Chapter 82: The Best Opportunity
Du Yu had reached this point, like a drowning man grasping a lifesaving straw, so naturally he wouldn’t be polite with Chu Xin anymore.
After settling the terms, only until Chu Xin sent someone to the Supreme Court to first suppress the petition about destroying the household registration file did he then ride back to the mansion.
The trouble Du Minghuan was in absolutely couldn’t be resolved by the Chu Family with just a few words; even just being accused by Xu He himself wasn’t so easy to dismiss.
So all of this was the Chu Family doing something heartless, harming them with their own hands; now that things had come to this, they still had to rely on the Chu Family to resolve the crisis. For Chu Xin to first suppress it, letting the yamen find ways to delay handling it for some days, was already quite impressive. Du Yu couldn’t press him too hard.
After exiting the Chu Family gate, he waited a bit at the alley entrance and saw Chu Xin personally head out to the Censorate to find Chu Ying before turning back to the mansion.
The confidante attendant who had been waiting under the front courtyard gate for his return heard him briefly explain what happened, followed him into the study, hesitated for a moment, then leaned forward and said: “The Chu Family is already like this; even if they promised to settle the current predicament, we can only trust them about seventy to eighty percent. On the other hand, Prince Jingyang’s Mansion—firstly, they are relatives of our mansion, and secondly, isn’t the Prince’s Mansion’s power even greater than the Chu Family’s?
“Why didn’t the Heir Apparent choose to pledge loyalty to the Prince?”
Du Yu just gave him a glance: “I’m at the end of my rope too.”
Back then this matter was so crucial; after Du Minghuan received the order, he only told Du Yu alone, and was cautious enough not to tell him exactly who gave the order.
So these attendants around him, even if confidantes, where qualified to know so much? Moreover, the ones who actually went to handle it back then were precisely He Jianzhong and Zhang Shaode; the Du Family was just plotting behind the scenes, no need to leak it to those around them.
Faced with such a question now, Du Yu really didn’t know how to respond.
After learning how mad Chu Xin was, he hadn’t considered turning around to seek refuge with Yan Bei, but Yan Bei had now allied with Yue Tang, and Yue Tang wouldn’t let the Du Family off, so going to Yan Bei would definitely be a dead end.
And Yue Tang was still alive, which was now the Chu Family’s biggest worry; using Yue Tang’s whereabouts to negotiate with Chu Xin, Chu Xin couldn’t possibly refuse to yield!
The current situation wouldn’t allow Du Yu to take risks; he could only desperately cling to the Chu Family as this accomplice and not let go!
In short, live together or die; if dying, he absolutely had to drag the Chu Family down with him!
Thinking of this, he waved his hand and instructed: “Chu Xin said at the shen hour shift change at the Supreme Court Prison, at that time I can see Father; you go prepare first!
“Also, immediately summon all the guards in the mansion, first send ten people to Xu He’s home to inquire if his wife who recently came from the countryside is in the residence?
“If she is there, stay outside and surround and guard her; no matter what method, prevent her from going out again!
“If she’s not there, inquire about her whereabouts, first find her and keep eyes on her until she returns to the residence, then do as I just said!
“At the same time, scout clearly how many people are around her? Any martial arts? What strength?
“Come tell me before dark! When the opportunity comes, I have other arrangements!
The attendant perked up all over to memorize his words, confirmed no mistakes, then immediately went off to handle it.
Du Yu gazed at the empty doorway, suddenly chased out and called him back: “Split off a few more people to tangle with Prince Jingyang.”
As he spoke, he leaned in and whispered a few words.
The attendant’s expression gradually cracked; after listening, he was stunned for a while before nodding to him and withdrawing.
“Tangle with Prince Jingyang”—what wonderfully novel words!
That was Prince Jingyang who held military power over several hundred thousand troops in Mobei, the Regent Prince whom no one in the imperial court dared not fear!
Though he didn’t know why Du Yu wanted to target Xu He’s madam, she was just a woman; if moved against, so be it, nothing much!
But he actually had his eye on Yan Bei too; just thinking about it made one’s head spin!
Du Yu watched him dash away, looked down at his own palm which was also sweating, suddenly clenched his fist tight, and returned inside the room.
Several knives were now hanging over the Du Family’s head at once; he had no choice!
This time they couldn’t fail again; this was their last chance! Not for the Chu Family, but for themselves!
But to strike, they couldn’t not guard against Yan Bei; even if they couldn’t beat him or outfight him, they had to prevent him from appearing before striking!
……
When Cui Xun brought the news Dou Yun sent from the Supreme Court side to Yangrong Zhai, Yan Bei was teaching A Li to play with the slingshot.
