“Who dares search this Young Master’s carriage!” The Crown Prince’s sharp voice rang out as he lifted the curtain and stepped out.
The carriage was surrounded by soldiers of the Eastern City Military Command, led by Commander Shi Lezhi, mounted on a red steed. Earlier, while conducting a nighttime sweep of the eastern inner city, he spotted a single carriage recklessly speeding through the empty streets. Finding it suspicious, he ordered his men to intercept it for inspection.
The driver, an attendant from the Eastern Palace, had been instructed to keep the young master’s identity hidden and tried to reason politely, saying the carriage carried a distinguished guest who should not be disturbed. He requested the soldiers to let them pass.
Shi Lezhi, however, thought to himself: Who could be such a high-ranking guest at this hour? Even if they had an official position, could they outrank the Empress Dowager’s kin or the Imperial Concubine’s uncle, Marquis Fengan?
He insisted on searching the carriage and even hinted at bribery, throwing his weight around. This infuriated the driver, who promptly reported the matter to the young master.
The youth in the carriage revealed himself, declaring himself “Young Master,” startling Shi Lezhi. As a mere sixth-rank military officer, he had never seen the Crown Prince in person, nor had he ever handled an Eastern Palace token. He dared not hastily salute in case it was a trick, nor dismiss the possibility that it was the Crown Prince himself. Stories of the Crown Prince’s unruly escapades outside the palace were widely known.
Caught in a bind, he hesitated. A deputy suggested quietly, “This matter is serious. Why not report to the Marquis for guidance? He’ll surely know the truth.”
Shi Lezhi nodded in agreement and sent the deputy ahead at full speed. Meanwhile, he stalled for time, circling his words to avoid yielding passage.
Marquis Fengan’s residence wasn’t far from there. When Wei Jun received the report, he was overjoyed. If this so-called crown prince turned out to be an impostor, it would be a grave crime of deceiving the emperor—a major case that could bring him immense credit. If it was truly Zhu Helin himself, then sneaking out of the palace at night, dressing in commoner’s clothes, and indulging in such reckless behavior would provide perfect ammunition. Wei Jun could instruct his allied court officials to launch a scathing impeachment against the crown prince in court the next day, shaking the stability of the heir apparent’s position.
Either scenario presented a rare opportunity for Wei Jun. Forget the elusive assassin—he immediately assembled his household guards and set off in grand style to the scene.
***
True to his word, Yu Wang ordered ten notes of 100-gold to be brought, packed them into a box, and handed it to Xiyan.
Clutching the box tightly, Xiyan glanced at Wu Ming in terror and pleaded, “This good sir wants to abduct me. Wangye, please have mercy and save me!”
Yu Wang chuckled coldly. “Didn’t I already grant you my mercy? Why beg for more? Pray for your own survival.” With a wave of his hand, he dismissed them. Wu Ming grabbed Xiyan by the collar and vaulted over the wall, exiting the estate.
It was only then that Xiyan realized that having money was useless if one couldn’t live to spend it. Regret and fear overwhelmed him, and he began sobbing uncontrollably.
Having sung opera for so long, even his cries carried a theatrical quality, rising and falling in waves that grated on Wu Ming’s nerves. Goosebumps spread across his skin. If not for the importance of his revenge, he would have flung Xiyan down from mid-air and let him fend for himself.
As they leaped over several streets, Xiyan was still crying. Wu Ming began to doubt his plan of infiltrating the opera troupe for his assassination attempt. This cowardly actor was utterly useless as a cover. At the critical moment, he would probably cower at the mere sight of old villain Wei, ruining everything and dooming the mission to failure.
But if he lost this pillar of the troupe, who would go on stage to sing? It wasn’t like he could put on makeup and costume himself and take the stage.
Wu Ming frowned irritably. Suddenly, he heard faint sounds of commotion in the distance, carrying distinctly through the quiet of the night. His sharp ears perked up, and after focusing for a moment, he suspected it was the night patrol from the Military Command.
He casually deposited Xiyan on the roof and leaped up onto a high archway, scanning the streets ahead. About two blocks away, a bright circle of torchlight illuminated a gathering of officers surrounding a carriage. They neither advanced nor retreated, locked in a tense standoff.
Not far from the scene, another group of armed men was advancing, their attire marking them as guards from Fengan Marquis’s residence. At the center of the group was a man on a tall horse, dressed in resplendent robes. Though Wu Ming couldn’t make out his face, he immediately recognized the figure—it was the old scoundrel, Wei Jun.
