The night was very beautiful, at least to Yang Ling at this time.
After an unknown amount of time, a roar of extreme joy accompanied by a low moan that sounded like sobbing and complaining was heard. The wind stopped and the rain stopped. The heart of the lotus was glistening with thick dew.
The leakage deepened and the breathing was not even steady. Under the flickering red candles, the two bodies were slightly moving up and down.
After a very, very long time, Cui Ying 'er's body that was numb up to her fingertips seemed to regain strength. That hot breath was still spraying on her fragrant shoulder. Cui Ying' er used all her strength to push Yang Ling's sweaty body away. After the power of the wine and medicine made him feel satisfied, he actually fell asleep from exhaustion.
Cui Ying 'er could not help but two streams of tears flowed down her face. She gently sobbed as she pulled her clothes and hurriedly put them on. Only with an extra layer of clothes on her body did she feel a little safer.
A naked woman, even if she had fought against tigers and leopards, even if she had recovered all her strength, how could she dare to face this man who had just had a physical relationship with her?
Her hair was a mess, her face was flushed, and her clothes covered her fair breasts. With the cover of the silk blanket, she wore a tube top and tightened her pants. When she leaped off the ground, she almost stumbled. Even with her physical strength and maturity, she could not withstand Yang Ling's assault. No matter how strong a woman was, she was still a weakling in bed.
Cui Ying 'er first looked at that Miss Cui Yun in panic. She was leaning on the chair by the wall, still unconscious. Cui Ying' er's heart was slightly at ease. She quietly tested the strength in her body and found that she had recovered 30% of her strength. 30% of her strength was enough to kill Yang Ling ten times over. She angrily pulled out her dagger and pointed it at Yang Ling's back.
That smooth and youthful back was still lying motionless, but Yang Ling let out a muffled groan, muttering, "Miss Cui … Miss Cui Yun, you are so beautiful … I … I will redeem myself … for you …" Before he finished his sentence, he fell back into a deep slumber.
Cui Ying'er was stunned. Did he think that she was that prostitute?
The tip of the sword shook a little. Cui Ying'er then realized that he had been drugged by an extremely powerful aphrodisiac. That tiger wolf aphrodisiac was different from ordinary aphrodisiac. It was usually mixed with mind-confusing ingredients. Could it be that he was in a trance just now and thought that she was another woman?
Thinking of this, Cui Ying'er couldn't help but tremble. Even if he had mistaken her for someone else at that time, how could he not remember that she had come tonight when he woke up in the morning? How could she not kill him when her purity was being sullied?
But … those words of "leave quickly" were still echoing in his ears. His painfully enduring gaze, his anxious and urging tone, it was clear that he was also a victim. He was being humiliated, but the perpetrator was calm and innocent. How could he endure this?
Cui Ying'er thought for a while and guessed the gist of it. In the brothel, to deal with untamed prostitutes, most people would put some cartilage drugs on them on the night of their budding. The aphrodisiac that Yang Ling had been drugged was most likely to be used by the brothel keeper to please the high-ranking officials in the capital. It was just that the drug was very strong, like a tiger wolf. She had never seen an official before, so she was confused.
Cui Ying'er wanted to cry but had no tears. Fighting the Wokou pirates, fighting against the Tartars, trading with each other, improving farming, all the hopes for the common people to live and work in peace and contentment had this man's shadow. Kill? Stab his body with the sword? Thousands of feelings welled up in her heart. How could she stab him?
The shining tip of the sword was like a leaf in the wind, trembling and swaying. Cui Ying'er almost bit her cherry lips until they bled. She didn't know whether to withdraw the sword or stab him. She stood there like a statue …
* * *
Huo Wu Shu's chest was hit by two palms. Although he felt that the palms were not heavy, he felt a great pain in his chest when he moved slightly. A sweet smell came out of his mouth. Huo Wu Shu was shocked. His lightness kung fu was far above Zhang Yin's, so he immediately jumped back.
Zhang Yin twisted his hand and the snow fell. With a flick of his finger, a withered branch shot out like lightning. Huo Wu Shu landed gracefully on the wall. The withered branch that was shot out from the top of the wall immediately pierced through his shoulder. With a muffled groan, he did not dare to stop. He bent down like a cat and sprinted into the night.
Zhang Yin smiled. This person practiced external kung fu and did not have Wudang's unique skill of regulating breath to preserve his life. Moreover, he was hit by two palms and still wanted to run for his life. Even his father, the Heavenly King, could not save him.
He lifted his leg and kicked up a pile of snow to cover the place where Huo Wu Shu had spat out blood. He frowned and thought for a while. He could not figure out which of the many civil and military officials in the building had enmity with this assassin. Unfortunately, he had a big plan to carry out today. He could not let anyone spoil the plan. Otherwise, he could be optimistic.
Zhang Yin secretly laughed bitterly. The Maitreya Sect wanted to deal with the imperial court every day. But a few days ago at the Qu Fu Gate, they had to fight Boyan with all their strength. Today, they had to deal with the assassin on behalf of the imperial court officials. As a Sect Leader, I am not qualified.
