Chapter 179

Chapter 179

The Cui family, a family of long-standing prestige, still had some means of self-preservation.

Although Xin Jianshui continued to surround Cui Xuan's residence, after three days of enduring, he managed to establish contact with the outside world.

The people the Cui family had stationed in Taiyuan secretly delivered messages when they brought in vegetables. They tried to contact Pei Jin, but the Hedong military governor had vanished after the Pei family seized part of his military authority. Thus, they asked Cui Xuan if they should contact the Wei family in Tongzhou, the closest military force the Cui family could call upon.

Cui Xuan burned the secret letter to ashes, knowing full well the implications. He knew that if Pei Jin was unavailable, the fastest way for him to escape would be to write a letter asking the Wei family in Tongzhou for help. Though he had given the token for mobilizing the Tongzhou army to Su Yu, he could still call for help without it, thanks to his life-saving favor with the Wei family patriarch.

However, even Xin Jianshui understood that if Cui Xuan actually summoned the Tongzhou army to rescue him, his relationship with the emperor would likely come to an end. Even in dire situations, privately mobilizing troops remained the emperor's greatest taboo.

Cui Xuan was clear-sighted, so he burned the secret letter and rejected the suggestion.

As days went by, Xin Jianshui realized that the lockdown of Taiyuan couldn't last much longer. In a few more days, the emperor would be informed, and before the emperor sent troops, he had to find allies first. If Cui Xuan refused to cooperate, he would have to kill him to stop him from returning.

Xin Jianshui was filled with irritation and a tinge of regret. He briefly wondered if the emperor might spare him if he surrendered all his possessions. But when he opened his treasure chamber and looked around, he gritted his teeth and thought, "I can lose my head, shed my blood, and even abandon my wife and children, but I will never give up these treasures!"

Xin Jianshui gave Cui Xuan an ultimatum: if he didn't respond within three days, he would kill him without hesitation. "If you agree, we are allies. If you refuse, I will offer you, the head of the Qinghe Cui family, as a sacrifice to the military flag."

Another message was delivered to Cui Xuan from outside, which, as usual, he burned.

Hearing a noise outside the door, Cui Xuan immediately called out, "Who is it?"

"Premier Cui, it's me. May I enter?" Cheng Heyuan's voice echoed from outside.

Cui Xuan said, "Come in."

As soon as Cheng Heyuan entered, he caught the scent of burnt paper. His eyes lingered on the incense burner briefly before he casually averted his gaze and got straight to the point. He knew Xin Jianshui had given Cui Xuan a three-day deadline and was clearly here to assess Cui Xuan's position.

Cui Xuan set up a chessboard on the table and asked Cheng Heyuan, "Do you know how to play, Censor-in-Chief?"

"I only know the fundamental rules," Cheng Heyuan replied.

Cui Xuan gestured for him to sit.

Cheng Heyuan sat down without hesitation, picked up the red 'cannon,' and moved it to the center. While most people preferred Go, Cheng Heyuan had secretly learned chess, planning to adopt an unconventional strategy. So when Cui Xuan brought out the chessboard, he modestly claimed to only know the fundamental rules, but his eyes sparkled with excitement.

However, after a few games, the spark in his eyes faded as he stared in disbelief at Cui Xuan, who had completely outplayed him.

Cui Xuan added insult to injury by saying, "It seems the Censor-in-Chief is indeed not skilled at chess."

Cheng Heyuan gritted his teeth and said, "Again!"

Cui Xuan took out a brocade handkerchief from his sleeve, wiped each chess piece, and then put them away. "The Censor-in-Chief should rest early."

Cheng Heyuan narrowed his eyes and said earnestly, "Premier Cui, being stuck here like this is no solution. Why don't you pretend to surrender and then ask the Defense Commissioner of Tongzhou for help?"

Without looking up, Cui Xuan said indifferently, "If I pretend to surrender, then I would ask the Censor-in-Chief to offer your head to help me deceive Xin Jianshui."

Cheng Heyuan was stunned for a moment before saying, "Premier Cui, you must be joking."

Cui Xuan said expressionlessly, "I never joke."

Cheng Heyuan: "..." He thought he was unlikable enough, but he hadn't expected Cui Xuan to be even more unlikable.

He looked at Cui Xuan again, unsure whether Cui Xuan was testing him or being serious.

