Chapter 183 Riding the Wind: With Your Face, You Can Achieve It Without Shedding Blood
Royal Palace
In the East Palace courtyard, Ajiu stayed awake until dawn without uttering a single word. The palace servants passing by all regarded him as Crown Prince Chenbi, and seeing him sitting blankly in the corridor, no one dared to ask him a single question.
The rising sun was dazzling, and Ajiu raised her hands to shield her eyes. Suddenly, she saw several palace servants walking towards her, holding a stack of clothes, and kneeling on the ground. "Your Highness, please change your clothes."
Changing clothes? Before Ajiu could say anything, the head palace servant said again, "Your Highness's clothes are stained with wine. It would be more comfortable to change into something else. You have to pay your respects to the Emperor early in the morning."
--"I am…"
"Your Highness, Your Highness!" Luo Yichen rushed over, and the palace servants, seeing that it was the leader of the Black Hawk Guard, quickly put down their clothes and made way. "There's news."
Ajiu turned her back to Luo Yichen, not looking at him, and lightly raised the back of her hand to signal him to continue. Luo Yichen, panting from running, leaned against a pillar in the corridor to catch his breath and said, "I've found out. Last night... Grand Preceptor Cui led five hundred Eagle Guards to raid Xingguo Ward. There was resistance in Xingguo Ward, blood was spilled, and... people died..."
"Dead?!" A-Jiu almost turned around. "Who died?"
"He's an old foundry master."
Yin Bo... the oldest existing blacksmith in Xingguo Ward. Guan Ye secretly forged the Meteor Sword, and the hilt was forged by Yin Bo... He was already an old man in his sixties. He thought he could live out his days in Rongdu, but he died tragically in a foreign land and did not have a good end.
Seeing that the Crown Prince remained silent, Luo Yichen hurriedly added, "Xingguo Ward was not completely wiped out. Some people broke through and escaped. Miss Guan and Ajiu... were not among those captured."
"Where are they?" Ajiu asked in a low voice.
"Their whereabouts are unknown... According to those who participated in the operation last night, the two swordsmen from Xingguo Ward were very skilled. We saw them; the ones who fought against the Eagle Guard were Feng Shisan and Ji Fang." Luo Yichen looked regretful. "They fought their way out, but were seriously injured. The Eagle Guard and Rongdu Prefecture are searching for them in the city. I reckon they'll be found soon... Five or six people from the Eagle Guard died yesterday, and many others were injured. I'm afraid these two swordsmen... are doomed."
Luo Yichen stepped forward and whispered, "Your Highness, everything was fine until yesterday. How did things suddenly change and they have to raid Xingguo Ward? What did Xingguo Ward do? Does Your Highness... know?"
"Do I look like I know?" Ajiu asked coldly, suppressing her anger.
Luo Yichen took a step back in fright and said with his head down, "Your Highness, please forgive me." Then he comforted him, "I know Your Highness is worried about Miss Guan. According to the palace guards, she and Ajiu left the palace after 7 p.m. No news is good news. I will go and inquire again... I was thinking... they even came to the palace banquet last night. The disaster in Xingguo Ward should have nothing to do with them, right?"
Ajiu did not answer, but placed her palm on the new clothes left by the palace maid. Luo Yichen immediately understood and knelt on one knee, saying, "This subordinate takes his leave."
Guan Ye and Mu Chenbi have disappeared? Ajiu pondered. They left the palace to keep their appointment at Shiya Pavilion. Shiya Pavilion meant they were with Feng Shisan and Ji Fang. It seemed... they had finished drinking and returned to the neighborhood, where they happened to witness Cui Jin leading the Eagle Guards to besiege Xingguo Ward. Feng Shisan and Ji Fang, in a fit of rage, drew their swords at the Eagle Guards... But what about Guan Ye and Mu Chenbi... Where are they? Cui Jin still harbors resentment towards Guan Xiaotian because of past events and has always disliked Guan Ye. He also tested Guan Ye several times at the palace banquet last night... Could he take this opportunity to harm Guan Ye?
