Chapter 9 Little General
Wen Yao swung her dagger, accurately catching the corner of the man's clothes. Then she leaped into the air, deftly kicking the officials away one by one. She then grabbed Miss Su's arm, lifted her up, and held her in her arms.
Zhongli He's eyes lit up when he saw Wen Yao's movements, and they lit up even brighter when he saw the Xingyi Sword on Wen Yao's back.
The surrounding officers and soldiers came forward to surround Wen Yao, and someone lifted a table and threw it at her. Wen Yao raised her hand and smashed the sturdy table of Qiong Yulou into pieces.
"You're not from Jiutai." Zhongli He slowly drew out his sword, pointing the tip at Wen Yao. He shouted, "Jiutai are a group; they never act alone. The token you just took wasn't the Jiutai Black Jade Seal at all. Who are you?"
No way, brother, the organizational warrants of the big and small government offices in Tianshui are all different. Do you really recognize the warrant from Jiutai?
Wen Yao complained silently.
Ignoring his companions' screams, Zhongli He hooked onto a nearby table and launched a long kick towards Wen Yao. The next moment, his sword energy surged, and Zhongli He's snow-white blade pierced Wen Yao's vital point.
Wen Yao held Miss Su's waist and drew his sword with one hand. The Xingyi Sword rang out incessantly, clashing fiercely with Zhongli He's longsword! A tooth-grinding frictional sound erupted in just a few seconds, as the two exchanged blows, dozens of times in the blink of an eye.
If Zhongli He's moves were both offensive and defensive, then Wen Yao completely abandoned defense. Xingyi's sword shone like a long rainbow, fighting to feed his own war, each move revealing murderous intent, his inner strength as deep and cold as an unfathomable autumn pond.
Miss Su screamed in shock, wrapped her arms around Wen Yao's neck tightly, and buried her face in the crook of Wen Yao's neck.
Outsiders couldn't see much, but Zhongli He was becoming increasingly frightened as the fight progressed, his expression becoming completely serious. As the two of them drew close, he raised his sword horizontally to block the sword's overwhelming force. The muscles in his back tensed, and the ground beneath his black boots cracked faintly.
"The general's internal martial arts skills are good, but his moves are too formal and not flexible." After Wen Yao finished speaking, he turned his wrist, and the Xingyi Sword flashed with a cold light. The thousand-mile surge turned into a white silk thread, and after avoiding the gap, it suddenly attacked Zhongli Hekongmen.
Zhongli He slightly opened his eyes, took a deep breath and quickly stepped back to dodge, but he was still a step too late. He could only watch as the sword blade, as fast as lightning, wrapped in powerful internal force, forced towards his heart!
The people around her screamed in surprise. Wen Yao's eyes met Zhongli He's, and beneath her mask, she curled her lips. She swung the Xingyi sword horizontally with her fingers, the hilt barely touching Zhongli He's throat, a thin gap between them. Then, she bent at the waist, raised her leg, and stomped hard on Zhongli He's shoulder, carrying Miss Su backwards and landing steadily in the open space beyond.
"Bang!"
At the same time, the gate of Qiongyu Tower was suddenly trampled by iron hooves. The bleak autumn wind from outside rushed in, instantly clearing the orchid fragrance inside, making everyone shiver.
The steed, treading snow, raised its hooves high and neighed incessantly. Zhao Xuanxu's face was grim. He held a powerful bow half the height of a man in one hand, drawing an arrow from the doorway. With the string fully drawn, he pierced the head of the official who had approached Wen Yao and attempted a sneak attack.
The entire Qiongyu Tower was now in complete silence. Everyone watched helplessly as the man's head exploded like a rotten melon. Then, the Prince of Yan dropped his bow and arrow, rode forward, and the fully armored Feathered Guards of the God of Death followed closely behind him, each taking turns to crush the pool of red and white liquid into pieces.
"Jiutai investigates the case." Zhao Xuanxu slowly drove his horse between Wen Yao and Zhong Lihe, holding the reins and looking down at Zhong Lihe: "Who wants to stop me?"
"Yan Yan... Your Highness Prince Yan!" The leading official's legs trembled like dustpans, and his teeth and tongue almost stuck together because he bit them off. "This person is actually the Lord of Jiutai. I, your humble servant, have no intention of stopping you. We are leaving now, leaving now!"
Zhao Xuanxu looked at Zhongli He, but Zhongli He didn't look at him. Instead, he stared at Wen Yao. After a while, he suddenly sheathed his sword, picked up his scabbard, and strode out of the Qiongyu Tower without looking back.
