About Cao Cao's reincarnation as the emperor's uncle

Chapter 27 Dare You Say That Again?

In the west of Luoyang City, the setting sun dripped like drops of sunlight, turning the half-collapsed eaves a scorched iron color.

Smoke, thick with the bitterness of gunpowder, drifted among the broken walls as Qiao Xuan, riding his horse, crushed half of the charred "Yuan Family" plaque.

These thieves really chose a good place to hide; they actually found an abandoned mansion belonging to the Yuan family.

Soldiers surged into the courtyard like a tide behind him. Frost clung to Qiao Xuan's silver beard, and hanging at his waist was not the ordinary sword of a civil official, but a ring-pommel sword that had accompanied him on the frontier for many years, its hilt wrapped with rope and worn smooth.

"Lord Qiao, the thieves are holding the west courtyard!"

The captain's armor slammed against the door frame, shaking off the dust accumulated between the beams, which fell in a flurry onto Qiao Xuan's shoulder.

He raised his hand to quell the soldiers, his gaze sweeping over the mess on the ground...

Some of the mutilated corpses were dressed in "Hu" (non-Han) clothing, and some of the remaining patterns on the hem of their clothes were indeed the Yuan family crest. However... the bone-piercing nails inserted into their throats were clearly the unique hidden weapons of the eunuchs in the Forbidden City.

Suddenly, the sound of metal clashing came from the broken window of the west courtyard, and dozens of figures swooped down like crows in the night. The leader was none other than Xia Yun, the eunuch.

"The bridge master has come at just the right time."

Xia Yun's official robes were stained with blood, and he carried a blood-stained wolf-head flag in his hand. Behind him followed a large retinue of eunuchs. The soles of his boots rolled over the brickwork, making a clattering sound like a death knell.

Duan Jiong's cloak fluttered in the wind. He had been directing his soldiers to block the secret door, but when he met Xia Yun's gaze, his throat bobbed and his expression froze.

Qiao Xuan's ring-pommel sword clattered as it was drawn three inches from its sheath, the blade gleaming and reflecting the bloodstains on Xia Yun's temple.
"Attendant Xia is indeed as swift as the wind; he's even a few steps faster than this old man."

Xia Yun laughed:

"His Majesty was so distressed upon hearing that the young masters had been robbed that he lost his appetite and sent me with Rong Congxian to investigate..."

"Unintentionally, I ended up clearing out some of the miscellaneous soldiers for Qiao Gong."

He raised his hand and gestured towards the west courtyard, where the faint sound of children's suppressed sobs could be heard. "Thankfully, the children are all here, it's really..."

He suddenly looked at Duan Jiong, his smile deepening, "Thanks to the urgent message from the Commandant of Sili, otherwise I would have almost missed the appointed time."

Duan Jiong was bitter and about to argue when Qiao Xuan's gaze was like a knife.

Before Duan Jiong could speak, Qiao Xuan flicked his silver beard and brandished his sword:

"Since Attendant Xia has already saved the person, please feel free to proceed."

Xia Yun smiled without saying a word, cupped his hands in greeting to Qiao Xuan and Duan Jiong, and turned to leave with Rong Cong.

After all, this place is full of scions of noble families, and he, a mere eunuch, would naturally feel uncomfortable here.

Besides, the matter has already been resolved...

In the crowd, a young man dressed in armor, standing at the front, looked at Xia Yun's figure with surprise.

Xia Yun felt that gaze, shook his head imperceptibly, as if warning or indicating something, and then disappeared around the street corner.

Meanwhile, Liu Fang hid in the shadows of the eastern stable, watching Xia Yun's figure gradually disappear.

This person was one of the middle-aged eunuchs in the palace, who was as famous as Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong.

But what is he here for? Can Jian Shuo command this loyal dog of Wang Fu?
Moreover... Xia Yun and Duan Jiong have always been on good terms, what kind of act is this?

It seems that Xia Yun is cleaning up their mess.

This is somewhat absurd...

At that moment, cheers, cries, and grief mingled together from the west courtyard...

As the children were picked up one by one, only Qiao Xuan stood under the corridor, his back like a withered pine tree.

"Master Qiao, the young master... we've searched everywhere but can't find him."

Upon hearing the attendant's whispered report, Qiao Xuan staggered half a step, his hand pressing on the pillar, his knuckles tense, then slowly relaxing.

