Chapter 211 Panic

"Wei Zikai! Where is Wei Zikai?! Tell him to come right now!"

The high spirits that had been high on the city wall had not yet dissipated, and Wei Zikai was enjoying the flattery of his subordinates when a royal eunuch appeared before him with a group of imperial guards.

"Lord Wei, His Majesty has summoned you urgently! Enter the palace immediately for an audience!"

Wei Zikai's heart skipped a beat. The emperor had just issued an edict of commendation, and now he was summoning him so urgently? And with the imperial guards with him?

He felt uneasy and followed the guards quickly into the palace gate.

The closer one gets to the Imperial Study, the stronger the oppressive atmosphere becomes.

The palace servants along the way held their breath, their faces pale, like frightened birds.

When the door to the Imperial Study was pushed open, Wei Zikai was dumbfounded by what he saw inside!

The place is a complete mess!

Shattered porcelain, scattered memorials, overturned tables and chairs, and... the shocking bloodstains on the front of the dragon robe!

Behind the imperial desk, Pei Yan was like a demon, his eyes bloodshot and his face pale, his gaze fixed on him!

"Your Majesty..." Wei Zikai's legs went weak, and he knelt down with a thud.

"Useless trash!" Pei Yan's roar made Wei Zikai's eardrums ring. "Look at the job you've done!! I ordered you to quell the rumors! And right in front of you, new rumors have emerged! And you're completely unaware!"

A piece of paper, the ink seemingly not even completely dry, was slammed hard into Wei Zikai's face!

Wei Zikai picked up the paper with trembling hands. He glanced at it and felt as if he had been struck by lightning, his soul almost leaving his body!

"Your Majesty...Your Majesty! This must be the last-ditch effort of the mastermind! It's a new conspiracy! This humble general...this humble general..." Wei Zikai stammered, trying to explain.

"conspiracy?!"

Pei Yan suddenly rushed out from behind the imperial desk with astonishing speed. In a few steps, he was in front of Wei Zikai and, to Wei Zikai's horrified gaze, fiercely grabbed his throat!

"Well--!"

Wei Zikai suffocated instantly, his eyes bulged out, and his face turned a deep liver color!

Pei Yan's face was almost pressed against Wei Zikai's, his veins bulging:

"Tell me! Is this a coincidence? Aren't you known for your quick wit? Didn't you say everything would be foolproof today? Why did such rumors emerge under your watchful eye?! Tell me!"

"His Majesty…"

Wei Zikai forced out a few syllables from deep in his throat, his eyes filled with fear of death.

He had never experienced death so closely before!

He had never realized so clearly that in the emperor's eyes, he was really just a dog that could be crushed at any moment!

"Your Majesty, please calm down! Your Majesty, please take care of your health!"

Eunuch Desheng rushed forward and tightly embraced Pei Yan's arm, his voice trembling with sobs, "General Wei... General Wei just rendered a great service to His Majesty yesterday... There must be something fishy about this! It must be the real mastermind who, seeing that the previous plan failed, devised another treacherous scheme! Your Majesty, please be wise!"

Desheng's words barely managed to stop Pei Yan from going completely insane.

He abruptly released his grip, throwing Wei Zikai, who was limp and lifeless on the ground, to the ground.

Pei Yan was panting heavily, his chest heaving, his eyes filled with a sinister glint as he stared intently at Wei Zikai, who lay on the ground like a dead dog.

"What a vicious and elaborate scheme!"

This is to first make Pei Yan relax his guard, and then deliver a fatal blow!

He slowly walked back to the desk, sat down dejectedly, and closed his eyes.

Desheng replaced Pei Yan's tea set with a new one and hinted to Wei Zikai to take his leave quickly. Wei Zikai immediately scrambled to his feet and left.

Since the young lady didn't say to kill him, we can't do anything for now.

Desheng patted his chest quietly. The young lady's actions were too swift; she was almost driving the emperor crazy.

Tomorrow's court session is likely to be bloody and violent.

——

The Xie residence, belonging to the Minister of Revenue, had its vermilion gates tightly shut and its walls high and locked.

The mansion was filled with a strong, almost pungent, smell of medicine.

Deep inside, Xie Ji's study was brightly lit.

During the day, rumors circulating in the streets and alleys about the fake tiger tally reached Xie Ji's ears.

He sat in the armchair, his seemingly calm face masking a turbulent inner world.

He naturally knew where the real tiger tally was!

It was in that inkstone that Xie Bao'er, the daughter of Xie Bao'er, had stolen and passed through many hands before finally being given to Xie Sangning!

Recalling Xie Sangning's secret letter ordering his family to stay home and feign illness, Xie Ji felt as if an invisible hand had clenched his heart and then suddenly released it.

