Chapter Seventeen: Sorry

  Luoyang Qianhu Suo

  There were three people sitting in the hall, with Vice Commander Zhao Xi in the middle, Commander Wu Yuanhao on the right and another Commander Sun Jie on the left.

  In front of them were Wu Fan and Guo Yang's corpses, the commander-in-chief.

  Yingyangwei is the emperor's personal army, and it's also a deformed dark organization. The more such places are, the stricter the rules are, even harsh. If there are grudges or grievances among people in Yingyangwei, you can use some underhanded means to put your opponent to death, but on the surface, you must be bright and beautiful. Just like Wu Fan's public execution of Guo Ye, it was undoubtedly not taking care of the surface, letting the inside leak out.

  Wu Fan couldn't help but secretly lament his bad luck. Not only had he drawn a trump card from the system that was supposed to be his ace in the hole, only to have it beaten by his own wife, but he had also been falsely accused and gotten himself into trouble with the authorities. The fact that two deputy commanders of the Luoyang Garrison had come out together to deal with this matter made it clear just how difficult it would be to resolve. Especially since... Wu Fan had already shown malicious intent towards a superior official just a few days ago.

  The atmosphere in the hall was silent, and none of the three eagle guards wanted to speak first, each thinking about how this matter should end in order to gain the greatest benefit for themselves.

  After a long while, Wu Fan's forehead was already sweating, he took a deep breath, and with an uncontrollable fist and cupped hands, said: "Three nobles! Please allow this official to defend himself!"

  "Speak up! I'd like to see what you have to say. A country has its laws, a family has its rules. The Imperial Guard is the Emperor's personal army, representing the Emperor's dignity. The Emperor has always advocated for filial piety, yet you repeatedly kill your own brothers! You're truly beyond salvation! Mad! Even if they were guilty, even if it was a grave crime, couldn't you have reported it instead of taking matters into your own hands?"

  Zhao Xi is Wu Fan's thigh, and this time Wu Fan has made a big deal out of it. He is naturally somewhat annoyed in his heart, after all, no matter how the matter is handled, it is far from what he had thought, with a big gap. However, he still wants to make excuses for Wu Fan. If he can't even protect Wu Fan, who will be willing to listen to him in the future? Who will be willing to work for him?

  Wu Fan slightly raised his head and asked calmly, "May I ask the three of you, is there a clause in the Imperial Laws that states 'Private possession of bows and crossbows, punishable by beheading'?"

  The other two commanders did not say a word, and Zhao Xi could only nod and say, "Yes."

  Wu Fan pursed his lips and said, "If I may ask the three of you again, if... I mean to say, if someone wanted to kill your families... what would you do?" He paused for a moment, then pointed at Guo Yang's corpse with indignation, saying, "What was Guo Yang trying to do? In the middle of the night, not sleeping at home, wearing night clothes and running outside my house, almost shooting me dead while I was practicing martial arts! I hid and concealed myself, but you all saw that arrow, didn't you? He wanted to set fire to the house and kill my wife! Could I just stay hidden? If I hadn't used a trick to cut off his bowstring and fought him to the death, perhaps today you would be asking about Guo Yang instead!"

  After finishing speaking, Wu looked up at the roof with a 45-degree angle, and the tears of grievance in his eyes turned around, which really made people feel moved.

  Well done!

  Deputy Commander Zhao's eyebrows rose, and he was about to take a step ahead to settle the matter once and for all.

  Unexpectedly...

  Wu Yuanhao's timely interjection came, and he said in a low voice: "General Guo Ye was ordered by me to monitor you. The reason is simple, I suspect that you have colluded with the Maitreya Sect."

  Wu Fan's heart suddenly skipped a beat, and he felt somewhat guilty.

  "Wu Zhihui, you can't just say anything! You can eat a meal in a mess, but you can't speak nonsense!" Zhao Xi suddenly narrowed his eyes and said: "Wu Xiaoqi just made a great achievement yesterday, leading the brothers to attack and destroy the camp of the Maitreya teachings' evil people, beheading over a thousand people. The Maitreya teachings' evil people haven't even had time to hate him yet, and you're saying he's colluding with them? Hmph! If you say that, then I'll say you have a connection with the Maitreya teachings' evil people too! Who can't speak nonsense with their eyes open?"

