132: Shocking Change (Part Two)

"Strange, why hasn't Old Lu sent word tonight?"

Fang Wenbo, who was busy with official duties, looked up and glanced outside the door with some confusion: "Has anyone from Centurion Lu's side sent a message?"

"Reporting to your Excellency, not yet."

Hearing the subordinate's report from outside, Fang Wenbo became even more puzzled. Lu Qianyuan sent news almost every morning, noon, and evening, but at this hour, not a single word had come from that side. This was truly abnormal.

"Send someone over to check. Don't tell me something happened to Old Lu?" Fang Wenbo put down his brush. "Also, notify the Imperial Guard and the city's garrison, tell them... forget it, just tell them to maintain a state of martial law."

Having stayed in the Pacification Bureau for a long time, one inevitably becomes sensitive. The past few days had been fine, but specifically today, Fang Wenbo felt a sense of tension and anxiety.

Clearly, the capital had been peaceful these past few days. The Pacification Bureau, the Imperial Guard, and the garrison outside the city had been secretly exchanging information and maintaining constant vigilance.

It had only been a year since the Struggle for succession among the seven sons. As one of Luo Nantian's confidants, Fang Wenbo had naturally participated in that battle for the throne.

What was the most important thing in seizing power? It was nothing more than the Imperial Guard, the Pacification Bureau, the garrison outside the city, and the City Patrol Command. Back then, Luo Nantian had himself, a Commander of the Pacification Bureau with the Flying Fish Guard under his command. Almost half of the Imperial Guard was at his disposal, not to mention the garrison outside the city. He was not just the late Emperor's fifth son, but also the son-in-law of the Duke's Shen Family.

It could be said that except for the City Patrol Command, almost half of the military forces that could influence the struggle for the throne were in his hands. Coupled with the Grand Empress Dowager's total support for Luo Nantian after her failed attempts to persuade the other princes left her disheartened, this struggle for the throne came suddenly and ended extremely quickly.

"I still can't feel at ease..."

Nowadays, except for the City Patrol Command which might still have some of Zhou Chutian's connections, and setting aside the stable Imperial Guard and garrison, the Pacification Bureau had sidelined Zhao Jiguang over the past year. Not long ago, Mo Yingqi had even personally killed that Commander whom Grand Chancellor Zhou himself had supported into the position.

"Excellency, Centurion Lu has sent a messenger with a letter!" Just as Fang Wenbo stood up and was pacing back and forth in the room, a member of the Flying Fish Guard ran in hurriedly. "Centurion Lu says he hopes your Excellency will notify the Imperial Guard and..."

Before he could finish, a steel sword suddenly pierced through the Flying Fish Guard's chest from behind, and a left hand covered his mouth. Fang Wenbo's expression changed instantly. He drew his saber with great speed, and in a breath's time, his xiuchun saber slashed toward the attacker.

But the person released his left hand and kicked the Flying Fish Guard's back. Fang Wenbo frowned and sidestepped to avoid the body. However, the person's sword was already at his brow. Fang Wenbo raised his blade to parry the steel sword and then swung back with a slash.

Saber and sword clashed. After several exchanges, the person jumped back out of range. Only then, by the candlelight, did Fang Wenbo see clearly that the person before him was a black-clad figure wearing a red mask.

"In all these years, your Excellency is the first to dare come to the Pacification Bureau to commit murder." Fang Wenbo took off his official hat. "Daring to come to this Hall of Yama to kill a Ghost Messenger, do you truly have no lingering attachments to life?"

"Ha, in both the underworld and the world of the living, wherever there is an injustice, it should be redressed, should it not?" The red-masked man's voice was hoarse, as if his throat had been damaged by smoke. "As for you, Excellency, aren't you going to call for help?"

"I'm afraid my brothers outside have either been killed or knocked unconscious by you; otherwise, you wouldn't have come to kill me so brazenly." Fang Wenbo was no fool. To dare come to the Pacification Bureau to kill a Commander like him, if the opponent didn't have some skill or preparation, they would have been hacked to death before even sneaking in. "However, your Excellency has clearly not done enough homework..."

"Ha, I know what you mean. The Pacification Bureau has patrols at night. In about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a squad of Flying Fish Guards will pass by this courtyard." As the red-masked man spoke, his left hand slowly lifted the mask from his face. "Commander Fang, I don't need you to teach me this bit of protocol."

The red mask was thrown to the ground. When Fang Wenbo saw the person's true face, his pupils couldn't help but contract repeatedly. This person holding the steel sword, coming to assassinate him, was none other than Zhao Jiguang, who had been killed by Mo Yingqi!

"This is impossible, Little Mo killed you with his own hands..."