Thinking of this, he suddenly remembered the incident with Yang Ling. Could it be that this assassin was related to him? Zhang Yin hurriedly walked towards the hall. "Don't disturb my good time."
As soon as he entered the main hall, there were more than thirty people who were drinking and exchanging wine cups. As soon as he saw him, the general who had just relieved himself was overjoyed. Zhang Yin was about to quietly turn into the hall from the side. Unexpectedly, the general stumbled over and grabbed him. He laughed and said, "Commander Zhang, where are you going?"
This shout startled Zhang Yin. He quickly put on a smile and said, "Ah, I am not a good drinker. This …"
The general forced himself to laugh and said, "Don't talk nonsense with father. You are a woman. You can have fun at any time. It is rare for us brothers to drink at the same table. Tonight, we will not go home until we are drunk. Deng … Commander Deng, come and help your father. First, punish … punish … punish him with three glasses! "
Deng Xueying was also drunk. When she heard this, she ran over with a smile and grabbed Zhang Yin. She dragged him to the banquet while a large group of generals jeered. Zhang Yin had no choice but to cheer up and drink with them. He secretly called for his trusted aide, the Great Master, who was disguised as the central army. The Great Master listened to his instructions and quietly left the hall. It was not convenient for him to show himself, so he summoned another person to see Aunt Hong.
When Aunt Hong heard that person's question, she pursed her lips and smiled. "Please reply to the Great Daoist Master. I've secretly gone upstairs to investigate. There's a storm going on inside. I've been through it before, so I can't fake it. Heh heh heh."
When Zhang Yin heard the person's report, he knew that the matter had been settled. Early the next morning, Liu Feiwu would kneel and tell the truth. She would tell him that she was the daughter of an official. In addition to her father's filial piety, with Yang Ling's protective nature and his sympathy for the officials under investigation, it would be strange if he did not take Liu Feiwu as a concubine under such circumstances.
Zhang Yin completely let go of his worries and no longer had any scruples. He began to drink with the generals and build a brotherly bond.
* * *
The candlelight made a "pa" sound. The sound was extremely soft, but Cui Ying 'er suddenly trembled. Her strength was almost completely restored. Only … only the root of her thigh was still sore. However, it was not necessary for others to know the reason. After standing in a daze for so long, her thigh was already trembling slightly.
Cui Ying 'er pointed her sword at Yang Ling, but she looked up at the sky in a daze. Her clear black and white eyes, coupled with her elegant and peerless face, had a kind of astonishing beauty. Her eyes were blurred and her panicked expression made people feel pity for her.
She faintly sighed and slowly closed her eyes. Two crystal clear teardrops at the corner of her eyes were dazzling and ready to fall.
When the tears finally fell, Cui Ying 'er gently sniffed and suddenly put her sword back into its sheath. "Forget it. Will killing him prove my innocence? I let my husband down, so I killed myself. With Yang Ling's character, he will not go around telling others. He will cover for me. "
She glanced at Yang Ling and saw that he was still naked on the bed. She couldn't help but feel her face heat up. She used the sheath of her sword and covered him with the blanket. She didn't know if she didn't want to see him in this ugly state or if she was afraid that he would be cold.
Yang Hu was still waiting for her news at Xing Zhuang. If the matter did not succeed and she died here, with his personality, he would definitely come looking for her regardless of the consequences. She would do one last thing for him.
Cui Ying 'er bit her lip and thought for a while. She could not read and did not dare to wake Yang Ling up and continue to talk about the "gentleman's agreement" with him. After hesitating for a while, she suddenly tore down half of the curtain and bit her fingertip to draw a pattern on it. She gently spread it out on the table and then flashed out.
When the door closed, her heart suddenly beat rapidly. Her soul floated away and she did not know where. For her, a moment of absent-mindedness was like a moment of a thousand years.
You Er heard the rustling sound of someone coming up the stairs. She seemed to wake up from a dream and hurriedly flashed to the other side.
As soon as the door closed, Yang Ling's shoulder suddenly shook. His back and forehead were drenched in cold sweat.
After the battle just now, he was sweating profusely. Not only did he sober up, but the effect of the drug had also faded. However, the drug had a dizzying effect and his head was still a little dizzy.
But as soon as he regained consciousness, he immediately remembered everything. It was a mess in front of him. His upper and lower body were overlapping, and the woman he had just indulged in was someone he could not touch, should not touch, and could not touch. How was he going to face this?
If this woman did not have a husband, he would admit his mistake and marry her. But what could he do now?
Yang Ling was panic-stricken and did not know what to do. He was sweating profusely, the wonderful body below him was lying in disarray. The two of them were in the most intimate and seamless contact. Once he woke up, they would see each other naked and smell each other's breath. Could it be that he would greet her and say 'hello'?
Yang Ling had no choice but to pretend to be asleep. He wanted to avoid this awkward situation first and then think of a plan.
Red Madame was sobbing by the bedside with her sword raised. He squinted his eyes slightly and saw clearly through the bright lacquered bedpost at the corner of the bed. Therefore, as if he was sleep-talking, he pretended to mistake her for Miss Cui Yun.
