CH 18

Tian Ruidong sprinted to the carriage. But once he was almost there, he grew bashful. Slowed to a halt. Then he fixed his clothes, went forward, and bowed with his hands held in front of him. “Is Commandery Princess returning to your estate?”　　

“Yes.” From Hua Liuli’s peripheral vision, she could see those two groups of young nobles and servants that were in a state of mutual hostility. She pretended not to know they were preparing to fight. “Are you gentlemen playing?”　　

Tian Ruidong wanted to nod, but then he remembered that there was a well known redlight district in the next street. In a rush, he shook his head. “We merely passed through here by chance, and are on our way back to our estates to study.”　　　　

He had heard that the third young master of the Hua family was preparing for the Imperial Exams. Commandery Princess Fushou must prefer gentlemen who study.　　

“So that’s how it is.” Hua Liuli hid her soft smile. “When it comes to studying, one must pay attention in striking a balance between work and rest. Young Master Tian must not tire yourself too much.”　　　　

Giddy and dizzy, he thought, The fairy from the Hua clan cares for my health? Back then, I scared the little fairy until she fell ill. Yet she’s still concerned about my health. How kindhearted of a girl is she?　　

“Commandery Princess is correct. Commandery Princess is correct.” At this moment, even if Hua Liuli pointed to a big man on the roadside and said “this girl is pretty,” Tian Ruidong would applaud and say “Commandery Princess’ eyes are truly great.”　　

As she looked at Tian Ruidong’s simple, honest, and innocent smile, her smile grew even more gentle. “In two days, His Majesty will hold a banquet in the palace. Will Young Master Tian be in attendance?”　　　　

“Yes, yes.” His paternal aunt was Consort Xian, and his clan members had been officials for generations. He had the face to attend such a banquet and join in the excitement.　　

“It’s great that Young Master can attend. My brother and I have stayed in the border station all year round, and aren’t familiar with any of the capital’s young nobles and young misses. My elder brother has a low tolerance for alcohol. May Young Master look after him during the palace banquet.” Hua Liuli turned her head to cough a few times, before continuing, “If it’s too inconvenient…”　　

“How could it be inconvenient?” said Tian Ruidong. “Third Young Master Hua is a master of the pen and the sword, with a stately appearance. Even if I am not around, there would be many young noblemen who want to get to know this elegant person. Thank you, Commandery Princess, for not disdaining me. My friends and I will look after Third Young Master Hua well, and won’t allow others to force him to drink.”

“Many thanks,” said HUa Liuli.　　

All of a sudden, those pampered young nobles cried out in alarm. Hua Liuli raised her head for a look. A few servants eagerly yet chaotically pressed a servant in gray clothes to the ground.　　　　

“What’s the matter?” Tian Ruidong lost face. Just a moment ago, he had told Commandery Princess Hua they were merely passing through, but with a turn of the head, those people broke into a fight. Wasn’t this showing a clear picture that he had lied?　　

“Young Master, that servant has a lethal weapon on his body,” said Tian Ruidong’s personal attendant, fuming with rage through gritted teeth. “Just a while ago, this humble one saw him try to get close to you. Never did this humble one expect he had this kind of intention.”　　　　

“Chen Yu, what’s the meaning of this?” said Tian Ruidong. That servant actually wanted to kill me?!　　

According to the laws of the Great State of Jin since long ago, commoners could not carry any cutting tools in the streets as they pleased. The swords and other weapons of every estate must be recorded. Otherwise, it would be considered the great crime of “hiding weapons in one’s possession.”　　

“This, this…” said the one called Chen Yu, staring blankly at the servant who had been pressed to the ground, muddleheaded and unable to respond coherently.

This servant had served by his side for almost two years, diligent and great at currying favor. He had never caused any problems before. So how could he do something like hiding a dagger on his body, a crime? 　　

He saw with his own eyes the dagger falling from that servant’s body. Under the gazes of everyone, he could not say that it was Tian Ruidong framing him.　　

“Your Highness, Young Master Tian looks like he’s in a dispute with someone. Should we go and take a look?” On another street, a court eunuch watched from afar as Tian Ruidong was surrounded.　　　　

Sitting in a carriage, Prince Ying heard some noise outside. Rushed to drop the window curtain. “No, return to the estate at once.” 

If he meddled in other people’s business again, he’d be a fool.　　

“Detain that person first,” said Tian Ruidong. Following that, he apologized to Hua Liuli, before making his way in front of Chen Yu. “Chen Yu, although we find each other unpleasant to the eye, it’s not to the point where one would use a knife. How could you…”　　　　

He stuck out a leg, wanting to look dashing as he kicked away the dagger, yet what a pity that he slipped just as he was about to kick it. He almost tumbled to the ground.　　

