Chapter 815: Repelling the Assassins

The Earl of Huichang appeared honest, but in truth he was deeply calculating; since the Emperor's ascension, he had listened only to the Emperor.

When the Grand Empress Dowager was alive, he suppressed the Sun family's others to avoid clashing with the Zhang family; when court affairs were raised, he claimed ignorance—back then, when people asked about the Imperial Uncle, everyone in Jingcheng knew only the Zhang brothers, never the Sun brothers.

As the Grand Empress Dowager aged and the Emperor grew older, he began visiting the palace more frequently; when matters of state were discussed, he always followed the Emperor's lead—whatever the Emperor said, he agreed.

Had he not been cautious enough, several officials had tried to curry favor with him by seeking official posts for Sun family members, all of which he had firmly rejected; otherwise, he would long ago have been labeled a treacherous imperial relative by the court.

Precisely because of his caution, Wang Zhen appeared even more arrogant and overbearing; thus, the worse Wang Zhen's reputation became, the better the reputation of this legitimate imperial relative grew.

Yun Yan certainly did not believe the Earl of Huichang was truly honest; after the Emperor's ascension, his spending had been extravagant, the state treasury was hard to access, and the private treasury faced many restrictions, so the Earl of Huichang would find ways to make money for the Emperor.

Most of the Sun family's profits from maritime smuggling went straight into the Emperor's pocket.

Moreover, Yun Yan had accompanied the Emperor several times and heard the Earl of Huichang participate in court deliberations, always supporting the lifting of the maritime ban.

He did not think this was feigned, because on two occasions, when he spoke privately with the Emperor, he had strongly endorsed the idea and urged the Emperor to relinquish some maritime trade profits for the people's benefit.

After the incident of the maritime ambush on the envoy, he had been ordered to arrest someone from the Sun family—quietly, of course; the man was still imprisoned in the Imperial Prison, unknown to all.

At that time, he had known the Earl of Huichang was unaware of the matter.

But whether or not he knew, since this matter involved a noble in the palace, he was guilty.

Now, everything was covert; if it were made public, the guilt would fall upon the Northern Town Surveillance Office.

Even everyone who brought this matter to light would be guilty—not just the Northern Town Surveillance Office.

Yun Yan exhaled a long breath, deeply troubled.

He was now caught between two impossible choices: letting Sun Xin enter the city alive, he was guilty;

letting Sun Xin die outside the city, he was also guilty.

He wanted to choose the lesser of two crimes, yet found it impossible to judge.

As Yun Yan struggled with his thoughts, Pan Yun and the others had already been warmly ushered into the guesthouse by Lord Zhao and Lord Fang.

Looking up, Pan Yun saw Yun Yan standing on the second-floor railing, looking troubled; she flashed a brilliant smile and waved: "Lord Yun, long time no see."

Yun Yan gave her a cold glance and turned away.

Lord Zhao hurriedly said: "Master Pan, don't take it personally—Lord Yun hasn't been feeling well lately, so his temper's been off."

Pan Yun: "I understand. The work of the Northern Town Surveillance Office is never easy, sigh~~"

That sigh carried endless nuance.

Lord Zhao's eyelid twitched; he exchanged a glance with Lord Fang.

But now was not the time to probe into a colleague's secrets; the urgent priority was ensuring the prisoners' safety tonight.

Lord Zhao quickly invited Pan Yun inside and formally requested her help for the first time.

Pan Yun agreed at once, smiling: "This humble Taoist will do her best."

Lord Zhao: "We'll divide the guards into two shifts tonight—one for the first half, one for the second. Could you choose one shift to join in guarding?"

"This humble Taoist won't choose—I'll guard the entire night!"

Lord Zhao felt embarrassed and hurriedly said: "That's too exhausting. You've traveled all day—why not rest first, then take the second half?"

"No!" Pan Yun declared solemnly: "Who knows if they'll strike in the first half? This is precisely when everyone is drowsy—we must be cautious. I must have my own people on watch."

Lord Zhao sighed, praising Pan Yun's chivalrous heart.

