Chapter 0062 Bandits

Chapter 0062 Bandits

This night was not only restless for the guards, but also for the palace.

Sun Renluan first gave the young emperor a stern lecture, and then on his way out, he stopped by the Empress Dowager's quarters, startling Sun Shannu who was in the midst of intimacy with her male companion. She hastily pulled on her outer robe and rushed out.

Sun Renluan: "..."

Having lived over forty years and having around forty concubines, Sun Renluan knew exactly what Sun Shannu had been doing. His already simmering anger erupted.

Throughout history, there has always been a strange phenomenon where people are more critical of their family members than outsiders.

If an outsider behaved improperly, Sun Renluan might not even spare them a glance, but if his sister did so, it infuriated him as if she had betrayed him personally.

He never approved of Sun Shannu keeping male companions. Other empress dowagers could do it, but his sister was under constant scrutiny. Such audacity could bring ruin to their entire clan someday. In the past, when she occasionally brought a man from outside the palace, Sun Renluan turned a blind eye, but he had just searched the entire palace and knew there were no outsiders inside.

The answer was clear: either a guard or a eunuch. His dear sister had become increasingly bold.

A fleeting affair is one thing, but a long-term relationship is another. The former is merely a plaything, while the latter could grow into something monstrous.

Sun Renluan ordered the doors closed and unleashed his fury on Sun Shannu again. Unbeknownst to him, Sun Shannu was also suppressing her own emotions. Having heard lies from Xiao Rong, she now believed that Sun Renluan was framing her. Now, he was not only attacking her but also her beloved Tan'er. Sun Shannu could no longer hold back and started a loud argument, invoking her status as empress dowager to suppress Sun Renluan. The sounds of shouting filled the air, making the servants outside tremble.

The identity of the male companion should have been exposed a few months later in a less scandalous manner. But witnessing the intimate scene firsthand, Sun Renluan nearly turned green with rage. He wanted to kill the male companion, but Sun Shannu refused, lying on the ground without any dignity, her hair disheveled, implying that if he dared harm Tan'er, he would have to kill her first.

The scene was even more chaotic than this, even drawing the young emperor out crying to protect his mother. Sun Renluan managed to keep his composure and did not suffer a stroke, a testament to his physical resilience.

Now, since the exposure was less dramatic, Sun Renluan did not push Sun Shannu to her limits. They argued for a while, and Sun Renluan, feeling dizzy, ordered the male companion named Tan'er to be detained. As for the empress dowager, they would announce she was ill, and when she recovered would depend on when she admitted her mistake.

Sun Shannu was almost driven mad but could only watch helplessly as Tan'er was taken away. Tan'er kept looking back at her with eyes full of fear and helplessness, breaking her heart. Her heartless brother remained unmoved, even sneering at her as he left, as if breaking them apart still did not satisfy him.

Sun Renluan had come to ask about Xiao Rong, but the incident made them forget all about him. Sun Shannu sat in the palace weeping, while Sun Renluan returned to soothe his throbbing head. In a corner unnoticed, the young emperor He Fu curled up in bed, listening to his mother's sobs nearby.

Children usually do not understand the concept of shame, but perhaps in a few years, he would realize his mother was indeed somewhat promiscuous, and his uncle's anger would seem justified. However, this realization would take too long. For now, he was still a child dependent on and devoted to his mother.

With his mother's sobs in the background, he slowly closed his eyes, drifting into a dream world far beyond a child's usual imagination. ＊

To the common folk, the palace is a mysterious place, adorned with intricate carvings and opulence, where rivers might flow with gold. Even those living near the palace walls rarely hear any news from within.

But to officials, the palace is a giant sieve, adhering to the principle that good news stays hidden while bad news spreads far and wide. Last night's two dramas had already reached the ears of officials throughout Jinling by morning.

Even Xiao Rong learned about the heated argument between the imperial uncle and the empress dowager as soon as he woke up.

The one who brought him this information was Song Erleng. ...

It was unclear whether he was kindly warning Xiao Rong to be cautious or boasting about his ability to gather important information despite his low rank. Regardless, Xiao Rong was grateful.

He did not expect the illicit couple to be discovered so quickly. In his plan, this should have happened right after he left.

