Chapter 186: Shocking Change Within the Walls
The hurried footsteps in the rain obscured the sound of the downpour.
The Imperial Guards of the Right Imperial Guard were practically turning Pu Ji Temple upside down.
Li Huan still stood in the corridor, looking at the dilapidated storage room.
The tightly shut room door finally opened—
The room was a mess, with soaked straw and waterlogged pottery jars scattered about. An old wooden box in the corner lay overturned, the stacked sutra banners were soggy from the rain, and several round logs lay haphazardly on the ground. The smell of damp earth mixed with decaying wood assailed the senses.
Due to a large hole in the roof, rainwater poured down the beams and pillars, washing over everything in the storage room and leaving little trace.
A sami from the temple explained that the room was too full of items, and round logs had been used to prop the door shut, making it difficult to open.
Two Right Imperial Guards searched inside and came out to report.
“Your Highness, there’s no one—”
Li Huan looked at the winding water marks on the ground and slowly reached for the sword at his waist.
At that moment, a light sound of shattering tiles came from the southwest corner.
Someone was stepping on the eaves of the roof.
“Surround them!” Li Huan commanded in a low voice, drawing his sword with a clear clang that pierced the rain.
Dozens of Imperial Guards swooped down like night ravens, instantly sealing off the corner gates around the monastic room.
Li Huan stopped abruptly at the turn of the corridor, watching a dark figure flash across the eaves. As his wide sleeves fluttered, a shower of bamboo leaves scattered in the air.
“There!” the Commander of the Right Imperial Guard shouted, raising his Wild Goose Feather Saber and leading his men in pursuit.
Li Huan suddenly raised his hand and snatched a bow from an archer.
He looked in the direction the dark figure had fled, lowered his shoulder, spread his arms, and drew the bowstring taut.
Swish!
The feathered arrow tore through the rain curtain and shot through the air.
Li Zhao waved his sleeve and spun to dodge.
The arrow grazed his arm, opening a three-inch gash.
The sound of rain suddenly intensified. He stepped on a gargoyle, then on the slippery corridor tiles, using the momentum to leap towards the red wall, tiles shattering under his feet.
Li Huan and his men pursued to the base of the temple’s red wall, blocking the moon gate.
“Fire!”
Arrows and rain intertwined, like silver threads in the twilight.
Li Zhao closed his eyes, then opened them again, his handsome face now etched with ferocity.
A cold glint flashed from his sleeve, and over a dozen poisoned bone-penetrating nails shot out, aimed directly at the vital points of the Right Imperial Guards.
“Ah!” Cries pierced the air, mixing with the sound of the rain.
Several Right Imperial Guards were struck and fell to the ground, groaning incessantly.
Li Zhao sneered, using the torrential rain as cover. He pressed himself tightly against the damp corridor pillar, gazing at the red wall faintly visible through the mist and rain, and suddenly put his finger in his mouth.
“Chirp…”
A whistle pierced the clouds.
The neighing of horses tore through the rain curtain, kicking up fine splashes on the waterlogged road.
Li Zhao’s boot tip crushed the green moss at the corner of the wall, and he leaped down, leaving a faint footprint.
Then, he turned back and forcefully threw a jade pendant he had taken from his waist.
The jade pendant slid down through a crack in the wall.
“Giddy up!”
He spurred his horse and galloped away.
Behind him, Pu Ji Temple gradually became a blur.
The shouts of the Imperial Guards merged into a continuous roar.
“The person escaped!”
“Quick, chase!”
Hooves shattered puddles and mud. In the distance, hunting dogs barked wildly in the farmers’ bamboo groves, mixing with the sound of the downpour and the shouts of the pursuers, rising and falling like a death knell.
Li Zhao glanced back at the pursuing soldiers, slapped his horse’s back forcefully, and rolled off a gentle slope.
The horse, startled, bolted forward!
In an instant, several Right Imperial Guards surrounded the area, looking at the hoof prints in the mud.
“Chase, that way—”
–
Rainwater, mixed with the scent of sandalwood, flowed over the eaves of Pu Ji Temple.
Li Huan stood on the bluestone steps of the corridor, the corner of his cloak lifted by the cool breeze. His stern face was cast in the dim, yellowish light.
“Reporting to Your Highness.”
The Commander of the Right Imperial Guard knelt with his saber in his arms.
“That scoundrel was extremely cunning and took advantage of the rain to slip into the mountain forest. We pursued halfway up the mountain, searched thoroughly, but ultimately, he still escaped…”
Li Huan gripped the hilt of his sword, his gaze exceptionally cold in the rain.
He did not erupt in anger, his expression remaining as stern as ever. “Issue an order to completely blockade the villages around the mountain forest. Deploy two battalions for patrol and search every household. We must find him, dead or alive.”
