Chapter 208: Preparations

These few men, on ordinary days so close they'd have liked to share a single pair of trousers, were usually as united as could be.

As an emperor, he naturally had no wish to see his ministers form cliques and little factions.

Now this fire, on the contrary, has made them turn against each other as sworn enemies.

Look at where the few of them are seated right now.

Wang Cai and the others sat on one side, Wu Yong sat alone on the other — a clear dividing line.

Obviously, this faction headed by Wu Yong has once again formed a little clique, isolating Wu Yong.

This is exactly what the Shunhe Emperor was glad to see.

Of course he was pleased!

But he could not show it.

One only saw his face full of heavy grief, his tone solemn, deeply regretful.

"Beloved Ministers, on such a joyous day for such a thing to happen — none of us wished to see it."

He turned his head to look at Wu Yong.

"Has the cause of the fire been clearly investigated?"

Wu Yong's eyes were blood-red; he shook his head.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the investigation is still underway."

The Shunhe Emperor deliberated for a moment, then waved a broad hand.

"Very well, I shall dispatch the Dali Temple to investigate this case and find the true culprit as soon as possible, to give you all an answer."

Then he looked again at Wang Cai and the others.

"And as for you, I know you have lost your children and grandchildren and are heartbroken, but you must not take it out on innocent bystanders."

"Do not fall into the Enemy Army's trap!"

"Now is a time of peril for Da Yin. I hope you can temporarily set aside your grievances, and at least within the Imperial Court, work together with one heart and one mind, continuing to serve Da Yin."

Mm, don't play any tricks on me in the Imperial Court — privately, you may do as you please!

The men rose and bowed with clasped hands.

"Your subjects obey the Imperial Decree."

"Enough. With such a great disaster having occurred, your households must be in utter chaos. Go back first and attend to your family affairs."

"Your subjects take their leave."

The men retreated with utmost deference. The moment they stepped out of the Imperial Study, Wang Cai and the others instantly changed their faces.

"Don't think that just because Your Majesty is backing you up, this matter can be let off so lightly!"

"Exactly! The road is still long — we'll see!"

Wu Yong was also unwilling to show weakness.

"I told you, once the truth is uncovered, I will certainly give you an answer!"

The men bickered all the way out of the palace gates like this.

In no time at all, the fire at the Wu Residence had spread through every corner of the palace and the common streets and alleys.

"Have you heard? The Wu Residence caught fire! The Old Madam of the Wu family and several children were all burned to death!"

"What?! The Wu family? Which Wu family?"

Two women selling embroidered goods on the street, baskets on their arms, huddled together whispering.

"Which Wu family could it be? It's that one…"

The woman wearing a wooden hairpin first glanced around, then said through gritted teeth.

"It's that great Corrupt Official!"

The woman beside her wearing a headscarf first widened her eyes, then clapped her hands and stamped her foot, wishing she could throw her head back and laugh three times to the sky.

"Serves them right!"

"Heaven has finally opened its eyes!"

After her excitement passed, her face turned to one of regret.

"Why didn't that great Corrupt Official get burned along with them?"

"It's just a pity about those few children."

The woman with the wooden hairpin nodded in agreement.

"Who says it isn't?"

The two fell to sighing again.

……

Late at night, in the front courtyard of the Wu Residence, everyone was keeping vigil for Old Madam Wu.

In the Backyard, the steward led several household servants, quietly carrying a few people on their backs out through the rear gate.

The ones on their backs were precisely the Old Madam of Wu and the few children whom everyone believed had perished in the flames.

After delivering the people to a hidden place and settling them in, the steward returned to report.

By then, the sky had already brightened.

Wu Yong gave the steward his instructions.

"There is still much to attend to today. Go to the accounts office and draw some silver, hand it out to everyone, and prepare more good dishes tonight — set up a few tables of Vegetarian Banquet to properly reward all the people in the residence."

Hearing this, the Wu Residence servants who had stayed up all night, yawning nonstop and listless, instantly perked up, brimming with energy.