Sun Renluan, being suspicious, would naturally conduct thorough searches of places Xiao Rong visited and people he met. While Xiao Rong's weaknesses were well-hidden, others' were not. However, Xiao Rong thought Sun Shannu would be more cautious after seeing Sun Renluan's actions, delaying discovery or leaving only traces that could not immediately reveal the truth.

Who knew Sun Shannu would be so bold? While her brother was scolding her son, she did not hide but continued her intimacy with her male companion. Was she brave or simply naive?

In fact, Sun Shannu was provoked by Xiao Rong... combined with her emotional state reaching a breaking point and her desire for physical stimulation, leading to her reckless behavior. Human hearts are complex, and even Xiao Rong can miscalculate sometimes. Fortunately, this was not a significant issue and would not affect his plans.

Xiao Rong was preparing to seek an audience with Sun Renluan, but Sun Renluan sent someone to invite him to the palace first.

Instantly, everyone in the room stood up, ready to follow Xiao Rong.

Xiao Rong: "..."

Though he promised to take them wherever he went, bringing them all would be too conspicuous.

After a moment of silence, he instructed Zhang Biezhi, "Take a few men to find mercenaries from different ethnic groups in the city. Exclude the Huns, Wusun, and Khitans who moved south. Hire the rest if the price is reasonable, but make sure you know their backgrounds. Preferably those with families or many acquaintances. Do not hire loners or small groups. Tell them it's for protecting me during the river crossing."

Once they crossed the river, it would be Northern Pacification Army territory. Since they came, they would not be leaving.

Zhang Biezhi was surprised. "Me?"

Hadn't Xiao Rong been making him act like an idiot these past few days, showing disrespect in public? Now he was sending him to hire mercenaries to protect Xiao Rong. Wasn't this contradictory?

Xiao Rong sensed Zhang Biezhi's confusion and raised an eyebrow. Unexpectedly, the low-tier version had learned to think.

He chuckled, "Yes, you. Others don't know where these ethnic groups come from, but you do. Besides, I doubt I will see the emperor again anytime soon, so you don't need to maintain your previous act."

If last night's incident had not occurred, he might have asked Zhang Biezhi to continue the act, but Sun Renluan's self-destructive confrontation with the empress dowager made it unlikely that either the empress dowager or the young emperor would listen to him now.

Xiao Rong even hoped Sun Renluan would speak ill of him, as it would make them less likely to believe him.

Zhang Biezhi seemed to understand but looked at Xiao Rong, hoping for more clarity. However, Xiao Rong had already turned to leave, and the others were relieved not to be assigned such a task. They preferred staying close to protect Xiao Rong.

Unlike them, Zhang Biezhi did not pick tasks. Or rather, he had no reservations like Qu Yunmie's guards, so he was more willing to obey Xiao Rong's orders. Among the twenty or so people, he was the least worried about Xiao Rong's safety.

Those in Jinling should be worried instead. Whatever Xiao Rong was planning, risking so much, would yield tremendous rewards. Too bad they were shortsighted and unaware of the impending disaster. ＊

Sun Renluan invited Xiao Rong to attend today's meeting of the Eight Ministers.

Actually, "attend" is not quite accurate. Sun Renluan intended to use the Eight Ministers to suppress Xiao Rong.

As soon as Xiao Rong entered the palace gates with a dozen guards, the old ministers burst into laughter. Being cultured, they did not insult him outright but could not resist gentle mockery. They condescendingly evaluated Xiao Rong's recent actions, turning everything into criticism.

Even Xiao Rong's striking appearance, which usually drew admiration, was twisted into proof of his superficial nature. They accused him of using his looks to manipulate people, suggesting that the Northern Pacification King was bewitched by his face. Yet, how could one blame the king, a man of humble origins, for being easily swayed by beauty?

The speaker's tone was sarcastic, but the listeners found it amusing. Laughter filled the hall again. Sun Renluan watched them, suddenly finding the scene familiar.

Ten years ago, it was not these people but another group sitting here, ridiculing an unknown figure. They mocked everything from his background to his appearance and name, as if he did not deserve to live.

That person was Qu Yunmie.

Qu Yunmie, who could terrify Jinling with a mere gesture, once forced them to acknowledge him as the rightful Northern Pacification King.