It was her! It must have been Xie Sangning's doing!

A chill ran down my spine to the back of my neck, only to be replaced by a surge of excitement.

The world is changing! The world in Beijing is truly about to change!

Is the stagnant atmosphere that has been suppressed for ten years finally about to be blown away?

But the excitement was fleeting, and Xie Ji immediately forced himself to calm down.

Especially at such a critical moment when the winds are rising and the storm is brewing, we must not make the slightest mistake!

Xie Sangning is undoubtedly strategizing behind the scenes. Their only task as pawns lurking in the capital is to maintain stability! They absolutely cannot cause her any trouble!

He immediately summoned his wife and two children, dismissed all the servants, and left only his close relatives in the study.

Under the dim light, Xie Ji's expression was more solemn than ever before.

“Listen up,” he said in a very low voice, “a huge storm is brewing outside! Bigger than all the previous rumors about the plague combined! And our household is getting sicker!”

“From this day forward, Madam, you are so ill that you cannot get out of bed, and your two children,” he said, looking at his son Xie Yun and daughter Xie Bao’er, “are also sick, with persistent high fevers and delirium!”

"All servants in the manor, except for a few absolutely reliable confidants, must strictly guard the gates and are not allowed to visit or discuss the matter! The medicine will continue to be prepared as usual, understand?"

If he didn't do this, and contracted some other non-contagious disease, he and his family would be taken hostage and imprisoned in the palace if anything happened. At that point, things would be extremely dangerous.

Xie Sangning probably considered this when he let them get infected with the "epidemic".

Madam Xie's face turned pale, and she clutched her handkerchief tightly, but she still nodded firmly.

Although she didn't know the specifics, her husband's seriousness meant it must be a matter of life and death for the whole family.

Xie Yun and Xie Bao'er exchanged a glance. Although their eyes showed fear, they also understood the seriousness of the situation and nodded vigorously.

"Father, I understand! I'll go get some chicken blood right away..." Xie Bao'er said softly.

"Yes, be careful." A hint of relief and heartache flashed in Xie Ji's eyes, but then turned into seriousness. "Remember, we are very sick, so sick that... even the maids who serve us closely in the manor have been infected!"

With everything arranged, Xie Ji finally breathed a sigh of relief, but his anxiety only intensified.

After his family left, he sat alone in his study, listening to the howling night wind outside the window, as if he could hear the storm wailing over Nanjing.

As the night deepened and the dew grew heavy, all was silent.

Xie Ji leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes to rest.

Suddenly, a very faint clicking sound came from the window frame!

He opened his eyes abruptly, his heart leaping into his throat! His hand instinctively went to the short dagger under the desk!

A dark figure slipped through the window silently, like a raccoon dog, and landed without a sound!

The newcomer was completely covered in black clothing, with only his eyes showing.

He immediately put a finger to his lips in a shushing gesture, then said quickly:

"Minister Xie, please don't be alarmed! I have come on the orders of Lord Qian, the Vice Commander of the Capital Garrison! Lord Qian has a matter of utmost urgency and insists that you come to speak with me!"

Master Qian? Qian Maocai?

Xie Ji was slightly taken aback.

This Assistant Magistrate Qian was also on sick leave and stayed at home; his residence wasn't far from here.

He relaxed a little, but his vigilance remained.

"Lord Qian? What could he possibly want? Couldn't he just send a formal invitation?" Xie Ji asked tentatively, lowering his voice.

"This matter is confidential! It cannot be delayed! Lord Qian is already waiting, please come with me immediately! Excuse me!"

The newcomer spoke very quickly, with an urgent tone. Before he had finished speaking, he had already taken a step forward without saying a word.

Xie Ji suddenly felt a lightness in his body, as if that person was holding him under his arm like a chick!

Before he could even cry out in surprise, the scenery before his eyes changed rapidly, the wind whistled in his ears, and he was carried over the high wall and sped through the rooftops and alleyways of Jinling City!

He should hire some guards too!

After a few leaps, the man brought Xie Ji to an extremely secluded courtyard.

The courtyard walls were mottled, the doors were crooked, and weeds grew rampant inside. Only a window in the main house let out a faint, dim light.

"Please, sir!"

The visitor put Xie Ji down, pointed to the lit room, and vanished into the darkness in a flash, as if he had never been there.

Xie Ji steadied himself and pushed open the creaking, dilapidated door.

The room was simply furnished, with only a broken table, two long benches, and an oil lamp.

A middle-aged man dressed in casual clothes and slightly overweight was pacing anxiously in the room. He was none other than Qian Maocai, the Vice Commander of the Imperial Guard!