The commander did not dare to delay and quickly bowed to accept the order.
At that moment, a guard ran from the corridor of the front hall.
“Reporting to Your Highness, this subordinate was ordered to check the incense visitors in the front hall. We did not find any unfamiliar foreign individuals…”
Another guard hurried forward from the corner. “Reporting to Your Highness, this subordinate also found no accomplices.”
“Your Highness, the woodshed, kitchen, vegetable garden, release pond, and stable in the back garden have all been searched. We haven’t even seen a suspicious wild cat…”
Not a single piece of good news.
Everyone held their breath, so tense they dared not exhale.
Li Huan’s brow first twitched, then his lips tightened. He let out a laugh, his expression becoming extremely peculiar.
“Your Highness…” Xiang Yang glanced at his gentle, handsome face and said cautiously in a low voice, “The pattern on the dagger that killed Imperial Physician Fu is indeed used by Xizi Death Warriors.”
As he spoke, he held a plain handkerchief with both hands and presented it.
The bloodstained dagger lay on it, emitting a faint glow.
“The totem on the hilt is exactly the same as the Xizi token seized last time.”
Li Huan gazed at the ferocious totem, slowly raised his hand, and rubbed the indentation on the hilt a few times, then suddenly chuckled.
“A fine piece of misdirection.”
When Xue Sui finished tidying up and came out, she heard his abrupt remark.
She stopped in the corridor, her gaze fixed on the damp base of the storage room wall.
A paper packet covered in mud lay crumpled amidst the broken tiles and damp, rotten straw, its color blending in, not very conspicuous.
“Your Highness,” Xue Sui said, pulling her cloak tighter and walking closer, as if the unpleasantness had not happened. “Did you find anything?”
Li Huan glanced at her sideways, twirling a jade thumb ring, and replied casually, “We couldn’t find anything, it’s very strange. But if we truly found something, it would definitely be… someone framing us.”
Xue Sui asked in confusion, “Why?”
Li Huan: “Would Xizi Death Warriors leave so many flaws when killing someone?”
Saying this, he walked towards the damp base of the storage room wall, bent down, and reached for the crumpled paper packet, only to hear Xue Sui’s startled cry of warning.
“Your Highness, don’t touch it!”
Li Huan looked up at her. “What is it?”
Xue Sui’s eyes flickered, and she calmly reminded him, “If this matter truly involves Xizi, we should still be cautious. Your Highness just said that if something was found, it would be a frame-up. But I believe, besides a frame-up, there might be other possibilities…”
“What do you mean?” Li Huan pressed closer, his voice laced with coldness.
Xue Sui advanced instead of retreating. “Besides framing, they also kill.”
With that, she bent down, picked up a wooden stick, and gently pried open the paper packet.
Inside, there was indeed a layer of white powder. Because it was tightly wrapped, it had not been dispersed by the rain.
“I’ve heard Xizi has a poison that is colorless and odorless. If it accidentally touches the skin and enters through the mouth and nose, even an immortal would be hard-pressed to save you…”
Li Huan narrowed his eyes and looked at her. “Ping An knows a lot.”
Xue Sui met his gaze calmly. “Medicine and poison stem from the same source; I know a little.”
Li Huan rubbed his thumb ring, remaining silent.
Before his words had even finished, a guard stumbled in, drenched like a drowned rat, panting, his excited voice trembling.
“Your Highness, we found this! We found a token…”
It was a jade pendant engraved with the Xizi totem.
Identical to the one found on Prince Wei Li Yan last time.
“Your Highness, it was left behind by the murderer.”
With the dagger and jade pendant as evidence, and the familiar methods of Xizi Death Warriors, it was confirmed that Fu Qingsong was killed by Xizi people.
Everyone held their breath, watching Li Huan.
Li Huan did not reply.
The Commander of the Right Imperial Guard cupped his hands and asked, “Your Highness, what should we do now? Should we continue searching?”
Pu Ji Temple was a sacred Buddhist site. A large-scale search had already disturbed the monks’ cultivation. Further investigation might incur their resentment and damage the Imperial Family’s reputation for piety.
Li Huan looked at the continuous rain in the corridor and slowly waved his hand.
“You all withdraw to the mountain gate first, gather your men, and guard the temple gate strictly.”
“Yes!”
Everyone accepted the order and left.
The sound of hurried footsteps gradually faded into the rain.
Li Huan slowly walked back to the corridor and approached Xue Sui.
Rainwater slid down his jaw, spreading on his soaked collar. His expression was somber, his gaze unfathomable.
“Are you returning to my mansion with me, or staying another night?”
