Chapter 91: Suspicion
The commotion that night also alarmed the advisors residing in the side courtyard.
Upon hearing from his subordinates that an assassin had infiltrated the main residence, Li Yao feared it might be Pei Song, driven to desperation, sending Hawk Hounds to assassinate Wen Yu. Supporting his aged frame, he threw on his robes and hurried toward the main residence under the escort of guards from the side courtyard. As he walked, he demanded angrily, "What are the Shadow Guards doing? How could they let an assassin sneak into the main residence?"
Outside, the storm raged fiercely. The lanterns along the covered corridor swayed violently, nearly extinguishing.
Many advisors, awakened by the clamor of shouts to capture the assassin, had also risen. Some peered cautiously outside their doors, while others gathered in small groups, whispering with anxious expressions.
As Li Yao hastened along with his cane, he glanced at them and ordered his attendants, "Send these people back to their rooms."
The attendants obeyed, but the advisors remained in a clamorous state, clearly frightened by the sudden turn of events.
Li Yao struck his cane against the ground, his deeply wrinkled face cold as frost. "Shameless cowards! They bring shame upon the officials of Liang!"
The guards following him dared not respond.
On ordinary occasions, trusted officials like Chen Wei and Li Xun, who served closely under Wen Yu, would have handled such matters promptly. However, tonight, with the thunderstorm raging, Chen Wei was delayed at the Governor's residence and unable to arrive in time, while Li Xun had been dispatched on a mission to Xinzhou. Other officials favored by Wen Yu were either with the army or occupied with other duties.
With no one yet arriving from the main residence and the situation still unclear, the panicked advisors had no one but Li Yao who would dare to reprimand them so openly.
As the group hurried to the end of the covered corridor, they encountered the Shadow Guards from the side courtyard returning from their mission to assist in capturing the assassin. Upon seeing Li Yao, the guards promptly clasped their fists in salute.
Li Yao got straight to the point: "How is the Lady? Was the assassin captured?"
These Shadow Guards were originally elite soldiers from the Pingzhou army, further selected after months of intensive training under Zhao Bai. The chosen ones were the cream of the crop, directly subordinate to Wen Yu.
Wen Yu respected Li Yao and, considering that once she left Pingzhou, he would temporarily oversee affairs in her stead—making him a likely target for Pei Song—she had assigned two Shadow Guards to protect him covertly.
Faced with Li Yao's inquiry, the Shadow Guard dared not conceal anything. However, before replying, he glanced at the entourage accompanying Li Yao and answered, "The assassin has been captured. The Lady is safe and unharmed. She specifically ordered this humble officer to relay to you, sir, that you need not worry. Given the heavy rain tonight, there is no need for you to visit the main residence. Any matters can be discussed tomorrow."
Li Yao's heavily wrinkled eyelids drooped slightly as he nodded. "It is well that the Lady is safe. Since the assassin has been captured, everyone may disperse."
Only then did the accompanying guards withdraw. Li Yao looked at the Shadow Guard who had returned through the rain and said, "Come with me."
The Shadow Guard followed Li Yao into the study. Once inside, Li Yao asked, "Who was the assassin?"
The Shadow Guard clasped his fists and replied truthfully, "There was no assassin. It was General Xiao who urgently reported military intelligence to the Lady late at night."
Upon hearing him mention Xiao Li, Li Yao's eyelids lifted slightly, and his aged brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
That young general had recently been rising swiftly in prominence. After making a name for himself in the attack on Tao County, he had again distinguished himself by reinforcing the embankments during a recent heavy rainstorm. His tactical proposal for intelligently defending Hundred Blades Pass had even surprised Li Yao.
Chen Wei had also taken a liking to this promising talent and considered recruiting him as a son-in-law, but Xiao Li had politely declined.Although Li Yao had heard some rumors, he had dismissed them as the rebellious nature of youth—a young man determined to make his mark on the battlefield, unwilling to be seen as relying on his wife's family, and striving to carve out his own path.
But tonight's incident, where Xiao Li braved the storm to intrude into Wen Yu's courtyard and even alarmed the Shadow Guard by Wen Yu's side, made Li Yao vaguely sense something unusual.
If there was urgent military intelligence to report, wouldn't Zhao Bai and the Shadow Guards at the main courtyard have allowed him entry if he had truthfully informed them?
Such elaborate efforts...