Who could have been intercepted in the carriage to make Wei Jun so agitated that he shed his usual cowardly demeanor? Could it be another decoy…. No, training a convincing double wasn’t so simple. Finding someone with a natural resemblance alone would take considerable time. Since Wei Jun had just lost one decoy, he couldn’t have replaced it so soon.
With his nemesis so close at hand, Wu Ming felt an eerie calm as he weighed the options for an assassination, calculating the highest success rate among the possibilities.
He turned and leaped back to the rooftop. Xiyan was cautiously trying to slide down the eaves, his foot tentatively reaching for the edge.
Wu Ming snatched him up effortlessly and vaulted two more blocks. In a secluded corner, he dropped Xiyan unceremoniously to the ground and coldly ordered, “Take off your clothes.”
Xiyan instinctively clutched his money box, crossing his arms over his chest as his voice quivered. “What… what are you trying to do?”
Impatient, Wu Ming strode forward and stripped the actor of his stage costume in just a few motions. The damp robe and tunic, mostly dried by the night wind, were still slightly damp to the touch.
Xiyan, humiliated and indignant, began to remove his undergarments.
Wu Ming’s temple throbbed with a vein, and he cursed under his breath, “Shameless!” With that, he stripped off his night robe and threw it over Xiyan’s head, haphazardly donning the actor’s costume himself. Then, pulling off his face mask, he let down his hair, allowing the sleek, jet-black strands to cascade down his back.
His frame was balanced, and though not particularly tall, the disheveled hair and hastily donned dress gave him the appearance of a distressed young maiden at first glance.
Xiyan’s underclothes were damp and offered no warmth against the cold night breeze, causing him to shiver uncontrollably. Left with no choice, he donned the night robe and mask that Wu Ming had discarded.
Unable to resist, he stared at Wu Ming’s face. At first glance, it seemed unremarkable—compared to the striking and elegant Yu Wang, his features were merely well-formed. This inexplicably left Xiyan somewhat disappointed. But as he stared longer, his gaze traveled upward from the thin, austere lips and sharp, straight nose, until it suddenly collided with those eyes—cold as starry steel and sharp as a blade’s edge. It was as though he had been swept away by a flood of icy water or struck by a lightning bolt in the pitch-dark night.
Startled, Xiyan stumbled back two steps, thinking with a chill: This is a harbinger of death!
Suddenly, Wu Ming’s lips curved into a faint, mocking smile. “Run with all your might and pray for your survival.”
With that, he pushed Xi Yan out from the corner of the wall and, in a falsetto voice, shouted toward the direction of the officers, “Thief! Thief! A black-clad thief has entered my courtyard!”
Xiyan, now fully visible in the firelight, stood dumbfounded in his night robe.
***
When Wei Jun arrived, he found a young man stepping out of a carriage, his face livid as he berated the soldiers. Shi Lezhi, pinching his nose as he endured the scolding, could only bow repeatedly and mutter agreements, yet still refused to let the man leave.
Wei Jun scrutinized the scene and quickly recognized the youth as none other than Crown Prince Zhu Helin. His expression instantly transformed into a beaming smile as he clasped his hands in greeting from horseback. “Ah, so it truly is Your Highness. These soldiers were blind to the mountain before them and dared act rudely toward you. They deserve punishment! Commander Shi, kneel and beg forgiveness from His Highness!”
Shi Lezhi immediately dropped to his knees, kowtowing repeatedly. “This lowly servant was blind. I beg Your Highness for mercy!”
Wei Jun continued, “Conducting night patrols and apprehending criminals is the rightful duty of the soldiers. If they have accidentally offended Your Highness, I hope you might show mercy for their sake. That way, they too can be grateful for Your Highness’s kindness and virtue.”
But the crown prince was having none of it. He sneered coldly, “Night patrols may be their duty, but how is it that Marquis Fengan heard the commotion and arrived so quickly? Could it be there is some collusion between the two? I was unaware that the Five City Military Commanders were not under the Ministry of War but at the beck and call of you, Marquis Fengan.”
Collusion between an imperial relative and military officials, meddling with military authority—such accusations were grave. With just a few words, the crown prince had struck directly at the heart of the matter.
Wei Jun cursed inwardly: This brat has become even more cunning and difficult to handle! Forcing a smile, he replied, “Your servant has recently been targeted by assassins, though thankfully I was unharmed. As such, I’ve been leading my household guards on nightly patrols near the estate. Hearing of a disturbance here, I naturally came to investigate.” He then countered, “But it is quite curious—what brings Your Highness out of the Eastern Palace at this late hour, dressed in white and wandering the streets? Could it be that you lost track of time during your revelry and missed the palace gates before they were locked for the night?”
