Chapter 413: with translation of chapter title

At the start of the si hour, the capital's three days of light drizzle turned into heavy snow, and soon the heavens and earth were a blank expanse of white.

The streets were thick with New Year's atmosphere, yet an invisible thread of oppressive tension lingered.

Boom—

In the aristocratic residential district, on Dōngjiāngfāng Street, a group of Shénwǔ Sī apprehension troops shouted, their horses neighing, as they swept past.

"The Fèngtiān Jiàn officials just left, then a wave of Dàlǐ Sì came; after the Dàlǐ Sì left, the Shénwǔ Sī arrived. Even the New Year is not peaceful—who knows when this will end?"

"I understand, Lord Shī Shèng; the emperor's son‑in‑law was assassinated, the court is naturally furious, hoping not to implicate too many."

By the street, a few wealthy young masters muttered.

One of them suddenly whispered, "I heard from an old cousin in the Dàlǐ Sì office that the matter is already clear: the three assassins were all killed in counter‑attack by Shī Shèng, and the sole escapee's identity has been uncovered!"

"Who?" asked the person beside him.

He said, "The Yè Jiā heir, Xiāoqí Wèi Zhōng Láng Jiàng Yè Xíngruò!"

"Uh…" the people around were instantly dumbfounded, then turned their gaze to a nearby grand manor.

The Xiāoqí Wèi is the emperor's trusted army, and the Zhōng Láng Jiàng of the Xiāoqí Wèi has always been held by those the emperor trusts most and favors!

The emperor's most trusted man assassinated the emperor's son‑in‑law???

What is this supposed to be??

But in fact, this matter is even more complicated than imagined!

Yè Xíngruò's assassination plot was not clever, his actions were hasty; within a single night, the case of assassinating Shī Shèng had been laid out crystal clear.

He bribed a eunuch to learn Heng Xian's route back to the princess's residence, and one of the three assassins was his direct subordinate!

Thus all suspicion pointed to him!

Given the difficulty of ascertaining the exact identities and origins of the other assassins, Yè Xíngruò is thus the mastermind behind this attack!

Moreover, he also had a motive to commit the act!

Everyone in the capital knows that the Yè Jiā has long been allied by marriage with the imperial clan; Yè Xíngruò also hoped to marry the Princess Tai Ping, but after she took a husband, out of jealousy he went to assassinate!

Yet the Yè Jiā, older than the history of the Great Zhou Empire and a pillar of its martial might, loyal to the last, possesses strength and standing that even the emperor cannot arbitrarily move!

Therefore, from last night until now, all offices and factions have been investigating other leads, hoping to catch some peripheral figures to use as scapegoats!

Too bad there aren't any!

Tap tap tap

Just then, at the end of the long street, several troops came galloping through the snow, all with stern faces, cold as icy frost.

Seeing this, the young masters by the street were instantly startled:

"The Dàlǐ Sì and Fèngtiān Jiàn people are here again!"

"No! Even the Wǔchéng Bīngmǎ Sì, Yùshǐ TáI, and Xíng Bù have come together!"

"Something big is about to happen!"

"Is the emperor going to move against the Yè Jiā, the pillar of the army?"

Boom—

Several troops swept past, and indeed they stopped before the lofty manor of the Yè Jiā.

Moreover, the Shénwǔ Sī troops that had passed earlier turned back.

The vicinity had been cleared, and thousands of indifferent archers had already climbed onto the city walls.

The surrounding alleys were packed with sword and axe men.

In an instant, swords were drawn and bows tensed.

"We can't stay here, let's go!"

The young masters hurried away.

At this moment, the Yè Jiā's gate was tightly shut!

Before the gate, a massive dark crowd gathered.

Although the atmosphere seemed tense, it was actually somewhat awkward; the officials from various offices exchanged glances, their faces stern but their eyes lacking hostility, and no one felt comfortable being the first to knock.

After waiting a while, the gate suddenly creaked open on its own.

The one who opened it was an old man with white hair; he glanced outside, sighed, and said, "Please, make yourselves at home."

It was rather bleak.

The commander of the Shénwǔ Sī, Xiāo Xún, awkwardly clasped his fists and said, "It turns out you're the former head of the Song Iron Army; I don't know if Yè Lǎo Yuánshuài is in…"

The old man cut him off cleanly: "Just go in; I'll make sure you're satisfied!"

