Chapter 121: Killed in Battle? No, That’s Not Right! (First Update)

Page 1/3

The emperor’s previously muddled mind cleared in an instant.
He asked darkly, “Have you revealed your identities?”
“No!” The man knelt on one knee, never daring to raise his head, fearing the emperor might think he had failed in his duty. He hurried to explain, “Before I could act, someone else struck first!”
“Hm?” The emperor seemed momentarily unable to grasp the meaning of those words.
The man quickly continued, “I had originally planned the ambush just outside Jiangjian’s jurisdiction at Tingfeng Hill, which should have been around dusk. But unexpectedly, the Crown Prince Wu and his group were attacked on the official road early in the morning, shortly after setting out.”
The emperor’s health was deteriorating, and lately his nights had been restless. Being roused mid-sleep left him in an especially poor state.
Only now did his mind fully clear, and his gaze gradually sharpened.
He lifted his head and looked at the man kneeling before him. “Who was responsible?”
“At first, I set the ambush ahead, so I didn’t notice any movement on their side. By the time news arrived, it was already half a day later. When I rushed to the scene to investigate, the local officials had already cleaned up.” The man replied, “It was said to be remnants from the Siping Village bandits within Jiangjian territory. A few were captured alive and are being escorted back to the capital along with the Crown Prince Wu. His personal guards told the local officials the situation was quite perilous, and it was only thanks to the Crown Prince’s exceptional skills that they barely escaped. As for the details, we’ll have to wait until the Crown Prince returns to report to the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review.”
The emperor showed little interest in the details and simply asked, “Is Wu Qinglin unharmed?”
“They say he only suffered minor injuries, nothing serious. After dealing with the assassins, they continued their journey without delay, hurrying back to the capital!” The man said, “Because of the sudden situation, I feared my own movements had been discovered and exploited, so I dared not act again. I hurried back to report to Your Majesty as quickly as possible. Based on the Crown Prince’s pace, he should arrive in the capital in about a day and a half. I wish to ask... should we strike again?”
The emperor pondered briefly, then decisively raised his hand. “No need! Once is enough. He only has a three or four-day journey ahead. Repeated attacks like this will expose the ruse. Withdraw the men.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!” The man responded with obedience, kneeling for a moment longer. When the emperor waved his hand again, he rose and left the imperial chamber, slipping away quietly in the dim pre-dawn light.
Meanwhile, the emperor sat on the dragon throne, motionless for a long time, looking somewhat awkward.
Tao Renzhi cautiously asked, “It’s still early, Your Majesty. If you’re not attending court today, would you like to rest a while longer?”
The emperor’s thoughts were interrupted.
He lifted his head, glanced at the sky, and slowly fixed his gaze on Tao Renzhi. Darkly, he said, “Do you think... this was orchestrated by Xiao Yue? Is he playing a counter-strategy against me?”
Bandits from Siping Village? Is that possible? Were those bandits reckless enough to dare attack again after their stronghold was destroyed?
But with the limited information returned so far, the emperor could not grasp the key clues and hesitated to speculate.
Originally, he did not have to send Wu Qinglin on this mission. But because Xiao Yue suddenly contacted the Marquis of Dingyuan’s residence, angering him, he dispatched Wu Qinglin and arranged a staged assassination attempt on his return journey, hoping to shift blame onto Xiao Yue and sow discord between them.
Choosing to act during Wu Qinglin’s return was a calculated move—
Both Xiao Yue and Wu Qinglin were clever; the whole act was planned thoroughly. His original idea was to stage the attack under the guise of Siping Village’s revenge, leaving clues that pointed directly to Xiao Yue, making it more convincing for Wu Qinglin.
But now—
Someone struck before him?!
Who could it be? If Xiao Yue had the same idea, then might Wu Qinglin already have some clue, possibly suspecting him?
The emperor’s thoughts were unsettled, yet he forced himself to conceal his emotions, controlling his expression tightly.
Tao Renzhi sensed the emperor’s suspicion and sought reassurance, though he was always cautious himself. He said, “Wait until the Crown Prince returns in a couple of days and ask him directly. Besides, didn’t he capture some alive? If this was truly a setup, they wouldn’t have left interrogatable prisoners, right?”
The emperor considered this and nodded—
A live prisoner’s testimony is too unpredictable. If Xiao Yue had set the trap, he wouldn’t have left such loose ends to be questioned...
Wu Qinglin arrived in the capital at noon on the day before Wu Qingyu’s wedding.
Because light cavalry had been sent ahead to report, the palace dispatched eunuchs to meet him outside the city, accompany him to the Imperial Guard camp, and hand over the thousand troops he had brought. Wu Qinglin had already prepared a detailed report of his mission to give to the eunuch for delivery. He feigned illness, saying his younger brother’s wedding was the next day and that he would report to the emperor in person afterward.
His mission had gone very smoothly, and the report was clear and thorough. Whether he was summoned was entirely up to the emperor’s mood.
Since there was a family emergency, the emperor would not insist on an immediate audience.
The eunuch took the report back to the palace. Wu Qinglin was a step behind, personally escorting eight captured criminals to the Ministry of Justice for transfer.
While waiting outside the Ministry, he casually walked over to the bearded man.
The bearded man looked exhausted and gave him a disdainful glance.
Wu Qinglin’s lips curved slightly. “During interrogation, don’t mention you were bribed. Speak little and play your part well. If you do, I guarantee your survival. You are... comrades from Siping Village!”
His voice was low, steady, yet carried an unmistakable mix of leniency and severity.
Then he walked away as if nothing had happened.
The bearded man looked up in surprise.
At that moment, officials and guards came out to take the prisoners inside.
As the bearded man was dragged in, he glanced back, seeing Wu Qinglin chatting amicably with Ministry officials. If not for the words he just heard, he might have thought it an illusion.
This man says he will spare them? Really?

