Chapter 34 : Assassination

Pei Si Yan saw Wuli come out of the palanquin and immediately turned her head to greet the official beside her cordially. The official stared at her in shock and froze for a moment before returning the greeting in a raw manner, then hurriedly went to catch up with Taishi Feng who was already far away from him.

Wuli only saw two people smiling and greeting each other, his brows furrowed in disbelief at the sight.

Pei Si Yan's lips curled slightly as she greeted another official before entering the palace gates.

After King Hui returned from his inspection, the court was busy again. The eight officials who were corrupt and perverted the law had been escorted to the imperial capital and handed over to the Da Lisi for a thorough investigation. The Emperor ordered the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Shan Hao, to reappoint several officials to serve in those eight counties.

The counties surrounding the imperial capital were not only affluent, but also places that various forces desperately wanted to occupy, and this reappointment of the local governors would undoubtedly cause varying degrees of interest to the various forces.

When the emperor announced the list, the faces of the people in the court varied, the promoted officials gleefully knelt down to thank the emperor, and there were a few officials whose faces were grim, glaring at the Minister of Revenue in dissatisfaction.

Feng Taishi lightly coughed a few times and straightened his back.

Wuli who had been secretly observing Pei Si Yan's complexion found that her eyes contained a wave of mirth, and then looked at the several officials kneeling on the ground to thank them for their kindness, two of them were exactly the ones who had greeted Pei Si Yan earlier out of the palace gate.

Could they ...

Wuli was startled and looked towards the Feng Taishi.

The eight newly appointed officials are all from Feng Taishi's faction, it is reasonable to say that Feng Taishi's people could not have any involvement with Wu Pan. Usually, Wu Pan did not greet them as cordially as he did just now, and always looked polite, but actually cold.

Unless Wu Pan secretly bought them all!

According to the Wu Pan and Shan Shangshu not shallow friendship, she is very likely to have known the appointment list in advance, otherwise it will not go to talk for no reason, perhaps a few of the eight officials is her election.

Poor Feng Taishi was still in the dark, thinking that he had received great benefits.

Wu Li skimmed his head, his brows furrowed tightly, worried about the current situation in front of him.

Young Wu Pan for power began to secretly buy people, as well as expanding the power of the time, if not in the situation has not yet advanced a not development time to destroy her plans, to be full of wings when the harm is unimaginable...

So, must ...

Wuli clenched his fists and made up his mind - this is the perfect opportunity to show goodwill to Feng Taishi!

Late at night on the streets of the Imperial Capital, the cold wind gusted, and apart from the night watchmen and the magistrates patrolling the city, not a single person could be seen. The buildings under the dark blue night curtain washed away the lead of the day, dark and deep, from afar it looked like an ink-coloured painting.

A middle-aged man hiccuped while holding onto the wall and staggered slowly, from his body emitted a strong smell of alcohol. He giggled and reached out to touch the bright yellow scroll that was warmed in his arms.

Everyone thought that being an official in the imperial capital was the best, but he didn't think so.

Accompanying a king is like accompanying a tiger, it would be better to go to an affluent county near the imperial capital as an assassin, and try to have a free and easy life.

After two or three years of hoping, finally, not only was his wish fulfilled, but he was also promoted from the original sixth rank to the fourth rank. And can be used for Lord Feng, when the second prince is the throne, he can also be counted on the merit, and then return to the imperial capital when more scenery.

The more you think about it, the happier you are, the middle-aged man rubbed his eyes, see the road in front of you, step by step, three wobbly continue to walk home, "humming ah ah ah ah" sang a tune of a small song.

Suddenly, a black shadow fell from the sky like a ghost, almost scaring the middle-aged man into fainting, he managed to stand up straight and looked at the person in front of him dumbfounded.

"Are you ..."

Before he could finish his question, the middle-aged man's throat let out a strange "uh-" sound, and then he stared with a pair of eyes, and fell to the ground with a heavy "bang".

Blood slowly spread underneath him, staining the green brick floor red. The bright yellow scrolls fell out from his arms and were dyed red by the blood, appearing shocking under the moonlight.

The masked assassin wiped his sword clean with the dead man's clothes as two other figures stepped out from the corner in front of him.

