Longxing Mansion continued to thrive, and everyone’s spirits were high—except for a few.
For example, Wang Sili, who had once insisted on arm-wrestling Meng Xizhao at their first meeting. He had hoped to see Meng Xizhao humiliated, but within a day, he realized the real joke was himself.
At first, Wang Sili was obstinate, claiming it was all a gimmick. Meng Xizhao might fool people briefly, but not forever. He frequently called Zhou Sifa and Zheng Lushi into his room for small meetings, brainwashing them to side with him and avoid being cowards.
Yet Zhou and Zheng weren’t fools. Given the chance for gain, they were willing to side with Wang Sili, but now, seeing him losing influence, they didn’t want to be associated with him anymore.
Face to face, Zhou and Zheng nodded repeatedly, acknowledging that whoever betrayed first was a dog. Satisfied, Wang Sili let them go. However, after leaving, each prepared a gift to apologize to Meng Xizhao.
Meng Xizhao raised an eyebrow, opened the boxes, and, adhering to his “my reputation is already notorious, so accepting gifts isn’t a problem” mindset, calmly took the items.
Then he gave them a metaphorical reward and punishment. He expressed his pleasure that they had switched sides in time and encouraged them to reform and serve the people.
Just as Zhou and Zheng smiled in agreement, he added: those who make mistakes must be punished. Over the past two months, while the government was busy, they hadn’t done any work. That’s unacceptable. Henceforth, for the next six months, they would have no days off. All tedious tasks, like handling old cases, household registrations, and ritual events, would fall to them.
Their faces fell instantly. Every office had years of accumulated cases. Solving them offered no benefit, especially for the ordinary people involved. Household registrations and citywide rituals were equally thankless, time-consuming, and unprofitable.
Meng Xizhao sipped his tea, watching their disappointment. Of course, with their abilities, could he entrust them with key duties like taxes and city defense? The government coffers were empty—they had to collect from the people. Allowing a few idlers to slack off was out of the question.
Where there’s an office, there’s corruption. Meng Xizhao couldn’t fix everything, but in his jurisdiction, such laxity wouldn’t occur.
By assigning the most laborious yet least skillful tasks to Zhou and Zheng, Xie Yuan could relax a bit. Meng Xizhao then discussed with him how to mobilize citizens to grow herbs. They were almost always together and no longer concerned themselves with the others.
By the time Wang Sili realized he hadn’t undermined Meng Xizhao—in fact, Meng Xizhao had sidelined him—Dragon Boat Festival was approaching.
Isolated and powerless, Wang Sili finally felt threatened. He cursed Zhou for betraying him but then imitated them, rushing to apologize to Meng Xizhao.
While Zhou and Zheng received leniency, Meng Xizhao refused to even see Wang Sili. This wasn’t pettiness; he needed to set an example: don’t offend him lightly, or there would be no second chance.
After repeated failures, Wang Sili finally understood Meng Xizhao’s stance and panicked.
Everyone else enjoyed respect and privileges, yet he received none. As someone unwilling to fall behind, he couldn’t tolerate being invisible. Running around his room like a headless fly, he eventually thought of a way to regain Meng Xizhao’s favor.
By now, Jia Renliang had become Meng Xizhao’s top confidant. Almost all government matters were entrusted to him. Though his official title remained that of a clerk, in practice, he functioned as Meng Xizhao’s personal advisor.
Jia Renliang had finally pulled himself together. A local junior clerk, he strutted arrogantly before Wang Sili, making the man fawn over him a bit. Only then did Jia Renliang adopt a noble demeanor and say, “Then I shall plead on your behalf, Sili.”
Wang Sili: …………
Just wait until I regroup—see how I deal with you, little clerk!
In front of Meng Xizhao, however, Jia Renliang reverted to being the obedient little pig he truly was.
Hearing Jia Renliang’s words, Meng Xizhao nearly choked on his tea.
His gaze sharp and slightly amused, he looked at Jia Renliang. “You didn’t mishear, right? He said he saw an auspicious sign???”
Jia Renliang: “Sir, you flatter me. How could I have heard wrong? Wang Sili spoke with absolute certainty—it doesn’t seem fake.”
Meng Xizhao: …Setting aside the consequences if true, but if it’s false… Wang Sili is audacious beyond belief!
Even he wouldn’t dare boast so boldly. Even if he used sleight of hand to produce a golden bowl, he would only claim that a deity wished to aid Longxing Mansion—not casually invoke the word auspicious sign.
In ancient times, there was an unspoken rule: all auspicious signs belonged to the emperor. Once discovered, they had to be closely guarded and offered to His Majesty.
The scope of auspicious signs was broad—ranging from unusual weather to a single fish. The so-called Da Chu uprising under King Chen Sheng could even be considered a type of auspicious sign—or a prophecy.
Because of this ambiguity, nearly any phenomenon that couldn’t be explained naturally could be called an auspicious sign. Meng Xizhao didn’t know whether Wang Sili was lying or had genuinely discovered something.
