Chapter 19: Settling Accounts
Hand on the cold crossbow, Xiao Yi was fully focused, sensing Xie Hui’s killing intent.
Finally, the crossbow bolt pointed at the floor.
He guessed correctly; compared to avenging his subordinate, Xie Hui wanted to live more.
“Speak,” Xie Hui still had his saber on Xiao Yi’s foot, his triangular eyes flashing brightly, and asked, “How do we escape?”
Xiao Yi glanced at the high wall to the west, not revealing his plan, but mused, “Shi Deyu didn’t go to the front courtyard, where did he go?”
He intended to guide Xie Hui to search for the Shi Residence’s secret passages or hiding places, but heard Xie Hui suddenly murmur to himself.
“No wonder.”
“No wonder what?”
“He called the guards to the main hall, but took the Marshal’s military tally to the back garden himself, making me search the whole courtyard.”
Xiao Yi immediately recalled Shi Deyu’s hurried trip to the study; that was clearly not without purpose.
Using the guards to create a diversion in the front courtyard while escaping alone with the military tally?
His mind turned, and he asked with a tone of certainty, “At this critical juncture, do you know what the military tally is for?”
“Naturally, to mobilize the Imperial Guard.”
“The situation is already under the Emperor’s control, how can he still mobilize the Imperial Guard?”
Xiao Yi’s confident counter-question made Xie Hui somewhat uncertain.
“There are always those who obey orders. If the Young Master can rally the Marshal’s old troops, even if it doesn’t succeed, it will be enough to trouble the Emperor.”
Xiao Yi, who had been wondering why so many troops were deployed to surround the Shi Residence, now understood a little and asked, “How does Shi Deyu plan to get out?”
“You mean…” Xie Hui pondered, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes, “He can’t escape anyway, shall we offer him to the Emperor for a future?”
Xiao Yi was taken aback, not expecting Xie Hui to be so quick-witted, having thought of it before him.
A master at selling out one’s master for glory.
Immediately, Xiao Yi realized that if Xie Hui had a way to survive, he could then kill him.
The thought flashed through his mind, and sure enough, killing intent reappeared in those triangular eyes.
In an instant, Xiao Yi analyzed his chances of fighting; Xie Hui was fully equipped in light leather armor, holding a crossbow and a saber, while he only had a dagger at his waist.
He immediately spoke, continuing to placate Xie Hui.
“I can roughly guess where he fled.”
Xie Hui’s killing intent vanished, and he asked, “Which way?”
“Follow me.”
Saying that, Xiao Yi bent down to pick up the saber, but Xie Hui stepped on it tightly, raised his hand crossbow, and tilted his chin.
“Go.”
“Without trust, how can we pursue a future together?”
“I have the saber; you just need to provide the ideas.”
“Good.”
Xiao Yi seemed to trust Xie Hui just like that, descended the pavilion, and led the way, searching for an opportunity to escape.
Xiao Yi remembered Shi Deyu’s words, “You and Chun Tao are the people I trust most,” and with a thought, walked in the direction of Chun Tao’s courtyard.
“Why are you carrying this luggage?” Xie Hui asked.
“It’s useful.”
“You knew the Shi family was going to face disaster long ago?”
“I guessed some of it.”
“Little monkey, you’ve got some skills. But if you dare to play any tricks, I’ll kill you and find it myself.”
After walking for a while, Xiao Yi suddenly stopped.
From the long corridor ahead, faint “thump-thump-thump” sounds of heavy footsteps could be heard. It sounded like only one person, and whoever could make such a sound was likely Zhang Mantun.
“Someone’s coming, this way.”
Xiao Yi changed direction.
He then casually scattered the bean feed for horses from his luggage onto the ground.
Passing through two more courtyard gates, they arrived at the maids’ quarters.
This area was far from the front courtyard and still peaceful. Maids preparing to rest were moving about, some carrying basins of water, others carrying clothes.
Xie Hui found this amusing and suddenly kicked open a door.
In the room, two maids were changing clothes, standing by a brazier, naked. They were stunned for a moment and then ran away clutching their heads.
“Ah!”
“Haha.”
Xie Hui grinned, his eyes filled with lust, and kicked open doors one by one, filling the courtyard with the screams of maids.
Seeing Xie Hui distracted, Xiao Yi quietly gripped his dagger.
Then, Xie Hui narrowed his eyes and stared intently at the back of a tall, burly maid.
“Damn it, no way?”
Xie Hui murmured in disbelief and reached out to push Xiao Yi’s shoulder.
“You take a quick look.”
Xiao Yi went along with it and happened to see the tall maid turn her head to look towards them. With heavy makeup and a face full of powder, it was none other than Shi Deyu!
The three of them looked at each other and were momentarily stunned.
“Young Master, don’t leave.”
Xie Hui laughed loudly and strode towards Shi Deyu.
“Don’t come any closer.”
Perhaps sensing Xie Hui’s ill intentions, Shi Deyu became slightly flustered. He tried his best to maintain his former dignity and shouted, “I told you not to come closer!”
“Haha, you know, the eldest young master is quite delicate.”
Saying this, Xie Hui reached out to grab Shi Deyu’s shoulder.