Although this method was stupid, Zheng Shaopeng had read many wuxia books in the past. He remembered that in the book written by the prodigal son Gu Long, Jiang Xiaoyu saw Murong Jiu's naked body. She stared at him and lied, saying that there was no one in the room. It was said that even if the woman knew it was a lie, her embarrassment and embarrassment could be alleviated by the ostrich mentality. Now he could only give it a try.
If Red Madame still insisted on killing him, although he felt guilty, he would not be willing to throw away his life. He still remembered that Red Madame's hands and feet were weak on the bed. She also cried and begged, saying that both of them were drugged. Presumably, if she made a move, he could take advantage of her weakness to pull the quilt and wrestle with her. He might not necessarily be unable to control a woman who had lost her strength.
He did not know that at that time Red Madame had regained thirty percent of her strength. If she was determined to kill him, it would be difficult for her to escape death.
Fortunately, Cui Ying 'er was in a daze. Sometimes she looked at the sky, sometimes she looked at the ground, sometimes she gnashed her teeth, sometimes she secretly shed tears, and then she finally let go and left. Yang Ling was surprised and relieved at the same time. He was not mentally prepared to face this woman right now.
After lying on the bed for a while, he was sure that there was no more sound. Only then did he turn his head to look outside.
As soon as he turned his head, he saw a pair of bright eyes. Four eyes met, both were stunned.
Red Madame originally wanted to leave after discussing the conditions with Yang Ling. That's why she did not hit Liu Feiwu hard. When the two of them were still on the bed, entangling with each other, this young lady woke up.
She was stunned to see that she was sitting on the chair safe and sound. On the bed, however, she did not know which living Bodhisattva who saved her from suffering was taking the crazy attack that made her blush. She was immediately dumbfounded.
Liu Feiwu was at a loss of what to do. She did not dare to look, nor did she dare to escape. She had no choice but to close her eyes and pretend to sleep. Listening to that annoying sound, Liu family's young lady, who was already in love, could not help but feel her heart beat wildly and her face turned red. However, although her expression was strange, it was a little exaggerated at that time. Even if she got up, poured a cup of tea, calmly drank it, and then sat back to pretend to sleep, perhaps no one would know.
When Red Madame got off the bed, she raised her sword and pointed it at Yang Ling's back. When she was struggling endlessly, Liu Feiwu, who couldn't hear any movement, quietly opened her eyes and saw everything. Although she didn't know what happened, she couldn't wait for this young lady to kill Yang Ling. She was secretly encouraging her in her heart, but she didn't expect that Red Madame would actually withdraw her sword and escape.
When the confused Liu Feiwu heard her closing the door, she suddenly opened her eyes. Unexpectedly, she came face to face with the 'sleeping' Yang Ling. The two of them stared at each other for a long time. Finally, Liu Feiwu's lips moved like a fish out of the water. She closed her eyes, tilted her head, and 'fainted' again.
Yang Ling suddenly stood up and went to the ground. The 'fainted' Liu Feiwu's body trembled. When she opened her eyes to take a look, her private parts were swaying in front of her eyes. She was so shocked that she quickly closed her eyes and continued to 'faint'.
Yang Ling ignored her and put on his clothes. He walked to the table, grabbed his wine cup and sniffed it. He also took the teacup that Red Madame had drunk from and sniffed it. However, there was no medicine in his cup. The medicine in Red Madame's cup was a secret medicine of the Maitreya Cult. The ingredients were expensive and couldn't be compared to the ordinary 'knockout drug' that could only be put in wine to conceal the smell. How could he smell anything strange?
Only then did Yang Ling carry a chair and walk to the front of Liu Feiwu. He slammed it heavily on the chair, causing the 'fainted' delicate body to shrink a little. Yang Ling sat down on the chair and lowered his voice, "Miss Cuiyun?"
Is she awake or not? Liu Feiwu was distressed over this question when she suddenly received a slap on her thigh. She was so shocked that she cried out 'Aiya' and opened her eyes wide. The eyes of the man in front of her were filled with killing intent. He looked at her inquisitively for a long time before he slowly said, "Who exactly are you?"
"Ah?" Liu Feiwu opened her eyes wide in a daze and said in a panic, "I … I'm a prostitute!"
Yang Ling's lips revealed a hint of a cynical smile, "It sounds like a good answer. Then … what's your purpose of approaching me?"
"Ah?" Liu Feiwu was like a fish out of the water and began to chew on the air. She opened and closed her mouth but couldn't answer a word.
Yang Ling's face turned cold and he said lightly, "I was poisoned by a strange medicine tonight, right? Do you know that using medicine to bewitch an official of the imperial court, even if it's not a poison that harms people, is a crime of beheading? Miss, you have to be clear that if I want to kill you, it's just a matter of a word. Now the city is searching for the people of the Maitreya Cult. If I make up a crime to accuse you, even your whole family of old and young will have to light the sky lanterns! "
Liu Feiwu slipped out of the chair and knelt on the ground. She began to make up a lie. At this point, she really couldn't think of any good excuse. Since someone had saved her from the danger of losing her virginity, she couldn't muster up the courage to risk her life to kill an official. She could only cry and wipe her tears as she pretended to be a filial daughter …
* * *
When the 'battalion whistle' sounded, Wang Shouren's army was marching through the night to rush back to Datong.