The world is ever-changing, with talented individuals emerging one after another. First, there was Qu Yunmie, and now there is Xiao Rong. Why do those blessed with great talent always reside on the other side of the Huai River, and why are they all so young, with long futures ahead of them? Look at Jinling.

Sometimes Sun Renluan feels as if he is growing old. He has stood at the pinnacle of power for a long time, able to survey the entire realm, yet he cannot see where the people around him will end up. At the beginning of the year, there were unusual celestial signs, and someone told him that it meant the Northern Pacification King's fate was coming to an end. But now, it seems not to be the case. War breaks out, Jupiter shifts, the Purple Star wavers, and the earth fire will rise.

He knows a bit about astrology. The celestial signs at the beginning of the year never specifically named the Northern Pacification King, but the shift in Jupiter and the wavering of the Purple Star are clear omens. The one whose fate is ending is not the Northern Pacification King, but rather the struggling, barely surviving royal dynasty of the He family.

Sun Renluan has been with the He family for too long. He cannot replace them, nor can he sever his ties with them. If the omens are true, when the day comes that the dynasty falls, he will be one of the countless dust particles buried beneath the ruins.

But what does it matter? He has experienced countless storms in his life, and celestial signs cannot stop him. He will continue doing what he must until the situation is settled. Not until real swords clash before him will he stop, close his eyes, and enjoy his eternal peace. ...

When Xiao Rong entered, these men immediately put on fake smiles, pretending to be kind and benevolent. Xiao Rong smiled back at them and slowly took his seat, ready to discuss serious matters.

It was still about sending troops. Not all eight officials were necessarily Sun Renluan's confidants, but they were united when facing outsiders. Sun Renluan had already shared some of what Xiao Rong said that day, and they were less resistant to sending troops, but on one condition: Xiao Rong must offer something substantial.

Merely acknowledging allegiance to the court is not enough; there must be actual action! The court currently lacks troops. Asking the Northern Pacification King to send fifty thousand soldiers to guard the capital is not unreasonable, right?

Xiao Rong chuckled. "Fifty thousand sounds a bit low."

The old men were taken aback. They were intentionally making things difficult for Xiao Rong and hoping to negotiate a better deal. If the Northern Pacification King wasn't foolish, he wouldn't send fifty thousand troops, but even ten thousand would be a gain.

No one expected Xiao Rong to respond this way. As they were still puzzled by his meaning, Xiao Rong slowly said, "How could fifty thousand be enough to guard the capital? You should ask for four hundred thousand instead. Let the King personally lead the troops across the Huai River. All you need to do is open the city gates, and you will receive our King's goodwill."

The old men: "......"

Is it receiving goodwill, or becoming the goodwill ourselves?

You young man, dare to mock us!

One of the old men, with a face flushed like a pig liver, said to Xiao Rong, "Xiao Lingyin, your joke is too much."

Xiao Rong looked surprised. "I thought you were joking too, so I went along with it. Oh, if I offended anyone, please don't take it to heart. I am young and inexperienced, and I may have spoken out of turn. Ha ha, surely you won't hold it against me?"

The old men: "......"

We've only seen people relying on their age, never on their youth.

They couldn't match Xiao Rong in wordplay. When he first arrived, he seemed quite strained facing the entire court, but now sitting among them, he appeared quite at ease. Could it be that with fewer people, he became more powerful?

There was no time to ponder this. Xiao Rong was not here to play games; he didn't want to waste time. ...

His bottom line was clear: mere acknowledgment of allegiance was acceptable, but asking for any substantial commitment, especially troops and supplies, was out of the question. Not a single grain of rice would be given. However, these old men insisted on getting more benefits, otherwise, they would not agree to anything Xiao Rong proposed. Their dignity was at stake.

Xiao Rong acted as if he was thoroughly annoyed by them. After prolonged negotiations, he finally agreed to make a concession: they would pay tribute annually. Would that be acceptable?

Feudal lords should pay tribute, but with the court's weakness, it was often ignored. According to Xiao Rong, only two or three feudal lords still paid tribute to Southern Yong, including He Tingzhi, and the others did so out of fear.

