Chapter Fifteen: Oriole in the Rear

  On the same day, assassins from Southern Chu suddenly arrived, and all of Emperor Wen's guards were killed. Emperor Wen was shot by an arrow and nearly lost his life, but was saved thanks to General Pei Yunqing.

  The Book of Southern Chu · Biography of Jiang Suiyun

  Pei Yun was greatly startled. Although he didn't turn around, he could sense my presence and asked aloud: "Lord Jiang, what's wrong?"

  I took out a jade bottle from my bosom, swallowed one of the medicine pills inside, and the surging blood in my chest gradually calmed down. I raised my head and said faintly: 'I know you have always been serving Prince Wang, if it wasn't for you being ordered to protect Mr. Rong in Xiangyang that day, perhaps His Highness wouldn't have encountered an assassination attempt.'

  The middle-aged man slightly lowered his head, and a hint of tears flashed in the corner of his eyes. He said coldly: "Lord Jiang had deep feelings for His Highness in the past, traveling thousands of miles to rescue him. Unfortunately, His Highness's fortune was thin, and before he passed away, he privately told me that if Lord Jiang were to surrender to Da Yong, South Chu would be in danger. He asked me to take an oath that if such a thing happened, I must take Lord Jiang's life. His Highness said that Lord Jiang would understand his intentions. Assassinating Lord Jiang was something His Highness did for the sake of South Chu, and he begged Lord Jiang to forgive him, a dead man."

  I said calmly: 'I won't blame Your Highness, you remained loyal to Nanchu until your death, but I don't have much loyalty. The fact that you could tolerate Su Yun while you were alive has already made Su Yun extremely grateful. Don't worry, if I survive today, I will not forget what you entrusted me with back then, and if there's an opportunity, I will definitely not betray your trust.'

  That middle-aged man's expression changed, then returned to normal, and he said calmly: "Jiang Suiyun is indeed extraordinary. This time I killed you, it was also my own idea. The rise and fall of the country, every ordinary person has a responsibility. I couldn't bear to see Nan Chu perish. In the past, the Emperor often sighed in front of me, saying that if Jiang Gongzi were willing to wholeheartedly assist Nan Chu, then the country would be forever stable. If Gongzi were to betray and join Da Ying, then Nan Chu would perish without a day. With internal and external troubles like this, if I didn't kill you, I would regret it later."

  I glanced at him, just about to continue speaking, anyway delaying time wasn't bad either. But he seemed to have seen through my thoughts, his figure pounced towards me, Pei Yun met him head-on, and the two exchanged several moves in an instant. The fierce gust of killing intent forced me back into a corner.

  As I watched them struggle, my mind fell into memories. When I first returned to Jianye from Shu, I encountered great changes. During my convalescence, Xiao Shunzi had already discovered that the Duke of De had sent someone to monitor me. Although I knew there wouldn't be any immediate changes, it was still necessary to be cautious. After establishing a secret camp, I had Xiao Shunzi investigate the people around the Duke of De. This poisonous hand and evil heart were one of the Duke's most trusted confidants. He always hid in the shadows, skilled at assassination. Although due to the Duke's temperament, this person hadn't played much of a role, I had already listed him as a threatening figure. Now, he appeared when I was off guard. Who would have thought that after the Prince's death, he would assassinate me, an ordinary surrendered minister, in the heavily guarded Yongwang Fu? Alas, back then I knew about the Duke's loyal and devoted heart, but I didn't expect him to leave behind a final order to deal with me before his death. Although I can forgive, my heart still feels cold as ice.

  I looked ahead with a wry smile, Pei Yun was engaged in a fierce battle with Du Shou Xie Xin, his moves seemed simple and clear, but they were like a copper wall and iron fortress, blocking Du Shou Xie Xin's deadly attacks that were as elusive as quicksilver. Although it ended in a draw, I could see the gravity in Pei Yun's expression, and I knew he was at a disadvantage. Looking around the room, there was only one window, the door was blocked by the two fighters, I dragged my tired body to the window, pushed it open with great effort, but unfortunately, outside was a thorny rose bush. This garden had been tidied up, but it wasn't spring yet, so there were still many wildflowers and weeds, such as the wild roses outside the window, which hadn't bloomed yet, but their stems were covered in sharp thorns. If I jumped out, I would likely be covered in wounds, I shuddered at the thought and decided not to jump unless absolutely necessary.

