SEHE Chapter 98

Rescue 

Pei Yanci strolled leisurely from the back courtyard, but didn’t encounter Huo Cun. Thinking he might be in the front courtyard, he couldn’t help but find it rather strange.

Tang Xizhui had always been particular about extravagance and ostentation, and enjoyed tormenting people. Even his footstools required people to kneel and serve as backrests. There were quite a number of servants attending to him in the mansion. Yet today, from the time Pei Yanci walked out of the main courtyard and wandered around in a large circle, he hadn’t seen Huo Cun, nor had he seen any other inner court attendants or Elu Bureau guards.

Just as he was puzzling over this, rustling footsteps came from behind the artificial mountain—somewhat heavy, accompanied by panting, definitely more than one person.

The first thought that came to his mind was that thieves had actually broken into the grand Chief Overseer’s mansion.

Then he was amused by his own absurd notion.

The sleeve crossbow hidden on his upper arm was still strapped on. These past days he had been practicing martial arts for an hour every morning. At this moment, if he truly encountered villains, he was confident he could at least guarantee his own safety.

He concealed his presence and circled around to the back of the artificial mountain. The smell of blood also began to permeate his nostrils.

The two people behind the artificial mountain stopped in alarm and suspicion. Then, a wave of desperate fear made their pupils constrict sharply.

“Wan Xi.” Seeing that it was an acquaintance, Pei Yanci was also momentarily stunned, then laughed. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you. I thought you’d fallen out of favor.”

The person being supported by Wan Xi was the prey from when Tang Xizhui had played his hunting game in the mansion, and also the man who had naively thought that holding him hostage would allow him to leave the mansion safely.

The left shoulder that had been pierced several months ago appeared to have healed, but inevitably, his body bore many new wounds. The most serious was his left hand—from the elbow down, his sleeve hung empty.

Not just his body—that man’s eyes were evasive and uneasy, fearful of people, and appeared numb and listless. He had clearly suffered severe mental trauma as well, completely devoid of the resentment, unwillingness, and righteousness he’d shown when holding him hostage.

Tang Xizhui had always been skilled at such things.

Wan Xi no longer wore his previous fawning expression. The moment he saw him, his expression became coldly sharp and vigilant as he shielded the injured man behind him.

Both men’s faces looked terrible.

Inexplicably, they remained at an impasse.

Gradually, anxiety welled up in Wan Xi’s eyes. He had sent away the people in the mansion, but it wouldn’t be long before they returned, and Huo Cun might even detect something amiss ahead of time.

“Pei Daren, I’ve heard about the reforms you’ve made at the Imperial Academy. You’re a good person…”

“You think too highly of me,” Pei Yanci said. “Have you ever seen a good person get mixed up with a eunuch who brings chaos to the court and treats human life like grass?”

Wan Xi’s face turned deathly pale as his hand reached for his waist. “In that case, pardon my offense.”

“You know I studied under Nine-Thousand-Years, don’t you?” Pei Yanci said, leisurely watching them struggle in their dilemma before continuing, “I want to know Nine-Thousand-Years’ reason for capturing the person behind you.”

Seeing Wan Xi’s hesitation and vigilance, he smiled. “Do you think that with him locked up in the Elu Bureau, I couldn’t guess it’s because of something detrimental to the Elu Bureau? Why do you think I’m asking this now?”

“He didn’t reveal a single word,” Wan Xi said, gripping the injured man’s arm. Clearly he couldn’t hold on much longer—his stamina was running out.

“I don’t have that kind of idle interest in extracting information from you for Tang Xizhui,” Pei Yanci said. “I only want to know this one thing.”

Wan Xi thought for a moment, then revealed facts that everyone in the Elu Bureau knew. “The charge the Elu Bureau arrested him on was that he was trafficking illegal salt at the northern border passes. But this matter is pure slander. The one doing it was clearly that eunuch!”

Tang Xizhui trafficking illegal salt?

Pei Yanci wasn’t surprised in the least. As a parasite on the nation, a generation’s treacherous official, it was exactly the sort of thing he would do.

“Is there any evidence?”

Wan Xi’s eyes flickered briefly before returning to normal. “No.”

Just then, the three of them heard Huo Cun’s voice scolding someone. As the footsteps grew louder and closer, the volume increased.

Wan Xi panicked, looking at Pei Yanci with eyes full of distrust and hatred.

