Chapter Ninety-Six: Trap

Night had fallen, and Chen Pingwu, drunk and sunk into deep sleep, had no idea that storms were gathering and that every soul in Yanwu County was nursing secret schemes.

Feng Yewu and Lu Jue changed into dark night garb and left Wang Jia waiting for them at the inn.

Then, following the route they had planned earlier, the two of them quietly made their way to the Li household.

After vaulting over the high wall, Feng Yewu and Lu Jue looked at the empty estate and found not a single soul within.

Lu Jue grew suspicious and warned Feng Yewu at once.

“Your Majesty, please be careful. I have a bad feeling about this.”

Seeing the Li household deserted, Feng Yewu naturally understood that something was wrong. Yet there were not many chances left. If they failed to search now and the Prince of Pingyi returned to his own manor and grew wary, it would become even harder to find evidence.

“Never mind that. Search first.”

Lu Jue and Feng Yewu split up.

Feng Yewu went straight to the study. After searching around, he indeed found a hidden compartment tucked into the corner where the walls met.

Inside were many letters, all correspondence between Li Ru and the Prince of Pingyi.

On the other side, Lu Jue reached the door of the master bedroom and noticed that the floor beneath his feet was spotless. There was not a speck of dust by the threshold. Clearly, people lived in this residence. So why, in such a vast estate, was there not a single servant on night watch?

Lu Jue could not make sense of it. He pressed an ear to the door, but heard not even the sound of sleeping breath. The silence was eerie.

Could it be that everyone in the household had gone out?

Lu Jue did not dwell on it. He pushed the door carefully, only to find it was not locked. It opened without resistance.

His doubts deepened. He peered inside, and in the pale moonlight he saw a master and servant, two women, lying on the floor in the inner room, their blood already dried.

This was bad.

Lu Jue immediately slipped back out, sensing trouble. Just as he turned, he ran into Feng Yewu, who was hurrying over.

“I found the evidence!”

Feng Yewu’s eyes lit with joy, but Lu Jue’s brow was tightly furrowed. Before he could speak, lanterns suddenly blazed to life all around the Li estate. The main gate was kicked open from outside, and a host of officers surged in.

Fang Yang entered with the magistrate’s clerk, shouting sharply.

“Who dares commit such theft and violence!”

Feng Yewu and Lu Jue exchanged a glance. Seeing that they were only officers, they both felt a little relieved.

Feng Yewu watched calmly as the officers surrounded them, saying nothing.

After rushing into the courtyard, the officers checked the surrounding rooms and discovered the bodies of everyone in the Li household.

One of them hurried over to report.

“My lord, all thirteen members of the Li family are dead. None survived.”

Feng Yewu was shocked upon hearing this and turned to Lu Jue. Lu Jue gave a helpless nod, confirming that it was true.

Fang Yang flew into a rage and immediately ordered his men to seize the two of them.

“Take these two murderers down!”

Lu Jue stepped directly in front of Feng Yewu and shouted, “Wait! We are from the palace, ordered here to search the Li household for evidence. I—”

As he spoke, he reached for the token at his waist, only to realize that after showing it to Wang Jia earlier, he had forgotten to take it back.

At once, he had no way to defend himself.

Fang Yang let out a cold laugh, looking down at Lu Jue with contempt.

“From the palace? The palace is full of eunuchs. Your Adam’s apple is obvious and your voice is deep and thick. Do you really think I am a fool? Take them away!”

At Fang Yang’s roar, the officers swarmed forward. Seeing the situation turn grim, Lu Jue hurriedly called over his shoulder to Feng Yewu.

“Your Majesty, take the evidence and go. I’ll hold them off.”

How could Feng Yewu leave Lu Jue to face such danger alone? He immediately shook his head, insisting that they live and die together.

With no choice, Lu Jue had to break out alongside Feng Yewu.

In that small county town, the uproar quickly spread until everyone knew of it.

