With a scream, the leader was kicked flying by Moyu and crashed in front of Shen Xihe. Before he could get up, Zhenzhu had already planted a foot on his back: "Speak! Who are you? Why have you come here to attack us?"
She and Hongyu had never actually been affected by the knockout incense. They had pretended to be drugged specifically to lure out those who had thrown the incense.
"Spare me, noble lady! Spare me!" The man strained to lift his head, his face contorted in pleading. "We are hunters from the mountains. A few months ago, a group of unidentified people took over our homes and forced us to keep watch and run errands for them."
They were a band of displaced bandits—incompetent ones at that—who spent their days plundering and terrorizing nearby villages. Upon hearing that wealthy individuals had arrived with maids to gather flowers and stay temporarily, they had conceived their wicked plan.
"Hunters?" Shen Xihe sneered. "You're bandits."
The man didn't dare refute her.
"You must have committed plenty of wicked deeds." A cold glint flashed in Shen Xihe's eyes. "Moyu, execute him."
"Noble lady, spare me! I—we—" The man trembled violently in terror. "Noble lady, though we aren't good people, we only steal enough from commoners to fill our bellies. We've never killed anyone or assaulted young women. Those on the mountain are the truly vicious ones—they even dig up graves!"
"What did you say?" Shen Xihe raised her hand to halt Moyu's descending sword.
The blade's gleam flashed before his eyes, already piercing through skin. The bandit was so terrified he lost control of his bladder. Disgusted by his filth, Zhenzhu signaled to Moyu to drag him away. "Your Highness, this maid will interrogate him."
Having a keen sense of smell had its drawbacks—foul odors were particularly overwhelming. Shen Xihe expressionlessly entered the room while Mo Yuan and Hongyu began tidying up, burning incense outside to purify the air.
"Your Highness, this maid has obtained the full story," Zhenzhu reported after completing the interrogation. "There is indeed a hideout on the mountain. Their relatives witnessed these people excavating tombs and carrying out chests of gold, silver, and jewels. The bandits haven't left yet, which is why these men remain wandering outside. There's a hidden shortcut leading into the mountain stronghold. They weren't driven out—they're escaped remnants who slipped through the net."
Those vicious individuals engaged in such secretive activities would never easily let witnesses escape alive.
"Where is the man?" Shen Xihe asked.
"Disposed of," Zhenzhu replied calmly.
The lustful way he had looked at their mistress alone was reason enough for him to die.
"Mo Yuan," Shen Xihe called.
Mo Yuan immediately entered and bowed. "Your Highness, your command?"
"Find the Imperial Guard Captain Teng Jing. The two of you follow the path he revealed to investigate. Remember, do not expose your tracks," Shen Xihe instructed.
"As you command."
After this, Shen Xihe had no more desire to sleep. She waited two hours before Mo Yuan and Teng Jing returned.
"Your Highness, there is indeed a path leading to the mountain stronghold, and people are still stationed there. Some bear facial tattoo punishments," Mo Yuan reported gravely.
Facial tattoo punishment!
This dynasty rarely humiliated prisoners. Besides when ordered by Your Majesty, facial tattoos were only applied to two types of criminals: deserters and those guilty of heinous crimes.
Deserters were tattooed to control soldiers, while even Death Row Inmates convicted of ordinary murder didn't receive facial tattoos. Only those who killed indiscriminately, committed inhuman atrocities, or showed extreme cruelty received such markings—this was to prevent their escape from prison before execution."How many people are there?" Shen Xihe asked. "Such a group—regardless of whether they're involved in the tomb robbery case—cannot be allowed to escape. For every day they roam free, countless innocent lives may be lost."
"Approximately ten," Teng Jing replied.
"Though these bandits are fierce and ruthless, and possess some combat skills, they are not formidable," Mo Yuan expressed confidence in eliminating them.
"I want them alive," Shen Xihe's gaze turned cold. "These are desperate individuals. Capturing them alive will put you at a disadvantage."
"Shall we keep one or two alive?" Mo Yuan and Teng Jing exchanged glances.
Taking all of them alive would be difficult; they weren't confident about it.
"As many alive as possible," Shen Xihe insisted. It was uncertain how much each member knew. Those leading such operations might be skilled tomb raiders, while others might know little. To follow the trail and uncover the whole network, they needed to capture as many alive as possible. "This..." Mo Yuan hesitated, falling into deep thought as he considered what military tactics could be applied.
Shen Xihe stepped out of the room and turned to gaze at the mountain peaks, where no households or cooking smoke were visible. "Where is the bandit stronghold?"
"Over there," Teng Jing, keenly aware of directions, pointed immediately.
Shen Xihe reached out and grabbed a handful of withered yellow leaves, opening her palm to let the wind carry them away. "The north wind has been blowing these past few nights. Teng Jing, find a concealed location with the stronghold to the north."
"Acknowledged," Teng Jing accepted the order and departed.
Shen Xihe went to the hidden compartment of the carriage and retrieved two packets of fragrant spices, handing them to Zhenzhu. "This is Drunken Flower fragrance—its scent is fresh and sweet, quite different from knockout incense. Zhenzhu, take two people and rendezvous with Teng Jing. Light the incense at the third watch, but pay close attention to the wind direction. If it shifts, be extra cautious."
"Acknowledged," Zhenzhu took the scent satchels.
"Mo Yuan, deploy our forces to ambush the small paths. Make sure everyone wears these nasal plugs to avoid being affected by the Drunken Flower fragrance," Shen Xihe handed him a small brocade pouch filled with cotton mixed with awakening spices. "Moyu, take five people and block the main entrance of the stronghold. Hongyu, stay with me to guard the Jade Flower."
She had arranged everything she could. The rest was beyond her control. If the Jade Flower happened to bloom tonight and she wasn't there, it would be a great loss. She trusted her subordinates.
Shen Xihe hadn't mobilized many of the personnel sent by the Youning Emperor. However, given the enemy's numbers and their ruthlessness, she had Teng Jing select a few trustworthy individuals to assist in raiding the bandit den. She still had over thirty people remaining with her.
These thirty-plus individuals were divided into three shifts for guard duty, ensuring she would have protection during the day.
Shen Xihe held a warm incense burner and sat before the slender-leaved Jade Flower. The twilight was exceptionally heavy tonight, the sky tinged with red, and the howling cold wind seemed louder than the previous nights.
She observed the direction of the swaying plants in the wind—still from the north, and it had persisted for nearly half an hour. This was a promising sign for their plan.
Just then, a cold glint flashed at the corner of Shen Xihe's eye. Before she could react, Hongyu pulled her aside as a long blade, gleaming with a stark, desolate light in the darkness, struck right beside her.
Hongyu quickly rolled with Shen Xihe in her arms as three figures emerged from the shadows, confronting the five guards escorting them.She glanced over and saw that while swords and blades were flashing here, the camp not far away remained completely still. Sure enough, these people must have drugged Teng Jing and Mo Yuan during the day while they were busy with troop movements!
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