"Many thanks, Old Master!"

Wu Yong walked toward his room with an expressionless face.

Madam Wu, supported by her daughter, rose to her feet and, dragging her weary body, continued to make arrangements for the Old Madam's 'funeral affairs.'

But Wu Yong, who had excused himself to rest in his room, appeared at the City South Military Bureau half an hour later.

"General Lu, we're leaving the city tomorrow—shouldn't we prepare properly?"

After Wu Yong finished speaking, Wang Cai and the others beside him nodded in agreement one after another.

"That's right."

Lu Xing glanced at the few of them.

Who could have imagined that the people everyone believed to be sworn enemies were now sitting together in such harmony?

What a waste—they should've gone into the theater.

He first took a slow, unhurried sip of tea.

"There's no rush with that."

"But first, gentlemen, please explain clearly—how do you plan to settle the hundred brothers who will be left behind?"

Wang Cai glanced at Wu Yong and said with a smile.

"General Lu need not worry. Our Lord Wu has some connections with the Commander of the Five Cities Military Commission. Having him arrange a hundred men is no great problem."

Lu Xing looked at him with a half-smile.

"Lord Wang himself said it depends on connections. You gentlemen will be leaving the Capital tomorrow—will those connections still hold?"

Wu Yong studied him with a meaningful look.

What a hassle!

But that was fine too—if Lu Xing cared this much about those hundred men, he'd put in real effort when helping them.

"General Lu can rest easy. Commander Wang will certainly not give your subordinates trouble—Wu can guarantee that. As for the reason, I'm afraid Wu cannot say more."

"Good!"

Lu Xing set his teacup down.

"Since Lord Wu has said as much, this general naturally believes it."

"Tomorrow at the quarter to the second shichen of the chou hour, come to the back gate of the City Guard Bureau. Someone will leave the ranks then and swap you in."

With their objective achieved, Wu Yong and the others rose and took their leave.

"General Lu, see you tomorrow."

……

Night.

The Wu Residence laid out over twenty tables of banquet. The servants of the Wu Residence ate in the courtyard; the master's family ate in the Zhengting.

During the feast, Wu Yong glanced unobtrusively at the steward beside him. Seeing the man give a slight nod, he gathered his thoughts and continued eating.

Halfway through the banquet, the servants in the courtyard suddenly fell silent, collapsing one after another—some slumped over the tables, some lay on the ground, every single one unconscious.

In the Zhengting, seeing several concubines suddenly faint, Madam Wu and the Wu family's children were greatly alarmed.

"Old Master, what's happening?"

"Father, what's wrong with my Concubine?"

A girl who looked about fifteen or sixteen threw herself in front of a finely dressed woman, shaking her incessantly.

"Imperial Physician—quick, fetch an Imperial Physician!"

"No!"

"No one is to leave the residence without permission!"

Wu Yong roared.

"All of you, shut your mouths!"

Those still conscious were startled by his furious voice.

"They're fine—they've just been drugged with a Knockout Drug. They'll wake after sleeping for a day."

Saying so, he turned to look at Madam Wu.

"I'll give you an hour to pack up anything important. An hour later, we leave the residence."

The sons and daughters hurriedly asked.

"Father, where are we going?"

Wu Yong said in a low voice.

"Leaving the Capital!"

Hearing this, the girl from earlier rushed to kneel before him, clutching his hem, weeping and pleading desperately.

"Father, let's take Concubine with us."

"Don't you dote on Concubine most of all on ordinary days? Your daughter begs you!"

"Brother, come quickly—let's beg Father together."

She turned to look at her full-blooded brother, hoping he would help plead their case.

Moved by her tearful pleas, a few of the Concubine-born Children were also stirred, wanting to plead for their own mothers.

Seeing their thoughts, Wu Yong snatched his hem back, swept a fierce gaze across his children, his voice filled with utter coldness.

"If you can't bear to part with your mothers, then stay behind with them!"