Chapter 13: The Late-Night Returnee

The night scenery of Zhao County was like an empty city.

There were not even guards on patrol in the streets.

Doors and gates in every alley and lane were tightly shut, shrouded in pitch darkness; even the cries of children and the barking of dogs had vanished.

However, there were two places where the lights burned brightly: one was the county magistrate's office in the center of town, and the other was the city gate.

The city gate, where the corpses were laid out, was particularly bright; in addition to lanterns, several torches had been lit, making it as bright as day.

The dozen or so corpses laid on the ground appeared even more terrifying amidst the darkness and the stark white light.

The guards atop the city gate did not dare look toward them, staring only outward toward the city walls, but whenever they thought of the dozen corpses lying behind them, a chill ran down their spines.

"Those damned Embroidered Uniform Guards... they really know how to mistreat people," one guard couldn't help but curse under his breath.

They mistreated the dead, and they mistreated the living.

The guard beside him instinctively looked left and right. "Keep your voice down. Those people have sharp ears. Do you want to be dragged away as a suspect too?"

If it hadn't been for that comment, the first guard might have stayed quiet, but hearing it only made him angrier. He let out a cold snort. "Let them drag me away then. They clearly view everyone in Zhao County as rebels. So many people have already been taken; it's only a matter of time before it's my turn."

The guard opened his mouth to say something more but turned his gaze back toward the city gate. His eyes fell upon the brightly lit magistrate's office shrouded in the night. He knew the office was currently crowded; besides the officials, the great aristocratic families of the city had all been summoned there.

That Lord Embroidered Uniform Guard had said: "If one person cannot recall the anomalies regarding the Jiang family's rebellion, perhaps it might be better if everyone thinks about it together."

Thinking of that Lord Embroidered Uniform Guard, the guard couldn't help but shudder, feeling that the man was even more terrifying than the corpses laid out there.

The sound of hoofbeats approached. The guards hurriedly withdrew their gaze and looked outside the city. Seeing several flickering torches drawing closer, they could make out a group of about a dozen people.

They were carrying torches, and several of them had flags attached to their bodies.

"Weiyuan Escort Agency," one of the guards on the gate read aloud.

At the same time, the group arrived at the city gate. The man leading them was in his thirties; he waved a pass in his hand.

"Wang San, we're back from an escort mission. We have a transit pass!" he shouted.

The guards on the gate clearly recognized him. Some said with a smile, "Master Li Si is back," while others remarked, "They've been gone for half a month."

The city gate slowly creaked open.

The guards did not bother to inspect the pass the man handed over; clearly, this was a common occurrence.

"Why has Master Li Si returned at this hour?" one guard asked.

Li Hao, the Master of the Weiyuan Escort Agency, felt a flicker of displeasure at this. "How can those of us who perform escorts always arrive exactly on schedule?" Having said that, he pulled a purse from his waist. "Here is some tea money for the guards. Thank you for your hard work."

The guard quickly pressed Li Hao's hand down. "Master Li, that's not what I meant. Sigh, you've been away, so you don't know what's happening in the city."

Li Hao looked puzzled. "What is happening in the city?"

The guards chattered all at once, recounting the events. Li Hao and his escorts listened, shocked and enraged.

"That wonderful man, Mr. Jiang, has met with such disaster?" "How could Mr. Jiang commit treason? This is nonsense!" "My child studies under him; his teaching is excellent!"

The guards waved their hands dismissively. "Don't say any more, don't say any more. That's just how it is now. Master Li, your father has also been summoned to the magistrate's office."

Li Hao cursed. "Isn't this just bullying? My father injured his leg during an escort ten years ago. Can a cripple really commit murder?" He prepared to mount his horse. "I'll go to the magistrate's office and let them arrest me instead of my father."

The guards and escorts rushed to dissuade him. "Don't be reckless!" "There hasn't been any torture used for interrogation yet." "Master Li, stay calm. The old lady and the Madam at home are in a panic; you should go back first to put their minds at ease."