Even Fang Wenbo, who had spent years in the Pacification Bureau, was pale at this moment. After all, anyone who saw a dead person suddenly appear before them would be incredibly shocked, or even feel terror.

"What, seeing a vengeful spirit coming for your life, even the Ghost Messenger of the Hall of Yama is afraid?" 'Zhao Jiguang' grinned. "Commander Fang, don't worry. When you open your eyes again, you'll find you can meet many, many... people you know!"

As soon as he finished speaking, 'Zhao Jiguang's' figure abruptly vanished from the spot... "The Emperor? Your Majesty?"

Luo Nantian suddenly opened his eyes. Beside him, Eunuch Fang was placing a bowl of ginseng soup in front of him, saying with a trace of worry on his face: "This is the ginseng soup the Empress instructed to be made for you. You have been too tired today, and Her Majesty instructed that you should drink this and rest early."

"Tsk, Old Fang, for some reason, I feel a bit uneasy in my heart." Luo Nantian rubbed his brow. "What time is it?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, it is the Hour of Xu." Eunuch Fang replied truthfully. "Your Majesty didn't eat much for dinner today. How about this old servant goes to the Imperial Kitchen personally to cook some light porridge and side dishes for you?"

"Ha, I wasn't hungry, but the moment I thought of your cooking, Old Fang, my stomach started growling." Luo Nantian smiled. "Old Fang, you've been following me for about twenty years now, haven't you?"

"Twenty-three years and five months, Your Majesty." Eunuch Fang bowed slightly. "I have been blessed by Your Majesty's care all these years. Back then, to support my brothers, I castrated myself to enter the palace. Now that Wenbo has made something of himself, I can be at peace."

"You old fellow, speak less of such things. It sounds like you're giving your last testament." Luo Nantian interrupted him with a laugh. "Old Fang, now that it's just the two of us, I want to ask you... what are your thoughts on the future appointment of the Crown Prince?"

"This, Your Majesty..."

"Hey, I said there are no outsiders here!" Luo Nantian saw Eunuch Fang's hesitation. "Thanks to you all these years, when my brothers arranged for assassins to kill me, it was you who blocked several close-range assassination attempts for me."

Eunuch Fang was indeed a Eunuch, but after being favored by the late Emperor, not only were people invited to teach him how to read, but his Fang family also came from a background of martial arts. This Eunuch Fang had real skills.

Many think that Eunuchs are incomplete and spineless because they lack their 'roots.' While such Eunuchs certainly exist, there are many like Eunuch Fang who are not only loyal but also diligent in their training. Otherwise, he wouldn't have reached the position of Head Eunuch of the Inner Palace, serving The Emperor personally.

"Your Majesty, in truth, you already have an answer in your heart." Eunuch Fang smiled slightly. "Either of the two Princes would be fine. Your Majesty is currently undecided only because you know either one would work, making you momentarily hesitant."

"Ha, yes..." Luo Nantian nodded. "I just keep thinking it's best to settle the matter of the throne as early as possible..."

"This, Your Majesty, please forgive this old servant's overstepping, but you are currently in the prime of your life, healthy and strong..."

"Hah, people don't just die of old age; they die when it's their time to die." Luo Nantian chuckled. "I don't expect to truly live as long as the heavens or for ten thousand years. If becoming Emperor meant living ten thousand years, then Father and the others wouldn't have passed away."

"I'm lucky. At least my two rebellious sons aren't like I was back then, and even less like Father. The children born to the concubines in the harem, except for the third one whose heart was blinded by greed, the other princes are still young and their mothers are peaceful. But a man without distant concerns must have near troubles. I don't know when an accident might happen..."

Hearing Luo Nantian's words, Fang Wenbo immediately knelt: "Your Majesty, please do not say such things!"

"Haha, Old Fang, don't mind it. I'm just feeling sentimental for a moment." Luo Nantian laughed and changed the subject. "Alright, hurry to the Imperial Kitchen. I'm hungry. The late-night snacks they send are never as tasty as yours."

Although Eunuch Fang felt uneasy, he could probably guess why The Emperor suddenly spoke like this. The court was not yet fully stable. As long as Zhou Chutian was not eliminated, The Emperor would be constrained by him for a day longer.

Moreover, The Emperor was similar to the late Emperor; both ascended the throne in middle age. Just as he said, a man without distant concerns must have near troubles. Especially for an Emperor, one must never believe that 'ten thousand years' nonsense; it's just auspicious talk that only a fool would take seriously.

