Clearing the Bureau (Part 3)

Change always catches people off guard, and every outcome is something we experience firsthand.

Just a few months ago, Huijing was a prosperous and peaceful city, with ordinary people wearing satisfied smiles. Now, the streets are filled with emptiness and confusion as people wait to die.

Chen Zhuangmu huddled in the corner, watching the aimless, unfocused people, and a sense of danger suddenly rose in her heart.

She had a premonition that the emperor must have done something.

As an emperor, someone who should have protected the people from the wind and rain, he actually turned against them.

She sighed softly and closed her eyes. Life is truly unpredictable.

The wait for Li Chu felt so long that Chen Zhuangmu frowned and looked at the sky, which had suddenly changed color. It was gloomy and cold, with the cumulus clouds blending into the sky, as if a real dragon would appear at any moment.

If Li Chu hasn't arrived after all this time, something must have happened.

She couldn't wait any longer.

Chen Zhuangmu racked her brains but couldn't think of any way to get to the palace without anyone noticing. So she took a step back and asked, "Is there any way to get to the palace first?"

After thinking it over, she remembered something rather funny: she wondered if the dog hole she had dug when she was young was still there.

The situation is absolutely terrible for the two of them right now, but how can anyone prepare for something like this?

She carefully slipped out from the corner of the wall filled with large vats, stood at the crossroads to carefully discern the direction, and then made up her mind to walk to one side.

Thinking that Li Chu would come to pick her up, Chen Zhuangmu chose a relatively safe place without even considering where it was. In the blink of an eye, a thought involuntarily floated into her mind: if Xiao Hanfeng were here, she definitely wouldn't get lost.

Now, she is alone, and she is not lost.

Having observed the people on the street for a long time, I believe I have memorized their behavior, whether they were once unrestrained or now bewildered puppets.

She moved slowly, taking tiny steps, trying her best to appear terrified.

But she didn't realize that there's a huge difference between hopeful eyes and eyes that look like she's about to die.

Sure enough, not long after she walked out, two soldiers shouted at her to stop.

"stop!"

Chen Zhuangmu stopped in her tracks, thinking that if she was going to be exposed here, she might as well just let it happen.

She turned her head and saw that the soldiers had only looked her over twice before saying, "That's all for you, go back."

He muttered to himself, "Why does the back view look so similar?"

The sky, along with the suddenly pressing down clouds, loomed over the earth, casting a gray hue over everything and making people uneasy.

Chen Zhuangmu is now standing at the crossroads where she rode her horse to the palace. The next step is the palace itself.

A solemn silence hung over the area outside the palace, a silent resistance against the turmoil in Chen Zhuangmu's mind. Only soldiers patrolled the area, and the dog hole Chen Zhuangmu had dug as a child was located at the very back.

She squinted at it, and finally decided to run!

With a determined thought, a surge of energy rose within her. She adjusted the hidden weapon to a convenient angle and charged towards the palace.

She went from feeling the strain in her legs to completely losing the sensation of running. Her eyes were fixed on the shocked guards before her, their mouths agape in astonishment. They watched as she drew her sword from its sheath the instant she was close enough to flash before their eyes. The gleaming blade flashed before their eyes. Chen Zhuangmu raised her arm, aimed the concealed weapon hole at the guard's waist, and fired. The arrow was short yet powerful, with an opening at the back ensuring it wouldn't pierce the body. The arrowhead contained a hallucinogenic drug that would take effect instantly.

Sure enough, the soldier who was shot was stunned for a moment, but the other guards' swords came at her again, and Chen Zhuangmu shouted: "Kill!"

The soldier she had just shot actually turned around and stood in front of her, raising his sword at his former comrade.

Shen Zhuangmu noticed that two or three people had slipped away, presumably to report the secret. Knowing that she wouldn't be able to handle more people, she loaded her hidden weapon with a prepared tool and launched the short arrow with even greater force, sending it flying further and piercing a guard's body. Shen Zhuangmu ordered him to bring the rest of the men over.

The remaining people, seeing that she had such a powerful weapon, were filled with fear and didn't know what to do. They hurriedly took two steps back.

She seized the opportunity, scattered a handful of fine sedatives, and successfully dealt with the group of people in front of her.

The struggle had taken its toll on her. But what shocked her even more was the attitude and strength of the gatekeepers—were they trained?

In Shen Zhuangmu's eyes, they seemed to be ready to fight if they could win, and run away if they couldn't.

The common people are like this, the guards defending the city are like this, what exactly did the emperor do to Huijing?!

As she pondered, she walked to the spot where she had dug as a child, and after touching and looking at the wall for a long time, she finally saw a seam.

She dug the tunnel to leave the palace; now she's digging it to get back in.

When the emperor ordered someone to mend the fabric when she was a child, Chen Zhuangmu insisted that the fabric used for mending wasn't very good. So, Chen Zhuangmu kicked it with all her might, and with a "bang," it was ripped open.