Xue Sui pondered for a moment. “Please go ahead, Your Highness. Wen Jia and I have just finished copying scriptures and haven’t had a chance to offer them yet. With such a major incident, the temple’s religious services might be affected. I’m afraid I’ll have to return tomorrow…”
“Mm.” Li Huan nodded without a hint of suspicion and left directly.
Xue Sui watched his retreating back and silently returned to the monastic room.
As soon as the room door closed.
Li Huan stopped.
He looked back at the monastic room and slowly walked back.
His black boots stopped outside the dilapidated storage room, his eyes fixed on the damaged wooden door.
After a long moment, he walked away again.
–
The candlelight in the monastic room flickered.
Xue Sui stood quietly by the window, taking in Li Huan’s sudden halt and return.
“Young Lady, should this servant follow Your Highness?” Xiao Zhao asked softly from behind her.
Xue Sui shook her head, unconsciously poking the wet window paper.
Outside the window, the rain curtain was like a veil, half her face shrouded in shadow.
“The bait has been taken; now we wait for the situation to unfold.”
Before her voice faded, her gaze suddenly stopped. She caught sight of a glimpse of a moon-white robe corner behind the screen.
She turned abruptly and saw Tianshu holding the Ling Qiong Flute, hidden there, his face as cold as thin snow about to melt.
“Senior Brother?”
Tianshu nodded silently, without speaking.
Xiao Zhao looked at the two of them, her gaze shifting, and gave Ru Yi a look.
“This servant will wait outside.”
The half-burnt candle sputtered, and Xiao Zhao and Ru Yi, in tacit understanding, retreated outside the door.
Tianshu slowly sat down, the Ling Qiong Flute twirling leisurely between his fingers, his voice faint.
“Shopkeeper Qiu is being watched by both the Eastern Palace and Prince Duan’s Mansion.”
He told Xue Sui what had happened at the antique shop.
Xue Sui asked, “Did the two sides clash?”
Tianshu shook his head. “They didn’t meet.”
Xue Sui’s delicate brows rose. “Senior Brother, do you think Old Qiu can be trusted?”
Tianshu remained still. The Ling Qiong Flute was suddenly held in front of the candlelight, obscuring the cold light in his pupils. “His son, Xiao Quan, is at the Old Mausoleum Swamp. I doubt he would dare to betray us.”
“That’s good,” Xue Sui said. “The Xizi High Priest Amun Rah and King Xizi Ashina, one advocates for peace, the other for war. They are outwardly harmonious but inwardly at odds. The Xizi Death Warriors lying dormant in Shangjing are Ashina’s personal guards…”
She paused, sat down in front of Tianshu, and tapped the tabletop with her knuckles, producing two crisp sounds. “Ashina’s move, on the surface, is to use the Death Warriors to disrupt the situation in Shangjing and fish in troubled waters. In reality, he wants to use this opportunity to overthrow the High Priest and seize sole power in Xizi.”
Tianshu’s eyes slightly drooped. “What is your plan?”
Xue Sui said, “Senior Brother, how about we try a ‘Po Luo Stratagem’ this time? We’ll use their own strength against them and nip Ashina’s conspiracy in the bud…”
Tianshu asked, “What benefit will this bring to the Old Mausoleum Swamp?”
Daliang and Xizi, in terms of power, were far beyond the Old Mausoleum Swamp. It was not worth rashly getting involved in their conflict for either side. Remaining neutral and seeking profit was the consistent strategy of the Old Mausoleum Swamp.
Xue Sui understood Tianshu’s meaning and was silent for a moment. “It is wise for us to remain as fishermen and reap the benefits. However, we cannot always be defensive; we must offer some bait and act strategically. Senior Brother, a small sacrifice can lead to a greater gain…”
Tianshu looked at her seriously. “Will the credit for the ‘Po Luo Stratagem’ be attributed to Li Zhao?”
Before Xue Sui could answer, Tianshu asked again, “Ping An, is your intention towards Li Zhao purely for utilization, or do you have some other feelings? Aren’t you afraid that if you raise a wolf, it will eventually turn on its master?”
Wolf?
Who the wolf is, is yet to be determined.
Just as Xue Sui was about to speak, hurried footsteps suddenly sounded from outside.
She and Tianshu exchanged a glance. “What’s happening?”
Xiao Zhao pushed open the door, her face showing uncontrollable panic.
“Young Lady, something bad has happened…”
Xue Sui rarely saw such a panicked expression on Xiao Zhao’s face.
Her heart sank. “Speak slowly…”
Xiao Zhao clutched her chest, her voice trembling. “News has come from the West Mountain Imperial Palace that Consort Wan was poisoned to death, and Niu Niu is also missing…”
See you tomorrow~~