The insinuation of “revelry” carried an unspoken reproach, questioning whether the crown prince had been engaging in improper conduct.
Zhu Helin rolled his eyes and raised his voice, “As Crown Prince, I’m carrying out official duties under disguise. What, do I need to report to you, Marquis? If you’re curious, go ask Royal Father yourself!”
He replied with such bold confidence that Wei Jun hesitated, uncertain of the truth. Reluctantly, he let the matter rest for the moment, though he thought to himself, I may not be able to confront the emperor directly, but I can incite the court’s censors to turn tomorrow’s court session into an uproar. Let’s see how you handle that, brat!
Zhu Helin brandished his royal father’s authority, intimidating Wei Jun for now. As for explaining himself to the emperor later, well, that was a matter for another day—after all, his royal father wouldn’t really punish him, would he? Confidently, he prepared to depart.
But Wei Jun spoke again, “I notice the carriage seems rather weighted. Could it be there’s someone else inside? Who dares to share a ride with the Crown Prince?”
The crown prince glared at him, his tone sharp. “There’s no one in my carriage! What, don’t believe me? Want to search it?”
Feigning concern, Wei Jun pressed on, “Your Highness is a person of great importance. Surely you understand the necessity of precautions. What if an assassin has hidden in your carriage? If I were to overlook such a threat, the blame would fall squarely on my shoulders.”
The crown prince snapped back, “I know my own safety well enough. I don’t need you to fret over it, Marquis!”
The crown prince’s defensiveness only deepened Wei Jun’s suspicion. He was certain the carriage held someone the crown prince wanted to keep hidden. Whether it was a courtesan or a favored companion from the south courtyard, Wei Jun was determined to expose the truth right here and now.
Wei Jun was certain his plan was flawless and suddenly barked, “There are weapons in the carriage! It’s an assassin! Protect the young master! Escort him to safety!”
Shi Lezhi, having heard no such noise from the carriage, hesitated. But under Wei Jun’s fierce glare, he reluctantly ordered his men, “Protect the young master! Capture the assassin in the carriage!”
“Who dares to offend the Crown Prince’s carriage? I’ll have your heads! None of you will live!” The Crown Prince stood before the carriage door, his voice icy and commanding, his face alight with anger, exuding a faint trace of his royal father’s authority.
The soldiers, intimidated by his presence, hesitated and dared not advance. Even Shi Lezhi, the commander, looked at Wei Jun with a troubled expression, not daring to take action.
Wei Jun fumed with frustration but was powerless.
Amid the tense standoff, a sharp, high-pitched cry pierced the quiet night like thunder. “Catch the thief! Catch the thief! A masked bandit broke into my courtyard!”
The officers turned toward the sound and saw, at the far end of the street, a shadowy figure in dark clothing lingering at the edge of the firelight. Shi Lezhi shouted, “It’s the assassin! After him!” The patrol charged toward the corner en masse.
Wei Jun, still haunted by the prior assassination attempts, was already trembling with fear. Initially using the search as a pretext, he now believed the assassin was truly on the street. His face went pale as he unconsciously moved closer to the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince sidestepped, glaring at him in disgust. “Aren’t you the one leading your retainers on a patrol? Now that the real culprit is right in front of you, why aren’t you capturing him?”
Wei Jun stammered, “The patrol officers are experienced and well-trained. They’re more than capable.”
At the street corner, Shi Lezhi and his men found no sign of the shadowy figure. He loudly asked, “Who cried out? Where did the thief go?”
Near a house, a woman dressed in an embroidered robe and long flowing coat, his hair unbound, covered his face and wept. “It was me… The thief ran south.”
“South! After him!” Shi Lezhi immediately led his men in pursuit.
“…What a fright! I must fetch my husband at once,” the woman muttered as she hurried toward the other end of the street, brushing past him.
With the patrol gone, the area around the carriage grew quiet. The Crown Prince snapped at Wei Jun’s retainers, “Out of my way! Anyone who dares to stop me will be cut down!”
The guards stepped back, herding the still-shaken Wei Jun away. Just as the Crown Prince was about to reenter the carriage, a contingent of Embroidered Uniform Guards, torches blazing, rode in from the direction of the royal palace. Their leader dismounted, knelt, and proclaimed, “By the Emperor’s order, I have come to escort the young master back to the palace.”
The Crown Prince’s expression turned sour. He muttered under his breath, “So late, and Royal Father is still awake… He knows everything.”
The Embroidered Uniform Guard leader pressed him again, “His Majesty has ordered you to return to the palace immediately and not tarry.”
