The court lackeys of the eight-hour workday

Chapter 398 Jianghu, Coup
"Master, I was wrong."

The short man knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly to the old Taoist priest, his head covered in blood, but he didn't stop. The short sword that had been aimed at the old Taoist priest was now stuck in his own thigh, blood flowing steadily down his thigh.

After crawling a few steps on his knees, the short man, with tears streaming down his face, threw himself at the old Taoist's thigh.

"Daoist Master, I was truly wrong—die!"

With a flick of his sleeve, a hidden blade popped out, its tip gleaming with a dark blue hue, clearly coated with potent poison.

Then came a loud "smack" that echoed throughout the area!
The old Taoist swung his arm wide, unleashing a Wudang direct descendant's "Grasp the Sparrow's Tail," a move that was both enveloping and closing, combining strength and gentleness, yin and yang. With a "whoosh" in mid-air, the sword in his sleeve struck the short man's face!
The Wudang tradition, inherited from Zhang Sanfeng, has been dedicated to vanquishing demons for sixty years, but it has never relied on compassion.

Like a spinning top, the short man spun around in the air more than a dozen times, scattering broken silver, hidden weapons, and broken teeth all over the ground. After landing, he rolled several feet over, his eyes rolled back, and he passed out.

The old Taoist priest then stepped forward, grabbed his hair, and walked back like he was leading a dead dog.

Cao Hanyan and Gao Anyu were squatting there waiting for the old Taoist priest to return when suddenly, in a flash, the old Taoist priest appeared in front of them. Before the two could speak, the old Taoist priest raised his hand and threw them to the ground.

Cao Hanyan was momentarily stunned.

"Master, who is this person?"

“The villains will be brought to justice.”

The old Taoist priest uttered four dry words, then fell silent again, closing his eyes once more. He placed his hand on Gao Anyu's shoulder and said nothing more.

Only Cao Hanyan and Gao Anyu were left staring at each other in bewilderment.

After a short while, Cao Hanyan sighed.

“Brother Gao, there’s still some time before the city gates open. Let’s ask.”

Gao Anyu nodded excitedly.

"Uh-huh!"

So one of them led the old Taoist priest, and the other carried the unconscious man, and the two of them headed away from the main road.

As dawn broke and the city gates of the capital slowly opened, Gao Anyu and Cao Hanyan emerged from the dense forest, grabbed a handful of leaves to wipe the bloodstains from their hands, and strode toward the city gates.

As for the short man... he has naturally disappeared.

When the two arrived at the city gate, they did not rush in. Instead, they squatted down by the city wall, suppressing their gaze, and scanned the people entering the city.

Upon seeing this, Cao Hanyan frowned.

"Gao Anyu said in a low voice beside me."

"Brother Cao, that man's account was indeed correct... Just as Uncle Li predicted! I only glanced at him and could vaguely discern several masters of disguise!"

"Yingzhou not only sent people to Wudang, but also to other major martial arts sects, using the Xuanlan martial arts as bait to lure martial arts practitioners back to the capital!"

"Moreover, they attributed Uncle Li's extraordinary martial arts skills to the Xuanlan martial arts technique. In this way, the prestige Uncle Li established at the Moon Appreciation Banquet was no longer a bargaining chip to intimidate the martial arts world, but instead became bait for them to push things along!"

Cao Hanyan nodded solemnly.

"The time is too short. Ordinary martial artists may not be able to get here in time, but the masters from the major sects should be able to. Right now, the capital has become the center of the vortex."

"We must hurry into the city and take the Taoist priest to see the garrison commander to report these matters to him!"

The two exchanged a glance, then without further hesitation, they quickly entered the city and headed towards the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guard) headquarters.

at the same time.

Inside the capital city, outside the Donghua Gate.

A group of officials gathered together, their voices clamoring.

The scarlet official robes, symbolizing ranks from first to fourth grade, were a common sight among the crowd. On the insignia on their chests, cranes represented the first rank, golden pheasants the second, and peacocks the third, while swallows and tigers extended outwards in a staggered pattern. Over a hundred "wolves in human clothing" who controlled the Great Shuo gathered outside the Donghua Gate, conversing and waiting for someone's arrival.

A moment later, excited shouts came from the periphery of the crowd.

"Lord Yan has arrived!"

"Lord Yan".

"Lord Yan!"

The dark blue gauze hat parted like waves, revealing a passage wide enough for one person.

At the end of the passage, Yan Song walked slowly with a solemn expression.

The high-ranking officials who recognized him all turned solemn.

The Grand Secretary of the Da Shuo government usually concurrently holds the position of Minister of a certain department, and he typically wears the scarlet official robes of a first-rank official when attending court. But today, Yan Song is wearing a light blue robe.

A blue python robe.

The python robe was a bestowed garment, representing past favors and merits.

Wearing a scarlet official robe would mean that Yan Song is treating today's events as a routine political struggle. But wearing a python robe would mean that he is wearing his past achievements and reputation on his person, betting them at the gambling table.

"Lord Yan is going to get serious today!"

Many high-ranking officials have come to this conclusion.

Yan Song stepped into the center of the crowd and stood there, glancing around but remaining silent for the time being.

He was also waiting, waiting for Zhu Zai's reaction.

After waiting for a while, the sound of orderly footsteps could be faintly heard in the distance.

The Imperial Guards, dressed in dark black outfits and carrying embroidered spring knives at their waists, ran in formation and silently spread out along both sides of the street outside Donghua Gate, surrounding the gathered officials.

Without uttering a word, they pressed their hands on the hilts of their swords and turned their gazes toward the officials in the center.

Many people in the crowd looked grim.

After the incident at the imperial tombs, Zhu Zai purged the eunuchs and filled the power vacuum with members of the imperial clan, who also replaced the eunuchs. As time went on, the power struggle between the eunuchs and the civil officials gradually came to the forefront.

The officials mobilized by Yan Song all knew that today's event, ostensibly about inviting the emperor to assume personal rule, was in essence aimed at the imperial family.

Or rather, it refers to Zhu Zai, the head of the imperial clan and commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

At this moment, Zhu Zai not only refused to back down, but also sent the Embroidered Uniform Guard to stand in formation along the road. The Embroidered Uniform Guards on both sides of the road were like Zhu Zai's outstretched arms, welcoming the officials' attempt to force him to abdicate. The meaning of this was obviously to confront them head-on!
What happens today may be far more brutal than they previously imagined! Blood might spill on the spot!
But once the arrow is released, there's no turning back. Many people hesitated and turned to look at Yan Song, but seeing his cold and composed expression, they made up their minds, abandoned their thoughts of retreat, and instead looked coldly at the Imperial Guards.

Yan Song glanced around the crowd and cleared his throat.

"Cough cough."

This attracted the attention of the officials.

Then he suddenly bent down and bowed deeply to the crowd around him.

"The affairs of today are the affairs of the court and the affairs of the world."

"I will have to trouble you all!"

Before the surrounding officials could bow in return, Yan Song suddenly straightened up.

Without the slightest hesitation, he strode towards the Donghua Gate.

(End of this chapter)