Chapter 10: Prince Ning's evil plan, the dead end of Youquan
Three days later, in the capital.
As dusk fell, the bustle of Suzaku Street gradually faded, replaced by a deeper, more aura of splendor befitting the powerful. Deep within a sprawling network of mansions, the Ning Palace lay like a dormant beast, quietly lurking beneath the night, exuding a deep and dangerous aura.
Inside the palace's study, the lights were bright and the warmth was like spring. The air was filled with the rich aroma of fine ambergris, intertwined with the scent of ink emanating from the ancient and rare books on the bookshelves, creating a sense of elegance and calmness that was detached from the world.
However, the atmosphere in the study at this moment was incompatible with this elegance and was filled with cold murderous intent.
Dressed in a royal blue brocade robe with cloud patterns, Prince Ning, Zhao Shuo, sat comfortably on a carved rosewood armchair. He was about thirty years old, with a face as handsome as a crown of jade, narrow, long phoenix eyes, and a faint smile perpetually lingering on his lips. He appeared gentle and graceful. Only when he occasionally twirled the emerald green jade ring on his thumb would a flicker of sinister intent in his eyes reveal the unfathomable ambition and ruthlessness beneath his refined exterior.
Before him, with his head bowed, stood a man shrouded in black. His figure was ghostly, his presence vague and elusive, as if he might merge into the shadows of the corner at any moment. He was Prince Ning's shadow, and also his sharpest hidden sword—Lin Chuan.
"Your Highness, I have investigated." Lin Chuan's voice was hoarse and low, without a trace of emotion. "The female assassin 'Fei Yue', who has been gaining popularity recently in the 'Youquan' organization, has been secretly gathering information related to Su Zhenting's old case in the Yangzhou and Luoyang areas. Judging from her behavior within 'Youquan' and the extraordinary martial arts she has displayed, she is probably a member of the Six Gates."
"Su Zhenting..."
Prince Ning Zhao Shuo uttered the name softly, the smile on his lips remained unchanged, but his eyes suddenly turned cold.
The jade-like surface was instantly covered by a layer of frost.
How many years?
Many years had passed since the upright, unpredictable Minister of Revenue had been reduced to a cold corpse. For years, he had steadily grown in power, only a few steps away from the supreme throne. He had thought this old case had been completely buried in the dust of time, a trivial and unattended cornerstone of his glorious career.
But unexpectedly, under this cornerstone, there was a stubborn ant who was trying to dig up the dust with perseverance, so that the past that he had buried with his own hands could see the light of day again.
Six doors?
Zhao Shuo's knuckles tapped unconsciously on the jade ring, making a soft "knock, knock" sound, which was particularly startling in this quiet study.
He is not afraid of the Six Gates.
Given his current status, even the Six Gates Chief Constable Tie Wuqing himself would have to show him respect. Without solid evidence, no one could touch this powerful prince who commanded a large army and enjoyed the emperor's favor.
But he hated trouble, and even more so, he hated any "variable" that might threaten his grand plan.
Su Zhenting's case was his only weak spot. To ensure absolute certainty, he had paid a huge price, even resorting to the legendary "Heavenly Secret Pavilion." If this matter were uncovered, even if it didn't lead to a conviction, it would be enough for his political opponents to use as a weapon against him, shattering his flawless image.
For someone like him who pursues the ultimate and perfection, any crack is an unforgivable failure.
This woman named "Feiyue" was like a thorn stuck in one's flesh. Although not fatal at the moment, it was like a fishbone stuck in one's throat, and one could feel the subtle, annoying pain at every moment.
More importantly, she was actually involved in an organization like "Youquan" which was not worthy of being mentioned in public.
"Youquan..." Prince Ning chuckled, his laughter filled with undisguised contempt and disgust. "When I supported them, I simply wanted to raise a less obedient dog to handle the dirty work that I couldn't do myself. Now it seems that this dog is not only dull, but also covered in fleas. It might even bite its master in return."
Lin Chuan bowed and said, "Your Highness, what do you mean...?"
"In that case," Prince Ning stopped hammering, a gleam of determination and sinisterness flashing in his eyes, "let 'Youquan' and this hidden danger disappear together."
His tone was nonchalant, as if he was talking about a trivial matter like crushing an ant.
An assassination organization that was quite large in the martial arts world and caused headaches for many local officials was abandoned just like that in his words.
Lin Chuan's heart trembled, but he didn't dare to question it. He just asked, "Your Highness, if our people were to do this, it would probably leave traces and attract the attention of the Six Gates."
