The black group of carriages was surrounded by twinkling torches that lit up the road. However, the group was too long. Even though the Dazhou yamen had come out in full force, the aces from the 13 yamens led by the three internal court eunuchs could only cut off half of the group of carriages. They had no way of surrounding the entire group. However, these officials' eyes were fixed on the court criminal. They were not worried that this bloody man with his wife and child would disappear from their sight.
However, no one dared to rush forward and grab the Gundam. This was because everyone sensed something strange. The person carrying the criminal was clearly not an ordinary person. The official robes he wore were somewhat familiar to everyone.
Most importantly, this long group of black carriages. Although the style of the carriages looked normal, a group of over 30 carriages was not a sight that could be seen at any time. Even the stupidest person could guess that there were important figures in the group.
The officials of the thirteen offices of the Ministry of Justice secretly spat and cursed their bad luck. They had never thought that they would run into such a strange group of carriages outside the remote Dazhou City. They had just been extremely lucky and had finally captured a criminal of the imperial court that the court had been secretly searching for for a long time.
The officials of the Ministry of Justice did not panic. Although they temporarily did not know the identity of this group of carriages, they were acting on the orders of the Hall of Governmental Affairs. They could be considered half an imperial mission. Who in the world dared to stop them? Even if the people in this group of black carriages were nobles in the court, they could not criticize the court's actions in capturing a criminal.
Three internal court eunuchs walked out of the crowd surrounded by torches. The old eunuch at the front narrowed his eyes and looked at the strange group of carriages. He looked at the court criminal covered in blood lying on the flat ground in front of the carriage. A few people in black official robes seemed to be treating him. The mute woman with a deathly pale face was holding her child and looking nervously at the criminal.
The internal court ace's eyes narrowed. His nose twitched slightly. He felt a glimmer of surprise and unease. He had easily recognized the people in black official robes in the carriages and which side they belonged to.
During the battle, although Gao Da had bravely charged onto the road and heavily injured two internal court aces, he himself was at the end of his strength. He had to protect the wife on his back and the child in his arms. There were many wounds on his body that should not have appeared.
The internal court ace who was in charge of the arrest also felt his Qi and blood churn. He could not calm down for a moment. He looked at the convoy in front of him and frowned slightly. Of course, he wouldn't be too arrogant. He was just a little afraid.
As an internal court ace with orders from the Emperor, even if this group of carriages truly belonged to the Overwatch Council, he had nothing to be afraid of. The problem was, he didn't know the rank of this group of carriages in the Overwatch Council. Most importantly, the criminal the court wanted was Tiger Guard Gao Da, who had once been Sir Fan junior's trusted bodyguard. If the Overwatch Council discovered this and Sir Fan junior was in this group of carriages …
The eunuch took a deep breath and slowly walked forward under the light of the torch. Facing the pure black carriage on the road, he said in a raspy voice, "Internal court He Qigan has come by imperial edict to capture a criminal."
He didn't first ask about the identity of this group of carriages. Instead, he took the initiative to state his identity and purpose of coming. Thus, if the black group of carriages made any strange movements, the internal court would have a head start.
The aces of the 13 yamens of the Ministry of Justice gradually realized that something was wrong. They were no longer as confident as before. Instead, they spread out warily around the carriage. However, the soldiers of the Dazhou yamen were confused. These men from Jingdou all had their eyes on top of their heads. Even when faced with the court criminal who was like a vicious tiger, no one would take a step back. Why were they so cautious when faced with this black group of carriages?
"Criminal?" The Overwatch Council official squatting by Gao Da's side and tending to his injuries suddenly furrowed his brows. Hearing the internal court eunuch's words, a complicated emotion suddenly flashed through his eyes. Gazing at the unconscious Gao Da, he muttered to himself in a low voice, "So, you also slipped away back then."
The internal court eunuch did not receive a reply, but this was within his expectations. The Overwatch Council's actions had always been secretive. Once they went up against the major yamens of the court, they became unusually arrogant and unreasonable. Although the internal court had the function of supervising the Overwatch Council in name, with the deliberate connivance of Chen Pingping and Fan Xian, the previous two Directors, the Overwatch Council was not very afraid of the internal court.
"Which official of the Council is in the group of carriages? Is there something important?" The internal court eunuch's eyelids drooped slightly. Coldly, he said, "Please hand this criminal to the internal court to deal with."
There were more than 30 carriages. No one knew how many officials, secret agents, or important items they carried. For the Overwatch Council to pull out more than 30 specially made carriages, if they were not protecting a particularly important person in the Council, then they were responsible for a very important mission. Although this eunuch was an ace of the internal court, he did not want to affect the Overwatch Council's affairs. He was particularly afraid that his luck would be so bad that he would run into Sir Fan junior outside Dazhou.
