Chapter 117 Setting Up a Scheme (4) Had enough fun? Time to go up and settle the score. ...

Xiao Yinshi's gaze fell on the memorial spread out on the imperial desk, on which was a Sanskrit mantra copied by the monk Yunwu: Namo White-Robed Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva. Front seal, back seal, demon-subduing heart seal. Body seal, dharani, I now recite the divine mantra. I only wish for your compassion, to descend and protect me. [1]

May your compassion descend and protect us.

Xiao Yinshi did not convert to Buddhism.

He waved again.

The order to kill was given, and Zhu Qi raised his arm and swung his broadsword. Jiang Tanglian suddenly looked up and stared in astonishment. He was naive; he had no idea what kind of devil sat on the throne.

The gleaming blade reflected in his bloodshot eyes. Jiang Tanglian used all his strength to roll and crawl from the ground to the baby's side. As the blade fell, he raised his feet to block it!

The broadsword cleaved through his tattered straw sandals, and the downward force penetrated three inches into his bone. Even the toughest man couldn't withstand such extreme pain, and he cried out in agony.

The swaddled baby was rolled half a meter out of the pool of blood by the impact, its face up, and it started crying loudly.

Zhu Qi sheathed his broadsword. When Xiao Yin was the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he had witnessed countless bloody and cruel scenes; this was nothing compared to that. When he was the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, there wasn't a case his master couldn't solve.

Blood splattered on Zhu Qi's face. He looked at Jiang Tanglian, who was lying on the ground in pain and unable to speak. The Embroidered Spring Blade of the Embroidered Uniform Guard had already surrounded him.

Jiang Tang swallowed the groans, sweat dripped from his eyelashes, and his hateful gaze seemed to bore a hole through Xiao Yinshi.

Xiao Zhan's ruthlessness was less than one ten-thousandth of this man's, therefore Xiao Zhan lost! Xiao Er's world had no compassion; he only assessed situations based on strength and status! Now that he had betrayed his master for his son and was no longer of value, Xiao Yinshi wanted to exterminate him completely!

The baby's cries echoed throughout the hall. He watched as the emperor, who was sitting on a high throne, stepped down from his throne, bent down, picked up the baby's swaddling clothes, and examined his face. His dark eyes gradually showed a hint of interest.

Jiang Tanglian's heart pounded even faster. Xiao Er was already much taller than the average man, and the way he was holding the child in the loose swaddling clothes with only two fingers—was he going to throw the child to his death?! Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety have been mutually exclusive. His voice was bitter, filled with humiliation and defeat, as he was pressed to the ground by the Imperial Guard's broadsword, pleading, "Please, spare him..."

The baby was a tiny bundle, his wrinkled face covered in drool from crying. Xiao Yinshi frowned in disgust and handed him to Zhu Qi.

Zhu Qi stepped forward and took the baby. He looked at the baby in his arms... This child... isn't he the one that Feng Tan disguised herself as a woman on the day the city fell, and who was later forced by her master to reveal herself and bring out the baby?

After the trial, the Imperial Guards dragged Jiang Tanglian's body out of the Golden Hall, and a group of palace maids and eunuchs quickly cleaned up the hall.

Wu Xilai, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, stood in the main hall with his sword in hand and said, "Your Majesty, on the night the city fell, Arslan failed to provide reinforcements and led his troops south at breakneck speed. The army returned south to Sotaha, but the spies in Sotaha said that he had never appeared in the tribe. The spies in the capital reported that he had hidden in a winery on the outskirts a few days ago, but his whereabouts are still unknown."

“It’s darkest under the lamp. If he wants to kill me, he won’t be too far from the palace. Xiao Zhan is looking for allies everywhere. The enemy of my enemy is my friend…” Xiao Yinshi twirled the ring between his fingers, tapped it slightly, and made the final decision, “Where did Feng Tan go? Investigate her.”