The five armies were steadily pursuing the remnants of Boyan and Fire Sieve. In the face of the Tatar army that had lost their fighting spirit and morale, the valiance of an individual soldier was useless. The five armies each had their own gains. After chasing for hundreds of miles, Wang Shouren felt that the battle line had begun to widen. It was disadvantageous for reinforcements and supplies, so he decisively ordered the five armies to turn back.
Fighting in the night was as dangerous as marching at night. The army was commanded by flags and musical instruments, and it was difficult to effectively convey orders at night. Especially on a pitch-black battlefield, it was difficult for the soldiers to get accurate information and it was easy for them to panic. The uncertainty and risk of fighting in the night was too great. An army that was not well trained would sometimes collapse even if there was no battle at night. Therefore, even the most brilliant general did not dare to march at night easily.
Wang Shouren's morale was high because they were about to reach Datong. In addition, the moon was bright that night, and his army had been entangled with Fire Sieve for a period of time. They had more experience in field battles, so the soldiers would not easily panic. Therefore, he agreed to return at night.
Unexpectedly, when they rushed to the military camp, they heard shrill howls like ghosts and the clashing of weapons in a chaotic battle. When Wang Shouren first heard the report, he thought that Boyan had sent a small group of troops to the rear to harass and attack the various military camps. Therefore, he immediately ordered the army to surround the entire camp and slowly retract the encirclement.
However, no one shot an arrow to stop them. When the army surrounded the camp, which was formed by fences, wooden spikes, and trenches, they could see under the moonlight that the soldiers running and howling inside were all Ming Destiny's soldiers. Howling in the camp was not a common occurrence, but the veterans in the army had more or less heard of such miraculous things. It was said that this situation was caused by the wrath of the Grim Reaper or the Tai Sui. When the camp howled, the soldiers in the army would go crazy and lose all rationality.
The soldiers saw that the soldiers in the camp were completely irrational. They did not dodge or evade, but fought bravely, slashing and stabbing each other. They were all exchanging life for life. They could not help but feel a chill in their hearts. They did not know what to do and did not dare to advance again.
Wang Shouren had been reading military books for a long time and knew that such a situation had occurred many times in history. It was mainly because of the strict rules in the military camp. Those who shouted loudly would be killed! Those who galloped on horseback would be killed. Even those who made up rumors and lies would face the danger of being beheaded.
The soldiers lived in fear, and one could imagine the mental stress that accumulated over the years. On the other hand, the officers willfully oppressed the soldiers, and the veterans ganged up on the new soldiers. They formed cliques to fight openly and covertly. The conflicts accumulated year after year and were all suppressed by military discipline. Once someone occasionally screamed in fear at night, it could easily cause panic in the entire army. The soldiers in the camp had gone through a series of battles and had not gotten any rest. They were already irritable and restless. After Bureau Secretary Ma took office, he whipped the army and did not allow the soldiers to eat dinner. Many people were emotionally unstable because of this. In the end, a soldier screamed in a nightmare and caused the entire camp to howl.
Most of the people who attacked first were soldiers who were still conscious and took the opportunity to take revenge. However, as soon as they saw blood, the soldiers who lost their minds and screamed crazily followed suit. In this state, there was no way to wake them up.
Wang Shouren did not dare to order the army to charge in and stop them. Doing so would likely drag the fresh troops into the vortex of madness and cause even more chaos. He immediately ordered the entire army to be on guard and began to set fire to the surrounding fences and walls. The flames soared into the night and the brightness caused many soldiers to wake up.
Wang Shouren also mobilized the sharpshooters in the army and had them roam outside the camp. When they saw the soldiers in the camp who were madly killing without stopping, they immediately shot them with arrows. The cold and merciless arrows took away one life after another. As the craziest soldiers gradually decreased, the soldiers gradually calmed down. They stood in the camp covered in blood and stared blankly.
Wang Shouren saw that the surrounding flames were about to be extinguished and the camp had also calmed down. Only then did he order the army to enter the camp. He disarmed the soldiers and separated them into custody. Anyone who resisted was immediately beheaded. This kind of iron-blooded method finally quelled the 'howling of the camp'. However, in the flames, corpses were strewn everywhere. There were no less than two thousand dead and countless injured. The damage was even greater than the damage caused by the Tatar army's attack.
Wang Shouren sent people to watch over the soldiers, clean up the corpses and bandage the injured. At the same time, he sent scouts to report to the chief of the three passes, Yang Yiqing, asking him to investigate and deal with the matter.
The fire in the camp gradually died down. The wind blew and smoke drifted. The choking smell of smoke carried the smell of blood. It was an indescribably miserable and desolate scene …
※ ※ ※
"Your filial piety is commendable!" Yang Ling nodded his head. "Gu Daeyong's purge of the eldest heir has caused a lot of officials to be arrested. It has caused the hearts of the people to waver. This official has already admonished the Emperor this morning. Please quickly stop it. The civil and military officials of Datong are also here for the banquet tonight."
"Really?" Liu Feiwu was surprised and delighted. Although she heard that Yang Ling was the mastermind of this incident, at least a high-ranking official like him would not lie about stopping the arbitrary arrests.
