Chapter 262: Yuwen Ze

The night was cool as water.

The ink‑black sky was dotted with only a few sparse stars.

Suddenly, an extremely faint white light rose silently from the outskirts of Chang'an, not flamboyant like fireworks but like a wisp of firefly carried by the wind, shooting straight upward.

It flew at great speed, its tail trailing an almost invisible glimmer that traced a faint line in the deep darkness, and in an instant it reached mid‑air.

There was no booming explosion, only two gentle flashes at its apex—first a dim yellow, then swiftly turning to a deep blue.

Yet after a few breaths it faded away, as if swallowed by night fog, leaving no residual heat.

Mirror Office.

Watchtower.

"It's the master's messenger flare!"

Song Fei leaned against the railing, keenly catching the unusual signal in the night sky, and said.

He didn't know how it was made, but he was certain it was the medium‑range transmission method unique to his own overseer master.

"Looks like A Xiong's side has already become…."

Yuwen Ze stared at the dissipated light, sprang to his feet, and laughed, "Now it's our turn to act!"

He looked poised, as if rubbing his fists and palms in anticipation.

This time Yuwen Ze was specially assigned by Chen Yan to operate within the city and experience the entire process of a house raid on his own.

After waiting a night, it could finally begin…

The great overseer Chen really is formidable; it was captured in an instant… Yin Shizhi narrowed his eyes slightly, turned to the chief commander inside the city, and said, "Song the Mirror Officer, we can't afford to be a hindrance!"

After the raid, they still stuffed the loot into their own pockets, a privilege once held by the Vermilion Bird Guard and the Black Tortoise Guard.

Yin Shizhi was also participating in this for the first time…

He felt an inexplicable excitement and eagerness to try!

"Then act according to the plan!"

Song Fei nodded, his gaze sharp, and instructed, "The actions must be swift!"

This raid was unlike previous ones; the commotion had to be minimal, and they needed to gather all the gold, silver, valuables, and women into their bags before the hidden masters of the five great merchant guilds caught wind.

"Understood." Yuwen Ze and Yin Shizhi exchanged a glance and replied.

Li Residence.

Inside a boudoir.

The lingering scent of agarwood drifted over the carved window lattice, and the halo of the silver lamp on the table encircled a silk‑embroidered mat.

Sui Qingmiao, the concubine of Li Lvtong, reclined diagonally on the soft couch, her knees resting on a nearly finished "Hundred Birds Facing the Phoenix" embroidered screen; the phoenix feathers woven with gold thread glowed warmly in the lamp light. Her needle‑hand was as steady as a rock, her indigo‑drawn brows slightly furrowed as she examined the curve of a tail feather.

Beside a low table, Li Letao knelt on the brocade mat, holding a square shark‑silk handkerchief embroidered with twin lotus blossoms; the pink‑threaded petals were still uncolored, yet the stitches were far neater than those of ordinary maidens.

She suddenly paused, looked out the window, and asked softly, "Mother, it's already dark; why hasn't Father returned yet?"

"Father clearly promised today to buy me a peony‑step‑dangling…"

As she spoke, she pouted slightly, looking a bit unhappy.

"Tao Er, your father accepted Uncle Xu's invitation and went to the outskirts of Chang'an for official business…"

Sui Qingmiao lifted a peacock‑blue silk thread with silver tweezers, smiled gently, and soothed, "When he returns, he'll definitely buy it for you, Tao Er!"

"Uncle Xu?"

Li Letao blinked her beautiful eyes, thoughtful, and asked, "It can't be the Uncle Xu from the Brocade Trade Guild, can it?"

"Exactly."

Sui Qingmiao set the embroidered screen aside, took her sixteen‑year‑old daughter's hand, and said softly with a smile, "After a night's sleep, you'll see Father tomorrow…"

Sui Qingmiao was still quite aware of her husband's social obligations…

Moreover, since he was an old friend, he would likely drink himself completely drunk and stay there for a night.

"Fine…" Li Letao still pouted, replying reluctantly.

Having said that, she suddenly heard a strange sound outside, quickly squeezed Sui Qingmiao's hand, "Mother, did you hear!"

"What's that sound outside?"

Sui Qingmiao also noticed the oddity, focused her listening, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, "It sounds like someone is being dragged, and someone else is calling for help…"

"Clang—!"

But before the words finished, the once‑sealed Damen was kicked open.

"Ah!"

"Mother!"

Li Letao was startled by the sudden commotion, leapt back in fright, and shrank toward Sui Qingmiao.

"Tao Er, don't be afraid!"

Sui Qingmiao, however, remained much calmer; her beautiful eyes slightly tilted as she looked toward the opened Damen and the two men walking in, and asked, "Who are you?"

Immediately, she raised her voice and shouted, "Help!"

"Madam Sui, stop shouting!"

Yuwen Ze calmly walked forward, smiling, "The people are right here, they came straight for you!"

"Help?"