***

"What night is this, with spring lanterns shining brightly? The peaceful emperor walks under the moon. Lanterns with pearls and jewels adorn the magnificent house, and the moonlight scatters its jade-like glow throughout the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City extends far to the imperial relatives, and the lights of ten thousand households illuminate the nine streets..."[2]

The sounds of silk and bamboo instruments filled the air at the Chang Le Night Banquet. The melodious singing of the musicians drifted through the double-eaved palace and into the snow-covered plum grove. Red plum blossoms were in full bloom on the strong, ancient brown branches. Arslan reached out and broke off a branch that was lying in front of him and casually threw it onto the thick white snow. When he looked up, he saw Feng Tan looking at him.

Following Feng Tan's Rakshasa Army, who stood in neat formation, she frowned and angrily rebuked Arslan, "Who gave you permission to pick flowers? Pick them up and get over here!"

Arslan raised an eyebrow slightly. Feng Tan had been extremely uneasy ever since reading the secret letter; it meant that he wanted to speak with him alone.

Black boots crunched on the snow. After walking a distance with Feng Tan, Arslan and Feng Tan found themselves behind layers of plum trees. Under the cover of night, the two concealed themselves.

The fragrance of flowers filled the air. A red plum blossom fell from Feng Tan's hair. Unaware of this, she turned her head and said succinctly, "Jiang Tanglian's wife and children have been captured by Xiao Yinshi. I guess he will soon find out about you. You can no longer stay in the palace."

Upon hearing this, Arslan's expression turned serious. If Feng Tan's words were true, given the speed at which the Embroidered Uniform Guard spies could investigate, finding the flaws would only take a night. But the question was, if he left, could Feng Tan, alone, successfully carry out their plan?

Feng Tan was also worried about this issue. Arslan was highly skilled in martial arts. Even though he injured his waist and abdomen that day to let her go out to bid farewell to her old friend, he could still fight the enemy. If he left, she would be left alone with the palace's internal agents, and she had no lightness skills at all, so she could be considered a cripple... No matter how they played this game, their chances of winning were not very high.

If they fail, given Xiao Yinshi's methods, they will leave no room for maneuver, and all those involved will suffer a terrible fate. Therefore, they absolutely cannot lose.

Arslan observed Feng Tan in the darkness. She was nothing like the women of Sotaha. The women of Sotaha were as strong as the men, their faces tanned dark by the sun, while she was slender with snow-white skin. The women of Sotaha were domineering and straightforward, and she would keep her anger to herself, and when the time came, she would definitely seek revenge.

In addition, Feng Tan has a very obvious characteristic: he never goes back on his promises, and once he sets his mind on a path, he will go all the way to the end. He is trustworthy.

"By the Eternal Heaven, Arslan, the knight of Sotaha, makes a bet for the people today," Arslan gazed devoutly at the distant night sky, willing to risk his life for the people of Sotaha, "In exchange for twenty years of inner strength, may Sotaha have a peaceful winter next year!"

Feng Tan's eyes were filled with doubt as she asked, "Arslan, what are you going to do?"

Arslan's amber eyes gleamed in the darkness. He suddenly knelt down in front of Feng Tan, grasped her injured left leg with his large hand, and used some internal force to sense a strong resistance in her sealed meridians.

Arslan said, "When I was young, my master said I was a martial arts genius. I practiced diligently day and night and reached the eighth rank because the future Sotaha needed brave warriors to be Khans. Now, I can use all my internal energy to break through your blocked meridians. In this world, apart from Xiao Yinshi, my internal energy can also restore your lightness skill."

Feng Tan's eyes flickered as she looked at him in shock and said, "And what about you? Sotaha considers bravery a prerequisite for becoming king. Without your lightness skill, even if you eventually win over the wintering grounds for Sotaha, you can't defeat the eldest and second princes, and you won't be able to become the new Khan."

Arslan had already begun circulating his internal energy, and his heat breath slowly cleared the blocked meridians in Feng Tan's left leg. He said, "It's alright."

He looked up and met Feng Tan's gaze, who was looking down at him, and said, "Don't pity me. Besides seeking the well-being of the people of Sotaha, I also need to save my own life. If I don't want to be Khan, I don't want to be. In the spring, when the colorful prayer flags of Sotaha are hung high, I can sit below and play a song on my morin khuur, watching them race horses and dance. That would be fun too! The premise is that I have to find a way to make sure they live to see spring!"

