded Yue Tang, a guard leaped down from the wall top—the one previously sent to scout beside the moat: “There are indeed signs of fighting by the river, but several boats are moored at the river bend, and the dozen or so houses around the riverbank are all pitch black!”
All pitch black—that must mean an ambush.
It seemed the Chu and Mu families had truly gone all out this time!
“Wait here for the prince. You two go back to the intersection and check!”
Yue Tang came down from the wall. At that moment, more people arrived from the other side, footsteps accompanied by urgent panting: “Princess! Many imperial guards have come outside, sealing all the surrounding intersections!”
Hearing “imperial guards,” Yue Tang whipped around.
At that instant, a gust of wind brushed her ear. As she turned with sword raised, a person with a familiar aura arrived beside her with the wind: “It’s me!”
Yue Tang turned her head and saw Yan Bei pulling down his face cloth, gritting his teeth as he reached her side, his eyes shining like stars in the dark night.
Yue Tang relaxed: “You arrived just in time!”
“Of course?!” Yan Bei pulled his face cloth back up: “Having missed once, I can’t miss a second time!”
“Good!” Yue Tang sheathed her sword: “Since you’re here, I’ll still go ahead with Wei Zhang and them. You watch from the shadows.
“The Chu fellow won’t show his true colors unless he sees me trapped.
“Wait for them to come out, then catch them red-handed!”
“With me here, go ahead without worry!”
Yan Bei said no more and immediately led his men into the darkness.
Yue Tang immediately dragged the injured Li Yue onto a horse, then spurred it forward toward the riverbank!