“I didn’t lead anyone here,” Pei Yanci said. “You can leave now. Oh, and after leaving the mansion, do you have anyone to meet you?”

“Why are you asking this?”

“Under the third tree to the left of the mansion gate, there’s a horse. It’s mine.”

“The main gate is too dangerous, and besides, it’s on horseback.”

“Still faster than walking on two legs,” Pei Yanci said. Hearing Huo Cun’s voice, he immediately changed his mind.

“Wait, follow me.”

Seeing Wan Xi’s face full of suspicion, he said, “Huo Cun is about to come over. You’re carrying an injured man. Without my help, do you think you can escape smoothly just by sending away a few inner court attendants?”

Before Wan Xi could speak, the injured man tugged at his sleeve, extremely reluctant. “They’re all in it together.”

Seeing people getting closer and closer, Pei Yanci simply walked out from behind the artificial mountain to meet them.

“Adoptive…Vice Chancellor Pei,” the moment Huo Cun saw who it was, the disgust and anger on his face immediately dissipated, blooming into a smile. “What are you doing here? Have you finished discussing matters with adoptive father?”

“Mm. Do you have any dirt on Fang Qingdu?”

“Oh my, I’d have to get those little brats at the Elu Bureau to look for that. Is Daren in a hurry?”

“Rather urgent. You also know that Qi Xiang stepping down from his position is only half a month away.”

“Leave it to me. Even if Fang Qingdu has no stains, our Elu Bureau can manufacture some scandal for him.”

“No need. Just go look now—just those things you’ve monitored and discovered in the past. Don’t create trouble out of nothing.”

“As you say. Your matters are most important. I’ll go personally right away. Leaving it to those brats really doesn’t give one peace of mind.” Huo Cun said, also calling the several people following him to help.

Seeing no one around, Pei Yanci turned back behind the artificial mountain. Wan Xi also emerged from the crevices of the artificial mountain, looking at him with half-belief and half-doubt. This time when Pei Yanci said to follow him, he still supported the man and followed.

Gu Wanchong had just finished handling several matters at the Chief Overseer’s mansion and was about to leave immediately. He had just boarded the carriage when he heard the driver give a muffled grunt before being dragged inside.

The moment Pei Yanci entered, he was met with a sharp dagger that nearly poked the driver’s eye.

Seeing who it was, Gu Wanchong’s hand froze stiffly in midair.

“If Your Highness kills him, we won’t have anyone to drive the carriage,” Pei Yanci said with a smile, lowering the person shielding him slightly.

Gu Wanchong slowly withdrew his dagger, stiffly uttering two words, “What matter?”

“This official has two friends who would like to borrow Your Highness’s carriage to travel together for a stretch. What do you say?”

After a pause, Gu Wanchong nodded.

Beneath his wide sleeves, his hands trembled uncontrollably.

Pei Yanci made a gesture out the small window, then turned back and smiled at him.

Gu Wanchong instinctively avoided his eyes, looking instead at the driver. “Go drive the carriage.”

“Pardon the offense. Here’s something to calm your nerves.” Pei Yanci released his mouth and casually stuffed two taels of silver over. “Could we go to the Jiang mansion first?”

The driver glanced at Gu Wanchong. Only after receiving his nod did he leave.

The curtain lifted, and Wan Xi and the other man immediately jumped onto the carriage.

With a crack of the whip, the carriage began to move slowly. Only after leaving Pingkang Ward did the two men finally breathe a sigh of relief.

“Thank you, Fifth Prince.” The two men cupped their hands in thanks. “We have long admired Your Highness’s fine reputation. The debt of today will be repaid with our lives if necessary.”

“I’m not the one who saved you,” Gu Wanchong said, his body leaning against the innermost wall of the carriage compartment, his hand resting seemingly casually on the dagger at his waist. “You’re military men?”

“Yes.”

“Where did you previously serve? Under whose command?”

“Previously under General Jiang Feng, conferred the rank of Earl. Later under General Ji Huaiyong.”

Gu Wanchong nodded. “That would be at Wenhui Pass. Unfortunately, this prince and Jiang Yi were both at Shuangfeng Pass.”

The border stretched for thousands of miles. The Great Yu northern frontier’s border with Great Xi formed a shape that was lower on the left and higher on the right. The territories connecting to the Western Regions had been largely seized by Great Xi in previous wars.

