PCA Chapter 151

Yangdi official post station.

 

The long night was ending, lonely stars scattered sparsely, and the eastern sky was whitening with the approaching dawn.

 

Two people sat on the rooftop, one large and one small, both in fluttering black clothes, overlooking the courtyard where people methodically cleared away bodies, diluted bloodstains, and buried all traces of bloodshed underground, leaving no evidence.

 

“I killed eight. How about you?” Chen Ling lowered his head, wiping his emei daggers. These weapons, about a foot long, were thick in the middle and flat and thin at both ends, with sharp blades. A ring in the center allowed the pair of daggers to rotate flexibly in his palm, making them easy to carry. Combined with Chen Ling’s agile form, they were perfect for killing silently.

 

Qi Lin sat with his knees bent, his form tall and solitary, replying indifferently: “Wuchiha killed ten.”

 

“I was asking about you.”

 

“I didn’t fight.”

 

“Oh? The Jade-faced Asura has turned vegetarian?” Chen Ling joked after a moment of surprise. “You who once broke through armies of a million and seized victory—you’re not itching to fight now?”

 

“There’s someone who’s particularly afraid of ghosts,” Qi Lin lowered his head to touch a string of prayer beads on his wrist. “I’ll commit fewer bloody deeds, in exchange for his peace of mind.”

 

“Is he really that special?” Chen Ling’s face was full of disbelief. “What’s it like?”

 

Qi Lin casually patted Chen Ling’s head, “You’re still young, you wouldn’t understand.”

 

“I’m older than you!”

 

Qi Lin shifted his gaze downward, “Still small.”

 

Chen Ling: “…”

 

As the head spy of Xingqing Palace, Lord Chen Ling hadn’t grown taller since he was twelve years old, and certain other parts of him had naturally been affected as well. The last person who dared to joke about this had been thoroughly cut down by him. As for this one… Chen Ling assessed the power balance between them. Even a vegetarian tiger was still a tiger—perhaps he should use his wits instead.

 

“That means I win this time,” Chen Ling changed the subject, “When we return to the capital, you’ll have to host a banquet at Shunfu Tower, treating my brothers and me to pork knuckles.”

 

Qi Lin didn’t take the bait: “Why don’t you compare with Wuchiha?”

 

“What’s there to compare with that big oaf? He only knows how to show off his strength,” Chen Ling waved to Wuchiha below, “Right, Brother Ha?”

 

Wuchiha didn’t understand but flashed a white-toothed smile at the two of them.

 

“I can treat you, but not at Shunfu Tower,” Qi Lin said.

 

Having achieved his goal, Chen Ling immediately smiled broadly: “As long as you’re paying, anywhere is fine!”

 

“Red Silk House or the Male Courtesans’ Lodge, let your brothers choose one.”

 

Chen Ling: “…”

 

Don’t hold him back, he’s going to fight this man!

 

Before Chen Ling could make a move, Qi Lin had already flown down, standing at the gate connecting the front and back courtyards.

 

The next moment, the gate opened, and a gold-threaded boot with kui pattern slowly stepped in. Qi Lin immediately bowed with his sword: “Lord.”

 

Others put down their work and followed with bows. Chen Ling tumbled down from the roof, nearly stumbling. He cast a fierce glance at Qi Lin – what kind of dog’s nose did this man have, to be able to smell from so far away, knowing the Lord was coming without giving him any warning!

 

Li Shi raised his hand slightly, exempting everyone from formalities, and casually asked, “Is everything cleaned up?”

 

Qi Lin lowered his head to admit fault: “We’ve disturbed your rest, Lord. Please punish us.”

 

“Forget it,” Li Shi replied coldly, casually scanning the area. The back courtyard had already been cleaned spotless. In the early morning light, the air even carried a hint of morning dew, with no sign of what had happened there the night before.

 

Li Shi’s gaze passed over everyone and fell on the trembling station master in the corner. With just one look, the station master crawled over, bowing his head: “Your servant, Chen Dayou, current station master of Yangdi official post station. Assassins attempted to kill at Yangdi station, disturbing Your Highness’s holy procession. Your servant deserves death!”

 

“Rise, it’s not your fault.” Li Shi had no intention of calculating with such a small figure and was about to leave. As he turned, something suddenly flashed in the morning light!

 

The station master suddenly leaped up from the ground, a dagger sliding from his sleeve into his hand, the sharp blade aimed at Li Shi’s heart!

 

Everyone was shocked, watching as the blade approached, with no way to avoid it!

 

In this critical moment, a blade was unsheathed, cutting through the air with a sharp sound. Before anyone could see what had happened, the station master had been thrown a zhang’s distance by a long sword, firmly pinned to the wall.

 

The sword hilt vibrated, and the man died on the spot.

 

Chen Ling was dumbfounded. Before his emei daggers could come out, Qi Lin’s sword had already taken the man’s life. He thought inwardly that it was good he hadn’t made a move earlier, or he might not have had the chance to stand here now.

 

Li Shi turned around smoothly, his gaze sweeping across, intimidating without anger: “This is what you call cleaning up thoroughly?”