"Of course I'm not that stupid." Prince Ning stood up and walked to the window, his hands behind his back, gazing out at the darkened palace gardens. "Dogs must die in a dog-eat-dog drama. Not only will I make them disappear, but I'll make their disappearance legitimate, turning it into a simple, ordinary vendetta."
He turned, his eyes flashing with a cold, calculating glint. "Go, spread the word. Say that Qian Song, the former officer of the Lianghuai Salt Transport Bureau, has been caught embezzling money and is escaping through a secret passage, carrying secret account books documenting the entire Lianghuai Salt Road corruption network, along with a vast amount of treasure he's plundered over the years. He'll pass through the 'Soul-Breaking Valley' thirty miles outside the city at midnight three days from now."
Lin Chuan's eyes flashed, and he immediately understood Prince Ning's intentions: "Your Highness is brilliant! 'Broken Soul Valley' is a strategically located, natural killing ground. And as for 'Qian Song', we've previously used 'Youquan' to eliminate his political enemies. The leader of 'Youquan' knows his greedy nature well and will never doubt the authenticity of this information. An account book capable of blackmailing countless officials, coupled with a huge treasure, is enough to bring out those money-hungry fools of 'Youquan'!"
"Indeed." Prince Ning nodded with satisfaction. "They will see this as a godsend, a gamble that will multiply the size of 'Youquan'. They will mobilize all available core forces to welcome this 'feast'."
He paused, the smile on his lips growing even colder. "And we, on the other hand, will prepare another true 'feast' for them. You will personally lead the team, mobilize all the assassins maintained by the palace, and set up an ambush in the Valley of Broken Souls in advance. Remember, I want to kill no one. Whether it is the people of 'Youquan' or the woman named 'Feiyue', they will all become true wandering ghosts in the Valley of Broken Souls."
"I understand!" Lin Chuan replied solemnly. "Afterwards, the scene will be disguised as a clash between the guards hired by Youquan and Qiansong, with both sides ultimately suffering losses and the treasure missing. This will only leave it as an unsolved case in the martial arts world. No matter how powerful the Six Gates are, they will never be able to trace the case back to the prince."
"Very good." Prince Ning sat back in his armchair, picked up the slightly cold tea on the table, and took a sip. "Go ahead and do it. Do it cleanly. By the way, tell the Tianji Pavilion to have Zhuying personally oversee this mission. Remember, I don't want to hear anything about the names 'Su Zhenting' or 'Feiyue' again."
"Yes, sir."
Lin Chuan's figure flashed, and he retreated silently into the shadows and disappeared.
Silence returned to the study. Prince Ning, Zhao Shuo, drained the tea in his cup and casually placed the precious Jianzhan teacup on the table. His gaze, deep and profound, pierced through the window lattice, gazing upon the boundless nightscape of the capital, stained by power and desire.
A net that could bury the entire "Youquan" organization was spread silently.
…
At the same time, in a mixed market in Luoyang, in an inconspicuous inn.
Su Qinghan was sitting cross-legged on the simple bed, with his eyes closed and regulating his breathing.
Her face was still slightly pale. The experience in the ruined temple that night had taken a toll on her. Whether it was the overdrawn internal energy or the huge shock to her mind, she had yet to fully recover.
The internal energy of "Canglang Jue" slowly flowed through her limbs and bones, repairing the hidden injuries of her body and trying to calm her turbulent mood.
But as soon as she closed her eyes, the man's figure appeared in her mind.
His ghostly movements, his domineering and unreasonable sword moves, and his white, slender, yet steady fingers that clamped her sword.
What she could not forget the most was the extremely subtle stiffness that occurred when she asked her father's name as his back was about to merge into the darkness.
He is lying!
This realization, like a red-hot iron, was deeply imprinted in her heart.
This man, the top assassin from the Tianji Pavilion, definitely knows something! He might even be one of the most important figures in the Tianji Pavilion!
This was a huge discovery, but also a despairing one.
The other party's strength was beyond her comprehension. Compared to him, she was like a fledgling that had just learned to fly, yet she dared to challenge an eagle soaring in the sky.
But there is no word "give up" in Su Qinghan's dictionary.
The stronger the opponent, the closer she is to the truth. She has found the keyhole to the locked door, and now she has to find the key that can open the door at all costs.
"Knock knock knock"
A rude knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.
Su Qinghan slowly opened her eyes. All the emotions in her beautiful eyes instantly vanished, transforming into a cold indifference. She knew that the people from Youquan had arrived.