  Bang!

  Wu Yuanhao slapped the armrest of the chair with a loud bang, stood up suddenly, his eyes wide with anger, and shouted: "Get out!"

  "Gasp!"

  The conductor who had been watching the play all along let out a big and loud fart.

  Wu Yuanhao's face suddenly turned bright red with anger, uncontrollable rage.

  Sun Jie was a bit older, with an old-fashioned look on his face. He sat down in that direction and looked honest and reliable. Seeing Wu Yanhao like this, he hurriedly smiled and said: "Sorry, sorry, I was greedy for food in the morning..."

  Zhao Xi leaned back in his chair, not intimidated by Wu Yuanhao at all. He said with a sinister tone: "I'm even more suspicious of you now! Commander Wu, if you weren't colluding with the Maitreya Sect's demonic people, why are you so agitated? Are you angry because I exposed your true identity?" Before Wu Yuanhao could say anything, Zhao Xi turned serious and continued: "Let's not talk about these useless things for now. I'd like to ask a question, Commander Wu. Since you ordered Guo Yan to monitor Wu Xiaoqi, do you have any orders? And where did Guo Yan get the crossbow from? I've had people investigate, and it's not from the Thousand Households' Armory! Just based on this point alone, even if Wu Fan killed him, it wouldn't be excessive!"

  Wu Yuanhao was speechless for a long time, squeezed by Zhao Xi's reasonable and well-founded words, and stared at Wu Fan fiercely, sitting on the chair that had been broken by him, feeling suffocated.

  Zhao Xi stood up and walked to Wu Fan's front, saying: "You have made great contributions, you should have the opportunity for promotion, but you also killed your sworn brothers, regardless of whether they were guilty or not. What you did is... is chilling. Don't think about the position of hundred households, Guo Yan is dead, and the position of the general flag is vacant, do a good job!"

  Wu Fan looked at Zhao Xi's eyes full of deep meaning and hastily clasped his fists together in respect, saying: "Thank you, sir, for your mercy!"

  "Hmm!"

  Wu Yanhao walked away with his hands behind his back, and the commander Sun also smiled and patted his butt as he left. Zhao Xi's previous words undoubtedly represented that he had given up a huge benefit, and it was also his bottom line, and there was no room for further discussion. Wu Yanhao understood this clearly, took advantage of the situation, and naturally walked away. Sun Jie also understood this clearly, although he didn't take advantage of the situation, but this matter itself had nothing to do with him, so he also left...

  Inside the hall was quiet and soundless, with only Zhao Xi staring at Wu Fan with a strange expression.

  What does this old fart mean?

  Wu Fan was so angry that he felt his hair standing on end and couldn't help but curse under his breath.

  "Alas!"

  Zhao Xi let out a soft sigh, clicked his tongue, and patted Wu Fan's shoulder, saying: "Not bad, not bad, if you had shed one or two tears, it would have been even better!"

  Wu Fan was stunned for a moment, then his old face turned red... He had been seen through.

  Zhao Xi smiled and glanced at Guo Yan's corpse, saying: "I hope such things won't happen again. Within just three to five days, you've successively killed two high-ranking officials... what am I supposed to think? Hmm?"

  Wu Fan's heart tightened, and he hastily expressed himself: "Your subordinate dares not! It was actually unavoidable..."

  Zhao Xi interrupted Wu Fan's words, waved his hand and said: "Wu Yanhao has admitted that Guo Ye was sent by him. You also know what it means. This time you fill the vacancy of Guo Ye, still in the hundred households under his jurisdiction. Be careful yourself! I gave up a great opportunity for you this time! Don't have a next time!"

  Before Wu Fan could say anything, Zhao Xi had already walked out with his hands behind his back. The way he hung his clothes on his body was both comical and ominous.

  "Hoo—!"

  Wu Fan let out a long sigh and stood still for a while, pondering. He then carried Guo Yan's body away.

  ……

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