"Still calling for help?"

He and Lu Cangfeng had broken in so flamboyantly; couldn't they see that the guards and servants of the Li Residence had already been silently cleared away?

"Prince, I have long heard that Li Lvtong's concubine and daughter are as beautiful as blossoms; the reputation is truly deserved!"

Lu Cangfeng, walking beside Yuwen Ze, surveyed the panicked two women, smacked his lips, and commented.

The soft glow of the silver lamp washed over the rhombus mirror on the dressing table, rendering the mother and daughter's silhouettes ever more warm.

Sui Qingmiao, just past the age of standing, has skin still like fine Sheep‑fat jade, exuding a luminous sheen.

She has not applied much powder; only a fine line of indigo pigment traces her eyebrows, her long, dense lashes hang, casting a faint shadow beneath her eyes.

Li Letao's oval face is plump and luminous, with a natural powdery glow.

Their eyebrows are like freshly cut fine willows, their eyes like dewy apricot kernels, pupils jet‑black and bright, their neck carved like white porcelain, lips naturally rosy, bearing the delicate, endearing hue of a maiden.

"Crown Prince?!"

When Sui Qingmiao heard that address, she was startled, staring straight at Yuwen Ze and demanding, "You... what exactly are you!"

"What are you here for!"

Yuwen Ze clasped his fists, gently bowed, smiled warmly, and said solemnly, "I am the Crown Prince Yuwen Ze of Jin, acting in the name of my brother A Xiong, head of the Mingjing Department, and I have come to search the Li Residence!"

"And also to see the Madam and the Miss!"

His attire and demeanor carried a hint of cultured rogue.

Besides, rice bowl is good, rice bowl must be eaten!

"You are the sole son of the Grand Tomb Steward?!"

Hearing his self‑introduction, Sui Qingmiao immediately recognized his status and exclaimed in surprise.

"The son of a powerful minister, coming to raid a household?"

She paused, steadied herself a moment, then asked, "What crime has our family committed that the Mingjing Department would come to search?"

Speaking, her beautiful eyes kept glancing outward, as if searching for something...

"Madam, stop looking outward..."

Yuwen Ze surveyed Sui Qingmiao's condition, a faint smile curling his lips, and said calmly, "All the guards at your residence have been cleared away by the embroidered‑clad envoys!"

Having said that, he walked forward unhurriedly.

Having trained by A Xiong's side for so long, Yuwen Ze has also grasped the essence...

First, the swift‑moving embroidered envoys infiltrated the Li Residence, using specially crafted Dizzy Drug and Soft Sinew Powder to subdue the resistant guards and servants.

"No matter how crude the technique, as long as it works..."

The faint cries for help they had previously heard were only from the few maids who hadn't inhaled much of the drug.

"Don't come any closer, or I'll use this hairpin to pierce my throat and kill myself!"

Sui Qingmiao, watching Yuwen Ze draw nearer, protected Li Letao with her left hand while her right hand swiftly drew the hairpin from her bun, pressing its sharp tip to her own throat and threatening.

Having lived nearly thirty‑four years, how could Sui Qingmiao not see that the young Crown Prince's gaze was lusting after her body?

She does not wish to have her purity ruined...

"Clang!"

A crisp metallic clang rang out.

The hairpin used for coercion was knocked away by something thrown by Lu Cangfeng; he immediately stepped forward, seized the mother and daughter by the necks, and coldly said, "To threaten suicide before my Crown Prince, how much do you despise me, Lu?"

"Madam Sui, I advise you to put away thoughts of suicide..."

Yuwen Ze blinked, smiling harmlessly, and said calmly, "Otherwise, if you die with your front foot, I will send your daughter to the beggar's den for them to enjoy!"

"Wuwuwu!"

Li Letao instantly began sobbing, crying like rain on pear blossoms, "Mother, save me..."

"Stop... don't!"

Sui Qingmiao seized Lu Cangfeng's hand, looked at Yuwen Ze, and pleaded, "I beg you!"

"Whether to send them to the beggar's den is not my decision, but yours, Madam Sui!" Yuwen Ze waved his hand, signaling Lu Cangfeng to release the pair, and smiled lightly.

He paused, then continued, "Live properly, and then serve Crown Prince Shutan..."

The rice bowl that A Xiong has explained countless times, Yuwen Ze is certain to devour!

"Crown Prince, the Li Residence has been fully inventoried!"

Zhuque Deputy Envoy Dou Yi entered the room and reported.

"Very well, according to the rules set by A Xiong, after handing over what must be handed over, you may divide the rest yourselves!" Yuwen Ze nodded, mimicking the phrasing, and said.

The next morning at dawn.

Wei Guo Duke Mansion.

Shufang.

"What did you say!"

Having just heard the report from staff member Xi Bolo, Dugu Zhao was stunned, exclaiming, "Lu Ziyue and Fang Zuqian have been detained by the Mingjing Department, and their residence has also been searched?!"