Chapter 90 Chapter 90 Beat him to death!
Sending someone to Kyoto to gather information at this time? Liu Hui looked at Duan Wenpei's tense back and hesitated.
"Master, did you dream something bad happened to Madam? Don't blame me for being nosy. We've left guards at the Marquis's residence, and the Yong'an Marquis's residence is also in Kyoto. Madam's safety is not a concern. If we send our men to Kyoto to gather information at this time, and Commander Xiao and his secret guards find out, I'm afraid we'll have a hard time explaining it."
Duan Wenpei has also accumulated some power of his own in the dark over the years. Although he does not have many people, they are all skilled fighters who can defeat ten opponents. Entering Shu is a secret order. Any rash action will expose these hidden forces. If Xiao Jing and other secret guards noticed it, Emperor Xuanwu would also know about it. I am afraid that the emperor would become suspicious.
The scene in the dream just now was really scary, and his concern made him confused, which disrupted his judgment. Now that Liu Hui persuaded him, Duan Wenpei calmed down.
They entered Shu secretly, and since they were all martial artists, they traveled very quickly. In just four or five days, they had covered one third of the distance.
The further west they went, the more mountains and hills they encountered, and the more complex the terrain became. The horses could not run fast, so the longer they were delayed on the road.
The closer they got to the northwest, the more spies the Zhao family had. Their whereabouts would not be hidden for long. If they did not reach the secret passage before then, which they did not know whether it could still be used, they would be in endless trouble... Time was running out and he had no time to be distracted.
South...
Duan Wenpei unconsciously clenched his fist and punched the window frame.
"Where did Xie Jin go?"
This trip back to Shu is about revenge for the extermination of the family many years ago, so Xie Jin will not be absent.
Liu Hui rummaged through his sleeves for a moment, found a bamboo message tube, opened it, glanced at it, and replied, "Mr. Xie took leave under the pretext of celebrating the old man's birthday and returned to Jiangdong. He came by water and has now passed Chenzhou County. It will take him two days to reunite with us."
Two days... Duan Wenpei rubbed the rotten sawdust on the window frame, looking into the distance, not lost in thought.
Ask Xie Jin's people to pass on some news from Kyoto?
He quickly rejected his idea. For a big family like the Xie family, their spies in the capital were basically invisible. As soon as Xie Jin left the capital, the Xie family's spies started to move around. If the emperor knew that Xie Jin had entered Sichuan with him, the Xie family would inevitably be reprimanded.
But, Nanxu...
"Did the butcher from the Zhou family who was previously imprisoned in the dark cell draw a map?"
This... Liu Hui scratched the back of his head, "Yu Rong is asking him to draw."
Duan Wenpei was a little displeased. "We've already covered almost half the distance, and you told me the map of the secret passage hasn't been drawn yet. If the Zhao family finds us first without a map, you're going to make us all sitting ducks!"
Liu Hui hurriedly said no and would go to urge Yu Rong later.
Duan Wenpei knew that the Zhou family was stubborn, so he stopped talking and asked where the prince consort's team was.
Speaking of this, Liu Huizheng had something to tell Duan Wenpei. He took a few steps forward and lowered his voice. "The news you've brought back is a little strange to me. Although the Prince Consort is a scholar, it's reasonable for him to travel no less than 20 miles a day by carriage. Furthermore, the accompanying posthouse has received an imperial decree to treat the Prince Consort well, but the news is that the Prince Consort always wears a bamboo hat and retreats to the guest room to eat alone, surrounded by people. He walks so slowly, refuses to show himself, and has so many rules. They are carrying disaster relief supplies. The Prince Consort doesn't seem like someone who would act that way."
Duan Wenpei glanced at him, his dark pupils surging with undercurrents.
Li Zhan really didn't seem like someone who didn't care about the lives of the people. Besides, they walked less than 20 miles every day, and the officials accompanying them didn't make any noise. Even if they didn't send a letter to the capital by flying horses, they would have made a fuss.
Delaying the incident is a crime, unless...
"Are you sure it was Li Zhan who returned to the guest room?"
ah!
Liu Hui was stunned. Who else could it be but Li Zhan? How could Li Zhan be so brave as to act alone?
"Humph! Li Zhan certainly doesn't have the guts, but don't forget that the woman he marries is no ordinary woman."
"Go and tell Xiao Jing about this news. They will naturally find a way to report it to His Majesty."
Liu Hui was puzzled. "His Majesty will definitely send someone to monitor the Prince Consort. Is it necessary to tell Commander Xiao?"
After all, Xiao Jing is the leader of the secret guards, and his insight is unmatched by ordinary people. It would be bad if he found out that they were monitoring the prince consort and his entourage.
Duan Wenpei waved his hand. "You're overthinking it. Although Li Zhan is the chief officer in charge of disaster relief efforts in Sichuan, the officials accompanying him may not respect his status as a son-in-law. If he's truly not in the team, and these officials don't ask or make a fuss, then it means someone has already made arrangements. Your Majesty's people may have already chosen another master."
Jingyi is a very ambitious person.
Choose another master... Liu Hui was a little confused, but his master's judgment was never too wrong. Since his master said so, he would do as he was told.
"Okay, I'll do it right away."
"Oh, Master, Yu Rong has found some clues about the Big Buddha Temple incident..."
"Knock, knock, knock." Before Liu Hui could finish his words, there were several rapid knocks on the door. Duan Wenpei raised his hand to signal Liu Hui not to say anything and to ask someone to come in.
