The world of film and television begins with Hikaru no Go

"How did you know I was ordered to return to the capital to investigate a case? And how did you know where I was staying? These are all court secrets. How did you, a fugitive, find out?"

Li Yuanfang opened his mouth, but no words came out.

"Someone led you here. The person who appeared outside the window in the middle of the night not only saved you, but also brought you to me."

The room remained quiet for a long time, with the candlelight burning silently between the two people, occasionally flickering slightly, causing their shadows to move on the wall.

Li Yuanfang lowered his head, his hand on the table slowly tightening, his knuckles turning bluish-white.

After a while, it slowly loosened again.

"Then, sir... are you still willing to help me?"

Di Renjie did not answer immediately. He picked up the silk handkerchief again and looked at it in the candlelight for a while.

The snake embroidered with gold thread shimmered faintly in the light, its tongue flicking, as if it might swim down from the silk at any moment.

"I will investigate this pattern. As for whether I will help you or not—" He folded the silk handkerchief and tucked it into his sleeve, "I returned to the capital this time specifically to investigate the case of the troupe. Your matter is the same as that case."

Li Yuanfang remained silent for a long time, then stood up, took a step back, clasped his hands together, and bowed deeply.

"Thank you, sir."

Judge Di waved his hand without saying a word.

Li Yuanfang straightened up, glanced at Di Gong, and then looked at the lamp.

"My lord, that lamp from just now..."

Zhang Rui suddenly spoke up: "Sir, there are people outside. More than one. They came in from outside the post station, and they are probably the fake Imperial Guards I mentioned before."

Without hesitation, Di Renjie looked at Li Yuanfang and said, "Let's hide for a while."

Li Yuanfang was taken aback: "My lord—"

"I'm not telling you to leave, I'm telling you to hide first, someone's coming."

Although Li Yuanfang had doubts, he didn't ask any more questions. He climbed onto the window and disappeared in a flash.

Zhang Rui saw him pressed against the eaves outside the window, his shadow blending into the night.

Almost simultaneously, there was a knock on the door.

The third tone, neither too light nor too heavy, is very formal.

"Master, master!"

It is Di Chun.

Judge Di stood up, straightened his clothes, and asked unhurriedly, "Who is it?"

"My lord, the Imperial Guards from the capital have come to deliver an imperial decree."

Di Renjie walked to the door and opened it.

Di Chun stood outside the door, followed by seven or eight soldiers in military uniforms and carrying swords.

The leader had a solemn expression, with the others standing on either side behind him, their armor gleaming coldly in the moonlight.

"Lord Di, the imperial edict has arrived. Please receive it, Lord Di."

"Your subject Di Renjie receives the imperial decree."

The head of the Imperial Guards entered, took out a roll of bright yellow silk from his robes, unrolled it, and read aloud:

"The capital has been thrown into turmoil, the court is in a state of panic, the diplomatic mission has been massacred, the rebels are rampant, the peace talks have crumbled, and the borders are in turmoil. This is truly a critical moment of life and death. You have come north on imperial orders, and are weary from your journey. I should have shown you consideration. However, the affairs of the court are urgent, and I dare not delay. Therefore, I order you to immediately accompany the Imperial Guard to the capital tonight, without any delay or hesitation. I have great concern for you, and you should consider this carefully. This is my decree."

"Your subject accepts the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude."

The soldier handed over the imperial edict and stepped back, saying, "Sir, the carriage is ready and waiting outside the gate."

"Will the imperial envoy and his entourage of guards who accompanied me travel together?"

"His Majesty's will is urgent, so there's no need to wait for them. Please come with us to the capital immediately."

"Alright." Di Renjie turned around and walked inside unhurriedly. "Please wait a moment, Your Excellency, while I tidy up."

"Then we'll wait for you outside."

Di Gong took two steps, then stopped, as if suddenly remembering something, and turned around.

"General, you're from Youzhou, aren't you?"

The soldier paused for a moment, then said, "I am from Shandong."

Judge Di nodded and said nothing more.

The door closed, and Li Yuanfang reappeared.

"grown ups--"

Can I trust you?

"able."

Without much hesitation, Li Yuanfang slipped out again, moving swiftly along the ground, using the shadows of the pillars and stables to conceal his figure. In just a few breaths, he reached the carriage outside the post station.

The vehicle body is made of wood, with the floor of the carriage about a foot off the ground. The crossbeams on both sides of the axle are thick and sturdy, more than enough to hide a person.

Li Yuanfang lay on his back, his hands gripping the crossbeam, his entire body suspended above the axle.

The movements were swift and clean, without making a sound.

"Di Chun".

Di Chun was waiting outside the door.

"master."

After we leave, immediately take your men and leave the inn. Find a place to hide in the county town. Don't go back to the inn, don't wait for me, go as far as you can.

Di Chun's voice was somewhat strained: "Master—"

"Listen to me, we'll meet again in the capital."

Di Chun gave Di Gong a deep look, took a step back, and bowed.

Di Renjie picked up the bundle he had prepared beforehand and walked out of the room. Several soldiers immediately surrounded him, forming a tight encirclement around him.

Outside the courtyard, the carriage was already harnessed.

Two black horses snorted, and the coachman sat on the shaft, holding the reins in his hand. His hat brim was pulled low, obscuring his face.

"Sir, please slow down."

Di Chun stepped forward to help Di Gong into the carriage. When the curtain fell, Di Gong's hand paused for a moment in the gap before being pulled back inside.

"Let's depart."

The carriage slowly drove out of the post station.

Zhang Rui did not enter the carriage, but floated on the roof, spreading his senses as far as possible.

The town of Jiangzhang at night was like a stagnant pool, the streets and alleys deserted, with only the occasional bark of a dog, which was quickly swallowed up by the night wind.

The carriage rumbled monotonously over the cobblestone road, its sound particularly clear in the quiet night.

After leaving the city gate, instead of heading towards the main road, they turned onto a side road.

He floated back into the carriage and whispered, "Sir, the route is wrong. There might be an ambush ahead."

Judge Di sat upright in the carriage and merely nodded slightly upon hearing this.

The carriage traveled for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before suddenly stopping.

It was pitch black all around, with no lanterns or torches, only the faint light of a crescent moon overhead.

People were everywhere—on the rooftops on both sides, behind the walls, and at both ends of the alley.

They waited and waited for the carriage to enter the narrow alley, until it was blocked in all directions.

"My lord, stay down!"

Having anticipated this, Di Renjie slid off his seat and lay face down on the floor of the carriage.

Just then—

A sudden whooshing sound rang out!

The first wave of arrows has arrived.

The carriage was instantly riddled with bullets; the roof and walls of the carriage were pierced almost simultaneously, splinters flew everywhere, and arrowheads embedded themselves in the interior walls of the carriage, making dull, chopping sounds.

An arrow grazed Di Renjie's shoulder and embedded itself in the baseboard, the fletching still trembling.

Zhang Rui instinctively tried to block it, but his hand went through the arrow shaft.

Then came the second wave.

This time, the arrows were aimed even lower, entering through the lower half of the carriage window and wall at a tricky angle, clearly indicating that the people inside the carriage would lower their bodies after the first volley of arrows.

Several arrows struck the spot where Di Renjie had just been sitting, turning the cushion into a hedgehog.

If Di Renjie hadn't ducked immediately, or if he had ducked a few inches higher, those arrows would have already pierced his body.