"Boom!" A thunderclap suddenly sounded in the sky, and the sound made Shen Zhuangmu's heart tremble.

Without delay, she crawled inside, crouched down, and carefully stood up. When she came out of the hole, Chen Zhuangmu couldn't believe who she was seeing.

Apart from her facial features, everything else was different. She wasn't wearing a red dress, but rather the clothes of an ordinary palace maid. Her hair was tied up without any jewelry, and her once unrestrained and flamboyant eyes were now plain and dull.

What Chen Zhuangmu found most unacceptable was the look of terror on her face.

What must she have gone through to become like this?

"Boom!"

Another thunderclap exploded in their ears, and as their minds settled, a torrential downpour began.

Heavy raindrops fell on Shen Zhuangmu's hair, washing away the dried mud from her face and revealing a complexion that was not as pale as usual.

The passion and hope that once filled her eyes have now transformed into a calm and unwavering determination.

"It's you."

Xiao Hanfeng's voice drifted gently into her ears along with the sound of rain, causing her heart to tremble.

She seemed to lose her footing, stumbling several times before finally reaching Xiao Hanfeng. Her hand gripped the front of Xiao Hanfeng's clothes, and looking into his hesitant and questioning eyes, she leaned close to Xiao Hanfeng's ear and uttered the three words that had been weighing on her heart for the past few days.

"I'm sorry! It's true, I'm the one who hurt you..."

"Boom!"

The rain poured down harder than ever before, pelting their faces, making it impossible to distinguish between tears and rain.

It wasn't the right time to be sentimental, so Xiao Hanfeng pulled her under a tree where the rain had lessened and said, "You haven't been doing well either, so consider this compensation for me."

She didn't notice that the corners of her mouth were turned up when she said that.

Even with a thousand words in her heart, even if it's hard to say them out loud, Chen Zhuangmu has the courage to confide in him.

But this isn't a good place. Chen Zhuangmu asked, "Where are you going?"

Xiao Hanfeng opened his mouth and said, "I..."

"My dear niece has arrived."

A gloomy voice entered their ears. The voice was not loud, but it could penetrate the sound of rain and be heard before it could be heard. Chen Zhuangmu's body trembled. She could not believe that she could meet him here. She could not believe that he could say such disgusting words.

Yu Xingbei was standing on the corridor connected to the steps, his hands behind his back. His slightly raised forehead made Chen Zhuangmu feel his contempt even more clearly. Her body suddenly trembled, her heart pounded, and all she could hear was her own overwhelming anger. She could feel nothing else.

"Makeup curtain!"

Xiao Hanfeng shook her hard, her head tilting wildly with the movement, finally bringing Shen Zhuangmu back to her senses. The look on Shen Zhuangmu's face just now had frightened her quite a bit.

The two had lost interest in reminiscing. On the contrary, Yu Xingbei always had a sinister smile on his lips. Before Chen Zhuangmu could speak, he said, "This is the first time I've been separated from my child for so long. After returning to the capital, you came to see me without stopping. Did you miss me?"

"Yu Xingbei! I was raised by my mother, you...!"

"Guards, take her away!" Upon hearing this, Yu Xingbei's face turned ashen, as if he were about to pour poison on her.

Two people quickly separated Chen Zhuangmu and Xiao Hanfeng, their hands tied behind their backs. As they walked down the corridor past Yu Xingbei, he didn't turn his head. The sky grew even darker; by noon, it would likely be indistinguishable from night.

With a "smack!", a hand chop landed on the back of their necks, and they both passed out.

The few people in this palace corridor, even when put together, couldn't muster any real vitality; they were less energetic than raindrops that were far away yet right in front of them.

"Boom!"

The thunderclap resounded throughout Huijing, and everyone noticed the fleeting moment. Then, a torrential downpour began, as if pouring down, bringing joy to some and sorrow to others.

Some people enjoy admiring beautiful scenery, while others lament the difficult road outside their door, such as that of the Shaoqing Mansion.

"Have you thought it through?" Zhao Yi asked with a deep look in his eyes.

Zhang Jiao became puzzled and asked, "What do you mean by this?"

Zhao Yi said seriously, "Zhuangmu and I don't plan to stay in Huijing anymore, but if you still want to live in Huijing, you can't show your face."

To tamper with things right under the emperor's nose, no matter the reason, is unacceptable.

Zhang Jiao dipped her fingertip into the fragrant tea in the cup and said, "I hate doing this, but only I know whether my hands smell good or not."

Although it was a clumsy way of putting it, Zhao Yi understood what he meant and said, "Let's hurry up and go."

I had just stood up and walked to the door, and had only just touched the cold wooden door, when I heard a loud "Boom!" of thunder.

They were both startled by the lightning, waited a moment, and then continued walking forward.

