Chapter 414: Chapter 399 Breaking the Situation
Xie Jue and General Xu Zhou traveled through the night with a hundred men to the Capital City, only to be delayed for several days due to heavy snow blocking the roads. Unfortunately, they arrived at Xiangguo Temple just a step too late, following Yuwen Jing. Xie Jue’s Shadow Guards, all but one, were positioned in the Capital City, and quickly regrouped. He soon received word that Feng Shu was experiencing labor pains and was on the verge of giving birth, yet Yuwen Jing stubbornly refused to leave the courtyard.
The Shadow Guards observed the situation in the courtyard from the trees. If Feng Shu managed to dismiss Yuwen Jing, Xie Jue would remain motionless, though he was consumed by hatred for Yuwen Jing, longing to end his life.
However, it was not the right time for disturbances during Feng Shu’s labor. Xie Jue could only watch the situation unfold. But when Yuwen Jing broke into the room, Xie Jue knew he could no longer wait. If he delayed any longer, he feared his sister-in-law’s life might be at risk during childbirth. With no other choice, he revealed his identity to divert Yuwen Jing’s attention.
The hundred men of the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry were stationed primarily around the perimeter of Xiangguo Temple, with half of them relocated to the cliffs at the rear hill to avoid the Jinyi Guards. Within Xiangguo Temple, there were only Xie Jue, General Xu Zhou, and Xie Jue’s Shadow Guards.
Xiangguo Temple was bustling with worshipers. Xie Jue and Xu Zhou easily concealed themselves among the crowd. Once their identities were exposed, they quickly disguised themselves anew and blended into the throng. The Shadow Guards eliminated solitary Jinyi Guards, employing tactics to confuse the enemy and mislead them. Soon, Xiangguo Temple was locked down.
The elite group hidden near the rear hill awaited Xie Jue’s signal to take action. Their goal was crystal clear: Feng Shu and her child. After Yuwen Jing locked down Xiangguo Temple, Xie Jue and Xu Zhou disguised themselves as elegant young nobles, concealing themselves amongst the worshipers.
Yuwen Jing strode out of the courtyard with large steps, his voice booming, "Seal off the courtyard. No one is permitted to enter or leave!"
"Understood!"
Xie Jue’s presence at Xiangguo Temple was undoubtedly for Feng Shu. All Yuwen Jing had to do was wait for him to make his move.
Daring beyond measure, this pair of brothers had the audacity to come to Xiangguo Temple to abduct someone. It seemed reckless and naive. Chen Mo, however, spoke up, "Your Majesty, the Second Miss has been imprisoned in Xiangguo Temple for several months. Xie Jue would not come here for her. If he has people stationed in the Capital, he must have been in contact with the Second Miss. For the sake of the entire Feng Family, the Second Miss would not leave. Xie Jue has undoubtedly come to Xiangguo Temple to assassinate Your Majesty. He is a cunning individual, skilled in strategy, not easy to deal with. Your Majesty should return to the palace first. I will remain here to conduct a thorough search. If he is anywhere in Xiangguo Temple, I will find him."
Yuwen Jing considered this and found the reasoning sound. If Feng Shu had wanted to leave, she would have done so long ago. Why would Xie Jue suddenly bring people to Xiangguo Temple to rescue her unless he intended to assassinate him?
Chen Mo was evidently worried about Yuwen Jing’s safety.
Yuwen Jing furrowed his brow, "Why would Xie Jue come to the Capital without any apparent reason?"
Chen Mo replied, "Perhaps to sabotage the negotiations between Yanyang and Sannan."
Due to the disasters in Jiangnan, Sannan had pushed for exorbitant demands, requiring renegotiation. Lin Helin had refused to indulge Sannan’s whims and stood firm in rejecting them. Han Ziqi, unable to return to Sannan without passing through Jiangnan, had yet to depart and had been staying in the Capital for some time. Once the Jiangnan epidemic was under control, they had agreed to negotiate based on the original terms.
"Delusional!"
"Your Majesty, the one-year agreement with the Second Miss has not yet expired. For the sake of the Feng Family, the Second Miss would not leave Xiangguo Temple. Your Majesty should return to the palace for now." Chen Mo advised, "As long as we control the Feng Family, the Second Miss will remain. The escape routes arranged by the Second Mrs. Feng are already under the control of the Jinyi Guards. They cannot escape!"
Yuwen Jing spoke in a low voice, "No, I will stay here at Xiangguo Temple. I want you to catch Xie Jue. I must witness his death personally!"
"Your Majesty!"
"My decision is final. Go make the preparations!"
