Chapter 55 The wolf cub was accidentally bitten by another wolf cub.

"Lord Feng, you've been bitten by a dog? Being bitten by a dog is no small matter; it can easily lead to hydrophobia!" Yu Ruxi exclaimed.

The situation on the field was already clear. She flew towards Feng Tan, her eyes filled with worry. She took out the wound medicine she always carried with her and said, "Quickly, let me take a look!"

Feng Tan's face flushed and paled alternately, and she managed to stammer, "N-no need, General Yu! Hiss..."

Yu Ruxi was a master at leading troops into battle, but she wasn't good at gently applying medicine. Seeing Feng Tan shrink back in pain, she carefully breathed on the wound and said, "I'm sorry, A-Tan... no, Lord Feng, I didn't hurt you, did I? But this wound doesn't look like it was caused by a canine tooth."

Feng Tingxiao gave a cold laugh, his eyes burning with a sinister fire. "In my opinion, it seems to be man-made."

After saying that, he turned his gaze to Xiao Yinshi, who was standing in front of everyone, and said, "Lord Xiao, the wound on your lip is quite a coincidence. It couldn't have been from a dog bite, could it?"

Xiao Yinshi and Feng Tingxiao stood facing each other, their heights roughly equal, and both possessing a chilling, razor-sharp aura. A popular ditty circulating in the capital had long described Xiao Yinshi as having "the appearance of a god descending to earth, yet a demeanor as cold as the depths of winter," and he never showed a smile to anyone. Feng Tingxiao, on the other hand, was usually all smiles, but now, unusually, his face was cold.

Feng Tingxiao recalled the report from his scouts last night that Xiao Yinshi, together with Wei Shengxian, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, went to Feng Tan's residence in the middle of the night. However, the report was all bark and no bite, and no real disturbance occurred. But how could the two of them be injured at the same time, and in such a sensitive place?

Xiao Yinshi had been in officialdom for over a decade. He had tried several times to recruit this man, but Xiao Yinshi remained unmoved, carving out a high-ranking official career through sheer ruthlessness. Since their interests did not conflict and he enjoyed Emperor Chongming's deep trust, Feng Tingxiao never made a move against him.

However… Feng Tingxiao’s gaze lingered on the wounds on Feng Tan’s neck and Xiao Yinshi’s lips, a growing resentment rising within him. The two had been working together on a mission in the Linzhang sea area for about half a year; had Xiao Yinshi discovered something?

His mind raced with conflicting thoughts. Seeing that Xiao Yinshi remained silent, he patiently asked, "Lord Xiao?"

Xiao Yinshi took in the interaction between Feng Tan and Yu Ruxi. When he opened his mouth, he could still feel the force of the boy's fierce bite last night. He rubbed his slender fingertips for a moment and said slowly, "I was accidentally bitten by a wolf cub."

"Heh." Feng Tan was the first to sneer.

Yu Ruxi's gaze darted between Feng Tan and Xiao Yinshi, slowly suppressing her surprise. She smiled and smoothed things over, saying, "You civil officials are so meticulous in your lives. We military officers are always fighting and killing, and we've been injured countless times... Anyway, let's get down to business. Lord Feng, I'll leave one alive as you suggested. Where do you want to take him?"

The only assassin left behind was bound hand and foot by the Yu family army. His black mask was torn off and a rope was stuffed into his mouth to prevent him from committing suicide. He did not look like a person from the Central Plains, but rather like a member of the Jiaosi tribe.

Feng Tingxiao knew what Feng Tan was up to with just one glance. He looked at Feng Tan with a half-smile, then slowly walked towards the assassin, looked down at him, and asked with a smile, "Your own assassin?"

Upon hearing this, Feng Tan's expression changed. She looked at Feng Tingxiao's arm reaching towards the assassin, then leaped to his side, firmly grasping his arm with her hand, her eyes wary. "What is Your Highness going to do?"