Even if these three paid tribute, their offerings were perfunctory, nothing like the best reserved for the emperor in the past. Instead, the best was kept for themselves, and only decent items were sent to the emperor.

Xiao Rong began to shake his head and elaborate on how poor the Northern Pacification Army was. Money and supplies were impossible, but they could offer some specialties from north of the Huai River, such as warming powder. Have you heard of it? It's unique to the north. Sealed during the warmer months, it can be used like a hot water bottle, keeping warm for hours!

And carriages. The northern region is known for skilled carpenters who craft incredibly comfortable carriages, like mobile houses. Such fine things should be presented to His Majesty.

Xiao Rong continued to describe these simple gadgets, all inexpensive but unique to Southern Yong.

Warming powder is a valuable resource for the Northern Pacification Army due to the colder climate, but in the south, its utility is limited. Even in the coldest southern winters, it merely makes life more comfortable without enhancing combat capabilities.

If possible, Xiao Rong would prefer to send something more strategic, like salt.

At that time, most people used well salt, which was impure and tasted bad. The imperial family used lake salt, slightly better but still not ideal.

As for sea salt, the main source of salt, many factors hindered its widespread use, such as inconvenient transportation, inland impatience, and fear of the sea. Despite its existence for thousands of years, sea salt remained rare until the Grand Canal was dug and shipbuilding advanced, allowing water transport to flourish. Sea salt then became the government's preferred choice.

Sea salt is inexhaustible. If Xiao Rong could supply it to Southern Yong while hiding its origin, well and lake salts would become obsolete. Over time, Southern Yong's salt supply would be monopolized by Xiao Rong, giving him leverage over the region.

However, this couldn't be done openly. He wanted to control the elite, not the common people. Nobles could be manipulated, but commoners' lives were fragile.

So he didn't mention salt. For important matters, he needed a detailed plan and the right opportunity.

Still, the small items Xiao Rong offered were enough to entice them. These were unique and practical things they had never seen before. They continued negotiating, demanding quantities in the thousands.

These small items would last the emperor a lifetime, but they openly admitted they intended to keep the tributes for themselves. ... It was normal, given the state of the emperor, there was no need to pretend.

Taking advantage of their ignorance, Xiao Rong repeatedly emphasized that warming powder was very expensive, using gold! Have you heard that real gold is unafraid of fire? That's why this warming powder works!

Finally, Xiao Rong reluctantly agreed to send two hundred pounds of warming powder as tribute. As for the carriages, he promised to instruct all the carpenters to work overtime and deliver ten by next year.

The old men: "..."

We might not understand warming powder, but do you think we haven't seen carriages? What kind of carriage takes a whole year to build!

Regardless of their questions, Xiao Rong had answers, painting a vivid picture as if the carpenters were reincarnations of Lu Ban. Someone suggested sending a few carpenters instead of carriages. Xiao Rong hesitated.

You really have no shame, comparing yourselves to bandits.

Not only did they say it once, but they repeated it. Xiao Rong smirked, knowing he couldn't agree. He explained that the carpenters had been silenced and crippled to prevent them from revealing their secrets, so he had to refuse.

Saying the humblest words with the darkest smile.

Everyone: "..."

No wonder the Northern Pacification Army is tougher than us!

Sun Renluan watched them being intimidated by Xiao Rong and stopped them when he grew impatient. He never intended to demand tribute from the Northern Pacification King. He believed that acknowledging allegiance to the court would benefit the current regime. He had already decided to accept it.

Today's true negotiation was never about tribute but about sending troops.

Sun Renluan wanted the Northern Pacification King's allegiance, but he did not want to send troops.

In Jinling, even a shortage of ten thousand troops could lead to complications, so he absolutely wouldn’t send anyone to Xianbei. However, he also knew that Xiao Rong wouldn’t agree with this approach. Therefore, according to his plan, he intended to dispatch three thousand men to deliver supplies to the Northern Pacification Army.

The first batch of supplies would come from Jinling, but for subsequent deliveries, they would only handle transportation and not procurement.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Rong became instantly agitated. He loudly declared that what the Northern Pacification Army needed most were men, not supplies. Moreover, those few supplies wouldn’t even cover a day’s rations!

