Chapter 545 Death of Liang Youyi (Part Three)
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“Liang Youyi is dead.”
When Yuwen Fu heard this, it was like a bolt from the blue.
He thought that even though Sixth Uncle had arrested Liang Youyi, there would still be a proper procedure, with investigation before judgment. During this process, if the Great Empress Dowager had any objections or was displeased, she could intervene and bring Liang Youyi back. However, he never expected Ying Wang to directly take Liang Youyi’s life.
Feng Bingzhong cried out in grief, “Master, Master, Master, you died unjustly.”
A middle-aged eunuch accompanied by several palace attendants walked out from the corner, looking coldly at Feng Bingzhong and reprimanding, “How dare you make such a commotion in front of a noble? If you frighten the noble, what will happen? Don’t you know that crying without reason is not allowed in the palace? Where did you learn your manners?”
Feng Bingzhong, who had previously been one of the more arrogant eunuchs in the palace thanks to Liang Youyi’s support, shouted back, “Who are you? If I did something wrong, His Highness would naturally reprimand me. Why do you have the audacity to intervene?”
Yuwen Fu also frowned and looked at the newcomer, confirming that he didn’t recognize the person. The middle-aged eunuch smiled faintly, gave a respectful salute to Yuwen Fu, and said, “I am Wei Dali, who used to serve in Qiuyun Palace. I was just transferred to Changxin Palace today. Liang Youyi got into trouble, and the Great Empress Dowager was worried that Your Highness would not have someone to attend to you, so she ordered me to come and escort you back.”
Yuwen Fu, feeling wary, hid behind Feng Bingzhong and others. The Great Empress Dowager would never send someone he didn’t know to escort him. Was this a scheme devised by Ying Wang?
Seeing Yuwen Fu’s cautious reaction, Wei Dali didn’t force the issue. With a stern expression, he pointed at Feng Bingzhong and said, “Take this arrogant villain to the Ministry of Justice and let them punish him according to the palace rules!”
The attendants behind him immediately rushed forward, dragged Feng Bingzhong out from among the other eunuchs, and slapped him hard several times before dragging him away.
Feng Bingzhong wailed, “Your Highness, save me! Your Highness, save me!”
Yuwen Fu was frightened and scolded Wei Dali loudly, “How dare such an arrogant villain behave like this! Aren’t you afraid of the consequences if I report you to the Great Empress Dowager?”
Wei Dali smiled faintly and whispered, “Your Highness, do you not know how Liang Youyi died? Not only did he resist arrest, but he also tried to attack the guards with a knife. As a result, he was killed by a stray blade not far from here. There’s still blood there. Would Your Highness like to see it?”
Yuwen Fu’s face turned pale, his legs trembling. He turned and ran back into the school, shouting loudly, “Teacher Liao! Teacher Liao!”
Liao Guang, who had witnessed everything, had to step forward to protect Yuwen Fu. He asked Wei Dali with a stern face, “Which palace are you from? How dare you disrespect County Prince Sien? Would you dare to come with me to see the Great Empress Dowager?” Then he shouted to the guards, “Come here! Arrest him!”
The guards rushed over, but Wei Dali smiled slightly, drew a dagger from his sleeve, and rushed towards Yuwen Fu.
Yuwen Fu screamed, knelt down, crawled under the desk, and curled up, holding his head. Wei Dali swung his knife, missed, kicked away Liao Guang, flipped the table, and tried to grab Yuwen Fu. Yuwen Fu screamed with his head in his arms, but heard a swooshing sound. Wei Dali fell to the ground less than half a foot away from him. An arrow pierced Wei Dali’s throat, trembling incessantly.
A faint smell of blood spread out. Yuwen Fu tightly covered his mouth, looking terrified ahead. Yuwen Chu stood by the window with a curved bow worn by palace guards, still in the posture of shooting arrows. Seeing him, Yuwen Chu nodded lightly and threw the bow to the guard behind him, then walked over and extended his hand to him: “Is County Prince Sien alright?”
Yuwen Fu, still crouching on the ground, looked at Yuwen Chu in horror. He wanted to speak but dared not. Not speaking made him even more afraid. In the end, tears streamed down his face, and he tremblingly rushed towards Liao Guang. “Teacher Liao!”
Liao Guang couldn’t dodge in time, so he awkwardly embraced Yuwen Fu, looking at Yuwen Chu with complicated feelings. “Your Highness, Ying Wang, County Prince Sien is terrified.” He never expected the one who saved Yuwen Fu to be Yuwen Chu. Shouldn’t he be the one standing by and watching Yuwen Fu get killed?
“Liang Youyi resisted arrest and was killed. I am dealing with the matter nearby. I didn’t expect such a thing to happen. Fortunately, I arrived in time, or the consequences would be unthinkable. I need to catch the accomplices of the traitor. Would you please take County Prince Sien back to Changxin Palace to see the Great Empress Dowager?” Yuwen Chu nodded faintly, then turned and walked out.
Yuwen Fu finally stopped crying, sobbing as he said, “Teacher Liao, please take me back to Changxin Palace.”
Liao Guang sighed, resigned to his fate, and squatted down, asking Yuwen Fu to lie on his back. Trembling with fear, he carried Yuwen Fu on his back towards Changxin Palace. Passing by the place where Liang Youyi died, there was only blood on the ground, with no trace of people left.
He sighed again. It seemed that the Great Empress Dowager was gradually losing control of the palace. Today, if it weren’t for Ying Wang arriving in time and shooting, regardless of whether County Prince Sien died or was injured, the blame would fall on Ying Wang. The Great Empress Dowager must have hated Ying Wang deeply, and his reputation would suffer as well.
Who was behind this? Zhaoyang Palace and Chongzheng Hall? Or Anyang Wang, Yuwen Long? Or perhaps Linan Wang? Liao Guang felt somewhat stimulated. It’s not easy to be an official in troubled times, but it’s also easier. Otherwise, with his background, it would take him many years to rise up. Now it’s different. As long as he seizes the right opportunity, perhaps he could become the youngest prime minister.
Mu Gugu rushed over with a team of guards, and seeing Yuwen Fu lying on Liao Guang’s back, she hurriedly approached, “Your Highness, are you alright?”
Seeing Mu Gugu, Yuwen Fu couldn’t bear it anymore and cried out, “Gugu, Steward Liang is dead! Someone tried to assassinate me!”
“Don’t be afraid, Your Highness. I’m here. No one will hurt you.” Mu Gugu took Yuwen Fu in her arms and looked calmly at Liao Guang, “Since Teacher Liao witnessed the whole process, please come with me to explain the situation to the Great Empress Dowager.”
Liao Guang bowed and silently followed Mu Gugu into Changxin Palace. He detailed the whole process, then heard the Great Empress Dowager coldly chuckle. The voice was so low that it was almost inaudible, but it was chilling.
“You may leave.” The Great Empress Dowager poured tea, but Liao Guang retreated. He vaguely heard the Great Empress Dowager say, “He can’t wait for me to die. Ah Shang, did you hear? Did you hear? He killed Liang Youyi with his own hands!”
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