Li Yao recalled how Xiao Li had escorted Wen Yu from Yongzhou to Pingzhou when Wen Yu fled. Yet when he had suggested having Xiao Li accompany Wen Yu to Southern Chen, Wen Yu had flatly refused. Could this be related to Xiao Li's intrusion into the main courtyard tonight?
Li Yao's expression abruptly turned cold, and he halted his thoughts, not daring to speculate further.
His gnarled, slightly bent fingers gripped the cane tightly as he said to the Shadow Guard, "Very well, you may withdraw. Do not speak of tonight's events."
The Shadow Guard nodded and retreated as silently as a shadow.
Li Yao turned his head to look out the window, where lightning flashed and thunder rumbled. His aged, slightly clouded eyes reflected the white light of the lightning.
The downpour continued unabated. Xiao Li had left the city and was galloping swiftly on horseback.
The road was treacherous in the rainy night. The horse's hooves splashed through mud of uncertain depth, kicking up large clumps of muck.
The cold rain struck his face like sharp blades, stinging with each impact.
Xiao Li seemed oblivious, gripping the reins with one hand as he whipped the horse again. The horse neighed and charged into the boundless night like a bolt of lightning descending from the sky.
The rushing wind swept his hair back, and the air grew thin at such speed, making each breath sear his lungs with pain.
Xiao Li felt as though his throat and entire chest were being torn apart by the gale. In his daze, he even tasted blood. Yet another kind of pain surged through these fissures, allowing him to finally catch his breath after tightening the reins, lifting his head, and roaring into the thunderstorm.
Apart from the rain, the wilderness was deathly silent. Xiao Li leaned over the horse's back, gasping for air. The heavy rain poured down his back, droplets tracing the curve of his neck and seeping into his collar. His hair, previously swept back by the wind, now hung soaked, dripping water steadily.
Messy trails of water streaked across Xiao Li's face. The rain was too heavy. When lightning illuminated the surroundings, it revealed his bloodshot eyes.
Without his urging, the horse beneath him halted, standing quietly in the open field beneath the curtain of rain.
Zhao Bai remained stationed outside Wen Yu's door for the latter half of the night. As the rain ceased and dawn broke, the maids attending to Wen Yu approached with a washbasin and asked if Wen Yu was awake. She lightly knocked on the door, and a cool, slightly hoarse voice from inside said, "Enter."
Zhao Bai pushed the door open, and several maids filed in behind her. She looked up and saw that Wen Yu was not in the inner chamber but was already dressed in everyday attire, seated at the desk reviewing some documents. It was unclear whether Wen Yu had risen early or had never slept at all.
Zhao Bai's brow furrowed unconsciously, yet she did not know how to broach the subject.Wen Yu's expression now showed no trace of abnormality. A maid wrung out a cloth and handed it to her. After wiping her face and hands, she calmly instructed Zhao Bai as usual: "By my calculations, Li Xun should be returning from Xinzhou soon. Send someone to meet him, then have He Kuan dispatch people to inspect the fields in the suburbs."
Zhao Bai acknowledged each instruction. After returning the cloth to the maid, Wen Yu noticed Zhao Bai's hesitant expression and glanced sideways to ask: "Is there something else to report?"
Zhao Bai shook her head, then nodded.
Suddenly, footsteps approached from outside, followed by a messenger's respectful voice: "My Lady, Minister Li Yao has arrived and is waiting for you in the study."
Their conversation was thus interrupted. Wen Yu's gauze sleeves fell from her forearms as she gathered the documents on the desk, saying: "With my imminent departure from Pingzhou, the Minister likely has many important matters to discuss with me. Have breakfast sent directly to the study. Help me change clothes."
The maids serving in the room orderly carried out the washing utensils. Zhao Bai personally fetched Wen Yu's outer garment and helped her into it, taking the opportunity to say: "Last night, Dai Shi from Minister Li Yao's retinue came to inquire about the assassin incident."
Wen Yu softly uttered "Mm" to indicate she had taken note.
Looking at Wen Yu's face that remained so calm as if nothing had happened, Zhao Bai finally couldn't resist calling out to her just before Wen Yu left the room: "My Lady, you..."
Without turning back, Wen Yu clasped her hands lightly before her within her wide sleeves, speaking in her usual tone, though slightly hoarser: "If Madam Chen sends someone to inquire, just say the wedding dress fits well and requires no further alterations."