The one in the lead glanced coldly at the imperial decree on the ground, ''Daring to secretly defect to Tantai Yan? This is what happens when you betray Imperial Master Feng!" After saying this, he turned his head and left, the figures of several people quickly disappearing into the night.

The sky had just dawned, and the Imperial Capital exploded.

Of the eight newly appointed officials, five of them spilled their blood on the streets, and their bodies had long been stiff and cold when they were found. The magistrates surrounded the crime scene, waiting for the coroner to come and examine the bodies, while the people gathered around and talked.

The imperial capital hadn't seen such a tragedy in many years, and this time it undoubtedly caused a great sensation.

The Emperor gave a deadline of half a month and asked the Ministry of Justice to find out who was behind the murder immediately.

The Imperial Prefect blamed himself and asked to be removed from his post, but the Emperor refused and ordered him to set up barriers at the city gates with the Ministry of Justice and the General of the Right Martial Guards to maintain order in the Imperial Capital and search for all suspicious people.

After the next court, Wuli saw Feng Taishi's face was very unattractive, and was about to go over and explain the matter clearly before and after in private with him, when Pei Si Yan and the Ministers of the Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of Industry came over and blocked his way.

Pei Si Yan sympathetically asked, ''Lord Wuli, who do you think the murderer could be and from what intention? Those adults are so pitiful, they should have already set out on their way to their appointments by now ..."

Wuli surveyed Pei Si Yan for a while, seeing that she did not show a hint of anger as Feng Taishi did, his heart was startled and restless, "How could I possibly know who the murderer is? It might be which faction of forces was dissatisfied with the Emperor's appointment and sent someone to assassinate them."

Pei Si Yan shook her head and sighed, "I really hope that the murderer can be found out soon, although I don't have a deep friendship with those adults, but after all, I'm a fellow ... officer, why don't we go to the deceased's residence later to console the relatives?"

Xia Wenzheng agreed: "Good, indeed we should go and take a look, it's too pitiful."

Wu Li frowned and did not reply. He didn't know whether this little girl Wu Pan's acting skills were just too normal, or whether ...

he had killed the wrong person!

If he had killed the wrong person and still hurriedly ran to show his favour to Imperial Master Feng, that was simply asking for death!

However, he had clearly investigated, and Wu Pan had indeed suspiciously contacted a few officials before he felt relieved and bold enough to send out the assassin.

"Excuse me, I suddenly have a terrible headache, so I'll go to the Imperial Hospital first." Wu Li dropped a sentence, rubbed his forehead and hurriedly walked away. He must figure out the headache as soon as possible, if he really got it wrong ... he has to arrange a back road before he can do it.

The Minister of Industry stretched his neck and looked at Wu Li's back, "What's wrong with him, my lord? His face has suddenly become so strange."

An imperceptible smile swept across Pei Siyan's face as she sighed, "With the death of five capital officials, anyone feels stressed. Lord Xia, Lord Wen, we'd better hurry to the Council of Governance."

"Lord Wuban first please."

Several people descended the steps and headed to the Science and Government Courtyard. King Hui Lanxuan walked out of the great hall with faith, and under the gloomy sky, his face was still bright and full of charm, as if a night pearl that couldn't hide its eye-catching light no matter how much dust and dirt there was.

His brow was all smiles of satisfaction and approval, "I hope we will just support each other until ..."

After visiting all the relatives of the slain officials, Pei Si Yan returned home tiredly, Mrs Yuexi cheerfully welcomed her over, holding a large red booklet in her hands that was stamped in gold.

"Xiao Yan, our several houses have made a list of young ladies who are of age but not yet married, take a look."

Pei Si Yan accepted the large, joyful booklet and flipped through it as she walked, "Auntie, are there any suitable male young masters in the Wu Luo clan?"

Lady Yuexi thought for a moment and said, "Yes, there is, the third male son of the eldest house, his learning and character are all very good."

"Then see who on the roster is most suitable for marriage with the Third Duke, and find a matchmaker to make a match. Everything is done like an unusual marriage between gatekeepers, and when the marriage is settled, I'll pay a visit to Wuluo. In addition ...," Pei Si Yan swept a glance at the three words "Tantai Yuan" on the roster, "find a way to have the second house's Miss Yuan married off to Lord Zheng, who is experienced in the Department of General Affairs."