Upon hearing this, the old men were displeased. Jinling had its own army to support, and this was all they could afford to send. They couldn’t possibly neglect their own capital’s defenders for the sake of the Northern Pacification Army. It was already generous of them not to demand supplies from the Northern Pacification Army. Xiao Rong was truly ungrateful.

Xiao Rong: "…"

He gritted his teeth as he glared at these comfortable old men who didn’t know the hardships of war. After a long pause, he firmly stated that if Jinling took this attitude, then there was no need for imperial assistance in attacking Xianbei. No matter how difficult the battle, they would defeat the Murong clan of Xianbei. Afterward, they would remember those who helped them and those who tried to hinder them.

The old men: "…"

You dare threaten us?!

Xiao Rong certainly did. He sneered at them, and it was at this moment that the old men realized he was the strategist of the Northern Pacification King. His stance essentially represented the Northern Pacification King’s stance. If he whispered a few words to the king upon returning, Jinling might be in grave danger.

The fear from when the Northern Pacification King had once moved the capital resurfaced, and they panicked. Their first reaction was to look at Sun Renluan above them.

Sun Renluan pursed his lips but didn’t ignore them. He adopted a rational approach and personally negotiated with Xiao Rong. Seeing that Sun Renluan was relatively courteous, Xiao Rong’s expression softened slightly.

Others dared not interrupt anymore. As they continued their back-and-forth negotiations, Xiao Rong finally showed some flexibility. He stated that if Jinling was unwilling to send troops, they should provide enough supplies to feed ten thousand people for a month. They had already pledged allegiance to the court, but if the court couldn’t protect them, why should they serve it?

Sun Renluan felt his heart ache at Xiao Rong’s audacious demand. It wasn’t that he couldn’t provide the supplies, but how could he support the Northern Pacification Army? That would be like feeding a tiger!

As Sun Renluan pondered whether to end this pointless argument and discuss it another day, he heard Xiao Rong shift his stance. If the court refused to provide supplies, he would accept gold instead, but since food was more expensive north of the Huai River, the amount of gold needed would have to be doubled.

The old men: "…"

You’re getting more outrageous!

However, they didn’t notice the subtle change in Sun Renluan’s expression. People, supplies, and money—this was the order of importance in his mind. He couldn’t give people, could only provide some supplies, and as for money…

Doubling the amount was impossible, giving everything was out of the question, but he could offer slightly more than the supplies.

Sun Renluan’s thinking wasn’t wrong. In times of turmoil, money was the least valuable. But he didn’t realize that what Xiao Rong currently lacked most was money. With money, he could overcome this difficult period and immediately prioritize city defenses upon returning.

Another round of bargaining began, with neither Xiao Rong nor Sun Renluan backing down. Eventually, Sun Renluan agreed to provide fifty thousand gold coins, but not all at once. Two thousand would be given initially, two thousand after the Northern Pacification Army mobilized, and the final thousand would be provided later.

This effectively meant that the last thousand gold coins would likely never be received, and perhaps even the two thousand after mobilization would be withheld.

But even two thousand was a huge sum for Xiao Rong, and he reluctantly accepted, though inwardly he was elated.

Everyone knew that Sun Renluan was a man of integrity. He never broke his promises. Sun Renluan assured that the items would be sent over shortly, including what Xiao Rong had requested earlier.

Though he didn’t explicitly say it, Xiao Rong understood that he referred to the letter authorizing Huang Yanjiong’s deployment. Sun Renluan was reminding him that they were partners. He trusted Xiao Rong’s plan and entrusted him with the task. In return for Xiao Rong’s honesty, he expected him to do his best.

Xiao Rong expressed his gratitude profusely, completely different from his earlier aggressive demeanor.

Feeling that the negotiations had concluded, Xiao Rong was about to leave when Sun Renluan suddenly invited him to a banquet that evening. Xiao Rong was taken aback.

Having been here for days, he had never attended any banquets because he had come uninvited, and the people of Jinling looked down on him, unwilling to host a welcoming feast. Now, suddenly inviting him, Xiao Rong couldn’t understand Sun Renluan’s intentions.

Regardless, as the host extended an invitation, he had to accept it. Given his earlier active involvement, pretending to be ill was no longer an option.