Page 2/3

Wu Qinglin did not enter the Ministry himself but gave a brief report before claiming urgent matters at the residence and leaving with Mu Song.
On the way back, Mu Song asked, “You believed these men’s confessions, right? If you want to use them to expose the mastermind, why not set a trap on the road and release them? If their words are true and they were merely pawns, then either they would seek out the mastermind or the mastermind would come back to silence them. Following the trail like this might lead to clues.”
Wu Qinglin rode slowly, expressionless. “They only know the person who bribed them was a man, nothing else. If I were that man, I’d rather keep a live witness than risk appearing again.”
Though the dead speak truest, one must weigh pros and cons—
Returning to kill witnesses risks exposure. If the witness escapes, the chance of being caught again is minimal.
An assassination plot so airtight couldn’t have been devised by a reckless fool.
“Then you’re keeping him alive...” Mu Song was still puzzled.
The recent events had drained Wu Qinglin’s energy. He pinched his brow and sighed. “Enough of this. I must return home immediately to check on Qingyu and Yanyao. As for the two soldiers killed on the road from the Imperial Guard camp, send me to handle compensation for their families. The culprit may never be caught, and we cannot investigate further, but they died because of me.”
“Yes! I will handle it properly.” Mu Song bowed and, seeing the fatigue etched on Wu Qinglin’s face, refrained from pressing further and went to carry out his orders.
*
At this moment, the Marquis of Sheng’s residence.
Leiming brought back Weichi Yuan to Xiao Yue’s study. “Your Grace, Weichi has returned.”
Xiao Yue glanced up from behind his desk. “Speak.”
Leiming would not have brought Weichi Yuan here unless the situation differed from expectations.
Weichi Yuan knelt on one knee. “For over ten days, I was ordered to shadow the Marquis of Dingyuan’s Crown Prince Wu. His mission went smoothly after leaving the capital, but three days ago, after resolving troubles in Jiangjian, he was ambushed during his return.”
“Ambushed?” Leiming was startled. “Not an assassination?”
When the emperor suddenly sent Wu Qinglin out of the city, Xiao Yue had suspected foul play.
But logically, the emperor’s plan was only to sow discord with a staged, non-lethal attack...
Xiao Yue’s brow twitched slightly. “It wasn’t Xiao Zhi who sent the men?”
“Unlikely!” Weichi Yuan said. Though ordered to follow Wu Qinglin and having witnessed the event from hiding, the affair was too strange for him to piece together a coherent theory. “They set traps on the official road; all weapons and projectiles were poisoned. The three assassins were desperate men, ruthless and without mercy. Because you had warned me that the emperor might tamper with the journey, I initially suspected his involvement, but when the attack began, I realized otherwise. The assassins targeted only the Crown Prince, forcing him out of his group. If not for his skills and quick reflexes, he would have been killed.”
Xiao Yue listened, his eyes darkening, silent in thought.
Weichi Yuan continued, “At first, I thought it was the emperor’s doing and didn’t expect them to kill outright, so I was careless. I only managed to capture a few minor accomplices who fired hidden darts. The battle was fierce, and the three assassins were killed on the spot by the Crown Prince. Searching their bodies revealed no clues. I followed the Crown Prince back, and the rest of the journey was uneventful. He has now entered the city and handed over the prisoners to the Ministry of Justice. I failed in my duty and am willing to accept punishment.”
Xiao Yue was silent for a long time. Then he looked up and said, “It’s not your fault. You may leave.”
“Yes, I will take my leave.” Weichi Yuan rose.
Leiming escorted him out, then returned to find Xiao Yue’s expression still grim. He tried to comfort him, “Your Grace, you only had Weichi shadow the Crown Prince as a precaution. No one expected an actual attempt. Besides, didn’t you hint to the Crown Prince beforehand? He is smart; he shouldn’t be misled to suspect you.”
“I do not blame him.” Xiao Yue frowned at the misunderstanding.
Leiming was puzzled.
Xiao Yue said, “Even if Xiao Zhi wanted to frame me, he would not truly attempt to kill Wu Qinglin. Yet Wu Qinglin was publicly targeted for assassination. Isn’t that strange?”
Leiming, not thinking so deeply, speculated, “Maybe the emperor’s orders were unclear, so those under him acted recklessly?”
Xiao Yue shook his head without hesitation. “No! Xiao Zhi is not foolish. In such a matter, he would never make such a mistake.”
He fell silent again, then ordered Leiming, “Investigate every detail of this affair thoroughly. Collect as many specifics as possible and report to me swiftly.”
“Yes!”
Knowing Xiao Yue’s intense interest in the Marquis of Dingyuan’s residence, Leiming hurried to gather all available clues. That very night, he reported every fact and detail he could uncover.
Xiao Yue opened the study window wide, standing by it to let the breeze soothe him as he listened.
After the report, Leiming’s face was unusually grave. “From what we know, your earlier suspicion seems correct. It does not appear the emperor was behind this. The assassins bore no evidence implicating us and even left witnesses—albeit minor ones. That is unlike the emperor’s style.”
“Yes.” Xiao Yue sighed faintly. “But if not Xiao Zhi, then who has such precise knowledge of Wu Qinglin’s movements and seized this opportunity to kill him?”
After returning to the capital, Xiao Yue had examined Wu Qinglin’s character. A steady and upright man, with no apparent reason for anyone to want him dead.
Yet—
Someone spared no effort to set this deadly trap!
Though the emperor was most capable of devising such a plot, he would never order Wu Qinglin’s assassination!
Then—
Who could it be?
Who would go to such lengths, using such vicious means to eliminate him?!