She stood up and opened the door. Standing outside was a burly, fleshy man. He was one of Youquan's contacts in the capital, nicknamed "Leopard." He reeked of a strong mixture of alcohol and cheap cosmetics, and his cloudy eyes unabashedly scanned her veiled face and her exquisitely curvaceous figure.
"Sister Feiyue, there's a big job happening up there!" Leopard said excitedly, grinning with his big yellow-toothed mouth, his voice rough and unpleasant.
Su Qinghan's eyebrows furrowed slightly beneath her veil. She calmly stepped aside to let him in, then closed the door behind her. She hated this kind of person, and everything about Youquan. Everyone here was like a maggot living in the gutter: filthy, greedy, and without a single ounce of self-control.
In order to seek revenge, she forced herself to associate with these maggots, even wanting to become one of them. This humiliation and torment gnawed at her heart all the time.
"What job?" Her voice regained the coolness and competence that a killer named "Fei Yue" should have.
"It's a huge job!" Leopard plopped down on the only chair, a creaking sound as the weight of the load wore off. He lowered his voice, his face etched with uncontrollable greed and fervor. "Remember Qian Song, the Lianghuai Salt Transport Commissioner, who we helped the Ning Palace's steward deal with? That old fellow's greed was insatiable, and his crimes have been exposed! Now he's fleeing with his decades of plundered gold and silver, along with a shady account book that would shake the court!"
Su Qinghan's heart moved.
Qian Song? Prince Ning's Mansion?
These two words immediately alerted her. The reason she chose to infiltrate "Youquan" was because she found out that "Youquan" seemed to have unclear connections with some powerful people.
"Is the news reliable?" she asked calmly.
"Absolutely reliable! This is top-secret information purchased from the Salt Transport Bureau at a huge price!" Leopard patted his chest and guaranteed, "That old man will escape from the secret passage in the Soul-Breaking Valley outside the city at midnight three days later! The boss has already given the order. This time, all the best players from our 'Youquan' in the capital are dispatched! We must capture both the person and the property!"
He looked at Su Qinghan and chuckled, "Sister Feiyue, you are an expert swordsman and your skills are top-notch. You are our main force in this operation! After the mission is accomplished, the boss said that he will give you a double portion of the treasure!"
Su Qinghan lowered his eyes to hide the thoughtful look in them.
Valley of Broken Souls...
The name of the place made her instinctively feel a little uneasy. She had been there before when she was working a case with her adoptive father, Tie Wuqing. The terrain was long and narrow, with cliffs on both sides. The entrance and exit were extremely narrow, making it an easy-to-enter, difficult-to-escape, and perfect for an ambush.
Moreover, the whole thing sounded too smooth, too perfect. A secret account book that could influence half of the court, coupled with a huge treasure, such bait was simply too good to be true.
It was as if... it was a trap specially tailored for "Youquan".
Her mind was warning her frantically, telling her that there was a huge problem.
But, can she refuse?
cannot.
In an organization like "Dark Spring," being eccentric or cowardly was a death sentence. Furthermore, her whereabouts had been a mystery for three days due to the Luoyang incident, which had already aroused suspicion. If she refused this "important" meeting and action that affected the organization's future, she would be eliminated as a traitor by the Dark Spring leader before the enemy could even make a move.
The most crucial thing is that this matter involves Prince Ning’s Mansion.
This might be another opportunity for her to delve deeper into the investigation. Fortune and wealth are sought in danger, and clues, likewise, only exist in the most dangerous places.
Thinking of this, Su Qinghan raised his head, met Leopard's lustful gaze, and nodded slowly.
"good."
Her answer was just one word, but it made Leopard rub his hands with excitement.
"Great! I knew that Miss Feiyue is a sensible person! Then you should get ready and gather at the same place in three days!"
Leopard said a few more irrelevant dirty words before leaving with satisfaction.
Silence returned to the room.
Su Qinghan walked to the window, pushed it open a crack, and the cold night wind blew in, calming her hot thoughts a little.
She knew this could be a dead end.
But she had no choice but to step inside.
She slowly drew out her sword, "Hanjiangxue," and carefully wiped it with a soft silk cloth. The blade, like autumn water, reflected her cold and resolute eyes.
In the reflection of the sword, her eyes became more determined.
Whether it's Longtan or Huxue, she must go through it. For her father's blood revenge, for the only truth.
A secret order was issued from the palace, unleashing a net against the "Youquan" organization. Su Qinghan, unaware of this, was caught in the act, preparing to attend this "important" Youquan gathering. She believed herself to be a hunter on the path to the truth, yet unaware that she had already become a pawn destined for sacrifice on someone else's chessboard.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