Seeing his acceptance, Sun Renluan nodded and allowed him to leave early.

Back at his residence, Xiao Rong pondered why Sun Renluan suddenly decided to host a banquet for him. Could it be because they had just reached an agreement, and Sun Renluan wanted to thank him? It seemed reasonable, yet something felt off. Normally, one would invite someone to a banquet before agreeing to cooperate. Xiao Rong had expressed his intention to collaborate with Sun Renluan on the second day, and even then, Sun Renluan hadn’t mentioned a feast.

Xiao Rong had a favorable impression of Sun Renluan and believed he wouldn’t resort to such underhanded tactics. The idea of a trap or assassination during a banquet seemed absurd. Sun Renluan’s character was too noble; he was the type who avoided social obligations altogether.

Despite the anomaly, Xiao Rong couldn’t determine if it posed a danger. This uncertainty frustrated him. He could predict future events affecting Qu Yunmie, but not himself.

After much deliberation, he decided to attend the banquet. Zhang Biezhi had spent the entire day hiring forty-odd foreigners as per Xiao Rong’s request. When these foreigners entered the mansion, they nearly frightened the servants into fainting.

Leaving Zhang Biezhi and others behind to watch over the foreigners, Xiao Rong went to the palace with Ah Shu and the remaining guards. Since this was a dinner, Ah Shu could accompany him inside. He sat quietly beside Xiao Rong while the latter engaged in toasts with others.

However, Xiao Rong claimed poor health and a low tolerance for alcohol, so he barely drank. If someone insisted, he would lower his head and pinch his temples, making others feel guilty about pressing him further.

Ah Shu was also helpful, discreetly spilling Xiao Rong’s wine during refills to make it appear as if he had consumed more.

This unfamiliar setting didn’t intimidate Ah Shu; instead, he focused solely on serving Xiao Rong. Thus, he was the first to notice when Xiao Rong stiffened.

He looked at Xiao Rong in confusion, "Master?"

Xiao Rong: "…" He understood.

He realized that the banquet wasn’t hosted by Sun Renluan but by someone else who persuaded Sun Renluan to invite him using his name.

If not for seeing the dancer and hearing someone laughingly praise her as Jinling’s rare beauty, he wouldn’t have known the trap lay there.

The dancer was named Xi Zhu. Xiao Rong knew her name because she was the only famous female assassin during the Yong Dynasty.

Her most notable deed was helping Sun Shannu disguise herself as a common dancer to approach Sun Renluan and stab him to death.

Xiao Rong was both shocked and terrified. Historically, she was associated with Sun Shannu, but the person praising her was clearly Prime Minister Yang Zangyi!

He couldn’t help cursing inwardly. So, Yang Zangyi and Sun Shannu were allies? No, if they were, why would they invite him today? Even if they planned to kill Sun Renluan, they wouldn’t need an audience. Therefore, they weren’t allies, but they had a connection. A prime minister and an empress—what could their relationship be?—Tan’er.

Xiao Rong broke into a cold sweat. This was a major revelation not recorded in history books, but it explained everything. How could Sun Shannu maintain a male lover without being discovered? Because Yang Zangyi covered for her. And how did she find such a true love? Yang Zangyi understood her and arranged it for her.

Through this true love, the conflict between the siblings intensified. Sun Shannu, influenced by pillow talk, would be willing to take drastic action.

But the true love must remain safe.

Due to Xiao Rong’s intervention, Sun Renluan discovered the true love early, leading to the lover’s confinement and Sun Shannu’s arrest. A good card turned into a bad one. Yang Zangyi, a mastermind who caused sibling rivalry and made the sister bear the blood debt of killing her brother, would he let Xiao Rong, who ruined his plans, go unpunished?

Xiao Rong’s mind raced faster as his anxiety increased. Yang Zangyi wasn’t like Sun Shannu; he wouldn’t allow the assassin to act openly at the banquet. He couldn’t explain it to Qu Yunmie or Sun Renluan. However, he could use other means to send the assassin to Xiao Rong. Assassins didn’t always need to shed blood; poisoning or staging an accident would suffice.

Thinking this way, Xiao Rong's body slowly relaxed. As long as they weren't going to act immediately, he had a way to escape.

