When the assassination attempt occurred, Deng Yi was passing by the Grand Tutor's residence.
After arriving in Zhongshan Commandery, Xiao Xun had also arranged for a Grand Tutor's residence to be established, but Deng Yi had never set foot in it.
As they passed by, the official in front of the carriage flatteringly suggested stopping and pointed it out to him.
Deng Yi lifted the carriage curtain and glanced.
The mansion was even more luxurious than the one in the capital. Although its owner had never visited, the main gate was open, the gatehouse was filled with people, and guards were stationed outside. A steady stream of people came and went, and from the way they presented their name cards, they appeared to be visiting guests. Everything mirrored the Grand Tutor's residence in the capital.
"Grand Tutor," the official said, "the Heir Apparent ordered everything to be arranged exactly like the Grand Tutor's residence in the capital. If you go inside, you'll see the furniture and decorations are almost identical."
Deng Yi almost laughed but suppressed it, saying, "How could it be the same?"
Though he rarely returned to the Grand Tutor's residence in the capital either, at least his elderly mother was there. With his mother present, it felt like a home.
But now—
"The Heir Apparent has been having people inquire about news of your mother," the official said softly, noticing his expression. "But there's been no word. It's unclear whether she perished in that great fire or was captured."
He quickly added, "But rest assured, Grand Tutor. If the court uses your mother as leverage, the Heir Apparent will spare no effort to rescue her."
Deng Yi smiled faintly. "No need. It's unnecessary."
Unnecessary? The official inwardly clicked his tongue. A petty man like Deng Yi would even abandon his own mother for power...
Deng Yi glanced at the official, well aware of what he was thinking, but saw no need to explain.
That great fire might have truly been meant to kill him, but it wouldn't have harmed his mother.
If his mother had been captured, she wouldn't be used as leverage against him.
If others didn't understand him, how could Chu Zhao not know? He had already abandoned his mother once—he could do it a second time. Using his mother to threaten him was futile.
That girl wouldn't do such a thing.
Deng Yi lowered his gaze, losing interest in the Grand Tutor's residence. Just as he was about to let the curtain fall, several servants who had been bowing and scraping as they presented name cards and gift lists to the gatehouse suddenly drew spears from gift boxes at their feet and lunged toward Deng Yi's carriage.
Out of the corner of his eye, Deng Yi saw a glint like a shooting star. Instinctively, he leaned back, and the spear grazed the tip of his nose before thudding into the carriage wall.
The next moment, a sizzling flash erupted before his eyes, followed by a loud bang as the entire carriage exploded.
"Grand Tutor—"
"Assassins—"
The prestigious front of the Grand Tutor's residence instantly descended into chaos. People on the street screamed and scattered in all directions as countless soldiers rushed in from every direction.
The ground shook.
...
...
By the time Xiao Xun arrived, the street was already under multiple layers of control.
The carriage lay shattered on the ground, the panicked horses having been killed by the soldiers. Among the wreckage of the carriage and the horse carcasses lay over a dozen bodies—some Deng Yi's guards, others the assassins.
Xiao Xun looked at the nearly unrecognizable figure sitting on the steps outside the Grand Tutor's residence and asked with concern, "Grand Tutor, are you alright?"
Deng Yi's face was spattered with blood and blackened by smoke, his clothes disheveled, and one arm bent at an unnatural angle.
Several physicians surrounded him, cleaning and bandaging his wounds.
"I'm fine. My guards threw themselves over me and blocked the fatal blows," Deng Yi said. "I only broke my arm."
"To think assassins would strike in a commandery as tightly guarded as this!" Ning Kun roared angrily. "Who were these assassins?"The guards stepped forward and dragged over the three corpses: "They were carrying name cards from the Zhang family of Jicheng. We've already dispatched troops to investigate."
Xiao Xun said, "Their identities must be counterfeit."
Ning Kun thought to himself that it might not necessarily be the case and couldn't help but murmur, "Heir Apparent, I recall the Lin family is related to the Zhangs..."
