Chapter 2
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Chapter 2 The attack of the night feast
Situ Wenrui’s residence was a boiling cauldron of voices. Wine goblets lay intertwined and there were singing and dancing. Everyone was doing their utmost best to flatter the person sitting in the main seat. They used their best ability to ingratiate themselves.
Dozens of small tables were placed on both sides of the spacious hall of Situ Wenrui’s residence. On the tables were plates of exquisite fruit snacks and pure strong wine. Behind the tables were Liangdu’s high-ranked officials. Each one of them could make a city tremble with one stomp. And, the person sitting in the main seat was noble beyond words. He is this dynasty’s third prince. Emperor Jinghui’s favored consort, Consort of Morality’s son. The mother was favored, the son naturally would be more noble.
Consort of Morality was already thirty-year-old, but the beautiful face didn’t change with the years. Hence, she firmly held the emperor’s heart. The power of Consort of Morality’s maiden family should also not be underestimated. Therefore, in the harem, aside from the empress and the few noble consorts, no one dared to test cutting her edge.
With these conditions, Situ Wenrui was more valuable in the eyes of the courtiers. Although, the emperor had named a crown prince early on, but as long as the person in that high position didn’t change, everything was possible.
The first person to sit below Situ Wenrui was even more special. He is this dynasty’s Great Inner Chief Eunuch Jiu Qiansui Lin Qing. If one had to ask who the emperor favored the most it would be without doubt this person, even if everyone wanted him to go die immediately.
The emperor of Liang favored Lin Qing very much and promoted him to be the commander of the Prefecture of Arrest. The Prefecture of Arrest was a special institution set up by the founding father of Liang Country. It was independent from the official and was under direct orders of the emperor of Liang Country. They have the right to monitor the officials and arrest any rebel. This right was greater than the sky.
Lin Qing was also not an obedient person. Ever since the emperor favored him more and more, his power also became greater and greater. This naturally made many people unsatisfied. Many people had spoken to the emperor, believing that Lin Qing had disturbed the hearing of the emperor, arrogated power to corrupt officials and caused disruption beyond the scope of the syllabus. They asked for Lin Qing to be punished for being a traitor of the court. However, the emperor of Liang’s favor to Lin Qing remained the same. Instead, those people who went against Lin Qing gradually disappeared from the court. If they weren’t chopped, then they were demoted or exiled.
As a result, the voices in the court had been suppressed. However, it wasn’t as calm as it appeared on the surface.
He watched the singing and dancing in front of him without a word. The bodyguard stood quietly behind him. Lin Qing seemed to be very interested in the dance in front of him. A voice could be heard.
“Is Jiu Qiansui satisfied with this prince’s arrangement tonight?”
The owner of the voice laughed. It was the third prince who sat in the main seat and was looking at Lin Qing in high spirits.
“Third prince is teasing this servant. How can third prince’s feast not be great? Third prince is young, promising and out of the ordinary noble. This servant truly doesn’t deserve third prince to say that to this servant. This servant isn’t worthy,” Lin Qing said sincerely without any arrogance.
One couldn’t see what the meaning of Lin Qing was, but what one has to do, one would still do.
Situ Wenrui clapped. Someone on the side presented a long wooden box with a simple and exquisite pattern on it. Situ Wenrui took over the box and smiled, “This is a painting that I obtained not long ago by accident. I heard that it is an authentic painting of painter Du Sheng of the previous dynasty. This prince heard that Chief Eunuch is someone who like and understand paintings. Hence, this prince thought to give it to Chief Eunuch one day. It was just that this prince had been delayed because of some matters. Today this prince happened to remember it and wanted to give it to Chief Eunuch. This prince hopes that Chief Eunuch would not refuse.”
The lively people below became quiet. They couldn’t help but think that it turned out to be a painting. Then, it became lively again. It was just that no one knew what they were thinking about inwardly.
Lin Qing raised both of his hand and saluted, “How would this servant dare to disrespect such deep affection from third prince? This servant thanks third highness.” As he spoke, he respectfully and politely took over the wooden box.