Tian Ruidong regained his balance, somewhat embarrassed. He feigned having not seen the dagger on the ground. “If you don’t explain this clearly, we will report this case to the authorities.”　　

When the members of the younger generation quarreled, it was only a fight between them. But if it came to the point where it was reported to the authorities, it would become a fight between their families.　　

Chen Yu knew this situation had become serious. Although he hated Tian Ruidong’s “I have the moral high ground so I don’t care what you say” kind of damn appearance, he had to rein in his temper. “I have nothing to do with this. I also didn’t know he would conceal a sharp weapon on his body.”　　　　

“That servant has followed you for so long and is the most loyal to you. You say you don’t know. Who are you trying to fool?” mocked a pampered young noble who was close to Tian Ruidong. “Who knows what you’re thinking?”　

Tian Ruidong furrowed his brows. Recently, the emperor had bestowed Prince Ying many things. Prince Ning didn’t get anything. So the Chen clan were green with envy, and Chen Yu ran here to vent his anger by stabbing him?　　

“If I truly wanted to retaliate against you, then I’d find a secluded place to throw a sack over your head and beat you silly. Do I really have to make a servant stab you to death in a public place full of people?” retorted Chen Yu. “It’s not like I’m stupid.”　　　　

They were all hedonistic sons of influential families, of high status and position. The reason why he didn’t want to associate with Tian Ruidong and his group was because they were too stupid. So stupid, that he feared should he stand in the same place as them, other people would think he was as stupid as them.

Finished speaking, he bent down to pick up the dagger, wanting to find a clue from it.　

“Wait.”　　　　

A breeze fluttered by, carrying a faint fragrance. Chen Yu raised his head. And he caught sight of a young lady in a white fox cloak slowly approaching. He froze, body still bent in a stooping position.　　

“Young Master Chen, be careful of poison on the dagger.” Hua Liuli stood five steps away from him. She turned her head to Hua Changkong, who had followed her. “Third Brother.”　　　　

Hua Changkong dropped to a crouch to look at the dagger. Rose to his feet. “You should report this to the authorities. There’s a powerful poison on it that kills instantly.” He turned to look at Tian Ruidong. This youngster was lucky. Sometimes, this kind of poison would be smeared on the arrowhead that killed an enemy high-ranking officer on the battlefield. The procedure in making this poison was very troublesome, and as such, very few people in the world could make it. A single drop was priceless. 　　　　

If Tian Ruidong died from this dagger, his death could be considered very expensive.　　

“Report it to the authorities. Report it at once.” Chen Yu’s expression darkened. Then he turned his head and said to the other servants behind him, “Return to the estate and investigate immediately. Find out who’s friendly with that servant, the places he likes to frequent normally, and who he contacted before from outside the estate.”　　　　

The servant in question had entered his estate three to four years ago, and became one of his personal attendants almost two years ago. Never had Chen Yu imagined that this unremarkable person would almost bring disaster to his entire family.

Within the Dali Temple, the head of the department touched his hair that had been thinning ever so more. He sighed deeply. There were many long pending cases in his department. Every day, Prince Ying’s people would carefully follow the case regarding Commandery Princess Fushou’s near poisoning. Not only that, the emperor had the Dali Temple secretly investigate the assassin from the Eastern Palace. He hadn’t been able to sleep well for many days. 　　　　

“Sir.”　　

Noticing the posture of his subordinate as he rushed his way, the head of the Dali Temple knew for certain this: another case occurred that the Jingzhao Government Office was unable to handle, and so was pushed to the Dali Temple.　　

“What happened this time?” The head of the Dali Temple touched his thinly spread hair again, sighing deeply again.　　

“A young master of the Chen family sent someone to report a case. They said an assassin hid themselves by his side, pretending to be a servant. That they tried to assassinate Second Young Master Tian.”　　

“Which Chen family? Which Tian family?” The head of the Dali Temple tried his best to fight it, hoping that those Chen and Tian families weren’t the ones he was thinking about.

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“It’s… Consort Xian’s paternal family and Consort Rong’s paternal family.”　　

His hands trembled, pulling out a few hairs that were basically about to fall off already.　　

As his hand shook, he looked at the hairs cradled in his palm. Furious, the head of the Dali temple said, “What’s going on recently? Even assassins are getting a boom in business now? In just one short month, how many assassination attempts were there?”　　　　

“Sir, you must calm down,” said the deputy head as he entered the room, expression one of tranquility. “One must look at the bright side for everything.” 　　　　

“What positive things are there even to think about?” The head of the Dali Temple threw his beloved, ripped-off hair to the ground. Then he put on his official’s hat. With an envious gaze, he looked at his deputy head’s head full of thick hair. “Nothing good has happened recently.”　　