Xiao Xun glanced at him: "Wait for the investigation results before speaking." Then he sternly shouted to the surrounding officials, "Regardless of the assassins' verified identities, they will all be treated as rebels, and their entire clans will be executed!"
The officials responded in unison.
"Grand Tutor," Xiao Xun turned to Deng Yi, "Shall we return to the commandery office or to your residence to recuperate?"
He knew Deng Yi had no interest in the Grand Tutor's residence, so he asked out of courtesy.
Deng Yi replied, "It makes no difference. Since we're already here, let's return to the residence."
Xiao Xun nodded. The officials quickly had a sedan chair brought over and helped Deng Yi onto it. Squads of soldiers surged through the residence gates first - the compound was already filled with soldiers. Aside from the Grand Tutor's household servants, there were only seven or eight outsiders.
They trembled as they knelt in a corner, guarded by soldiers.
When they saw Deng Yi and his party enter, someone couldn't help but cry out, "Grand Tutor, we're innocent!" Others quickly joined in, "Grand Tutor, we're not accomplices!"
They kowtowed desperately.
Deng Yi stared straight ahead as if he hadn't heard.
Xiao Xun was drawn to look over.
"These were the people waiting in the gatehouse earlier to see the Grand Tutor," a guard quickly explained.
When the three assassins targeting Deng Yi had appeared, several people had already been waiting in the Grand Tutor's gatehouse. After the assassination attempt occurred, they had been detained.
Xiao Xun withdrew his gaze and turned to Ning Kun with instructions: "Investigate these people as well. Also, double the guards at the Grand Tutor's residence..."
As he spoke, he felt his peripheral vision slow down, seeing the kneeling figures roll on the ground like balls...
Everything seemed to move slowly, yet also quickly - the seven or eight people instantly broke free from the soldiers' guard and pounced like eagles spreading their wings.
"Your Highness, be careful—"
"Your Highness—"
Xiao Xun's mind buzzed, his vision swaying unsteadily. People seemed to be everywhere, threatening to cut him off from the world.
But with a sickening thud, an official in front of him had his throat pierced by a blade.
Xiao Xun was instantly pulled back to reality. He smelled the thick metallic scent of blood and saw the gleaming, blood-dripping tip of a sword.
Assassins.
These assassins were targeting him!
The earlier attempt on Deng Yi's life was merely bait.
When the Grand Tutor was attacked, no matter what, he would come to pay his respects.
As long as he appeared, as long as they could get close to him, they could carry out their assassination.
Another wet thud sounded, as if a wall had materialized in front of him. Xiao Xun saw blood flowers blooming behind this wall.
Tie Ying wielded a single sword, executing just one movement - from upward slash to horizontal sweep to diagonal chop - yet three assassins fell dead.
He pressed close to Xiao Xun, forming an impenetrable shield around him. His arm shot out, the long sword moving like an ink brush tip, landing precisely on the heart of another charging assassin. The assassin collapsed to his knees.
All this happened in an instant. On Ning Kun's face, half still maintained the concentration of listening to his instructions while the other half twisted in shock.
Xiao Xun's thoughts churned chaotically, yet he felt incredibly secure. No matter how elusive these assassins might be, with Tie Ying by his side, he was safe.
But the thought had barely formed when a corpse on the ground suddenly slithered up like a snake, instantly pressing against Tie Ying.
Another soft thud sounded. Xiao Xun saw an iron spike protruding from the back of Tie Ying's neck...His vision slowed once more as he watched Tie Ying gradually kneel down. Tie Ying seemed to want to glance back at him, but his neck was pinned by the iron rod, rendering him immobile. Eventually, he vanished from sight...
"Don't move."
A cold voice sounded in his ear, followed by an icy sensation against his neck. Xiao Xun shuddered, jolted back to the mortal realm.
In the blink of an eye, the mortal realm had turned into hell.
Corpses lay all around him, as if he were standing in a pool of blood.
