Xiao Xiang Ming Yue
The two chatted for about a quarter of an hour, and then Xiao Heng came back. He looked unhappy and said to Bai Miaoke, "The man is out, let's go."
Bai Miaoke and Mudan blinked their eyes, and both of them resisted the urge to ask Xiao Heng whether he had gone to the door of the room to eavesdrop.
Bai Miaoke and Xiao Heng hid in the dark and followed the man to the street. There were vendors on both sides of the street and many passers-by.
The scholar who had just come out of Xiaoyao Cave was happily fantasizing about his future with a name on the imperial examination and a horde of beautiful concubines, when he suddenly felt a tightening around his waist. He was entangled by a long silver whip and was dragged into a dark alley with a huge force.
Before he could even stand firm, Xiao Heng put a dagger across his neck and asked in a low voice, "Is it the newly-appointed Jinshi Sun Luren?"
The man was shaking like a sieve and nodded desperately: "It's me, it's me. I am the disciple of His Royal Highness Prince Kang. You can't kill me."
After confirming his identity, Xiao Heng was too lazy to waste time talking to him. Just as he was about to kill him with a knife, Bai Miaoke lowered her voice and said, "Did Prince Kang help you cheat in the imperial examination? Tell me about it."
The man's face froze, and he instinctively wanted to refuse. However, Xiao Heng's dagger cut his skin directly. He was shocked and almost cried for mercy: "Don't kill me, I'll tell you everything."
"I have a sister who is the favorite concubine of His Royal Highness Prince Kang. It took a long time for His Royal Highness to agree to help me. I don't know the specific details, but I only know that it should be Prime Minister Lu who gave the prince face."
Bai Miaoke suddenly remembered the deal between Prince Kang and Lu Yu. So that's what happened. Did he make an exception and accept this good-for-nothing just to help her find out what happened back then?
Then she would solve this stain for him. Thinking of this, she threw a dart and the man fell to the ground, dead.
Xiao Heng looked at the blood-stained dagger in his hand with some surprise, not knowing why she suddenly took action herself. However, the mission was completed, and it was not appropriate to stay here for long, so the two of them left quickly.
When they arrived at the gate of Bai's house, Xiao Heng couldn't help but ask, "How long will you stay in Jiangnan? How many people will you arrange to go with you?"
Bai Miaoke shook her head: "No, it's inconvenient with so many people. The people we sent over before are still in Jiangnan. I will contact them when I get there."
"Please look after my father and the others when I'm not around." Although the Bai family has always been kind to others in the capital, there is no guarantee that some jealous people will not come to cause trouble.
Xiao Heng nodded: "Of course." The Bai family has done him a favor, so it is only right for him to send some people to protect the Bai family.
Bai Miaoke smiled at him gratefully and walked inside.
A low voice "Be careful" came from behind her, and she waved her hand without looking back.
On the second day, a scream broke the tranquility of the early morning, and the news that the newly-appointed Jinshi had died on the street immediately spread throughout the streets and alleys.
People from the Dali Temple quickly came to cordon off the scene. The coroner and the autopsy officer recorded that there were no signs of struggling or fighting, and it could be basically determined that the person was killed with a single blow by someone with great martial arts skills.
Because this person was a newly-appointed Jinshi, the Dali Temple Minister sent someone to deliver the files to the Prime Minister so that a new official could be arranged to replace him.
When Lu Yu received the file, he was reading in his study. Today was his day off.
Fugui reported at the door: "Sir, the body of a newly-appointed Jinshi was found near South Street this morning, and the Dali Temple sent the case file."
Lu Yu replied: "Bring it in."
Taking the file from Fugui, Lu Yu read through it quickly and said, "The person who died was actually Sun Luren."
He had an impression of this man. He was someone sent in by King Kang and had no talent. He was originally sent to do the work of copying and compiling, but he died before he took office.
He looked at the dart written in the murder weapon column on the file, and the first thing that came to his mind was the girl in the red dress under the moonlight. He denied his guess, thinking that she should not know about this matter, and even if she knew, she would not kill for it...
After lunch, he went into the palace with what he had recently found out and the letters he had received from Bai Miaoke.
The emperor read the memorial he handed over with a frown, then paced in the imperial study with his hands behind his back.
"King Kang! You are so brave! Oh, you are really my good brother."
Lu Yu took out the note with the words "Pick up the goods in Jiangnan at the end of the year" from his sleeve and handed it to the emperor.
The emperor took it and read it, then said angrily, "What on earth is he planning?!"
There were only two people in the room. Lu Yu bowed and poured a cup of tea for the emperor before speaking: "Your Majesty, I suspect that Prince Kang and some court officials are planning something. Their base camp is likely somewhere in Jiangnan."
He did not directly say that the leader of these court officials was Taifu Ma Hongzhe, but both the emperor and his ministers knew the truth.
The emperor also calmed down at this time and thought carefully about this series of information.
After a short silence, the emperor suddenly spoke: "Gusu! Please go to Gusu for me. My grandfather's home is there. Since the Grand Tutor has seen my mother in Jiangnan, it is very likely that she was in Gusu."
Lu Yu nodded and accepted the order, then asked: "May I ask your Majesty, under what pretext should I go to Jiangnan?"
The emperor thought for a moment and said, "Go secretly. If the Grand Tutor finds out, you might be in danger. I will also send the Imperial Guards to protect you."
The emperor was right. If he really found any conclusive evidence when he went to Jiangnan, not to mention the Grand Tutor, even Prince Kang would fall. Therefore, his whereabouts this time must be kept secret.