"Your Majesty, a few days ago I heard you mentioning you wanted to eat pickles. I just happened to make a new batch." Eunuch Fang did not want Luo Nantian to continue such a heavy topic. "I'll go to my room to get them first, take them to the Imperial Kitchen to slice them for you, and bring them up together in a moment."

"Really? Go, go quickly." Luo Nantian's eyes lit up. "Your skill, Old Fang, is the best. Ah, I've been craving them after not having them for several nights of snacks!"

Eunuch Fang naturally had his own room in the palace. It was very close to The Emperor's Imperial Study, in a quiet little courtyard. When he had nothing to do, Eunuch Fang would make some small salted vegetables, pickles, and sauced vegetables here.

Luo Nantian liked to review memorials at night. In the past when he was still a prince, he often read or handled tasks entrusted to him by the late Emperor at night. Since Eunuch Fang started following him, he was afraid the prince wouldn't rest well or would get hungry at night, so he specifically learned these skills.

Eunuch Fang also put some thought into it, ensuring they tasted good without being too salty, as it's better to eat slightly lighter at night.

It could be said that for these twenty-plus years, Eunuch Fang's care for Luo Nantian was meticulous. Even Empress Shen said: "If Eunuch Fang were gone, I'm afraid I would have a headache too."

Just as he returned to the courtyard, Eunuch Fang's gaze instantly turned cold, and his hand slowly moved to his waist: "Come out yourself, or are you waiting for me to call the Imperial Guard?"

As soon as he spoke, the courtyard door was suddenly closed. Eunuch Fang was about to call out, but unexpectedly, a tall, thin man emerged from the shadows dragging a blood-covered little Eunuch: "Eunuch, this boy is your Disciple, and your most capable and loyal one at that. Tell me, if I'm not careful and he dies, what will you do?"

Eunuch Fang's expression became even more solemn, but his tone remained flat: "Who are you?"

"There is no need for the Eunuch to know who I am. I have heard that your soft sword technique is superb, and that even the Imperial Guard around The Emperor might not be a match for one Eunuch Fang." The man pushed the little Eunuch aside. "You can call for help, but since I dared to come in, I am not afraid of you calling the Imperial Guard."

Eunuch Fang did not answer, but used the lanterns in the courtyard and the moonlight to observe the tall, thin man. He had an ordinary appearance and was gripping something in his right hand, seemingly some kind of long-handled weapon.

Eunuch Fang was not truly restrained by the hostage, but because there was another person in the courtyard. Although he couldn't see them, a gaze was tightly locked onto him. He feared that if he dared to make a sound, the other person would suddenly strike.

"Eunuch, we know all about the Imperial Guard's patrols, timing, arrangements, and so on." The tall, thin man smiled. "You must also know in your heart that it will take about half a stick of incense's time before the Imperial Guard circles back past your courtyard door."

"So, your Excellency feels that less than half a stick of incense is enough to kill me?"

"I would like to try..."

In the Estate, a shrill scream suddenly erupted. Mo Yingqi held his japanese sword in a reverse grip and thrust it through a black-clad man's left eye, the sharp blade piercing straight out from the back of his head!

"So they really did make a move..."

As Mo Yingqi spoke, he used the sword to drag the man's body for two steps, then exerted force with his right hand, causing the blade to swing directly out of the head.

"Consort's Husband, there are ten assassins in total..."

Ying Hong had just arrived with her people, but she was still stunned by the scene before her.

Ten? That was just what they thought. Mo Yingqi had killed more than twenty people himself in a short time. However, he didn't care and turned to look at Ying Hong with a smile: "Auntie, thank you for your hard work. Tell the people on the Estate to search house by house, every single place."

"If any outsider is found, don't ask questions—kill them directly."

Ying Hong complied, but she couldn't help looking at the people Mo Yingqi had killed... Rather than a one-sided slaughter, it was more like... a massacre.

Not one was left with all their limbs; almost every single one had a fatal head wound, either having been decapitated or having half their head sliced off.

"Can we find out who these people are?" Mo Yingqi's question interrupted Ying Hong's thoughts. "They seem to have decent skills. A few with the highest martial arts were mixed among them and suddenly attacked me."

"Yes, judging by their martial arts..."

Ying Hong was about to answer, but when she saw Mo Yingqi's face, her pupils suddenly dilated, and she couldn't make a single sound!

Mo Yingqi's face bore a smile she was all too familiar with—the kind of demonic and dangerous smile that only appeared when Luo Yongning was massacring others. Most importantly, his pupils had also turned an eerie crimson red, just like Luo Yongan and Luo Yongning!

"Auntie, are you alright?" Mo Yingqi seemed completely unaware and asked in confusion. "Can these people be traced? No other reason, but if you're going to kill... either don't kill at all, or kill their entire family."