Records of Mysterious Things in the Southern Dynasties

Chapter 257 Take a step to speak

As a result, all the hundred people in the building held knives in their hands, and no one wanted to stay!
"Haha, okay, let's go together!" The Fifth Dimension laughed and pointed his sword forward, saying loudly: "Brothers, follow me to eliminate this evil for the people!"

"Let's go together!" The soldiers of Chongguang Chuang responded in unison, followed the direction of the fifth-dimensional blade, and walked out of the barracks with murderous intent.

"Don't you think Lord Xue is right?" On the way, someone questioned those who had just expressed their understanding of Xue Dingnan.

"He is right." Those people then said confidently, "But we firmly follow the Fifth Guard and don't care about reason."

~~
On the other side, the Xifeng Marquis Mansion.

Xiao Zhengyi has already told his two bastard brothers the whole story, as well as his father's instructions.

Xiao Zhengde and Xiao Zhengze were also extremely shocked when they heard this.

"Third brother, why were you so careless and let them find out?" Xiao Zhengze couldn't help but blame Xiao Zhengde.

"Bullshit, I shouldn't mind your business!" Xiao Zhengde said angrily, "I have been hiding for twenty years and it was fine. If you hadn't forced me to send him to sleep, how could I have been exposed?"

"Okay, both of you. If you don't leave now, we'll be surrounded." Xiao Zhengyi had an anxious look on his face, and it didn't seem like he was gloating at all.

"Where are we going?" they asked.

"Let's go to Stone City for shelter first." Xiao Zhengyi said, "We'll be safe there."

"Why don't you go to Dongfu City?" Xiao Zhengde asked, "Do the henchmen of the Gouchen Division dare to cause trouble there?"

"After all, Dongfu City is in the capital. If a confrontation occurs, it will really be unsightly." Xiao Zhengyi explained: "Eighth Uncle and his men will definitely jump out to cause trouble."

Xiao Hong served as the governor of Yangzhou. This Yangzhou was not the Yangzhou of later generations, but the capital area with Jiankang as the center, including Danyang County.

The seat of the Governor's Office was the East City, which, like the Qilin City, was built within the capital to protect the imperial city.

Xiao Hong also served as the garrison commander of the famous Shitou City. Shitou City is located on the mountainside and faces the river. It controls the river and is adjacent to the Qinhuai River estuary in the south. It is a key point for water transportation and is the most important military barrier for the capital.

As long as Xiao Zhengde and Xiao Zhengze hide in Stone City, Gou Chensi will be helpless. Moreover, Stone City is located outside the capital and is relatively inconspicuous, which can make Xiao Hong less passive.

The two brothers thought it made sense, and as time was pressing, they stopped talking nonsense, immediately gathered the guards, and hurriedly left the mansion.

~~
"Ding ding ding!" The gongs for clearing the streets rang out rapidly, and the people on the street hurriedly dodged to both sides, leaving the middle of the road.

"Crack, crack, crack!" The leather boots with iron nails stepped neatly on the bluestone road, shaking the ground slightly. A large group of fully armed ghostwriters and big men headed from Qilin City to the Qinhuai River.

"Who are they going to catch again?" People were discussing on the roadside.

"Why does it look like they are going to Xifeng Marquis's Mansion? Are they going to capture Xiao Zhengde?"

"How is that possible? Unless the sun rises from the west."

"Oh, it seems to be true, the sun rises from the west." When the people saw the officers and soldiers of the Gou Chensi stop at the Xifenghou Mansion and quickly surrounded it, they couldn't help but burst into thunderous cheers.

"Great, great! Chaos is finally going to be dealt with!"

"Oh my God, the Emperor is so wise!" Many people were ecstatic. God knew how they had been tortured by Xiao Zhengde over the past twenty years.

"Don't be too happy yet." But someone poured cold water on him, saying, "Even if he is caught, they will just make him drink three glasses of wine as punishment and then release him later."