"Of course …" Yang Ling's gaze froze. He suddenly said, "The problem is … you're a rich young lady. Even if you have the courage to offer yourself to sleep with you, even if the madam is greedy and is willing to help you, what's the deal with the aphrodisiac that I took and her … cough cough, and the bone-softening powder that the young lady took?"
Liu Feiwu was secretly furious. She had already thought of the contraceptive drug that Aunt Hong mentioned. In fact, it was a drug that was used to prevent her from resisting. In order to plant a spy around Yang Ling, the Holy Church was actually so unscrupulous. It was really despicable. However, her whole family was a Maitreya follower. How would she dare to reveal her identity?
Liu Feiwu blushed and stammered, "This … this kind of place is full of filth. It's not rare to have these things, so the madam, Aunt Hong, asked me to bring … bring it …"
Yang Ling laughed and said, "What I'm asking is, since you volunteered to sacrifice yourself to save your father, it's pardonable that you drugged me. Why did you prepare a drug for yourself?"
"This …" Liu Feiwu's forehead was covered in sweat. Her eyes flickered and she did not know how to answer. Yang Ling stared at her for a long time. Suddenly, he was shocked and almost broke out in a sweat. "Too many things have happened today. There are so many things that I can't understand. I was so focused on interrogating her that I forgot that I don't have a bodyguard by my side. If this woman has evil intentions and is indeed capable, how can I resist her?"
Liu Feiwu did not dare to resist all along because once the matter was exposed, her whole family would be at risk of being beheaded. That was why she compromised. However, when she heard Yang Ling's question, she was afraid that the matter would be exposed immediately. Although she only practiced martial arts to strengthen her body, she might not be able to defeat Yang Ling in a real fight. However, she was not willing to resign herself to death.
She hesitated and was about to take off the golden hairpin to think of a way to stab him to death. Yang Ling suddenly smiled and said, "I understand now. In order to save your biological father, you had no choice but to bend your body. However, you are afraid that you will retreat when the time comes. You want to seal your own escape route. You are really considerate. Sigh! Get up. Your reputation will be ruined if you stay in this kind of place for a night. I'll send you back. Tomorrow morning, your father should be pardoned and go home. "
After all, Liu Feiwu was just a young girl who had not experienced worldly affairs. She was not a woman who had been trained in the Maitreya Sect for a long time. How could she understand Yang Ling's delaying tactic? When she heard what he said, she was overjoyed and quickly bowed to thank him.
Yang Ling coughed again and said, "Do you think it's so easy for me to do something? That young lady just now is my personal imperial guard. Because she was drugged and lost her rationality, I … Sigh, I have always treated her with respect, so it's no wonder that she is ashamed and resentful. Since things have come to this, I will naturally give her a status. However, this matter concerns a woman's reputation, so you better not go out and talk nonsense. Otherwise, if they investigate the matter of you drugging me, I won't be able to protect your entire family. "
Liu Feiwu recalled the scene just now and her pretty face blushed. She quickly agreed with shyness and fear.
Yang Ling walked to the side of the table and picked up the painting. Before he could take a closer look, he put it into his sleeve and turned around. "Let's go!"
Yang Ling brought Liu Feiwu to the main hall. It was already late at night, but there were still over a dozen officers in the main hall who were drunk. However, they were already dead drunk and had fallen asleep at the table.
When Yang Ling saw there were still two servants from the restaurant at the entrance, he said amiably, "Go, I am Yang Ling. Go and call my imperial guards in, I have something to say."
The servant didn't dare to be negligent. In just a short moment, Wu Hanchao, who was still guarding outside the door loyally, rushed in with a helmet and armor, leading over a dozen imperial guards. When he saw Yang Ling, he immediately cupped his hands and greeted, "Sir!"
When Yang Ling saw that Wu Hanchao had arrived, he heaved a sigh of relief. He hurriedly walked over and whispered a few words into Wu Hanchao's ear. Wu Hanchao looked at him with bewilderment and waved his hand to summon the two armored imperial guards. After giving a few instructions, the two of them went out in a flash. In just a short moment, the shouts of the soldiers could be heard from all directions. Countless soldiers swarmed into the entire building.
Yang Ling's expression changed and he shouted sternly, "The building is surrounded by me. All imperial guards, find your Sir immediately and protect him well. Do not make any mistakes. Hanchao, surround the 'Erotic Arrival Building' and capture the madam, Madam Hong! "
Liu Feiwu was shocked and angry as she said, "You … you lied to me?"
Yang Ling chuckled and said to Liu Feiwu, "Don't worry. If what you said is true, I will definitely not punish you. However, I will not let the madam, Madam Hong, go!" Immediately after, he said to Wu Hanchao, "Miss Liu is an important witness. Send someone to bring her back and protect her well!"
Wu Hanchao waved his hand and two imperial guards rushed over to carry Liu Feiwu. Ignoring her shouts and screams, they immediately dragged her out of the residence. At this moment, the few drunken generals woke up. They were dumbfounded and did not know what to do.
