My Gentle and Pure Sect Leader Husband - Chapter 59

These days, hidden turmoil lurked within the capital. At Wuqing’s request, Yan Hongyin had accelerated the treatment schedule, resulting in stronger medication dosages.

Removing poison was inherently accompanied by fierce, bone-deep pain, but Wuqing actually seemed to enjoy this suffering that allowed him to feel the existence of his legs, even though he required a servant to push his wheelchair whenever he left Yan Hongyin’s clinic.

Recently, the number of martial artists in the capital had suddenly increased, with shadowy figures beginning to stir restlessly. Wuqing’s three junior brothers had also rushed back from various regions.

They hadn’t returned specifically for Wuqing’s leg treatment, but because Zhuge Zhengwo had urgently summoned them back to maintain order in the capital while they had been investigating cases elsewhere.

Zhuiming was the first to return. On his first night back, he climbed over a wall and encountered Wang Lianhua drinking on a rooftop. Succumbing to his alcohol craving, he ended up calling this great master “brother” and spent the entire night talking and drinking with him.

When he woke up the next day, Zhuiming realized not only had he failed to learn anything about this visitor, but more than half of his precious wine collection stored in the building had been coaxed out of him and given to his new friend. He immediately felt deeply pained by the loss.

However, after learning this visitor was there to treat his eldest senior brother, all his regret instantly vanished, and he even enthusiastically brought several more jars from his remaining collection.

Wang Lianhua had been in a particularly unpleasant mood these past few days. Since Yan Hongyin had taken over Wuqing’s subsequent treatments, he simply decided to drink with Zhuiming. Even Lengxue, who returned later, couldn’t escape the persecution of these two, being forced to drink until completely intoxicated and hiding in his room for two or three days, unwilling to see anyone.

Tieshou, however, returned with a case.

The case Tieshou had been handling initially appeared to be just a headless corpse murder, but as he followed the leads, he uncovered a tangled mess of corruption that had thousands of connections to the intensifying succession struggle in the capital, even involving the Ministry of Revenue.

Coincidentally, after receiving the recall order from the Divine Marquis Mansion, he simply brought the evidence and rushed back to the capital to report to Zhuge Zhengwo.

The implicated party was Liu Guangyuan, Assistant Minister of Revenue. In truth, Tieshou hadn’t found conclusive evidence to nail Liu Guangyuan for corruption and murder.

Just as he was contemplating whether to use some tactics to lure the snake out of its hole, Liu Guangyuan approached the Divine Marquis Mansion with a terrified expression, tumbling and crawling as he asked to confess, insisting the Divine Marquis Mansion guarantee his life would be spared. There was no trace of the arrogant and disdainful attitude he had displayed during earlier inquiries.

Tieshou discovered that this Assistant Minister Liu Guangyuan was backed by the Grand Prince. With such major implications, he found it difficult to make a decision and returned to consult Divine Marquis Zhuge.

Zhuge Zhengwo merely nodded profoundly, exchanged a glance with his eldest disciple Wuqing, and then instructed Tieshou to take the confessing Liu Guangyuan to the Assistant Minister’s residence.

“Eldest Senior Brother, it’s past the third watch,” Tieshou leaned against the circular railing. Throughout the journey, he had been holding back questions, but Wuqing had maintained a contemplative expression with lowered eyes, making him hesitant to ask. “Are the people we’re waiting for oversleeping?”

“The time hasn’t come yet.”

Wuqing’s hand rested on the wheelchair’s armrest, his fingertips slowly caressing the surface. Since he needed to go out today, Doctor Yan had permitted him to rest for the day and resume acupuncture tomorrow.

Tieshou glanced at Liu Guangyuan.

He didn’t know what they were waiting for at Liu Guangyuan’s residence with Liu Guangyuan in custody. The other constables from the Divine Marquis Mansion didn’t know either. But it was obvious that—Wuqing, with his calm, cold, and patient expression, knew; and Liu Guangyuan, whose appearance grew increasingly panicked and who had tried several times to break free from his restraints to commit suicide by smashing his head against a pillar, also knew.

The voice of the night watchman carried through the street, once, twice. After several hours passed, as the fifth watch approached, the sound of hoofbeats suddenly appeared on the street. The slight trembling of the ground carried on the wind in the silent night, growing closer and closer.