Lingyu Guards and Prince Yan did not stop them.
Zhongli He took the lead, and everyone seemed to have been granted permission to escape. Masters and servants rushed out in a chaotic frenzy. Delicious wine, fruits, and melons were thrown to the ground, creating a mess. Wen Yao stared at the scene before him, as if he had already foreseen Lou Chengyi's murderous expression.
Damn it, how much money do we have to pay to that profiteer?
She was still holding Miss Su, whose legs were weak and unable to stand. Zhao Xuanxu raised his chin, and two feather guards stepped forward to Wen Yao, supporting her on both sides.
"Ayao." Zhao Xuanxu called out, and saw that not a single hair had fallen from Yao's body. The anger and murderous aura between his brows subsided, and he stopped talking.
Lou Chengyi put on his robe and walked down the stairs. Seeing Zhao Xuanxu lowering his head and pretending to be weak in front of Wen Yao, he felt sick in his throat and stood on the stairs, unable to go down.
"Master." Ning'er's heart was still hanging, but when she looked up and saw that Lou Chengyi didn't look too angry, she suddenly breathed a sigh of relief and walked forward tentatively.
Lou Chengyi raised his hand to stop her from speaking: "What a good show."
His tone was sarcastic and sharp, not in the least afraid of Zhao Xuanxu's identity: "Your Highness Prince Yan, I am a small business owner. Now that the Yunyan venue has been destroyed and the guests have left, how will Your Highness compensate me for my losses?"
Zhao Xuanxu looked at this man who seemed to have a close relationship with his A Yao, and said in a bad tone: "Send someone to the Prince of Yan's Mansion to withdraw the money."
"Really?" The jewels in Lou Chengyi's braid sparkled, and he smiled with a forced smile, "Then I would like to thank you for your kindness."
"Alright, it's getting late." Wen Yao coughed lightly and pulled Zhao Xuanxu: "Let's go."
Zhao Xuanxu had clearly arrived in a hurry this time, without a carriage. As they exited the Qiongyu Tower and walked down the corridor, a feathered guard brought a horse for Wen Yao. Wen Yao climbed onto the horse and was about to leave when Ning'er called out from behind.
Wen Yao turned around and saw her rushing over with a few people, holding the Fengyue wine and a knee-high mahogany box in her hands.
"My master told you to take these romantic wines back with you," Ning'er said, reaching out to open a mahogany box beside her, revealing a delicate river lantern inside. "As for this, it's a small token of my appreciation. Please accept it, young lady."
"Thank you, Ning'er." Wen Yao said sincerely, "I'm really sorry to bother you today."
"You're too kind." Ning'er squinted her eyes and said softly, "Miss, please be careful on your way back."
According to normal procedures, Miss Su should have been sent to Jiutai. However, Wen Yao took her pulse and found it weak and chaotic. So Miss Su was taken by the Feather Guard and returned to Prince Yan's Mansion with everyone else.
Gao Shaoshan followed on horseback, unsealing a jar of Fengyue Niang. He sniffed it and exclaimed, "Excellent wine! Qiongyulou Fengyue Niang is truly priceless!"
"Ayao." Zhao Xuanxu rode on his horse, looking forward: "Ayao, do you know the owner of Qiongyulou?"
Wen Yao: "I met him outside. Later, I went to the border and he came to Bianliang. We didn't contact each other for a while. Now that he finally came to Bianliang, he came to visit."
"Okay." Zhao Xuanxu smiled gently: "Ayao is a good person and has many friends."
"Yes." Gao Shaoshan said on the side: "And the owner of Qiongyu Tower has managed to build Qiongyu Tower to such a scale in just a few years. He is definitely not an ordinary person."
One of his eyes is green, and judging by his hair color, he doesn't look like a native of the Central Plains. Over the past few years, it's not like anyone has tried to investigate Lou Chengyi's origins, but in the end, nothing has been found.
Zhao Xuanxu asked again, "Are you happy to see your friends today, Ah Yao?"
"Very happy." Although I haven't seen Lou Chengyi for many years, his temper has not changed, and he is still like a mad cat.
"As long as Ayao is happy." Zhao Xuanxu turned his head to the side, his brows relaxed. This well-behaved look really had nothing to do with the ruthless King Yan as Lou Chengyi mentioned.
Wen Yao explained, "I heard you and Zhang Yun talking about the salt transport in Pingjiang Prefecture the other day. Today, I unexpectedly heard this girl mention it. I felt that I couldn't let her be taken away by the King of Qin's minions, so I acted rashly."