Although Arslan was tall and strong, he was also magnanimous and gentle in his dealings with others. His large hand gripped Feng Tan's knee, and his warm internal energy was just like his personality. Feng Tan's blocked meridians gradually became unblocked, and she felt a long-lost sense of lightness.

The night was deep, and the two stood on one side and knelt on the other amidst the red plum blossoms and white snow. Feng Tan stared at his focused face covered by a mask, and a strange feeling welled up in her heart.

“Alright,” Arslan said, beads of sweat forming on his nose. He stood up and bowed to Feng Tan with a clan salute. “The coup in the palace was all thanks to Miss Feng.”

Arslan's identity has been exposed, and it's questionable whether he can safely evade tomorrow after leaving the palace tonight. Feng Tan whistled, and soon Qing Cang appeared in response.

Seeing the enormous size of the Qingcang, which far surpassed that of ordinary eagles, Arslan's eyes lit up. "I've heard that Miss Feng is skilled at taming beasts. I never imagined that such a wild eagle could be tamed."

Most grassland youths prefer eagles to horses. Feng Tan said, "I prefer birds of prey. The process of taming them is also a kind of training for myself. Once tamed, it will give me a sense of exhilaration. If there is an opportunity in the future, I can exchange ideas with you on the art of animal taming."

The falcon on Qingcang circled around her arm, watching Arslan warily. Feng Tan chuckled and patted its head, saying, "It will take you to a safe place to hide. Also, please take this gun with you for your own protection."

A sniper rifle rested in Feng Tan's fingers. Arslan had seen this weapon before; it was far more powerful than the muskets used by the Japanese pirates. He picked up the gun and laughed heartily, "Thank you, Sister Feng..."

“Feng Tan,” Feng Tan also laughed and said, “There may be unexpected changes in the situation, and you will need to take control at that time, but I will fire the first shot in the palace.”

Arslan said, "Okay."

Xiao Zhan's plan was sound. Feng Tan and Arslan had reached an agreement, but Arslan's identity was exposed prematurely, forcing him to leave the palace early. The leader of the Rakshasa Army guarding Feng Tan was replaced by a new masked man, ensuring that Xiao Yinshi would not be able to find any clues even if he thoroughly investigated.

Feng Tan was once again left alone in the palace, and this place became her own battlefield.

The smooth flow of energy through her meridians brought Feng Tan a long-lost sense of relaxation. It wasn't until long after Arslan's figure disappeared into Merlin that she turned to the newly arrived masked man and said, "Let's go back."

There are other people waiting outside.

Li Xue had her front teeth knocked out by Feng Tan. She came from a wealthy and powerful family where the men had been generals for generations, and she also had an older brother who was attending a banquet as the leader of the Imperial Guard. She had suffered such a great humiliation, and this matter would not be easily resolved.

As Fang emerged from the plum grove, he saw a line of eunuchs in blue robes carrying palace lanterns. They bowed slightly as they led the way for the distinguished guests attending the banquet. Leading the way was Li Xue's brother, Li Xi.

Today it was not his turn to be on duty with the Imperial Guards, so he removed his cold, hard armor and put on a light purple and lychee-red silk robe, over which was a python-fur fur coat. A jade unicorn hung from the sash at his waist, giving him the air of a noble young master.

He casually pushed aside the blue-robed eunuch leading the way, walked up to Feng Tan, and sneered, "You've been quite a search for me. You're the daughter of the enemy emperor, Princess Yongle?"

The Imperial Guards have many informants. Since Xiao Yinshi forbade Feng Tan from leaving the palace, all the armies protecting the palace should know what Feng Tan looks like. It's just unknown how much this prisoner holds in the Emperor's heart. Therefore, it was expected that Li Xi would come to find her tonight. She deliberately knocked out Li Xue's front teeth to lure him out, and said leisurely, "It's me. Have you come to settle scores with me?"

Her attitude stunned Li Xi. He stared at Feng Tan's face for a moment, and couldn't help but curse in his heart, "You son of a bitch, she's so beautiful, it's hard for me to teach her a lesson."

Feng Tan, however, wanted to provoke him. She looked at his angry but silent face with a smile and said, "Are you the father of Li Xue, the one whose front tooth I just knocked out?"

