The Tianshan heroes around also glared at Yang Chen.
If not for their Marquis of Anguo's vigilance, Yang Chen might indeed have managed to sneak into the Chen Manor and succeed!
Yang Chen also felt the anger of the heroes and, filled with gratitude, confessed everything.
"There is another one, my sworn brother, a small captain of the Imperial Guards stationed at Liuyun Temple, Cheng Huan! This person became my sworn brother a few months ago. It was he who took my parents and younger brother hostage and finally threatened us with our parents to force us to comply. He also masterminded this assassination..."
"Imperial Guards?!" Liang Xiao's expression changed, and he immediately looked at Yu Qingchuan.
Yu Qingchuan understood and immediately patted his chest, saying, "The captain of the Imperial Guards already knows me. I will take half the men and ride to Liuyun Temple to protect everyone and apprehend Cheng Huan!"
After Yu Qingchuan left, Liang Xiao looked at Yang Chen, who was full of shame, lost in thought.
He certainly knew a little about this "Great Hero Yang." This person was indeed filial, but he could not be easily forgiven.
A moment later, Liang Xiao also had the head of the guards take Yang Chen's mother to find Yang Wenfeng.
"Let Yang Wenfeng know that his parents are safe, and then he can confess to me!"
After the head of the guards left, Yang Chen repeatedly kowtowed, thanking and apologizing.
"I do not beg the Marquis of Anguo for forgiveness, I only beg the Marquis of Anguo to spare my three family members!"
Liang Xiao did not reply, only waited quietly.
After a moment, Yang Wenfeng was also brought over.
Liang Xiao took Yang Wenfeng's confession from the head of the guards and glanced at it, nodding slightly, "You were quite cooperative."
The confessions were consistent!
"I have failed the Marquis of Anguo's nurturing!" Yang Wenfeng, already weeping, kowtowed and confessed his guilt.
Liang Xiao suddenly said, "These death warriors are likely members of the Spring Return Cult."
Yang Chen's body trembled, and he suddenly awoke, "Highly possible! Their actions are insidious, and their eyes are fanatical, very much like the members of the Spring Return Cult..."
A strange smile appeared on Liang Xiao's face as a plan formed in his mind.
It could not be said that these brothers were excusable, but their parents were indeed innocent.
"Until the situation is clear, my subordinates will look after your parents from now on. Do you understand what I mean?"
The brothers nodded repeatedly, saying in unison, "Understood!"
Liang Xiao intended to transfer the hostages to his own control, but the brothers then realized that this was also a form of protection for their parents.
After all, they had erred first and committed a capital offense.
The Tianshan heroes all angrily denounced him.
"Yang Chen, do you know what the consequences would have been if the assassination of the Marquis of Anguo had succeeded? Without the Marquis of Anguo, the number of families in Luzhou alone that might have been shattered would be more than tens of thousands!"
Yang Chen lowered his head in shame.
Liang Xiao sighed, "Doesn't this also indirectly show that this person is indeed extremely filial to his parents? A nation is built on families, and a nation protects families."
The Tianshan heroes fell into thought and no longer denounced him.
Yang Chen was deeply moved and continued to kowtow and admit his mistakes.
Liang Xiao said sternly, "However, I cannot completely forgive you two brothers. Otherwise, if everyone who is coerced in the future can attack me with impunity, how can that be allowed?"
"I am willing to receive the punishment in place of my younger brother, only begging the Marquis of Anguo to spare my younger brother so he can care for our parents!" Yang Chen pleaded.
Liang Xiao said calmly, "You don't need to die, but I want you to be on the front line of resisting the Spring Return Cult from now on."
Everyone was stunned. Yang Chen nodded, "I am willing to give my life, brave the fire and water, and spare no effort!"
Liang Xiao then smiled, "Tomorrow morning, I will have someone spread the news that members of the Spring Return Cult attempted to infiltrate the Chen Manor to assassinate me, Liang Xiao, and Steward Chen, but were discovered and stopped by the Great Hero Yang Chen. I will then logically reward you with one hundred taels of gold as a bounty. This gold will be your seed money. How you use it to combat the Spring Return Cult will determine how I treat your family."
Everyone's hearts trembled.
