Because of the snow, the sky had grown dim earlier than usual.
When Xie Zheng led Fan Changyu into the study, the light was already somewhat faint. Only after lighting the lamps could they see the furnishings inside clearly.
Xie Zheng took a map from the bookshelf, spread it out on the desk, and pointed to it for Fan Changyu. "The Li family's plot against Wei Yan failed; instead, they fell into Wei Yan's trap. As things stand, their only hope for survival is to seize control of the entire capital and enthrone the Imperial Grandson. The platform of the Meridian Gate is no lower than the capital's city gates. If the Li family tries to storm it, they won't succeed in a short time. However, the Li family has operated in the capital for many years, so it's hard to say if they have moles within the Golden Guard.
"Since Wei Yan has pushed the Li family to this point, he must have a countermove prepared. But with me still in the capital, both the Li and Wei families will do everything they can to drag me into this first, lest I become the one who reaps all the benefits."
As Fan Changyu listened to Xie Zheng's analysis of the situation, her hand resting on the desk clenched tighter and tighter.
She looked up and asked, "So the Li family made the first move against you, ordering the Five Armies Garrison to surround the Xie residence?"
The corners of Xie Zheng's lips twitched, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "This is merely the opening act."
Just then, the personal guard stationed outside the door reported again, "Master, the Five Armies Garrison outside is clamoring to search the residence. They claim someone saw a fugitive from the Court of Revision enter the Marquis's residence last night."
Fan Changyu looked at Xie Zheng with worry in her eyes. Xie Zheng simply said to the guard outside, "Then relay this to the men of the Five Armies Garrison: if they have the guts to break down the gates of my Xie residence, they are more than welcome to break in and search."
After the personal guard acknowledged the order and withdrew, Fan Changyu asked, "Did we really leave a trail?"
The candlelight flickered in Xie Zheng's eyes, but it failed to cast much warmth. "It's just Wei Yan's scheme to drag me into this. The last time you and I broke into the prison, leading the Li family to believe it was Wei Yan who freed the prisoner, I imagine Wei Yan had already begun to lay his plans. Last night, the Blood-Clad Cavalry intercepted that steward from the Sui residence, stumbled upon the Li family killing the strategist who was about to change his testimony, and even learned the location where the letters between the Li family and Qi Min are hidden. With such leverage in my hands, how could the Li family possibly sit still? Whether they have a witness or not, they would have found a pretext to surround the residence."
Fan Changyu also knew full well that the Li family was now committed to this path to the bitter end. Her heart suddenly skipped a beat. "Qi Min knows Bao'er is still with us. Will the Office of Presentations be surrounded too?"
Xie Zheng nodded. "With the military strength of the Five Armies Garrison, surrounding the Office of Presentations is a trivial matter."
Fan Changyu immediately frowned. "General Tang and Aunt Zhao are still at the Office of Presentations..."
Xie Zheng looked up at her. "That is precisely what I need you to do next."
A more solemn expression instantly appeared on Fan Changyu's face.
Xie Zheng's long index finger pointed to the location of the palace gates on the map. "The Five Armies Garrison is divided into five battalions and seventy-two guards, with a force of no less than twenty thousand. Four of these battalions might be used by the Li family, but the commander of the Left Army Battalion, Shen Shen, is on good terms with me, and the Shen family has always been loyal and upright. Xie Shisan will take my token to find him and have him block Wei Yan from mobilizing the Divine Machine Battalion. However, we still need a bait to divert the attention of the Li and Wei families. I gave you the token to command the Blood-Clad Cavalry long ago. When the time comes, you will lead all the Blood-Clad Cavalry from the residence, fight your way back to the Office of Presentations, and get Tang Peiyi and the others out."
Fan Changyu's head shot up. "If I take all the Blood-Clad Cavalry, what about you?"
Xie Zheng's phoenix eyes swept toward the snow-swept window, his expression both unrestrained and filled with a languidness that suggested he had long awaited this day. "They won't believe I've assigned all the Blood-Clad Cavalry to you. They'll only assume I have more men hidden in the capital."