Ning Kun had collapsed on the ground, lifeless or alive unknown. Deng Yi had been thrown down as well, pinned beneath the soft sedan chair. Officials lay dead or scrambled frantically across the ground. Layers of guards surged forward—
Yet they seemed to hit an invisible barrier, unable to advance.
That barrier was him.
"Release the Heir Apparent—" the officers roared angrily.
Xiao Xun heard a soft chuckle. From the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a smooth chin. Just as he tried to get a better look, a searing pain shot through his shoulder—the iron rod had pierced through it. The agony struck so suddenly that Xiao Xun cried out in pain, his body curling forward.
"Step. Back." The voice rose sharply, each word enunciated deliberately, punctuated by Xiao Xun's screams.
The advancing soldiers recoiled as if struck by an invisible force, retreating backward.
At the same time, Xiao Xun was dragged backward by his captor—toward the hall of the Grand Tutor's residence. They retreated inside swiftly.
"You can't escape—"
"Surrender now—"
The officers and soldiers surged forward once more.
"Take one step inside, and I'll kill him," a male voice shouted. Then, with two heavy thuds, he kicked the doors shut.
In an instant, the world seemed to fall into silence.
Xiao Xun finally got a clear look at the person holding him captive. This time, it wasn't a woman—the fleeting thought filled him with shame and fury. Why had he been taken hostage again?
It was a young man, slightly taller and thinner than him, his face dusted with a layer of grime, clearly disguised. Yet, he still looked vaguely familiar.
Those sharp, expressive eyebrows, that high nose bridge...
"I've seen you somewhere," Xiao Xun blurted out through the pain.
The man before him smiled. "Me? I witnessed the Heir Apparent's heroic rescue of a beauty firsthand."
Heroic rescue of a beauty? Xiao Xun froze for a moment, then a woman's voice seemed to echo in his ears: "I'd rather drown than owe him anything. This is between me and—"
"A Jiu!" Xiao Xun exclaimed.
Xie Yanlai grinned. "So the Heir Apparent still remembers me? It seems my striking presence leaves a lasting impression on everyone."
Perhaps it wasn't that he remembered him. Xiao Xun stared at him. "Did Chu Zhao send you to kill me?"
Xie Yanlai raised an eyebrow. "I have another name—Xie Yanlai."
Xie Yanlai! Xiao Xun was stunned. So this was Xie Yanlai!
He had known of Xie Yanlai before, of course—Xie Yanfang's brother. But that was all. He hadn't paid him much mind, lumping him together with the rest of the Xie family. With the Xie family, it was enough to keep an eye on Xie Yanfang alone.
But these past two years had been different, especially since this particular Xie clansman had captured the King of Xiliang alive.
That wasn't something one could achieve simply by bearing the Xie name—it was due to the man himself.
He had only just begun to take notice, and now this man stood before him—
Xiao Xun glanced down at the iron rod pressed against his neck.
"Did Xie Yanfang send you?" he asked, then added, "Young Master Xie, you must know that if you kill me, you'll never escape."
Xie Yanlai let out a noncommittal "oh" but said nothing.
Xiao Xun turned his head slightly to look at him. "Young Master Xie, I believe that with your current achievements, you could forge your own path."
Xie Yanlai laughed, a hint of mockery in his smile.
"A Jiu—" Xiao Xun said.As soon as the words were spoken, Xiao Xun felt a sharp pain in his neck. The next moment, his consciousness froze. He looked down and saw the iron rod piercing through his throat, blood dripping one drop after another onto his magnificent royal robe.
How strange, was he being killed?
How was that possible?
How could he be killed just like that?
This wasn't how he was supposed to die!
Xiao Xun's vision blurred, then became exceptionally clear. He vividly saw himself ascending the throne in the Dragon Robe, all the ministers bowing in unison in the grand hall, with Deng Yi among them.
He was denouncing the traitorous Xie family in the court.
He returned to the inner palace, where Chu Zhao threw herself into his arms, her face full of dependence.
This was his true destiny!