From the shadows nearby, Yang Guang watched every move with a frown, thinking to himself, What is wrong with this county magistrate? Such a trivial matter, and he has made such a huge scene.

His left hand, which held a knife in hiding, flexed his thumb as he searched for an opening to kill Lu Jue.

Lu Jue and Feng Yewu fought their way out of the Li household, when suddenly a surge of killing intent sent a chill down Lu Jue’s spine. He knew at once that something was wrong.

Seeing the change in his expression, Feng Yewu asked, “What is it?”

Lu Jue did not dare relax for even a moment. He grabbed Feng Yewu and moved toward their lodging, saying in a low voice, “Killing intent. Someone is hiding in the dark. His skill is no weaker than mine.”

Fine beads of cold sweat appeared on Lu Jue’s forehead, and he dared not let his guard down.

The two returned in haste to the inn. Seeing their anxious and urgent expressions, Wang Jia quickly asked, “What happened?”

Feng Yewu and Lu Jue exchanged a glance and handed the letters to Wang Jia. At this point, it was clear that the two of them were in dire straits.

All their last hope could only be placed in Wang Jia’s hands.

Feng Yewu urged her anxiously, “Keep these pieces of evidence safe, and quickly find someone to inform Wei Nanqi, the Chief Justice in the capital.”

No sooner had Feng Yewu spoken than he had no time to say anything else.

A piercing chill rushed in. Lu Jue hastily shoved Feng Yewu aside, and a figure burst through the window. Beneath the moonlight, a blade flashed.

A few sharp clangs rang out as steel met steel.

Lu Jue was still a step too slow. He only heard a tearing sound, then pain flared in his shoulder, and blood sprayed out at once.

In the confusion, Feng Yewu shouted for Wang Jia to run.

Soon after, officers outside the inn rushed over at the sound and surrounded the place completely.

Lu Jue had no time to worry about his wounded shoulder. He raised his sword and fought the man with the knife.

By then, he had already guessed the other’s identity.

In a tiny place like Yanwu County, the only man capable of such skill could be Yang Guang.

Yang Guang, masked, entered and saw the two of them protecting Wang Jia. He immediately moved to give chase, but Lu Jue, ignoring his own injury, threw himself into the fight and held him back with all his strength.

For a time, the two of them were locked in an even struggle.

“You are injured,” Yang Guang said through the cloth over his face. “You cannot beat me.”

Lu Jue gave a cold laugh and did not answer. He simply thrust his sword straight at Yang Guang’s vital point.

Blood dripped down his arm and onto the ground.

Crash!

The door was shattered as officers stormed in. Yang Guang blocked Lu Jue’s strike with a sweep of his blade, then turned and fled through the window.

Feng Yewu and Lu Jue had no choice but to be restrained by the officers and taken to prison.

After the officers led Feng Yewu and Lu Jue away, Wang Jia, who had been hiding in a corner of the inn, finally hurried out.

Helplessness, together with the night’s chill, seeped into Wang Jia’s eyes.

Chen Pingwu, still groggy in his drunken stupor, was roused by the commotion outside.

“Water... Yang Guang, pour me a cup of water. What is happening out there? Why is it so noisy?”

He called out several times, but no one answered in the room. Only then did he clutch his head and rise, stepping outside.

There he happened to run straight into the fleeing Wang Jia, tears streaming down her face.

The two of them collided full into one another.

“You—”

Chen Pingwu was just about to flare up in anger when he saw that it was Wang Jia, and his face was instantly filled with surprise.

When Wang Jia saw Chen Pingwu appear, she seemed to have found a savior. Tears poured out at once.

“Jia’er, do not cry. Why are you here? What on earth has happened?”

Chen Pingwu looked toward the distance and saw officers gathering, as though some grave matter had occurred.

Wang Jia sobbed and spoke to him in broken words.

“Th-the Crown Prince... hurry and save His Majesty!”

The moment Chen Pingwu heard that Feng Yewu was in danger, his head cleared at once. He hurried back into the room to retrieve his sword, intent on going to rescue them.