At the same time, Chun Tao, holding a cloak, emerged from a side room and quickly moved to save Shi Deyu.
“Young Master, hurry and go!”
“You hold this woman off!” Xie Hui pointed his crossbow at Xiao Yi.
Xiao Yi did not want to get entangled with them and deliberately slowed his steps, looking back. He saw Zhang Mantun striding towards them.
“Traitor, where do you think you’re running?!”
“Whoosh—”
The angry shout and the sound of wind breaking through the air occurred simultaneously. Xiao Yi retreated several steps, positioning himself not far behind Xie Hui, and pointed, saying, “Zhang Mantun, look who that is?”
“It’s your mother!”
Zhang Mantun cursed, but his gaze was drawn to Shi Deyu, who was dressed as a maid. He was clearly stunned.
“This maid is too… Eldest… Eldest Young Master, is that you?”
“Tie Ya, save me quickly!”
“It really is? Don’t harm the Young Master!”
In an instant, Zhang Mantun lunged forward. Xiao Yi retreated and dodged, while Xie Hui raised his hand crossbow.
“Bang!”
The whistle stick grazed Xie Hui’s nose and hit the ground.
The cold arrowhead of the crossbow bolt pointed at Zhang Mantun’s throat, only two steps away.
“Die.”
Xie Hui sneered and pulled the trigger.
“Click.”
“Whoosh.”
The moment the crossbow bolt shot out, Xiao Yi suddenly rammed Xie Hui’s shoulder blade from behind with force.
The hand crossbow went askew, and the arrow embedded itself in a corridor pillar.
“Damn it, what are you doing?!”
“Brother Mantun, we’re even.”
Xiao Yi said this, then leaped over the long corridor’s balustrade, entered a side room where the maids lived, and directly climbed out the window.
He paid no heed to the fierce clashes and roars of Zhang Mantun and Xie Hui fighting behind him.
“Young Master, get out of the way, I’ll twist this dog’s head off!”
“You bird, go to hell!”
“Your mother!”
“Fuck!”
“Bang!”
“Bang…”
Xiao Yi left that courtyard; it was finally quiet.
He quickened his pace towards the bamboo garden on the west side, winding through narrow paths. Finally, passing through another gate, he would be near there.
Suddenly, he stopped.
Ahead, at the courtyard gate he needed to pass through, stood several armored soldiers.
His gaze shifted again, and he saw Imperial Guards lining the corridor. A general, wearing bright silver armor and a red cloak, was pacing.
“Have you found the great seal yet?”
“Reporting to the General, not yet.”
“Where is Shi Deyu?”
“He’s gone.”
“Guard every courtyard gate, make sure not even a mosquito can fly out of the Shi Residence.”
“Yes! You few, go over there…”
Xiao Yi quietly retreated. He had no choice but to retrace his steps and take a detour through another courtyard gate to reach the bamboo garden on the west side.
The Shi Residence was gradually becoming restless. The fire at the stable and the events in the front courtyard were rapidly spreading fear. The servants scurried about like headless flies.
As he passed a courtyard, he suddenly heard a familiar voice from afar.
“Haha, don’t run, let me have my fun first!”
It was Xie Hui.
Xiao Yi frowned, not wanting to deal with him.
After a few more steps, he suddenly thought that since Xie Hui was still alive, he might have already killed Zhang Mantun and Shi Deyu and taken the military tally.
If so, it could be seized.
Xiao Yi set his luggage aside, gripped his dagger, and tied his wrist and the dagger’s hilt with a strip of cloth to prevent the blade from being snatched.
Once ready, he quietly tiptoed to the courtyard gate and peeked inside.
He saw two maids running from the corridor and hiding in a side room. Following them, Xie Hui strode in.
Even from a distance, Xiao Yi could see the lust and madness in those triangular eyes.
“Hahaha, Qiu Shuang, I can smell you, you smell so good.”
Xie Hui laughed and chased directly into the side room.
Xiao Yi waited a few more breaths before quietly moving over. While listening to the sounds inside, he walked to the window, gently poked open the window paper with his dagger, and peered inside.
He first recognized Chun Tao, who was protecting a young maid with her hands tied, presumably Qiu Shuang. Tears streamed down both their faces, and they were in a panic.
“Don’t come any closer!”
“Captain Xie, please spare her. They all benefited from the Shi family’s favor…”
“Get lost!”
Chun Tao’s pleas were in vain. She suddenly lunged at Xie Hui, holding a hairpin and stabbing towards his face.
Xie Hui grabbed her head and smashed it against the corner of a table, hitting it twice.
“Bang! Bang!”
Xiao Yi’s gaze sharpened.
Through the holes in the paper window, he saw Chun Tao fall backward onto the ground, her forehead split open.
Blood flowed across her beautiful face, and one could vaguely see her appearance when she used to try to put on a serious expression.
Xiao Yi felt his breathing become heavy, so he closed his eyes, forcing himself to calm down.
Xie Hui, clad in armor, with his saber and crossbow, could not be killed by a rash attack.
He needed to wait a little longer, wait until he took off his armor and was at his most excited, then make his move…
