Chapter 4 Frost Descent (Part One)

  Lai Wan Chun was arranged to rest and recuperate, and someone was sent to invite Nan Xi Yun, entrusting him to serve as a temporary bodyguard for a few days, lest someone with red eyes would make a crazy move. Only then did Zhang Xun and Wang Xun breathe a sigh of relief, spurring their horses towards the Wan Nian County government office.

  Back on the streets, the two suddenly found that there were very few people on the street today. It was already approaching noon, and many shops on both sides of the road were deserted. Even if a few occasionally came out to shop, they would drop off their money, buy things and leave. They didn't want to stay on the streets for another moment.

  Wang Xuan felt a sense of unease in his heart, this was completely different from the Chang'an he remembered. He sent his servant Wang Xiang to ask around and find out what had happened. Half a while later, Wang Xiang ran back, panting heavily, and reported in a low voice: "Last night, the Yamen of Wannian County said they were going to catch a big thief from the rivers and lakes, so they searched several inns that often had guests staying overnight. But this morning, around 3 o'clock, they suddenly withdrew without warning. Nobody knows what happened, so everyone is being extra cautious..."

  Wang Huan and Zhang Xun exchanged a bitter smile, both understanding in their hearts why this storm had suddenly subsided. It was probably because Yang Guozhong had already received the news from Empress Wei's residence and took decisive action, forcing the yamen of Chang'an and Wan Nian counties to retreat.

  The immortals finally took action themselves. The two of them smiled wryly and shook their heads, feeling both helpless and a little lost. A few days ago, no one had expected things to develop to this point. But the experiences of these past few days made everyone, including Wang Xun, realize more about the powerful people of the Tang Dynasty.

  He arrived at the county government office, handed over the package, and the officer on duty went in to report. Before long, Sun Ruyu, the head of the guards, rushed out with his buttocks shaking, saw Wang Xun from a distance, and immediately shouted loudly in front of everyone, "Ah, I said my nephew! You don't do good business, why are you always running to me? Don't you know how busy it is in the government office these days? Can't you talk about anything when you go home?"

  One side was shouting, while constantly making eye contact with Wang Xuan. Through the previous few interactions, Wang Xuan had already grasped this person's temperament and immediately smiled, cupped his hands in apology, "Elder brother, I didn't know you were so busy. I was passing by here at noon and thought maybe elder brother would have some free time to drink a cup of tea together, so I came over without thinking! Or should you attend to your business first, and I'll come find you at home tonight?"

  "Now that you're here, don't drag it out till night. You, don't be so reckless in the future!" Captain Sun Ruyu's face grew darker as he spoke, his eyes rolling in annoyance. Turning around, he forced a smile at the gate guard, "Brothers, my younger cousin is spoiled and doesn't understand things..."

  "Let Sun go and attend to his business. Anyway, the master is not here at the moment. If anyone asks later, we'll just say you went to the toilet!" The gatekeeper who had just received a bribe from "Kong Youfang" couldn't help but give some face to "Zhou Kuohao". He smiled and waved his hand lightly.

  "Then I'll be lazy for a while!" Sun Bowei made a bow to everyone, then turned his head to Wang Xun, "Let's go, there's a teahouse not far from here, we'll go and have something to fill our stomachs. Your wife is a country woman, her cooking is too salty..."

  Wang Xuan smiled and pulled Zhang Zhou to follow Sun Ruyu from behind. Not far from the county government gate, they turned a corner and arrived at a very quiet small teahouse. Since the teahouse was opened near the government office, the passing guests were definitely not there for tea. Therefore, the teahouse owner also understood the thoughts of the guests and set up many private rooms on the second floor. Each room used double-layered wooden boards with straw in between as walls, so even if the guests' voices were slightly louder, they didn't have to worry about being overheard through the walls.

  Sun Ruyu had clearly been here before. He led Wang Xun, stumbling and staggering to the innermost room on the second floor. After ordering his assistant to bring tea, he closed the door tightly and lowered his voice to explain to Wang Xun, "Just now, Young Master Hou thought I was just farting, don't take it to heart. I had no choice either, recently the rumors have been a bit tight, the yamen is always suspicious..."

  "Eldest brother, don't be polite!" Wang Xuan shook his head and smiled, "In front of outsiders, you should say what you need to say. I know in my heart that you're doing it for my own good."

