Xie Ming

On the 14th day of the eighth month of the second year of the Hongguang reign, the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Hongguang Emperor died.

At dawn the following day, the Imperial Guards hastily sealed off the four gates of Hangzhou, strictly prohibiting movement within the city, causing widespread panic.

Meanwhile, the Embroidered Uniform Guard was surrounded and detained, and Commander Qiu Zhizhong ordered that they be arrested and imprisoned immediately.

As a result, in the night wind, the Imperial Guards surrounded the yamen, and with a crackling sound, a burst of torches exploded.

Hearing that it was his subordinate, a company commander, who had overstepped his authority, Yao Luwen was less inclined to consider the matter at this critical juncture.

"Cough, cough cough cough cough"

"No, it's okay, you go ahead."

He looked unwell, covered his mouth and nose with his arm and coughed for a while. Yao Luwen made an excuse to brush him off and waved his hand, ignoring him.

Seeing this, the junior officer who had been ordered by Lord Liu to detain Zhizhong frowned, gritted his teeth, and gave him a sidelong glance, not bothering to linger any longer.

So he stubbornly refused and went back to work.

As the group gradually moved away, Yao Luwen looked back and gazed thoughtfully. His expression then changed, becoming solemn and complex.

Just then, the gentle breeze that had just arrived suddenly disappeared, without any follow-up.

The heat and humidity are intense, and the air evaporates from the ground.

This summer's sweltering heat has caused an unusually long delay for some unknown reason.

In the southeastern region of Hangzhou, even at this time of year, the evenings are still not cool at all.

Yao Luwen was covered in sweat and coughing. Suddenly, he turned around and walked silently toward his black horse.

At the yamen, at this critical moment, people were being arrested and detained, but those inside were disobedient.

The newly arrived Imperial Guards from the city were also cursing and swearing, seven of them dissatisfied and eight of them indignant.

Those who are wounded are wounded, those who are bruised are bruised.

It was a complete mess, with a constant buzzing noise.

Of course, because of the chaos in the area, Yao Luwen, who was in charge of about a thousand men, was able to move his horse a short distance away and dismount in front of another team without being noticed. No one else paid any attention to him.

"Dog, there's a pharmacy three houses east of Pigou Lane. Pass on a message for me."

"Just say that Tiger Head is asleep, buried in the pit, and then wake up when you wake him up."

Unexpectedly, Yao Luwen glanced around and, seeing that no one else was paying attention to this, lowered his voice and, pulling his henchman Er Gou aside, gave this brief and unrelated instruction.

Upon hearing this, Er Gou was completely bewildered. He scratched his head and asked in a simple-minded manner.

"Ah? This"

"Commander, you..." the man shouted, though the noise was not very loud.

But Yao Luwen, who was tense at the moment, quickly gave the young man a look when he heard him shouting, scaring him into swallowing his words.

"What are you yelling about?!"

"Three rooms east of Pigou Lane, there is a herbal medicine shop."

"Tiger Head is asleep, buried in the pit, light a whistle and he'll be fast asleep."

"Don't ask any more questions, just go."

At this moment, Yao Xia was clearly agitated and impatient, as if something urgent had happened.

As for Er Gou, although he was usually a bit slow-witted, it was clear that he was taking this matter very seriously because of his superior's dignified appearance.

They were eager to take a look, and dared not be negligent any longer.

He immediately nodded in agreement, took his horse, and stepped forward to move.

"Oh, General Qian, what brings you here?"

"Hey? Er Gou, where is he going?"

Unexpectedly, despite any attempt to conceal it, the area in front of the government office is now crowded with people and eyes.

Unwittingly, it attracted the attention of someone else.

Just as Er Gou leaped away on his horse, Yao didn't have time to turn around before his subordinates rushed up behind him to cover his tracks.

"Cough, cough cough cough"

"Hey, it's nothing. Go home and get me some cough medicine."

"Today, I feel terrible, cough cough cough cough."

Yao Luwen's original intention was to brush off his subordinate with a few perfunctory words and a wave of his hand.

What's annoying is that those who have no tact still insist on talking more in this situation.

"Oh dear, General Qian, you've caught a cold! Look at my brain, how could I forget about that?"

"Oh, right, what's the prescription for your cough syrup? Did it come from Li Huairun, the renowned healer of Xicheng?"

"To be honest, my husband has also caught a cold these past few days."

"I've been bedridden for over half a month, and I've taken several doses of medicine, but nothing has helped." "Hehe, I was too presumptuous."

"I don't know. Heh, when Brother Er Gou gets back later, could you perhaps give me a couple of small packets as a reward, so I can explain things when I get home?"

I have asked for the prescription, but I don't know if you are really only after the medicine.

After all, the Imperial Guard was filled with relatives and descendants of high-ranking officials and nobles.

Moreover, Liu Hou, within the palace, and the Southern and Northern factions, are deeply intertwined and a mixed bag.

Although Yao was nominally a centurion.

However, in places like the Imperial Guard, it's not simply a matter of rank.

Yao Luwen had been in the business for several years and was well aware of its ins and outs.

Seeing that his subordinate was causing trouble, he had no choice but to try and deal with the situation, even though he was preoccupied with his own worries.

To avoid giving myself away, I had to grit my teeth and deal with it, even if it meant bluffing.

As the saying goes, "Understanding the ways of the world is knowledge, and being adept at human relationships is literature."

In a split second, every second counts.

Before the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters, all matters will be left aside for now.

Two flowers bloom, each gazing at a branch.

Just now, in a moment of desperation, Yao Luwen risked everything and sent his trusted follower Er Gou out to deliver a message.

My gaze jumped, and I followed them into Pigou Alley.

The two guards had only been gone a moment after delivering the message.

In the dead of night, the alley was dark and silent once again.

Clang, clang clang clang—

A moment later, a small flame flickered and drifted in from the alley entrance.

Clang, clang, clang—this is the watchman of this neighborhood, dragging his weary, hunched back, as he approaches the alleyway from afar with the sound of his clapper.

Dang Dang Dang——

Occasionally, after he stirred things up, faint barking could be heard from some house on the street, no one knew who it was.

Just wait for this quiet moment.

suddenly!

The night watchman's body swayed as he was pulled aside, giving him a huge fright!
"what--"

Suddenly, his vision blurred, and he was instantly thrown into the air, crashing onto the hard ground to the side.

Before I could even see clearly, a black horse suddenly darted out from in front of me!

hiss--

Then, with another screech, the watchman's tools clattered and fell to the ground.

In the darkness, the black-brown horse with its thick coat and dark skin galloped away in a flash.

The night watchman let out a horrified scream, truly terrified.

"Hey! Who's there?!"

"I curse your ancestors for eighteen generations, you raised a Han son."

"You're bringing bad news, you big black guy."

"Ouch, ouch."

"You wait, I'll have someone arrest you and report you to the authorities!"

Dadada, dadada—

The night watchman, finally able to catch his breath, collapsed to the ground and began cursing.

But the black horse kept galloping, turning its head to the side, and without looking back, it had already left the alleyway.

Before anyone could see it, there was another person dressed in black, wearing a black shirt, black hat, and black boots.

It spurred its horse and sped through the alleyways, appearing extremely eager.

Along the way, some branches occasionally peeked out from the walls and strayed askew, causing trouble on both sides.

Where the eyes cannot see, branches and leaves slash and cover the face, and the head and eyes are burned and bleeding, but the person seems to be completely oblivious.

With one mind focused, he rushed towards the southwest of the city.

Avoiding the main streets and going through narrow alleys, how impatient!

(End of this chapter)