"That's true..." People were not so excited all of a sudden. Based on past experience, it was indeed the case.

"Who cares? At least he can behave himself for a few days." They consoled themselves. But when they thought about the emperor's unprincipled partiality for his sons and nephews, they felt very bored. Xue Dingnan had sharp senses and heard the words of the common people clearly, but he turned a deaf ear to them and came to the gate of the Marquis' Mansion, surrounded by his ghostwriters.

The servants guarding the gate naturally could not let them in, and blocked the door with weapons in hand.

"Get out of the way. We have been ordered to kill Xiao Zhengde and Xiao Zhengze. Anyone who dares to stop us will be killed without mercy!" A ghostwriter shouted at the servants who were blocking the way.

The servants were in a dilemma when they heard Xiao Zhengyi's voice behind them: "All of you get out of the way."

"Why is the prince here?" Xue Dingnan saluted with his arms crossed.

"Master Xue." Xiao Zhengyi politely returned the greeting:

"My father heard that the emperor was going to kill the third and fourth sons, so he went to the palace to plead guilty. At the same time, he asked me to capture the two evildoers and bring them to the palace to hand over to the emperor for punishment."

"It seems that we are all here for the same thing." Xue Dingnan asked in a deep voice, "Excuse me, have you caught the person?"

"Alas, it was all in vain." Xiao Zhengyi sighed and said, "According to the people in the mansion, they must have received the news. When I came in from the front door, they escaped from the back door."

Then he stepped aside and said, "If you don't believe me, please search."

"How could I not believe what the young master said? But we have to handle the matter impartially." Xue Dingnan smiled and waved his hand. The ghostwriter took Da Shuihe and rushed into the marquis' mansion to search for the whereabouts of the two brothers.

"Lord Wei, can you please have a moment with me?" Xiao Zhengyi made a gesture to invite him.

Xue Dingnan hesitated for a moment, but still followed him into the lobby.

After closing the door, Xiao Zhengyi crossed his arms and bowed, saying, "There were many people outside just now, and we had to consider the face of the court and the palace. Now, on behalf of my father, I beg the Lord of Wei to show mercy and leave those two evil creatures a way to live."

"No, I don't deserve such a great honor." Xue Dingnan quickly stepped aside and said, "Besides, I can't go against the emperor's will."

"I didn't ask the Lord to go against the order. I just made a little concession and let them live another day or two." Xiao Zhengyi said softly.

"Well..." Xue Dingnan looked embarrassed and hesitated without saying a word.

"My father promises that as long as Lord Wei shows mercy, the Linchuan Palace will always remember this favor." Xiao Zhengyi lowered his voice and said:
"Also, Stone City is short of a lieutenant general. Our prince likes you very much. I wonder if you are interested?"

Xue Ding was moved by what he heard and nodded, "We can capture him first but not kill him. But Your Majesty must hurry up and ask the Emperor for permission."

"Of course." Xiao Zhengyi nodded happily and said, "We just need to save the lives of those two evildoers. No need to be polite to them. Since they caused such a big disaster, it is only right to teach them a lesson."

"I understand." Xue Dingnan nodded, and after negotiating with Xiao Zhengyi, he pushed the door and walked out.

Ji Buli also searched the place quickly and came back to report to him, "The man is definitely not in the mansion. The guards just contacted me and said that they found his two brothers heading towards Xilimen. They should be planning to go to Shitou City."

"Chase!" Xue Dingnan said in a deep voice.

"Yes!" Ji Buli responded and immediately reassembled the team.

Xue Dingnan turned around, clasped his fists and bowed to Xiao Zhengyi, saying, "Excuse me, Your Highness."

"I'll go with the Lord." Xiao Zhengyi took the initiative to say, "With me here, those two evildoers won't dare to act rashly."

Xue Dingnan looked at him deeply, nodded and said, "Okay."

The two men strode out of the mansion, mounted their horses, and led the crowd in pursuit towards the west gate of the outer city.

(End of this chapter)