Tieshou, who had been standing with his arms folded across his chest, slowly lowered his hands to his sides, his fingers tensing slightly, ready to strike.

Among the four brothers, his internal strength was the strongest. Similarly, he did not rely on sharp weapons or tools; his pair of hands was his best weapon.

Wuqing raised his eyes to look.

In the pitch-black night, figures dressed in dark flying fish robes and wearing dark metal masks filed in. Their fingers gripped the embroidered spring blades at their waists. The lower halves of their faces, barely visible beneath their masks, showed somewhat distinguishable features, yet all maintained tightly pressed lips and cold demeanors.

—The Jinyiwei of the Zhenfu Division.

Liu Guangyuan, who was being restrained by constables, had already collapsed to the ground, sweating profusely. He pleaded desperately to the nearby constable with a deathly pale face. “I’ve taken lives recklessly, killed many people, bought and sold official positions, and fabricated false cases… Quickly! Put me in prison! Take me away! What are you waiting for?! I’ve told you everything! It was all done under others’ orders!!”

“Why is Assistant Minister Liu in such a hurry?”

The Jinyiwei in a red dragon robe approached slowly, with a sharp and cold demeanor, their voice deep and biting.

“It seems Assistant Minister Liu is indeed well-informed about the case being handled by the Jinyiwei.”

“Are you worried that this official will interrogate and uncover something Assistant Minister Liu cannot confess?” The newcomer strode past Liu Guangyuan, who knelt with bound hands at the lower seat. “Or does Assistant Minister Liu think he might retract his previous confession about the mastermind and implicate someone else instead?”

“Jin… Jinyiwei… Com… Commander…”

The moment Liu Guangyuan saw this person appear, his entire being collapsed, feeling his stomach churning and his mind going completely blank.

All previous hopes and struggles turned to ashes upon seeing this man.

The main door was closed, and the Jinyiwei stood at their positions with hands on their sword hilts.

The Commander slowly ascended the steps, nodding slightly when passing Wuqing and Tieshou.

After a moment’s pause, the martial brothers returned the gesture.

Though both operating in the capital, this was the first time the Divine Marquis Mansion and the Jinyiwei had crossed paths during a case, and the first time they had personally seen the legendary commander who truly controlled the Jinyiwei’s dark division.

Walking to the main seat in the hall and sitting down, the Commander’s fingers rested on the armrest.

A soft laugh.

Liu Guangyuan’s limbs began to tremble subtly. That laugh sounded husky and mocking to others, but it pierced his eardrums like a sharp blade.

Don’t panic, he can’t possibly have discovered… His Highness promised that his wife and children would be safe… It must be possible…

“What is Assistant Minister Liu afraid of?”

The Commander addressed him as “Assistant Minister,” yet their words carried a cold mockery. Their eyebrows moved slightly behind the mask, but their true emotions remained completely concealed.

Liu Guangyuan’s eyes flashed with desperate resolve as he violently broke free from the constables’ restraints and charged directly toward a stone pillar!

A prepared Jinyiwei moved swiftly to block Liu Guangyuan’s path, kicking him back.

“Assistant Minister Liu is certainly eager.” The Commander on the seat raised a hand to smooth out the creases in their sleeve, speaking slowly, “If Assistant Minister Liu wishes to atone with death, this official certainly won’t stop you, but this official still has some unresolved points in this case, so I must trouble Assistant Minister Liu to wait a moment, is that acceptable?”

Then, with a changed tone, they commanded deeply, “Bring them in.”

Liu Guangyuan’s eyes revealed horrified dismay.

When Tieshou saw the four people brought in bound by the Jinyiwei, his eyes narrowed, and he said quietly to Wuqing, “They’re Liu Guangyuan’s wives and children.”

Seeing his wives and children bound and gagged in the courtyard, Liu Guangyuan was overcome with rage and anguish, saying hoarsely one word at a time, “Commander, this official’s crimes do not warrant punishment of my family members. Is this how the Jinyiwei handles cases, by harming families and condemning all nine generations?”