Feng Tingxiao's gaze fell on Feng Tan's fingers that were holding his, then slowly moved to her face. His speech slowed slightly, a dagger hidden in his smile, "What? Does Lord Feng think I'm going to kill him?"

A resolute glint flashed in Feng Tan's eyes as she answered without flinching or dodging, "Yes."

"Tsk," Feng Tingxiao leaned in to meet her eyes, while his other hand slowly tightened around Feng Tan's wrist, letting out a low, dangerous laugh, "Why would I kill him?"

Feng Tingxiao's arm, which was reaching for Feng Tan's wrist, was clamped down by Xiao Yinshi's palm. The man's dark eyes were obviously cold and ruthless. "Your Highness is a member of the royal family. If you are accidentally injured by an assassin in front of the Censorate, the Censorate will be held responsible. It is best not to get close to the assassin."

Yu Ruxi looked at the strange standoff between the three people in the room. Her A'tan was holding the King of Chu's left wrist, and the Left Censor-in-Chief was holding the King of Chu's right wrist. It really looked like... a tripartite balance of power?

A sinister glint appeared in Feng Tingxiao's eyes, but he quickly suppressed it, replacing it with his usual lazy smile. He withdrew his hand from the assassin's grasp and said, "Lord Xiao is right. It was my oversight that almost caused trouble for the Censorate."

He paused, then asked, "In Lord Xiao's opinion, how should we deal with the assassins who attacked Lord Feng?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a mocking male voice came from the high wall, "When a Beijing official is attacked, he should naturally be handed over to the Northern Garrison Command."

After saying this, Wei Shengxian jumped down from the high wall of the Censorate, gave a simple bow, and said, "Do any of you superiors have any objections?"

Their standoff had lasted so long that the news had already reached Emperor Chongming's ears. The Northern Garrison was under Emperor Chongming's direct jurisdiction, and Wei Shengxian's actions were at Emperor Chongming's behest.

"Guards, take him back to the imperial prison." Seeing that no one spoke, Wei Shengxian smiled wickedly, "My lords, I take my leave."

Feng Tingxiao watched the Imperial Guards leave, then smiled lazily and glanced at Feng Tan, saying, "Lord Feng, you set up the stage well tonight, but be careful not to sing poorly in the future and break your back."

After saying that, he looked at Xiao Yin with an unfathomable smile, "Since the Left Censor-in-Chief knows that she is a wolf cub, he must be careful when dancing with wolves, lest he hurt his back."

The moonlight cast a long shadow over Xiao Yinshi, and the dim light swept across his cold and fierce brows. When he lowered his eyes, his gaze, devoid of any warmth, fell on Feng Tingxiao. "Of all things in the world, nothing is more delightful than taming a wolf."

Yu Ruxi quietly nudged Feng Tan's arm and whispered, "Ah Tan, are they calling you... a wolf?"

Feng Tan watched the two men walk away in opposite directions and sneered, "They really are like dogs lifting the curtain."

Whether Xiao Yinshi heard him or not, he paused as he turned back towards the Censorate, looked back at Feng Tan, and said in a deep voice, "Aren't you coming with me?"

Mu Long, the leader of the Imperial Guard, and Yu Ruxi were both military officers who would often run into each other while on official business in the capital. The two had a good relationship. After watching Feng Tan and Xiao Yinshi enter the gate of the Censorate, Mu Long asked in a low voice, "Miss Yu, what does Lord Feng mean?"

......

The Censorate was built in a solemn and dignified style, with high walls made of blue bricks and gray tiles. In addition to office areas such as the main hall, council hall, and study, it also had some special surveillance facilities, such as secret rooms and secret passages, so as to conduct secret investigations and collect evidence when necessary.

After leading Feng Tan through the Qilin Offering Auspiciousness screen in the main hall, Xiao Yinshi walked further and further into the secluded area. Carrying a lantern, she felt uneasy and couldn't help but ask, "Lord Xiao, is the archives located in such a remote place?"