What a brilliant strategy of turning the tables!
Yang Chen, who was forced to assassinate Liang Xiao, was now placed on the front line of resisting the Spring Return Cult, bearing their wrath. He was not unforgivable but deserved punishment!
In this way, Yang Chen not only offended the Southern King and the Spring Return Cult but was also controlled by Liang Xiao, with his family protected. There was no reason for him to rebel again!
Yang Chen was not angry but was both shocked and delighted, repeatedly kowtowing in gratitude, "Many thanks to the Marquis of Anguo for your magnanimity! I will do my utmost and will not embezzle a single cent!"
Liang Xiao said seriously, "You are a great hero in this area. One hundred taels of gold is neither a lot nor a little. If you need to use it to entertain others with wine and meat, feel free to do so, as long as your conscience is clear. After all, your performance will depend on what you achieve with this hundred taels of gold."
Performance?
Everyone was speechless and had to admire the Marquis of Anguo's line of thought.
"Even if I have to pay from my own pocket, I will do my best!" Yang Chen nodded repeatedly.
Liang Xiao glanced at Yang Wenfeng, who was also ashamed, and sighed, "As for you, my younger brother, I cannot readily employ you for the time being. Let him stay to care for our parents and study. Perhaps in the future, he will have the opportunity to rise to prominence."
The brothers repeatedly bowed, thanking Liang Xiao for sparing their lives.
Liang Xiao's actions were neither reckless indulgence nor excessive coercion, and he even managed to turn the enemy against themselves. The Tianshan heroes had no objections.
As night fell, the guards escorted Yang Chen's family away. The brothers were still bound tightly, without complaint.
The Tianshan heroes patrolled the backyard, waiting for news from Yu Qingchuan. Looking at the pile of corpses on the ground, they felt indignant.
"To cause trouble on the elder brother's wedding day, unforgivable!"
"Damn Spring Return Cult, they ruined our chance to celebrate the elder brother's wedding night!"
These Tianshan heroes were like brothers and sisters. Chen Shaoling and Chen Xinyue had finally reunited, and there should not have been any bloodshed at this time.
Even if there had to be bloodshed, it should have been on the wedding night of the bride and groom...
Liang Xiao returned to his room. The three girls had been waiting for him for a long time and asked urgently, "How is it?"
"Don't worry, everyone is safe. We'll go back to the inn to rest later." Liang Xiao showed a gentle smile.
Yue Lian and Jian Qinwan obediently agreed and held Liang Xiao's arm with concern.
They understood that Liang Xiao did not want them to worry!
Yu Qingchuan's men finally brought news back to the backyard.
"Marquis of Anguo, by the time we arrived, the Imperial Guard captain named Cheng Huan had already died of poison. His body was placed in the camp by the Imperial Guards!"
Liang Xiao was surprised, "Suicide? Or?"
Yu Qingchuan sighed, "We checked and can confirm that there were no signs of him being attacked. Like those death warriors, he committed suicide by taking poison. What a bunch of deviants!"
Liang Xiao sighed, "It is a small matter that the clues are broken. This shows that the enemy has discovered their failure, and from now on, the elder brother and the Chen family must be extra careful. Tomorrow, I will ask the governor of Chuzhou to mobilize a contingent of five hundred Chuzhou guards to go to Liuyun Temple to supervise the Imperial Guards and protect Liuyun Temple together."
The next morning, the news spread.
"Last night, assassins from the Spring Return Cult invaded the Chen Manor, attempting to assassinate the Marquis of Anguo, but were discovered and stopped by the Great Hero Yang Chen, who killed eleven of them!"
In a secret room in the center of Chuzhou City, Yan Jun, Ye Qingyi, Zuo Wushang, and Hong Qu, who received the news, all changed their expressions.
After a long while, Yan Jun, in a fit of rage, smashed the teacup in his hand.
"This Yang Chen is truly seeking death! If I had known, we should have silenced them all!"
Zuo Wushang's face darkened, and he said in a deep voice, "Sect Leader, your repeated farces should come to an end!"
Ye Qingyi exclaimed, "Marshal..."
The entire Spring Return Cult knew that they must not pour oil on the fire when Yan Jun was angry!