Chapter 76 Red Carp Guards & Imperial Guards
"You guys..." Someone who couldn't stand it anymore spoke up.
The Red Carp Guards raised their swords and brought them down, blood splattering everywhere, severed limbs and broken arms scattered on the street, and the air was filled with a nauseating stench of blood.
The Red Carp Guards are like humanoid jackals and tigers, even more ferocious than jackals and tigers; they are practically ghostly soldiers living among humans.
Mu Xi saw that one of the horses ridden by one of her soldiers ahead had been startled and had broken out of the formation.
Without saying a word, several Red Carp Guards simultaneously slashed at him with their swords.
The soldier fell to the ground, his horse's leg was severed, and it let out a mournful cry.
In the blink of an eye, a squad of Red Carp Guards rushed past like the wind, leaving behind only streets littered with corpses and blood.
At this moment, the first rays of dawn shone on the crimson blood, releasing waves of its pungent stench.
"Ugh..." Caught off guard, Mu Xi felt her stomach churning and she dry heaved.
"Brother..." Mu Xun jumped off his horse nervously, about to get into the carriage to check on him.
Mu Xi forced herself to raise her hand and said, "No, I'm fine. Let's get out of here quickly."
"Okay..." Mu Xun said "okay," but the carriage in front was still stuck in the traffic jam.
"Go around it." Having no other choice, Mu Xun had to step forward and give the order, glancing at the soldier who had fallen to the ground, "Your horse should report back to the Military Affairs Bureau truthfully, go to the carriage behind and follow it."
"Yes." The soldier got up from the ground and regained his composure, as if everything that had just happened had nothing to do with him.
Afterwards, Mu Xun forced the convoy to take a detour and move forward, with the West Gate in sight.
Suddenly, a man dressed in a shaman's robe burst out from the side and charged straight at the group.
Before the head guard could react, more Red Carp Guards caught up and brought their blades down.
The male shaman collapsed into a pool of blood, shouting, "The Mu clan plundered the country; Heaven will surely punish them. The Red Carp Guards indiscriminately slaughtered the innocent; they will not die a good death."
As the male shaman shouted his final cry, three piercing whistles suddenly rang out from somewhere.
Upon hearing the whistle, the previously ferocious Red Carp Guards scattered and retreated to both sides of the road.
Before anyone knew what was happening, a carriage adorned with jeweled curtains sped from the east. The carriage was guarded by mounted Red Carp Guards in front and behind. When the procession reached the city gate, it did not stop at all, nor was anyone stopped, and it went straight out of the city.
"Could that be the king's imperial carriage?" Mu Xi couldn't help but wonder, but the carriage's specifications and style didn't seem to match.
While they were still in a daze, the Red Carp Guards dispersed, and a squad of Imperial Guards patrolled over from the west gate. The leader shouted, "Who is blocking the way here?"
The guards clearing the way reported: "The heir of the Jin Fangjun family is here."
The Red Carp Guards, who just carried out the brutal slaughter, belonged to the King's personal guard and were named for the ferocious "Red Carp" masks they wore.
Because they were directly under the king, their status was extraordinary, and everyone had to give way to them.
The Imperial Guards who were now questioning him were under the command of Grand Marshal Gao Quan. They were known for their tyrannical and unscrupulous ways of extorting money and did not respect any other powerful figures besides the royal family: "Whoever you are, can't you see that everyone is lined up behind you? Make way for me."
According to the original owner's memories, the Crimson Carp Guards were not to be trifled with, but for Gao Quan...
Mu Xi wanted to test her skills: "If you want to stop us, let Gao Quan come over in person."
Mu Xun then took out another token from his sleeve and showed it to the imperial guards leading the group.
The Imperial Guard shook his head again: "Unless it is a pass issued by the Imperial Guard, you have no special privileges and must stop for a search."
Mu Xi raised her voice: "You may search us, but only after you have searched us first, and then let us leave the city."
The guard shook his head again: "The Grand Marshal has ordered that in extraordinary times..."
