Liang Chen Mei Jin

Chapter 122: The Assassination

Xiao You allowed him to enter and closed the lattice window. The two sat on the heated brick bed, and Liu Zhou pulled out a still-warm paper package from his robe. Xiao You took a teacup and poured wine.

After taking a sip, Xiao You said, "The old Marquis Changxing is truly shrewd—he had the foresight to enlist the help of the Minister of War. Did you really go to Zhao Yinchi’s residence?"

Liu Zhou laughed heartily. "After leaving, I went straight to Mingzhao Lane, where Zhao Yinchi’s residence is located. I wandered around the market and even had a few extra drinks at Old Huang’s tavern. I timed it so that by the time I went to Zhao’s residence to deliver the message, Prince Rui should have already executed Marquis Changxing. He had six thousand men from the Divine Machine Battalion and two thousand from the Embroidered Uniform Guard lying in ambush at the Huangji Hall, along with hidden crossbowmen. If he still couldn’t take down Marquis Changxing with all that, he’d be truly incompetent."

Xiao You shook his head with a smile. "Prince Rui is incompetent to begin with. If not for our help, he wouldn’t have been able to sway the Divine Machine Battalion..."

Liu Zhou sighed. "After tonight, the Marquis Changxing’s household will likely begin its decline. The heir is young and frail... But speaking of the heir, I was reminded of someone I met at Old Huang’s tavern... Guess who I ran into!"

Xiao You didn’t even lift his eyelids. "I don’t care to guess. If you won’t say it, forget it."

Liu Zhou, unable to contain his excitement, eagerly continued, "I met a servant who had been released from the Gu household—not the Gu family from Daxing, but the original Gu family from Shi’an, the one related to the late Vice Minister Gu. He told me quite a bit about their Eldest Miss... the one the heir snuck into her chambers!"

In the gossip-filled streets, rumors spread like wildfire, and people were always strangely fascinated by the private affairs of the nobility.

Liu Zhou grew impatient. "Don’t doubt me—this man really was released from the Gu household. Their master relocated, and many of the old servants were let go."

"He said their Eldest Miss Gu was quite the formidable one. To prevent concubines from vying for favor, she personally selected concubines for her father. Later, after her mother died, she drove the favored concubine to a remote courtyard and forced her to shave her head and become a nun... and that concubine was even pregnant at the time. She lost the child and went mad. When their Eldest Miss managed the inner household, any steward who disobeyed her... she had the guards break their legs and throw them out. Tsk tsk, if the heir really fancies someone like that, he’d be climbing the roof within days of marrying her!"

Liu Zhou didn’t care how exaggerated the servant’s words might have been—he spilled everything to Xiao You. In truth, everyone knew such stories were half-truths at best, but the way they were told was so vivid and enthralling.

What he didn’t expect was for Xiao You’s smile to vanish upon hearing this.

Something didn’t add up... Gu Jinzhao had sought him out to treat Concubine Song, hadn’t she? That concubine wasn’t even ill—he had prescribed her mild tonics... So how could she have lost a child and gone mad? The Eldest Miss Gu had always seemed gentle and kind—how could she possibly have ordered stewards’ legs broken and thrown out?

Suddenly, Xiao You remembered Gu Jinzhao once asking him about the interactions between the medicines he prescribed. She had been worried the concubine might accidentally consume something harmful...

Could it be that Gu Jinzhao hadn’t wanted him to save the concubine at all—but to harm her?

Then Liu Zhou’s mention of the heir entering Gu Jinzhao’s chambers came to mind. Xiao You couldn’t immediately grasp the connection, but the more he thought, the more uneasy he became. If Gu Jinzhao was truly so cunning, why would Ye Xian seek her out?

He didn’t know. But one thing was certain—it definitely wasn’t for romance!

What did Ye Xian’s actions imply? The more Xiao You pondered, the more cold sweat broke out on his back. How could he have forgotten? Ye Xian’s subordinate, Li Xianhuai, was a martial arts master—who could possibly tail them without being detected? Unless... they had deliberately allowed it!

Xiao You abruptly stood. "Liu Zhou, something’s wrong... You—you must go to the imperial city at once. If Prince Rui succeeds, the palace gates will open. If he fails, they’ll remain sealed!"

Liu Zhou was baffled. "Sir, what’s troubling you? Prince Rui should have already slain Marquis Changxing by now. There’s no need to worry."

Xiao You glared at him. "Go now! If you’re late... our lives may be forfeit!"

Xiao You hoped he was overthinking things. He reassured himself—the heir had merely spoken with Gu Jinzhao. How could it be such a coincidence? A sheltered young lady, no matter how formidable, couldn’t possibly know about court affairs...

Liu Zhou, startled by Xiao You’s urgency, quickly stood and prepared to leave again.

Xiao You paced the room anxiously until Liu Zhou returned, crestfallen.

"Sir, no need to go. Marquis Changxing has returned..."

Xiao You paled, and Liu Zhou hastily added, "Don’t worry—he was carried back gravely wounded. The heir requests your presence to treat him."

Xiao You exhaled in relief... So the plan had partially succeeded.

His expression eased slightly as he asked Liu Zhou, "What of the rebellion... was it successful?"

Liu Zhou shook his head and whispered, "I don’t know. The guards escorting the marquis were all injured—they must have fought their way out... You should hurry to Yude Hall. If you’re late, the heir might grow suspicious..."

Xiao Qishan had a servant fetch his medicine chest and headed to Yude Hall, where Marquis Changxing lay.