Reluctant but unable to argue, the Crown Prince refrained from entering the carriage to bid farewell to Su Yan, especially with Wei Jun present. He didn’t want to give the old fox any leverage to accuse him of enticing the Crown Prince to leave the palace.
He instead instructed the driver, “You don’t need to come with me. Return this borrowed carriage immediately, ensuring it’s returned in perfect condition.”
The carriage driver, understanding the implicit instruction to ensure Su Yan’s safety, promptly replied, “Yes, Your Highness.”
The Crown Prince mounted his horse and cast a reluctant glance back before riding off toward the palace under the escort of the Embroidered Uniform Guards.
As the carriage resumed its journey, the driver cracked his whip, urging the horse forward. However, it wasn’t long before Wei Jun and his men caught up, surrounding the carriage.
The middle-aged driver frowned and asked, “What is the meaning of this, Marquis? Did you not hear the Crown Prince’s order before he left?”
Wei Jun forced a smile, his tone mocking. “The Crown Prince’s order was given to you, a mere eunuch, not to this lord. Open the door! This lord must see with my own eyes the one who is ‘veiled in mystery,’ hiding behind their pipa.”
***
Inside the carriage, Su Yan sat calmly, listening to the commotion outside as he pondered his escape.
He had been impressed by the Crown Prince’s sharp and incisive exchanges with Wei Jun, each strike perfectly aimed. The kid has grown up, he thought to himself. When did he become so formidable?”
Hearing someone shout that an assassin had been spotted, a mob surged in pursuit. Su Yan, recalling Wu Ming’s resolute intent to assassinate Wei Jun, grew anxious—was the person being chased outside him?
After much effort, Su Yan found an opportunity to slip away. Just as he did, the emperor’s men arrived to escort Crown Prince Zhu Helin back to the palace, taking him away.
Su Yan suspected that the night’s turmoil would not end peacefully. Sure enough, just as his carriage started moving, the curtain was suddenly lifted. A shadow, swift as a darting fish or a soaring bird, slipped through the two-foot-wide window. Before Su Yan could make out the figure’s appearance, a blade was pressed against his neck.
The uninvited guest twisted his arms behind him and forced him face-down onto the seat, threatening in a cold voice, “Don’t move! Don’t shout! Get me out of the outer city, and I’ll spare your life.”
The voice struck Su Yan as familiar. Startled, he blurted out, “Wu Ming?”
Only then did Wu Ming realize that the young official in the carriage was none other than Lord Su. It was the unfamiliar fourth-rank official robes that had thrown him off. Without properly identifying the person, he had subdued him and nearly harmed him.
Hurriedly, Wu Ming released him, sheathed his blade, and helped Su Yan sit up, rubbing the red marks on his twisted wrists with a remorseful tone. “It’s me. I acted rashly and almost hurt my benefactor.”
Su Yan, noticing Wu Ming in women’s attire, widened his eyes in astonishment.
As a professional assassin, Wu Ming had donned all sorts of disguises over the years, treating them merely as tools for the job. Yet, standing before Su Yan in such attire now, he felt an uncharacteristic embarrassment. Lowering his head, he muttered, “Apologies for the ridiculous sight.”
Su Yan stifled a laugh and replied, “No harm done. It actually fits well. The fabric is quite flamboyant—stage costumes, I assume?”
Wu Ming nodded and was just about to recount his encounter at Yu Wang’s residence when the carriage came to a sudden halt. Outside, the voices of the coachman and Wei Jun could be heard.
“…Open the door. This marquis must see for himself what kind of spectacle lies behind all this pretense—like a beauty revealing her face only after endless teasing.”
Wu Ming gripped his sword hilt, ready to strike, but Su Yan firmly held his arm to stop him.
“The timing is not right,” Su Yan advised him.
“How is it not right?” Wu Ming retorted. “The enemy is just behind this carriage door—I can kill him with a single strike!”
Su Yan held onto his sleeve tightly. “Wei Jun is hiding behind his servants, surrounded by barriers. One sword strike may not succeed, and you’ll only expose yourself, inviting pursuit from the guards of the Ministry of Justice. Besides, this is the Crown Prince’s carriage. If you act right after the Crown Prince departs, it will inevitably implicate him. If someone accuses the Eastern Palace of harboring assassins who kill noble officials in broad daylight, not even His Majesty can shield him from the consequences!”
He took a breath and whispered, “Consider it my plea—don’t act here and now. Leave this to me.”