Zhao Yi disguised himself as Zhang Jiao's bodyguard. Since the roads were difficult to walk on due to the rain, the two of them first took a carriage from their home. When they arrived at Dongyu Street, they got off and walked to Dali Temple.

What was clear and pure became filthy and muddy when it fell to the ground. The two walked quickly, and the rainwater they stepped on turned into a sticky curtain of rain, which splattered onto their shoes and made them very dirty.

Ahead lay the gate of the Dali Temple. Zhao Yi pulled his mask up and stepped over the steps of the Dali Temple: the first level, the second level, and the top level.

"Ah! As expected of our most concerned-for-the-people Junior Minister, coming to work in such heavy rain..."

Hearing Miao, the registrar, praising him without any basis, Zhao Yi suppressed his admiration. Zhang Jiao said, "Registrar Miao, really, please stop. I have important business to attend to. There's progress in a new case. Don't bother me at noon."

With that, they left under the watchful eyes of the crowd.

"Do you think Lord Shaoqing has changed his guards?"

"It'll definitely be a good trade. Look how much taller this one is than the previous one, and his figure is so much better..."

"Which case is the Junior Minister referring to?"

"Who knows?"

Zhao Yi listened expressionlessly to the whispered speculations and unspoken opinions of the crowd, expressing his dissatisfaction that the people of the Dali Temple had become so talkative. However, Zhang Jiao sighed softly and said helplessly, "An individual cannot stop the general trend."

The two lowered their heads. Zhao Yi was even more amazed that Yu Xingbei could transform Huijing into this state in just a few months. When he was at the Shaoqing Mansion, he had heard Zhang Jiao say that merits were not rewarded, tasks were not entrusted, taxes were levied excessively, and nepotism was rampant.

Zhang Jiao is currently at odds with the other two factions in the court. The emperor sometimes adopts some of his suggestions, otherwise…

The two soon arrived at the Dali Temple prison. They were originally supposed to be imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice, but due to that incident, the Ministry of Justice had put them in Dali Temple instead.

They kept walking in, and since it was too dark in the back, they lit oil lamps. Zhao Yi looked at the filthy criminals one by one, searching for Jian.

Until Zhang Jiao said, "You've passed by."

He suddenly stopped and slowly turned around to look at the disheveled man who had just passed by, whose face looked as if he had been smeared with black mud.

Be firm.

He walked back step by step until he reached the door.

He didn't take off his mask; he knew that Zhe Jian could recognize him just by his eyes.

"Zhejian, this kind of life must be tough." His voice wasn't loud, but the person being called felt as if something was stuck in their throat.

"You! You! You..."

Hearing the satisfied reaction, Zhao Yi raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but smile. "Yes, it's me. I've come to take your life, as the Prince of Ding, Zhao Yi's father, to claim your life."

"Whoa?!" Zhuo Jian jumped onto the small bed behind him in fright. Instead of covering himself, he pointed at Zhao Yi and then at Zhang Jiao, shouting, "Traitor! Traitorous scoundrel!"

"..."

Zhao Yi rolled his eyes, and Zhang Jiao couldn't help but feel disgusted. The two of them left their sight and strolled over to Xiao Zhong, who was quite calm.

Should I address you as Prince Zhao, or as "Su Ren"?

"As expected of the Left Minister." Zhao Yi paced outside his door, then said, "I don't understand why you insist on protecting Xiao Hanfeng. This isn't your crime, you admit it. It's not your punishment, do you want to try it again?"

Xiao Zhong panicked when he heard the name Xiao Hanfeng and asked, "How is Hanfeng?"

"It's better than nothing—it's not going to work." Zhao Yi said, enunciating each word clearly.

Xiao Zhong's expression grew colder and colder.

“Alright, let’s proceed according to plan,” Zhang Jiao’s voice rang out from the side.

Zhao Yi nodded, took out a black cloth bag from his pocket, opened the door, and knocked Xiao Zhong unconscious with a karate chop, ignoring Xiao Zhong's struggles. He then put the bag on Xiao Zhong's clothes and returned to Jian's room.

Even on his deathbed, Zhuo Jian still wanted to say a few more words, trying to rekindle the place he had held in Zhao Yi's heart long ago.

"Yi'er, do you remember how good I was to you? If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have held the power of the Privy Council...!"

Zhao Yi did indeed remember.

But what I remember is his sarcastic remarks and his undisguised disgust and hostility.

He spent countless nights racking his brains trying to figure out what was going on, and when he couldn't figure it out, he came to a conclusion.

The reason why Jian dared to speak to him like that was because he was not strong enough.

Zhang Jiao had servants help Jian and Xiao Zhong onto a carriage along a small path, and he and Zhao Yi also walked out of the seemingly bottomless dark prison.

"Let's go to the palace!"

Zhang Jiao nodded and looked outside at the even heavier rain.