Night had fully fallen. The surroundings were so quiet that the cries of unknown birds and the sounds of various animals could be heard with startling clarity in the darkness.
A look of deep solemnity hung on Zhang Zongbin’s face. He could not help letting out a long sigh.
Then, slowly, he picked up a cup of wine from the table, raised an eyebrow, and poured it onto the ground. “Your Highness, I truly owe you an apology. But when you reach the underworld and complain to the ancestors of the Xiao family, you’d better make sure you’re blaming the right people.”
He leisurely poured another cup of wine. This time, he smashed the cup onto the ground as well. “Who told you to investigate so thoroughly and so relentlessly? The Lu family’s case passed through how many hands before it was concluded? How many people benefited from it? How many lives are you trying to take?”
When people are acting for their own interests, there is nothing they will not do.
And people always suffer from the illusion that they are somehow special, that Heaven favors them, that luck will smile upon them.
That was exactly how Zhang Zongbin felt.
Did he not know what would happen to him if his involvement in framing Lu Ting were exposed?
Of course he knew.
But if Xiao Yunting truly succeeded in uncovering the truth behind the Lu family case in the northwest, his fate would be even worse.
After all, he was part of the Crown Prince’s faction. He had boarded the Crown Prince’s ship long ago and had spent years deeply involved in smuggling operations.
The tent fell silent. Zhang Zongbin smashed an entire jug of wine onto the ground. At that very moment, the sound of a firework exploding rang out from outside.
He closed his eyes.
A trace of pity arose in his heart as he sighed.
Young people were simply too sharp-edged. He could have lived quietly and safely, but instead he insisted on opposing his own father.
In all the world, what son could truly defeat his father?
Let this be a lesson.
Perhaps when the Imperial Grandson reached the underworld, he would be fortunate enough to be reborn into a good family and never again be born into an imperial household.
The firework signal exploded. Soon, movement erupted outside.
From hidden corners, he could hear people waking and struggling.
Then came muffled sounds of despair as throats were slit.
What a sin. A terrible sin.
Lowering his eyes, he felt deeply unsettled.
Every one of those people had been raised by loving parents.
The soldiers might be rough and troublesome, but they did not deserve death.
In the end, the blame belonged to Xiao Yunting.
It was Xiao Yunting who refused to let matters rest.
He insisted on overturning a case that had already been settled years ago, dragging so many people down with him.
Zhang Zongbin did not believe in ghosts or gods.
Scholar-officials always spoke of avoiding discussions of spirits and supernatural matters.
Yet now, he closed his eyes, muttered a Buddhist prayer, and lifted the tent flap, intending to inspect the situation outside.
Those people handled things crudely.
They had better not leave behind too much evidence.
The moment he stepped outside, his soul nearly left his body.
Because standing not far ahead was none other than Xiao Yunting.
Who else could it be?
Xiao Yunting had not been rendered unconscious by the drug!
No.
No, no, no!
Not only had he not been drugged unconscious,
Had Xiao Yunting known all along that something was wrong?
Had he prepared for this from the beginning?
Zhang Zongbin’s face twitched.
When he saw the corpse lying at the entrance of the tent, all color drained from his face.
It was his attendant.
His attendant!
Which meant that the attendant had died the moment he stepped out of the tent.
Then…
Then who had launched the firework signal?
It had been Xiao Yunting!
A burning pain flared inside Zhang Zongbin’s nose. His entire body trembled uncontrollably.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yunting looked at him with a faint smile. Casually brushing dust from his sleeve, he said in a calm voice, “Lord Zhang has worked hard on this journey. You delayed our progress, passed information along, and constantly kept track of our route and resting places. Then you deliberately led us into this desolate wilderness before pretending to be ill, forcing us to stop and camp.”
A faint smile played on his lips. “Who says Lord Zhang is in poor health? Isn’t Lord Zhang vigorous in old age? Stronger than ever?”
At this moment, all traces of the approachable and amiable Xiao Yunting from the journey vanished without a trace.
Beneath that smiling face was a young ruler with razor-sharp features and eyes that radiated cold authority.
It was as though he had been born to command.
No. Zhang Zongbin quickly corrected himself.
It wasn’t natural talent alone.
It was the Jiangxi expedition. How many people had Xiao Yunting killed on that journey?
His current authority and imposing presence had been built atop piles of human lives.
Swallowing with difficulty, Zhang Zongbin stammered, “Your Highness… this old minister doesn’t know what you’re talking about…”
By now, Xing Min and the others had silently gathered behind Xiao Yunting.
Feng Nanmu stood expressionless, shaking his head inwardly.
Too impatient.
Too foolish.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yunting raised his bow and slowly aimed it at Zhang Zongbin.
Every hair on Zhang Zongbin’s body stood on end.
In terror, he shouted, “No! Your Highness, you can’t kill me! You can’t kill me! I am a Shilang of the Ministry of Justice, a fourth-rank official! Even if His Majesty wishes to execute me, the Ministry of Justice, the Dali Temple, and the Censorate must first determine my guilt!”
Xiao Yunting chuckled softly. Then he suddenly drew the bowstring to its fullest. The arrow shot forward.
Watching it fly toward him, Zhang Zongbin felt his heart leap into his throat. His legs nearly gave way beneath him.
But at the last moment, the arrow brushed past his face with a sharp whistle and slammed into the chest of a black-clad assassin standing behind him.
The immense force carried the man backward for several yards before hurling him into a tent.
Zhang Zongbin shuddered violently. Turning around in disbelief, he saw the black-clad man crash heavily to the ground. The assassin coughed up blood and immediately stopped moving.
More black-clad figures surged forward. Their sabers flashed as they charged directly toward him.
At once, Zhang Zongbin understood.
They were silencing witnesses.
The situation had changed, and now they intended to kill him first.
He screamed, “Your Highness, save me! I know a lot! I know many things!”
Xiao Yunting drew another arrow from his quiver.
Then another.
And another.
His arrows flew one after another with astonishing speed.
Each shot struck a black-clad assassin with deadly precision.
Zhang Zongbin was so frightened he nearly wet himself.
At the same time, he was overwhelmed with shock.
The prince actually possessed such skill!
No wonder Emperor Yongchang had been willing to let him travel on his own.
No wonder the emperor favored this grandson so much!
Swallowing hard, Zhang Zongbin gathered his robes and hurried desperately toward Xiao Yunting. But at that very moment, even more attackers poured out of the darkness. Someone, he did not know who, suddenly slammed into him just as he was about to reach Xiao Yunting’s side. Then Zhang Zongbin felt a sudden warmth at his throat.
A moment later, horror filled his eyes as he watched blood spray outward from his neck.
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