“Harming families? How can Assistant Minister say such things? This official is currently judging two other cases—what do they have to do with you?” The Commander spoke slowly, their tone containing an undisturbed coldness. “Who could have imagined that such a proper lady from a good family would be the third leader of the Sea Sand Gang, and that the charming beauty from a courtesan background would be the famous assassin Poison Spider of the jianghu?”

As the Commander’s words fell, ice-cold saltwater was directly splashed onto the four people in the courtyard, followed by the muffled groans of the two women and the miserable screams of the young boy and girl.

A Jinyiwei stepped forward, bowed with cupped hands, and reported coldly. “Reporting to Daren, the Sea Sand Gang has stirred up trouble in the Jiangnan region, bringing disasters to the local people. The gang trains assassins and colludes with government officials to eliminate rivals, taking lives recklessly. The evidence is conclusive.”

Liu Guangyuan cried out. “Shut up!!”

The Jinyiwei remained completely unmoved, continuing steadily. “One hundred thirty-two of the one hundred thirty-six evildoers in the entire gang were executed yesterday. Only these four remain to be punished.”

The Commander’s lips curved slightly upward. They raised their hand, signaling the Jinyiwei to step aside, and asked Liu Guangyuan softly, “Well? Does Assistant Minister Liu have something to say about this case?”

“I… I… I can reveal all the officials who have done business with me, and… and the mastermind behind it all, I only ask… ask to exchange them for my wife and children’s lives!” Liu Guangyuan’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as he pleaded urgently.

He knew this was the Commander’s aim all along; otherwise, there would have been no need to bring his wife and children here.

He could implicate some people, and with the Jinyiwei’s interrogation methods, he could even smear those seemingly clean officials who weren’t exactly innocent in private. As long as his family’s bloodline could be preserved, when the Grand Prince succeeded in the future, his Liu family would surely have a day of restoration!

“Oh? It seems Assistant Minister Liu has much to say.” The Commander’s lips curled into a smile, but their tone shifted abruptly, “But this official doesn’t wish to waste time.”

The expression on Liu Guangyuan’s face twisted and froze, his eyes widening as he stared at the red-robed military official in the main seat, appearing both comical and pitiful.

“Have the crimes of these four been clearly investigated?” the Commander asked indifferently.

The Jinyiwei who had stepped aside earlier spoke again. “Liu Lishi, originally named Li Fu, third leader of the Sea Sand Gang. According to her confession, she has taken 114 lives, including the extermination of fifteen families, and trafficked over a thousand women and children for training and selling.”

“Xiao Qiao’er, ranked thirty-seventh on the assassin list, number of assassinations unknown. However, according to the Sea Sand Gang’s account books, she has assassinated dozens of government officials in two years. She once poisoned the upstream of Yueyuan Village in Fengpei County, causing all forty-one villagers to be poisoned, resembling an epidemic, resulting in their deaths.”

The Commander’s lips pressed together slightly, just a subtle change, as their entire being shifted from previously suppressed danger to an instant explosion of cold, murderous intent.

“Proceed.”

After speaking, they rose and walked toward the exit.

Liu Guangyuan clearly knew the Jinyiwei’s methods and, like a madman, reached out to grab the Commander’s robe hem, but was restrained and dragged aside by two Jinyiwei, forced to face his wives and children who were about to be executed.

“I’ll talk! I confess!! The person behind me is the Second Prince! I have evidence! I really have evidence!!!”

The Commander paused their steps, turned their head slightly. “What to do? Assistant Minister Liu has revealed only one mastermind, which is only enough to exchange for the life of one of your wives and children. Which one would Assistant Minister Liu like to choose?”

Liu Guangyuan’s face suddenly turned deathly pale.

…..

Tieshou and Wuqing had somehow been waiting at the gate of the Liu residence. Seeing the Commander come out, the martial brothers both cupped their fists in salute.

The Commander stopped, their gaze calm and undisturbed.

Behind them was the young boy, escorted out by the Jinyiwei, his face miserable and his legs trembling.

Evidently, when faced with the choice of saving only one person, he had chosen his favored son.

However, for prisoners taken by the Jinyiwei, not dying was often far more painful than death.

“Do the two constables have urgent matters?” asked the Commander.

