Chapter 25
Several hundred soldiers stood ready outside the County Office. Yu Baisu and Xu Qingzhu walked out, one after the other.
Yu Baisu’s face was dark. “Today, it’s either the fish dies or the net breaks. Move-”
Before he could finish the word, a Willow Leaf Knife flew in from the side, grazing Yu Baisu’s ear and embedding itself in the pillar behind him.
“Who’s there!” Yu Baisu shouted in shock and anger. “Show yourself!”
I walked out slowly, looking calmly at Yu Baisu. “County Magistrate, you’re mobilizing troops in the middle of the night-are you conspiring with the Dong Family to rebel?”
“Nonsense!” Yu Baisu retorted sharply. “There are thieves at Dong Manor who have injured Lord Dong. I am here to apprehend the culprits!”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Dong Jiao and Dong Jingmo have colluded with Crown Prince’s Tutor Dong Jiangli, secretly recruiting soldiers with ill intent. If you mobilize troops today, how is that any different from treason?”
Yu Baisu’s eyes darted about. Xu Qingzhu, standing behind him, immediately shouted, “Zheng Xuanming, you show no respect for your superiors and speak wildly. Arrest him!”
Several soldiers rushed forward to seize me, but Song Lan knocked them down with ease.
I took the opportunity to step up the stairs and produced an object. “Here is the Secret Edict from His Majesty. Who dares act rashly?”
“Se-Secret Edict?!” Yu Baisu’s eyes widened as he stared at the imperial yellow decree in my hand. “Impossible! His Majesty is unconscious-how could there be a Secret Edict?!”
“It seems you know quite a lot about what’s happening in the palace, Yu Baisu.” I sneered, then turned and called out loudly, “By the Secret Edict of His Majesty, I am ordered to investigate in secret and act at my discretion. All local governments in the prefecture, city, and county must fully cooperate. Anyone who defies may be executed first and reported later! Do you intend to defy the imperial order?”
The soldiers below glanced at each other, hesitating. Just then, the sound of hooves approached-Qin Zhezhou arrived with his troops. He dismounted and knelt before me. “Governor of Minzhou Qin Zhezhou greets the Imperial Commissioner. Dong Manor and Drunken Beauty have been surrounded; not a single person escaped. Dong Jiao and Dong Jingmo have been apprehended.”
“Thank you for your hard work, Lord Qin.” I personally helped him up. “I must trouble you to temporarily take charge of Anyang’s military and civil affairs. Please personally watch over Yu Baisu and Xu Qingzhu-I will interrogate them shortly.”
“Yes!” Qin Zhezhou waved his hand. “Take them away!”