Chapter 17: Aftermath

"Crack!"

"Useless! All of you are useless!"

Zhang Family Mansion.

Zhang Qian was acting like a madman, his whip landing repeatedly on the bodies of three servants.

The clothes on the servants' backs had already been shredded by the whip, seeping with bright red blood, and they let out bursts of miserable screams.

The servants standing around kept their heads lowered, too terrified to even breathe, fearing that the next round of lashes would fall upon them.

Seeming tired from the beating, Zhang Qian threw the whip onto the ground and pointed at the three of them, "Drag them out to the mass grave and bury them alive."

"Master, spare us! Master, spare us..."

The servants were streaming with tears and snot, but they were still dragged out mercilessly.

"Brother, calm your anger. Since things have reached this point, there is no benefit in being resentful." Zhang Kang stroked Zhang Qian's back.

The news of the Yan Prince Mansion encountering assassins was known throughout the city.

The news that the assassins had been completely wiped out was also known throughout the city.

After inquiring, they learned that the Prince Mansion had been prepared in advance.

Zhang Qian was furious that the servants keeping watch had not discovered the trickery within the Prince's Personal Army during the day, which led to this outcome.

"Who on earth leaked the news?" Zhang Qian still refused to accept such a result even now.

Clearly, all the plotting had been airtight; how did Yan Wang find out?

Could it be that there was a spy for Yan Wang in his mansion?

Or perhaps there was a traitor in Qingfeng Stronghold?

"Could it be Rang Er?" Zhang Kang offered a reminder.

"No, the servant who was following Rang Er that day said that the woman didn't say anything before Rang Er threw her down to her death, and besides, she heard about other matters." Zhang Qian shook his head.

"Other than that, then only the people from the Du Family and the Huang Family would know." Zhang Kang frowned.

Zhang Qian felt a wave of irritation.

The failure of the assassination of Yan Wang made him suddenly feel that his control over Yan Commandery was not as secure as he thought.

"No matter who it is, we ultimately underestimated Yan Wang." Zhang Qian's eyes narrowed, "After this incident, it will be difficult to kill him again."

Zhang Kang nodded, "In any case, this matter is extremely unfavorable for our Zhang Family, and since Yan Wang knew in advance, it is inevitable that he knows our Zhang Family is the one behind this."

This was also what Zhang Qian was worried about.

He now regretted participating in the purchase of the ice-making method.

Wasn't this just sending Silver to Yan Wang to recruit soldiers and buy horses?

But now, everything was too late.

Yan Wang's wings were gradually forming; perhaps it wouldn't be long before the Prince's Personal Army was at full strength and formed a fighting force.

By then, they would truly be unable to shake his position.

"If that is the case, once Yan Wang gains power, he will certainly not let us off." Zhang Qian gritted his teeth and said hatefully, "Might as well go all the way; mobilize the private soldiers of the three families and wipe out the Prince Mansion."

"Impossible." Zhang Kang's expression changed slightly, "Brother, Yan Wang is an Imperial Prince after all. To do this is equivalent to rebellion, and the Imperial Clan will not ignore it."

"Then what do we do? Wait for death?" Zhang Qian paced back and forth anxiously.

"Brother, do not be anxious. There is still an opportunity before us; autumn is almost here." Zhang Kang raised his eyebrows.

Zhang Qian immediately understood, "The autumn is high and the horses are fat; the Northern Di are coming south."

"Exactly. In this younger brother's opinion, at that time, we only need to send someone to secretly open the gates of Yancheng, and the Northern Di people will take his life. When the snipe and the clam grapple, the fisherman reaps the profit."

After a pause, he continued, "Of course, we must also have people keeping watch at all times, and as soon as there is an opportunity..."

Zhang Kang's words made Zhang Qian feel slightly relieved.

But then, his expression suddenly sank, "Oh no, Rang Er is still locked up."

Yan Prince Mansion.

At the first light of dawn, Zhao Xu returned to the Prince Mansion from the Personal Guard Army camp.

At this time, Chang Wei had already led the soldiers to clean up the Prince Mansion.

The courtyard walls on both sides of the Prince Mansion had also been torn down, and the three courtyards were merged into one.

This was the true appearance of the Prince Mansion.

"Last night, the elites of Qingfeng Stronghold basically all died here, but it is a pity,

Pang Kun was taken away by that group of men in black." Chang Wei followed behind Zhao Xu, introducing the battle results as they walked.

Zhao Xu broke into a cold sweat.

Last night, he, Feng'er, and Luan'er had not slept all night at the Personal Guard Army camp.

After all, this matter concerned the lives of the two of them.

"Let them take him. I expect Pang Kun won't live long in their hands. If it weren't for them, this Prince would have had no way of knowing about the night raid. But who exactly are they?"

Zhao Xu arrived in front of the sleeping quarters.

The dirt pit had already been filled in, but this place could no longer be lived in; he prepared to move to the East Courtyard to live.

"This subordinate believes they are likely Pang Kun's enemies. After all, Qingfeng Stronghold has committed many evil deeds over these years," Chang Wei said.

"Hmm." Zhao Xu nodded, "As long as they are not enemies of the Prince Mansion, that is good."

Chang Wei then reported the casualties of the guards and the Prince's Personal Army from last night.

Zhao Xu felt a pang of heartache upon hearing this and said, "Go to Shopkeeper Qin and take some Silver. You must give the soldiers who died in battle a proper burial and comfort the wounded soldiers. We cannot let our soldiers feel disheartened."

"Yes, Your Highness." Chang Wei bowed to accept the order, feeling a warmth in his heart.

In the current world, the lives of ordinary soldiers were nothing more than blades of grass in the eyes of the powerful clans and nobles of the Great Song; if they died, they died.

Yet Yan Wang constantly thinks of the soldiers, which truly makes him admire him.

Feng'er and Luan'er have refused to leave Zhao Xu's side for even half a step since last night.

When only the three of them were left in the backyard.

Feng'er said, "I didn't expect this Zhang Family to be so rampant, daring to attack the Prince's Mansion. Why doesn't Your Highness submit a memorial to state the situation and request the Emperor to dispatch troops to exterminate such an evil clan?"

Luan'er nodded from the side.

Zhao Xu gave a bitter smile; he had considered doing so.

But he was even clearer about his own weight in the eyes of the Emperor, Zhao Heng.

Moreover, any major case requires both human and material evidence.

Pang Kun was taken away by the men in black, which means he currently has no evidence at all.

Furthermore, Zhang Kang of the Zhang Family is the son-in-law of the Yuan Family in Yanzhou.

And the legitimate daughter of the Yuan Family is an Imperial Concubine in the palace, and her son is the Sixth Prince of Great Song, Zhao She.

When the time comes, if they whisper in Zhao Heng's ear, relying solely on his own one-sided words, he might even be falsely accused in return.

At that time, it might be he who is unlucky.

Thinking of this, he explained it all.

"What Your Highness says is true," Feng'er nodded, "It's just that Your Highness was previously mad and foolish, which is why you invited the Emperor's contempt. Now that Your Highness has recovered, you should re-establish the father-son bond. Even if Your Highness does not like the Emperor, you can still use him as an aid when necessary."

"That is very true," Zhao Xu nodded.

He also had this thought.

The situation in his own fief is extremely dire and complex.

As a transmigrator, he naturally has no father-son feelings for Zhao Heng.

But he should also utilize the advantages of his status as an Imperial Prince.

If he can re-establish contact with Zhao Heng.

He thinks that Zhao Heng certainly hopes he can take root in Yanzhou.

After all, whether he likes him or not is another matter.

He must certainly hope that the power of the imperial clan is expanded, especially in Yanzhou, where the Imperial Court's control is insufficient.

By then, not to mention giving money and grain, if someone frames him in front of the Emperor, at least the Emperor won't listen to only one side of the story.

Moreover, the Ninth Prince's mother is still in the palace, and he should also look after her.

He was just thinking about this.

At this moment, a servant came to report, "Your Highness, the Yan Commandery Commandery Governor Zhang Kang and his brother Zhang Qian have come to pay a visit to Your Highness."

"Zhang Kang, Zhang Qian? What are they here for at this time? How annoying," Feng'er frowned.

Luan'er nodded and said in a delicate voice, "Exactly."

What Zhao Xu dislikes, she naturally feels disgust for in her heart as well.

Zhao Xu pondered slightly, and a plan formed in his mind; he said, "It is likely for the sake of Zhang Rang. Hmph, this time, I must make them cough up some of the people's blood and sweat."