The smile on third prince’s face didn’t change. Then, he warmly toasted with Lin Qing and the officials. The atmosphere became livelier.
The feast ended very late. One after another left. Although, not many were left, but tenacious people still noticed that third prince personally sent Lin Qing to the door and only returned when Lin Qing had left.
Sir Li and of the Imperial Censor and sir Qian of the Imperial College stood at a corner. Sir Li exchanged a glance with sir Qian. His gaze had puzzlement. Sir Qian stroked his beard. After a while did he sigh, “The water of the court was already muddy. It wouldn’t get worse with this action from the third prince. Presumably, it would be difficult for us, the small fries, to maintain our own. We’re getting old…”
Sir Qian sighed again. While he spoke, he left a leaving back to sir Li. Sir Li snorted, “Old fox.” Then, he also left.
A slender and chilly shadow came out silently from behind where the two had just stood. Then, he flew away in the direction where Lin Qing had departed.
Sure enough, Lin Qing’s people were fighting with a group of people adorned in black in a dark alley. The cold swords reflected the moonlight everywhere. There were more than a dozen people on the ground. Dark red blood was everywhere under the illumination of the lantern. Some of the blood were from the people adorned in black and some were from Lin Qing’s people. Lin Qing was guarded by several people at this time. His face was still calm and unperturbed.
Although, the people adorned in black had good skills, but the people that Lin Qing brought in secret was more in order to prevent the situation in front of him. After all, the people who wanted him dead were everywhere.
Seeing the people adorned in black gradually lost ground and that no one could even hurt a hair of Lin Qing, a crow’s scream suddenly could be heard. The people adorned in black immediately retreated after receiving the order.
Lin Qing gestured with his hand. Immediately several people surrounded one of the people that were retreating. After the surrounded person desperately wounded several people, he spit out black blood and fell down.
One person went forward and probed whether that person was still breathing. He reported, “Sir, he isn’t breathing anymore.”
Lin Qing waved with his hand and tightened the cloak on his body. A disdainful smile raised on the corners of his mouth. Everyone wanted him dead, how could he let their wish come true?
Most of Lin Qing’s people were secret guards of the East Depot. After completing the task, they concealed themselves in the back. Lin Qing took the rest of the people, turned and was about to leave. However, just at the moment when the secret guards retreated and he turned, suddenly, all the hair on his body straightened and a sense of danger spread across his whole body.
Sss…
A black thing came out of thin air and pointed at the back of Lin Qing’s head at an incredible spead when everyone was unprepared. Lin Qing’s blood almost coagulated.
The coldness even rushed into the bone of his back head. He turned with all his strength to turn to a side when he suddenly bumped into a soft body and at the same time, the sound of the weapon being forcibly caught could be heard.
With a hum, the black arrow was clamped by two long fingers on a slender arm. It was still trembling slightly, showing the great strength that was used.
At this time, Lin Qing noticed that an arm was circling his waist. He was being guarded and the person stood in a protective posture in front of him. When he looked up, a pair of black eyes printed into his eyes and he even saw his pale face.
The owner of the eyes wore a black mask with silver stripes. A few strands of long hair hung down in the front. There was a cold fragrance on his body which gave people a cold feeling for no reason.
“Sir!”
The frightened voice of the guards sounded. The cold fragrance behind him disappeared immediately only leaving a clinking sound which was the sound of the collision of iron and stones.
When he looked at the place again, there was no longer any figure. If it wasn’t because of the hidden weapon on the ground reminded him about what had just happened, he would’ve thought that it was an illusion. Ha, it was truly ridiculous. There was actually someone who would save someone like him.
Lin Qing bent down and weighted the hidden weapon for a long time in his hand. The look in his was inexplicable. It was so long that coldness began to emerge from the guards behind him. Lin Qing slowly got up. A grin slowly emerged from the thin cold lips.
Since you all want me dead, then, I will let you all die first!
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