As the two were speaking, an arrow flew toward Yuwen Jing, but Chen Mo slashed it down with his curved blade, shouting, "Protect His Majesty!"
The Jinyi Guards encircled Yuwen Jing. The small courtyard was surrounded by towering trees and cliffs, making it difficult to defend. When a volley of arrows rained down on Yuwen Jing, over a dozen Jinyi Guards were injured.
Once the first wave of arrows subsided, several men leaped from the trees, scattering in different directions.
"Your Majesty, this courtyard is hard to defend. You should leave immediately!" Chen Mo signaled for the Jinyi Guards to pursue the attackers while continuing to urge Yuwen Jing to depart.
Yuwen Jing cast a glance back at the tightly shut door before turning to leave!
A Shadow Guard sent a hand signal to Xie Jue hidden among the crowd. Xie Jue saw Yuwen Jing being escorted by Chen Mo toward the main hall, while simultaneously, the Jinyi Guards encircled the worshipers tightly.
Xianguo Temple, the royal temple, was always bustling with incense offerings. Nobles from the Capital regularly visited to pray and burn incense. King Qi and Miss Lin, Lin Yunong, were among the worshipers and had no fear of the Jinyi Guards.
Unwilling to be trapped on the mountain, conflict quickly arose between the nobles and the Jinyi Guards.
"His Majesty is present, and there are assassins at large. Everyone, please cooperate with the Jinyi Guards’ search. If you refuse, you risk His Majesty’s wrath, which none of you can bear!" a Jinyi Guard declared, invoking Yuwen Jing’s authority.
Lin Yunong, known for her sharp temperament, shoved away the Jinyi Guard attempting to block her, "Who dares stop me? I came here for prayer, and now you’re trapping me on the mountain—what nonsense is this?"
"Miss Lin, this is the Emperor’s order!"
"Don’t try to suppress me with the Emperor!" Lin Yunong kicked the guard, "Get lost!"
Tensions flared between the worshipers and the Jinyi Guards, spiraling into chaos. Among the Jinyi Guards were members of powerful clans, rendering the situation increasingly complex and disorderly.
Amid the confusion, Xie Jue quietly made his way toward the rear hall, only to find himself lost within the temple.
The Shadow Guards had drawn a simple map of Xiangguo Temple for Xie Jue. He knew the general location, but Feng Shu’s specifics were concentrated in the rear courtyard. Thus, most of the forces were deployed there, leaving Xie Jue trapped in the front courtyard. The map of the front courtyard that the Shadow Guards had drawn for him was sketchy at best. With Xiangguo Temple’s vast layout and maze-like paths, it was easy for an infrequent visitor to lose their way.
The Marquis Mansion, from Marquis Zhenbei, the Marchioness, to the three sons of the Xie Family, had no affinity for Buddhism. Xie Jue had only been to Xiangguo Temple once in his entire life, back during the year Xie Zhang went to war. He had been brought to Xiangguo Temple by the Marchioness and two of his aunts to pray for blessings.
Just that one time, and he was far from familiar with Xiangguo Temple’s layout.
"Second Cousin?" Lin Yunong’s voice hesitantly called out from behind Xie Jue. Among the chaos, she had overheard the Jinyi Guards mentioning Xie Jue’s presence at Xiangguo Temple. Lin Yunong had come to the temple to pray with two cousins from the Zhou Family, but now they had been relocated to a separate compound. Attempting to go down the mountain to report to her brother, Lin Yunong found herself trapped by the Jinyi Guards.
From a distance, she saw a figure she thought resembled Xie Jue’s. Nervously, she called out, only to feel a pang of disappointment when Xie Jue turned around. It was not her cousin but someone disguised, his face ordinary and unremarkable, yet unable to hide the distinctive aura and posture that gave him away. Unexpectedly, Lin Yunong recognized him.
"Who are you? Why are you wandering into the rear courtyard guest rooms?" Lin Yunong asked coldly. These rooms were reserved for noble ladies from the Capital, off-limits to outsiders!
Outside, Jinyi Guards were busy searching, while Xie Jue’s Shadow Guards created chaos to target Yuwen Jing. The Shadow Guards, having spent months familiarizing themselves with the temple’s layout, were masters of concealment and deception, deliberately causing distractions to buy Feng Shu time. Their mission was to delay until Feng Shu gave birth!
"Over here! Search this area!"
Lin Yunong narrowed her eyes and abruptly shouted toward the outside. Xie Jue quickly stepped forward and covered her mouth, whispering urgently, "Yunong, it’s me—don’t shout!"