BLHO Chapter 22
by VolareThe Embroidered Uniform Guards obeyed the order and stepped forward. He Yuncheng, looking at the scene before him, was unsure for a moment, not knowing whether to cooperate or resist.
Tonight’s series of events didn’t allow him to react. This trip to the Northern Garrison Office was clearly a trap waiting for him to fall into. It would be easy to go in, but difficult to get out.
But with Princess Meng Ning having an incident, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor would also investigate to the end. If he didn’t go, it would be an admission of guilt, confirming his suspicion.
Hesitating, Lin Shuangxu decisively stood in front of him, “Hold on.”
He said to Shen Tan, “Commander Shen, He Yuncheng is a second-rank general of the current dynasty. You are detaining him without a decree. Is this in accordance with the rules?”
Shen Tan’s eyes turned cold as she scanned Lin Shuangxu. He wasn’t a court official, and she hadn’t met him before, but she had heard of the young master of the He family. Judging by Lin Shuangxu’s demeanor, she knew his identity.
Shen Tan said, “The princess’s death is a major event, and investigating the truth is urgent. After returning to the Northern Garrison Office, I will send someone to report to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.”
Lin Shuangxu’s eyes narrowed, feigning confusion, “The body hasn’t even been examined yet. How does Commander Shen know that the princess was murdered?”
“Otherwise?” Shen Tan cast her gaze towards the body on the ground, confidently retorting, “Who doesn’t know the princess’s temperament? If she wasn’t at her wits’ end, how could she have taken her own life?”
Lin Shuangxu didn’t lie to her, truthfully saying, “Commander Shen is wise. That’s right, I’ve already examined it. The princess was indeed murdered and died an unnatural death.”
Shen Tan’s eyes flickered slightly, and she unconsciously tightened her grip on the hilt of her saber.
Lin Shuangxu continued, “Furthermore, I have a general idea of who did this.”
Shen Tan asked, “Who?”
Lin Shuangxu didn’t say it directly, but said to her, “Princess Meng Ning is the Emperor’s sister and the Empress Dowager’s flesh and blood. Now in the court, who dares to despise imperial authority and commit wrongdoing? Commander Shen, count them, who are they?”
Who he was implying in these words, Shen Tan, being in the vortex of the court, how could she not know.
Since they were both shrewd people, Lin Shuangxu didn’t say it outright, and Shen Tan naturally couldn’t say it either. She said to him, “If the young master has any clues, he needs to speak them clearly.”
The current situation was unfavorable, but she still needed to seize the initiative. If she waited for the eunuch party to make accusations first, it would be even harder to clear his name.
Lin Shuangxu said, “I only ask Commander Shen, was it the Directorate of Ceremonial that dispatched the Northern Garrison Office to handle this case tonight?”
“Bold!” Shen Tan wouldn’t allow him to say more, shouting sternly, “How dare you slander the Grand Eunuch?”
The Embroidered Uniform Guards present drew their sabers in response to her words.
With this test, she thoroughly understood her position. Tonight, she couldn’t let her take He Yuncheng away no matter what.
Lin Shuangxu said, “I just said it was a guess. Who did it will naturally still need to be investigated by the Northern Garrison Office. However, the princess is a member of the imperial family. Now that such a disaster has happened, it should be reported to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor first. As for General He…” Lin Shuangxu glanced at He Yuncheng, “Whether he is detained or interrogated will depend on the imperial decree. The General’s Manor will definitely cooperate.”
Shen Tan didn’t have the patience to argue with them verbally, “I’ll only say it once, General He must come with me today.”
Lin Shuangxu’s aura wasn’t inferior in the slightest, “I’ll also only say it once, you can’t take him away.”
Shen Tan sneered, “I’m afraid it’s not up to you.”
Lin Shuangxu also smiled, a murderous intent revealed in his elegant eyebrows, “You can try.”
The cold night was about to end, and faint rays of dawn light emerged from the gaps in the trees. The withered branches around the courtyard rustled.
The Embroidered Uniform Guards who came were all experts from the palace. Listening to the rustling sounds around, they could naturally judge how many people were lying in ambush in this manor.
Shen Tan asked, “What? Are you openly resisting the imperial court?”
