Chapter 352: Eighty-one, Palace Maid Rong Zhen

Eighty-one, Palace Maid Rong Zhen

"Where did Magistrate Wang get this information? Why are you so certain something will happen tonight?"

"Two Lady Palace Maids, does this matter even require information? Isn't it obvious?

"The Xunyang Prince's mansion is colluding with Jiangzhou Chief Clerk Ouyang Lianghan to harbor the rebel accomplice Wang Junzhi.

"And tomorrow morning, the mission sent by His Majesty will arrive in Xunyang to thoroughly investigate the matters before and after Li Zhengyan's rebellion. All officials who had contact with Li Zhengyan during his stay in Xunyang must be investigated to ferret out the rebel accomplices...

"The Xunyang Prince's mansion and Ouyang Lianghan are guilty and fearful; they must be desperate. How could they dare wait for the Luoyang mission to arrive? They didn't escape the night before last, and they didn't escape last night, so they must escape tonight?

"This is the last chance. There's no need to guess. Therefore, two Lady Palace Maids, we must focus our surveillance tonight!"

In Xiushui Ward, inside an ordinary residence on the same street as the Xunyang Prince's mansion,

It was the middle of the night, yet it was crowded.

Looking around, there were roughly three groups of people.

Wang Lengran, dressed in scarlet official robes and wearing a black gauze hat, stood with his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance at the quiet Xunyang Prince's mansion, talking eloquently.

Standing side-by-side with him on the long corridor were two palace maids in colorful clothes.

One standing, one sitting.

The one sitting was a dignified and solemn woman in palace attire; she was Mistress Miao Zhen, who had a grudge against Ouyang Rong and the Xunyang Prince's family.

The one standing was a cold palace-attired girl, who seemed to be called Rong Zhen.

Except for their age and demeanor, the two women's makeup and palace attire were identical; both were colorful-robed palace maids before the Sage, with lofty status.

Wang Lengran's attitude toward them was respectful, not daring to overstep.

Besides them, the inside and outside of the long corridor were filled with teams of armored soldiers, numbering about three hundred, ready to go, arranged in formation, disciplined, and looking straight ahead.

If not for the night breeze occasionally blowing, lifting the dark red scarves tied around their necks, they would truly give the impression of stone statues.

At this time, no lanterns were lit in the long corridor, and no rooms in the entire residence were lit.

Under the cold moonlight, the chainmail and metal weapons on the soldiers shone with a cold light. It was about the fifth watch, and dew had condensed on the metal armor, reflecting this murderous atmosphere.

Looking closely, they even had wooden gags used for night raids and city sieges hanging around their necks, used for silent stealth.

These three hundred armored soldiers of the Zhechong Prefecture, like giant beasts waiting for prey in the darkness, stood waiting silently. It was unknown what they had been told today, but they were waiting for their prey with great fanfare.

Standing in front and leading the team tonight were Sun Yu, the Chief Clerk of the Zhechong Prefecture, and Qin Heng, the Commandant of the Zhechong Prefecture—two high-ranking generals of the Third Zhechong Prefecture of Jiangzhou.

The two stood silently behind Rong Zhen, Mistress Miao Zhen, and Wang Lengran, not saying a word.

The one who had just spoken with Wang Lengran was the colorful-robed palace maid Mistress Miao Zhen. Her expression was faint. After listening to Wang Lengran's confident explanation, she glanced at him:

"Magistrate Wang is indeed a loyal subject of the country, sparing no effort to share the Emperor's worries."

"The Lady Palace Maid overpraises me."

Wang Lengran smiled and glanced sideways at the cold palace-attired girl.

This colorful-robed palace maid named Rong Zhen did not participate in their conversation.

Wang Lengran even discovered that since he arrived, this woman and Mistress Miao Zhen, who was also a colorful-robed palace maid, had spoken very little. Like her temperament, she was cold, like a piece of hard, unmeltable ice.

However, compared to the palace maid Mistress Miao Zhen, Rong Zhen gave him a feeling of being even more unfathomable, with immense pressure.

In fact, before he took the initiative to call the colorful-robed palace maids and report the Xunyang Prince's mansion tonight, Wang Lengran didn't even know of the existence of this cold palace-attired girl.