"So only the Red Carp Guards can come and go freely during this extraordinary period?" Mu Xi retorted. "Who was in that carriage just now? Why was they allowed to leave the city without being searched?"
"That is..."
Before the leading guard could answer, a familiar voice rang out from the other side of the convoy: "Isn't this Prince Jin Fang?"
Upon hearing the voice, Mu Xi immediately climbed out of the carriage, stood on the front of the carriage, and greeted, "Lord Gao, it's been a long time."
Gao Quan, clad in golden armor, rode majestically on horseback: "I presume the young master already knows what has happened. In these extraordinary times, no one can be spared. Whether leaving or entering the city, all will be subject to search."
“I accept. Since the Grand Marshal is here in person, you may conduct the search yourself.” Mu Xi did not object.
Gao Quan then waved his hand behind him, signaling the Imperial Guards to step forward.
Just then, a loud shout came from the back of the carriage: "Uncle... it's Uncle outside, please let me out."
Today, Mu Xi went out of the city for the sacrificial ceremony, and Mu Chong was also taken along.
Having Mu Chong with you is the best way to prevent assassination attempts.
"Mu Chong?" Gao Quan urged his horse forward upon hearing the call.
Mu Chong poked half his head out of the carriage window from the back: "Uncle, is that really you? Uncle, you have to save your nephew. I don't want to stay at the Jun residence anymore."
Gao Quan was clearly aware that Mu Chong had been "taken over," so he didn't respond at the moment, but instead asked, "Where are you going?"
Mu Chong looked reluctant: "They want to take me out of my city to pay respects to Princess Yunying."
"Hmm?" Gao Quan questioned, "Why do we need you to go to the memorial service for her?"
Mu Xi stood in front of the carriage without getting off, and raised her voice: "How can he not go? My mother, Princess Yun Ying, was personally bestowed the title of Princess by the King. As a Princess, she married into the Jin Fangjun family as the principal wife, and is a dignified legal wife and stepmother. As the son of the second wife, Mu Chong should, in every respect, respect his stepmother and go to pay his respects. Isn't that perfectly reasonable?"
Mu Xi's birth mother was Shen Ying, the daughter of Shen Mao, the former prime minister of Yan State, and the younger sister of Shen Lun, the current Marquis of Yong State of Dayu. Her courtesy name was Qionghua, and her title was "Princess Yunying".
The fall of Dayan and the rise of Dayu, the succession of which cannot be said to be without the contribution of the Shen family.
The current King Mu Ji, the second ruler of Dayu, in order to recognize the Shen family's contribution in supporting his ascension to the throne, not only bestowed the title of Marquis upon Shen Lun, the "First Scholar of Dounan," but also granted a title to Shen Ying, who was already engaged to Jin Fangjun Mu Zhen at the time. She was specially married into the royal household as "Princess Yun Ying" and retained her title. Her rank was one level higher than that of the wives of ordinary marquises.
Gao Quan blurted out without thinking, but Mu Xi seized the opportunity to escalate the situation, becoming enraged as well: "Since you wish to leave the city to offer sacrifices, I will not stop you, but... the king has ordered a thorough search, leaving no one unchecked. Only after the search is complete will you be allowed to pass."
Is this an attempt to use this as an excuse to make a fuss?
Mu Xi scoffed, "Heh, have the Imperial Guards lost their minds?"
"What? Is the Crown Prince disobeying the King's orders?" Gao Quan turned his horse around and came back, already in a fighting stance, ready to show off his power.
Mu Xi, standing in the front of the carriage, was a head taller than Gao Quan, who was riding on horseback. She looked at Gao Quan as if he were a fool: "Lord Gao, I heard that you were ordered to search because the remains of the late king were stolen? Who was the late king? Wasn't he my own grandfather? Would I steal the remains of my own grandfather? Wouldn't that be digging my own grave? Lord Gao, you want to use the king's order to make things difficult for the Jin Fangjun family? I'm afraid you haven't even figured out your own stance yet."
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