Yang Ling did not even dare to think about Madam Hong. He did not know how he should face today's situation. He was also afraid that Liu Feiwu would speak nonsense in front of everyone and reveal what happened just now. Now that she was brought away by his trusted subordinates, he heaved a sigh of relief and hurriedly explained to the generals with a smile. He only said that Madam Hong had drugged her, so he brought her back for interrogation.
The generals did not know how serious the situation was. Instead, they burst into laughter when they heard it. They drunkenly praised Imperial Envoy Yang for his vigor and vigor. Was there a need to use drugs to liven things up when playing with women? The madam's flattery had gone too far. On the other hand, she felt that Yang Ling had made such a big fuss by mobilizing troops to surround the restaurant. It was just that she did not dare to say it out loud.
These drunken generals were not interested in women. Since they had woken up, they staggered and bade farewell, leaving with their personal guards.
Yang Ling did not know how big of a conspiracy was hidden in today's incident. He was afraid that some of the officials in the restaurant had been killed, so he summoned their soldiers in. The officials were woken up in the middle of the night. After hearing the ominous reason, they all felt that Yang Ling was exaggerating. However, since this imperial envoy wanted to profess his innocence, they were too embarrassed to stay any longer. Thus, they bade farewell and left.
The dozens of officials in the restaurant, along with his personal guards, were in chaos. However, Yang Ling had too many things to consider. He was afraid that some of the scattered officials would be killed, and he was also worried that Madam Hong would take advantage of the chaos to escape. How could he follow the prescribed order and quietly escort these officials out of the other party's territory before capturing Madam Hong?
Now, the only reason he could use was to catch him off guard. He could profit from the chaos. Zhang Yin secretly gave a few instructions to his confidant, a sorcerer who was disguised as the commander of the army. He also went forward to strike up a conversation with Yang Ling. When the commander of the army turned back and nodded slightly at him, he cupped his hands and bade farewell.
After sending off the officials with great difficulty, the main hall was deserted. Only Yang Ling's troops and the big teapots, the madam's maids, the prostitutes, and the brothel owners were gathered in the main hall. Only Madam Hong's whereabouts were unknown. Wu Hanchao had sent the imperial bodyguards who were originally under the command of the big teapots to lead them in a carpet search.
Yang Ling looked at the owner, whose face was alternating between green and white. He saw that she was a stout old woman with delicate skin and adorned with gold and silver. He pointed at her and said, "You, what's your name? Come forward and answer me!"
The owner, trembling with fear, rushed forward and knelt on the ground. She wailed, "Sir, this servant is Shui Yezi. I am the owner of this Erotic Brothel. Please ask me."
Yang Ling snorted through his nose and asked, "Where are you from? How many years have you been running this Erotic Brothel? How long has that Madam Hong been working for you? "
Shui Yezi said with tears and snot in her eyes, "Sir, this servant is from Datong. I am fifty-seven years old. Since I was a child, I have sold myself as a prostitute in the Savant's Brothel. Twenty-three years ago, this servant redeemed myself and opened this Erotic Brothel. I have never dared to commit any crimes, Sir! That Madam Hong is not a local. She came to Erotic Brothel two years ago to apply for a position as an odd-job worker. This servant saw that she was eloquent and good at organizing, so I promoted her to be the manager. Who would have thought that this damned woman would eat a bear's heart and leopard's gall? She drugged Sir, ai … ai … ai … oh … "
Yang Ling listened to this woman's tearful performance and could not help but wave his hand in disgust. He said, "Go, go, go. Don't cry. As long as this matter has nothing to do with you, I will not harm the innocent."
He thought for a moment and asked, "Shui Yezi, let me ask you. Who knows about today's banquet?"
Shui Yezi had served people for many years. How could she be so filthy and embarrassing? She had acted so ugly just now to make Yang Ling feel disgusted and looked down on her. If he were to ask her a question, she would not dare not answer seriously. She hurriedly thought for a moment and said, "This servant received Official Zhang's invitation yesterday afternoon. Knowing that we have to entertain over a hundred officials, I hurriedly prepared the best dishes and cleaned up the entire brothel. I told the ladies to prepare well and also told the familiar guests not to come today …"
Yang Ling heard this and said, "That's right. Over a hundred officials, over a thousand bodyguards, up and down the Erotic Brothel, the grocery shoppers, and the patrons of the brothel. The matter of today's banquet has probably been made known to half of Datong City. It looks like there is no hope of investigating from those who know the truth.
It should not be false that Miss Liu is from an official's family. This matter will be clear once we investigate. It cannot be deceived. The strange thing is that she did not seem to know that there was a drug in the wine. If it was a young lady from an official's family who asked her to help her pretend to be a prostitute, that Hong Gu has been in the brothel for at least two years. She should know how serious a crime it is to lure a young lady with a clean background into a brothel.
Even if there is a heavy reward, at least there is no reason to drug a patron and a willing prostitute. Did someone in the officialdom plot to frame him? What crime? Visiting prostitutes was a common occurrence. The laws of Ming Destiny were not as strict as they used to be. Moreover, he was favored by the emperor. This small matter would not be able to bring him down.