"Ayao, you can do anything for my own good." After Zhao Xuanxu finished speaking, his eyebrows moved, and a very hesitant look suddenly appeared on his face.
Wen Yao controlled the reins with one hand and looked at him: "Do you have anything to say?"
"Ayao." Zhao Xuanxu hesitated and said, "Actually, this girl's name is Su Yi, and her father is Su Fangying, the salt supervisor of Pingjiang Prefecture."
He and Wen Yao walked side by side. The horses they rode had a good relationship. When they got close to each other, they spontaneously huddled together, which in turn shortened the distance between them on horseback.
Zhao Xuanxu continued, "He was in charge of the salt transport in Pingjiang Prefecture. He was unwilling to go along with the corrupt officials, so he was framed and imprisoned, where he committed suicide."
"Oh." Wen Yao was surprised: "So you knew?"
"The journey from Pingjiang to Bianliang is long, and there are people chasing her all the way. If I hadn't sent people to keep an eye on her, Su Yi wouldn't have made it to Bianliang alive." Zhao Xuanxu said, "The emperor wanted to punish the prime minister, and I accepted the order and chose the Su family."
"Then was it you who arranged for Su Yi to have a sudden attack today?"
"Not really. I just arranged for someone to tell her that the banquet at Qiong Yu Lou was attended by many important people, and that someone could help her." Zhao Xuanxu glanced at Wen Yao's expression and explained carefully, "Ayao, I don't know the connection between Qiong Yu Lou and you."
"It's okay, I didn't mention it to you before." Besides, Zhao Xuanxu had already paid the money.
Wen Yao didn't feel sorry for Lou Chengyi at all. He waved his hand and said, "So, are you going to start investigating the Pingjiang salt transport now?"
"Well, the Ministry of Revenue has always been in the hands of the Prince of Qin. Over the years, he and his subordinates have already drunk enough blood." Zhao Xuanxu said in a soothing tone: "He stretched his hand too far. The emperor wants to make him bleed a little, cut off a few fingers, and know what pain is."
Wen Yao nodded: "I see."
Upon returning to Prince Yan's mansion, Gao Shaoshan summoned a doctor. He determined that Su Yi was not seriously ill, having fainted from exhaustion after days of strain. After the doctor left, a maid gave Su Yi a bowl of hot soup, and she immediately opened her eyes. However, she was terrified and refused to let anyone touch her, even the maid's attempts to give her a bath or a change of clothes were unsuccessful. Finally, with no other options, she returned to Wen Yao.
Zhao Xuanxu was just about to have dinner with Wen Yao, but he only heard half of what the maid said when his eyes turned cold.
What a bunch of rubbish, they carried the people to the Eagle Platform alive without even changing their clothes... Why would they come to see A Yao without changing their clothes?
Wen Yao remembered that Su Yi's clothes were stained with alcohol. How could she not change them? It would be so uncomfortable if she didn't.
She called the maid, put down her chopsticks and stood up: "It's okay, I'll go and take a look."
So Zhao Xuanxu closed his mouth, which had just opened, and Wen Yao stood up and walked towards the room where Su Yi was lying.
A group of people were walking towards that direction. As soon as they turned the corner, Wen Yao heard crying coming from the room.
She pushed the door open and walked in. When Su Yi looked up and saw that it was her, she stopped crying immediately. She grabbed the quilt in her hand and stared at Wen Yao.
Wen Yao picked up the soup on the table and said, "Drink some when you wake up. You need to speak up for your father. How can you do anything if you don't eat and have no energy?"
"Sir." Su Yi's voice was low and weak like a baby bird: "Who are you? Where is this?"
"I'm the Prince of Yan's man, and this is the Prince of Yan's mansion. The Prince of Yan is in charge of Jiutai, a very powerful place for investigating cases." Wen Yao handed the soup over, and looked at Su Yi with satisfaction as she took it and held it in her palm: "Eat the food, change your clothes, and take a shower. Someone will take you to Jiutai later. You are a smart girl. Your father's case involves many cases. If your body can't bear it and collapses, all the hardships you have endured along the way will be meaningless."
Hearing this, Su Yi's eyes could no longer hold back tears, which kept rolling down her cheeks as she sobbed uncontrollably. She wasn't actually that old; in her previous life, Wen Yao had just been a child busy studying for the college entrance exam. And now, not only was this child traveling thousands of miles to seek justice for his family, he was also being hunted down along the way.
Wen Yao didn't say anything, but raised his hand to touch the girl's back soothingly.
Zhao Xuanxu watched from the doorway, feeling rather unhappy. He thought gloomily, "Do I really need A Yao to rub my back just to investigate a case?"
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