Chapter 199: Seeking Allies

Li Yuanji, the fourth son of Wu De Emperor Li Yuan, was also famed for his ugliness, yet was brave and skilled in battle.

At his birth, Empress Dou despised his appearance, refused to raise him, and ordered the family to abandon him.

The maid Chen Shan Yi secretly took him back and raised him in secret; only when Li Yuan returned home and reported him did Li Yuanji avoid dying in the cradle.

However, Chen Shan Yi's good deed was not rewarded; instead, he was executed by Li Yuanji, showing his cruel nature.

After growing up, he loved hunting, but in an extremely cruel manner.

"Let the left and right trample the peasants' fields, herd the commoners' lands, let hawks and dogs eat millet," he ordered his subordinates to trample villagers' crops and let hawks and dogs feast on their grain.

Even more outrageous, he often made household slaves and concubines don armor and engage in real sword-and-gun "battles" for his amusement, causing countless casualties.

He was a notoriously brutal fellow.

Because he felt his nature made him unfit to become emperor, he chose to pick a side.

He sided with Crown Prince Li Jiancheng, jointly confronting Li Shimin, who had the greatest merit and posed the greatest threat.

He separately recruited fierce warriors and sheltered fleeing criminals.

He also colluded with imperial concubines, flattered them one by one, and bribed Chief of the Secretariat Feng Lun with heavy money as an accomplice.

From then on, Wu De Emperor Li Yuan distanced Li Shimin and favored Li Yuanji.

Li Shimin once accompanied Li Yuan to the Prince of Qi's mansion; Li Yuanji had his guard Yuwen Bao lie in wait in the bedroom, preparing to assassinate Li Shimin.

Crown Prince Li Jiancheng, fearing failure, halted the operation.

It can be said that, had it succeeded, this would have been another kind of Xuanwu Gate Incident, and the credit originally due to Yuchi Gong for killing the prince would have gone to Yuwen Bao.

Only, regrettably, Li Jiancheng lacked Li Shimin's decisiveness, thus missing the chance, and it is no wonder.

Later, Li Yuanji attempted to kill Li Shimin several times, but failed for various reasons; it can be said that he was truly the greatest threat to Li Shimin.

Therefore, Zhong Kui also found it extremely troublesome.

With his current abilities, he cannot deal with Li Yuanji, so he must find an ally—say, Li Shimin!

Since Crown Prince Li Jiancheng is so close to Li Yuanji, he likely will not punish Li Yuanji over this matter, perhaps even suppressing it as if unaware!

So.

When he reaches his high school years, he will visit Li Shimin, reveal this matter, handing it to Li Shimin as leverage; then the trivial matters in Li Yuanji's eyes can become major, and in one stroke take his life!

Well, let's discuss the details later.

The current plan is merely wishful thinking.

Zhong Kui suppressed his thoughts and instructed the woman, "Haven't you told me your name yet?"

The woman replied, "Sir, my name is Huang Wan."

"Hmm, I've noted it," Zhong Kui nodded, instructing, "It seems the dandy you mentioned is Li Yuanji, and with our current ………"

After he explained his plan to Huang Wan in detail, he added:

"Therefore, during these days you should first find a place to settle him, lest the Daoist priest or experts here take him away."

"Wang Da and Wang Er are henchmen for the tiger; their deaths are not worth lamenting."

"Hmm."

He seemed to recall something, took a Wooden Plaque from his pocket and handed it to Huang Wan:

"If he is truly found, ask the newcomer; if among them is one named Yu Lin, show him this item and say it was given by Zhong Kui."

"May you remain safe."

"For now, that's all."

Huang Wan took the Wooden Plaque, looked at Zhong Kui's face before her, and bit her lip:

"Sir Zhong, you help me… I truly feel indebted."

"No need." Zhong Kui, seeing her about to kneel and kowtow, immediately stopped her, smiling slightly: "I only ask for justice."

"Only those who kill you, not harming the innocent; pure‑hearted, helping you aligns with my intentions."

"If I turn a blind eye, it would go against my principles!"

"Further discussion is futile; please, madam, take care."

"Farewell."

Having said that, he turned and left.

Huang Wan was left standing, watching his silhouette recede as he left the cave, disappearing into the night.

Until Bai Lang entered, she finally regained her senses.

"What did you say?"

"He is a good man, to uphold justice for me."

"Good man… I hope."

"Bai Lang, let's leave; this place is unsafe."

"Alright."

A ghost and a wolf conferred briefly, then departed with the corpses.

Ruined temple.

"Zhong brother! You're back?!"

"How are they? Where are those two people?!"

Lu Xiu and the others, seeing Zhong Kui return, immediately rose to greet him.

Zhong Kui shook his head, tossed a piece of torn cloth onto the ground, and said gravely, "Ill omens abound, I saw a black wolf responsible."

"Perhaps it ate its fill and has already left."

"It is not a so‑called demon or monster."

Seeing this, Lu Xiu and the others were momentarily at a loss for words, only pursing their lips with a complicated expression.

After all, they didn't know what Wang Da and Wang Er had done; to them, these were two living human lives!

Zhong Kui came over, sat down, closed his eyes, and said: "Life and death are impermanent."

"Go to sleep, leave early tomorrow morning to avoid any further trouble."

Seeing him like that, everyone else had no choice but to sit down.

After an unknown amount of time, drowsiness welled up, he gradually fell asleep, but dared not sleep too deeply.

As a result, nobody rested well that night, and everyone got up the next day listless.

Only Zhong Kui looked energetic and spirited.

With his current strength, even three days without sleep would not make him feel tired.

The group continued on their way, the atmosphere heavy as looming storm clouds over a city.

Lu Xiu kept looking back, gazing in the direction Wang Da and Wang Er had gone the previous night; he saw a dark red stain of blood on the muddy ground in the distant woods, his heart tightened, and he unconsciously quickened his pace.

By afternoon, the majestic walls of Chang'an finally came into view.

Lu Xiu wiped the sweat from his forehead, took a long breath, and whispered to Zhong Kui:

"Brother Zhong, if the authorities ask later about Wang Da and Wang Er, what should we say?"

Zhong Kui's expression remained calm as usual: "Just tell the truth."

"They were the ones escorting us; if they met with misfortune, it shouldn't be blamed on us scholars."

Lu Xiu nodded: "Indeed......"

He glanced at Zhang Haoxue, who kept his head lowered beside him, and asked: "Brother Zhang, what do you think?"

Zhang Haoxue moved his lips as if to say something, but ultimately kept his mouth shut, merely nodding silently.

The three came to the yamen, and after reporting in, they were quickly led inside.

By the time the authorities sent riders to investigate the woods outside and the three had cleared their suspicions, it was already night.

Fortunately, the government had arranged lodging for them, so they didn't have to stay on the streets.

Zhong Kui was sitting at his desk reading when a sudden disturbance interrupted him.

Then Lu Xiu walked in, his face full of surprise:

"Brother Zhong, I heard a prince has come to our place!"

"Want to go see?"