Raping a young lady from an official's family? Could they persuade a respectable young lady to come forward? Moreover, where was this place? What was she, a daughter of an official's family doing here? It was already good enough that she did not fall into his trap. Who would be so stupid? What other reason could it be? Was he being overly suspicious? Was it really this young lady who wanted to give herself to him? Was the brothel keeper so daring? There are countless absurd and bizarre things that have happened in this world. Perhaps I am really being overly suspicious? "
Yang Ling was momentarily shaken by his own judgment. At this moment, two imperial guards rushed in and reported while panting, "Sir, a female corpse was found stabbed from behind in the small storeroom under the back staircase. The odd-job workers in the building identified it as Aunt Hong!"
Yang Ling stood up immediately. 'Aunt Hong is dead? In that case, there is indeed something fishy about this matter. It is definitely not simple! If it is not a big conspiracy, why did they kill her to keep her quiet? She was killed right after he gave the order to arrest her. No matter what the motive was, it seemed that the person who wanted to kill him was someone from the officialdom. Everyone in the hall was a suspect. How could he arrest them?
As for their goal, they had to know their goal first. Only then would they be able to find the hidden enemy. That Lady Liu Feiwu seemed to be very childish. She wasn't an important character, but she was definitely an important chess piece of the other party. It was impossible that she didn't know anything!
Yang Ling paced back and forth in the building with his hands behind his back. Suddenly, he raised his head and smiled at the owner of the brothel, Shui Yezi, whose face was ashen. "Owner Shui, I am really sorry. Thank you for your hospitality today, but now there has been a murder case in your brothel. Moreover, the deceased is involved in a serious case. I will have to invite all of you to be interrogated!"
He winked at Wu Hanchao and said, "Hahaha, everyone has worked hard. Rest for two days. No one will starve to death. Bring all of them back!"
Like wolves and tigers, the officers immediately rushed over. The hall was filled with porridge and there were many beautiful young girls. Fortunately, the rules of the inner court were very strict. No one dared to take the opportunity to lay their hands on them. Therefore, there were not many girls screaming in fear.
Yang Ling picked up a chair and sat down. He touched the paper in his sleeve and quietly pulled it out to take a look. He could not help but frown. After looking at it carefully for a while, he suddenly could not help but laugh. After laughing, he remembered that he had created such a complicated relationship with the rebellious Horse Gang. Unfortunately, she had a husband. He could not help but put on a sad face and sighed.
Wu Hanchao saw that his Excellency was holding the paper. First, he frowned and pondered. Then, he smiled and then his face turned bitter again. He was very curious and quietly walked to the left and looked at it from afar.
The paper was spread out on the lapel of Yang Ling's robe. Fortunately, he had good eyesight and could see clearly that there were four simple red patterns drawn on it. On the top was a red lip, next to it was a red heart. On the bottom was another red lip, next to it was a red ingot.
Wu Hanchao was very curious. What kind of book was this? It was just two mouths, a heart, and a gold ingot. His Excellency's expression, what did he see?
He frowned and thought for a long time until his head hurt, but he still did not understand the deeper meaning.
* * *
Cui Ying 'er ran out of the "Coming Beauty Brothel" in a panic. She ran aimlessly and hid in the shadows of a large house. She felt cold all over and did not dare to show her face even under the moonlight.
How could it be like this now? She was originally a well-known hero in Ba Zhou. In the mountain stronghold, she was the leader that everyone admired. Who did not admire her? She came and went in Taihang, and the bandits bowed their heads. She was a heroine. She was open and aboveboard. She did not feel guilty to heaven and earth, nor did she feel guilty to her husband. How could she face Yang Hu and her parents now?
Cui Ying 'er took a long time to calm down. She thought to herself, "Yang Ling made a promise and felt guilty to himself. He will definitely act according to his promise. From today onwards, as long as Yang Hu does not plot a rebellion, he will not harm the people of Ba Zhou. With his care, he will not force the mountain stronghold so hard.
Brother Hu is very prideful. I must not let him know about this. I'll go see him again, lest he blames my death on Yang Ling. Then, I'll find a place to end my own life. "
Cui Ying 'er wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes. She guessed that Fifth Uncle Huo had not managed to sneak into the Coming Beauty Brothel or had not found Yang Ling's residence and had returned empty-handed. Therefore, she carefully avoided the night watchman and patrolling soldiers and entered Wang Long's mansion once again.
In less than four hours, Red Madame, who was high-spirited and fearless when she went out, felt afraid to meet people. The closer she got to her residence, the more hesitant she became. It took her a long time to calm down. She carefully pulled the corner of her clothes and combed her hair. She guessed that she was no longer in a sorry state. Only then did she put on a relaxed expression and strolled into the room.
There was a lit candle in the room. Cui Ying 'er was shocked. Ever since they moved into this mansion, although lighting a candle in the courtyard would not be seen, the two of them did not dare to easily light a candle. Why did Fifth Uncle light a candle today?
Red Madame rushed in and was shocked to see Fifth Uncle Huo sitting on the floor with his back leaning against the edge of the bed. He vomited a large pool of blood on the floor. She asked in shock, "Fifth Uncle, what happened to you?"
