Chapter 82

Chapter 82

•The hairpin that tricked Biyue belongs to Your Highness, doesn't it?•

After Luo Wanqing killed Zhao Yan, she swam urgently forward.

As she went against the current in the water, Zhang Yiran was dressing up in his official attire and getting into a carriage at home.

Now that he had returned to the Censorate and held the position of Fifth Rank Censorial Inspector, there were too many enemies within the Censorate. The government usually provided officials with personal guards for their safety and carriages for their exclusive use.

Sitting in the carriage, Zhang Yiran prepared to go to court.

He used to walk, and since his residence was some distance from the imperial city, he always got up early and left early. Even though he now had a carriage, he still maintained his old habit.

Sitting in the carriage, he lifted the curtain and looked out the window. In the past, when he walked himself, he could see many commoners on the street. Now, sitting in the carriage, he could only look at people by rolling up the curtain.

The curfew had just been lifted, and according to past practice, vendors should have started preparing.

Grandpa Zhang's steamed buns should have already set up their stall and prepared the charcoal fire.

Grandma Wang's soy milk and douhua should have also placed benches on the street.

There was also Brother Li's pork stall...

However, after looking for less than half the way, he found it strange.

Because none of these people were there.

Not only were they not there, but there were also figures in black flashing through the alley, clearly not ordinary people.

Zhang Yiran felt a chill in his heart and immediately ordered the carriage to stop. Then he said, "Go back. I'm going to buy some douhua."

The guard was taken aback and somewhat puzzled. There were no vendors on the street, so where would he buy it?

But Zhang Yiran was his superior, so if he wanted to turn back, they had to turn back. Zhang Yiran returned to Grandma Wang Qiniang's house and knocked on her shop. Wang Qiniang opened the door and, seeing Zhang Yiran, was quite surprised. "Sir Zhang? Why are you here?"

"Why aren't you setting up your stall today?"

Zhang Yiran was somewhat puzzled.

Wang Qiniang sighed and said helplessly, "The East Capital Prefect sent word that the streets would be cleaned today, and we were told to set up our stalls after noon."

Hearing this, Zhang Yiran nodded. The East Capital would periodically wash the streets, which was normal.

Zhang Yiran thanked Wang Qiniang and turned back to the carriage, constantly recalling the black-clad figures he had seen earlier.

Cleaning the streets was normal, but with these killers around, something was wrong.

And...

Yesterday, His Majesty summoned him to the palace and asked him about his views on certain court officials. He asked about many people, as if considering moving them to different positions.

It was not the time for the results of the officials' evaluations to come out, so there should not be so many personnel changes. The only thing that could cause such a big change was the Crown Prince case... And that case was being handled by Liu Xiniang...

Thinking of this, Zhang Yiran felt a chill in his heart. He lifted the carriage curtain and instructed in a low voice, "Head to the Supervision Division. Quickly."

The driver heard the seriousness in Zhang Yiran's voice and did not dare to ask more questions. He quickly led Zhang Yiran to the Supervision Division. When Zhang Yiran arrived at the gate of the Supervision Division, he immediately knocked on the door. The gatekeeper came out, somewhat surprised. "Sir Zhang?"

Zhang Yiran was taken aback, and the other person smiled. "My name is Fang Yuan. I protected Sir Zhang's house secretly for a while before. You don't know me, but I know you. What brings you here?"

"Oh," Zhang Yiran realized and hurriedly said, "I'm looking for Si Shi Liu. Is she here?"

"She's not here," Fang Yuan replied directly. "Si Shi Liu has a mission tonight. She's said to have gone to Purple Clouds Mountain."

Hearing this, Zhang Yiran felt a jolt, then asked, "When will Si Shi Liu return?"

"Soon," Fang Yuan thought. "Si Shi Liu has to attend court today, so she'll definitely be back early."

"Attend court? What is she doing there?"

Zhang Yiran furrowed his brow. Fang Yuan scratched his head. "It seems the Crown Prince's case is about to be concluded. Si Shi Liu is the investigator, so she's going to read out the judgment in court."

Read out the judgment.

In an instant, Zhang Yiran realized what those killers in the alleys were doing.

He hurriedly said, "Quickly, Si Shi Liu is in danger. There must be people lying in wait for her everywhere. You must hurry to save her."

Fang Yuan was stunned and didn't understand Zhang Yiran's words. Seeing this, Zhang Yiran became anxious and quickly pulled Fang Yuan inside, saying, "I saw killers on the road just now. She still dared to go out knowing she has to read out the judgment today. That makes her a target! So many aristocratic families are involved in the Crown Prince case, and their families are all watching Si Shi Liu. They're definitely waiting for her on the way to court and won't let her attend. Hurry!"

With that, Zhang Yiran turned around and said, "I'll wait for her at the city gate. Hurry up!"

Zhang Yiran returned to the carriage and cut the reins, then drove away on horseback.

Fang Yuan stared blankly at Fang Zhi and then turned back, saying, "What are you standing there for?! Go find the Azure Dragon Envoy for a token and a mission!"

"We can't go," Fang Zhi opened his eyes. "If Zhang Yiran knows about this, then the division must know too. If there's no mission, it's not our job."

Hearing this, Fang Yuan was somewhat taken aback. But before he could react, he heard a cold voice say, "Excuse me."