“Those assassination attempts against the nobility were unsuccessful. For us, that’s already the best thing that could happen.” The deputy head of the Dali Temple, Pei Jihuai, noticed his superior staring at his hair. And he knew that his complex of being unable to see other people with good hair had flared again. With a double meaning in mind, he said, “You should avoid dwelling on unpleasant things.”　　

“The person Prince Ying is obstructing, questioning closely how the case is going, isn’t you people. So of course, you people are free of worries.” The head of the Dali Temple wiped his face, depressed. “Whenever this official sees anyone involved with Prince Ying, I get a headache. Jihuai, this case will be in your hands today. You deal with it.”　　

Not a word left Pei Jihuai’s lips.　　　

The head of the Dali Temple covered the hat on his head with hands, silent as he looked at the deputy head.　　

In a helpless manner, Pei Jihuai bowed with his hands held in front of him. “This humble official accepts the order.”　　

The head of the Dali Temple was pleased. People with a lot of hair should assume more responsibilities. 　　

Pei Jihuai rushed to the scene of the crime. There, he caught sight of a young woman to the side of Tian Ruidong and the other pampered and hedonistic young nobles. The first thought in his mind: That young lady’s hair is truly smooth and she has a lot of it.　　　

“I heard something serious happened here?” said a man behind him with a voice that was pleasant to the ears, yet did not lose out in being dignified. Pei Jihuai turned around to look, discovering a carriage behind him that appeared out of nowhere. Surrounding the carriage were guards. 　　

The door curtain of the carriage swayed a hint. Then a fair hand raised it, exposing who was sitting within.　　　　

“This humble subject pays respects to Your Highness the crown prince,” said Pei Jihuai, promptly saluting.　　

“Deputy Head Pei need not be so polite in public.” The crown prince disembarked from the carriage. “I just came here for a look as I wished.” He turned his head, looking at the numerous  hedonistic young noblemen. He slightly arched a brow. “With so many people, it’s very lively.”　　

“Your Highness,” said Hua Liuli, noticing the crown prince. She slipped her hands out of her cloak and curtsied toward him.

“Why is this girl here?” The crown prince stepped toward her. He noticed that the cloak covered more than half of her fair face. Reached out to pull at the fox fur on the side of the cloak. “Did you go watch the cuju match today?”　　

“Third Brother brought me along to join in the excitement. Your Highness, were you there as well?” Hua Liuli pulled at the cloak’s hood. “Why didn’t this official’s daughter see you?”　　

“I did not attend.” The crown prince clasped his hands behind his back. “A retired court official fell ill. I represented Imperial Father in paying him a visit.”　　　　

Then the crown prince said to the Pei Jihuai on the side, “Pei Jihuai, go investigate the case. There’s no need to mind me.”　　

“Understood.” With you, a crown prince, around, who could stop themselves from paying attention to you?”

On a teahouse across the street, a man smashed a teacup against his subordinate’s head.　　　　

“There’s no way it’ll fail? Huh?!”　　

“May Young Master have mercy.”　　

“If I spare you, then how can I face Master?!” The man got to his feet. Kicked his subordinate’s shoulder. “The last useless person who told me no accident would occur had their corpse buried in Yellow River County. Grass has already started sprouting from their burial mound.”　　　　

“Begging Young Master to give this subordinate one more chance.” The subordinate was beaten bloody and bruised, yet dared not say anything else. “This subordinate will definitely succeed.”　　

“I don’t want to hear these words anymore.” The man was angered to the point where both eyes were bloodshot.　　　　

“Then… then this subordinate will change the phrasing,” he promptly said. “This subordinate will certainly perform this task beautifully.”　　

“Hah.” The man sneered. He wanted to drink some tea to calm himself, yet when he reached out for the teacup, he remembered that he had smashed it on someone. He could not help but kick his subordinate again. “I don’t care what you people do. Capture the Hua clan’s commandery princess.”

He would not allow a woman who had destroyed his plans three times to have an easy death.　　

“Yes, this subordinate accepts the order.”　　　　

Once his master had left, the subordinate narrowed his eyes as he stared at the opposite street, trying to see more clearly.　　

Originally, his murder techniques and qinggong were the best among all the other assassins. However, because of his inadequate vision, he could only be ranked third among them.　　

The doctor said it was because he had only eaten meat as a child, and did not eat any vegetables.　　

In his opinion, that doctor spouted complete nonsense. Rabbits ate grass every day, but weren’t their eyes red?　　

“Eldest Brother,” whispered another subordinate of that man as he approached. “Young Master lied to you. The burial mound of the last person who failed their task hasn’t grown any grass.”　　　　

“He hasn’t died yet?” A wave of relief washed over the first subordinate.　　

“That’s not it.” The other subordinate shook his head. “Since it’s winter, the grass couldn’t grow.”　　

“Get lost.”