At the hour of Xu, the sky was overcast, hiding the moon.
The citizens of the imperial city, fearing a sudden downpour, had long since returned home to shelter.
Taking advantage of the night, the Jin Family Pharmacy opened its doors. More than a dozen vagrants, supplied by the shopkeeper of the Jin Family Pharmacy, wielded long knives and spears, heading straight for the city gate with great commotion.
The soldiers guarding the city gate had already been bribed by Jin Qianyu. As soon as the Jin family's shopkeeper appeared, the city gate was opened.
Not far outside the city, several shopkeepers from the Four Great Medical Halls had been waiting for a long time. Upon seeing the torchlight at the city gate, they were immediately invigorated.
What was to come had finally arrived.
Without a word, Xin Bi and Wang Can rolled up their sleeves, ready to charge forward.
Fortunately, Chen Gang was quick. He grabbed both of them and restrained them, "What are you two doing?"
Xin Bi looked even more surprised than Chen Gang, "What else? Of course, we're going to beat them up!"
Wang Can, watching the approaching firelight, gritted his teeth, "Let's beat them up soundly first, it's not too late to leave after that!"
Chen Gang's head ached. "Beat them up? Did you forget what the boss said?" Fearing his words lacked weight, he quickly looked at the silent Sun Zhiting, the shopkeeper of the Ji Shi Medical Hall, "Old Sun, say something quickly!"
Sun Zhiting pondered in the direction of the firelight for a moment, then said, "Old Chen is right. Revenge isn't a hurry. Anyway, we have plenty of time tonight."
Chen Gang: "..."
Why did he feel a chill down his neck?
Seeing the shopkeeper of the Jin Family Pharmacy approaching with the vagrants, Chen Gang had no time to think. He quickly revealed himself with the other three shopkeepers and their men at the foot of the mountain.
The shopkeeper of the Jin Family Pharmacy was looking for Chen Gang and his companions. Seeing them appear, he immediately ordered, "Chase!"
The vagrants following behind were only motivated by money, not by fate. Upon hearing this, their eyes gleamed red.
In an instant, the shopkeepers of the Four Great Medical Halls led their men up the mountain, with the people from the Jin Family Pharmacy in hot pursuit.
Half an hour later, everyone reached the summit.
Zhang Ji, who had been ambushed in the dark, remained in place. He waited until someone by his side came to deliver a message, "Boss, we can see the Second Prince's convoy."
"Keep a close watch on the Second Prince's convoy. As soon as it approaches the foot of the mountain, send word immediately." Zhang Ji instructed carefully, then he and the other guards got up and, riding in horse-drawn carriages filled with wooden crates, headed towards the direction of the shopkeepers from the Four Great Medical Halls.
As soon as Chen Gang saw Zhang Ji, he deliberately shouted, "Is this the delivery from the Sen Family?"
The Four Great Medical Halls had always cooperated with the Sen Family Escort Agency, a fact known to all the citizens of the imperial city.
"That's right. Our boss said to have you inspect the goods here first. If there are no problems, it'll be cash on delivery." Zhang Ji jumped off the carriage and walked up to Chen Gang.
Chen Gang gave Zhang Ji a knowing look, then whispered, "They're all following behind."
Zhang Ji nodded. "When the people from the Jin Family Pharmacy catch up, you can use the chaos to return to the city. Leave the rest to me. Our young lady said this is of great importance, and the Four Great Medical Halls would be wise to protect themselves."
Chen Gang had long suspected that the boss's elaborate plan wasn't just for the Jin family. Hearing Zhang Ji say this further solidified his thoughts.
Before long, a guard standing on the mountainside blew a whistle.
Zhang Ji quickly shouted, "Since the goods are fine, we'll deliver them here."
The shopkeeper of the Jin Family, who had been ambushing not far away, heard that the goods had been inspected and immediately ordered the vagrants around him, "No matter what it takes, we must get our hands on the goods. Don't be afraid of trouble, just snatch the goods, the young master will handle everything else!"
The vagrants were already reckless individuals. Upon hearing this, they immediately grabbed their long spears and lances and charged forward.
Seeing the charge, Chen Gang shouted, "Quick, guard the goods and go, they're chasing us!"
While he said this, the people driving the carriages were actually the guards led by Zhang Ji.
Under the cover of darkness, when the vagrants could not distinguish between friend and foe, Zhang Ji jumped onto the foremost carriage and, directing the guards behind him, galloped down the mountain.
The shopkeeper of the Jin Family could not let Zhang Ji escape. He called out to the vagrants, "Chase them!"
The army returning from Luoyi was marching forward slowly with heavy steps.
Inside a carriage amidst the convoy, a songstress knelt by the side, plucking a pipa and singing softly.
Prince Xie Jingxi poured the finest Nu'er Hong into a wine cup and personally handed it to Ren Jun. "Deputy General Ren, you must savor this. This fine wine cannot be drunk just anywhere."
Ren Jun, with a restless heart, accepted the wine cup and cautiously reminded, "Your Highness, we are about to arrive at the imperial city."
Xie Jingxi snorted dismissively. "What is Deputy General Ren afraid of? Back in Luoyi, when Deputy General Ren personally executed the generals who swore allegiance to the Ji family, I didn't see Deputy General Ren so terrified."
Ren Jun's face grew even more grim as he thought of the blood on his hands. "The imperial city is not Luoyi. I am merely afraid of eavesdropping."
"The Ji family is finished, who would seek justice for them now? Not to mention that I have never been one to condescend to others, I would dare to drink and listen to music even in front of the Ji family." Xie Jingxi drained his cup of Nu'er Hong and squinted contentedly.
Now, the citizens of the imperial city likely knew that the defeat in Luoyi was entirely the Ji family's fault. The Ji family was now the target of public criticism, so what did he have to fear?
Moreover, all the men of the Ji family were dead. Even if the Ji family suspected something, what could a few elderly women achieve? They were probably trembling at home, waiting to die.
"Deputy General Ren, rest assured, when we enter the palace to see the Emperor, I will certainly attribute the merits to Deputy General Ren. Deputy General Ren will become the new Protector General of Yulin. At that time, gold, silver, beauties, what would Deputy General Ren not have?" Xie Jingxi said, then suddenly kicked out his foot towards a nearby songstress.
The songstress lost her balance and fell directly into Ren Jun's arms.
Ren Jun tensed up and instinctively wanted to push the songstress away.
However, the songstress was one step ahead, slipping her soft, boneless hand inside Ren Jun's armor.
"General Ren..." the songstress whispered, blowing gently into Ren Jun's ear.
Ren Jun's lower abdomen tightened. It would be a lie to say he wasn't tempted. When he looked at Xie Jingxi again, his gaze finally became fierce and resolute. "Your Highness is right, the Ji family is finished. I was being overly cautious."
Xie Jingxi laughed heartily. "That's more like it, Deputy General Ren. Oh, no, it should be General Ren."
The Ji family was uncooperative, so he would dispose of them and find a general willing to side with him.
Although it was a shame about the Ji family's skill in leading troops, who told those brutes to court death by being foolish?
While he was reveling in his thoughts, the carriage suddenly stopped with a jolt, and flames erupted outside.
Xie Jingxi, caught completely off guard, hit his head against the carriage wall, seeing stars.
Ren Jun forcefully stabilized himself and leaned out of the carriage window to ask, "What happened?"
The accompanying soldiers were in chaos, shouting in panic, "So, so many people are heading this way, surrounding, surrounding us!"