Xiao Rong calmly took a sip of wine, still thinking how unlucky he was. This Yang Zangyi had such a strong sense of revenge. He had only indirectly led to Tan'er being locked up; did it really warrant sending someone like this to assassinate him? Such an important person should be left to Sun Renluan, shouldn't they?

But no matter how puzzled he was, no one would explain it to him. Yang Zangyi was still up there, chatting amiably with Sun Renluan. As they talked, he steered the conversation toward Xiao Rong and generously offered that since Xiao Rong was a guest, all the dancers present tonight would be sent to his quarters for his enjoyment.

Xiao Rong: "…"

Thanks, but I don't have that kind of luck.

He smiled slightly, stood up to thank Yang Zangyi, and when he sat down again, he called out to the bewildered Ah Shu.

Ah Shu looked at him, and Xiao Rong smiled, pulling his robe together, first on the left, then on the right.

Ah Shu's face instantly changed, realizing he hadn't controlled his expression, he quickly lowered his head and said in a trembling voice, "M-Master, I need to use the restroom."

Xiao Rong: "…Go ahead."

Ah Shu's mental fortitude still needs some work.

The banquet grew livelier, and after Ah Shu went out for a while, he soon returned, so no one noticed anything unusual.

When the banquet finally dispersed, Xiao Rong allowed Ah Shu to support him, pretending to be drunk and nearly fainting. The dancers Yang Zangyi had given him obediently followed behind.

Yang Zangyi didn't leave. He watched as Xiao Rong led the dancers away, then lowered his eyes and took another sip of wine.

On the way out of the palace, Ah Shu tightly supported Xiao Rong, and when the dancers tried to help, he scolded them all. Since they were still inside the palace, they had to back off.

Once outside the palace, a group of several dozen people surrounded them. Zhang Biezhi, who should have been guarding the villa, rushed to the front and directly carried Xiao Rong on his back. As he ran forward, he shouted, "I'll take him back first; follow quickly!"

The guards and Ah Shu followed closely behind, while the dancers stood dumbfounded, not understanding what was happening.

They were separated by the guards, standing several yards away from Xiao Rong. Once they had run a good distance, far enough from the palace, Zhang Biezhi suddenly heard Xiao Rong speak calmly, "Put me down and knock them all out. If anyone fights back, kill them."

Real dancers wouldn't dare fight soldiers. Although Xiao Rong only knew of one female assassin named Xizhu, who could guarantee she didn't have accomplices?

Hearing Xiao Rong's words, Zhang Biezhi stopped abruptly, straightened up, and placed Xiao Rong on the ground. In the next second, he drew his sword and charged toward the dancers.

Seeing him attack, the others immediately transformed into fierce warriors. Xiao Rong urgently shouted, "Knock them out! Not kill them!"

Everyone: "…Yes!"

To Xiao Rong's surprise, not only did Xizhu not resist, but neither did the others. Perhaps they hadn't reacted yet, but Xiao Rong frowned and walked forward quickly.

He didn't get too close but squinted to examine their figures. Finally, using his keen eyesight, he identified the woman with the best figure and pointed at her, saying, "Turn her over and search her!"

First, check for weapons. If found, let her hold them. If not, find any weapon and put it in her hand.

They had to stand on the moral high ground!

The guard captain followed the order and approached. However, before Xiao Rong could decide whose weapon to use as a substitute, Xizhu leaped up from the ground with a short dagger in hand. The guard captain, startled, reflexively struck her down.

Xiao Rong: "…"

Guard Captain: "…"

The guard captain looked like he had made a mistake, cautiously watching Xiao Rong. After a moment of silence, Xiao Rong took a deep breath and said, "Don't just stand there. Clean everything up and bring what we need. We're leaving tonight!"

With that, Xiao Rong walked to Xizhu's side, looking at the beautiful woman. He tilted his head and squatted down, pulling out a hairpin from her head.

Carefully putting the hairpin away, Xiao Rong turned to Zhang Biezhi and said, "Don't go back yet. You have another task."

Zhang Biezhi looked at him with a determined gaze, appearing very reliable.

Xiao Rong smiled slightly at him, "Have you ever been a bandit?"

Zhang Biezhi: "???"

Author's note: