The Blood Crown - Chapter 232

Yan Prefecture received news that Luo Ruoxin’s only son, Luo Wen, got drunk at the Yao Yue Pavilion and quarreled over a woman, eventually using a bird gun to kill a wealthy merchant from Mianyang!

The key to this matter was not that someone died, but rather the bird gun itself.

The bird gun, named for its ignition mechanism which mimicked a bird’s beak pecking water, was a lighter, improved version of the fire gun developed by craftsmen in recent years. Though the early fire guns were powerful, they were inconvenient for individual soldiers to use due to the difficulty of loading gunpowder. In contrast, the bird gun not only retained the fire gun’s power but had a longer range and was easier to ignite. It was now the most popular firearm, but due to its complicated construction and high cost, only the most elite troops were equipped with it. Even Feng Ye’s camp had only about a hundred.

Such an important weapon appearing in the hands of a frivolous young master, used in a brawl and resulting in the death of a commoner, was truly shocking. After all, the bird gun was invented by the Military Armory Bureau of the Ministry of Works and could only be distributed by the Ministry of War—it was forbidden to be privately sold or traded. Regardless of who was implicated, the source of this bird gun would be a major matter.

Luo Wen, still drunk, was thrown into prison and subjected to a harsh interrogation regarding the bird gun’s origin. This man was certainly not one of noble character; he confessed everything in a panic. It turned out that the weapons keeper of Taiyuan’s armory had once served the Luo family, and Luo Wen had bribed him to borrow the bird gun, intending to show off in front of a beauty. He had planned to return it the next day, but after drinking too much and being provoked, he had ignited the gun and accidentally killed a man.

The armory immediately took stock of the bird guns and confirmed that one was missing. The weapons keeper was swiftly arrested, and he confessed without resistance. Thus, the matter was straightforwardly resolved.

Though the case was clarified, the question of how to handle the young master of the Luo family remained difficult to resolve. It was said that Luo Ruoxin nearly fainted with rage, and the entire city of Taiyuan was restless with fury.

This was precisely the news Yan Sikong and Feng Ye had been waiting for. They had been worried that Xi Ying might take the money and do nothing, or that Luo Wen would not be foolish enough to dig his own grave. Unexpectedly, events had unfolded even better than they had anticipated.

Luo Ruoxin only had this one precious son, so he would naturally do everything possible to protect him. But the reputation he had just restored in the court due to the Taiyuan campaign was likely to be entirely ruined again. Moreover, the enmity between him and Wang Mei was real—Luo Ruoxin had nearly killed him, only for Shen Hexuan’s timely intervention to thwart their ruse. This didn’t mean Wang Mei had lost his desire to replace Luo Ruoxin, and now he had the perfect opportunity to report Luo Ruoxin’s transgressions. More importantly, Shen Hexuan would certainly not let the disreputable Luo Wen go unpunished.

Feng Ye ordered his spies in Taiyuan to closely monitor the situation, while Yan Sikong secretly sent a letter to the capital, asking Zhu Lanting to seize the opportunity.

A few days later, news came that Luo Ruoxin and Shen Hexuan had clashed over Luo Wen’s case. According to national law, murder required a life in return, and under military law, the theft of military equipment was a capital offense. If Luo Wen were not Luo Ruoxin’s son, even multiple lives wouldn’t be enough to save him. Luo Ruoxin wanted to put all the blame on the weapons keeper, but Shen Hexuan was relentless in holding Luo Wen accountable. Both sides began submitting memorials to the court, and although Feng Ye had already surrounded the city, he deliberately allowed the messengers to leave.

Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, Taiyuan was not far from the capital, and courier horses could make the round trip in just a few days. If the news that returned was a pardon from the Emperor, the Luo family would naturally rejoice, but if it was a call for severe punishment, then Luo Wen wouldn’t have long to live.

Feng Ye also took the opportunity to inquire about Zhou Ke’s situation. Zhou Ke had been released from prison after receiving forty lashes, demoted to a Centurion, and had half a year’s pay docked. He was currently recuperating at home, so Feng Ye sent someone to quietly deliver high-quality healing medicine to him.

Meanwhile, they continued to stir up trouble in Taiyuan, spreading word of Luo Wen’s misdeeds and encouraging the bereaved family of the murdered merchant to seek justice from Shen Hexuan, kneeling outside his residence day and night to demand fairness.

Someone like Shen Hexuan, with an unyielding moral fiber, could not tolerate injustice. The more Luo Ruoxin sought to shield his son, the more Shen Hexuan was determined to act on behalf of justice. Moreover, he had long disapproved of Luo Ruoxin’s way of managing the troops and held him in utter contempt.

While the uproar over Luo Wen’s theft of military equipment was at its peak, Zhou Ke sent a message through the person delivering the medicine. He said that as long as his family could be kept safe, he was willing to serve the Wolf King with unwavering loyalty.