With Xingguo Ward's collapse, the remaining survivors are like rats in the street, hated by everyone. Many people in Rongdu have seen them; if they were to accidentally reveal themselves… Feng Shisan and Ji Fang have no relatives or friends in Rongdu. Ji Fang is timid and faints at the sight of blood, while Feng Shisan has a volatile temper and is easily provoked… Where can these two, seriously injured, hide? And Guan Ye… The scene in Xingguo Ward last night will become another inescapable nightmare for her. Tianhu is destroyed, Xingguo suffers misfortune, there is nowhere to seek justice, and no way to seek redress…
Ajiu knew Guan Ye's personality too well. Even if she knew that Mu You would spare her life and let her serve the court, she would never return to the palace alone to await orders. Guan Ye had been on the run with her parents for many years, and Guan Xiaotian died unjustly. His daughter would not live a life of dishonor.
Where will Guan Ye go? And Mu Chenbi... Thinking that Mu Chenbi was with Guan Ye, A Jiu felt a little relieved. Although A Jiu didn't like him, she could see that he was sincere towards Guan Ye. With him by Guan Ye's side, he could protect her for a while.
"So you are here after all." Chang Lu walked briskly towards A Jiu. "Young Master A Jiu, the Emperor summons you to an audience."
"How did you guess I was in the East Palace, Father-in-law?" Ajiu asked.
Chang Lu revealed a knowing smile, "The people outside Cheng'en Hall thought it was you who left, but actually they were impersonating your Crown Prince. After midnight, they couldn't leave the palace, so the palace servants would definitely mistake you for the Crown Prince and lead you to the East Palace. That's all. What's so difficult about guessing that?"
Ah Jiu nodded and said, "I just heard that something happened last night..."
Chang Lu interrupted, saying, "What is a big deal to others is nothing to you. Young Master Ajiu has won the Emperor's favor, and it is not impossible for him to advance further in the future. Look, the Emperor thinks of you as soon as he opens his eyes. Young Master Ajiu still smells of alcohol, so hurry up and change your clothes and come with this old servant to see the Emperor."
Clothes? Ajiu looked troubled. Changlu picked up the new clothes left by the palace servants and held them above his head. "It's your first time meeting the Emperor. You're wearing new clothes and looking new. You and the Crown Prince look alike and have similar builds. Even though they are the Crown Prince's clothes, they will definitely fit you well. The Crown Prince doesn't know where he is right now. You're paying New Year's respects to the Emperor on his behalf. You're still helping him."
After changing into Mu Chenbi's clothes, Ajiu in front of him suddenly appeared as a noble figure from the Eastern Palace. Changlu had served Mu You for many years and watched Mu Chenbi grow up. He was already very familiar with the father and son and could recognize them by their voices even with his eyes closed. However, when he saw Ajiu in front of him, the elderly eunuch was still deeply shocked.
Ever since Ajiu descended from the sky and entered and left the palace, the palace servants who had seen him whispered among themselves, saying that although Ajiu looked like the Crown Prince, his demeanor and bearing were still far different. The Crown Prince was of immeasurable nobility, while the swordsman was of lowly status, merely possessing a beautiful appearance. But today, Ajiu changed into Mu Chenbi's Crown Prince's clothes, and even this swordsman's appearance suddenly appeared noble. If one had to point out a difference, it would only be... the scar on Ajiu's left eyebrow bone.
Seeing Changlu staring at her blankly, Ajiu spread her arms and dusted herself off, asking, "Is something about it not fitting?"
"No." Chang Lu hurriedly waved his hand, "It fits perfectly, as if it was tailor-made for your figure. When you walk around the palace, you look just like His Highness the Crown Prince."
Ah Jiu lowered her eyebrows in self-deprecation and reached out to take off her clothes. "According to what you're saying, Father-in-law, I'd better take them off. It would be embarrassing if someone mistook me for someone else."
"No." Changlu stopped Ajiu's movements. "It's getting late. Hurry up and come with this old servant to see His Highness. Whether it's good or bad... we'll see what the Emperor thinks."
Following behind Chang Lu, A-Jiu turned around and saw the palace servants who had just avoided him return to the corridor, folding up the brocade robes he had changed out of and taking them to the laundry department. Those were the swordsmen's robes from Xingguo Ward; no matter how good the material, they couldn't compare to the Crown Prince's clothes. The robes had a black background with sword patterns, clearly not Mu Chenbi's attire… Yet… the palace servants were so engrossed in folding them, their eyes lowered, that they seemed… completely oblivious to anything amiss…
"I'd better take it off; wouldn't it be embarrassing if someone mistook me for someone else?"
"Whether it's good or bad, we'll see what the Emperor thinks."
Ah Jiu suddenly realized that when walking through the palace, it didn't matter who she was. Whoever the emperor said you were, all the glory would be above you. Even if there was an indelible scar on your brow bone, others would still respect you as if you were the Crown Prince Chen Bi.