Pan Yun and the others returned to their rooms; she said directly: "Xiao Hong, Sister Hong Yan, Pan Xiaohei—you three take watch. We're sleeping."

The three non-human beings had no objections.

After all, all three were night owls, and recently they had slept during the day—night was when they were most alert.

One vanished into invisibility and drifted out; one remained visible, leaning casually against the second-floor railing, gnawing on a roasted chicken brought by the kitchen, watching the prisoners locked downstairs.

Pan Xiaohei silently leapt onto the ceiling beam, walked to the beam above Lord Zhao and Lord Fang's room where the evidence was guarded, sat down with a thud, and squatted motionless.

Pan Yun and the others lay in bed, snoring loudly, until they were jolted awake by Xiao Hong's piercing shriek.

Pan Yun snapped open her eyes—no trace of sleep remained.

Before Seeing Miao Zhen and Miaohé could react, she had already darted out the door, narrowly passing a palace guard rushing toward her.

Xiao Hong appeared before the prisoners and said sternly: "He brought them poisoned water!"

No sooner had the words left her mouth than doors and windows shattered with a crash—over a dozen black-clad assassins burst in, swords and blades flashing, slashing at anyone in sight.

Xiao Hong stood at the front, struck by a blade descending from above…

The blade passed through empty air, clanged against the floor, shattering stones into fragments; the assassin holding the long blade narrowed his pupils, staring in disbelief at Xiao Hong.

Xiao Hong curled her lips into a faint smile, kicked him square in the chest, and sent him flying out through the shattered window…

Pan Yun ducked low, dodging the flying projectiles, her form a blur as she swept across the hall; by the time Yun Yan and the Brocade Uniform Guards arrived in a rush, all they saw were a dozen shadowy figures hurtling through the air, accompanied by continuous thuds.

Watching the assassins sprawled on the ground, unable to rise, Yun Yan remained silent for a long while.

He opened his mouth to speak, when the windows and doors above were smashed open—seven or eight figures crashed down from the second floor, landing with heavy thumps.

Yun Yan looked up to see Seeing Miao Zhen and Miaohé peering down, then calling into the room: "It's over downstairs too."

Yun Yan heard Xue Shao's calm voice ring out: "My lords, rest assured—it's over."

Yun Yan: …

He took a deep breath and turned to Pan Yun: "Pan Yun, you've made the Brocade Uniform Guards look useless."

Pan Yun pointed at the water jug on the ground: "They almost died from poison—these were your own personnel. You didn't even check their backgrounds before using them."

Yun Yan's face darkened; behind him, a Brocade Uniform Guard whispered: "My lord, this man's background is clean—no issues."

Yun Yan said coldly: "Check him again."

The Brocade Uniform Guard bowed his head and replied: "Yes, my lord."

Pan Yun crossed her arms arrogantly: "Lord Yun, you owe me thanks for tonight!"

Yun Yan turned to Xiao Hong, eyes narrowing: "Who is she? I've never seen her by your side before—how did she suddenly appear at the guesthouse?"

Pan Yun bit her lip.

Xiaohong cannot enter the Imperial Palace, so she cannot appear beneath the reach of imperial authority.

Pan Yun said expressionlessly, "You're seeing things. What person? The one you saw is my good friend Sister Hong Yan."

Xiaohong vanished without a sound; Sister Hong Yan appeared, staring coldly at Yun Yan.

Yun Yan turned and left with his Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Everyone got safely through the night. After that, the assassins no longer appeared, and at daybreak they all set out together for the capital.

Pan Yun produced a horse from goodness knows where, rode alongside Yun Yan, and said, "Lord Yun, it's been just over a year, but I feel you've changed a great deal."

Yun Yan said expressionlessly, "Everyone changes."

Pan Yun shook her head. "But I believe a person's fundamental nature is very hard to change. I once thought Lord Yun was a man of steadfast loyalty and noble righteousness, and I still believe so now."

Yun Yan lowered his eyes and said nothing. (End of chapter)