Chapter 143 Undisguised Frivolity (Part 3)
Pei Xingju raised his eyebrows in surprise when he heard this: "When did you get Shen Zongji's jade pendant?"
Zhuang Wan: "As I told you before, I ran into Shen Zongji at a restaurant, and he made a bet with me. Perhaps he didn't know my identity at the time, so he left me a jade pendant as part of the bet. Later, I looked at the pendant, and it had the word 'Zong' engraved on it, along with some strange patterns. I've seen those patterns before at Shen Zongji's Hibiscus Garden, so I think this jade pendant must be something special, and perhaps it could be of use."
After hearing this, Xue Gang couldn't help laughing without even looking at Pei Xingju's dark face.
"It's true that there's always light at the end of the tunnel. Miss Zhuang accidentally accepted Shen Zongji's jade pendant. Although... well, cough... although it's a bit inappropriate for men and women to privately give jade pendants, this is actually a blessing in disguise."
"The pattern on the jade pendant that Miss Shen mentioned should be a tiger head. I have also seen it in Shen Zongji's house. This pattern is none other than Shen Zongji's zodiac sign. Your jade pendant..." He blinked: "It is very useful."
"But..." Zhuang Wan also blinked: "The jade pendant is not with me right now."
"Where?"
"I left it at the Liuli City Inn."
Upon hearing this, Xue Gang felt relieved: "No problem, we'll send someone to the inn to get it."
Jingzhe, who was standing by, immediately stood up and said, "Sir, I will go get it from the inn right away."
Pei Xingju nodded: "Be careful."
Jingzhe turned around, jumped onto the horse with a tap of his toes, and disappeared into the night in a moment.
Zhuang Wan was a little worried: "Will it be dangerous for her to go alone?"
Xue Gang crossed his arms: "Don't worry, Jingzhe is very skilled and has a unique ability to hide. She is going there to get something. As long as she doesn't confront anyone, it will be difficult for others to find her."
"Oh." Zhuang Wan felt relieved.
.
In the Glazed City, lights blaze, crowds surge. Here, singing and dancing, the sounds of music and flutes fill the air, and people from all corners of the world indulge in unbridled joy. In the Glazed City, a world of prosperity, fair faces smile, fair faces weep. Nothing could be more illustrious than this mirage.
What happened in the City Lord's Mansion did not affect the liveliness of Liuli City at all. No one even knew anything about it. The streets were still bustling with people, men and women laughing and joking.
However, in places that no one noticed, there were many more people in black and patrolling.
They had long swords on their waists and looked solemn.
"Be sure to guard well tonight. If anyone suspicious appears, bring them up!"
"Yes!" Someone was puzzled: "Brother Xiao, what happened tonight? Why is the whole city suddenly under martial law?"
"How should I know? This is the city lord's order. We officials should just do our job."
"Yes, yes, yes."
"You patrol this area carefully, I'll go check on the west wall!"
"good."
The four gates of Liuli City, east, west, south and north, have all been blocked at this time. Everyone can only enter but not leave. If any abnormality is found, they will be escorted to the city's Yiyantang.
Yiyantang is a place for handling daily disputes, but now it is overcrowded.
Inside the hall, Liang Jinxian sat with a gloomy face, his eyes indifferent and sharp as he glanced at the so-called suspicious people outside. In just a short time, people were constantly being escorted in and interrogated and sent out.
It was a lobby as bright as day, but his heart felt like the bottom of a dark and cold lake.
Pei Xingju must be stopped tonight no matter what. Those things cannot fall into his hands, otherwise... his painstaking efforts will be exposed.
But as time passed and the night grew darker, his patience, which he had always been proud of, almost disappeared.
"Where is Shen Zongji?" he asked after a while.
The guard said, "City Lord Shen has gone crazy."
"Crazy?"
"Yes," the guard said, "There was a fire in Furong Garden, and City Lord Shen went mad and killed people everywhere."
Liang Jinxian sneered, "I think he's just pretending to be crazy! After such a huge mistake, how could he just play dumb and get away with it?"
"Let's go!" He stood up and said, "Follow me to search!"
.
After the hour of Hai, the night grew darker, but the city gate was bustling with noise.
The defenders standing on the city wall looked at the dim lights in the city and couldn't help yawning.
"Commander Xiao, how long do we have to hold out?"
Commander Xiao is the commander of the west city gate. It is not a high-ranking official position. He is just a person promoted from a group of guards raised by the city lord. He has been guarding the city gate for half a year.