Li Xi's face darkened, and the crowd behind him burst into laughter, "I'm her brother!"

"Oh." Feng Tan nodded and said, "Then you do look quite mature."

Li Xi's face darkened again, and she continued, "Li Xue's brother, Li Xi, I know you. I heard that when you were young, you slept with seven women in the most famous brothel in the capital. After a night of orgies, you refused to pay the next day. The madam went to the general's mansion to ask for the money and ended up in front of your father. In the end, your father stripped you naked and tied you to a tree to dry for three days."

This matter caused a huge uproar; everyone in the capital knew about it. It was Li Xi's Achilles' heel; anyone who mentioned it would make him explode. Upon hearing this, Li Xi clenched his fists, glared at Feng Tan, and cursed, "Shut up! How I act is none of your business, a prisoner of an enemy country. You were imprisoned in the palace by His Majesty, and after being raped, you weren't even given a title. You're less than a whore, just a source of amusement. Instead of serving him properly, you insist on causing trouble in the harem. I think you're just itching for someone to fuck you!"

A dignified general, yet he acted like a lowly brute. Li Xue felt ashamed upon hearing this. She glanced at the dignitaries watching the commotion, bit her lip, stepped forward, shook Li Xi's arm, and whispered, "Brother, I asked you to vent my anger, not to embarrass me."

"What are you afraid of? You're just a concubine. What title does she have? What honors has His Majesty bestowed upon her? Ha, she's nothing more than a man's plaything for amusement."

Although Feng Tan was deliberately provoking him, this was the first time he had been shamelessly insulted like this. His anger grew in his heart, but he remained gentle on the surface. "That's why I'm jealous of your sister. If I knocked out your sister's tooth, wouldn't people laugh their heads off?"

"Bang!" Feng Tan was kicked in the chest by Li Xi, and his body fell backward, with blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

The Raksha Army guarding her quickly stepped forward and formed a circle around her. The leader said to Li Xi, "Please step back, General."

Feng Tan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said to the leader, "Get out of the way."

The leader was Arslan's subordinate. He looked at Feng Tan with a puzzled expression, then stepped aside as instructed, and Rong Lixi walked up to Feng Tan.

"You've got guts," Li Xi said, looking at Feng Tan's blood-stained face. The girl's unique aloofness was truly chilling. "Don't mess with my sister anymore, you hear me?"

Neither the court nor the people inside knew Feng Tan's true status in Xiao Yinshi's time. Tan Yinyin, standing in the crowd, looked at Feng Tan's still arrogant eyes after being beaten and wondered what she was up to.

Feng Tan grabbed Li Xi's collar, the two of them extremely close. She provocatively whispered in his ear, "A mere Imperial Guard leader, only a fourth-rank official. What makes you think you can rely on that great general father who stripped you naked and tied you to a tree?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the dagger in his hand swiftly slit open the corner of his mouth, and he said, "Your mouth stinks so much, it needs a bloodbath."

Li Xi, feeling pain and anger, felt his blood rush to his head and threw another punch at Feng Tanmen's face. The leader of the Rakshasa Army accurately struck his incoming fist, and both of them were knocked back by the impact.

Feng Tan stood in the middle, not looking at the two people who had been thrown to the sides. She had already obtained the deployment map, and couldn't help but cough up another mouthful of blood, cursing in her heart just as filthy.

That damn greenhorn! If he were any stronger, she wouldn't be at the inauguration ceremony the day after tomorrow.

Li Xue was shocked by what she saw. She rushed over and supported Li Xi's body as he was about to fall, saying, "Brother, let it go. She hit me, you hit her, we're even."

Before he could finish speaking, a eunuch's shrill voice boomed from afar, "His Majesty has arrived!"

The blue-robed eunuch led the way. The blood on Zhu Qi's broadsword had been wiped clean. Behind him, Xiao Yinshi, dressed in a black and gold dragon robe, strode in with an imposing aura.

The people around him knelt down in response. Feng Tan stood there straight, met Xiao Yinshi's fierce dark eyes for a moment, and then turned away from him.

Xiao Yinshi was too perceptive, and Feng Tan felt uneasy. The defense map of the coronation ceremony that she had just obtained was still warm in her arms. Arslan had only recently left the palace, and she absolutely could not let him discover any of this.