The Overwatch Council official crouching by Gao Da's side slowly rose. Facing the blinding light of the torch, he narrowed his eyes and looked at the internal court ace. After a moment of silence, he suddenly said, "I am the deputy head of the Second Bureau of the Overwatch Council. Please show me your edict."
The internal court eunuch's temple suddenly throbbed with a burning sensation. He had not thought that after he and his group had revealed their identities, this Overwatch Council official would still want to see the edict he carried with him.
The Overwatch Council was not afraid of the internal court, and the internal court was even less afraid of the Overwatch Council. They were only afraid of the two Directors of the Overwatch Council. In front of the Emperor, these two Directors carried more weight than the entire internal court combined. Thus, in their daily interactions, the internal court was polite to the Overwatch Council, and the Overwatch Council did not want to offend the internal court.
For this Overwatch Council official to say such a thing in a situation like this, it appeared incomparably tyrannical. Involuntarily, it made the internal court eunuch's heart tremble. This was very different from the Overwatch Council's usual style. Was there really …
"Is Sir Fan junior in the carriages? Please allow me to come forward and pay my respects." The internal court eunuch gritted his teeth. Although the Overwatch Council was powerful, he was not afraid. He was only afraid that Sir Fan junior was truly in the carriages. Otherwise, why would this official be so cold and stubborn?
"The Director is currently working in Dongyi." The Overwatch Council official furrowed his brows and glanced at him. It was as if he had not expected the other party to start probing so quickly. Coldly, he said, "Since we are all working for the court, is there a problem with me wanting to see your seal?"
Hearing that Fan Xian was not in the carriages, the internal court eunuch's heart immediately calmed. Although the Overwatch Council was terrifying, it was, after all, the Emperor's special forces. They did not have the courage to stop the internal court from doing things.
"When does the internal court need to report to the Overwatch Council for internal court matters?" The internal court eunuch's face gradually darkened. In a raspy voice, he said, "Someone, take this court criminal into custody!"
After giving this order, his eyes moved to the face of the deputy head of the Second Bureau. His gaze seemed to be tangible as he tried to intimidate him. At this moment, the internal court was working with the 13 yamens. If the Overwatch Council insisted on forcefully interfering, what was the difference between that and rebellion?
During this year, he had been sent by the Emperor to serve under Scholar He and endlessly pursued Gao Da through the mountains and fields of the Qing Kingdom. He had never returned to Jingdou, so he did not know much about the Overwatch Council. He only knew that Sir Fan junior had indeed been busy with the matter of Dongyi submitting. He didn't know who this black carriage might be carrying.
The aces of the Ministry of Justice's 13 yamens met each other's eyes. They all saw the wariness and unease in each other's eyes. They knew that everyone in the carriage was an official of the Overwatch Council. The officials of the six ministries and three temples all had an innate fear and resistance toward the Overwatch Council. Normally, these officials of the Ministry of Justice would not, no matter what, directly oppose the Overwatch Council. However, they were working for the court. Furthermore, countless eyes were looking at the blood-soaked criminal lying among the Overwatch Council officials. They were much more confident than before.
The officials of the Ministry of Justice slowly and steadily moved toward the side of the carriage. The Overwatch Council officials beside the carriage did not make any movements. It was as if they also felt that they shouldn't fall out with the entire internal court and the Ministry of Justice for a court criminal.
The people surrounding them all let out a breath at the same time. They watched as a few officials of the Ministry of Justice had already walked to Tiger Guard Gao Da's side. They took out the shackles and were preparing to put on the shackles. The Overwatch Council official, who had been silent and furrowed his brows the entire time, suddenly opened his mouth and said, "That's still not right. If you say he's a court criminal, then he's a court criminal? You're a eunuch of the internal court, not an official of the Supreme Court. "
Immediately after, he waved his hand.
A number of cold lights flashed. The Overwatch Council officials around Gao Da still had their hands behind their backs and did not move. From the darkness around the carriage, a few swordsmen swept out like a gust of wind. In a flash, they drew their swords and placed them across the necks of the officials of the Ministry of Justice.
The faces of the officials of the Ministry of Justice immediately paled. They had been careful the entire time. They had not expected that such powerful aces were hidden in the seemingly distant darkness around the road illuminated by the torches. Before they could even make a move, they had been subdued by the other party.
The internal court ace slowly raised his head and narrowed his eyes. His pupils constricted slightly as he looked at the movement in front of him. He looked at the swordsmen completely shrouded in black clothing and couldn't help but feel a glimmer of coldness. The assassins of the Sixth Bureau of the Overwatch Council truly lived up to their reputation.