At this, he gave a slight lift to the corners of his lips and looked at Fan Changyu. "When falsehood is taken for truth, the truth itself becomes false. Who would dare to gamble everything on an uncertain outcome?"
But Fan Changyu was still worried. "Even if the Li family can only use the troops of four battalions, that's still over fifteen thousand men. How will you deal with them?"
Xie Zheng only said, "Both the Li and Wei families are holding back their trump cards; they won't throw all their forces at me in a life-or-death struggle. And taking a step back, even if it truly comes down to a fight to the death, the several hundred soldiers of the Xie Family Army I brought into the capital can still make them shed a layer of skin."
As Fan Changyu slowly processed what he had said, she suddenly asked, "Why are your men stopping the Divine Machine Battalion, and not the Li family's?"
Xie Zheng raised a hand and lightly touched Fan Changyu's cheek. "The Golden Guard is under the direct command of the young emperor. Wei Yan is now in the same boat as the young emperor, so the Golden Guard will certainly be at his disposal. Adding to that the elites of the Three Thousand Battalion, he can hold the palace and fight the Li family to a stalemate for a short time. But with the cannons and weaponry of the Divine Machine Battalion, no matter how numerous the Five Armies Garrison is, they will ultimately be nothing more than a pile of mangled flesh and broken bones under cannon fire."
He paused here. "When I send Shen Shen, it's less about stopping the Divine Machine Battalion and more about several factions scrambling to seize its weaponry. Understand?"
Only then did Fan Changyu grasp the importance of this deployment. She said, "Then after I rescue General Tang, I'll temporarily hand over all the forces currently available in the capital to him. I'll personally make a trip to the Western Garden. If General Shen fails to stop the men from the Divine Machine Battalion, I will!"
The weaponry of the Divine Machine Battalion was all stored in the Western苑, outside the palace city.
Xie Zheng stared at her for a good while. Fan Changyu frowned. "You don't believe I can stop them?"
Xie Zheng forcefully pulled her into his embrace. "If you can't stop them, then don't. Just come back to me alive."
Fan Changyu looked up. "Those aren't words you should be saying to a general."
Xie Zheng lowered his head slightly, his bangs casting a faint shadow over his eyelids, concealing the tenderness hidden within his deep, aloof eyes. "You are the general of thousands, but you are also my wife. My instructions are for my wife."
Even knowing the urgency of the current situation, Fan Changyu's heart still skipped a beat when she heard his words. She pressed her lips together and stared at him intently.
"I'm leaving," she said.
She had already reached the door when she suddenly turned back, strode forward, and forcefully grabbed his collar, pulling him down. She planted a heavy kiss on his lips, then lowered her fan-like long lashes and said in a muffled voice, "I know what you have to do."
With that, she pulled open the door and strode away.
Xie Zheng stood rooted to the spot, watching her retreating back. A deep, dark emotion brewed in the depths of his black eyes. "If even the slightest thing happens to her, none of you need to come back either."
A dark shadow seemed to flit away from the room—
With the Blood-Clad Cavalry, each man worth a hundred, clearing the path, the branch of the Five Armies Garrison surrounding the Xie residence was nothing to fear. Fan Changyu and her men quickly tore open a gap and galloped straight for the Office of Presentations.
It was the New Year, and most of the shops along the streets were tightly shut. It was unclear whether the owners had gone home for the festivities or if the great commotion of soldiers coming and going today had frightened them into closing up. The homes of ordinary folk along the streets were even more securely shuttered.
Because they were such a large, moving target, a portion of the Five Armies Garrison soldiers surrounding the Xie residence broke off to pursue them, successfully ignoring the scouts who were galloping in the opposite direction—
The main gate of the Office of Presentations had long since been smashed open. The commanding officer stood in the courtyard, his hand on the hilt of his sword, shouting coarsely, "Search! If any male child is found, kill him without exception!"
Tang Peiyi, He Xiujun, and a group of other generals came out upon hearing the commotion. Seeing that the intruders were from the Five Armies Garrison, they didn't dare to clash with them rashly. Tang Peiyi cupped his fist and said, "Might I ask this general, for what reason have you suddenly dispatched troops to the Office of Presentations?"