The emperor and his minister discussed more details in the imperial study. There was less than a month left until the end of October as written in the letter, so the time was very tight. Finally, they decided to set off the day after tomorrow.
Lu Yu returned to the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion when it was getting dark. Mr. Lu and Mrs. Lu had already finished dinner and were walking in the garden. When they heard that their son had returned, they didn't take it to heart.
Lu Yu could only go to the garden. From a distance, he saw his parents holding hands. He sighed silently and walked forward: "Father, Mother. Your son will go to Jiangnan the day after tomorrow."
Mrs. Lu was surprised and asked, "Why so sudden? What are you going to Jiangnan for?"
Unable to reveal the secrets of government affairs, Lu Yu could only say: "The emperor asked me to go to Jiangnan to do something. This trip is extremely confidential and must not be leaked. I will claim to be sick and stay at home. I hope my father and mother can cooperate with me to cover up a little."
Hearing this, the two elders of the Lu family also looked serious. Master Lu asked his son: "Is there any danger?"
Lu Yu knew very well that this trip was not only dangerous, but he might never come back. He could not explain more to his parents, and only said, "I am an unfilial son."
The two elders did not reply for a while, and silence filled the air.
Madam Lu still spoke up: "Bring more guards. The weather is getting cold. I don't know how long you will stay. Bring some winter clothes and go back to rest. Mother will prepare them for you tomorrow."
Since it was a secret trip, the fewer guards and luggage he had, the better, so as to not attract attention and make it easier to travel. However, he couldn't bear to reject his mother's kindness, so he just nodded and left the back garden alone in the silvery moonlight.
He did not go to court the next day, and sent people to spread the news that the prime minister was seriously ill and bedridden and refused visitors.
For a while, officials were talking about the matter. Some said that Lu Yu’s move was to temporarily avoid the limelight and give new officials more opportunities; others said that the prime minister was assassinated again, and this time it was more serious than the last time, and his life was in danger. They were afraid that the situation in the court was about to change.
Lu Yu did not make too many clarifications about these rumors. He just arranged a few trusted officials to temporarily stabilize the situation in the court and wait until he came back to decide everything.
To be on the safe side, he also found a retainer of similar build to himself to impersonate him, so that he could lie inside the tent and deal with the situation when necessary.
In addition, he also had to arrange matters for tomorrow's trip. Since it was a secret trip, he certainly could not use his real identity. He planned to disguise himself as a businessman and borrow ten masters of the Jinyiwei from the emperor to dress up as his servants and guards. He only took Fugui with him as his personal servant. He arranged fake household registration passes for everyone. It was already evening when he finished everything.
Fugui was packing clothes for him to take on the journey, when suddenly a handkerchief that was obviously used by a woman fell out from the pile of clothes. He asked curiously, "Sir, what is this handkerchief?"
Lu Yu took it and found that it was the sun that Bai Miaoke fell on the day she was drunk. He gently stroked the soft fabric, as if he could smell the faint scent of gardenia again.
He suddenly said, "Don't pack yet, come with me for a while."
Fugui was still holding the clothes in his hands, feeling very puzzled. The young master had already claimed to be sick, so was there something important that required him to leave now?
But he just asked, "Where are you going, sir?"
Lu Yu thought about it and was not sure where the flying butterfly might be now.
After a while, he spoke: "Go through the back door and go to Bai Mansion."
Hearing about Bai Mansion, Fugui immediately understood, responded teasingly, and was about to go out to prepare the carriage, but Lu Yu stopped him and said, "No need for a carriage, just walk over."
Fugui really widened his eyes this time, wanting to see if this was still his noble master who always rode in a carriage when going out?
Lu Yu explained uncomfortably, "The carriage is too conspicuous, so it won't attract attention if we pass by. Let's prepare two more veil hats."
Seeing his master's face turning red, Fugui stopped teasing him and temporarily put aside his nervous mood to prepare.
A quarter of an hour later, two figures in plain clothes and wearing veiled hats quietly slipped out from the hidden back door of the Lu Mansion. After walking out of the alley, they quickly blended into the crowd on South Street.
The Bai Mansion was located near the relatively prosperous west side of the city. After walking for about a quarter of an hour, they saw the two words "Bai Mansion" shining in golden light.
Fugui asked in a low voice: "Sir, shall I go knock on the door?"
Lu Yu waved his hand, walked forward and knocked lightly on the wooden door twice. Although he couldn't see clearly through the veil, Fugui seemed to see the rise and fall of his master's chest caused by his long breath.
The servant of the Bai Mansion quickly came to open the door, and seeing the two people whose faces were not clearly visible outside the door, he asked, "Who are you looking for?"
Lu Yu spoke up himself: "I'm looking for your young lady. Please inform her."
The servant hesitated for a moment and finally led the two strange people in. The master and servant followed them as they walked and looked around. Fugui kept marveling in his heart at the luxurious decoration of the Bai family. The corridors and courtyards were a different scene at every step. He had also followed his master into the palace, and the decorations and furnishings of the Bai family were not inferior to those of the royal family.
Lu Yu remained silent all the way to the front hall.
Seeing the girl in a plain white gauze dress appear outside the door, Lu Yu was grateful for his good luck in running into her at home.
He felt his heartbeat getting faster and faster as the girl's footsteps approached. He actually hadn't figured out what he wanted to do with her, but he thought that if he died in Jiangnan, he would definitely regret not coming to see her for the last time today.
He didn't know where this feeling of his came from, maybe it was when they first met under the hazy moonlight, or maybe it was on that chaotic drunken night. He knew very well that how could a person walking in the darkness dream of the bright moon, but at this moment, he couldn't help wanting to see her.
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