Tieshou glanced at his eldest senior brother, then hearing the continuous, piercing screams from inside the residence, couldn’t help saying, “Evil people doing evil deeds should certainly be punished according to the law, but isn’t the Commander’s judgment excessively cruel?”

Of the four famous constables trained under Divine Marquis Zhuge, Wuqing was the most steadfast and valued loyalty, with mysterious methods. Divine Marquis Zhuge once said of him that “his killing karma is too heavy; too rigid and easy to break.” Tieshou had a calm and gentle temperament with a broad mind. Although his cases were handled with an iron hand and without mercy, in private, he was the most generous and deferential of the four.

Wuqing lowered his eyes, concealing the slight movement in his gaze, and said nothing.

The Commander seemed to hear something naive, laughed once, and asked rhetorically, “May I ask Constable Tieshou, how does one life repay a hundred? How does the pain of one cut balance the grievances of rivers of blood?”

Tieshou was not someone who showed misplaced compassion. He was a government official, upholding justice by eradicating evil and promoting good. The Jinyiwei under the Commander’s command behaved less like government officials and more like jianghu gang members, which somewhat undermined the dignity of the court. “Evil people receiving punishment is what comforts the wronged souls. Why must the Commander sully their own reputation?”

The world has day and night, and the Jinyiwei also had its light and dark divisions.

The light envoys monitored officials and investigated various states; the dark envoys wore iron armor over their faces, like bloodstained asuras, and criminals sent to the dark envoys never received the mercy of a quick death by a single blow.

The Divine Marquis Mansion had long heard of these practices, and the four martial brothers each held their own opinions. Tieshou was among those who most disagreed with this approach that closely resembled vigilante punishment.

“This official uses a blade of flesh and blood to comfort each wronged soul; blood for blood is only right—how is that sullying?” The Commander’s gaze swept over Tieshou, who was still frowning and hesitating whether to speak further, and said indifferently, “The Divine Marquis Mansion and the Liu Shanmen act openly and honorably, resolving common people’s grievances and settling jianghu disputes—they are the heroes of the age. But in this world, there are places where light cannot reach and wronged souls that cannot be comforted. Constable Tieshou, we each have our duties; there’s no need to speak of reaching the same destination.”

Having spoken, the Commander stepped forward, no longer paying attention to the two behind them or the bloody screams from inside the Liu residence, and slowly disappeared into the darkness just as they had come.

“But Liu Guangyuan’s children…”

Wuqing lowered his gaze to look at his legs, which had begun to recover in recent days. This feeling seemed to take him back to those dark days when his entire family was slaughtered, and he said quietly, “Beneath the Liu residence are buried corpses, half of which are young girls and children reported missing in the capital over these years, all tortured and killed by Liu Guangyuan’s son and daughter.”

This was something Tieshou had not discovered in his investigation.

Tieshou clenched his fists in anger. “This family is truly worse than beasts!”

After speaking, he frowned deeply and sighed heavily, “These people indeed deserve death, but they should still be punished according to the law.”

The Jinyiwei was not some jianghu sect or bandit group; in the eyes of the common people, the Jinyiwei was an official enforcer for the imperial court just like the Liu Shanmen. This kind of behavior, if spread, would cause panic and endless discussion among the people.

Wuqing, sitting in his wheelchair, gave a slight laugh and spoke his first words since earlier. “But those standing on the edge of the cliff would only feel relief.”

…

As Yan Hongyin walked out a short distance, Wang Lianhua, who had been watching everything from hiding, slowly approached her side.

Yan Hongyin looked at him.

Wang Lianhua shrugged. “To be honest, Xiao Yin’er, your display falls a bit short compared to your father’s in his day.”

Yan Hongyin remained silent for a moment before slowly saying, “At least I’m still a government official.”

How could she compare with these demonic sect leaders?

Wang Lianhua burst into hearty laughter, and after laughing, said, “Don’t worry, what happened today is enough.”

****

Yan Hongyin removed the gold needles from Wuqing’s legs and tossed them into a copper basin filled with water, then poured a small bottle of liquid into the basin to clean the needles.

Wuqing was now able to stand slightly on his own strength, though only for a breath or two.

He let down his rolled-up trouser legs and suddenly spoke, “Has Doctor Yan heard about the recent news of the Loulan High Priest bringing his tribe members to the capital to have an audience with His Majesty?”