The officer's rank was several levels below Tang Peiyi's, but at this moment, he only sneered, "The Joint Trial by the Three Supreme Courts has discovered that the mother and son of the rebel who previously escaped from the Court of Revision are being harbored in the Office of Presentations. This general is under orders to conduct a search."
Tang Peiyi was a straightforward man, and seeing the man's contemptuous attitude, his face already showed displeasure. He Xiujun, however, was meticulous and immediately said, "Since you are under orders to search, we hope the general will produce a search warrant to avoid any misunderstanding and preserve harmony."
The officer couldn't produce a warrant and simply said, "Once I have the witness in hand, you can all go to the Court of Revision to see the search warrant!"
He Xiujun exchanged a look with Tang Peiyi and Zheng Wenchang, a shared understanding in their eyes.
He Xiujun chuckled amicably. "What a thing to say, General. Since we were summoned to the capital, we haven't left this Office of Presentations except when summoned by His Majesty. How could a fugitive from the Court of Revision be hiding here? There must be some misunderstanding. It's cold out here. Why not let your men do the searching? General, you should come inside with us to warm up by the fire and have a cup of tea to ward off the chill."
As he spoke, he moved forward as if to take the officer's elbow.
The officer's eyes flickered, and he was about to refuse when He Xiujun suddenly struck. The hand gripping his arm twisted backward, and with a trip to his feet, the officer was forced to his knees, his hands pinned behind his back.
With perfect coordination, Zheng Wenchang also drew his sword and pressed it against the man's throat, shouting at the soldiers on either side who were attempting to advance, "Back off!"
The officer realized he had been careless and grit his teeth, looking at Tang Peiyi. "Let me find the person and take them away, and we can all go our separate ways. If you insist on wading into these muddy waters, it won't be so easy to get out."
Tang Peiyi stared at him for a long moment before saying simply, "Tie him up!"
Personal guards immediately came forward with ropes and bound the man tightly.
Tang Peiyi, He Xiujun, and Zheng Wenchang all lived together, so Tang Peiyi knew perfectly well whether they were harboring a male child. Fan Changyu, being a female general, lived in a separate courtyard. Tang Peiyi wasn't sure if Fan Changyu had truly broken someone out of prison in secret, or if this group of soldiers was just using it as a pretext to capture Yu Bao'er.
Holding the officer hostage, the group made their way to Fan Changyu's courtyard. The soldiers who had been searching everywhere, wary of their commander being captured, dared not make any further moves. They only pointed their weapons at Tang Peiyi's party, looking for an opportunity to act.
When they reached Fan Changyu's courtyard, they saw Xie Wu, holding a saber in one hand, protecting an old couple behind him.
With only one hand to wield a weapon and two elderly people to protect, he was clearly at a disadvantage. He was already bleeding, and the doors to the several side rooms in the courtyard were wide open, apparently having been broken into and searched by the soldiers.
Tang Peiyi immediately bellowed, "Stop!"
The soldiers surrounding Xie Wu saw that their commander had been captured. They exchanged glances and all eased their attacks.
Tang Peiyi gave He Xiujun a look. He Xiujun immediately took two personal guards forward to help the elderly Zhao couple. He Xiujun personally supported Xie Wu and asked in a low voice, "Where is the young master?"
Xie Wu replied, "The General took him away in secret."
He Xiujun couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief at this answer. He turned and questioned the officer from the Five Armies Garrison, "We are residing in this Office of Presentations under imperial decree. You search without a warrant. I'd like to see who's in the right when this is reported to the Court of Revision!"
The commander still insisted, "The son of the rebel who was broken out of the Court of Revision is hidden in the Office of Presentations. By harboring a rebel, could it be that you too have rebellious intentions?"
Tang Peiyi's expression had become quite ugly.
After He Xiujun gave him a subtle nod, Tang Peiyi, knowing that Yu Bao'er was no longer here, immediately patted the face of the tightly bound officer and sneered, "Then let your men search. If they find nothing, you'll be leaving a hand and a foot here."