Xie Yanfang had never even gotten close to him, let alone this nobody, Xie Yanlai!
He shouldn't have died like this.
This wasn't his fate!
How could this happen?
He must be dreaming.
Xiao Xun slid down along Xie Yanlai's body, kneeling on the ground. His consciousness gradually faded, and the sounds in his ears became distant and unclear.
"Don't call me A Jiu. You people are always talking about conditions and guessing about benefits. It's so annoying."
"In your minds, is there nothing in this world that isn't about conditions or seeking benefits? Isn't there anything that's simply because I want to do it, or because it should be done?"
Xie Yanlai frowned as he spoke, looking at Xiao Xun kneeling on the ground.
"You fight for power and profit, treating the world as your chessboard. That's enough already. The people of this world shouldn't be so unfortunate as to live in pain for your sake and die feeling grateful."
He took a step back. Without support, Xiao Xun collapsed face down on the ground, motionless, blood spreading beneath him.
Xie Yanlai watched quietly for a moment, then withdrew his gaze and began walking around the hall.
He was more familiar with this reception hall of the Grand Tutor's residence than Deng Yi himself. Over these days, they had been coming and going under various identities, delivering gifts and goods, and then placing what they had prepared here...
He reached out and touched the porcelain vase on the shelf, his fingers turning black.
He looked at the tables and chairs, all gleaming with an oily sheen.
He examined the gaps between the floor tiles, densely packed with black ash spreading everywhere.
They hadn't actually planned to encounter Deng Yi today, but they had been waiting for this day all along.
Xie Yanlai took out a fire starter from his chest. Standing before the large screen, he took one last look around the room, ignited the fuse, and tossed it.
Acrid smoke filled the hall, accompanied by sizzling sounds.
"Release the Heir Apparent—"
"What do you want?"
"State your demands—"
Officials outside the hall were shouting loudly. Soldiers surrounded the place tightly, with troops outside forming layer upon layer of encirclement—surrounding the Grand Tutor's residence, this street, half the city, and eventually the entire city—
An official standing below the steps sniffed: "What's that smell?"
He instinctively looked up ahead. A deafening roar filled his ears as flames shot into the sky before his eyes. A wave of heat rushed towards him, and the official screamed, stumbling backward.
Deng Yi was being supported by soldiers moving away to avoid interfering with the rescue of Xiao Xun. At this moment, he turned to look back. Flames flickered across his face as the magnificent building before him was engulfed in fire, burning and crumbling—
Just like his study in the Grand Tutor's residence back in the capital.
...
...
Two farmers in a wasteland outside the city watched the smoke and fire rising from the city. The flames were far away and didn't look particularly terrifying, rising gently, but their faces were flushed red as if they were close to the fire being scorched.
One grabbed his hoe and rushed toward the city, while the other held him back desperately.
"What are you doing!" he shouted. "Let's go quickly!"The restrained farmer whispered hoarsely, "What about the young master? The young master, he—"
"Don't forget the young master's orders!" the farmer holding him hissed, eyes red-rimmed. "What is our mission!"
The restrained farmer's eyes seemed to bleed with anguish: "But the young master, the young master, he—"
"Don't let the young master die in vain—" the farmer gripping him cried out raspingly, "Go—"
The two turned and sprinted rapidly into the distance.
"Xiao Xun is dead—"
"Xiao Xun is dead—"
……
……
News of Xiao Xun's death spread almost instantly. The Zhongshan Prince's Mansion had barely managed to install the second young master at the military front, with no time yet to announce the new sovereign across the regions, when imperial troops surged in from all four directions like tidal waves.
Whether influenced by prominent families from Han Commandery or believing the cause was lost after Xiao Xun's death, many aristocratic clans and even officials from various provinces defected. Within less than a month, the imperial forces advanced irresistibly, closing in on Zhongshan Commandery.
In the seventh month of the fourth year of Xingping, the Empress's army reached the walls of Zhongshan Commandery's capital city.
OpenNovel