“What positions did you hold in the army?”

“This subordinate is Lu Fang. I formerly served as Cavalry General under General Ji’s command. This is my younger brother, who formerly served as Commandant of the Zhenwu Battalion.”

Pei Yanci’s eyebrows rose slightly. He had long since noticed these two men had military bearing, but hadn’t expected “Wan Xi’s” position to be a fifth-rank general, not much different from Jiang Yi’s rank.

“Vice Chancellor Pei,” Lu Fang still wore the indigo robes of an inner court attendant from the Chief Overseer’s mansion, though the disguise on his face had been torn off, revealing a face identical to Lu Lie’s. “This Jiang mansion we’re going to is?”

“Jiang Yi’s place. Don’t worry, this person has an upright and straightforward character. He’s also a general. If you have grievances, you can tell him. He’ll find a way to keep you safe.”

As Pei Yanci spoke, he took tea from the nearby food tray and gave it to the two men to moisten their throats. “Commandant Lu, last time at the Chief Overseer’s mansion I didn’t know your identity and thought you were a villain. I suppose we can consider ourselves friends who came to know each other through fighting.”

Lu Lie’s expression was agitated and uneasy. He clearly didn’t believe his words, nor did he believe he would actually be rescued. He kept lifting the curtain to peek outside.

He was more inclined to believe this was all Tang Xizhui’s way of toying with him.

Pei Yanci removed the crossbow from his arm and handed it to Lu Fang, indicating they should use it for self-defense.

“This… thank you.”

Pei Yanci smiled unconcernedly.

Gu Wanchong stared at him, his lowered eyelids casting a shadow over his eyes.

When they arrived at the Jiang mansion, Pei Yanci thanked him and brought the two men into the mansion.

After roughly explaining the situation to Jiang Yi, he pulled him aside and said quietly, “They have evidence of Tang Xizhui trafficking illegal salt. Pay special attention to the older brother Lu Fang—it’s very likely in his possession.”

Earlier he hadn’t understood, but upon seeing that Lu Fang and Lu Lie looked identical, he guessed the general picture. Lu Fang held a higher position and was more likely to have detected and come into contact with that evidence. The younger brother had very likely suffered in his brother’s place. That’s why even though the man had been tortured into confusion, he didn’t know about the evidence.

“How do you know?” Jiang Yi’s eyes widened. “What, you want me to help you get the evidence? Aren’t we being a bit overambitious going up against the eunuch faction?”

“Scared?” Pei Yanci looked up at him.

“I’m not scared for myself, but my mother just arranged a match for me.” This rough fellow Jiang Yi was starting to show tender concern. “We can’t drag an innocent young lady down to die with me.”

“Don’t worry. When the time comes, just hand the evidence over to me. Nothing will happen to you,” Pei Yanci said. “First gain his trust.”

Jiang Yi nodded, though his expression was somewhat unnatural when he looked at the Lu brothers again.

“Just how did you win battles?” Pei Yanci said, exasperated.

“I’d rather be back at the border,” Jiang Yi said miserably. “You people here have so many twists and turns.”

“I’m leaving.” Pei Yanci waved and left the mansion, but saw that Gu Wanchong’s carriage was still at the gate.

“Pei Daren, where is your home? My master can give you a ride,” the driver said in a deep voice.

Pei Yanci wasn’t shy about it and boarded the carriage again. “Thank you, Your Highness.”

“Did Tang Xizhui have you release those two men, or did you take it upon yourself?” Gu Wanchong asked.

“What difference does it make?” Pei Yanci smiled. “This official only knows that Your Highness cherishes talented generals and was willing to save them.”

Gu Wanchong’s family members were still being held by Tang Xizhui. He must certainly empathize.

Pei Yanci didn’t know much about this prince. As Huo Cun had said, this person was somewhat gloomy, his brows constantly knitted, as if perpetually shrouded in a gray, hazy mist.

His features were clearly sharp and distinct—if he smiled, he should look quite handsome.

He recalled their first meeting, when this person had been sparring enthusiastically with Jiang Yi, his movements graceful and efficient, then alighting before him like a flying swan.

His martial skills were excellent, his abilities strong—much better than that big oaf Jiang Yi.

Pei Yanci began to have some thoughts.

Suddenly, while he was lost in thought, Gu Wanchong lunged forward, pinning him down on the carriage and tearing open his clothes from behind.