What vexed him further was that since Wang Sili had reported it to him, he had to take it seriously. Otherwise, if Wang Sili filed a report to Yingtian Prefecture, Meng Xizhao’s image of absolute loyalty would be undermined.
Meng Xizhao pondered for a moment and said to Jia Renliang, “Let’s see what we’ve got. But don’t draw too much attention. Go fetch Xie Tongzhi, and the two of us will quietly investigate. If Wang Sili’s vision is mistaken, at least he won’t make a fool of himself in front of others.”
Jia Renliang, fawningly, clasped his hands. “Sir, you are wise! I’ll do it at once!”
Soon, Xie Yuan arrived. Hearing that he was to accompany Meng Xizhao to see the auspicious sign, his first reflexive question was, “Sir, are we deceiving the people again?”
Meng Xizhao: “…What do you mean ‘again’? This time it wasn’t me—it was Wang Sili who claimed to see the sign.”
Xie Yuan’s first reaction mirrored Meng Xizhao’s: he thought Wang Sili was lying. Then he recalled the Great Qi’s strict stance on auspicious signs and furrowed his brows.
He was already busy enough, and now Wang Sili had to stir trouble? No matter how good-tempered Xie Yuan was, he felt an urge to force Wang Sili into early retirement.
Annoying. Didn’t he see the entire mansion bustling with work? Why cause a scene now?
It was just past noon. Qingfu had originally intended to come along, but Meng Xizhao told him to stay behind: “Xie Yuan and I will go. Jin Zhu is helping Shi Dazhuang, so you and Yin Liu watch the government office. If anything happens, report it to the militia—don’t let them handle it themselves.”
Qingfu, knowing he meant Zhou Sifa and the others, nodded repeatedly. “Rest assured, Langjun.”
Meng Xizhao hummed in acknowledgment and then leisurely walked out with Xie Yuan.
Wang Sili was waiting in the front hall. Seeing that only Xie Yuan, Jia Renliang, and the small-faced clerk were going, he froze. “Sir, why is it only you few?”
Meng Xizhao arched an eyebrow. “Do we seem too few in number to you? Xie Tongzhi, write to Yingtian Prefecture—let the emperor, the crown prince, and the princes come too, to lend weight for Wang Sili.”
Wang Sili: …………
Still so cunning after all this time…
Sweating profusely, he stammered his refusal, and Meng Xizhao finally let him off. But looking at Wang Sili’s pristine official robe, Meng Xizhao frowned. “Why wear official robes? For something unconfirmed? Parade around and attract public attention? Change quickly—don’t waste time. When we return, I have official business to attend to.”
Wang Sili was frustrated by Meng Xizhao’s commanding tone but dared not refuse. Reluctantly, he went to change.
Originally, he had planned a grand spectacle to make news of the auspicious sign, but now Meng Xizhao’s single sentence thwarted him. Still, he was confident in his preparations: once Meng Xizhao saw the sign, he would be pleased.
If Meng Xizhao was pleased, surely he would show favor. Wang Sili resolved: he didn’t need much—just equal treatment, and not to be treated as invisible. Even a minor figure like Jia Renliang had gained a place at Meng Xizhao’s side; Wang Sili believed that once he adjusted his approach, Meng Xizhao would recognize his ability and give him authority.
If, three years from now, Meng Xizhao could take him along to Yingtian Prefecture, that would be even better.
Sigh. Best not to think that far ahead—focus on the present.
The four of them set out, accompanied by four plainclothes officials. Wang Sili’s chosen location was in the mountains, so they rode in two horse-drawn carriages. Meng Xizhao and Xie Yuan shared one carriage, cramped and close. Meng Xizhao, idly holding his face, could see only Xie Yuan’s expression.
Bored, he stared at Xie Yuan—and gradually, Xie Yuan’s face seemed to merge with another.
Meng Xizhao: …………
Straightening expressionlessly, he suddenly reached out, pressing on half of Xie Yuan’s cheek and forcibly turning his head, saying: “Xie Tongzhi, your nape is very appealing. Stay like this—I want a good look at your nape.”
Xie Yuan: …………
He often thought Meng Xizhao was an excellent superior, but at times, he couldn’t help feeling that perhaps Meng Xizhao’s brain had a few screws loose.
While Meng Xizhao and Xie Yuan were each lost in their own thoughts, a group of laborers passed by their carriage.
They wore the most common short tunics of the Great Qi, dirtied and dust-streaked. On closer inspection, the tunics were ill-fitting—some too long, some too short—and a few of them habitually touched their waists as if checking for something. Finding nothing, they would let their hands fall.
Their faces blended with the rest of the laborers, but their eyes gave them away—alert and determined rather than tired or numb.
About ten of them walked together. Some carried shoulder poles, others had bundles. Though the number seemed large, it was not unusual in the city. Laborers, unlike farmers, traveled in groups, looking for employers together.
One of them stared at a pretty woman by the roadside. The leader hissed low, “Don’t ogle!”
Startled, the man lowered his head immediately.
