Chapter 67: Chapter 67: The Murderous Trap for Xu Nian (Second Update)
Zhou Yuntong knew all too well, didn’t he? He had now entirely figured out what was going on. But how was he to explain everything clearly to Gong Longfei now? Should he plainly state that the Seventh Prince was within Fengxiang Prefecture and had regained his power, possessing once again the qualifications to compete for the imperial throne? Not to mention his current position, what was Gong Longfei’s stance in this battle for succession? That was a very important point.
After glancing at the people around him, Zhou Yuntong signaled for everyone to exit and forbade anyone from approaching within three steps of this room.
Once all the Brocade Guards had exited, Zhou Yuntong heaved a sigh. "The Seventh Prince is in Fengxiang Prefecture, and he has recovered the strength of a First-Grade Martial Artist."
With a solemn gaze fixed on Gong Longfei, he said heavily, "If this was truly the work of someone from within the Palace, then I’m afraid it was targeted at the Seventh Prince. I have become one of their scapegoats."
Gong Longfei stood still, silent, countless thoughts racing through his mind. The Seventh Prince? Luo Yushu? That unlucky prince who had slept with Consort Shen in the harem, was locked up in Prison, and then inexplicably lost his power? How could he be in Fengxiang Prefecture? If it were truly the Palace’s hand at work, then this time the Seventh Prince was undoubtedly destined to die. Even the Brocade Guards would have to undergo a thorough investigation. If the Seventh Prince died within Fengxiang Prefecture, Zhou Yuntong certainly wouldn’t escape blame. And Zhou Yuntong’s presence in Celestial Origin Mansion now dragged me into this mire. Did that mean I couldn’t extricate myself from this situation either? Every move calculated three steps ahead. One arrow, three targets. The mastermind behind this is truly ruthless.
"Let’s set off for Fengxiang Prefecture immediately!" Gong Longfei said, his voice cold. "Your appearance here has inadvertently dragged me into this. The person behind this scheme wants not only the Seventh Prince dead but for us to be buried with him!"
They didn’t know who exactly was playing this chess game behind the scenes. One had to admit, the opponent’s move was indeed treacherous. Without even showing their face, they’d caused the Brocade Guards to fall into disarray and could also eliminate the troublesome Seventh Prince. Few possessed such means.
"I’ll gather our people right away. Hopefully, we’ll make it in time." Zhou Yuntong hurried toward the door, his pace quickening significantly.
If the Seventh Prince dies in Fengxiang Prefecture, given the current Emperor’s temperament, the Brocade Guards of both Fengxiang and Celestial Origin Mansions will have to accompany him in death! Damn it! Who exactly is trying to harm us?
Gong Longfei stood his ground, gently cracking his knuckles.
CRACK!
CRACK! CRACK!
The sounds coming from his finger joints were chilling.
「...」
News of this didn’t only reach the Brocade Guards of Celestial Origin Mansion. Fengxiang Prefecture was uniquely situated, bordering Celestial Origin, Dragon Head, and Dafang Mansions. If Fengxiang Prefecture were taken, these three prefecture cities would also be in a vulnerable position. This was particularly true since the attackers were from the Blood Demon Sect. The Blood Demon Sect, boasting nearly one hundred thousand followers, was one of the foremost powers in Jianghu. The Brocade Guards from the four prefectures alone were insufficient to completely reclaim Fengxiang Prefecture.
Most crucially... not everyone was as willing to help as Gong Longfei. The Brocade Guard Thousand Households of Dragon Head and Dafang Mansions tacitly chose to sit on the sidelines and watch the fire burn. It seemed they did not wish to intervene. Whoever touched this mess would die. They were not fools; there was no need to step forward at this moment. Moreover, there had been no orders from the Northern Tribunal of Inquisition to assist. So it was still best to stay put on one’s own turf.