Watching Wen Yu's receding figure following the maid, Zhao Bai inexplicably recalled the image of the Crown Prince donning his armor and heading toward the city gates during the final battle of Fengyang.
The worry in her eyes gradually faded.
The Princess of Great Liang knew which path she must walk.
Dull brown eaves dripped with last night's lingering rainwater. Beyond the slightly worn carved window, the courtyard vegetation displayed fresh greenery.
Wen Yu served Li Yao a bowl of japonica rice porridge and placed it before him, saying: "Our alliance with Southern Chen is settled. Pei Song likely can't sit still, though no news has come from Mozhou thus far. I wonder what scheme Pei Song is brewing..."
Instead of responding to Wen Yu's words, Li Yao took several spoonfuls of porridge before asking: "Did an assassin enter the main compound last night?"
Wen Yu replied: "It wasn't an assassin. General Xiao was returning from night operations against bandits and obtained urgent military intelligence, which he came to report."
Seeing Wen Yu's forthright expression, Li Yao's hidden unease somewhat dissipated. Following her lead, he asked: "What military intelligence?"
Wen Yu then presented the map left by Xiao Li the previous night to Li Yao, saying: "I should have realized earlier - Pei Song wouldn't let Wei Qishan gain a prefecture for nothing. After implementing scorched earth tactics, Wei Qishan took control of Yizhou and has indeed maintained strict information blockade."
After examining the map, the wrinkles on Li Yao's forehead relaxed considerably, and he largely dismissed his previous suspicions. Studying the map, he praised: "That young General Xiao has achieved another great merit. Since we've confirmed Wei Qishan's forces in Xin and Yi prefectures are merely posturing, he likely won't refuse the terms you've proposed. This way, we can launch our northern campaign before autumn, catching Pei Song unprepared."
Wen Yu nodded: "Your analysis aligns perfectly with my current thoughts."Li Yao put away the map and shifted the topic, asking Wen Yu, "Although this military intelligence is confidential, General Xiao's rash intrusion into the main courtyard last night, causing the entire residence to mistake him for an assassin, was ultimately inappropriate."
Wen Yu set down the ebony chopsticks in her hand, remained silent for a moment, and then spoke, "Sir, since the incident with Yan Que, aside from Zhao Bai, I find it difficult to trust anyone else."
Li Yao then understood Wen Yu's concerns. He sighed and also put down his spoon, saying, "Pei Song's scheme is indeed insidious, but in the future, My Lady can be more vigilant without letting it hinder your actions out of excessive caution."
Wen Yu said, "I know. Last night's incident was partly a test for the Shadow Guards and also an assessment of the advisors in the residence."
As she spoke the last sentence, she raised her eyes to meet Li Yao's gaze directly.
Li Yao recalled the panicked and disgraceful behavior of the advisors in the side courtyard when they heard that an assassin had infiltrated the residence last night and fell silent.
Wen Yu continued, "My rise to power has been difficult. I relied on my father and brother's lifelong reputations to gather the old forces of Liang for today's situation. To maintain this virtuous reputation, even if there are those who seek fame and praise, I cannot easily offend them. But now it is time to weed out those who are only after fame. Even if they are not expelled from the residence, they should be relocated elsewhere, preferably where they can be put to good use."
At this point, Li Yao had no remaining hidden worries. Feeling relieved and even a bit emotional, he said, "I am old, but My Lady has thought this through thoroughly. I will handle everything you've mentioned."
After seeing Li Yao off, Wen Yu sat leaning on her hand in front of the low table, and the exhaustion of a sleepless night finally showed on her face. She looked at the barely touched breakfast, feeling as if the few bites she had forced down like chewing wax were causing spasms in her stomach.
She held her abdomen for a while, her face slightly pale. When the maid asked with concern what was wrong, she only said it was nothing and had the maid clear away the remaining breakfast. She then picked up the newly delivered memorials on the desk to read.
Before she had reviewed more than a few memorials, Fan Yuan rushed in anxiously. Despite the cool morning after the rain, he was sweating profusely, holding a resignation letter. As soon as he saw Wen Yu, he exclaimed, "My Lady, Xiao Li has suddenly left without saying goodbye!"
Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait, dear readers QAQ. This chapter continues with red envelope giveaways~
Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or irrigated nutrient solutions between 2024-04-18 23:59:20 and 2024-04-28 23:59:25~
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