Xie Ming

Continuing from the previous article.
Just as Xiao was being held back by Mei Cheng'an and caught in a dilemma at the palace gate, Chang Ting finally appeared with Qin Jing.

Upon arriving, Qin Jing learned the inside story from Chang Ting, and immediately pulled Xiao Jingchuan aside to whisper in his ear.

What I've said, aside from persuasion, is that we are determined to go together.

Look at Qin Jing's resounding words; he's determined to go.

Knowing his feelings, Xiao Nuanhuai was greatly comforted.

“I also told Changting on the way here.”

"Either you take me in, or you can just stay away from this door," Qin Jing said with a teasing smile as he pressed closer.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi laughed and retorted.

"Hey, you little brat, you're blackmailing me."

To keep this in mind, Qin Jingfu remained adamant.

"Oh, Commander, please let me go with you."

“Watching from outside, anxiously watching you go in and risk your lives, is not a job for a human being.”

"Yes, are those armored soldiers enough for you? Or I'll bring about ten of my own men and we'll just go all out."

"Isn't it multiple layers of insurance?" Qin Jing thought, "Just to be safe, I'm making all the necessary preparations."

However, due to its unsightly appearance, which would easily be criticized by later generations, Xiao did not agree with this view.

They immediately rejected it.

"Alright, alright, we don't need that many people."

"If we make a big fuss, who knows what kind of rumors they'll make up to annoy people afterward."

"Alright, if you insist on getting in, then count as one."

"After that, it's me and Changting. Besides that, four or five armored soldiers will be enough."

"Can't you see they're all in full armor? What kind of formation can't they withstand? Let's just go with it."

No longer bound by rigid rules.

It was already quite late, and fearing something might go wrong inside, Xiao couldn't afford to delay any longer. He quickly finished his business and was eager to go to the palace.

"This"

"Alright, I'll do as you say."

Subsequently, Qin Jing and Chang Ting, along with two valiant generals on either side, followed behind to protect them.

At the palace gate, Mei Cheng'an, being of low rank, saw that the acting commander of the Imperial Guards had already taken his assigned task, and any further obstruction would be futile. So he simply stepped aside and dared not make any further moves.

Furthermore, to guard against any unforeseen events outside the gate, General Qin Jing, having just descended the gate, noticed that General Mei was acting suspiciously. Before entering the gate, he whispered something to his lingering attendants.

Mei did not stay by his side, so he could not know the specific details.

However, judging from the presence of those close attendants behind him, it seems that the guards at the gate of the Hangzhou Imperial Palace are already fully prepared for a change of guard tonight.

Tonight, I have no authority to hold onto.

From here on, each story will be told separately, without going into too much detail.

Before parting at the gate, the three generals Xiao, Gu, and Qin, along with four skilled armored soldiers, followed the guidance of the old eunuch Liu and thus entered the palace to wade into the tiger's den.

At the same time, the scene changes.

Ruan Dacheng and Wang Zhixin had already stationed more than thirty executioners behind the east corner gate of the front hall, and had been waiting there for quite some time.

In addition, seven or eight crossbowmen had already scaled the eaves and climbed onto the roof of the palace.

A little behind the bend in the wall, Ruan Dacheng was getting impatient and grumbled for quite a while.

"Godfather, godfather!"

"Didn't someone just report that that kid surnamed Xiao was already at the palace gate? Why hasn't he come in yet?"

"Could something have gone wrong?"

"Is that good-for-nothing Liu Cai reliable at all?"

Ruan Dacheng, courtesy name Jizhi, sobriquet Yuanhai, was originally from Huaining, Anhui.

This man passed the imperial examination in the 44th year of the Wanli reign. He first joined the Donglin Party, and later defected to the eunuch party of Wei Zhongxian.

He claimed to be the son of a eunuch and rose to power through influence.

At the end of the Chongzhen reign, he was dismissed from his post and went into hiding in Nanjing on charges of "aiding the rebels".

He colluded with Ma Shiying in rebellion; he was truly a treacherous and wicked villain who spread false rumors. Now, he has even disguised himself as a eunuch and willingly become a disciple of Wang Zhixin, a eunuch of similar age. He has been running around doing errands and finally launched this treacherous plot to frame and assassinate General Xiao.

Such a treacherous person has no integrity whatsoever.

The delay had caused him great anxiety, and he had become suspicious of Eunuch Liu, who was his accomplice, fearing that things would go wrong.

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhixin, who was watching from the side, looked at him with mostly disgust in his old eyes.

"Hey, alright, stop being so suspicious and annoying."

"My heart was pounding in my throat."

Clearly, Wang Zhixin was even more unsettled at this moment.

If this person drags you into this dangerous situation, and your scheme is exposed and fails, then you will truly be doomed.

As the ringleader of the rebellious party and the chief eunuch, how could he possibly have a good end?

"Don't you know better than me whether Liu Cai is a good or bad person?"

"They all have close ties with Minister Ma in the south."

"I don't know how you guys collude in private."

"This time, that little bastard surnamed Xiao was quick to act."

"Ma Shiying is dead."

"Weren't your lives saved by my own efforts?"

"We're all in the same boat."

"I was encouraged by the two of you to get involved, and now you're starting to suspect me."

"Why didn't you do this earlier?"

Wang Zhixin grumbled, not that he would back down, but judging from his demeanor, he was extremely uneasy about this scheme.

It just goes to show the old saying: once you start something, there's no turning back.

Now that the die is cast, he is bound to the situation and has no way out, so he has no choice but to go all out and take a gamble.

"Uh, this, this..."

"Godfather, you can't say that."

"You are the backbone of the company."

"me"

Ruan Dacheng's attempt to shift blame and flatter Zirong reveals his true intentions. Who is Wang Zhixin? How could we not know his petty schemes?

He became increasingly disappointed in the person and felt increasingly regretful.

"Okay, okay."

"Don't think that Xiao Jingchuan is easy to deal with just because he comes from a military background and has always served in the army."

"In my opinion, this person is more meticulous than others, bold yet careful, and not someone to be trifled with."

"To get rid of this bastard, Da Cheng, we'd better be on our toes!"

"A single misstep could lead to death and total defeat."

There's no other way; it's better to rely on yourself than on others.

At this point, discussing anything else is futile.

Once you're on that pirate ship, there's no turning back. You must intensify your planning and handle things with utmost care.

"Uh, well... wait a minute, let's think about the worst."

"But what if that man surnamed Xiao brings men, armored soldiers, and sees through our plan?"

"Then remember this: to catch the thief, you must first catch the kingpin. Try to kill Xiao Jingchuan on the spot and leave no survivors."

"Once he's done playing, the rest, hmph, can be dealt with one by one."

When it came to the specific arrangements, Wang Zhixin's hands trembled as he reluctantly agreed to the task, and with a straight face, he issued the order.

"Hey, okay, okay."

"I've got it. I'll go talk to those scoundrels down there and do as Godfather says!"

Ruan Dacheng looked flustered and terrified. (End of Chapter)