Xiao Yinshi continued walking without stopping, and said in a deep voice, "If Lord Feng does not trust me, he may leave on his own."

Feng Tan pursed her lips, but still chose to follow him. The two passed through three more corridors and stopped in front of the vermilion gate and low hall.

Upon seeing the arrival of the Censorate official, the two guards on duty at the gate quickly bowed and opened the long-sealed door to the archives. As soon as the door opened, a pungent smell of long-forgotten paper scrolls wafted out. Xiao Yinshi waved his hand, signaling them to stand guard at the door.

The vermilion gate slowly closed behind him. Feng Tan surveyed the massive, low-ceilinged hall. Layer upon layer of towering wooden bookshelves held various cases from the first year of the Jianming era to the ninth year of the Chongming era, their sheer volume astonishing.

Xiao Yinshi turned around and took the lantern from Feng Tan's hand. He took out the candle and lit the wick. The faint light illuminated the small area. He lowered his eyes and fiddled with the Pixiu ornament on the table. Then a rumbling sound came from behind him. The hidden door opened, revealing a dark doorway.

After entering the hidden door, a completely different world unfolded. Xiao Yinshi took out a golden dragon-carved ancient box, took out a key from his sleeve to open it, and looked up at Feng Tan, saying in a calm voice, "All the files of the female calamity case are here."

Feng Tan reached out, but Xiao Yinshi lifted his eyelids, his gaze as sharp as a blade pressed against her skin, his voice cold, "Before you take it, tell me what happened with that assassin."

Feng Tan looked at the man's cold, stern features, which were shrouded in the dim light, and said, "Lord Xiao, didn't you already guess that?"

Feng Tan spoke casually, but only she knew how much effort she had put into orchestrating the scheme. "During the chaos of the fight just now, a mermaid I had prepared beforehand infiltrated the masked assassins. I timed it perfectly, waiting for the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard to appear and take him away. In this way, it would be His Majesty's own henchmen who discovered that the assassins sent by Gao Yu were of the same lineage as the assassins in the Linzhang sea area case, allowing me to clear myself of any involvement. His Majesty is suspicious, and he will definitely doubt whether Lord Gao is truly impartial and wholeheartedly working for him. Ordinary minor cases won't be able to touch him; only when His Majesty's core interests are involved will His Majesty be willing to take action against him."

The dark room was silent, save for the crackling of the candles. Xiao Yinshi looked at the sharp-witted young man in the blue official robe. Had he revealed all his sharpness? No, Feng Tan must have done something else, just waiting to unleash an unquenchable thunderclap upon the entire capital.

Xiao Yinshi tapped his finger on the ancient box, producing a crisp tapping sound. He stared at Feng Tan and said slowly, "I've paved such a long road for Feng Youming, promoting him to a fifth-rank criminal officer and then to a second-rank official. What else do you want?"

"Feng Youming sought justice for the woman, and I only want to give Feng Youming justice in return." Feng Tan looked at Xiao Yinshi's sharp features, paused, and said, "As the saying goes, no one gets up early without a reason. Last night, you stopped the Imperial Guards but did not stop me from distributing my petition throughout the city. Tonight, you also helped me stop the Prince of Chu and effortlessly obtained the case file of the woman's crime. What does the lord want from me?"

There's a saying in official circles that everyone loves to say: "Having someone in court makes it easier to get ahead; having a powerful backer makes things go smoothly." But Feng Tan is as clear-headed as a mirror; the chair behind her is a real pain to sit on.

Xiao Yin leaned down, his shadow pressing against Feng Tan, and said with a playful tone, "I want your body but you won't give it to me. What else can I get from you? A 'mad dog'?"

Author's Note: Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 2024-08-19 20:16:02 and 2024-08-20 21:05:33!

Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: Rich Woman (20 bottles); Diamond King Xiao Li (10 bottles);

Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!