Chapter 357

He raised his voice and replied, "I am fine; the thieves did not dare enter. Wait a moment while I put on some clothes."

"No rush, no rush." Wang Chengen and the others waited patiently outside.

The entire Su Fu was brightly lit, with dozens of torches burning.

They illuminated the whole courtyard brilliantly!

"It is over. That is Eunuch Wang outside. I will go out first; you stay here for a while."

Su Qiao took Liu Rushi's cold jade hand and gently patted it to comfort her.

Liu Rushi nodded obediently and whispered, "I will wait for your return."

"Mm!"

Su Qiao casually threw on a robe, found a tinderbox, and lit the lamp inside the room...

The previously dark room brightened up.

Only then did he push open the door and step out.

Ho!

This commotion in the courtyard looks just like an official raid on a household.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Wucheng Military Command have a sentry at every single step.

Wang Chengen was pacing back and forth; seeing Su Qiao emerge, he took three steps as two and dashed forward.

"Oh dear, oh dear! Mr. Su, you have truly scared this old servant to death!"

Wang Chengen grabbed Su Qiao's arm and carefully inspected him from head to toe.

Only after discovering that Su Qiao was truly unharmed did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Su Qiao smiled and said, "In the middle of the night, I am truly sorry to have made you, Eunuch Wang, make another trip."

"Not at all! Mr. Su, you are far too polite. When trouble occurred here, Your Majesty was even alerted. Your Majesty previously ordered this old servant to send people to protect you. Who knew that these people, whom we failed to catch, would have the audacity to strike at you first? It is simply a slap in this old servant's face!"

Mentioning those few thieves just now, Wang Chengen ground his teeth in hatred.

Su Qiao hurriedly comforted him, "It is nothing, nothing. These people were bold. Besides, the men you arranged happened to catch them, so my safety is fine."

Wang Chengen waved his hand somewhat shamefully; though he said nothing, he knew clearly in his heart that he had simply been lucky this time.

Had it been even a moment later and something had happened to Su Qiao, Your Majesty would surely have chopped off a pile of heads.

Even he would likely face severe punishment.

0.3 Although Su Qiao was young, he was very kind, and their relationship was quite good.

This time, he truly owed Su Qiao a great favor.

Otherwise, if Su Qiao merely twisted his lips and said something to Zhu Youjian, he would be utterly finished.

Turning his head and spotting the triggered trap, Wang Chengen suddenly pointed at it with curiosity and asked:

"By the way, Mr. Su, how did you think of setting traps in your home?"

Su Qiao followed his gaze and smiled, saying, "It is simply because I am rather timid. Last time I was suddenly blocked on the street, I felt my courtyard needed some sense of security. Moreover, as I have been frequently dealing with the Ministry of Works and those craftsmen lately, I had someone design some simple traps."

"Impressive! Prevention is better than cure. Tonight, we truly owe these traps!"

Recalling the Embroidered Uniform Guard's report earlier, Wang Chengen could not help but sigh.

211, Embroidered Uniform Guard guarding the courtyard!

"Get over here!"

Wang Chengen turned his head and shouted at Ma Kui and the other two hiding to the side.

Ma Kui and the other two were clearly scolded by Wang Chengen.

They were responsible for Su Qiao's overt security and were required to provide close protection for Su Qiao.

Su Qiao had told them to go home normally every evening and return in the morning, and they had agreed.

And now, trouble occurred the moment they went home.

With such a huge commotion tonight, they were naturally cursed and scolded.

It was only because they had established merit in Liaodong previously that they were not demoted and replaced.

Ma Kui and the other two approached Su Qiao, bowed with clasped fists in shame, and said, "Mr. Su, we failed in our duty; it will never happen again!"

"Enough. This matter is not your fault; I told you to return. No one expected them to be so bold. However, who exactly are they? Did you, Eunuch Wang, find out?"

Su Qiao did not want to implicate Ma Kui and the other three.

For the past half month or so, Ma Kui and the others had been quite dedicated.

Just as Su Qiao said, tonight's breach of opportunity occurred because he had told Ma Kui and the other three to go home.

He was even more curious about what those people on the night of the 28th were up to.

Wang Chengen shook his head. "We have not yet extracted a confession; they are all stubborn. We will likely have to wait a bit longer; by morning, it should be enough."

The Embroidered Uniform Guard possessed such methods and such confidence.

Su Qiao nodded upon hearing this. "Very well. Tonight, I have troubled you, Eunuch Wang, and all of you. Please notify me if there is any news."

"Of course. Mr. Su, you are too polite. It is late; this old servant will not stay longer. However, these few should remain here to help keep watch."

This time, Wang Chengen not only left Ma Kui and the other two but also left the dozen or so people who had been secretly protecting Su Qiao.

The guards around Su Qiao suddenly totaled seventeen or eighteen people.

It was simply more impressive than a typical Grand Secretary!

Su Qiao did not refuse.

Had tonight's incident not occurred, Su Qiao would never have agreed to stuff so many people into his own home.

Now, it did not matter.

After all, there were many empty side rooms and guest rooms, enough for these people to squeeze in.

These Embroidered Uniform Guards were not delicate; after Wang Chengen led his men away, they arranged their own shifts.

The sky had not yet lightened when Su Qiao yawned and returned to his bedroom.

As soon as he pushed open the door and entered, Liu Rushi jolted awake and asked in a low voice, "Who is it?"

"It's me. Everyone outside has left, and the bandits have been caught—it's safe!"

Sensing Liu Rushi had been frightened, Su Qiao quickly whispered.

She pulled back the curtain, patted her chest, exhaled in relief, and got out of bed.

"Tonight was probably just an accident. Before he left, Eunuch Wang left behind many Embroidered Uniform Guards. You don't need to worry anymore—at least a dozen are guarding the house, far better than hiring martial tutors, and it doesn't cost us a single coin."

Su Qiao stepped forward and helped Liu Rushi sit down.

Hearing this, Liu Rushi let out a soft "puff" of laughter.

"How can you say it like that? It's because you're capable, and Your Majesty trusts you."

"Mm-mm-mm, you're right. It's still early, the sky isn't light yet—let's rest some more!"

"No!"

…

Su Qiao woke up late, as expected.

Wang Chengen still had to attend Zhu Youjian and did not come over in the morning.

Instead, he sent word via the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

He ordered Su Qiao to enter the palace.

When Su Qiao arrived in the grand hall, Zhu Youjian was eating.

Seeing Su Qiao, he pointed to a velvet stool and ordered a bowl of silver ear soup brought over.

Su Qiao did not refuse; he was hungry and picked up the bowl to drink.

"Mr. Su, the few captured last night have confessed," said Wang Chengen, holding a Juan Sect dossier.

Su Qiao swallowed the last few mouthfuls of porridge, raised an eyebrow, and took the dossier, asking casually, "Who are they?"

"Bai Bai Lianjiao!"

"Bai Bai Lianjiao?"

Su Qiao was sensitive to that name.

He couldn't help being sensitive—it was the professional rebel group.

And its roots ran deep; emperors of every dynasty had specifically purged them.

Yet they always rose from the ashes!

It had been nearly a hundred to two hundred years since Bai Bai Lianjiao was active at the end of the Yuan and beginning of the Ming.