The person who came in was a guard under Yu Rong. The guard respectfully presented a hand-drawn map. Duan Wenpei took it and took a look at it. The gloomy look on his brow disappeared.
This is a detailed map of the secret passage.
"Go and tell the people below to rest well tonight and set out before dawn tomorrow to enter Shu before New Year's Eve."
The guards clasped their fists and retreated. Duan Wenpei couldn't wait to spread the map on the table, took out a pen and carefully traced it, constantly comparing it with the remaining memories in his mind.
Liu Hui glanced at him silently, not wanting to disturb his interest. Just as he was about to leave, Duan Wenpei asked casually from behind him, "Liu Hui, what did you say Yu Rong found out?"
"Oh, it's the one who went in and out of the Big Buddha Temple that day..."
"Oh, Ah Xun, I'm still worried. So, instead of our secret agents going to Kyoto to investigate, you can send two people back. The two guards left at the Bo's residence will relay messages every seven days. If they can intercept a carrier pigeon, all will be well. If anything goes wrong, light a smoke signal immediately."
What Liu Hui wanted to say was blocked again.
It was already dark, and his master was excitedly lighting two oil lamps and carefully examining the map on the table. Liu Hui thought about it and decided to find another opportunity to report back.
*
"Tell me, who is it that kidnapped Ah Xu?"
The Marquis' wife sat at the top, her eyes as cold as if they were gleaming with cold light as she stared at Nan Yun who was kneeling below.
When she first heard the bad news, the Marquis's wife had fainted once. As soon as she woke up, she immediately took people to Nan Yun's yard.
Now, the servants surrounded the yard tightly to prevent any news from leaking out.
Nan Yun's fiancé, Prince Wang, who had carried Nan Yun back to her room earlier, had not yet left. He wanted to step forward to plead for mercy, but was glared back by the Marquis's wife.
"Don't look at him. He and I are from the same family. If he dares to say one more word for you, I will make sure that the entire Wang family in Chuzhou will never be able to stand up again!"
Prince Wang shrank back and slowly lowered his head.
Nan Yun's hopeful eyes gradually turned into disappointment.
She twisted her thigh hard until tears came out. She crawled forward a few steps crying and hugged the Marquis's calf. "Mother, please understand. Since leaving the manor, I have reflected on my mistakes day and night and have put aside those evil thoughts. This is my betrothal banquet. Mother, you have put aside past grudges and held such a grand banquet. My second sister also gave me enough face to attend the banquet. I can only be grateful. How dare I be so ungrateful as to collude with the evildoers to plot against my sister? Mother, please believe me."
Her voice was filled with tears and it was very moving to hear. Not only Prince Wang felt pity for her, but even Yin Wu's sisters-in-law felt a little sympathetic.
The second young lady, Zhao Yuqin, who was already weak in character, could not help but say, "Mother, I think the third sister is indeed..."
"Shut up!"
The Marquis' wife had never been so harsh in front of her daughters-in-law. No matter how Zhao Yuqin had acted before, she had only scolded her lightly. This was the first time she had seen such a harsh tone.
Yin Wu knew that this had touched her mother-in-law's sore spot, so she hurriedly pulled Zhao Yuqin over and patted the back of the hand of Nan Yun's sister-in-law, Third Madam Li Wan, to comfort her.
The Marquis's wife no longer looked at the others. She bent down slightly and looked coldly at Nan Yun, who was almost lying on her knees in grievance. Her well-maintained hands slowly lifted Nan Yun's chin and looked at her carefully.
Nan Yun was just contemplating how to handle the Marquis's upcoming embarrassment when she felt a sharp, piercing pain in her jaw. It was the Marquis's well-maintained two-inch nail digging into her chin. She tried to shake off the Marquis's hand and stand up, but two maids held her shoulders, one on each side.
The nails dug deeper and deeper, breaking the skin and sinking into the flesh. Bright red blood dripped down the chin onto the ground.
"It doesn't matter if you don't want to talk. I don't know how many lives have been lost in this backyard. One more or one less won't make much difference. I have plenty of ways to make you talk."
"Go and let others serve you!"
This family discipline was not as simple as kneeling in the ancestral hall last time. It was a wooden board as wide as a palm, hitting the legs. Because few women could endure it, they would not usually be punished unless they committed something extremely heinous.
Mrs. Kuang Hou did not specify how many strokes of the board she would receive, but it was possible that her legs would be broken or even disabled.
Nan Yun gritted her teeth, looked around unwillingly, and called Li Wan pleadingly, "Third sister-in-law, sister-in-law, I am Third Brother's biological sister, please help me beg mother for mercy, I don't want to die here!"
Li Wan was a little nervous when she heard about the family punishment.
Now that she heard Nan Yun begging her, she was even more at a loss.
On one side is her husband's sister, and on the other side is the head of the family in the rear house of the marquis's mansion. The third wife will have to rely on the marquis's wife for a job in the future. What should she do?
The wooden plank was quickly brought in. As it drew closer, Nan Yun roared at the top of her lungs, "Third sister-in-law! If I die here, Third Brother will never forgive you if he knows you didn't help me!"
Li Wan's head buzzed, and she subconsciously knelt down to block Nan Yun, "Mother, the Third Master only has this one sister, please go easy on her!"
Madam Hou said coldly, "A little sister? What about my Ah Xu? What does that mean?"
"Beat him, beat him to death, don't stop until I tell you to!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