Hearing this, the officer glanced around. Not seeing Fan Changyu, he shouted, "The remnant of the rebels has already been taken away by the General of the Cloud Banner, hasn't he?"
Just then, the sound of urgent and chaotic horse hooves rang out from outside the Office of Presentations, immediately followed by the clash of weapons.
Tang Peiyi and the others, holding the officer hostage, headed toward the front courtyard. Just as they passed through the ornamental gate, they saw a soldier at the main entrance get kicked so hard he flew sideways down the stone steps, crashing into a flower bed and spitting out a mouthful of blood.
Fan Changyu, dressed in practical attire with a long saber on her back, fought her way in. Seeing that Tang Peiyi and his men had captured the commander of this troop, she breathed a small sigh of relief and called out, "General Tang!"
Through the main gate, Tang Peiyi saw the Blood-Clad Cavalry outside, locked in a fierce battle with the soldiers. He quickly asked, "Niece Changyu, what is going on?"
Fan Changyu backhanded her blade to cut down a soldier attempting a sneak attack and said concisely, "The Li family is rebelling!"
Tang Peiyi, He Xiujun, and the others' faces all changed upon hearing this.
Without time to wipe the blood spatter from her face, Fan Changyu strode forward and looked at Tang Peiyi. "The heavens are about to change over this Great Yin. It remains to be seen what General Tang intends to do."
A rare look of gravity appeared on Tang Peiyi's rugged face. After about a breath's time, he looked at Fan Changyu. "What are the Marquis's intentions?"
Fan Changyu's forehead had been grazed during the fight, and a bead of blood slid from her temple to her jaw. Her eyes were cold and resolute. "The one on the dragon throne is an incompetent and virtueless ruler. The one the Li family wants to support, though a descendant of the Chengde Crown Prince, lived as the eldest son of the Changxin Wang in the Sui family for seventeen years. He is the one the Li family colluded with to frame Wei Yan. The siege of Lucheng and Lord He's death were all caused by this. If such a person ascends to the throne, he will be anything but a benevolent ruler."
Only today did Tang Peiyi and the others learn of these hidden details. After a moment of shock, anger surfaced on their faces.
The vicious plot to empty Chongzhou City and besiege Lucheng instead was thought up by the Li family and the Imperial Grandson?
Tang Peiyi looked at Fan Changyu. "The child you've been keeping by your side, isn't he a descendant of the Chengde Crown Prince?"
Fan Changyu said, "That child is the Imperial Grandson's son."
He Xiujun glanced at the captured officer from the Five Armies Garrison, a cold smile appearing on his gentle and refined face. "So the Five Armies Garrison suddenly surrounded the Office of Presentations because the Imperial Grandson gave the order to kill that child?"
Fan Changyu nodded grimly.
Tang Peiyi had yet to state his position, but with his father's death weighing on him, He Xiujun could be said to hate the Imperial Grandson to the bone. He was the first to side with Fan Changyu. "I will follow the Marquis in supporting the Imperial Great-Grandson!"
Tang Peiyi looked at He Xiujun.
He Xiujun was the eldest and most level-headed of the young men. He cupped his fist towards Tang Peiyi and said:
"This humble general's action is not taken rashly out of anger over my father's death. The Imperial Grandson vies for this realm, yet he lacks a heart that cares for the common people. Like the Li family, he sought to use the lives of thousands of soldiers to fabricate a great crime for Wei Yan. In terms of public duty, he lacks the benevolence of a Son of Heaven. In terms of private matters, he is willing to have his own son killed for the sake of the throne. Even wolves and jackals are not so vicious. If the lands of the Great Yin fall into the hands of such a person, how would it be any different from when Wei Yan controlled the court? What face would we have in the future to meet the soldiers who died in battle outside Lucheng?"
Zheng Wenchang immediately stood with Fan Changyu as well, followed by twos and threes of the Jizhou generals who had entered the capital with them.
The tragedy of the battle of Lucheng was, after all, a great thorn in the hearts of these Jizhou generals.
