Chapter 112: No Need for Him to Atonement

"White Horse Temple?" Yan Zheng stared, actually having no impression of this place at all.

"Junior Tutor Sir, are you saying that gang of rebels is hiding in White Horse Temple?" Yan Zheng pressed. Yet his mind turned, wondering how the other knew.

Pei Zhi's eyes flickered, but his expression showed no change: "Just a guess; whether they're there or not, we'll have to go check to know for sure."

Yan Zheng did not pursue it further.

Although this Junior Tutor Pei looks young, his conduct is very seasoned, utterly unlike those pampered aristocratic sons in Jingcheng who fight cocks and walk dogs, or those newly entered officials who can see through everything at a glance.

Such a figure who came out of nowhere not only gained the Crown Prince's favor, but also caught the Emperor's eye, and now works in the Cabinet—his ability far surpasses his.

Others have their own channels for obtaining information; why should he bother with all that?

Once that thought settled, Yan Zheng stopped pondering, then immediately hesitated: "But the Third Prince is in the rebels' hands; if we scare the snake by beating the grass, wouldn't the Third Prince's situation become even more dangerous? Those rebels are no good..."

They had already found out that those people were criminals who escaped from prison over ten years ago, later absorbed by the Holy Heaven Sect.

Unlike ordinary sect members, they all carry criminal cases on their backs; when ruthless, they don't care about others' lives, not even their own.

Yan Zheng had also been furious earlier, which made him impulsively say that; now the Third Prince is in the rebels' hands, they cannot help but worry about his safety.

Pei Zhi also thought of Zhai Ji, but his state of mind was completely different from Yan Zheng's.

Zhai Ji, this fool, actually fell into Xie Yan's hands—truly incapable of success but ample in failure; what use is there for such a stupid person to live?

In this world, stupid people ought to die.

He had originally intended to use this opportunity to eliminate Xie Yan, but the appearance of Zhai Ji as a variable caused Pei Zhi's spirits to plummet.

"No need to go to White Horse Temple." Pei Zhi said.

Yan Zheng rolled his eyes, humbly asking: "Junior Tutor Sir, what brilliant plan do you have?"

Pei Zhi calmly said: "Do as they say, let them go, and the Third Prince will naturally be safe."

Yan Zheng: "But..."

Pei Zhi said: "Their aim is merely to leave Jingcheng, not to kill the prince; if you think of setting an ambush at the city gate, you'll only harm the Third Prince."

Xie Yan wouldn't really want to kill Zhai Ji, after all killing a prince would surely enrage the court, bringing greater trouble—truly unnecessary.

Yan Zheng trembled all over upon hearing that.

Just what sort of person is this Junior Tutor Pei, how could he see what I'm thinking?

Yan Zheng had indeed just considered: first pretend to cooperate with the rebels, actually set an ambush at the city gate, stir up chaos, seize the chance to rescue the Third Prince, then wipe out those rebels in one fell swoop!

That way, he could make up for the mistake of losing the prince and avoid punishment.

Who would have thought, Pei Zhi saw through it at a glance! A chill crawled up Yan Zheng's back.

"Then... just let them go like that?" Yan Zheng was still unwilling.

Pei Zhi said: "After safely receiving the Third Prince, sending troops to pursue them later is not too late."

Though that's what he said, Pei Zhi knew that once Xie Yan left Jingcheng, it would be hard to catch him again with these people.

Yan Zheng gritted his teeth: "Junior Tutor Xie, please advise."

After Yan Zheng left, Xie Lin lingered in place, hesitating, as if he had something to say.

Pei Zhi glanced at him: "If you have something to say, just say it."

Xie Lin took a deep breath: "Can I also come along?"

Pei Zhi's brows slightly rose, his gaze scrutinizing: "What would you go do?"

"Naturally, it's to capture him and bring him back!"

Xie Lin met his eyes, inexplicably feeling seen through, a flicker of guilt flashing in his gaze.

He hastily turned his face, feigning calm: "Wasn't it you who said that? If I could achieve righteousness and kill kin, I could best protect the marquis manor. This is a perfect opportunity; I'll go seize him, bring him before the Emperor, thus representing the Xie family in completely cutting ties with him."

Pei Zhi looked at him for a while, ultimately saying nothing, then lightly said: "Since you wish to atone, go ahead."

Xie Lin feared falling behind a step, he turned and left, completely ignoring Pei Zhi's earlier words "atonement".

However, worldly affairs are unpredictable; the change happened too quickly.

As Xie Yan emerged from the marquis manor holding his mother's spirit tablet, three figures hurriedly ran from the end of the street: a blood-soaked man clutching Da Bao, behind him followed a deathly pale Third Prince, seeming to have lost his soul.

Xie Yan's eyelids twitched violently; everyone else before the marquis manor's gate also changed complexion.

Ting Feng hurriedly asked: "What's going on? Where are the others?!"

The sturdy man reached Xie Yan and collapsed with a thud.

"Dead! All dead!" the sturdy man's eyes blood-red, panting heavily: "A troop of government soldiers barged straight into the temple, killing anyone they saw!"

Da Bao's eyes were red, secretly wiping tears.

"How could this be..." Ting Feng startled, pointing at Zhai Ji: "Wasn't he also there? With him present, would those people still dare to act?"

The sturdy man angrily pounded the ground: "Those people utterly disregarded everything! As soon as they said their prince was also there, they killed even more fiercely; if not for the teacher's early preparations, having prepared fire oil in advance, we would have set fire to the temple to break out... otherwise, probably no one could leave alive right now."

Zhai Ji had already been frightened out of his wits; closing his eyes brought forth the roar of a mountain tsunami of shouts of killing, plus the image of government soldiers brandishing blades chasing him.

Who could have imagined that the reinforcements he thought were coming were actually there to kill him, while the kidnappers who held him were instead protecting him...

Thinking of those government soldiers, Zhai Ji could no longer fail to understand: clearly someone wanted to take advantage of the chaos to take his life! Was it the Crown Prince? Or the Empress's faction? Or perhaps both were involved!

Indeed, Xie Yan spoke the next second: "This is someone aiming to kill two birds with one stone."

By dawn, all of Jingcheng will know that the Yongning Marquis manor produced rebels, who also held a prince hostage; when going to the official residence to rescue, the rebels, enraged, will kill the prince. Then the Emperor will fly into a rage, and the Yongning Marquis manor will surely face utter destruction!

That way, they could eliminate the Third Prince and topple the Xie clan—truly a fine scheme to kill two birds with one stone!

Ting Feng's face grew grave: "Those people are surely searching everywhere now, the city gates are likely under lockdown; what should we do now?"

Everyone's gazes turned toward Xie Yan.

Xie Yan stood tall and graceful, his mother's spirit tablet in his arms wrapped neatly in a plain white cloth; his usually warm brows and eyes gained a hint of aloof detachment.

At that moment, a hoarse, low voice sounded from behind Xie Yan.

"First, let's take refuge at the manor."

Xie Yan responded by turning his head, thus meeting the sorrowful gaze of the Yongning Marquis.

Immediately someone objected: "Sir, we can't go! Who knows if he'll take the chance to report us to the authorities?!"

Before Xie Yan could react, Zhai Ji had already stepped forward and entered first, anyway he and they were never on the same side.

The Yongning Marquis hastily explained: "Rest assured, I have no intention of reporting you to the authorities, and no one will know you came here!"

Having just taken a few steps, Zhai Ji suddenly turned back and shouted low: "Yongning Marquis!"

Xie Yongnian looked at him.

Only see the Third Prince's hair standing on end with rage, he shouted sternly: "Are you mad? They are rebels! Traitors! You should have sent people to capture them already, yet you actually plan to shelter them?! The lives of the whole Xie family, are you really going to abandon them? Or do you also harbor disloyal intentions!!"

Xie Yongnian clenched his jaws, lips pressed into a straight line, and for a moment remained silent.

Xie Yan was looking at him.

The atmosphere was tense, swords drawn and bows bent.

Finally, Xie Yongnian made a move, he turned to the steward and ordered in a low voice: "Seize him for this marquis!"

Those beside Xie Yan immediately drew their swords, forming a protective circle behind him, and Da Bao also had red eyes, glaring at the other side.

Ting Feng said: "Young master, you go first, we'll hold the rear!"

But Xie Yan raised his hand, his pale fingertips slowly pressing down on his blade.

While Ting Feng was still puzzled, he then heard Zhai Ji's furious, exasperated roar.

"Xie Yongnian, I am a prince! How dare you treat me like this! Your whole Xie clan deserves to die—" The cursing stopped abruptly.

Only see Zhai Ji being firmly pressed to the ground by several servants, something stuffed in his mouth, he could only stare wide-eyed and make "wu wu" sounds.

"........"

Everyone momentarily looked at each other, shocked and not knowing what to say.

Only see the Yongning Marquis lift his foot and walk slowly toward Xie Yan, gazing at Xie Yan's face as if hoping to find some familiar shadow in that youthful visage.

Xie Yongnian opened his mouth, as if he had thousands of words to say, yet didn't know how to begin; finally his gaze fell on the spirit tablet Xie Yan held in his arms.

"If you want to take your mother away, Father has no objection." Xie Yongnian raised his hand and lightly placed it on Xie Yan's shoulder, "But now the outside is full of danger, you can't escape, you still have wounds—let the manor's doctor examine you."

"Not needed."

Xie Yan coldly spat out three words, swept his hand away, and turned to leave.

Xie Yongnian hurriedly caught up a few steps, in an instant old tears streamed down, he choked: "Yaner!!"

"It's Father who owes you mother and child!!"

Xie Yan's steps seemed to pause, his shoulder trembled imperceptibly, yet he ultimately did not turn back.

He held his mother's spirit tablet, strode into the deep night, and his figure was quickly swallowed by darkness.......

One night passed, Shen Shuangning knew nothing of the bloody turmoil outside.

Early morning, she had just stepped out of her own tent when she noticed the guards around the camp had markedly increased, and defenses were stricter than before.

Upon inquiry she learned that the Third Prince had been captured by the rebels, his whereabouts unknown, and Xie Lin, Pei Shao Shi, and others had already set out to investigate.

Hearing this news, Shen Shuangning couldn't help but feel a jolt in her heart; she secretly thought this would likely be extremely unfavorable for the Xie family.

Her heart sank further.

Xie Lin had not revealed his plans to her the previous night, so Shen Shuangning did not know what he was scheming inside.

But this is ultimately the Xie family's internal affair; as an outsider she has no right to intervene, and even if she wanted to, she might lack the ability. Let Xie Lin handle it himself.

Shen Shuangning first went to Jingyu's tent to comfort her.

Zhai Ji is her biological elder brother, and Jingyu would naturally worry; she had just lost her mother, she didn't want to lose another relative.

"Father the emperor is uneasy about me being outside, he sent people to fetch me back; do you want to come with me?" Jingyu asked.

Shen Shuangning recalled that Xiao Jingyuan still hadn't awakened, so she shook her head: "Your Highness, go back first; I'll stay to look after the heir."

Jingyu also did not urge further.

After seeing Jingyu off, Shen Shuangning went to visit Xiao Jingyuan.

Xiao Jingyuan lay still on the bed, eyes tightly shut, his whole person exuding a sickly stillness.

Shen Shuangning's gaze fell upon his peaceful, pale face; recalling his plea as he collapsed in her arms, her expression inevitably grew complex.

Shen Shuangning also didn't know whether he had recalled something; merely thinking of this, a surge of indescribable sourness welled up in her heart.

Can the regret of a lifetime be offset by paying with one's life? In her previous life, she too had died.

The suffering of neglect she endured in her past life, the wounds left behind are real; Shen Shuangning cannot fully forgive him, yet she also does not need him in this life to atone for any sin.

"Has the heir not awakened yet?" Shen Shuangning asked softly.