  At this time, the poisonous hand evil heart was already somewhat anxious. He wasn't easy to mix into the Yong Wang Fu, and although he had been in the palace for some days, the rules were strict here. He couldn't get close to Jiang Zhe normally, as there were many guards around him every day, and a team of patrolling guards would pass by every quarter of an hour. If they were startled, even if he had three heads and six arms, he wouldn't be able to escape. Moreover, the little Shunzi beside Jiang Zhe was unknown for his martial arts skills, but the poisonous hand evil heart was also a top-notch master. He couldn't see what it represented, but he knew very well that today's opportunity had come, and little Shunzi wasn't in the Cold Garden. Today, the Yong Wang banquet guest, a large number of guards were in front, and the defense of the Cold Garden was much looser. According to his observation, there would be patrolling guards passing by half an hour later, so he boldly killed all the guards and hid their bodies. This way, he could have a comfortable time to assassinate Jiang Zhe. The only thing he didn't expect was that there was actually a Shaolin master beside Jiang Zhe, who used the Luohan Fist to defend against his attack. The poisonous hand evil heart's face turned blood red, and his mouth corner oozed out fresh blood. His palm technique suddenly changed, and his power increased several times. With a loud "peng" sound, the two palms clashed, and Pei Yun's face turned pale as he retreated a step. Before he could even counterattack, the poisonous hand evil heart had already pounced on him again like a shadow.

  Bang, bang, bang! Three consecutive strikes forced Pei Yun to retreat three steps back, almost hitting the table. In the midst of the palm wind, the wine jug was affected, and in an instant, the jug shattered and wine splashed everywhere. Pei Yun quickly reacted, taking a step back and using one foot to kick the wine jug into mid-air. Then, with a slap of his hand, a strong gust of wind blew out, filling the entire room with wine water mixed with Pei Yun's true energy.

  The poisonous hand, Evil Heart, had no choice but to use both hands to draw out countless palm shadows in front of him, blocking these "hidden weapons". At this moment, Pei Yun rushed over to me, picked me up onto his shoulder, and charged towards the window. The shattered wooden planks hit my face, causing a stinging sensation.

  Pei Yun's leather boots didn't hesitate as he stepped on the dry rose bush, and before I knew it, we were already in the garden.

  A loud shout of anger erupted behind me, and the Poisonous Hand Evil Heart had already charged out. His figure was as swift as lightning, pouncing on me to kill. Pei Yun tightly protected me, although the situation became even more perilous. The Poisonous Hand Evil Heart's martial arts were skilled in attacking from all sides, making Pei Yun's defense strained. However, the open terrain also had its advantages. Pei Yun shielded me as we dodged and weaved, barely preserving my life for the time being. But this couldn't go on; I had just fallen ill, and my limbs were numb and weak. In this state of constant evasion, I was already panting heavily. I feared that if this continued for another ten or eight moves, I would collapse.

  Pei Yun also saw the danger and thought to himself that he had no choice but to go all out. His face suddenly became solemn and stern, with a hint of golden color on his skin. He stopped dodging and threw himself at Du Shou Xie Xin, who was shocked by Pei Yun's majestic appearance and exclaimed: "Invincible Vajra Power!" Without hesitation, the two figures clashed, separated abruptly, and then Pei Yun seemed to feel nothing and charged back again. Du Shou Xie Xin's face turned pale, which was the first time he had lost in an internal power struggle against Pei Yun. However, he didn't know that Pei Yun wasn't feeling well either. His Invincible Vajra Power had only reached 70% of its full potential, and this time he used it without regard for his own life. If he exceeded one incense stick's worth of time, he would likely suffer severe internal injuries, even if his life was spared, he wouldn't be able to make progress in the future. Although it was a risk, Pei Yun still didn't hesitate, not because of Jiang Zhe's kindness towards him, nor to curry favor with Emperor Yong, nor to protect the surrendered officials of Southern Chu who brought benefits to Da Yong. He had no intention of making achievements in his heart. At this moment, his only thought was the teachings of his master when he accepted Pei Yun as a disciple - "Protect the kind and innocent." He never thought that Jiang Zhe's surrender to Da Yong was a shameful act.

  Although I don't understand martial arts, I also know that transcending the ordinary will inevitably have consequences. Pei Yun's sudden increase in martial arts skills must not be sustainable. Seeing the poisonous hand and evil heart entwining him, I quickly ran towards the entrance of the Cold Garden. There should be the bodies of the guards there. As long as I find the copper whistles on them, I can seek help. Those copper whistles are exquisitely crafted, even if I blow them, they can let the whole mansion hear.

