Chapter 42: Generous Reward
Xiao Yi closed his eyes, enjoying a rare moment of peace.
After that, he threw down his saber, turned and left the room, stood under the corridor, and shouted.
“Guards! There are assassins!”
The shout echoed through the Imperial Guard Headquarters, drawing a flurry of footsteps.
The torchlight illuminated the side room brightly. Lu Chou peered in and was greatly startled, quickly going to report to Nie Wenjin.
After a while, Nie Wenjin arrived striding, and demanded, “What’s going on?!”
“Reporting to the General, I was resting when I suddenly heard a disturbance. Upon waking, I saw three people infiltrate and attempt to kill me. I fought back with all my might and fortunately managed to kill them.”
Nie Wenjin frowned, pushed Xiao Yi aside, and strode into the room. Seeing only two bodies, he said, “Three people?”
“Yes.”
“Flip the bed over!”
The bed was flipped over. Two guards stepped forward, turned over the bodies lying on the floor, and simultaneously exclaimed.
The torchlight revealed a contorted face, eyes wide open, full of fear and pain.
“It’s… Officer Meng?!”
“Meng Ye?”
Nie Wenjin squinted, then suddenly turned his head to stare at Xiao Yi.
“You killed him?”
“Yes.”
“You didn’t recognize who he was?” Nie Wenjin’s voice suddenly rose, suppressing his displeasure. “It was too dark, you didn’t see clearly that it was Meng Ye, is that right?”
Xiao Yi was silent for a moment.
Then, he calmly met Nie Wenjin’s almost fiery gaze and said, “Reporting to the General, I didn’t see his face, but I knew it was Meng Ye.”
“What?”
Nie Wenjin froze.
Xiao Yi said, “I dare not conceal it from the General, he crawled under the bed begging for mercy, and I knew who he was then.”
“You knew?” Nie Wenjin stepped forward, his powerful presence enveloping Xiao Yi. “Then you still dared to kill him? You have great courage!”
Beside them, Lu You and Lu Chou were horrified, their faces instantly turning pale.
Xiao Yi lowered his gaze and said, “I was foolish for a moment. Thinking of establishing myself by the General’s side, if I didn’t eliminate him, he would eventually be a threat. By killing him, Shi Deyu and Zhang Mantun would be subdued, and the plan could proceed smoothly.”
“Thinking you’re clever, for this alone, I should kill you.”
“It was my mistake. I’m used to fights in the Shi Residence, I couldn’t hold back.”
“Don’t you understand? Was he just an ordinary person?”
“Please punish me, General, to appease the Imperial Uncle’s anger.”
“Damn it!”
Nie Wenjin kicked over the desk, his chest heaving. He strode a few steps through the blood pooling on the floor, and finally, walked straight out.
He neither asked why the guards at various posts hadn’t stopped Meng Ye, nor inquired about the source of Xiao Yi’s crossbow bolts, as if accustomed to brawls within the military.
Lu You and Lu Chou let out a long sigh, pointed at Xiao Yi, and followed Nie Wenjin with the other guards.
More guards were added outside the door, and they were not allowed to close it.
Xiao Yi alone moved the bed back, spread the bedding, and lay down.
Through the bed frame, Meng Ye’s corpse was directly below. He closed his eyes to rest.
He was extremely tired but found it difficult to fall asleep. After a long time, he drifted into a shallow slumber.
Suddenly, a bloody hand reached out from under the bed, flipped him over, and pinned him down. Looking up, he saw a grinning face, mangled by a cleave…
Xiao Yi jolted awake.
Opening his eyes, the sky was bright, and sunlight streamed through the window.
After waiting a while longer, Lu You pushed the door open. Seeing him sleeping soundly between the corpses, he shook his head speechlessly.
“The General ordered you to be brought to the Main Hall… You almost got us killed.”
“The Imperial Uncle is here?” Xiao Yi got up unhurriedly and said, “Don’t worry, it will be fine.”
“Ha? You really are something else.”
Xiao Yi didn’t believe Li Ye would kill him over a mere Meng Ye, at least not while he still had some value.
However, Li Ye didn’t even question him.
“There’s no need to waste my time on a few useless people.”
As soon as Xiao Yi reached the Main Hall, Li Ye directly threw this sentence at him.
He lounged at the head of the hall, holding a hand warmer, a snow-white fox fur coat draped over his purple robe, exuding noble air with a smile in his eyes. He then mentioned another minor matter.
“I remember someone saying that no matter who I was, our destiny hadn’t arrived. And now? You want to join me?”
“Yes.” Xiao Yi knew what Li Ye wanted to hear and didn’t hold back, directly stating, “It was my ignorance at the time. I intended to serve the enemy and avenge the Li Residence, not realizing that the Imperial Uncle was the one with foresight and strategy.”
Li Ye smiled again and asked, “Is Shi Deyu more worthy of loyalty?”
“He is not worthy.” Xiao Yi said, “When I was in the provincial government, Shi Deyu was jealous of the Imperial Uncle’s talent and pretended to be magnanimous. That afternoon, he summoned a distant relative of the Li Clan and forced me to kill Li Hongdu in the street. I had no choice…”
“I said, don’t waste time on trash.” Li Ye raised a finger, stopping his words. “I admire you. Since you are willing to join me, two lives are nothing.”
The first time they met on the long street, Xiao Yi had sensed it. Li Ye’s eyes shone when he looked at him, with clear admiration.
This admiration was intense and carried a strong sense of control.
It was as if Li Ye was just lazily leaning there, waiting for him to pledge allegiance, but if he were to turn away, Li Ye would destroy him.