Fang Yuan and Fang Zhi looked over together and saw Xing Ling standing at the door. Both were taken aback, and then Fang Yuan hurriedly said, "Si Shi Xing Ling, when did you arrive?"

"Just now."

Xing Ling spoke calmly, and Fang Yuan nodded awkwardly.

Xing Ling took a step outside. After two steps, she turned back to look at them.

"I'm going to help Liu Xiniang. Are you coming?"

Both were taken aback. Fangyuan hurriedly said, "You two go ahead; I won't leave yet."

Xingling nodded in understanding.

But after just a few steps, they heard Fangyuan shout, "Brother, Big Brother, Supervisor Liu is in trouble. They won't let anyone help her from the office. Are you going or not? If not, I'm leaving!"

******

While the outskirts of the city were in chaos, East Capital was eerily quiet.

After burning incense for Luo Wanqing that morning, Li Guiyu left his house and got into a carriage.

This had become his habit since news of Luo Wanqing’s passing reached him. He didn’t know what he was maintaining by keeping this routine.

He suspected, or even confirmed, Liu Xiniang, while still honoring Luo Wanqing’s memorial tablet. In recent days, he kept recalling Liu Xiniang’s questions.

Was it because she looked too much like Luo Wanqing, or did he wish so much for Luo Wanqing to be alive?

If he wished for Luo Wanqing to be alive, he wouldn’t have set up an altar at home.

He didn’t know what he wanted. Whether that person should live or die, he didn’t know either.

Supporting his forehead, he sat dazed in the carriage. The carriage hadn’t gone far when someone stopped it.

"Your Highness," Zi Tang’s voice came from outside. "It’s Chancellor Wang’s carriage."

Upon hearing this, Li Guiyu opened his eyes. It seemed he already understood everything. Calmly, he said, "I see. Pull over."

As he spoke, Li Guiyu lifted the curtain and stepped out of the carriage.

After getting off, Li Guiyu walked to the front carriage and bowed respectfully. "Uncle."

"Come in."

An elderly voice came from inside. Upon hearing this, Li Guiyu entered the carriage and saw Wang Shenfeng and Zheng Pingsheng sitting together.

Li Guiyu was surprised and couldn’t help asking, "What is Minister Zheng doing here?"

Zheng Pingsheng looked embarrassed. Wang Shenfeng poured tea and calmly said, "Tonight, the Eastern Palace’s Six Armies and the Zheng family attempted to intercept and kill Liu Xiniang, but failed. Word has it that there’s a master protecting her. You should go and finish the job."

Hearing this, Li Guiyu thought for a moment and only asked, "Why did Minister Zheng participate in this?"

"It’s all because of you!" Zheng Pingsheng gritted his teeth. "Bi Yue wanted to team up with the Eastern Palace’s Six Armies for your sake. Now that something has happened to her, you must kill Liu Xiniang to save her! Hurry up!"

But Li Guiyu didn’t move. Wang Shenfeng frowned. "They’re almost in the city, and you haven’t gone yet?"

"There’s no need, Uncle."

Li Guiyu calmly said, "Can’t you see now? This was the Supervision Division’s scheme against the Eastern Palace’s Six Armies from the start. Going now would be walking into their trap, and I’d end up trapped as well. If a prince and the Eastern Palace’s Six Armies fail to assassinate a sixth-rank supervisor of the Supervision Division, have you considered the consequences?"

Wang Shenfeng paused. Li Shangwen was dead, and Li Guiyu was the Wang family’s greatest hope now.

Seeing Wang Shenfeng hesitate, Li Guiyu furrowed his brows and continued, "I’ve warned you repeatedly. Lu Lingchan must be dead. Uncle, why do you insist on killing Liu Xiniang? Is it because you don’t trust me, or is there another reason?"

Wang Shenfeng remained silent. Hearing Li Guiyu’s question, he felt a twinge of regret.

He hadn’t believed Li Guiyu before, but seeing the result now, he was somewhat swayed. But it was too late to regret anything now. He could only say, "It doesn’t matter why anymore. What matters is solving the problem. You shouldn’t get involved. I’ll send Qingfeng. Liu Xiniang must die today."

Hearing this, Li Guiyu’s eyelashes trembled slightly as he lowered his gaze. "Then I’ll go."

Wang Shenfeng was taken aback. Li Guiyu stood up and said, "There’s more than one prince in the Wang family. The grandmaster needs to protect Uncle’s safety. If we fall into the Supervision Division’s trap, and I die at their hands, Uncle can use that as a reason to disband them."

"Guiyu?" Wang Shenfeng was surprised. He hadn’t expected such consideration from Li Guiyu. "You...?"

"For the prosperity of the family, someone must make a blood sacrifice." As if understanding Wang Shenfeng’s thoughts, Li Guiyu calmly said, "Guiyu is willing to go. Besides, for Bi Yue’s sake, Liu Xiniang must be killed."

Hearing this, Zheng Pingsheng couldn’t help but look at him again. "I thought... Your Highness couldn’t bear to do it."

"What do you mean, Minister Zheng?"

Li Guiyu seemed puzzled. Zheng Pingsheng sighed and took out a wooden hairpin from his sleeve.

The moment Li Guiyu saw the hairpin, his expression turned cold.

"Your Highness," Zheng Pingsheng said helplessly. "This hairpin, which tricked Bi Yue away, belongs to you, doesn’t it?"