  The poisonous hand and evil heart had wanted to kill me several times, but were blocked by Pei Yun. His killing intent grew stronger, his face turned blood red again, and his power increased. This time he couldn't hold back and spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. With a fierce palm strike, he knocked Pei Yun back and was about to pounce on me to kill me. Just as Pei Yun had desperately blocked him, for a moment, he hesitated. The Tian Mo Jie Ti Da Fa (Devil's Body Severing Great Method) would cause his own seven orifices to bleed if used more than three times, although his power could increase by threefold. However, afterwards, he might need to rest for several years. After some thought, he believed that his power and martial skills were superior to this young man, and with just ten more moves, he could kill him. By then, it would still be possible for him to go after Jiang Zhe.

  I rushed to the entrance of the Cold Garden, and found the body of the guard in the grass. But my heart immediately turned cold, those copper whistles were thrown next to the corpse, but they had all been destroyed. The poisonous hand and evil heart indeed did things meticulously. I looked around blankly, what to do, what to do, I'm afraid I won't be able to escape at all. Gnashing my teeth, I looked around again, where could I hide? Not that I wanted to flee in disarray, but if I left, Pei Yun could still escape, and if I didn't leave, Pei Yun would only have the road of war death. Suddenly, I remembered that there were some poisonous medicines hidden in the residence, and I hurriedly walked back into the garden, stumbling and running towards the residence.

  The two who were fighting saw me come back, the poisonous hand and evil heart let out a sigh of relief, thinking that as long as he was still here, they could focus on fighting this person. With this slight relaxation, Pei Yun felt much more at ease, but in his heart, he was extremely anxious, wondering why Jiang Zhe had come back again.

  The two of them had doubts in their hearts and exchanged a few more moves. Pei Yun was already somewhat unable to hold on, thinking to himself: "I didn't think I would die not on the battlefield, but in the cold garden of the Yong Wang Fu, at the hands of an assassin." Although this was the case, his will remained firm and he refused to relax. The Poisonous Hand Evil Heart was also not in a hurry, as after another moment, he would be able to complete his task. At this time, I hastily walked out with a steel cylinder in hand, looking towards the two who were bitterly fighting each other, and loudly said: "General Pei, rest assured, although this poison is potent, it won't kill you immediately. I will give you an antidote."

  As I spoke, I pressed the mechanism towards the two of them, and a red bullet shot out from the cylinder, exploding above their heads. A pinkish smoke immediately enveloped the two of them. Du Shouxin was shocked, knowing that Jiang Zhe was well-versed in medicine, so it was normal for him to have some poison on hand for self-defense. He quickly flew backwards, trying to retreat, but was caught by Pei Yun's desperate counterattack. He had no choice but to hold his breath. Unexpectedly, as soon as the smoke came into contact with his skin, he felt numbness in all four limbs. Pei Yun also felt the same way, but since he practiced authentic Buddhist divine skills, he endured for over a dozen breaths before striking Du Shouxin's abdomen with a palm strike. Du Shouxin's body shook violently and fell to the ground, but was also pushed out of the smoke by the force of Pei Yun's palm. Meanwhile, Pei Yun himself stumbled and fell to the ground as well.

  I was overjoyed and hastily ran over, pouring the antidote from a jade bottle into Pei Yun's mouth. In an instant, he sat up, his voice hoarse as he said: "The poison has been neutralized, don't worry, I'll escort you to a safe place."

  I helped Pei Yun up and thanked him sincerely: "Thanks for saving me, General. Let's hurry and leave. If there are more assassins, it'll be bad."

  Pei Yun also thought so, if there were still assassins, he would be powerless to protect me. The two of us walked towards the garden gate, supporting each other, both exhausted. As soon as we stepped out of the garden gate, I suddenly sensed a killing aura in the distance and heard the soft sound of a bowstring. A white-feathered arrow had already flown into my heart like a swift current. I stared blankly at the arrow on my chest and the blood that immediately seeped out, never thinking that my life would be lost in this way. Strangely, I felt no fear or hatred in my heart; I didn't blame the person who killed me. In the world, the strong prey on the weak; he must have had his reasons. Looking towards the direction where the arrow came from, the assassin hiding in the shadows with a bow and arrow was also coldly staring at me. He wore a blue shirt, with a snow-white silk scarf covering his face, and a pair of clear eyes like spring water looked at me with a hint of regret. I could feel my life slipping away. Pei Yun's cry of surprise reached my ears, but I no longer had the strength to think much. Before I died, a fragrant shadow floated into my mind, followed by a small, gentle blue figure, and finally, the image of that delicate young man who always followed me appeared. My vision was already unclear; in a daze, I saw Xiao Shunzi rushing towards me with an expression of extreme shock. What a pity! I didn't have the chance to entrust him to take care of Lanlan. However, I thought he would understand. With a faint smile and regret, I finally closed my eyes, and my consciousness sank into the endless abyss, sinking deeper and deeper.