The little one really liked this new toy; after successfully shooting the first pebble, he tossed aside the task of feeding the little duck and happily played against banana leaves in the garden with his little friends.
Yan Bei’s main task was to prevent him from misusing it and accidentally injuring himself or others; secondary task was to serve tea and fruit on orders from the Young Heir Apparent every so often.
While feeding A Li hawthorn cake, he took the letter, read it, then handed it to Gao An.
Gao An read it twice, folded it, and said: “After Chu Ying was found by Chu Xin at the yamen, he immediately entered the palace to see the Emperor. Looks like they’ve thought of a way to maneuver around the Du Family’s case.
“If we leak some wind to the Shen Family now, there might be another good show in the imperial court. But doing so would affect the Princess’s plan.”
Yan Bei said: “There are still plenty of chances to provoke the Chu Family and Shen Family. The Chu Family’s actions show Du Yu really convinced Chu Xin.
“This way, him striking at A Li’s mother is inevitable.
“To make this action foolproof, the Chu Family must get Du Minghuan out. Only if he’s out can they utilize the Imperial City Department’s strength.
“You go personally reply to Dou Yun, have him watch the yamen closely, see when Du Minghuan is bailed out.
“If he’s out, it’s about time for them to act.”
Gao An nodded and turned to leave, instructing Cui Xun to stay, then departed himself.
Cui Xun stepped forward: “Uncle, with Aunt alone at the Xu Residence, you’re not sending some people to secretly protect her?”
“The Du Family already has people heading there to watch; if I send people, it would definitely alert them.” Yan Bei gave him a glance, “But since you have this filial piety, you can go keep her company! If there’s danger, you can block for your aunt.”
Cui Xun froze: “Then me going would also alert them.”
“You go to the Imperial Clan Court, then ride back to the residence together in Xu He’s horse carriage; no one will notice you.”
Yan Bei glanced at him, walked to the banana tree to pick up A Li by the back of his collar, patted the dust off him a few times, stood with hands on hips to look, then walked back: “Don’t worry; if anything happens to you, I’ll transfer your parents to the capital city to avenge you!”
Cui Xun listened in a daze.
Just as he was about to turn and go, a person strode in from outside the courtyard gate—it was precisely the Imperial Guard Department Commander Jiang Shao from the Prince’s Mansion!
“Your Highness, those few Du Family guards sneaking around outside our Prince’s Mansion earlier split off two people to tail Yun Niang when she went out shopping!”
Cui Xun sucked in a breath: “Yun Niang is A Li’s wet nurse; why are they watching her?”
Here, Yan Bei had already darkened his face, scooped up A Li and held him in his arms, killing intent flashing in his eyes: “That brat Du Yu dares target A Li; he’s courting death!”
He instructed Jiang Shao: “Tell Yun Niang, no matter what the Du Family members say or do to her, have her comply fully and report back to me when she returns!
“And you! Immediately pick a few skilled ones, go with Cui Xun to the Imperial Clan Court to find Xu He, ride his horse carriage together to the Xu Residence!
“Don’t return until Du Yu shows up! Stick to the Madam without leaving her side; once Du Yu appears, leave him alive for me—I’ll settle this account with him separately!”
“Yes!”
Jiang and Cui departed.
A Li, held in midair, flailed his limbs: “Daddy, A Li’s butt is out!”
Yan Bei looked down and hurriedly tucked in his pulled-up clothes, covering the patch of little blue butt that was exposed.
……
At shen hour as dusk began, the Xu Residence horse carriage departed from the Imperial Clan Court heading to the Top Scholar’s Mansion.
A horse carriage also departed from the Marquis of Guangling’s Mansion, carrying Du Yu to the Supreme Court Prison.
Midway, a guard on horseback caught up: “Heir Apparent, the Prince’s Mansion side has already followed! Brothers secretly sprinkled quite a bit of laxative on the Young Heir Apparent’s wet nurse; with the Young Heir Apparent’s little body, once he gets close to her later, he’ll likely get diarrhea!”
Everyone knew Yan Bei treasured this child like a pearl; forget diarrhea—if the child had the slightest issue, Yan Bei absolutely wouldn’t have the mind for anything else!
Du Yu had been tense all day, but hearing this suddenly made him furious: “I only told you to tangle with him, not to strike directly! And you picked A Li? Think I’m not dying fast enough?!”
The guard halted.
Du Yu gritted his teeth, thought a moment, then ordered to press on: “Tell me if there’s news!”
Things had come to this; he had no choice. For now, he could only meet with Du Minghuan and continue from there.