Lady Yuexi was a little hesitant, and after taking a few steps, she asked, "Xiao Yan, do you really intend to start dealing with the people in the second house like this?"

Pei Si Yan looked at her aunt with a smile on her face and asked in return, "Don't you likewise wish to give the second house a taste of bitterness and extinguish their flames?"

"This ... Xiaoyuan has been pampered since she was a child, marrying a small seventh grade official really scares her to cause any unpleasantness."

"It's already forgiving enough for me to let her marry an official instead of a mountain village boy. Auntie, although Lord Zheng is a small official, he is by no means an ordinary character, what is a concubine's young lady." Pei Si Yan smiled coldly, "What has the second house done in these few months, thinking that it can be hidden from me? Secretly accumulating strength to drive me off the position of Witch Pan? They are really good descendants of the Tantai family na. When Taishi Feng steps down, there will be a good time for them, as well as those who work for the tiger and corrupt the family's reputation ... rivers and mountains are easy to change, but their nature can't be changed, and the black sheep must be eliminated."

Lady Yuexi silently watched her niece, noticing that although she had become more actively involved in various matters since the incident of spitting blood and passing out - promoting family harmony, personally taking charge of daily expenses within the family, purposely assisting with business dealings in the 10th house, and so on - she had become hard-hearted and ruthless.

It's no wonder that such a huge family, with open and secret struggles as deep as a palace courtroom, what can't they do to protect themselves?

Yuexi asked, "Why not stop them now? In case ..."

Pei Si Yan smiled wryly, "When a dream is already within reach, the taste of everything suddenly shattering can drive a person crazy, isn't it best to let the second house get a taste of such a lesson? Auntie please don't worry, since I know all about it, I will naturally order someone to quietly control the spread of their power."

"Good, I understand, this is to go and find a matchmaker as you wish."

"Thank you auntie," Pei Si Yan owed her body, "Tell Tantai Yuan that she must marry even if she doesn't want to! Anyone who dares to stop will immediately get out of Tantai Mansion and be removed from the family tree."

"Mm, I know." Lady Yuexi nodded and turned to leave.

Pei Si Yan walked into Shide Xuan's study, and only then did Li Qing Dye, who had been following her in silence, speak up, "The forces of the second house are already under close surveillance, so there's no need for miss to worry."

Pei Si Yan pleasantly smiled to Li Qing Dye, "Leave it to you to do, I am naturally fully assured. It's just that ... this period of time has made you work too hard."

"These are what subordinates should do." Li Qingyan said, "Wuli's side should have made a move by now, what are your instructions, miss?"

"He must be trying to find a way to rid himself of all suspicion, and those who are keeping an eye on him should not let the sewage be poured onto us. After going through something like this, while Wuli is remorseful, he is also starting to fear that Eunuch Feng will one day know the truth, right? And the truth is being held in my hands ..."

Li Qingyan asked, "Miss is trying to use Wu Li to deal with Imperial Master Feng?"

"Yes," Pei Si Yan said dryly, "Wuli is now the weakest of the four great clans, and looking at the way he flatters the Feng Taishi on a regular basis, I knew that he wanted to ally himself with the Feng Taishi so that he could share more power to prop up the family when the second prince ascends to the throne.

"Unfortunately, he was too stupid, I slightly had a few contacts with Imperial Master Feng's people, and I also had a good friendship with Shan Shangshu, so he believed that I had bribed people, just so I could reap the benefits. Pity those few officials who became the souls under the sword ... Light Dye, you send people to the temple to ask the venerable masters to supersede their dead souls."

Pei Si Yan patted her chest, feeling a little weak and uneasy.

Li Qingye poured a cup of tea for her and handed it over.

"Right now, Wu Li is dead set on keeping the secret no matter what, and is wary of Eunuch Feng. Think about it, if Taishi Feng knows that he killed his own people, he will definitely retaliate against Wuli. Unless one day Eunuch Feng dies, he can only be at ease ah." Pei Si Yan said, sitting up straight and pulling the letter paper aside. "Light Dye, help me study the ink, I'm going to write an anonymous letter to Wu Li, tell him that someone saw what happened last night with their own eyes ..."