Happy New Year, everyone!
It was late autumn in Jicheng, with the north wind howling and swirling up fallen leaves.
Yang Duanhe sat in his study handling state affairs. Since the king's inspection tour, he had intensified efforts to reorganize the border defenses.
The desk was piled high with memorials, each one related to border defense.
These days he has been carefully checking the defenses of each pass, in order to ensure that the promise he made to the king can be fulfilled.
"My lord, a secret letter has arrived from the Grand Commandant's office!"
A secret agent from the Black Ice Guard rushed into Yang Duanhe's study.
Yang Duanhe was handling official business when he saw this and frowned: "Bring it here."
His expression changed immediately as soon as the envelope was opened.
The letter detailed how Consort Sun colluded with Gao Jianli, a loyalist from the Yan Kingdom, in an attempt to harm the princess.
What enraged him even more was that, after so much time had passed, there were still remnants operating right under his nose, yet he was completely unaware of it!
"Insolence!" Yang Duanhe slammed his fist on the table. "When His Majesty inspected Ji City, I personally guaranteed that there would be no more remnants of the Yan Kingdom causing trouble. Now..."
The more he thought about it, the more ashamed he became. He wished he could order the massacre of the Yan region, regardless of right or wrong, to eliminate the root of the problem.
When Ying Zheng came to inspect the area, he confidently declared, "I have eliminated all opposing forces, and there are no more rebels in Yan."
Who would have thought that such a major incident would occur in Xianyang so soon!
"Prepare immediately, I need to return to Xianyang tonight!"
"My lord, but..." the confidant hesitated, "you just arranged a new border defense plan..."
"Let's put the border defense on hold for now."
Yang Duanhe was already packing his bags. "You stay here to oversee the overall situation. Remember, conduct another thorough investigation of Yan territory. Don't let any suspicious person get away! Especially those merchants who frequently travel between different places; make sure to investigate their backgrounds carefully!"
...........
Yang Duanhe set off that day.
Along the way, he was extremely anxious, wishing he could grow wings and fly back to Xianyang.
He ordered the cavalry to travel at top speed, and they barely rested for three days.
"These people... they deserve to die!!!" He felt genuinely embarrassed when he recalled his confident words to Ying Zheng.
"My lord, Xianyang is just ahead." Finally, the caravan arrived outside the city of Xianyang.
"Go straight to the Grand Commandant's residence!"
The wicked man seemed to have anticipated his return to Xianyang, and led him to sit down in the study. "Old Yang, you've come back so quickly; you must have had a long journey."
"What's the trouble!" Yang Duanhe cut to the chase without saying a word, "Where are those scoundrels? Have they all been caught?"
"We've temporarily captured Consort Sun and Gao Jianli, but..."
"But what?"
"However, according to the secret letters, things are far more complicated than they appear." The wicked man took out several letters. "Take a look at this."
Yang Duanhe took a look and immediately gasped: "This is... a former subordinate of Dongmen?!"
"Do you recognize this cipher?"
"It's more than just recognizing them." Yang Duanhe's voice trembled with anger. "It was these people who killed my most capable general in the previous purge of the Yan Kingdom's Black Knights and assassins!"
"These bastards will stop at nothing, they act without any scruples, specifically targeting the unsuspecting. They use poison, sleeping potions, and hidden weapons with ease—they are utterly despicable!"
"That's why I was in such a hurry to call you back," the wicked man said in a deep voice. "I don't know what these people are capable of, but now that you do, I feel much more at ease."
"Grand Commandant, tell me, what exactly happened?"
The wicked man recounted in detail what had happened in the past few days.
From Consort Sun's collusion with Gao Jianli, to their intention to deal with the Princess, and now to the suspicious merchant discovered in the southern city.
"Damn it!" Yang Duanhe roared in fury. "These scoundrels dare to plot against the Crown Prince! That's how they operate in Yan, targeting the unarmed. What about the families of my soldiers..."
As he said this, a hint of pain flashed in his eyes.
Those images still break his heart when he thinks about them.
"So we absolutely cannot let them succeed this time," the wicked man said solemnly. "I've already sent men from the Black Ice Guard to keep an eye on the southern part of the city. However, these people are too cunning; without your help, my 'old adversary,' they'll be difficult to deal with."
"The Grand Commandant is right." Yang Duanhe gradually calmed down. "I was too impulsive! These people are experts in assassination; we must proceed with caution and carefulness. By the way, what about the Princess Consort..."
"Heavily guarded, not even a fly could get in."
"I heard that Your Majesty has found your childhood sweetheart. How is that girl...?"
"They've been temporarily housed in a villa in the south of the city, guarded by elite guards from the Black Ice Guard," the wicked man said. "These Yan people love to prey on the defenseless, and I've made thorough preparations."
"Hmm." Yang Duanhe nodded. "What are your plans next?"
"I'm preparing..." the wicked man was about to speak when an urgent report came from outside: "My lord, something terrible has happened! It seems those merchants in the south of the city are about to leave Xianyang!"
"What?" Both of them changed color at the same time.
"That's not all," the agent continued, "They just bought a batch of sleeping incense, and some strange powder..."
"Oh no!" Yang Duanhe jumped to his feet. "This is their usual tactic! They used this very thing to kill people back in Yan..."
"Stop talking!" the wicked husband interrupted him. "The most important thing now is to protect the Princess. Go to the south city and keep an eye on those people. I'll go and set up defenses immediately. Remember, be very careful; these people are extremely ruthless!"
"Don't worry!" Yang Duanhe gritted his teeth, "This time I'm determined to wipe them all out. It's time to settle the blood debts of the past!"
Watching Yang Duanhe's departing figure, the wicked husband couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion.
These remnants of the Yan state truly left a deep shadow on Yang Duanhe.
He will probably never forget the tragic deaths of those soldiers.
"Guards!" he ordered in a deep voice, "Search every corner of the southern city! Mobilize the elite troops and deploy them to defend the Princess's palace. Remember, no suspicious person is allowed to approach!"
"Even if it's just a cup of water, someone has to personally test it for poison. There can be absolutely no slackening!!"
As night fell, a tense atmosphere enveloped Xianyang City.
Ying Zheng tacitly approved his wicked husband's troop deployment, and troops were deployed to guard every corner of the palace.
Yang Duanhe stood on the city wall, gazing towards the south of the city.
The blood feud from before finally has a chance to be settled.
This time, he is determined to wipe out all these remnants of the Yan state!
"Pass down the order," he said to his trusted aide. "Keep a close eye on those merchants. Report to me immediately if they make any unusual moves."
"No matter what, we absolutely cannot let them escape!"
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