Chapter 162 Murderous Intention
Dingbei Army Camp.
Lin Kui listened attentively to the music of stringed instruments and drums emanating from the distant tent, watching servants constantly coming in and out carrying a variety of dishes and drinks. He took a few quick breaths and reached out to tug at his collar, which was feeling tight.
Everyone gets nervous when faced with a major life decision, and now was the time for him to make that important decision.
He turned around, and the midday sun reflected from the rows of shiny blades, making him squint subconsciously.
One hundred swordsmen and axemen stood before him in neat rows, all holding sharp blades and with murderous looks on their faces. They were all brave warriors carefully selected from his army, fearless and undaunted.
The target of these assassins was Xiao Zhuo.
Master Xiao Beiheng was a bit too obsessed with fame to take advantage of such a great opportunity. But Lin Kui didn't think so. If there was anyone in the world who could be his master's rival, it could only be Xiao Zhuo.
Xiao Zhuo is now in the Dingbei Army camp. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If we don’t kill him now, when will we?
Letting a tiger go back into the mountains will cause great trouble.
Xiao Beiheng is his master, but he is not a person who passively obeys his master's orders. From taking the initiative to write a prescription for Xiao Beiheng to privately replacing Shen Yuexi's maid, he always has his own ideas.
His master disagreed with the assassination of Xiao Zhuo. He decided to take matters into his own hands once again and eliminate this hidden danger for his master. He believed that Xiao Beiheng would not blame him afterwards.
"You all understand what to do, right?" Lin Kui whispered. "Fifty men each, lie in ambush outside the tent. When His Highness the Crown Prince smashes the cup inside, charge in together."
The soldiers all had stern faces, as if they were worried.
Lin Kui hummed through his nose and looked at everyone. What's wrong? Is it that his words are not effective, or are they afraid of Xiao Zhuo's force?
One of the leading soldiers said, "Mr. Lin, I have something to ask you."
"explain."
"Today we are hosting a banquet for Xiao Zhuo, and the servants are serving wine jars. They are heavy, and even if they fall to the ground, they won't make a sound. We are afraid... afraid that we won't hear anything. Besides..."
Lin Kui raised his hand impatiently to stop the soldier from speaking and waved behind him.
A soldier brought over a tray. On it was a pair of exquisite jade cups. These were priceless objects, part of his collection. For the sake of his master, he reluctantly decided to part with them.
"I've already made preparations. Once you're all set up your ambush, I'll go into the tent and present this set of jade cups to His Royal Highness, and have him smash the cups as a signal. Can you hear me clearly?"
The soldiers all breathed a sigh of relief, and the leader nodded: "Mr. Lin, this sound is loud, we can hear it clearly."
"Remember, go straight to Xiao Zhuo after you enter, and ignore everyone else. Whoever kills Xiao Zhuo will be rewarded with a thousand gold coins."
After Lin Kui gave his orders, he waved his hand and asked the executioners to prepare.
He dusted off his clothes, straightened his hat, and took the jade cup from the soldier. Just as he was about to walk towards the tent, a low laugh from an old man was heard nearby.
"Mr. Ji, why are you laughing?" Lin Kui held the plate in one hand and looked at Ji Zhong.
Ji Zhong was the swordsmanship instructor hired by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and he didn't dare offend him easily. Knowing that Ji Zhong was laughing at him, he couldn't get angry, so he had to ask.
"Mr. Lin, you are the advisor to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Why are you acting so childishly?"
Lin Kui was a little dissatisfied and asked, "How is it childish?"
"Do you really think these executioners can kill Xiao Zhuo?" Ji Zhong asked.
Lin Kui couldn't stand his sarcasm and taunted him, so he sneered, "I've never seen anyone who can handle a hundred people."
After saying that, he didn't want to bother with Ji Zhong anymore and raised his foot to leave.
"Xiao Zhuo," Ji Zhong said, head bowed, seemingly talking to himself, "is the man who can kidnap King Thomas amidst the vast army."
Lin Kui's body stiffened and he stopped midway.
Really, after all the preparation, how could I have forgotten about this?
He also knew that Xiao Zhuo had kidnapped King Doma and forced him to swear to withdraw his troops. King Doma's numerous guards had been unable to stop Xiao Zhuo. Now Xiao Zhuo was inside the tent, sitting with his master. If only his master would throw the glass... He'd probably have Xiao Zhuo's sword at his master's neck the moment he raised the glass.
Ji Zhongcai had just told his master a few days ago that he was not yet a match for Xiao Zhuo.
If he forced the swordsman to charge, he would be gambling that Xiao Beiheng would not be restrained by Xiao Zhuo. This kind of behavior of using the master as a gamble, if the master died, it would be fine, but if he survived, the first thing he would do was chop off his head.
Thinking of this, Lin Kui felt a chill run down his spine. He quickly said to the sergeant next to him, "Quickly call back those swordsmen."
The sergeant ran to call everyone back. All the executioners were as if they had been pardoned when they heard the news.
Everyone knew Xiao Zhuo's reputation, and his deeds against the Western Rong here had long been known. No one dared to disobey military orders, and they were truly prepared to do so with their heads held high. Now that Lin Kui had changed his mind, everyone was deeply grateful.
Lin Kui handed the jade cup to the soldier beside him, bowed to Ji Zhong and said, "Master Ji, thank you for reminding me. I almost made a big mistake."
Ji Zhong chuckled and waved his hand, saying, "I'm just worried that you might miss something important. We need to think this over carefully and not act rashly."
These words were meant for Lin Kui to hear. In fact, the old man didn't want Xiao Zhuo to be hurt.
Since Xiao Zhuo was six years old, Emperor Yongde ordered him to teach him swordsmanship. During these ten years of training, he watched Xiao Zhuo grow up day by day. Although he was only following orders, there was also a certain amount of affection involved.
Xiao Beiheng found his residence and asked him to come out of retirement, but he was reluctant at first. However, he knew that Xiao Beiheng was a cruel person and that if he did not agree, his family would be implicated, so he had no choice but to agree.
Seeing Lin Kui secretly arranging the executioners, the old man interrupted him.
Lin Kui knew that Ji Zhong must have some hidden feelings behind this. But what he said made sense; Xiao Zhuo's abilities weren't just boasts. Everyone knew it, so there was no need to say it out loud. After all, Xiao Beiheng still wanted Ji Zhong to teach him swordsmanship.
If one plan fails, try another. Since the swordsmanship doesn't work, then use a sinister trick.
After stepping aside to avoid Ji Zhong, he asked the soldier holding the jade cup to follow him back to his tent and took out a poison from the medicine box.
If the open way doesn’t work, try the secret way.
Lin Kui was a doctor himself, well-versed in medicine. He had prepared this poison long ago, just in case. Mixed with wine, it was colorless and tasteless. Anyone who drank it would bleed to death in a matter of moments.
He took out his private stash of wine, a wine he normally wouldn't drink. He poured a pot of it, sprinkled the poison in it, and observed it carefully, smelling it to make sure there was no flaw. Then he poured another pot of wine.
On the plate were two jugs of wine and two jade cups.
The wine jug on the left is pure and is for Xiao Beiheng to drink. The one on the right is poisonous and is for Xiao Zhuo to drink.
Must be remembered firmly.
He carried the plate in both hands and walked into the banquet tent.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com