After discussing it, Yan Sikong and Feng Ye were uncertain whether Zhou Ke’s words were genuine. After all, they had once used a double agent only to have Shen Hexuan turn the trap back on them, leading them into a pit. Zhou Ke had been in prison for a long time, and who knew what Shen Hexuan might have said to him. It was not impossible that he was attempting a ruse like Cao Yu had once done. So, they didn’t ask Zhou Ke to do anything specific; they simply inquired if he was willing to cooperate in secretly getting his family out of Taiyuan.

After Zhou Ke agreed, they began to plan how to “steal people.” Although they had surrounded Taiyuan City, they had not restricted the movement of the common people in and out, since many still had farmland outside the city. However, they strictly inspected everyone to prevent any soldiers, spies, or agents from slipping through. Taiyuan also kept a close eye on those entering and exiting the city, making it no easy task to smuggle out several living people.

In the past few days, both Yan Sikong and Feng Ye had been a bit restless, seeing their schemes finally take shape, caught between hope and fear as they awaited the court’s response. But what came before the Emperor’s decision was news from Prince Yong.

Prince Yong was the prince Feng Ye most wanted to win over. This man was situated in the Central Plains, in a strategic area along major thoroughfares. If they could form an alliance, it would be like adding wings to a tiger. The first group of envoys Feng Ye had sent seemed to have had some success, and as Prince Yong saw the tide shifting towards Feng Ye and Chen Mu, he naturally wavered. However, today, rumors of Feng Ye’s ambitions to seize power had reached Prince Yong’s ears, causing him to harbor doubts, and he sent a letter to inquire about the matter.

Although these princes bore grudges against Emperor Zhao Wu over the reduction of their powers and had long been fed up with his incompetence and favoritism towards treacherous officials, they were still unlikely to hand over the Chen family’s throne to someone of a different surname. Whether Feng Ye was truly loyal to Chen Mu was the foundation for Prince Yong’s decision to ally with him, so he had to question it.

Feng Ye wrote back to Prince Yong, humbly and sincerely expressing his reverence for the founding emperor, the honor and duty he bore as a loyal minister, and his unwavering loyalty to the Prince of Chu, insisting that the rumors were merely Shen Hexuan’s sinister plots and should be disregarded.

Yan Sikong pondered over the letter repeatedly and said, “Why don’t I go visit Prince Yong myself?”

“No,” Feng Ye rejected firmly.

“What are you afraid of? Prince Yong’s forces aren’t enough to be a match for your Feng Wolf Cavalry. I’ll just bring more men with me.”

Feng Ye responded quickly, “Right now, it’s a critical moment; we can’t afford any mistakes. Even if you bring more men, can you march them into the city? If this leaks, the court could intercept you halfway. Or if Prince Yong or someone around him decides to turn you in for a reward, you’d be done for.”

“I even went to Chahar,” Yan Sikong’s lips curved slightly. “This time…”

“This time, there’s no need for you to take action. Prince Yong is already wavering; I just need to dispel his doubts about me. I won’t let you take the risk.” Feng Ye squeezed Yan Sikong’s face, “I won’t even let you out of my sight.”

Yan Sikong teased, “Are you afraid I’ll run away?”

Feng Ye looked at him and said nothing.

The smile on Yan Sikong’s face slowly faded. He suddenly realized that Feng Ye might truly be afraid he would leave, and most likely feared he would go find Chen Mu.

Feng Ye also sensed Yan Sikong’s thoughts and said, “Don’t overthink it. I just want to ensure your safety. If you fall into the court’s hands, what will I do? We are on the verge of capturing Taiyuan. We can’t afford any slip-ups now.”

Yan Sikong nodded, “I understand. I’ll follow your lead then.”

Feng Ye pulled him down to sit on his lap, “To be honest, I regretted sending you to Chen Mu as soon as you left. I feared you wouldn’t return. If you hadn’t come back, I wouldn’t have spared either you or Chen Mu.”

“I went to Yunnan for the greater good. If I hadn’t gone—”

Feng Ye gently pressed a finger to Yan Sikong’s lips, “I know, no need to explain. But do you know how I felt when I heard that Chen Mu had taken a concubine who resembled you? That’s why I won’t let you leave again, no matter where it is. I won’t give anyone the chance to covet you, to get close to you. You are to stay by my side, nowhere else.”

Yan Sikong sighed softly, “I obey the Wolf King’s command.”

Feng Ye’s lips curved into a smile as he wrapped his arms around Yan Sikong’s waist and said with deep meaning, “One day, when I achieve my goal, you will also realize your wish. That is the future we both truly look forward to.”

The words were somewhat ambiguous, and Yan Sikong couldn’t quite grasp what Feng Ye meant. But seeing Feng Ye’s extraordinarily handsome face smiling gently, he was momentarily lost in thought.

Feng Ye stroked Yan Sikong’s cheek, his eyes shining with a determined and resolute light, “I’m serious. We will both achieve our goals. As long as the two of us stand united, we can overturn this vast empire.”

Under Feng Ye’s intense gaze, Yan Sikong’s heart surged with mixed emotions. Feng Ye’s ambition was like the tolling of a great bell, echoing over rivers, lakes, and seas—unseen yet deafening. He was stunned for a moment, then softly nodded in agreement.