BLHO Chapter 28
by VolareChapter 28: How About Making a Deal?
It’s as if He Yuncheng is missing scolding in his five elements, a born masochist.
Even at this critical juncture, he still needs to be scolded a couple of times to feel comfortable.
After Lin Shuangxu scolds him, he glares at him, punches him a couple of times; it can make his bones go numb with pleasure.
Young Master, please calm your anger, Young Master, please rest, I’ll get out of here right away, immediately…
A night of fitful sleep.
The next day, after Lin Shuangxu got up, he went to see Song Jiting again.
This time, it wasn’t as confrontational as last night. He had already ordered people to untie Song Jiting, send him to a guest room, and treat him well.
When he entered, the other party had just finished eating, and his condition had recovered a lot.
Lin Shuangxu didn’t beat around the bush, going straight to the point, he asked him: “Where is Lord Song currently being held?”
“What do you want to do? Do you really want to help me save him?”
Lin Shuangxu said: “Last night, I was too impatient and offended Master Song. Putting myself in your shoes, if I were you, I wouldn’t want to risk my own father. I apologize to you. Let’s talk about the conditions. I’ll find a way to get Lord Song out, and you’ll help me testify and identify Li Yuliang’s crimes.”
Song Jiting didn’t think much about it, still maintaining his attitude from last night, “You can’t save him. What do you think the Directorate of Ceremonial is? Who is Li Yuliang?”
Although his attitude was strong, it could be heard that he wasn’t being stubborn at this point, but rather trying to advise Lin Shuangxu not to put himself in danger.
Lin Shuangxu’s expression was calm as he asked him in return: “Then what do you think the General’s Manor is? What kind of person am I?”
“Master Song,” he leaned forward, “my patience is limited. Saving your father is not easy, but killing him is simple. I only need to report to the Empress Dowager that Li Yuliang is secretly harboring a wanted criminal. At that time, not only will your father’s life be in danger, but Li Yuliang will also be implicated because of this. That would actually save me even more effort.”
“You…” Song Jiting was furious, “I trusted your character, that’s why I told you the truth, but you’re using this to threaten me. Isn’t that too despicable?”
“It is,” Lin Shuangxu admitted frankly, “but you want to protect your father, and I also want to protect my loved ones. It’s all out of desperation, please understand.”
–
He Yuncheng had been waiting in the courtyard, and when he saw Lin Shuangxu come out, he went up to greet him, “How is it? Did he tell you?”
“Lord Song Lian is in the secret prison of the Northern Garrison.” Lin Shuangxu said.
“Another Jinyi Wei?” He Yuncheng sneered, “It seems Shen Tan’s dealings with Li Yuliang are even closer than we imagined. Then her attitude last night is even stranger. She clearly noticed something, but why did she let us off?”
“Can’t guess,” Lin Shuangxu said, “But she’s definitely not helping us.”
He Yuncheng touched his chin, “Whatever, let’s just break into the Northern Garrison first.”
If it were in the past, Lin Shuangxu would definitely scold him for being reckless.
But now, in these extraordinary times, there isn’t so much time for them to plan everything perfectly.
“I’ll go with you,” Lin Shuangxu said to him.
“No need, you wait for my news in the manor.”
“I’ll go with you.”
His attitude didn’t allow for refusal, He Yuncheng’s heart softened, and he spoke a little more gently, “What, so worried about me?”
Lin Shuangxu said, “The secret prison holds important prisoners, it must be full of dangers.”
“That’s why you can’t go even more. If something happens to me, the He family still needs you to take charge.”
“If something happens to you, I can also die with you.”
Lin Shuangxu didn’t say anything more and started walking ahead.
Rarely, there was warm sunshine in winter, and the sunlight shone on his face, making He Yuncheng lose his bearings.
–
This rescue operation was a secret mission. To prevent exposure, He Yuncheng left all the men he brought outside the Northern Garrison, and only he and Lin Shuangxu sneaked into the Imperial Prison.
Bypassing the Jinyi Wei guards, the two of them smoothly found the secret prison that Song Jiting had mentioned.
Following the damp stone steps down, the underground light was dim, making it difficult to see, and the surroundings were filled with a decaying smell.
Lord Song must be suffering a lot in this kind of place.
Continuing to walk, they faintly sensed that something was wrong.
Since it was an important secret prison, why was there no one guarding it?
“Be careful of an ambush,” Lin Shuangxu reminded.
“Mm,” He Yuncheng cautiously explored the way, continuing forward, firmly shielding him behind his back.
However, as soon as he said to be careful, as He Yuncheng stepped past the last step, he heard a “whoosh” sound, and a short arrow shot straight at them.
“Careful!” He Yuncheng quickly bent down, protecting Lin Shuangxu in his arms.
The arrow brushed past their heads and pierced into the stone wall on the side.
“I’m fine,” Lin Shuangxu said calmly.
He Yuncheng suddenly realized, “No wonder there’s no one guarding it, there are many mechanisms here, recklessly barging in is certain death.”
“Good to know!”
A woman’s voice came from behind, full of intimidation.
The two of them turned around upon hearing the voice, seeing Shen Tan standing at the very top of the stone steps, against the light.
“General He, Master Lin, you’ve finally come.”
“Commander Shen?” He Yuncheng looked up and met her gaze, “You, you knew we would come?”
Shen Tan walked down the stone steps, her black shadow pressing down little by little with her steps.
She said unhurriedly, “I guessed right. Master Song wasn’t being held hostage by you, but was bought off by you. The two of you are here to save his father for him?”
