"What a great emperor! He actually dared to play tricks on me. I have worked hard for many years in this court, taking every step carefully, yet he treats me with such disregard. However, it doesn't matter. Wei Che, do you think you can return to the capital without any worries after getting the imperial edict? Humph."
After saying this, he slowly turned around, and the luxurious brocade robe fluttered gently with his movements, and the sleeves rustled.
His eyes swept over the dozen or so sword-wielding guards behind him like a hawk, and every guard trembled slightly under his gaze.
His tone was cold and resolute, like frost in the cold winter, which could freeze people instantly: "Listen carefully, immediately go to the road that the Wei family must take to return to Youzhou, and set up an ambush there. This operation must succeed, failure is not allowed. Make sure Wei Che dies on the road, and never let him return to the capital alive. If I see Wei Che in the capital, then you will not come to see me alive, do you understand?"
His voice was deep and powerful, carrying unquestionable majesty, and every word struck the guards' hearts like a hammer.
The guards all knelt on one knee, leaned forward slightly, and responded in unison: "As you command!"
The voices were uniform and loud, echoing for a long time in the empty forest.
Murong Chong nodded with satisfaction, a barely perceptible cold light flashing in his eyes.
He turned and walked to his horse, jumped on it nimbly, and squeezed his legs against the horse's belly. The horse neighed in pain, raised its front hooves, and galloped down the mountain.
The guards who stayed behind quickly took action. They began to shuttle through the mountains and forests, looking for the most suitable ambush location.
There was no fear on their faces, only determination for the mission and loyalty to Murong Chong.
…
The sunlight shines through the mottled shadows of the trees and falls on the path of Youzhou County Government Office, swaying the light and shadow.
Wei Che was wearing a well-tailored blue shirt and a black cloak. He had an upright posture and a calm temperament.
His pace was neither fast nor slow, and each step was firm and powerful, with an innate majesty.
When he walked into the lobby of the county government office, the yamen runners around him unconsciously stopped what they were doing and looked at him with awe and curiosity in their eyes.
Wei Che walked towards the inner hall with steady steps. When he opened the door, he saw Jing Wenxuan with his head lowered, concentrating on his work.
Jing Wenxuan was dressed in a simple official uniform. Although he was over thirty years old, he had a handsome face and a scholarly look in his eyes.
His hair was tied back with a few strands hanging in front of his forehead. The brush in his hand rustled across the paper, and he seemed completely immersed in his own world.
Hearing the footsteps, Jing Wenxuan was slightly startled and slowly raised his head.
When he saw that the person coming was Wei Che, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, and then he quickly regained his composure.
He put down his brush, straightened his sleeves, stood up, bowed slightly, and asked, "Master Wei, I wonder why you've come here today? What exactly does the imperial edict say?"
His voice was gentle and steady, but there was a hint of nervousness in it.
Wei Che's expression was calm, his eyes as sharp as an eagle's as he scanned the room before settling on Jing Wenxuan.
He reached into his bosom, his movements graceful and calm, and pulled out a piece of letter paper. He gently placed it on Jing Wenxuan's desk and said in a calm tone, "It's the imperial edict to return to the capital."
His voice was neither high nor low, but it carried an unquestionable majesty.
After a pause, Wei Che looked directly at Jing Wenxuan, a hint of coldness in his eyes.
He continued, "Now, it's time for you to fulfill your promise. I didn't nominate you for this position without a purpose."
His words were concise and clear, and each word was like a heavy hammer, striking Jing Wenxuan's heart.
Jing Wenxuan's body trembled slightly, and the brush in his hand finally stopped. A complex emotion flashed in his eyes, with hesitation, struggle, and helplessness.
He slowly reached out his hand, his fingers trembling slightly, picked up the letter in front of him, and looked at it carefully. He didn't say anything for a long time. The atmosphere in the room became extremely oppressive, as if the air had frozen.
After a long pause, Jing Wenxuan let out a wry smile, his face revealing a mixture of helplessness and emotion. He slowly began, "I, Jing Wenxuan, have lived for over thirty years, always diligently and conscientiously, always upholding my duties. I never imagined that one day I would be involved in a rebellion. Taking this step will lead me into an abyss, from which there will be no turning back."
There was a hint of bitterness in his voice, as if he was expressing his helplessness and sorrow.
Wei Che looked at Jing Wenxuan's hesitation and smiled faintly. His thick black eyebrows raised slightly. His voice was light but serious: "Master Jing, when you took this position because of my recommendation, you were already bound to me. Now, you have to participate in this rebellion. Some things are beyond our choice from the beginning."
Just as Wei Che and Jing Wenxuan were facing off, and the atmosphere was so tense that it seemed as if water could be squeezed out of them, a series of light and subtle footsteps were heard from behind the screen, as if someone was deliberately lowering their footsteps in a cautious and tentative manner.
Immediately afterwards, Jing Zhiwan walked out gracefully with light lotus steps. Beside her, a beautiful woman also slowly appeared.
The woman was wearing a light purple dress with fluttering sleeves, like a purple lotus swaying in the breeze.
Her face was as white as jade, with curved eyebrows and eyes, revealing a gentle beauty. The teardrop mole at the corner of her eye was like a black gem embellished on a jade plate, adding a different kind of charm and sadness to her.
She took a step forward, tapping her lotus feet lightly, with a gentle and sincere smile on her face. Her gaze lingered on Wei Che for a moment, then turned to Jing Wenxuan and softly persuaded him, "Dad, my daughter's safe return is all thanks to Master Wei. Without his help, I'm afraid I would have died long ago.
A drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring. I hope Dad can keep his promise. Moreover, the current emperor is incompetent and favors treacherous officials. The court is full of chaos and loyal officials are suppressed. There is really nothing worth following in such a court.
Her voice was soft but firm, and every word seemed to carry a force that struck Jing Wenxuan's heart.
Jing Wenxuan subconsciously frowned, a look of displeasure appeared on his face, and he scolded: "Be careful with your words..."
However, he stopped talking halfway, as if his throat was blocked by some invisible force.
He looked at his daughter in front of him, her familiar face full of sincerity and expectation. He then looked at Wei Che, who was standing beside him with a calm expression and deep eyes, and a complex emotion surged in his heart.
His gaze slowly fell on the red seal next to him. The red seal was flashing bright red in the sunlight, as if it were the color of blood.
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