Page 3/3

Who?
A sudden thought flashed through Xiao Yue’s mind, revealing a more terrifying truth.
In his previous life, when he investigated the Wu family, Wu Qinglin was already just a name in the genealogy, recorded as having died in battle. At that time, Wu Tan had married Xiao Yun in May of that year. The following spring, Xiao Zhi passed away, and half a month after Xiao Yun ascended the throne, Wu Qinglin died on the southern battlefield.
But now—
Someone was brazenly attempting to assassinate him?!
Then was his previous death really in battle?
If the person arranging this assassination was not due to changes brought by Xiao Yue’s return, but merely advancing the timing of an old plot—
Then—
Could there be hidden secrets behind Wu Qinglin’s death in the past life?
If so, who killed him?
Xiao Yue immediately had a prime suspect in mind, firmly convinced that if Wu Qinglin was murdered in his past life, this person was the culprit. But...
What was the motive?
Why would they do this?
Because of—
Wu Tan?
Or because Wu Qinglin accidentally discovered a secret and was silenced? Could they truly act so ruthlessly?
No, no, no! That can’t be right!
If the motive was to silence Wu Qinglin after a secret was exposed, then this current assassination attempt should not exist, for Wu Qinglin’s recent encounters showed no sign of knowing anything.
If there is no need to silence him, then the motive disappears!
But then—
Who really wants Wu Qinglin dead?
For the first time in his life, Xiao Yue felt his thoughts trapped in a vast whirlpool, tangled with countless threads. Despite many clues, their complexity prevented him from forming a clear, coherent logic.
However, one thing was certain—
The perpetrator exerted great effort to murder Wu Qinglin. Having failed once, they would not give up. There would certainly be more attempts!
*
The next day, the Marquis of Dingyuan’s residence and the Lin family were hosting a wedding. Early in the morning, both families opened their gates to welcome guests.
The Wu family’s status was high, and the Lin family’s prestige great. Both were filled with distinguished guests and lively festivities.
With Wu Xun absent, Wu Qinglin had to stand in as head of the household, personally greeting guests at the gate early.
After returning yesterday, he said nothing of the assassination attempt, believing the mission had gone smoothly. The matriarch was discreet and did not pry, so no one in the household knew of the danger he had faced. Everyone wore joyous expressions.
Wu Qinglin had carefully inquired about Lin Yanyao and Wu Qingyu. He neither approved nor disapproved, as long as the parties were willing.
Madam Meng busied herself at the inner courtyard’s entrance, entertaining the female guests.
At such occasions, the matriarch did not appear, instead sitting in the warm chamber of her courtyard, chatting with a few old friends, occasionally receiving visits from younger relatives.
Since it was her beloved elder brother’s wedding day, Wu Qingqiong was allowed out.
She was already betrothed to Crown Prince Xiao Yun, and many who came today wished to make acquaintances. If she did not appear, people might suspect internal strife in the Wu family or disapproval of the marriage to the crown prince.
Deep down, Madam Meng was reluctant to let Wu Qingqiong out, but she had no choice. She gave a strict order for her to stay close to the matriarch—
Wu Qingqiong always feared her grandmother and behaved better under her watch.
So Wu Qingqiong had come early, sitting with the matriarch to receive guests.
Though initially displeased, she enjoyed being praised for her engagement to the crown prince and quickly mingled with the other young ladies paying respects to the matriarch.
Zhou Changyin also came with her grandmother today.
She was older and scorned flattering the likes of Wu Qingqiong, so she sat quietly with the matriarch and others, sipping tea. Suddenly, she casually asked, “Matriarch, where is the second young lady today? I haven’t seen her come out.”
This book is a first release; please do not reprint!