However, he was not afraid at all. Looking at the deputy head of the Second Bureau, he coldly said, "It looks like you also know the identity of this criminal and that he was Director Fan's trusted aide …"
What was killing people? This was killing people. The hundreds of people present all heard these words. No one could kill everyone to silence them. As long as the Overwatch Council stopped the internal court from capturing this criminal, then the rumors added to Fan Xian's name would naturally travel to Jingdou.
The Overwatch Council official lowered his head slightly and thought for a moment. He then said, "Stupid old eunuch, I don't care what you say. You said you were acting by imperial edict, so I want to see your seal. Even if you don't have it, you still have to show me the Ministry of Justice's wanted notice. Otherwise, if I say you are a bandit who has brought disaster to your village, what excuse do you have?"
After saying this, a cold smile rose to the corners of the official's lips. He appeared icy and confident.
Standing behind everyone, the Dazhou Zhizhou was the highest-ranking official. However, he knew that there was something fishy about this matter. Furthermore, it involved the Overwatch Council, the Hall of Governmental Affairs, the internal court, and the Ministry of Justice. As a mere Zhizhou of a small province, how could he involve himself in this? Hearing about the bandit, the Zhizhou couldn't help but smile bitterly. The people of the Overwatch Council were indeed shameless and ruthless. In front of so many court officials, they dared to call an internal court eunuch a bandit.
Capturing Gao Da and Wang Qinian had always been a secret matter that He Zongwei had secretly carried out. He wanted to hide this matter until the end so that once the conflict between the Emperor and Fan Xian exploded, there would be no chance to turn it around. Thus, he had not reported it to the Emperor ahead of time. Of course, it was impossible for him to have the Emperor's personal seal. Furthermore, he did not dare to let Fan Xian's powerful subordinates know of his plans. Thus, everything was done in secret. There wasn't even a Ministry of Justice wanted notice.
If he captured Gao Da or Wang Qinian, it would be easy to make up for these procedures later. However, the Overwatch Council official had sharp eyes and immediately saw the problem. With one sentence, he forced the internal court and the Ministry of Justice's Special Department officials to the foot of the mountain.
The internal court eunuch was silent for a moment. He could not bring out the Emperor's edict or the Ministry of Justice's wanted notice, but he could not just watch as Gao Da, a court criminal, slipped away in front of his eyes.
"My identity is naturally verified by the officials of the Ministry of Justice. All the officials of the Ministry of Justice have tokens with them." The internal court eunuch coldly turned the matter in another direction. "If the Overwatch Council wants to stop us, they might as well kill us all."
After these words were said, the entire road fell silent. A stern and cold atmosphere began to spread among the crowd. They appeared nervous, but the internal court eunuch's heart was calm. Presumably, the officials in the Overwatch Council carriages had already learned of Tiger Guard Gao Da's identity in the shortest amount of time possible. They knew of Gao Da's relationship with their Director. Regardless of whether or not they had found out what the court wanted to do with this matter, they would not allow the internal court to capture Gao Da so easily.
The problem was, the internal court and Ministry of Justice had to capture Gao Da and bring him back to Jingdou before the Overwatch Council sent the information to Fan Xian. They had to use force. The internal court eunuch believed that no matter how forceful the Overwatch Council was, they would not kill everyone in the mountains of the Qing Kingdom.
The eunuch believed that the 30-odd carriages of the Overwatch Council had the power to kill all of them. He believed that if the Overwatch Council did not want to rebel, they would not use such ruthless methods.
Thus, he walked coldly and slowly toward Gao Da.
The Overwatch Council official turned his body and looked at him coldly out of the corner of his eye. It was as if he was still calculating how to handle the situation before him. If this had been any other time, the official would have long thought of countless sinister ideas that would make the internal court and Ministry of Justice want to eat sh * t. However, he had suddenly encountered Gao Da and suddenly heard that the court was capturing an imperial criminal. In particular, he had discovered the hidden dangers of this matter that could drag the Commissioner into it. The official's emotions were agitated. For a moment, he could not come up with a firm idea.
No one came down from the carriage. All of the Overwatch Council officials and secret agents, including the Sixth Bureau swordsmen hidden in the darkness, waited for him to speak.
He still did not speak until the internal court eunuch walked to Gao Da's side.
…
…
Right at this moment, a wave of noise suddenly broke the silence and austere atmosphere outside Dazhou City. A wave of women's laughter and noise suddenly resounded through the night sky. It was just like the stories of fox immortals told in novels. The silent long night suddenly became a paradise for people to take a stroll in.