She had only appeared silently tonight.

He had always thought that the Emperor's eyes and ears in Xunyang City were only the batch of palace maids led by Mistress Miao Zhen, and he dealt with Mistress Miao Zhen more often, after all, he often reported Ouyang Rong.

But who would have thought that at some point, a walking existence at the level of a colorful-robed palace maid had appeared in the city, secretly monitoring Xunyang City.

This colorful-robed palace maid named Rong Zhen certainly hadn't just been monitoring the Xunyang Prince's mansion and Ouyang Lianghan before this.

Wang Lengran thought to himself... those being monitored might include Mistress Miao Zhen and himself, and even the recent movements of Wei clan guest Boss Li and others in Xunyang City were under her nose.

Moreover, intuition told Wang Lengran that this cold palace-attired girl's Qi Refining cultivation might be even higher than Mistress Miao Zhen's.

That indescribable pressure could not be wrong.

Perhaps she was the legendary Grade 6 Yin-Yang School Qi-Gazer,

Like the Golden Boy and Jade Girl in Daoist mythology, capable of reducing the traces of time on themselves, allowing their youthful appearance to remain constant.

Therefore, the specific age of this cold palace-attired girl could not be referenced by young women of the same age.

But regardless, one thing was certain.

Even with the accumulation of the palace's vast resources, this woman was still a cultivation seed of monstrous talent; otherwise, how could she have entered Grade 6 at such a young age and maintained her youthful appearance?

One must know that Grade 6 to Grade 5 is an important watershed.

Grade 9 and Grade 8 Qi Refiners are lower-grade Qi Refiners with blue spiritual energy.

Grade 7 and Grade 6 Qi Refiners are mid-grade Qi Refiners with vermilion spiritual energy.

Grade 5 and Grade 4 are noble top-grade Qi Refiners with purple energy.

Beyond that are the legendary Celestials of the Divine Continent.

In this era where myths are lost, the struggle for the Tripod has temporarily ceased, and the Celestials of the Divine Continent have disappeared without a trace.

Top-grade Qi Refiners capable of riding the wind are already the top combat power of the current era. Each one is a leader in their field, a well-known Grandmaster in the Jianghu, and a pillar of the manifest and hidden sects.

For example, the Great Lady of the Nujun Hall in the Yunmeng Sword Marsh, who is the leader of the world's sword path.

Even the Wei clan, who usurped the country and were arrogant and domineering, holding half of the Great Zhou court for so many years, only befriended and recruited a few top-grade Grandmasters.

Except for the military Grandmaster Qiu Shenji, who was supplied with all resources, the rest were almost all existences accustomed to hidden cultivation or attached to their sects, far from the red dust of imperial power.

The secular red dust, especially the supreme imperial power contested by mortals, seems to be a taboo and burden for top-grade Qi Refiners.

Except for the Daoist schools of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism, the military, and the Yin-Yang school, top-grade Qi Refiners are all seen but never fully glimpsed.

Therefore, below the top-grade Qi Refiners, Grade 6 Qi Refiners capable of leaping a hundred feet, as the pinnacle of mid-grade Qi Refiners, are already top-tier experts.

Wang Lengran thought of this and glanced at the Xunyang Prince's mansion in the night sky in the distance, sneering in his heart. With a palace maid of this level present, what do you have to run with?

He looked around at the elite ambushers inside and outside the long corridor and smiled while stroking his beard:

"Many thanks to the two Lady Palace Maids for the technique of hiding Qi and silencing sound, otherwise we might have startled the snake."

Mistress Miao Zhen lowered her eyes and did not speak.

Rong Zhen did not look back, her hands tucked into her sleeves, looking up at the night sky and star patterns above the Xunyang Prince's mansion.

Wang Lengran tried to get close:

"The two Lady Palace Maids also saw Ouyang Lianghan sneaking into the Prince's mansion just now. This child is indeed not honest."

Mistress Miao Zhen said softly: "Just this one item is not enough to convict him."

Wang Lengran was not in a hurry: "Wait a little longer, there must be a conspiracy tonight."

Not long after, Rong Zhen and Mistress Miao Zhen turned their heads in unison, looking at a certain place in the Xunyang Prince's mansion.