He also yawned and said: "Let's defend it. We have an important person here. The city lord has to listen to him. If he says to defend, then we must defend until dawn."
"Who is that person?"
"Don't ask. This night is unusual. We have to be cautious!"
Beneath the city walls, people were clamoring to leave. Liuli City was a den of luxury for the wealthy, with thousands, if not tens of thousands, entering and leaving daily. Even at this hour, people were still entering and leaving the city gates. But today, Liuli City was a place where only people could enter but not leave. Those wealthy young men were unable to leave, and their clamor was intense.
The guards guarding the city were so upset by the noise that they raised their swords and threatened, "If you don't leave, I'll arrest you!"
They pushed through the crowd and tried to drive these people away, but these people were wealthy and fearless. Even with the raised knives, they were not afraid and started a riot with their servants.
Seeing the atmosphere becoming increasingly tense, someone quietly asked, "Should we go ask the city lord for instructions?"
At this moment, a group of people came from a distance. The leader held up a jade pendant and shouted, "The city lord is leaving the city. Open the city gates immediately."
Everyone was shocked and hurriedly shouted respectfully, "Lord City Lord."
Upon hearing this, Commander Xiao hurried down from the city wall.
He asked suspiciously, "Why is the city lord out of the city so late?"
Xue Gang changed into guard's clothes and rode on his horse: "How can a mere gatekeeper like you ask about the city lord's affairs?"
Commander Xiao bowed his head and said, "I am responsible for guarding the west gate. I have to check on everyone entering or leaving the city. This is the order of the city lord."
Xue Gang laughed: "You're brave!"
He pointed to the carriage behind him and said, "The City Lord is right there, he can hear it clearly. You are so loyal to your duties, and you are worthy of the City Lord's promotion."
"Next." Xue Gang threw the jade pendant in his hand over: "This is the city lord's jade pendant, look carefully."
Commander Xiao hurriedly took it, saw the word "Zong" on it clearly, and immediately ran to the carriage to salute respectfully: "I didn't know the city lord was here, I deserve to die!"
He waited for a while, but heard no response from the person in the car.
I feel unsure.
Xue Gang asked, "Why, after seeing the City Lord's token, you still have doubts? Who are you working for?"
These words hit the nail on the head, making Commander Xiao feel guilty.
It is true that he is the city lord's subordinate, but there is another person who came to the city today, and he dare not disobey that person's words.
"My Lord, I mean no offense. I am simply being cautious..."
At this moment, a cold and stern rebuke came from the carriage: "You bastard! Open the city gate!"
Hearing this voice and tone, Commander Xiao no longer had any doubts. Feeling guilty and terrified, he hurried to open the city gate.
Soon, the city gate slowly opened, and Xue Gang took the lead, riding out on horseback.
But just as they were leaving the city, a man came after them, shouting, "The Master has given orders! Close the city gates immediately!"
Upon hearing the name "Young Master", Commander Xiao was horrified and immediately ordered: "Quick! Close the city gates!"
However, at this moment, two darts suddenly shot out from the darkness, and the two people who were closing the door fell to the ground.
When Commander Xiao saw this, he stepped forward and closed the door himself.
But it was too late, Pei Xingju and others had already left the city.
Here, Guard Lu finished shooting his darts and quickly jumped onto the city wall, trying to pass through it. Suddenly, Xichang's figure caught up with him like a ghost, and the two of them started fighting on the city wall.
Xue Gang turned his head and looked: "Oh no! Liang Jinxian is chasing us!"
He said to Pei Xingju, "You go first. Jingzhe and I will lead the others to cover your retreat."
As soon as he finished speaking, Jingzhe immediately got out of the carriage.
Just now, she was sitting in the carriage with Pei Xingju and Zhuang Wan, and the words "Open the city gate, you bastard" were said by her in the voice of Shen Zongji.
Zhuang Wan was still surprised at her amazing ventriloquism skills, as she could do everything. When she heard what Xue Gang said, she suddenly became nervous.
Pei Xingju nodded and said to Xue Gang, "Be careful!"
Without any hesitation, he immediately took Zhuang Wan on horseback and continued forward.
After a while, he lifted the curtain behind him and looked towards the city gate. The firelight all over the city reflected his cold and indifferent face.
At the city gate, Liang Jinxian was entangled by Xue Gang and others, unable to move forward or backward. When he waved his sword to drive Xue Gang away, he suddenly raised his eyes and looked over.
Two pairs of eyes met across the deep night...
Pei Xingju's lips curled up slightly, and there was undisguised frivolity in his eyes.
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