  "After all, Master Hou is more understanding than us errand boys!" Sun Ruyu smiled and clasped his hands together, as if to make amends for his earlier behavior. "To be honest with you, even if you didn't come yourself, I would have definitely gone to your mansion tonight to look for you. Your friend's matter has become a big trouble!"

  "What's wrong? Can't Brother Wang handle the trouble?" King Xuan sat down with a smile, casually hiding a small silver ingot under his fingers.

  "It's not about being even or not, Young Master doesn't know the whole story... Seeing the white color of the silver ingot peeking out from between his fingers, Sun Ruyu's eyes lit up immediately. "This matter is a bit complicated. Let me put it this way, until yesterday everything was fine. Although the old master asked about the case, I used the money you rewarded me with to bribe the necessary brothers, so even though Wén brothers got beaten again with 40 boards, they didn't get any new injuries. But this morning, the steward of Yang's Imperial Bodyguard came to our house with a name card and ordered my master to release Wén brothers on the spot. My master hesitated for a moment, then that steward spoke harshly in front of all the brothers, telling my master to weigh his options carefully. Look at this, isn't this like someone shitting on our neck? My master may not be great, but he's still the county magistrate of the second county under heaven! How can some lowly steward from Yang's Imperial Bodyguard give orders to Wan Nian County government?"

  "Is your family's situation difficult for Yuwen Zida?" Wang Xun was shocked and asked anxiously. He had only considered that after forcing Yang Guozhong to take action, the pressure on Yuwen Zhi would be reduced a bit. But he did not expect that Yang Guozhong would play such a trick, openly asking the Wan Nian County government office for someone, but in reality using a borrowed knife to force the Wan Nian County government office to torment Yuwen Zhi to death.

  "Not yet." Sun Ruyu glanced at the silver ingot under Wang Cong's finger and swallowed a mouthful of saliva, "My family head originally wanted to find trouble with your friend immediately, but last night, the first catcher of this county, Xue Rongguang, suddenly fell ill and didn't come today. My family head is worried about his health, so after receiving the report from his family, he temporarily put aside the idea of punishing your friend and rushed to the Xue's house!"

  "Do you know what disease Xue Tou'er has contracted? How is his condition?" Wang Song opened his fingers and pushed the silver ingot over.

  "I don't know!" Sun Ruyu saw the silver and immediately forgot everything, his hands pounced on it, quickly pressing it down. "I really don't know, the messenger didn't arrive until almost noon, being very mysterious, I'm guessing this illness won't be light!"

  "What's the hurry, no one can snatch it from you!" As for this kind of person, Wang Xuan knew he had already learned how to deal with them. "However, I'll say something ugly upfront, if Yuwen Zidao has any dealings with you and gives you money, I'll get it back with tenfold interest. Don't believe me? You can try!"

  "I, I dare not! Young Master Hou, aren't you trying to take my life?" Sun Ruyu's mouth twitched, and his voice immediately took on a crying tone. He had spent half his life in poverty, almost exhausting all his savings just to bribe his superior to transfer him to Chang'an as the head of the capture squad. Currently, all the remaining wealth in his hands was almost entirely obtained from Wang Cong's hands, and each time he had to give up a large portion to grease his superior and colleagues, soon it would be gone. If Wang Cong were to demand repayment with ten times the interest in the future, even if not a single penny more, it would be enough to force him to sell his children."

  "I don't want anyone's life, I just want to save my friend's life. As for letting him out, I'll continue to ask someone to help. But if he dies in prison, you also know the temper of my other friends......" Wang Xuan smiled slightly, his fingers tapping slowly on the table.

  "I know, I know!" Sun Ruyu hastily expressed himself, "I've done my best, I've already done my best. But, Young Master Hou, I'm new here! There are many things in the yamen that I just can't get involved in! My master at home still trusts those few from before."

  "Isn't Xue caught a disease?" Zhang Xun suddenly interjected, who had been sitting beside him without saying a word.

  "Really?" Sun Ruyu was taken aback and responded casually.

  "Who else is the confidant of your family's master besides Xue? For example, when he wants to do something shady, who usually gets involved?" Zhang Xun continued to ask, staring into Sun Ruyu's eyes.