It seemed they had sensed some movement.

Just then, a servant reporting news ran in. Wang Lengran glanced at him; it was Boss Li's man. After listening to the whispered report, he feigned surprise and said righteously:

"Two strange messengers entered the city overnight? Heh, two Lady Palace Maids, two more thieves have sneaked in. It seems there really is something fishy in the Xunyang Prince's mansion tonight."

He had a righteous look.

Mistress Miao Zhen and Rong Zhen looked at each other, said nothing, and tacitly ignored it.

Without concrete signs and evidence of rebellion, they would not take the initiative to do anything. What happened tonight only needed to be recorded truthfully with a vermilion brush.

Listen less, speak less, guess less; this is the way of survival in the Great Zhou palace.

Therefore, whether it was Ouyang Rong who entered the mansion overnight or the two hurried figures who seemed to be reporting news, the two women turned a deaf ear.

After more than an hour, Mistress Miao Zhen and Rong Zhen's expressions moved slightly again, looking at the night in the distance.

A short while later, the person watching came to report. After listening, Wang Lengran sneered and said to the two colorful-robed palace maids:

"This Xie clan woman is also an accomplice. Climbing over the wall to go out this time must be to secretly connect and report news to accomplices."

Mistress Miao Zhen looked at Rong Zhen.

The cold girl did not speak, leaped lightly, stood gracefully on the roof under the moon, and looked coldly at the night of Xunyang City.

Mistress Miao Zhen glanced at Wang Lengran: "Rest assured, they won't run away."

Wang Lengran narrowed his eyes and smiled.

Tonight, as long as Ouyang Lianghan and the Xunyang Prince's family dare to leave Xunyang City, it will be fleeing to defect to the enemy, with concrete evidence. The two colorful-robed palace maids will definitely take action. As for some minor details and the truth of the cause, who knows?

Wang Lengran felt happy in his heart. This time, Li Zhengyan raised the flag of rebellion, making Jiangzhou the front line that attracted everyone's attention, which instead caused Wang Lengran's power to be disguisedly strengthened.

Not only did the court delegate power and support him, but the Wei clan also provided people and resources. Various internal voices were temporarily integrated. Boss Li, the guest who presided over the intelligence work in the Jiang Nan Circuit, had to cooperate with Wang Lengran.

That's why it was so smooth tonight.

Half an hour later, a red figure in the distance went and returned, returning to the Prince's mansion.

Rong Zhen looked in the direction of the Xicheng Gate, and her figure suddenly disappeared.

Wang Lengran did not ask more, staring unblinkingly at the quiet Xunyang Prince's mansion, as if waiting for something.

Soon, before dawn, another hand sent by Boss Li came to report.

After listening to the whisper, Wang Lengran suppressed the corners of his mouth that were turning up and said with a smile to Mistress Miao Zhen, who was waiting for dawn with her eyes closed:

"Caught an accomplice who wanted to sneak away. This person has confessed everything, informing that Xunyang Prince Wang Lixian, Chief Clerk Ouyang Lianghan, and the rebel Wang Junzhi are discussing the matter of fleeing west tonight to avoid punishment. They plan to escape from the Xicheng Gate, go to Shuangfeng Peak to take a boat, and flee west to defect to the enemy...

"Lady Palace Maid, my analysis was correct, right."

"Mm."

The woman in palace attire did not open her eyes and nodded gently. At a certain moment, she seemed to sigh slightly.

Clearly the weather in the early morning was cold, but Wang Lengran felt a bit hot and unbearable, his face flushed. He raised his hand to pull open his collar a little. He paced in place, turned his head, looked at the two generals Qin Heng and Sun Yu, and ordered them to start organizing the team, preparing to arrest the rebels.

Qin Heng looked at Wang Lengran, only to see that the old face of this Jiangzhou Magistrate, with deep nasolabial folds, had a joy that he couldn't suppress.

Just then, in the direction of the Xunyang Prince's mansion, a fire suddenly shot up.

This fire was incredibly obvious in the dark night, reflected in the eyes of everyone in and out of the long corridor who were ready to go, like a flame rising in the darkness.