  So I didn't hear that mournful and despairing cry.

  In the grand hall of Yong Wang Fu, Li Zhi smiled and toasted to the guests. His eyes swept across the crowd, Qin Qing had excused himself shortly after the banquet began. Li Zhi already knew that he seemed to have some disagreement with Jiang Zhe in Hanyuan, but judging from his expression, it should have been resolved by now. Although there were still some remaining grudges, it shouldn't be a big deal. Oh, Xiahou Lan and his son Xiahou Yuanfeng had both arrived at the banquet. Xiahou Yuanfeng held a lower position and was dining in a side hall. This person couldn't be underestimated, having gained favor with the Emperor for many years without decline wasn't easy. If he hadn't already pledged allegiance to the Crown Prince, he might have even tried to win over the Princess himself. A master of both literature and martial arts, he was indeed the top young expert in the Great Yong army, having secured the first place after defeating Pei Yun. Pei Yun didn't come, but Li Zhi had high hopes for him. Although he was a former subordinate of the Qi King, he was also a layman expert from Shaolin and had some dissatisfaction with the Fengyi Sect. He should be winnable over. It was a pity that he didn't come, but there would still be opportunities in the future.

  Li Zai's gaze swept over, seeing the small Shunzi standing at the corner of the hall in a servant's attire, with a pair of cold eyes looking at the officials on the hall. This little Shunzi was only loyal to Jiang Zhe, and although he didn't know how his martial arts were, he shouldn't be weaker than Pei Yun and Xia Hou Yuanfeng. He was a reliable subordinate. Seeing him take the initiative to observe those who might be enemy guests here, one could see his intentions. If not for his loyalty, Li Zai would have considered arranging for him to serve in the palace in the future.

  At this time, Li Zuo saw a guard hurry in and whisper something to Gou Jian, who was in charge of the banquet arrangements. Gou Jian's brow furrowed, and he gave some orders before walking over to Xiao Shunzi and saying a few words. Xiao Shunzi's face changed color, and he quietly retreated. Gou Jian was approaching Li Zuo, but just then several high-ranking officials from the imperial court surrounded him, and Li Zuo couldn't extricate himself for a moment. When Gou Jian finally found an opportunity to approach him, he said in a low voice: "Your Highness, something is amiss. The deputy commander who was protecting Su Yun, Hu Shiwei, and two of his subordinates were ambushed and killed at the inner court, along with two eunuchs' corpses. I've already sent people to protect Jiang Sima."

  Li Zai was shocked and hastily said: "I want to go take a look." Guo Jian said: "At this time, Your Highness is probably unable to escape."

  Just then, a clear and mournful cry came from the direction of the Cold Garden. The cry was filled with a desperate sorrow, a grief that seemed to pierce the heart, and a hatred that seemed to sear the soul. The voice was sharp and shrill, and although it was distant, it still made one's ears ache. Li Zhi's wine cup fell to the ground, shattering into pieces. His heart was filled with an ominous premonition, for he knew that only one thing could have caused such a cry. Suddenly standing up, Li Zhi bellowed: "Everyone listen! Guard the Wang Mansion above and below, regardless of rank or status, no one is allowed to enter or exit without permission. Follow me!" With that, Li Zhi shook out his brocade robe and rushed towards the Cold Garden. His anxiety was greater than when Jiang Zhe had refused him before. As he walked, he silently prayed to heaven, willing to sacrifice his own life in exchange for Jiang Zhe's safety.

  Rushing to the Cold Garden, Li Zuo found that it had already been occupied by the guards he had sent ahead. As soon as he entered the garden gate, he was stunned to see that the ground was covered with crimson blood and signs of a fierce battle. Except for his own guards, there was no sign of Jiang Zhe or his servants. In front of the residence door, several guards stood like cold cicadas. Li Zuo walked to the door in a daze and saw Jiang Zhe lying on the soft couch, his face pale but serene, with a broken arrow shaft stuck in his chest. Xiao Shunzi was kneeling in front of the couch, tightly grasping Jiang Zhe's right hand.

  Li Zai felt a severe pain in his chest and almost fainted, unable to utter half a sentence.