"Well…" the group exchanged glances, still hesitating.

But just then, a sudden rush of hoofbeats came from afar; a group of palace eunuchs hurried over, dismounted, and the lead eunuch unfolded the imperial edict: "The imperial edict has arrived!"

Rustle—

Everyone dropped to their knees.

"The imperial decree…"

The chief eunuch droned it out in a singsong tone.

In short, the mastermind behind the murder has been caught, and the one who was killed on the spot had nothing to do with Yè Xíngruò; the Yè Jiā is loyal and steadfast, generation after generation of faithful officials, and Yè Xíngruò diligently commands his troops—he can be called a loyal minister!

This is blatant favoritism!

The officials from the various offices looked at each other, then felt relieved, lighthearted, rose laughing, clasped their fists toward the old man who opened the gate, and dispersed.

Boom—

The soldiers in the surrounding alleys and on the walls also dispersed.

The old man who opened the gate also breathed a sigh of relief, shut the door, and hurried back, trembling, to the Yè Jiā hall.

Inside, he saw hundreds gathered—all of them Yè Jiā direct-line generals, sons‑in‑law, and the like.

In the middle sat an old commander, his beard and hair all white, imposing without anger.

Beside the old commander sat an old lady, constantly wiping her tears.

Ye Xingruo wore a single layer of clothing, his hands bound, kneeling to one side, as if mourning his parents.

"Everyone has left; His Majesty issued an edict to clear the young master's name of the assassin, and even praised the Ye family!"

The old man who opened the door trembled as he handed up the imperial decree.

The Ye family all felt relieved, yet still held their breath, looking toward the middle at the Ye family's old marshal, Ye Shengzhi!

The old marshal said nothing, and nobody dared to say more.

However, Ye Shengzhi kept a stern face, saying nothing.

Everyone exchanged a glance; the Ye family's second son, Zuǒ Wēi Wèi Fù Jiàng Ye Qu, said: "Father! His Majesty has already pardoned Xingruo; this boy is just young, fooling around, and besides, who doesn't know his feelings for the Princess Taiping?"

The Ye family's third son, Yè Liáng, also said: "That's right! Moreover, given our Ye family's foundation and our service to the court for a thousand years, let alone not having killed that Heng Xian, even if we had, he would merely be an insignificant prince consort not yet married into the family, no harm done!"

"Nonsense!" the old marshal flew into a rage, heavily striking the armrest.

Everyone in the room fell silent like cold cicadas.

The old marshal spoke earnestly: "Xíngruò is no longer a child; he is a Zhōng Láng Jiàng of the Xiāoqí Wèi, a great general of the court. With such childish conduct, how will His Majesty view our Yè family…"

Before he finished speaking, outside came another burst of urgent horse-hoof thunder, as if many people had arrived!

The old marshal's words were cut short: "Go see, who has come again?"

The old doorman hurriedly wanted to go out,

Just then, with a "crack", the gate was smashed open!

This…

Everyone in the Ye family in the main hall was startled!

Breaking down the door to enter??

Is this a raid on the household?

Instantly, each gripped swords and blades, their faces filled with humiliation.

"Yè Xíngruò!"

Suddenly, an angry shout came from outside.

It was a woman's voice, clear and pleasant.

Yè Xíngruò, kneeling on the ground, abruptly lifted his head.

Upon hearing it, the Ye family members relaxed a little—it was the Princess Tai Ping!

They hurriedly went out to greet her!

Upon reaching the courtyard, sure enough, they saw the gate smashed to pieces, a group of black riders and capable female attendants escorting Princess Tai Ping Ji Yaoyue as they charged inside.

The Princess Tai Ping, who usually cultivated in the grand sect, dignified and courteous, with a visage like a celestial maiden, now had a face as cold as frost, and she still held a whip in her hand.

Yè Shěngzhī, the old marshal, his expression slightly changed, and he quickly clasped his fists: "Princess Tai Ping…"

"Move aside, old marshal!" Ji Yaoyue said coldly: "I only seek Yè Xíngruò!"

"He…" the old marshal still wanted to say something.

Yè Xíngruò suddenly ran out from the main hall, looking at Ji Yaoyue, and roared: "I did it—what of it?"

(End of chapter)