Chapter 149: Remembering

The alley was neither long nor short. Using every ounce of strength in his long legs, Cheng Shu quickly saw the light at the mouth of the alley.

It was the morning sun tentatively breaking through the darkness, scattering the dawn across the mortal realm.

He rushed out like a flying bolt, only to suddenly see a child standing there blankly.

Cheng Shu hurriedly dodged to the side, but because he had turned too quickly, he lost his footing and landed hard on his buttocks.

The startled child burst into loud wails.

A man rushed over and scooped up the child: "Bao'er, are you alright?"

The boy's crying did not subside; instead, he reached out and pointed at Cheng Shu.

"What is wrong with you? Charging around recklessly in the early morning!" The man glared at Cheng Shu with fury.

Sitting on the ground, Cheng Shu looked as if he had been frightened, his eyes staring straight at the father and son.

The boy crying in his father's arms, the father's face full of rage—in a flash of lightning, he thought of something and suddenly leapt to his feet.

The man quickly dodged away while holding the child, watching as the reckless youth approached with an excited expression.

The man hurried away with the child, cursing as he went: "Ran into a lunatic first thing in the morning."

When he looked back, he found that the lunatic was actually walking briskly in their direction. His expression changed instantly, and he broke into a jog.

Cheng Shu kept staring at the father and son until a man in black dragged another man in black out of the alley; only then did he remember to continue running.

As he turned around, he nearly collided with someone.

The person reached out to steady him: "Brother Cheng."

The familiar voice caused Cheng Shu's tense nerves to suddenly relax: "Your Highness, why is it you?"

Qi Shuo cast his gaze toward the mouth of the alley.

Cheng Shu followed his gaze and saw the man in black approaching. Because he was dragging someone, he wasn't moving very fast, which made him appear even more eerie.

Cheng Shu placed one hand on his saber and used the other to lift his robe hem, preparing for both possibilities: if he could win the fight, he would fight; if he couldn't, he would take the Prince and run.

"Your Highness." The man in black came to a halt and bowed to Qi Shuo.

Cheng Shu turned sharply to look at Qi Shuo, filled with shock: "Your Highness, what is going on?"

"He is my subordinate," Qi Shuo explained.

"Then what about this one?" Cheng Shu pointed at the other man in black who was being restrained.

The man hung his head without reaction; it was unclear whether he was dead or unconscious.

Given Qi Shuo's composure, he couldn't help but want to laugh upon hearing Cheng Shu's question, but considering the other man's relationship with A-Hao, he suppressed it and replied solemnly: "This one is the one who tried to kill you."

Cheng Shu: "..." He felt the Prince of Jing was mocking him!

"Why would he want to kill me?" Cheng Shu stepped forward and pulled off the black cloth covering the unconscious man's face, inspecting him repeatedly. "I've never seen him before."

The sky was quietly brightening. Not far away, many people had gathered, pointing and whispering curiously toward this direction.

Qi Shuo said, "Let's go to the Jinlin Guard and discuss this with the Grand Commander."

At the mention of the Jinlin Guard, Cheng Shu excitedly patted Qi Shuo's arm: "Your Highness, I remember now!"

A flash of joy appeared on Qi Shuo's face, yet compared to Cheng Shu's excitement, he remained exceptionally calm: "We'll talk once we reach the Jinlin Guard."

"Alright." Cheng Shu paused after a few steps. "I almost forgot, I have duty today."

Qi Shuo pointed at the unconscious man in black: "Encountering such an incident, you won't be able to focus on your duties. I'll send someone to request leave on your behalf, Brother Cheng."

Cheng Shu nodded and rushed to the Jinlin Guard with a stomach full of questions.

Upon hearing that the two had arrived, Cheng Maoming immediately set aside his current affairs. When he saw the two men in black, he was startled: "This is—"

This attire was clearly designed for highway robbery.

"This morning, Brother Cheng was heading out and was ambushed in an alley," Qi Shuo said, pointing to the unconscious man in black.