Ah Jiu could still hear Cui Jin's words echoing in her ears: "So what if you're above ten thousand people? You're still second only to one. If you want to do something, go to the top of the clouds and sit on the throne. What I can't do, I'm willing to help you do."
At that time, Ajiu was convinced that Cui Jin had gone mad. The Azure Cloud Peak? The Dragon Throne? Cui Jin wanted to die, but he wanted to live.
"You're just a nameless beggar. What do you have to lose besides your life? Why not take a gamble with me? The road to success is right beneath our feet. Trust me!"
"You want to... commit regicide and rebellion?" Ajiu remembered making a throat-slitting gesture.
Cui Jin laughed loudly, "With your face, you can achieve this without drawing blood."
Ajiu touched his face, bewildered by Cui Jin's words. Cui Jin said that he was the path he had been pursuing.
At that time, Ajiu only vaguely understood. He knew that Cui Jin was laying out a huge net, heavily pressing down on the vast number of people involved. He firmly believed that what Cui Jin was planning was an almost impossible thing. When he reached a dead end and had nowhere to go, Cui Jin would naturally turn back after hitting a wall. By then, he would be living a different life, which would be better than suffering in Cangshan.
Only now, at this moment, has Ah Jiu truly understood Cui Jin's truth—that he himself is the answer Cui Jin seeks, and that Cui Jin's promise to him is only one step away from being fulfilled.
Rongdu Gongcheng Money Shop
Rongdu was a bustling commercial hub with thriving businesses. Even though making money was easy, most merchants would take a break for a few days from the first to the eighth day of the Lunar New Year. In the entire Rongdu, only the Mei family's Gongcheng Money Shop was open all year round, welcoming guests from all directions every day. Before dawn on the first day of the Lunar New Year, the head manager, Qian Rong, had already personally opened the money shop's doors and instructed his servants to fetch the prepared firecrackers.
"—Chief Luo?" Qian Rong recognized the dark figure waiting outside the door. "What brings you here so early in the morning? Please come in, please come in."
Luo Yichen rubbed his cold palms, and as soon as he opened his mouth, white mist came out, indicating that he had been waiting outside for a long time. "I'm not going in. I came to ask how Young Master Mei and Miss Mei are doing at the bank? Is there anything... unusual?"
Why ask such a strange question on the first day of the Lunar New Year instead of offering New Year's greetings? Did the Black Hawk Guard leader drink too much yesterday? Qian Rong was puzzled, but his expression remained enthusiastic. "Everything is fine. The bank is operating normally. Everyone had a reunion dinner last night, and even the young master stayed up all night to welcome the New Year..." Qian Rong suddenly realized something and changed the subject, "You've been waiting until now... is something wrong?"
"It's good that your family is alright." Luo Yichen seemed to be talking to himself. Realizing Qian Rong's question, Luo Yichen looked around warily and lowered his voice, "Something big happened in Rongdu last night. Xingguo Ward... was raided."
"Huh?" Qian Rong exclaimed in disbelief, "Last night? Last night was New Year's Eve, it was New Year's Eve! Chief Luo, Xingguo Ward was thriving before the New Year, how could it be like this after the New Year... What happened? Xingguo Ward... why was it raided?"
Luo Yichen shook his head blankly. It wasn't that he didn't want to answer; he was also very confused. Yes, how could Xingguo Dafang, which was thriving before the New Year, be raided overnight?
"Don't ask anymore." Luo Yichen sighed, leaning over to look into the bank. It was still early, and the Mei siblings must still be asleep. "I came to tell you that something big has happened in Xingguo Ward. They weren't all caught last night. Some people escaped, and the Eagle Guards and the government are searching the whole city for them. Rongdu is going to be quite turbulent in the first month of the year... Xingguo Ward has dealings with your bank, so they might come to the Mei family to ask questions. Don't panic. The Mei family is open for business. Just answer whatever they ask."
Seeing Luo Yichen turn to leave, Qian Rong hesitated for a moment before asking, "Chief Luo, who are the remaining fugitives...?" As soon as the words left his mouth, Qian Rong regretted it and quickly added, "It would be good for our bank to take some precautions, wouldn't it?"
“Swordsman…the swordsman from Xingguo Ward…” Luo Yichen paused slightly, then hurriedly disappeared at the street corner, his destination unknown.
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