Wu Ming gritted his teeth and glared at the carriage door, unwilling. Eventually, he sheathed the half-drawn sword and sat back down, suppressing his rage.
Su Yan reached out, gently pulling Wu Ming’s head to rest against his shoulder.
***
With a command from Wei Jun, the carriage door was yanked open. Inside the compartment, a young man in a crimson official robe turned to look out, his expression displeased.
Under the flickering torchlight, his pale face, framed by the red robes, resembled frost on fire—cold and crystalline, captivating in its icy beauty amidst the surrounding heat.
Even Wei Jun was momentarily stunned before exclaiming in shock, “It’s you!”
Su Yan, with his arm around a woman beside him, replied coldly, “A Marquis peeping into an official’s private quarters—what reasoning is this?”
“This is clearly the Eastern Palace’s carriage! Why are you inside, and who is this woman?”
“Did the Marquis not hear the Crown Prince earlier? This carriage was borrowed from me. I was on my way home tonight with my new concubine when I encountered the young master, who asked for a ride. Could I have refused? Now that the young master has returned to the palace, and yet you persist in chasing us, one can’t help but suspect the rumors are true—that the Marquis has a habit of abducting women, even officials’ wives!”
“Nonsense!” Wei Jun’s goatee quivered with rage. “It’s clearly your indecency, luring the Crown Prince with a courtesan and keeping him out all night, and now you dare slander me!”
Su Yan sneered. “The Marquis truly stops at nothing to seize beauty! Very well, if you insist on taking my concubine, I, a mere lowly official, cannot resist your guards. I’ll have no choice but to endure your oppression.”
He pulled out a pocket watch and glanced at it. “It’s already past midnight, and there’s little time left before dawn. I’ll head to the Meridian Gate right now—perhaps I can still make it to strike the Drum of Appeals once more!”
Hearing mention of the Drum of Appeals, Wei Jun was reminded of the incident a month ago when Su Yan relentlessly accused Feng Que of twelve crimes during morning court, driving him to ruin with cutting words.
That event had made Su Yan famous, earning him the nickname “Su Twelve” among officials.
Aware of his own questionable conduct, Wei Jun panicked: Could he have gathered dirt on me too? Is he planning to storm the gates and accuse me of twelve—or even twenty-four—crimes to boost his reputation?
The more he thought, the more uneasy he became, his eyes flickering with indecision.
“If you’ve done nothing wrong, why fear the drum?” Su Yan twisted the knife. “If you’re innocent, the drum won’t accuse you. Now, Marquis, do you still want my concubine?”
“—Keep her for your own enjoyment!” Wei Jun huffed, flicking his sleeves as he rode away. His guards followed him closely.
Su Yan closed the carriage door securely and finally let go.
Wu Ming lifted his head from Su Yan’s neck, his face slightly flushed—whether from suffocation or anger was unclear.
Su Yan offered an apologetic smile. “Forgive me for making you play the concubine—it was an emergency. Don’t take it to heart.”
Wu Ming said nothing, gazing at the carriage wall, his fingers unconsciously stroking the hilt of his sword.
Su Yan asked, “What are your plans now? Will you continue to target Wei Jun?”
“Either he dies, or I do,” Wu Ming replied.
Su Yan sighed softly. “I told you, give me more time. I’ll bring him down. Don’t you trust me?”
“It’s not a matter of trust,” Wu Ming said. “I just… don’t want to rely on others.”
“If you kill him, it will be out of personal vengeance, at most taking his life. But if we expose his crimes and make them public, he’ll face the scorn of thousands and the punishment he truly deserves.”
Wu Ming fell silent again. Su Yan understood his deep-seated grief from losing loved ones couldn’t be easily resolved and decided to leave it for another day.
The road stretched wide under the night sky, and the coachman drove swiftly, arriving at Su Yan’s residence in Huanghua Lane not long after.
Su Yan pulled Wu Ming out of the carriage and knocked on the door.
It opened almost immediately. Su Xiaojing, who had been waiting by the gate, brightened with relief. “Master’s back!” he called joyfully, then turned to Su Xiaobei, who was approaching briskly. “Brother Bei, Master’s home—and he brought back the mistress!”
Su Xiaobei slowed his steps, displeased upon seeing the flamboyantly dressed, disheveled woman beside his master. Mistress? he thought disdainfully. With such garish attire, she must be some shameless floozy from outside!
Reluctantly, he approached and asked Su Yan, “Is this the madam, Yiniang, or a mistress? What greeting should I offer?”
Catching sight of Wu Ming’s stiff expression, Su Yan couldn’t help but laugh. “This is my newly received concubine.”