Of course, they still had to make some superficial gestures to show the higher-ups they were monitoring the situation. The Blood Demon Sect had taken over the entire Fengxiang Prefecture in one fell swoop, clearly a premeditated act. Upon learning that Blood Demon Sect members had replaced all officials in Fengxiang Prefecture, Dragon Head and Dafang Mansions immediately began investigating their own officials. At the same time, they instructed the Jianghu powers to investigate members of the Blood Demon Sect. The outcome didn’t matter. What they wanted was the process, to show their superiors that they were taking this matter seriously. That would be enough. As for anything else... as long as it didn’t happen within their jurisdiction, it was unimportant!
Gong Longfei and Zhou Yuntong also quickly led their men towards Fengxiang Prefecture. They had only one goal: ensure the Seventh Prince survived. Only if the Seventh Prince lived would their heads remain on their shoulders.
On the way, Gong Longfei inquired about some matters concerning the Seventh Prince. Zhou Yuntong only gave a rough explanation and didn’t reveal everything. At this point, he considered himself aligned with the Seventh Prince’s faction. One could even say he had boarded the Seventh Prince’s ’thief ship.’ If the Seventh Prince returned to the Capital City and ascended to that position, Zhou Yuntong’s status would naturally be far from ordinary. But what about the other Brocade Guard Thousand Households? Hadn’t they chosen sides? Of course, they had. But the specifics were probably only clear to them.
"Are you saying the Seventh Prince jumped from a Fifth-Grade Martial Artist to a First-Grade Martial Artist in one breath?" Gong Longfei looked at Zhou Yuntong, slightly shocked.
The latter nodded. "That’s right. I saw it with my own eyes. There’s no doubt about it."
Even now, recalling it, Zhou Yuntong was still deeply shocked. In the span of a single breath, from Fifth-Grade Martial Artist to First-Grade Martial Artist. Across the entire world, likely only the Seventh Prince could achieve such a feat.
"Let’s put that aside. Who do you think issued your transfer order? Which of those three?" Gong Longfei abruptly changed the subject from the Seventh Prince. His words naturally implied suspicion of the three Brocade Guard Thousand Households stationed in the Capital City. At present, they were the most likely culprits.
Zhou Yuntong didn’t answer. He ran the names of those three men through his mind and hesitated.
Seeing his silence, Gong Longfei reminded him, "Some time ago, a Captain from the Northern Tribunal of Inquisition died, supposedly killed by Jianghu people."
"Hmm? A Captain?" Zhou Yuntong didn’t understand his intent.
Gong Longfei nodded. "Sun Ping," he continued, "an ordinary Captain of the Northern Tribunal of Inquisition with no notable achievements. However, his corpse was brought back from Fengxiang Prefecture..."
Fengxiang Prefecture? Isn’t that my own territory?! And I was completely clueless about this. Hmm... wasn’t the Inspector in the Fengxiang Prefecture region recently? Could Sun Ping’s death be related to the Inspector? But why would the Inspector kill a Captain?
"I had someone investigate. Sun Ping was Thousand Households Cai’s man, and Thousand Households Cai has an unusual relationship with the Ninth Prince." Gong Longfei glanced at Zhou Yuntong, then mused, "Coincidentally, about one month before Sun Ping’s death, his family disappeared in the Capital City. The last place they were seen was near the Ninth Prince’s residence!"
Hearing this, Zhou Yuntong involuntarily drew in a breath of cold air. So the suspicion still falls on the Ninth Prince? Is the Ninth Prince the puppet master behind the Blood Demon Sect? Did he arrange all of this?
At this thought, Zhou Yuntong’s expression grew even grimmer. Before the Seventh Prince’s initial incident, wasn’t he drinking with the Ninth Prince? And the very next day, he was discovered in bed with Consort Shen. Now the Ninth Prince is stirring up trouble again. Is he trying to have the Seventh Prince killed outright while he’s outside the Capital? But... isn’t all of this a bit too coincidental?