Seeing the movement, Wang Lengran's face was first happy, then stunned. After reacting, he asked suspiciously: "This is... why did it catch fire."

The Xunyang Prince's mansion, which had been quiet in the night, suddenly became noisy, brightly lit, the mansion gates wide open, servants running around, carrying buckets to fetch water, and at the same time, someone shouted, assassins raided at night, protect the Xunyang Prince and the Heir... The shouting shook the sky in the quiet Xiushui Ward in the early morning.

Mistress Miao Zhen opened her eyes suddenly and frowned to examine it.

Wang Lengran was suspicious. Shouldn't escaping be quiet? What is going on? Trying to fish in troubled waters?

Someone reported in a panic: "It's bad, the servants of the Xunyang Prince's mansion say that assassins have sneaked in, set fire, and assassinated. The Xunyang Prince has fainted, and the Heir is seriously injured..."

Mistress Miao Zhen said suddenly: "Go quickly, go in and save people."

"This... this must be fake, Lady Palace Maid, don't believe it easily... How could there be rebel assassins? It is clearly them colluding with rebels, wanting to escape at night."

The situation beyond expectations made Wang Lengran speak without thinking:

"Maybe... maybe they just want to lure us out so they can escape in the chaos."

Mistress Miao Zhen looked at Wang Lengran:

"Rong Zhen is here. If they dare to escape, they won't be able to leave the city. Go in quickly. Waiting here is useless. Don't delay the time to save people.

"Magistrate Wang, if the Xunyang Prince is really assassinated and we are just waiting outside, if His Majesty and the court find out, neither you nor I can bear this responsibility. Go in quickly to save the emergency."

Wang Lengran's face was ugly.

"Hmph, this is simply nonsense tonight. You better think about how to explain it to His Majesty. I will report tonight's events truthfully..." Mistress Miao Zhen's patience was exhausted. She ignored him, turned her head to order the soldiers, and rushed in to save people and put out the fire.

Wang Lengran had no choice but to bite the bullet and follow.

A short while later, Mistress Miao Zhen led the soldiers, rushed into the Xunyang Prince's mansion, and followed the direction of the fire and thick smoke to Juxian Garden.

They immediately saw that outside the house with the raging fire, in the open space, Ouyang Rong, Xie Lingjiang, Li Guoer, and Wei Mei were tightly surrounding two figures, one sitting and one lying down.

They saw the Xunyang Prince Wang Lixian fainted and unconscious, and the Heir Li Fusu's arm bleeding non-stop, staining his white clothes red, his face pale.

The Princess Wei Mei and the little Princess Li Guoer were hugging their husband/son and father/brother, crying bitterly.

Ouyang Lianghan and the noble lady of the Xie family were standing aside, directing the fire extinguishing.

Not far from the crowd, there were scattered corpses lying.

When seeing Mistress Miao Zhen and Wang Lengran rush in with soldiers to "protect the carriage" for the first time, Ouyang Rong's expression was not surprised at all. Ignoring Qin Heng's figure, he instead ridiculed and blamed them:

"Why did Magistrate Wang only come now? The Prince is about to die, and you only just arrived. What have you been doing? This is simply dereliction of duty! This official wants to impeach you!"

Everyone saw Ouyang Rong's face, stained with dirty blood, looking righteous.

"Eh, who is this... Why did the Lady Palace Maid come too? Oh, that's right, it must be to comply with His Majesty's decree, guarding the Prince's mansion day and night, guarding the Prince's mansion in a low-key manner."

After a pause, he frowned and criticized:

"But how were these rebel assassins let in? Why didn't you save the carriage at the first moment just now? The reaction was so slow...

"You, you, careless, derelict in duty, really not as sharp as this official. Worried about the Prince's safety, tossing and turning, unable to sleep, running over to guard in the middle of the night."

Ouyang Rong looked heartbroken.

"..." Xie Lingjiang, Li Guoer, Wei Mei looked sideways.

"...??" Mistress Miao Zhen, Wang Lengran, and others.

The woman in palace attire's mouth twitched.

Wang Lengran leaned back slightly, looking at Ouyang Rong, who was arrogant and pointing at his nose to scold him. His right eyelid jumped wildly...

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 353 =====

(End of Chapter)