The officials rose, and Xiao Yinshi subtly shifted his gaze from Feng Tan to Li Xi's slit lip, asking, "What happened?"

This was the first time Li Xue had seen the Emperor since entering the palace. Her heart was pounding. Although he was as handsome as a god, his aura was too terrifying. She stammered as she spoke, pointing at Feng Tan and complaining, "Your Majesty, I have no grudge against this woman, yet she used a slingshot to knock out my teeth... and also hit Princess Li Ling and Lord Tan's forehead. My brother was avenging me, so he injured her."

Xiao Yinshi asked, "Lord Tan, is this true?"

Forced to step out of the crowd of onlookers, Tan Yinyin replied, "Indeed, that girl is quite mischievous, haha..."

His laughter went unnoticed. A few days ago, when the envoy from the Huang Dynasty arrived, everyone learned that His Majesty had imprisoned the only daughter of an enemy emperor in the deep palace, treating her like a captive, chained to her bedchamber and confined to her quarters. But today was quite unusual; how could she move freely within the palace? And even knock out a concubine's front tooth while playing with a slingshot?

Li Xi glanced at Feng Tan with hostility. Ignoring the blood gushing from his gaping lips, he bowed his head and knelt down again, saying, "Your Majesty, as the commander of the Imperial Guards, it is a small matter for me to suffer this humiliation today, but it is a great matter to have allowed a hidden weapon to be concealed on her person, endangering Your Majesty's health. This dagger is extremely sharp, and if she has it on her person, it may be of harm to Your Majesty!"

Zhu Qi chuckled inwardly. What was his injury compared to Feng Tan's short, sharp blade that had nearly cleaved his master's neck? Speaking of weapons, every heavy weapon in her arsenal was deadly in a single strike. Li Xi was still alive only because of Feng Tan's mercy.

However... Zhu Qi glanced sideways at Xiao Yinshi, wondering if Li Xi was still alive.

After all, his kick to Feng Tan was quite forceful...

Li Xi looked every bit the loyal and devoted general. Xiao Yinshi scrutinized him for a few moments, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down, before issuing a new appointment: "General Li's words are not without reason. General Li stood up for his sister and was extremely loyal and brave. It is a pity that he has been delayed in his position in the Imperial Guard for so many years. He is hereby promoted to Governor-General of the Northwest and shall go to the frontier immediately."

The position of Governor-General of Huachao was first established by the first emperor, Emperor Renwu. The Governor-General appointed local generals and other officials to his command. All military promotions and rewards were based on the Governor-General's wishes. Moreover, the position of Governor-General required approval from the Ministry of Personnel. It was customary to appoint only officials from the Nine Ministers Hall and officials in charge of the seals of the Censorate, without needing to consult with them.[3] However, there were precedents where emperors bypassed the Ministry of Personnel and appointed Governor-General directly, which was a great honor.

This opportunity overjoyed Li Xi, who kowtowed again to express his gratitude: "Your Majesty's great favor, I will certainly live up to your appointment and perform my duties diligently!"

Xiao Yinshi's face was expressionless. Before turning around, he glanced at him lightly, and Zhu Qi could clearly see the emotions in his eyes.

Zhu Qi silently translated for Li Xi: "You can die on the frontier."

Through the deep darkness of the night, the thirty-two-bearer luxury sedan chair that Feng Tan had been so extravagant yesterday came into everyone's view. Xiao Yinshi's sharp gaze swept over Feng Tan, his tone still unreadable, and he said to her, "Have you had enough fun? It's time to go up and settle the score."

This blatant invitation to lure someone into a trap left Feng Tan pursing her lips, her feet remaining still.

She had played a trick on Xiao Yinshi yesterday, and she expected him to retaliate. However, if she were in the sedan chair, the dozens of eunuchs carrying the chair would hear everything... Feng Tan did not want to go into the lion's den like a lamb.

Xiao Yinshi's patience ran out. He strode up to Feng Tan, looked down at her pale face, wiped the blood from the corner of her lips with his fingers, and said, "You dare to do it but not admit it?"

A note from the author: