Chapter 512 - 512: Unreasonable Reputation

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

When Judge saw Ruyi and the others sitting under the eaves of the corridor, he hurriedly went forward and asked, “How’s Lord Zhou?”

Ruyi cupped his hands at him. “Lord Wu, when the assassin came, Master happened to be feeling a little uncomfortable in his stomach. He asked me to send him pills before discovering the assassin on the roof. Otherwise… Lord Wu, the imperial envoy was assassinated at the posthouse and there was even a poisonous snake. What do you think his intentions are?”

Judge looked at Ruyi in silence.

Eunuch Wang said sarcastically, “We don’t dare to sleep tonight. There are so many guards in the posthouse, and they even dare to bring such a poisonous creature to assassinate us. We can’t wake up after sleeping!”

Judge cupped his hands and said, “Secretary Wang, don’t worry. I’ll get someone to guard the posthouse tonight. Steward Zhou, I want to see Lord Zhou.”

Ruyi put on a bitter expression. “My master fainted from fear. It wasn’t easy for him to fall asleep after taking the calming medicine. Lord Wu, it’s obvious.

With Eunuch Wang as a witness, what else are you worried about?”

Eunuch Wang looked at Judge and said sarcastically, “That’s right! Lord Wu, will Lord Zhou get a snake and a few corpses to frame the posthouse?”

Judge’s eyes darkened. The dignified imperial envoy was so frightened by the assassin that he ate calming medicine. They were all undeserving of their reputation.

“Since Lord Zhou is not feeling well, I won’t disturb you.”

Judge looked at the corpses and poisonous snakes in the courtyard with a livid expression. He brought people in to check the tiles that had been uncovered by the assassin. When he came out, he said to Ruyi, “Steward Zhou, I’ll get someone to bring these corpses and poisonous snakes back to the government office. Please tell Lord Zhou that from today onwards, I’ll send constables and soldiers to protect Lord Zhou.”

Ruyi cupped his hands and said, “Thank you, Lord Wu. When my lord wakes up, I’ll tell him what you said.”

Wu Tong got someone to carry away the three corpses and the golden-armored snake before leaving in a hurry, leaving more than ten constables and bailiffs to guard the outside of the posthouse.

The assassin who had escaped arrived at the small courtyard beside the Cheng family. He knelt down and reported to Cheng Shan and the Eldest Prince, “Master, there are secret guards guarding the house. Three of our men have died.”

“Useless trash. What’s the use of raising you?” The Eldest Prince was so angry that he grabbed the teacup on the short table and threw it at the assassin kneeling on the ground. The assassin’s forehead was covered in blood. He did not dare to make a sound or raise his hand to wipe it.

“Hurry up and get lost,” the Eldest Prince shouted gloomily. When the assassin heard this, he felt as if he had been pardoned. He kowtowed and left.

Cheng Shan looked at the Eldest Prince’s furious expression and felt that he was getting more and more irritable. He was about to persuade him.

The Eldest Prince looked at him and said, “Uncle, when he was still alive, everyone said that he doted on Mother and me. If he really doted on us, why didn’t he hand the secret guards to us? I think he just made Second Brother and me into that bastard’s whetstone.”

Cheng Shan said softly, “Your Highness, please be careful with your words. Someone may overhear you..

The Eldest Prince sneered with a sad expression. “Uncle, Father-in-law, I’m about to die. What’s there to be afraid of? Sooner or later, I’ll dig out that jackal’s heart and eat it.”

Cheng Shan looked at his desolate expression and could no longer say anything to persuade him.

“Wait patiently. General Zou has already been roped in by us. When he ropes in all the other soldiers and eliminates all the ones he can’t recruit, we’ll wait at most another year and the weapons in the mountains will be ready. At that time, Uncle will definitely help you take back what you deserve.”

The Eldest Prince nodded and said, “Thank you, Uncle. If that day comes, I won’t let you down.”

Cheng Shan said gently, “Silly child, putting aside the national etiquette, you’re both my nephew and my son-in-law. Who else can I help but you?”

The Eldest Prince called out emotionally, “Uncle.”

At dawn, Chu Shan received a messenger pigeon. After reading the code, he shouted excitedly, “Prepare the carriage and go to the grocery store at the bridge.”

The shop assistant prepared the car and Chu Shan rushed to the provision store. Ruyi quietly returned to the bridge inn.

When Zhou Jia heard Ruyi’s report, he sneered and said, “They used a poisonous snake to murder me. They wanted to make me die accidentally.”

Zhou Jia frowned. Why was the Cheng family so eager to attack him? Could it be that they had really mined iron ore?

Ruyi comforted him. “Master, don’t be anxious. You’ll understand as soon as

Ding Yi comes back.”

Zhou Jia thought for a moment. “Go find Judge and Feng Qing. Tell them that I asked you to ask him if he found the assassin. Tell them that I’ve given him three days to find the assassin. Otherwise, I’ll have to report to His Majesty and ask him to send someone to investigate the assassin. Also, be more arrogant and despotic.”

“Yes, Master.” Ruyi smiled and left.

At this moment, Chu Shan entered Zhou Jia’s rented small courtyard from the backyard. He looked at Zhou Jia and smiled. “Senior Zhou, we’ve found it. As expected, it’s in Qingyue Mountain. The secret guards are already waiting in the dark.”

When Zhou Jia heard Chu Shan’s words, he felt even more uneasy. He felt that if the Cheng family dared to assassinate him, they were most likely afraid that he would find out about Qingyue Mountain. They had privately opened an iron mine to forge weapons. Where would the army come from? Could it be…

“Shopkeeper Chu, I’m worried that the Cheng family has already refined many weapons. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have sent assassins to the posthouse to assassinate me last night. I’m worried that the garrison of the Yuezhou Prefecture is already in cahoots with the Cheng family. If I rashly mobilize them, I’m afraid I’ll suffer a backlash. For the sake of caution, it’s best to find a nearby garrison to eliminate them.”

Chu Shan was shocked by Zhou Jia’s guess. He suddenly recalled that he had heard from the secret guard that he had seen General Zou Yinglong enter and leave the Cheng family residence. If the Cheng family had really colluded with the garrison, then he could only look for General Liu, who was stationed in Le County.

“I heard the secret guard report about the assassination. Lord Zhou’s guess is not impossible. The only person nearby is General Liu Yuan, who is training in Le County. Le County is between Yuezhou and Qingyue County. It’s only five days away from Qingyue Mountain. We should be able to arrive in two days.

Write me a secret letter and I’ll personally go to Le County to hand it to General Liu.”

“Alright, I’ll write it now and send this matter to His Majesty in a hurry.”

Zhou Jia wrote a secret letter and sealed it. Chu Qing hurriedly left to make arrangements.

When Ruyi arrived at the Yuezhou government office, he arrogantly repeated Zhou Jia’s words to Judge. Judge looked at Ruyi coldly. “1 will definitely try my best to solve the case. If Lord Zhou wants to report to His Majesty, that’s his

right.” With that, he ignored Ruyi.

Ruyi pretended to be dissatisfied and cursed as he went to Magistrate Feng. Magistrate Feng spread his hands awkwardly. “Please tell Lord Zhou that the people here are strong and there are many bandits. The case will be solved in three days. The imperial envoy can only urge Judge to judge more.”

Ruyi snorted and left to return to the posthouse. Eunuch Wang had already returned to the capital with the head of the Cheng family.

The people monitoring Zhou Jia saw that the secret guard disguised as Zhou Jia had been hiding in the posthouse and was not going anywhere. They thought that Zhou Jia was afraid after what had happened last night and hid comfortably behind his secret guard..