Yude Hall was brightly lit, with servants constantly coming and going carrying brass basins. The main hall, side rooms, and rear quarters were all heavily guarded by the Iron Cavalry Battalion, leaving no gaps. Lady Gao, Lady Ye (who had rushed back from the Gu household), and the old marquis stood in the western chamber. Imperial physicians streamed in and out of the eastern chamber, their expressions grave. Zhao Yinchi stood under the corridor’s eaves speaking with Ye Xian before departing, leaving Ye Xian to enter the western chamber.

The old marquis’s eyes were bloodshot, but as a hardened soldier who refused to shed tears, he held them back. Lady Gao, however, clung to Lady Ye and wept softly. Ye Xian surveyed the elders and women of his household and remained silent.

The Changxing household... It was time for him to shoulder its burdens.

Mr. Wei entered with a solemn expression. "Mr. Xiao has arrived..."

Ye Xian immediately said, "Please bring him in." He then stepped forward to greet Xiao You, his face etched with sorrow. "You’ve come just in time, sir. Please examine my father. Prince Rui went too far—he ambushed Father outside Huangji Hall, and Father was struck by an arrow during the escape... His condition is critical!"

Xiao You raised a calming hand. "Don’t fret. Your master is here."

Ye Xian led him into the eastern chamber, where Marquis Changxing lay on a redwood canopy bed, its curtains hooked open with silver spoons. His face was as pale as paper—clearly from severe blood loss.

Two imperial physicians stood by the bed; the arrow in the marquis’s chest had already been removed, and they were bandaging the wound.

Xiao You’s expression turned serious as he stepped forward to take the marquis’s pulse. The two physicians retreated, eyeing Ye Xian in surprise—who was this man, daring to take their place? Ye Xian motioned for them to leave.

Xiao You closed his eyes, focusing on the pulse, then released the marquis’s wrist and examined the wound. He turned to Ye Xian. "This arrow is peculiar... It must have been poisoned. Fortunately, it missed the heart and lungs by a fraction. Fetch the silver needles from my chest and heat them over flame."

Xiao You’s medical skills were exceptional. Under his care, the marquis’s bleeding soon stopped, and his breathing stabilized.

Yet Xiao You remained uneasy. Since Marquis Changxing hadn’t died, Prince Rui hadn’t fully eliminated his faction. Xiao You would have to remain in the household and do his utmost to treat the marquis’s injuries... If he let the marquis die, the old marquis would never forgive him.

"Wait and see. If his condition doesn’t worsen within two days, his life will be out of danger," Xiao You told Ye Xian. "I’ll prescribe a tonic to replenish his blood and energy—it should speed his recovery."

Ye Xian glanced worriedly at his father and murmured gratefully, "Thanks to you, sir... Otherwise, Father might not have survived."

Xiao You sighed. "Between master and disciple, such formalities are unnecessary."

Xiao You went to the study to write the prescription. The moment he left, Ye Xian’s expression turned impassive. Soon, Li Xianhuai entered and reported, "I’ve detained Liu Zhou and the others. Minister Zhao says the situation at Huangji Hall has been dealt with—all rebel leaders and soldiers from the Divine Machine Battalion have been imprisoned. The Empress has left the Five Armies Battalion to guard her... Prince Rui’s private troops stationed at East Ring Mountain have been absorbed by the Iron Cavalry Battalion."

Ye Xian nodded. "...Understood."

The two stepped out of the eastern chamber. Xiao You, oblivious to the distant resolution of the rebellion and the overnight eradication of Prince Rui’s faction, had finished writing the prescription.

He handed it to Ye Xian. "Prepare medicine according to this formula, and apply this ointment externally."

Ye Xian accepted the prescription and instructed the steward to fetch the ingredients. He then said to Xiao You, "It’s the middle of the night—we’ve troubled you greatly. You should rest. I’ll keep watch over Father."

Xiao You sighed, noting Ye Xian’s lingering gloom. "You should rest too. Don’t exhaust yourself."

Ye Xian forced a smile. "Don’t worry, Master. I’ll remember."

Xiao You turned and walked out. He was indeed tired and wanted to return to the western chamber to sleep. Tomorrow’s affairs could wait.

As Xiao You reached the stone path in the courtyard, Ye Xian extended a hand to Li Xianhuai and said coolly, "Give me the crossbow."

Li Xianhuai froze. The heir... what did he mean?

Remembering Xiao You’s deeds, he said nothing and handed over the crossbow strapped to his waist.

Ye Xian raised the crossbow with a faint smile, casually aiming at Xiao You’s back.

The bolt tore through the air with a shrill whistle. Xiao You felt a chill in his back and turned in disbelief, his eyes widening at the sight of Ye Xian standing beneath the corridor, crossbow in hand, watching him expressionlessly.

His gaze was icy and merciless.

Xiao You’s lips parted. "No... impossible..." How could Ye Xian dare kill him? How could Ye Xian kill him?

Before he could voice his accusations, blood gushed from his mouth. Staggering from blood loss, he collapsed, realizing none of the surrounding Iron Cavalry soldiers moved to intervene. His wide eyes remained fixed on Ye Xian—as if he had never truly seen his disciple before.

He had been wrong. Ye Xian was the truly ruthless one!

Who else could be so decisive—one moment requesting his help to save his father, the next loosing a fatal bolt?

Xiao Qishan refused to accept this. He struggled to crawl toward Ye Xian, to say something more, but his limbs failed him.

In the end, his struggles ceased. In death, his face bore something akin to sorrow.

Ye Xian watched his master’s corpse grow still, his own expression indifferent. He murmured to the guards, "Drag him out and bury him in the paupers’ graveyard... As if the Ye family never had such a person."

By now, the stars had faded, the sky tinged deep blue, and the faint sound of the dawn watch could be heard.

P.S.

Agh, last night was infuriating—my computer suddenly rebooted, and the chapter I’d just finished vanished into thin air. My typing speed is already slow enough—this nearly made me cry. (;3」∠)