Everyone's ears perked up. They grew nervous. How could there suddenly be so many women in the middle of the night?
Immediately after, these people's eyes widened. They had never thought that one day, no, one night, they would see so many beautiful women at the same time.
Countless beautiful women in colorful dresses, beautiful as the wind, elegant figures, and all kinds of makeup surged from the back of the carriages toward the sternly scene. They seemed to not know that there was a tense atmosphere in front of them. They continued to excitedly talk about the frustrations of the journey and whose rouge was stained with dust.
The road back home seemed to be quite far. After sitting in the carriage for so long, he felt a bit of a need to use the toilet. He wanted to squat in the grass, but none of the wild men in the yard were as tactful as Sir Fan junior. They didn't even say anything about stopping. With great difficulty, the group of carriages stopped, but no one came to help their hands. This carriage was quite skilled.
Everyone looked at this scene dumbfounded. They all felt they had sunk into an unreal environment, particularly the officials of the Ministry of Justice at the very front. Looking at this scene, it was like they had seen a ghost.
The old internal court eunuch, who had walked calmly to Gao Da's side, suddenly opened his eyes wide. He abruptly stood up and looked at these beautiful women. He suddenly thought of the garden everyone in Jingdou knew about.
Then, he saw a pure black wheelchair being carried down from the pure black carriage.
An old cripple sat in the wheelchair. His knees were covered with a wool blanket. The old cripple looked at the head eunuch and said in a raspy and slightly sharp voice, "Why have you stopped for so long? It looks like if I don't become the Director, my words won't be as effective as that kid's. "
The internal court ace looked at Chen Pingping like he was looking at a ghost. He could not understand why this old man would suddenly appear outside Dazhou. His knees unconsciously began to tremble. His entire body and mind were taken over by a kind of terror.
He knew he had made a huge mistake. He had only thought that if Sir Fan junior was not in the carriages, no one in the Overwatch Council would dare to directly challenge the authority the internal court represented. He had not thought that while Sir Fan junior was not there, the old Director was in the carriages.
With a thud, he knelt down and lowered his head deeply. Respectfully, he said, "Greetings, Director."
All of the dumbfounded officials, bailiffs, and soldiers immediately guessed the old cripple's identity. The Qing Kingdom's decades of sinister power pressed down on them until they didn't dare to move. They knelt straight to the ground, including the Dazhou Zhizhou. There was no exception.
On both sides of the road, officials knelt on the ground toward the old cripple beside the carriage. Chen Pingping looked around with a calm expression. Suddenly, he clenched his fist and gently coughed. A strange emotion flashed through his eyes. He muttered to himself, "Ye Zi was right. Qiaoqiao's mother indeed gave birth to Qiaoqiao."
… …
Four days ago, the entire Royal Palace in Jingdou was enveloped in the faint sunlight of the end of summer and beginning of autumn. It was clear and peaceful. The Qing Kingdom was in the midst of a joyous occasion. From the Emperor to the peddlers and servants, their bodies all emanated a fresh and enchanting aura from the inside out. The usually sinister Royal Palace seemed to have changed. The slowly moving spots of light in Taiji Palace all appeared mischievous.
The only place that had not changed was the royal study. There was a heating stove in the winter and a basin of ice in the summer. It was like spring all year round. The lack of change was annoying. The master of the royal study, the Qing Kingdom's great Emperor, was a terrifying figure who had remained the same for decades and had not changed at all.
"The people of the Ministry of Justice should have arrived in Dazhou. Find time to deal with this matter." The Emperor coldly put down his teacup. The Great Prince had already arrived in Dongyi and had begun to deal with the rebellion in the Liang Kingdom. The secret memorials had just been sent back to Jingdou. The Emperor only glanced at them briefly and then stopped caring about them. It should not be difficult for his two sons to deal with the small matters in Dongyi.
"Scholar He has put in a lot of effort." Eunuch Yao looked at his nose and his nose at his heart. He said this very normally.
Although his words were normal, the reality was not normal. Although He Zongwei had always wanted to have a good relationship with the heads of the eunuchs in the Palace and had invested a great deal of passion and money into it, for some reason, the respect and affection the eunuchs and serving girls had for Fan Xian came from the bottom of their hearts and had never changed.
Eunuch Yao's words were, without a doubt, a hidden stab at Scholar He. The Qing Emperor's expression did not change. He only laughed slightly and said, "He Zongwei is also afraid of death. However, that person called Gao Da has already lived for so long. I have given An Zhi enough face, although he does not seem to know that the traitor is still alive."
Eunuch Yao suddenly said in a trembling voice, "The old Director will pass by Dazhou in three days. Your Majesty, please make a decision."
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