Perhaps because his grandmother and mother were mentioned, Li Hao suppressed his rage and swung himself onto his horse. "Fine, let's go home first."

The escorts also mounted their horses and passed through the city gate toward the interior. Because the area by the gate was so brightly lit, the group naturally saw the corpses laid on the ground...

Li Hao seemed inclined to dismount and pay his respects, but he was stopped by his escorts. Regardless of the circumstances, the Jiang family had been branded as rebels; it was best not to invite trouble.

Though restrained, Li Hao still leaned forward from his saddle to perform a half-bow toward the corpses before heading into the city.

Watching this scene, the guards lamented that Master Li Si was truly a man of loyalty.

Because they had returned in the middle of the night and did not want to disturb the elders at home, Li Hao took his escorts directly back to the agency. The lights in the street-facing agency flickered on, only to be extinguished shortly after.

In a windowless warehouse in the backyard, a banquet table had been set. The escorts sat down, but they did not immediately drink joyfully; instead, they let out long sighs.

"Master Li, will we really be alright?" one escort asked in a low voice. "The imperial officials are still around."

Li Hao picked up a jug of wine from the table and poured himself a cup. "It is precisely because the imperial officials are here that we are safe returning. Didn't I say? The most dangerous place is the safest."

He raised his cup and looked at his men.

"Who would have thought that we, the ones who killed the Jiang family, would stroll into the city and head home so brazenly?"

...

...

The wine in the warehouse was divided among them, and everyone drank to disperse their tension.

"It's only because you have guts, Master Li. No one else would have the nerve," everyone remarked.

Li Hao smiled and picked up his chopsticks to eat. "Wealth is sought amidst danger. If one doesn't even have this much courage, then one truly has no choice but to rely on escorting for the rest of one's life."

As he spoke, a hint of irritation surfaced.

"It's just a shame that after all that effort, we still didn't find the treasure map."

An escort expressed his resentment as well. "Jiang Wangchun was a man who couldn't even lift a chicken, yet he was so stubborn. No matter how we interrogated him, he wouldn't speak."

Another escort said, "It seems that treasure is very precious, valued even more than life itself."

"That is the treasure of the Imperial Family; of course it is precious," an escort said with envy.

*Yes, who wouldn't want it?* Li Hao thought. The fact that the Jiang family refused to speak even in death proved it was something worth risking one's life for.

Only...

His expression turned grim, and he struck the table.

"That person must have run off with it."

Indeed, despite their meticulous planning—having arranged informants in advance and drugged the Jiang family so they all collapsed—one person had still stumbled their way out and escaped.

Furthermore, the men they had stationed outside had failed to stop them. After chasing them for a day and a night, they had lost them.

"Master Li, that person had accomplices," an escort said. "They emerged suddenly from the mountains, catching us off guard. Fortunately, we brought many men; it took more than half our strength to eliminate them. I almost didn't make it back myself."

But the person they were meant to capture had vanished without a trace, having undoubtedly used the chaos to escape.

Li Hao exhaled. "We'll continue the search once the heat dies down. Fortunately, my father arranged things thoroughly by reporting the Jiang family's rebellion in advance. Since they are dead, the Imperial Court won't care, and those accomplices won't dare to come out again." He raised his cup. "Come, come, let's not speak of gloomy things. Although this time wasn't smooth, we are all safe and sound. Good luck to us all."

The escorts at the table raised their cups. Just as they were about to drink together, the door creaked softly as it was pushed open, and someone walked in.

Li Hao frowned. "I told you there was no need to come..."

As he spoke, he looked over and froze slightly, the word "serve" dying on his lips.

It was a youth dressed in cyan clothing. He held no food or wine, only a bamboo pole. He very politely closed the door behind him and then met Li Hao's gaze.

"Of course I must come. The night is dark and the wind is high, and with imperial officials stationed here, it is a fine time for killing," he said, raising the bamboo pole in front of him. "If I didn't come now, wouldn't it be a pity?"

(End of Chapter)