Tang Peiyi sighed deeply and looked at Fan Changyu. "I don't know if I will regret today's decision in the future, but neither the one Wei Yan supports nor the one the Li family wants to enthrone is worthy of that dragon throne. For today's action, whether it leads to success or failure, I, Tang Peiyi, will follow the Marquis and change the heavens for this Great Yin!"
Only after Tang Peiyi had nodded did Fan Changyu feel her heart finally settle.
With Tang Peiyi's help, Xie Zheng's chances of stabilizing the capital tonight increased by another thirty percent!—
Outside the Office of Presentations, the Blood-Clad Cavalry were still fighting the soldiers of the Five Armies Garrison. A bloody head was thrown out from the main gate, rolling several times on the stone tiles before coming to a stop.
Fan Changyu's horse-cutting sword was still dripping with blood. Under the flickering lamplight, her eyes held the ferocity of a tiger descending a mountain. Her cold, crisp voice tore through the clamor of the cold night, "Zhou Tong, Adjutant of the Right Flank Army, is dead! If you surrender, the crimes of tonight can be forgiven!"
The Five Armies Garrison stationed in the capital was divided into the Central Army, Left and Right Flank Army, and Left and Right Sentry Army battalions, with the Central Army Battalion being the most numerous.
The soldiers, who had been in a chaotic melee, all stopped upon seeing the bloody head.
Tang Peiyi immediately followed up, "This general is about to assist the Wu'an Marquis in apprehending the conspirators. If you do not surrender, all who surrounded the Office of Presentations tonight will be charged with the crime of treason."
This unit of the Right Flank Army, having lost its commander and now hearing these threats, was instantly filled with alarm. After looking around at each other, they all lowered their weapons.
Seeing that the situation at the Office of Presentations had stabilized, Fan Changyu immediately looked at Tang Peiyi. "General Tang, I'll leave this to you."
Tang Peiyi asked, "You're not coming with us to the imperial palace?"
Fan Changyu swung onto her horse, the cold wind lifting the strands of hair that had come loose on her forehead during the fight. "I'm going to stop the Divine Machine Battalion from reinforcing the palace city."
With just that one sentence, Tang Peiyi understood Fan Changyu's intention.
He said, "Then take more men with you!"
As he spoke, he assigned several more men to Fan Changyu, Zheng Wenchang among them.
Fan Changyu did not refuse, only cupping her fist towards Tang Peiyi from horseback. "Thank you, General!"
Fan Changyu led Zheng Wenchang, the others, and the Blood-Clad Cavalry as they galloped towards the Western Garden.
After watching them ride away, Tang Peiyi shouted to the surrendered Right Flank Army, "You will all follow me to 'rescue the emperor'!"—
As dusk deepened, the wind and snow grew heavier. A thin layer of snow had already accumulated on the shades of the lanterns hanging under the eaves.
The dim yellow light from under the eaves cast the swaying shadows of bamboo onto the doors and windows of a lit room. Vaguely visible inside were the blurry figures of two people, each sitting on one side of a low table, playing Go.
One figure was gaunt but graceful, his sparse hair tied in a small bun at the back of his head and secured with a long pin. From time to time, he would stroke the few long, equally sparse strands of his beard.
The other figure was powerfully built, his back as straight as a pine tree even while sitting on a cushion. His movements as he placed his stones were decisive, filled with the aura of a killer.
Both men were like mountains. One was like a high mountain with flowing water, elegant and serene; the other was like Mount Song, majestic and magnificent.
As his gaunt index and middle fingers placed another white stone on the board, Tao Taifu looked at the man opposite him and sighed, or perhaps not. "Yigui, this game... you've walked into a dead end."
Gui, a ritual object made of jade. Yigui was Wei Yan's courtesy name.
In the entire court today, only the weathered old man opposite him dared to call him by this name.
The wind outside was strong, making the bamboo shadows dance wildly. Wei Yan returned the black stone in his hand to the bowl and said only, "Not necessarily. Perhaps by dawn, there will be a way to break the stalemate."
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