After Cheng Heyuan had been gone for a while, Cui Xuan finally stood up and walked to the corridor. The restless summer breeze brushed against him, and he couldn't help but wonder whether Cheng Heyuan's probing was purely his own or on behalf of Su Yu...

"Premier Cui," Liu Wushi's voice interrupted Cui Xuan's contemplation. Cui Xuan turned his head and saw Liu Wushi dressed in martial attire, looking dashing from afar, but as he approached, there seemed to be a foul smell emanating from him.

Cui Xuan subtly retreated a few steps, "What have you been doing?"

Liu Wushi wanted to move closer, but Cui Xuan immediately raised his hand to stop him, "Dr. Liu, if you have something to say, speak directly!"

Liu Wushi thought to himself that Cui Xuan was truly inconsiderate; of course, he had confidential matters to discuss.

Premier Cui and Dr. Liu faced each other in silence for a long time before Cui Xuan reluctantly agreed, "Come inside with me."

Once inside, Cui Xuan gestured towards the writing materials, indicating for Liu Wushi to write it down.

Liu Wushi wrote the message on a piece of paper and handed it to Cui Xuan, who quickly read through it.

It turned out that Liu Wushi had also devised a backup plan, having Guo Laidong disguise himself and go into hiding. Now, Guo Laidong was posing as a garbage collector, and Liu Wushi concealed himself in a garbage bucket, allowing Guo Laidong to transport him in and out. They had attempted this several times, and the guards at the gate did not closely inspect the garbage buckets; as long as they covered them with some rotten vegetable leaves, they could slip out unnoticed.

Liu Wushi's plan was to hide in the garbage buckets early the next morning, first leave the residence, and then take the opportunity to escape from Taiyuan City.

Cui Xuan remained silent.

Liu Wushi: '?' Cui Xuan's face clearly showed refusal.

The two stood in silent confrontation once more for a long time.

Finally, Cui Xuan pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration and said to Liu Wushi, "Dr. Liu, go and clean yourself up, then meet me in the backyard."

Liu Wushi immediately became wary and glared at Cui Xuan, coldly refusing, "Premier Cui, I do not have any interest in men."

His affection for Su Yu was an exception, and his heart belonged only to Su Yu.

A vein on Cui Xuan's forehead visibly twitched, and he said coldly, "Dr. Liu, I have someone I care for, please do not further damage my reputation."

Liu Wushi was taken aback for a moment. Cui Xuan spoke so seriously that it was hard not to believe his words. He suddenly smiled and sincerely bowed in apology, "I apologize, I also have someone I care for, and in my haste, I spoke nonsense. Premier Cui, please do not take offense."

Liu Wushi went back to change his clothes before going to the backyard to find Cui Xuan.

Cui Xuan decided to call Cheng Heyuan over as well. He did not explain clearly, only saying, "At the third watch tonight, listen for the rooster's crow."

There was no rooster's crow at the third watch, but Cui Xuan was clearly not one to joke, and this statement was not funny as a joke either. Liu Wushi and Cheng Heyuan immediately understood that something would happen at the third watch, but as to who would come, they chose to remain silent and not ask.

After returning to their rooms, Liu Wushi and Cheng Heyuan lay down on their beds without removing their outer garments, waiting for the commotion outside.

Sure enough, at the third watch, they heard the crow of a rooster from outside. They quickly got up from their beds and went out.

The moonlight was like water, and Cui Xuan stood in the courtyard. His tall figure had a natural elegance, and even in the dim night, he was easily recognizable. Standing opposite him was a slightly shorter military officer.

Hearing the footsteps, the officer turned around. By the faint light of the night, Liu Wushi and Cheng Heyuan saw the officer's face—it was Pei Jin, the Hedong military governor who had been missing for a long time.

Judging by the situation, Cui Xuan must have been in secret contact with Pei Jin all along, keeping them in the dark.

Seeing them, Pei Jin said, "Cheng, the Censor-in-chief, and Dr. Liu, do not worry. The people outside have already been quietly replaced by my men. We are just waiting for Xin Jianshui to come tomorrow to catch him in a trap."

Although Pei Jin had not been in Taiyuan for long, he had quite a few soldiers under his command. The Surveillance Commissioner, Du Changxuan, who had only been in the army for a few months, could identify those who could be won over. Pei Jin and Du Changxuan secretly persuaded a deputy general who originally followed the Pei clan to disguise his men as soldiers under the deputy general's command. They boldly came over and took advantage of the night to kill the guards outside the residence.