 

Everyone in the courtyard knelt down with a collective thud: “Forgive us, Your Highness!”

 

Li Shi stood still, as if sensing something, and slightly raised his eyes, meeting in midair with someone who had been watching from a tall tree outside the courtyard.

 

The two gazes met in midair, equally sharp, equally unfathomable, seemingly battling for a long time, though in reality, it was just a moment.

 

Qi Lin was the first to react, urgently shouting: “Protect His Highness!”

 

“Get more people!” Chen Ling followed closely, leading the group to catch the intruder.

 

A figure leaped down from the tree, but by the time people pursued, it had disappeared without a trace.

 

This well-planned assassination attempt was intricately linked; if they hadn’t been prepared, they might have fallen into the Secret Door’s trap.

 

Li Shi’s men dared not be careless and thoroughly searched the entire post station, carefully examining the surrounding area for several li to confirm no more Secret Door assassins remained.

 

“That station master must have been replaced as soon as they learned we were coming,” Qi Lin said. “For our future destinations, we’ve arranged for local government offices to conduct thorough inspections and pre-clearance to ensure absolute safety.”

 

“After one failed attempt, they won’t strike again,” Li Shi lowered his eyes to look at the ground, which was stained red again. “They’re after Song Fan; assassinating me was just incidental.”

 

“It seems Song Fan indeed holds some position in the Secret Door,” Qi Lin said. “They addressed him as ‘Young Master.'”

 

“Where is Song Fan now?” Li Shi asked.

 

“Helan Zhe and Zuo Tu are taking him via a small road. By now, they should have entered the vicinity of the capital.”

 

“After entering the capital, send him directly to the Xingqing Palace dungeon and extract everything he knows.”

 

“My Lord,” Qi Lin was somewhat troubled, “Song Fan is still an important criminal in the Xuzhou case. The Ministry of Justice is waiting to take him into custody for prosecution. I’m afraid…”

 

Li Shi paused his steps, his brow showing slight displeasure, “If they want him, tell them to come to me directly.”

 

Qi Lin bowed deeply: “Yes.”

 

After explaining the situation at the post station to the deputy magistrate of Yingchuan County, the sun had fully risen. Prince Ning’s procession was ready to depart but encountered two postal messengers coming from east and west to change horses at the station.

 

The messenger from the west was quite excited to see Li Shi, as the document he was carrying was intended for Prince Ning. Running into him here meant his mission was accomplished.

 

Qi Lin broke the imperial seal on the document, read it, and reported to Li Shi: “The young emperor is urging you to return to the capital.”

 

“What does it say?”

 

Qi Lin read: “‘Court officials each speak of their own affairs. My heart is confused and unable to grasp the overall situation or distinguish between urgent and non-urgent matters. I worry day and night, fearing to fail my ancestors’ work and disappointing Uncle’s teachings. The Xuzhou matter is complex; I hope Uncle takes care. I think of you deeply.'”

 

Li Shi smiled lightly: “He might as well have written ‘Uncle, please come back quickly, I’m about to cry.'”

 

He then asked: “Has anyone been giving him trouble at court recently?”

 

Qi Lin replied: “Led by Liu Peng, the Empress Dowager’s faction keeps bringing up old, trivial matters for the young emperor to decide, probably trying to force him to reestablish a regent.”

 

Li Shi asked: “What about Wen Xiu?”

 

Qi Lin: “Lord Wen hasn’t done anything, just observing from the sidelines.”

 

“He probably wants a piece of the pie himself,” Li Shi raised the corner of his mouth. “As if I don’t know his little cleverness. If Liu Peng succeeds, he’ll definitely be one of the regents. If it doesn’t succeed, he won’t offend either side. There’s no loss for him either way, so why not?”

 

Qi Lin bowed and asked: “Should we return to the capital as soon as possible?”

 

Li Shi lightly twirled his thumb ring, and instead of answering, asked: “Where is the other postal messenger going?”

 

Qi Lin called the person over, and after questioning, learned that this was a document from Chuanling County’s yamen to the Dali Temple, stating that a flood had washed out several corpses. The local authorities couldn’t identify the bodies and wanted the Dali Temple’s help in the investigation.

 

Li Shi stood in the sunlight for a moment, then suddenly asked: “Where are Zixu and the others now?”

 

Qi Lin replied: “Two days ago, we received a pigeon message from Ling’er saying they were heading east along the disaster-stricken prefectures. By now, they should be near Chuanling.”

 

Li Shi asked again: “How far is it from Xuzhou?”

 

The postal messenger knew the question was for him and carefully replied that it was about a hundred or so li.

 

Li Shi stopped his steps, lost in thought. Qi Lin didn’t dare approach to disturb him. Li Shi seemed to be thinking of something, his expression alternating between gloomy and bright. His eyes seemed to be brewing a storm, restrained in motion yet extreme in stillness. Just when Qi Lin thought Li Shi was about to take action, everything suddenly returned to calmness.

 

“Let’s go,” Li Shi said, stepping into the carriage.

 

Qi Lin was stunned for a moment before remembering to give orders. He waved his hand, and the carriage slowly moved, gradually departing from the Yangdi official post station.

 

 

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