When the horse carriage arrived at the prison, it was exactly shift change; Du Yu presented the token from Chu Xin and soon reached Du Minghuan’s cell.
“The Chu Family has submitted a new piece of evidence, replacing the previous one presented to the Supreme Court.
“If things go smoothly, the Three Judicial Offices have already found the evidence insufficient; once there’s news, I’ll propose bail, and after Chu Xin maneuvers behind the scenes, Father can come out.
“Though it’s just temporarily passing, as long as we get out quickly, we can mobilize the Imperial City Department’s troops and capture the Princess in one fell swoop!”
At this point, he swallowed and lowered his voice even more: “Once Father is out, I’ll go act first; you gather Imperial City Department men in the residence in advance and await my signal.
“I’ve prepared everything else; in short, we must succeed tonight!”
Du Minghuan gripped the bars tightly: “Since she survived that encirclement kill back then, plotted the He Family’s extermination, convinced Xu He, and appeared at the Marquis’s Mansion in He Shi’s name, it shows her methods are formidable!
“We failed three years ago; with things so rushed this time, can it succeed?!”
“If I had personally led the team three years ago, it would’ve definitely succeeded!” Du Yu’s eyes were bloodshot, “Though rushed now, her strength is insufficient and she still needs to rely on Xu He; plus, her household registration file is destroyed!
“She can’t prove herself anymore! This is our best chance!
Du Minghuan’s face twitched: “So how do you plan to do it?”
Du Yu took a deep breath: “When the opportunity comes, I’ll lead people over first.
“She has few people; if she dies then, it’s all settled.
“If she doesn’t die, we’ll mobilize officers on grounds of her impersonating an Imperial Clan Princess and capture her in one go!
“I believe with the Imperial City Department stepping in, she won’t have a way to survive!”
Du Minghuan also grew excited.
Using Imperial City Department troops to kill the flesh and blood of their former leader—this sounded a bit crazy.
But without this craziness, they themselves wouldn’t survive!
“Every man for himself, or heaven and earth will destroy him!” He exhaled long and heavily, “Go! As long as I’m bailed out, gathering two or three hundred men within an hour is no problem!”
The guards in the Marquis’s Mansion had quotas; exceeding them would bring charges.
So relying on that few wasn’t enough; the Imperial City Department had to step in!
Du Yu nodded, stood up, and turned to leave.
It was just the time to light lamps; lanterns and torches were already lit high on the corner towers outside the prison, illuminating every corner bright as day.
In the Top Scholar’s Mansion, Cui Xun had already brought Jiang Shao’s men to see Yue Tang.
At the same time, Xiao Huo also returned, bringing back news Wei Zhang scouted from the Du Family side.
“After Du Yu returned from the prison, he immediately summoned all the guards in the mansion. He also sent someone to the Imperial City Department, bringing their two cultivated henchmen to the mansion early.
“A quarter-hour ago, hearing the Supreme Court suddenly say Du Minghuan’s evidence of crimes was insufficient, Du Yu immediately went to the Imperial Secretariat to request release.
“Coincidentally, the Imperial Secretariat had important matters to discuss today, with the key officials all present; with the Chu Family drumming on the side, this matter is probably about to succeed!”
“Then it should be tonight.”
Yue Tang stood up, gazing outside the window at several dark trees in the distant dusk. “Lord Jiang, have two people handle the hidden sentries in the trees; the rest return to your rooms to rest, don’t let them spot any flaws.”
Due to her inherent authority, no one dared refute; they exchanged glances then acknowledged and departed.
Yue Tang withdrew her gaze, also looking at Huo Yun: “You return to your room too. Stay alert for movements.”
Once the room was empty, Yue Tang blew out the lamp and lay on the bed.
Night was pitch black.
Her eyes were bright as flames.
This blaze tore out from beneath every scar on her body. She had experienced it once three years ago, and now faced it again!
She gripped the long sword by the pillow and turned over in the darkness.
……
Du Minghuan returned to the mansion at xu hour; Du Yu came out with men at hai hour.
All the way, he was single-minded, heading straight to the familiar Xu Residence.
A hot current also surged in his chest, burning until even his sword-holding hand trembled.
The mistake from three years ago had to be made up tonight.
He wouldn’t lose.
Because he had already lost once at Fei Yun Temple! He absolutely wouldn’t lose a second time!
“Has anyone from the Chu Family come?”
Reaching the hiding spot of the guards who had been staking out early, he directly asked this.
“None. No one has come here all day! The Heir Apparent acted swiftly; the Chu Family probably hasn’t caught our trail yet!”
“Good, keep staying! Intercept anyone who comes!” Du Yu covered his face with a cloth, waved back: “Enter from all four sides!”