Now, those standing outside wearing the guards' uniforms were all Pei Jin's men.

They planned to keep up the act until Xin Jianshui arrived, then seize the opportunity to capture him.

At dawn, Xin Jianshui arrived right on time. After thinking it over yesterday, he realized that giving Cui Xuan three days was too generous, and he demanded an answer from Cui Xuan right away today.

When Xin Jianshui saw Cui Xuan and the other two, he thought that Cui Xuan was still useful, and Liu Wushi, who could bring in money, should be kept around for now. However, Cheng Heyuan was different—all he did was eat. Today, he decided to kill Cheng Heyuan first to scare Cui Xuan.

He immediately ordered his guards to kill Cheng Heyuan.

As soon as the guard drew his sword, Cheng Heyuan thanked himself for having farmed for three years, which gave him the strength to dodge the attack.

Cui Xuan reacted quickly, twisting the guard's arm and disarming him in a flash, the long blade now in Cui Xuan's hand.

Xin Jianshui's face went pale, and he kept stepping back, shouting, "Guards! Guards! Hurry, grab Cui Xingjian—"

Several guards rushed in, but before Xin Jianshui could breathe a sigh of relief, the guards instead took down his own men, and one of them even held a blade right to his neck.

Xin Jianshui's eyes widened in shock, while Pei Jin, dressed as a guard, smiled at him and said, "Governor Xin, it's been a while."

Gao Lan showed up the day after Pei Jin took back control of the Hedong Army. She was about to order an attack on the city but sensed something was off and told her troops to hold off. Then she saw Pei Jin opening the city gates to welcome her inside.

Pei Jin smiled and apologized, "General Gao, my apologies. We just finished cleaning up and didn't get a chance to open the gates earlier, causing you to misunderstand."

Gao Lan looked around and realized there was nothing left for her to do. She asked with concern, "Are Premier Cui and the others safe?"

Pei Jin chuckled, "They're doing great. Right now, they're going through Xin Jianshui's assets. You wouldn't believe it—the piles of gold, silver, and treasures in Xin's mansion are mind-blowing!"

Gao Lan's eyes sparkled, "That's perfect. I'll take it back to make His Majesty happy."

She couldn't even imagine how thrilled Su Yu would be to see cart after cart of gold and silver treasures!

"Sure, I'll take you to see it now," Pei Jin said, as he led the way. But then Gao Lan suddenly halted, and he immediately asked nervously, "What's wrong?"

Gao Lan replied, "Take me to Premier Cui's residence first. I have urgent business."

"Premier Cui isn't at his residence," Pei Jin said, looking puzzled.

Gao Lan thought to herself that she needed Cui Xuan to be absent so she could carry out the task assigned by the emperor without leaving a trace!

As she pondered how to explain herself to Pei Jin, he spoke up first, "It's my mistake. General Gao, you're right. Since you've come to Taiyuan, it's only proper to formally meet Premier Cui first. I'll take you to his residence and then have someone summon him back."

Gao Lan thought this was acceptable, as it would give her time to act.

However, she didn't expect Cui Xuan to actually be at his residence when they arrived.

When the servants led them to the study, Cui Xuan was in the middle of writing a letter, and Gao Lan noticed a tall stack of red-lined paper piled high on his left side.

Having once accompanied the emperor in practicing calligraphy, Gao Lan silently took a couple of steps to the side, looking for an opportunity to act.

After finishing the letter, Cui Xuan placed both the letter and the red-lined paper into a box right in front of her.

"Wait!" Gao Lan shouted.

Cui Xuan looked at her, and Gao Lan forced a smile, asking, "Is this box meant to be sent to His Majesty? Premier Cui, did you perhaps put the wrong items in it..."

"No mistake," Cui Xuan replied. "This letter is to be sent by express courier to inform His Majesty of the situation."

He handed the entire box to a servant, ordering him to deliver it to the capital immediately. Once the box was taken away, he turned back to face the visibly anxious Gao Lan.

Cui Xuan's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly as he asked, "General Gao, it seems you already knew I had calligraphy practice sheets to send to His Majesty?"

Gao Lan's expression suggested she had come specifically to prevent him from sending the red-lined paper.