He Yuncheng asked in return, “Since Master Shen noticed something, why didn’t you take action during the search last night?”
Shen Tan glanced at Lin Shuangxu, and said to He Yuncheng, “Young Master Shuangxu has raised so many hidden guards, protecting you at all costs. If we really fought last night at the General’s Manor, the Jinyi Wei might not have the upper hand. It’s better to lure you here, it saves me some effort.”
He Yuncheng stroked the long saber at his waist, “Does Master Shen think that luring me here will trap me?” He pointed his saber at Shen Tan, threatening, “Where is Lord Song Lian?”
Shen Tan didn’t seem to want to take action, saying leisurely, “Lord Song is very safe, General He doesn’t need to worry, think about your own situation first.”
No sooner had she spoken, than a giant iron cage came crashing down.
He Yuncheng reacted quickly, grabbed Lin Shuangxu’s waist, and dodged, the iron cage missing its target.
Before they could stand firm, another string of darts flew from another direction.
The two dodged again, the darts embedding deeply into the wall with “shua shua shua” sounds.
He Yuncheng pulled Lin Shuangxu back to safety, when suddenly Shen Tan opened her mouth to warn, “If you retreat another half step, you’ll step on a trap. The ones being fed below are all venomous snakes, if you fall down, no one can save your lives.”
Whether it was true or false, the two of them could only stop.
Shen Tan put her hands behind her back and stepped forward, asking from a short distance away, “General He, how about making a deal?”
“What deal?”
Shen Tan said, “Give me the He family army’s military seal, and I guarantee you’ll be safe and sound.”
So, causing so much trouble was all to seize the military power in his hands.
“Impossible.”
Shen Tan wasn’t in a hurry, continuing, “Isn’t General He not seeing the situation clearly? Even if you don’t die here today, in a few days, when the Empress Dowager’s deadline arrives, the He family will have to pay for the princess’s life. At that time, when your head falls to the ground, the military power will still be taken over by others. Why insist on taking a dead end?”
“Did Li Yuliang ask you to say these words?” He Yuncheng ridiculed, “Why is he so obsessed with military power? An eunuch with no descendants, doesn’t he want to rebel and become emperor?”
Shen Tan said, “The He family’s merits are higher than the master, their prestige in Bei Sheng is even difficult for the imperial power to compare to. This is a great taboo in the world. The Grand Eunuch assists the Emperor, sharing his worries and solving his problems, keeping the He family in check, it’s really out of necessity. I hope General He doesn’t hold a grudge against the Grand Eunuch.”
Commander Shen had always been unsmiling, he didn’t expect that she could confuse right and wrong so readily.
He Yuncheng laughed out of anger, “In that case, the Jinyi Wei colluded with the Directorate of Ceremonial long ago, the princess’s death was a frame-up orchestrated by you, and somehow investigating the murderer has become me.”
“General He, I said, give me the military seal, and I’ll guarantee you’ll live.”
The two were at a stalemate, when Lin Shuangxu opened his mouth at this time.
“Since that’s the case, Master Shen, we’re at our wit’s end, we have no other choice. Please convey this to the Grand Eunuch, ask him to keep his promise, take the military seal, and give the He family a way out.”
Shen Tan said, “Naturally.”
Lin Shuangxu said, “Yuncheng, give it to her.”
He Yuncheng stared coldly at Shen Tan, reached into his chest, and took out the military seal.
Shen Tan’s gaze focused when she saw that object.
“Master Shen, catch,” He Yuncheng waved his arm and threw the military seal, the military seal falling towards Shen Tan in an arc.
Shen Tan was about to raise her hand to catch it, when she realized something was wrong as the military seal flew past her eyes.
She drew her Embroidered Spring Saber and slashed, with a “bang” sound, the object exploded, and a sudden fog rose around.
She hurriedly covered her nose and retreated.
Lin Shuangxu said to He Yuncheng in the fog, “Blue bricks on the left front, stone wall on the right, second wall lamp, don’t touch.”
“Mm,” He Yuncheng quickly found the way out, drawing his saber and approaching Shen Tan.
“Master Shen, when it comes to the art of war and mechanisms, your Jinyi Wei probably has to call the He family an ancestor.”
The sharp blade swung over, and Shen Tan, caught off guard, quickly used her Embroidered Spring Saber to block.
He Yuncheng didn’t strike a fatal blow, nor did he leave her a way out.
Shen Tan’s eyes were blinded by the smoke and dust, and she was forced to retreat again and again.
He Yuncheng’s saber pressed down on her, threatening and asking, “Where is Lord Song?”
Shen Tan fought back with all her might, “Stop talking nonsense! Hand over the military seal!”
“Incorrigible,” He Yuncheng showed no mercy, forcing her into a corner, the long saber across her neck, it looked like he was about to take her life.
“I’ll ask one more time, where is Lord Song?”
Shen Tan would rather die than open her mouth.
As the stalemate continued, a shrill voice suddenly came from outside the secret prison.
“The Grand Eunuch has arrived—”
Hearing this, the expressions of the three changed.
A murderous aura suddenly appeared in He Yuncheng’s eyes.
In the next moment, he heard Shen Tan say, “There’s an exit inside, hurry up and leave!”
He Yuncheng didn’t react for a moment, thinking that she was going to use another trick, and stood still.
Shen Tan said anxiously, “Do you really think there’s no one left in the Northern Garrison? If you don’t want to die, hurry up and leave!”