"In that case, let's not waste any more time here."

……

As darkness fell, the soldiers gradually withdrew, and only when the last trace of human habitation was blown away by the wind did Liu Fang emerge from the shadows.

He searched the entire mansion carefully again, and as his boots rolled over the loose soil next to the wine vat in the backyard, he suddenly noticed something amiss...

Beneath the freshly turned soil, the patterns of stone slabs pieced together are faintly visible.

He gripped his sword tightly, kicked it hard, and the soil collapsed with a crash, revealing a culvert entrance about a foot wide. A cold wind carrying the smell of decaying earth rushed towards him.

The sound of the sword sheath striking the stone wall echoed in the dark ditch. Liu Fang descended along the slippery wall and suddenly heard the rustling sound of a sword being drawn from its sheath ahead.

Three figures moved erratically in the dim light, the man in the middle trembling uncontrollably as he gripped his sword.
"No...don't come any closer!" That voice...

Liu Fang's pupils contracted sharply, and he slowed his pace:

"Zuo Feng?"

Upon hearing this, the sword in the figure's hand clattered to the ground.
"grown ups!"

He stumbled forward and grabbed Liu Fang's leg, "It is...it is I!"

Using the light filtering through the cracks in the stone wall, Liu Fang could make out Zuo Feng's appearance, and there were two small, furtive figures behind him.

He drew his longsword, a cold glint flashing in its blade. Zuo Feng shrank back, pointing at the two figures, his voice trembling with a sob:

"This is...this is the child that Lord Feng asked me to hide."

Behind Zuo Feng, two thin figures huddled together. The smaller one suddenly sobbed and was gently comforted by the older boy.

Liu Fang's heart tightened, and he was about to step forward...

But then the older boy stepped forward calmly and asked, "Who are you?"

Zuo Feng immediately stretched out his neck and slapped the boy on the head:

"You... how dare you be so disrespectful, you brat! This is none other than the Emperor's uncle, Lord Liu Yuanyi!"

Although the boy looked a little disheveled, his back was ramrod straight, and there was a familiar feeling about him.

Seeing that Liu Fang was looking him over, Zuo Feng quickly explained:

"My lord, my original orders were to move the youngest son of the Bridge Master as soon as possible, but..."

“At the time, this child was taking care of the youngest son of the bridge master, and he would cry as soon as the youngest son of the bridge master left, so I had no choice but to bring him along as well.”

Before Zuo Feng could finish speaking, the young man picked up the longsword that had fallen to the ground and said, "Nonsense!"

The sword blade sparked as it scraped against the stone wall. "Has the current emperor ever had an imperial uncle? You traitors, do you think I, Xun Yu, am ignorant?"

and many more……

Liu Fang suddenly turned around and stared at the boy's face...

His eyebrows were like sharp swords, and his eyes were like cold stars. Although he was young, he had a majestic presence.

Like...too similar.

No wonder it felt so familiar...

I was just wondering, whose child could have such courage?
After thinking it over, Liu Fang raised his hand and placed it on his sword:
"Dare you repeat what you just said?"

The young man frowned, his expression unchanged, and took a half-step forward:
"Do you think I, Xun Yu, am ignorant?"

Liu Fang's eyes were full of joy, and he clapped his hands and exclaimed:
"Excellent! Xun Wenruo is truly remarkable!"

"What nonsense are you spouting now?"

At this time, Xun Yu had not yet reached adulthood, so naturally he did not have the courtesy name "Wenruo".

However, he was so caught up in his emotions that he overlooked something...

Seeing the young man's upright appearance and puzzled look, Liu Fang chuckled, rubbing his forehead:

"I am... I seem to have met an old friend, and I was impolite for a moment. Are you Xun Zhongci's son?"

Do you know my father?

Before Liu Fang could answer, footsteps suddenly came from above the culvert, and Zuo Feng's face turned pale:
"My lord, this place is not safe to linger..."

Upon hearing this, Xun Yu grabbed the even younger child and led the way, drawing a mark on the stone wall with his sword.

Seeing this, Liu Fang suppressed his laughter and stepped forward.

He deliberately softened his voice and placed his palm on Xun Yu's thin shoulder:

"Young Master Xun, there's no need for this. I am no bad person..."

Having said that, he took something out of his bosom and placed it in Xun Yu's hand.

As soon as Xun Yu unfolded the object, he trembled violently...

(End of this chapter)