“A helpless move, Commander Shen, please forgive us.” Lin Shuangxu turned around, assuming the demeanor of the head of the family, “The princess encountered such a thing just after marrying into the General’s Manor. The entire He family is deeply saddened. I hope the commander will investigate thoroughly and not let evildoers harm the princess’s life in vain. Time is of the essence, everyone, hurry back to handle the case. Lin will not see you off.”
Shen Tan said, “Since the young master is determined to obstruct official business, then this commander can only act according to official duties.”
She turned the Embroidered Spring Saber in her hand, the wind howled, and the tip of the saber rapidly stabbed towards Lin Shuangxu’s chest.
Seeing that the situation was not good, He Yuncheng moved like the wind, instantly shifting in front of Lin Shuangxu, blocking Shen Tan’s saber.
Having fought with Shen Tan before, he knew that her internal strength was not to be underestimated and couldn’t be dealt with in three or two moves. He Yuncheng didn’t dare to slack off.
The Embroidered Uniform Guards in the courtyard saw that the commander had made a move, and they also drew their sabers one after another, surrounding and capturing He Yuncheng.
He Yuncheng feared that these people would accidentally injure Lin Shuangxu, so he planned to finish the battle quickly, leaving no room for error in every move he made.
The originally quiet courtyard instantly erupted in a flurry of sabers.
Lin Shuangxu’s eyes were piercingly cold, and he shouted in the midst of the clash of swords, “Since you adults are determined to make things difficult, then the General’s Manor can only defend itself! Men!”
At his command, dozens of black-clad shadow guards appeared, all wielding lethal weapons.
The Embroidered Uniform Guards were not afraid of death. With their orders weighing heavily on them, they tightened their saber attacks, preparing to fight to the death.
Murderous intent rose, and in the blink of an eye, a massacre began. He Yuncheng didn’t waste time, and with a backhand feint, he knocked Shen Tan into a disadvantageous position, snatched her Embroidered Spring Saber, and held it against her neck.
“Yuncheng!” Lin Shuangxu anxiously spoke, just about to remind him not to kill her at all costs, when suddenly they heard a voice from afar, shouting loudly, “General He, spare her life!”
The voice was deep and hoarse, carrying a gloomy air, and it came from outside the General’s Manor gate.
Everyone stopped fighting and looked towards the gate.
They saw the newcomer with a tall and upright figure, wearing a dark red robe embroidered with golden pythons, a face as white as jade, deep and serene eyes, and heroic features. He looked to be around thirty years old, but the aura he exuded was prematurely aged.
It was Li Yuliang, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial.
Lin Shuangxu’s heart turned cold. Sure enough, one scheme was linked to another, all carefully planned.
Li Yuliang walked steadily. The last time he saw him at the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion, Lin Shuangxu had carefully observed him. Although this eunuch’s body was incomplete, he must be a skilled martial artist. With the ambition of a wolf, he proceeded step by step, taking the position during the late Emperor’s declining years and replacing the old Grand Eunuch at a young age, gaining control of the Directorate of Ceremonial.
Outsiders only said that he had good luck, but they didn’t know that this man was ruthless and didn’t recognize his own family. The old Grand Eunuch, who he had sworn to as his godfather, died suddenly for no reason, and it was likely related to him.
After the old Grand Eunuch died, the late Emperor also fell seriously ill and passed away. The Crown Prince, Gu Huan, ascended the throne at a young age, and he was a mild and timid person. He was naturally controlled by this Li Yuliang.
He stood in the courtyard, watching the Embroidered Uniform Guards surrounded by the General’s Manor’s shadow guards. His emotions didn’t show on his face. He walked to Lin Shuangxu and He Yuncheng, and his attitude seemed humble as he said, “General He, Young Master, the Northern Garrison Office is carrying out orders. What is the reason for drawing swords against each other?”
Lin Shuangxu looked at him with equally sharp eyes. The princess had just encountered an incident, and the Embroidered Uniform Guards arrived immediately afterward. In less than an incense stick’s worth of time, Li Yuliang had also come. His speed was so fast that he didn’t even bother to conceal his sinister intentions.
Lin Shuangxu said, without revealing any flaws, “Since you are carrying out orders, you must have evidence. Yuncheng is a general of the current dynasty. The Embroidered Uniform Guards want to imprison him in the Imperial Prison without any investigation. Grand Eunuch, this is not appropriate, is it?”