Wuqing knew about the deal Yan Hongyin had struck with Divine Marquis Zhuge, though his other three junior brothers did not. Thus, he also knew that this Doctor Yan was truly of noble birth, a princess whom the Loulan High Priest was making a grand effort to seek in marriage.

Yan Hongyin had not been paying attention to the capital’s developments in recent days, but nothing major should have happened.

“What?” she asked.

Wuqing’s eyes revealed a hint of what could only be described as teasing, and he said, “The Loulan tribe members are very curious about various places in the capital. Since His Majesty has decreed that the Loulan visitors should be well entertained, officials from the Ministry of Rites have been taking these Loulan visitors around the capital these days. The capital’s residents have also heard many… hmm, deeply moving love stories from these Loulan visitors.”

Yan Hongyin’s eyelid twitched.

That familiar feeling of someone causing trouble appeared again.

“Constable Wuqing, are you referring to the love story where Princess Qu Ya, disguised as Doctor Yan, was treating and saving people among commoners when she encountered the Loulan High Priest who had been secretly attacked by villains and was on the verge of death? Not only did she save him, but she also took him home, attending to him day and night without even removing her clothes, and finally pulled the naturally weak and severely poisoned Loulan High Priest back from the King of Hell’s grasp. And upon waking, the Loulan High Priest fell in love with Doctor Yan at first sight and began a grand pursuit… Is that the love story you’re referring to?”

Wang Lianhua strode in from outside, swinging his robe sleeves and sitting down directly, resting his elbow on the table as he smiled at Yan Hongyin with eyes full of mockery.

Yan Hongyin silently clenched her teeth, striving to calm herself down. She mentally recited “Yu Luocha doing anything outrageous is not surprising” several times, and strangely enough, she became calm and asked with great composure, “What else did he do?”

Wuqing couldn’t help turning his head aside, his shoulders shaking silently with suppressed laughter.

Wang Lianhua, however, couldn’t hold back and laughed heartily for quite a while. Then he leaned back against the chair, spread his hands, and said, “That Loulan High Priest is deeply in love with Doctor Yan, unable to extricate himself. Since Doctor Yan’s return to the capital, he has lost his appetite daily and couldn’t sleep at night. Recently, upon hearing that Doctor Yan’s true identity is the current Princess Qu Ya, and that His Majesty intends to select a prince consort for Princess Qu Ya, he immediately led his tribe members, bringing dozens of carts of precious treasures and tributes into the capital…”

Yan Hongyin felt an ominous premonition rising from the bottom of her heart, and she couldn’t help taking a small step back.

“He sincerely addressed His Majesty, directly stating that the entire Loulan tribe is willing to welcome Princess Qu Ya as the Queen of Loulan, honoring the Loulan High Priest as the sole King Consort. From then on, Loulan would become a tributary state of the Great Ming, guarding the borders of the Great Ming and paying annual tribute…”

Yan Hongyin: “…”

She had said something about being a queen to Yu Luocha at that time, but for such words, anyone with a normal mind wouldn’t have interpreted it as her truly wanting to be some kind of queen, right?

And “sole King Consort”…

Yan Hongyin held back her anger repeatedly, and for a moment, she actually laughed from anger.

Recognizing that he wasn’t familiar enough with Doctor Yan to jest about such matters, Wuqing, upon seeing this, called a young servant to push him out.

Wang Lianhua laughed enough before asking Yan Hongyin with a mischievous expression. “So, shall I hit him harder when the time comes?”

Yan Hongyin let out a cold laugh. “I particularly like that face of his. You should aim for his face when you strike—it would be even better if you disfigure him.”

Wang Lianhua laughed even more boisterously, and even while laughing, he made a gesture of understanding.

Although Wang Lianhua knew that Yu Luocha habitually loved to put on airs and act, when he actually witnessed the power of it, he couldn’t help but marvel.

This kind of pre-emptive strike that directly checkmated the opponent made Wang Lianhua applaud in admiration. Even though he still found Yu Luocha disagreeable, and had found him increasingly so in recent days, as someone who had been through similar experiences, Wang Lianhua felt this move was simply brilliant!

Exceptionally brilliant!