  "This guy!" Sun Ruyu shuddered, not daring to make eye contact with Zhang Zhou, lowering his head, thinking deeply and responding slowly, "The first one is definitely Sheriff Xue. The second is probably Master Scribe. However, he doesn't really manage the affairs of the yamen. There's also Old Li, the prison head, but that guy belongs to the type who only cares about his own interests. As for the others, it's hard to say. Anyway, everyone does this job to make a living. For trivial matters, if County Magistrate says something, everyone is willing to run errands. If County Magistrate goes too far, no one wants to lose their rice bowl just for his praise."

  "You also know that there are people who will lose their meals? That County Magistrate is planning to get rid of Yuwen Zidao in prison, right?" Zhang Xun smiled slightly, his eyes growing colder.

  "I don't know!" Sun Ruyu dodged to the side, instinctively trying to talk his way out of it. But he was pinned down by Zhang Xun's sharp gaze, leaving him nowhere to escape. He gritted his teeth and said in a low voice, "I really don't understand much. I'm new here, they keep things from me. Almost everyone in this yamen is either someone from my family or someone loyal to Captain Xue. If I interfere too much, I'll probably end up getting myself into trouble!"

  "Then don't you think, in this matter, can your family's elder really afford to take the blame? He's a scholar, he can't possibly do it himself! If you help him with this favor, aren't you afraid that after things come to light, he'll push all the responsibility onto your heads?" Zhang Zhou slapped his hand on the table, interrogating them like a suspect.

  "I'm just a errand boy, I don't dare to think too much." Sun Ruyu still lowered his head, his voice full of grievance. "They can do whatever they want, I won't ask more questions or get involved!"

  "I advise Brother Xue to think carefully!" Zhang You shook his head, with an expression that seemed to be smiling yet not smiling. "This case, you know clearly in your heart, has already implicated the Imperial Censor-in-Chief and the Grand Minister Yang Guozhong. Your family's superior is probably just a errand boy in this matter. If it gets out of hand in the end, he may not be able to cover everything up with one hand. Once he turns against you, even if you haven't done anything, will you get any good results?"

  "To be honest, everyone's heart isn't at ease either. But what can we do? He is our superior after all." Sun Ruyu sighed and said somewhat despondently.

  "So Xue caught a cold. If you don't cheat, then it's fine, but once you start telling lies, Zhang Zhou can talk his way out of it. Yesterday afternoon, he was probably still fine! But overnight, he became so ill that he couldn't get out of bed. Is it because he did too many bad things and suddenly got punished? Why is the steward of Yang Guozhong's mansion being so arrogant? Doesn't he know how to retreat and avoid trouble when necessary? You think about it carefully, and advise those close to you as well. Your family's superior can risk his life for promotion, but what are you risking your life for? That's all I have to say, now it's up to you!"

  Having said that, he stood up and walked out. Sun Ruyu shivered again and hurriedly caught up with him, tightly grasping Zhang Zhou's sleeve, "Zhou brother, Zhou brother, don't be angry. I will definitely think of a way to save the Wuwen brothers. Even if it means sacrificing my own future, I will make sure they safely pass through this disaster."

  "It won't take long to drag you down, I just hope you can keep Zida safe for seven days. Maybe it won't even take seven days, and you'll see the outcome with your own eyes!" With a forceful flick of his wrist, Zhang Zhou's aura became overwhelmingly fierce in an instant.

  "Ah!" Sun Captor was stunned again, taking a step back, unable to believe his ears and eyes. What kind of background did this Zhou Kuang have? At first, he didn't pay attention to him at all. But looking at it today, not only is he familiar with the intricacies of the yamen, but also has an air of authority that's probably far above that of Wang Xiao Houye.

  What kind of person would be able to make the young master of the Wang family follow him? Sun Ruyu didn't dare think about it anymore. Connecting it to the rumors about Captain Xue being severely injured by assassins in his own home, he suddenly realized that the waters in the capital were really too deep. It was not something that a small-time captain from outside like him could handle. Perhaps with just a slight carelessness, he would step into the whirlpool and lose his life.

  If I had known this, why did I have to climb over the wall and steal into the capital in the first place? Isn't this just asking for trouble? He silently scolded himself, suddenly filled with regret.

  Note from Wine Slave: Tomorrow I'll be accompanying my wife for a prenatal checkup, so tomorrow (Tuesday) will only have one update. Apologies in advance.