A cold light flashed in Cheng Maoming's eyes as he looked at the other man in black: "And this one is the Prince's man?"

"Correct." Qi Shuo nodded and explained with a calm expression: "Yesterday, after discovering two high-profile fugitives dead from poisoning in your office, I suspected there was an internal mole. Thus, I intentionally leaked news that Brother Cheng had seen the fugitives to see if I could lure the mole out. I didn't expect the fish to actually take the bait."

Cheng Shu was dumbfounded: "Your Highness, you already suspected someone might try to assassinate me yesterday?"

"I was merely testing. The opponent was simply too impatient."

It also proved the mastermind's desperation to hide their identity.

"But how did you know they would strike in that specific alley?"

"After drinking with Brother Cheng and returning to the manor yesterday, I arranged for my subordinates to scout the area. On the route Brother Cheng usually takes from the General's Manor to the Imperial City, that alley is the most suitable place for an ambush."

Cheng Shu rubbed his nose awkwardly.

They both drank, but by the end of his night, he didn't even know how he had ended up in bed, yet the Prince of Jing had gone and arranged all this upon returning. The difference was truly frustrating.

Cheng Maoming walked up to the man in black and inspected him: "I haven't seen this man before, but I have an idea. Prince, leave this man to me."

If it weren't for the arrangements made by that man surnamed Zhao, he would have written the character for "Cheng" upside down.

Qi Shuo nodded to his subordinate, who then handed the unconscious man in black over to two Jinlin Guards.

"Watch him closely. If another mistake occurs, you'll bring me your heads," Cheng Maoming warned his subordinates.

"Yes, sir!"

Cheng Maoming raised a hand and patted Cheng Shu on the shoulder: "Don't worry, Young Master Cheng. I will arrange for someone to protect your safety later."

"That shouldn't be necessary."

Cheng Maoming looked puzzled.

Cheng Shu instinctively straightened his back and lowered his voice: "I remember now."

Cheng Maoming froze, then broke into great joy: "Who exactly was that fugitive?"

"He is a soldier from the Xuanwu Camp."

Cheng Maoming's pupils contracted, clearly deeply shocked.

"The Xuanwu Camp? Are you certain, Young Master Cheng?"

The Xuanwu Camp was one of the Capital Camps, usually stationed in the outskirts of the capital.

"Certain. When I was ambushed and running out of the alley, I nearly collided with a young boy. Seeing that boy wailing in his father's arms suddenly triggered my memory. Last year, while walking down the street, a young boy cried because he was nearly bumped into; the man who scared the boy was that very fugitive. I only gave him a passing glance at the time and didn't form a deep impression, which is why I didn't remember until now." Cheng Shu felt the satisfaction of clearing away the fog. "That man was wearing the uniform of the Xuanwu Camp; there is no mistake."

"Knowing his origin makes things easier," Cheng Maoming clapped his hands.

Since he was a soldier of the Xuanwu Camp, there would inevitably be someone who knew the two fugitives. By investigating their commanding officers, the trail would become clear.

At this moment, Cheng Maoming instinctively felt a sense of unease.

To be able to utilize a soldier from the Xuanwu Camp and even kill someone to silence them within the Jinlin Guard—he might be uncovering a massive problem.

But if he didn't investigate, it would be impossible; first of all, he wouldn't be able to account for it to the Emperor.

Just then, a Jinlin Guard hurried in: "Grand Commander, we found Old Wang, the one in charge of the torture implements!"

"Where is he?"

The Jinlin Guard paused, then lowered his eyes: "In the abandoned dry well in the backyard of the office."

Hearing this, Cheng Maoming turned and walked out immediately.

Qi Shuo and Cheng Shu exchanged a glance and silently followed.

Seeing that Cheng Maoming did not stop him, the Jinlin Guard was surprised but did not dare to speak further. The group quickly arrived at the location.

(End of Chapter)