As she said this, she rushed over to support him. Fifth Uncle Huo's eyes were dim. When he saw her come in, his eyes lit up and he said happily, "Ying 'er? I thought you saw my mark and left Datong. Why … haven't you left yet? "
Cui Ying 'er quickly snatched his wrist and felt his pulse. She said, "I … I saw your mark, how can I be at ease? So I went out … went out to look for you. I quietly walked around for half the night and didn't see any trace of you. So I returned … Fifth Uncle … your injury … "
Speaking to this point, she cried out in alarm. Just now, she had found out that Fifth Uncle Huo's heart and arteries were broken. Even a deity would not be able to save him. Fifth Uncle Huo chuckled and vomited another mouthful of blood. He gasped for breath and said, "Fifth Uncle has been a bandit all my life. I have broken countless necks with my eagle claws. Today, I have died a worthy death. What's there to be sad about? It's good that you're back. Fifth Uncle was only worried that you would die here alone. I wouldn't be able to rest in peace and become a wandering ghost. "
He reached out his trembling hand and stroked Cui Ying 'er's beautiful hair. Cui Ying' er's lips trembled and hot tears streamed down her jade-like cheeks. Fifth Uncle Huo said, "Fifth Uncle can't take it anymore. Go back and tell the old brothers that Fifth Uncle Huo will go to the netherworld first and conquer a few more mountains. Wait for the brothers to settle down. Hahaha, don't cry. Bury Fifth Uncle later and quickly leave for Xing Zhuang. In the future … don't be so stubborn …"
Cui Ying 'er nodded with tears in her eyes. She sobbed and said, "Fifth Uncle, who hurt you? Tell me. I want to avenge you. Where did such a master come from in the' Pavilion of Beauties'?"
Fifth Uncle Huo thought of the slightly plump officer's superb martial arts. He felt a chill in his heart. That person's martial arts was even better than Boss Cui's. Although Ying 'er was a genius in martial arts and had surpassed her father, could she be a match for that unknown officer?
The imperial court was full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. God knows how many more such masters there were in the army. They must not be underestimated. Ying 'er was alone and she was a girl. If she accidentally fell into the hands of those debauched men …
Fifth Uncle Huo's eyes flashed. He shook his head and smiled. "Child, how did you know that I went to the 'Pavilion of Beauties'? I … I wanted to see if there was a chance to fight. But on the way … I met a night walker. We didn't know each other's identity and became enemies. So … so we started fighting. Fifth Uncle's skills were not as good … Cough cough cough … "
Black blood flowed slowly from the corner of his mouth. Cui Ying 'er saw that he was seriously injured. There was still a glimmer of hope in her heart. She hurriedly tore open Fifth Uncle Huo's clothes and saw two black palm prints on his chest.
Cui Ying 'er was shocked. She had seen this kind of poisonous palm when she fought with the second young master of the Maitreya Sect, Li Dayi. She saw it again when Yang Hu and Wu Hanchao entered the capital with injuries. Fifth Uncle Huo had lived in seclusion for a long time and did not know this set of martial arts. She could not help but cry out, "This palm wound … this … this is the unique martial arts of the Maitreya Sect's Li Fuda, Poisonous Sand Palm!"
Fifth Uncle Huo, who had used all his strength to say this, was on the verge of death. When he heard this, his body suddenly shook. He suddenly straightened his back. "Maitreya Sect's Li Fuda? So … so he was hiding in the army. What great skills. No wonder neither the imperial court nor the enemies of the Maitreya Sect could find him. He hid in the imperial court. Who would have thought that a high-ranking official of the imperial court was a wanted criminal? "
Fifth Uncle Huo was so excited that his body trembled. He grabbed Cui Ying 'er's hand tightly. He hurriedly wanted to tell her the truth and tell her his discovery. But he could only squeeze out the words from his mouth. "Li … Fuda … Hidden … Hidden … Among … Groups …"
When he said the word 'Army', a mouthful of blood rushed up. His Qi immediately dissipated. The word 'Army' broke into the word 'Groups'. Then with a cry, he spat out a mouthful of blood. His eyes were wide open as he sat on the ground.
"Fifth Uncle! Fifth Uncle? " Cui Ying 'er leaned on his knees and cried out sorrowfully. The moonlight was bright, like frost and snow. It only shone on an empty room. A woman was holding a corpse and crying bitterly.
The sky was not bright yet. The patrolling soldiers were already tired. A group of soldiers were walking slowly on the city wall. Suddenly, a soldier pointed to a distance and shouted, "Look! Look! There's a fire in the city! "
All the soldiers squeezed to the side of the city wall and looked into the distance. Someone shouted, "Aiya, isn't that street the Prince's residence? It's Wang Banjie's house. It's been sealed long ago. How could there be a fire? What a big fire! "
Taking advantage of this opportunity, a nimble silhouette suddenly leaped up from one of the battlements. With two strides, the silhouette leaped over the several zhang wide city wall. With one hand on the arrow mound, the silhouette leaped over the city wall, leaving behind a shiny black hook.
On the high city wall, the thin rope tied to the hook shook gently without a sound. The cliff was like a mirror. On the five feet tall city wall, a figure like a spirit ape jumped down from the city wall in a flash. He stuck to the base of the wall and ran for a while before disappearing into the shadows of the city …
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