“Thank you, Imperial Uncle.”
“I am a good judge of character. The moment I saw you, I knew you were a thousand-mile horse, and I am Bole.”
Xiao Yi was slightly surprised and responded accordingly, “I regret not joining the Imperial Uncle sooner.”
“It matters not.” Li Ye said, “Let’s talk about the Talisman Seal. Your plan… I am not satisfied.”
Xiao Yi was very surprised and waited for him to continue.
Li Ye said, “My elder brother, Li Hongwei, holds the position of Military Governor of Zhenning Army, headquartered in Chan Prefecture. You will approach Wang Yin with Shi Deyu, gain his trust, cooperate with my elder brother, and act when the opportunity arises. Do you understand?”
“I understand.”
“Smart people are easy to work with.”
Xiao Yi asked, “Is there any proof to contact Military Governor Li?”
Li Ye said lightly, “You don’t need to worry about it. Someone in the group will contact him.”
“Yes.”
Xiao Yi then knew that there would definitely be one of Li Ye’s confidantes accompanying them on this mission.
“When we first met, I promised you a great future. Today, I wanted to give you high office and generous rewards, but unfortunately, you haven’t achieved any merit yet. No rush.”
Having said this, Li Ye paused, thought for a moment, and generously waved his hand.
“Issue an order: Appoint Xiao Yi as Deputy Commander of the Control Crane Guard, with the added title of Cloud Cavalry Lieutenant. Grant him one hundred strings of cash and ten bolts of brocade.”
Xiao Yi’s first reaction was astonishment, then he turned to look at Nie Wenjin.
Nie Wenjin was very satisfied with his reaction and nodded subconsciously, “Why don’t you thank the Imperial Uncle for his great kindness?”
“Thank you, Imperial Uncle.”
“What is this? When you return with merit, that will be the true reward.” Li Ye sneered. “Remember, there are still many enemies to be eliminated for the sake of the Han Dynasty’s state. This is a time when people are needed, do not disappoint me… No need for further words, go collect your reward.”
“Yes.”
Xiao Yi had come to understand Li Ye’s character. He was bold, gambled heavily, and dared to act on instinct. Such a person might achieve sudden prosperity, or lose everything in the blink of an eye.
If only Guo Wei were as generous.
Nie Wenjin then ordered the Lu brothers to escort Xiao Yi to collect his reward.
Soon, Xiao Yi received the talisman and an Official Document.
This was a genuine Official Document from the Imperial Court.
The paper was rough and firm, the top edge outlined with faint ink in a cloud pattern, adorned with tiny seal characters for “Control Crane Guard.”
“By Imperial decree, Xiao Yi is appointed Left Wing Second Army Third Command Left Deputy Commander of the Control Crane Guard, and Cloud Cavalry Lieutenant, filling a vacancy in the Imperial Guard due to his valor.”
Below were stamped two vermilion seals. The “Control Crane Guard Left Wing Seal” was full of cinnabar, with red traces bleeding at the edges, clearly just applied. The “Ministry of Personnel Official Seal” was slightly smaller, with a lighter cinnabar color, undoubtedly stamped earlier, allowing Li Ye to promise rewards at any time.
A Deputy Commander was a ninth-rank official, responsible with the Commander for about a hundred Imperial Guards. Li Ye gave him such a post because he wanted to use him, allowing him to lead some troops, but only as a subordinate, not granting him full authority.
Cloud Cavalry Lieutenant was a ninth-rank honorary title, gilding Xiao Yi’s status. He would receive an additional six dou of grain and thirty cash monthly, a set of padded shoes from the Ministry of War in winter, and could wear a ninth-rank official’s wooden plaque at his waist when going out, which was another form of favor.
Thus, monthly grain of six shi and six dou, two hundred and eighty cash, one and a half bolts of silk per quarter, and half a set of winter clothes. Calculated, his total monthly income was around three thousand plus cash, slightly less than Zhang Mantun’s previous treatment.
But one must know that Zhang Mantun had fought on the battlefield for half his life, with Tie Ya devouring enemy generals, while Xiao Yi had merely spoken a few words.
Compared to Shi Hongzhao, Li Ye had seized power, and it was like a newly appointed householder not realizing the cost of rice.
After receiving the talisman and Official Document, Xiao Yi looked at the reward money and ten bolts of brocade.
Although it was said to be a hundred strings, it was equivalent in gold and silver. He packed a bag of convenient gold ingots and said to Lu You and Lu Chou, “I don’t know if I’ll return from this journey. If I do, I won’t be short of this. You saved my life, please divide this.”
“No, no.”
The two were startled and widened their eyes. In the end, they repeatedly waved their hands.
“It’s not that we don’t want it, this is for you to establish yourself. How could we dare accept it?”
Xiao Yi didn’t insist. “Then please take what you need. Is the rest enough for me to buy a small house in Kaifeng City?”
“If you want to buy a semi-mu courtyard house in a slightly better area of the city, that’s not enough. But if you don’t mind the location, finding a small house with two rooms, and then buying some furnishings, that’s enough.”
“Can I trouble you to help? Of course, it won’t be for free. This is hard work, I’ll pay a ten percent commission.”
“That’s still too much… Alright, leave it to your brother.” Lu You chuckled and said, “With this, you’ll have a home in the capital, find a wife, and life will be wonderful.”
Lu Chou was also overjoyed. He suddenly looked back and said, “Your armor has also arrived, try it on.”
Xiao Yi followed his gaze and saw the set of exquisite armor. A faint smile appeared in his eyes.