After passing the street, they turned into a dental shop. At this time, a dental shop functioned much like a labor dispatch office, so their entry did not arouse suspicion. The shopkeeper greeted them warmly at first, inviting them in with polite words. But once the door was closed, her expression shifted.
Frowning, she looked at them as if they were intruders. “The city is under martial alert. Didn’t I already report this? Why are you still here?!”
The leader was even less pleased than her. “After all these years in Qi, you’ve only regressed. You don’t understand protocol? You’re just a planted spy—do you expect us to obey you? The truth is, we were sent by Her Highness the Princess. She ordered us to take the magistrate of Longxing Mansion back, and she gave me this green token.”
The shopkeeper’s face changed.
The Nanzhao had its own intelligence system, with missions ranked by color. Green was first-class, meaning the mission must be completed at any cost, with any obstacle—life, circumstances, or otherwise—irrelevant.
The green token signaled the seriousness of the matter.
Accepting the token, the shopkeeper understood that the princess was serious. Failure meant death. As Longxing Mansion’s last surviving informant, it was now her turn to act. Success meant life; failure, death.
After years of training, she quickly adjusted her mindset. She nodded to the group and led them to the back courtyard.
There, they changed clothes, armed themselves, and she shared all the intelligence she had:
- The location of the government office
- The number of guards on duty
- How many gates there were
- The shift schedule
The shopkeeper was the most deeply embedded spy, running the dental shop allowed her to escort people to see their masters unnoticed. She hadn’t been inside the government office and didn’t know exactly where Meng Xizhao lived.
Fortunately, the office’s layout hadn’t changed. When Longxing Mansion was occupied, the map had been drawn, and Meng Xizhao hadn’t been living outside—so his residence was within that area.
They wouldn’t act by day. They planned to strike at night, prioritizing speed: knock out anyone in their path, find Meng Xizhao quickly, and take him away—everything else was irrelevant.
The shopkeeper’s martial skills were inferior to theirs, so she couldn’t accompany them. She carefully described Meng Xizhao’s appearance:
“Normally, he wears a vermilion official robe—the only one allowed in the office. If he’s not in his robe, look for a young man, barely a teen, fair-skinned, soft features, red lips, white teeth, slightly shorter than you. He’s clearly a noble who hasn’t suffered hardship. Always accompanied by a beautiful maid—she changes often. I’ve seen several over the years. I heard these maids came from Yingtian Prefecture to serve him intimately for many years.”
The leader recorded diligently but sneered inwardly.
That’s it? And this is supposed to be a man devoted to the people?
Clearly, just a pampered, lecherous rich boy.
Meanwhile, Meng Xizhao missed Jin Zhu and Yin Liu intensely. If they were here, he wouldn’t be suffering so miserably.
Half an hour earlier, they had reached the foot of the mountain Wang Sili had indicated. But the mountain was remote, with no road for the carriages.
They tethered the carriages and climbed on foot. Wang Sili kept saying, “Almost there, almost there.” Half an hour passed, the sun dipping west, and he kept repeating, “Almost there.”
Meng Xizhao’s patience snapped. “We’ve been walking for half an hour! Where exactly is this place you mentioned?!”
Wang Sili: …………
I—I don’t actually know!
It should have been right here. How could they still not arrive?
Xie Yuan remained silent. After a while, he hesitated and said, “This tree… I think I’ve seen it before.”
Meng Xizhao: …………
Others: …………
We’re lost.
Wang Sili was the most anxious. After all, he had brought the magistrate and Xie Tongzhi here. Afraid of Meng Xizhao’s anger, he stubbornly insisted they hadn’t taken a wrong turn—that it had to be just ahead.
Very well. After walking some distance, they found themselves back at the same tree.
“…”
There was no longer any doubt—they were lost.
As for the officials, they were all outsiders, unfamiliar with the mountain paths here. Even Jia Renliang, though local, had mostly stayed in the city; he had probably visited these outskirts fewer times than Wang Sili.
They could only rely on the four constables. After murmuring and debating for a while, the constables picked a direction that seemed right. Meng Xizhao followed half in doubt, half in trust, and eventually they reached the heart of the dense forest.
The layer of humus underfoot was ankle-deep. Good grief—this was truly entering a no-man’s land.
The four constables began to feel uneasy. Meng Xizhao looked at them expressionlessly, making them sweat with embarrassment.
At this moment, Wang Sili still spoke boldly: “I think we should just turn back. If we keep heading downhill, we’ll eventually get out…”
Meng Xizhao’s patience snapped. “Shut your mouth!!!”
If it were that simple, there wouldn’t be so many restless spirits haunting these deep mountains!
Looking at the sun, now low in the sky, Meng Xizhao frowned. “Stop wandering aimlessly. First, get out of this forest and find an open space to make a fire.”
Wang Sili froze. “Master, are you… hungry?”
Meng Xizhao: …………
This time he truly could not bear it.
He kicked Wang Sili, making him stagger, and shouted, “The fire is to make smoke rise, so nearby villagers can see there are people here! Who knows what man-eating beasts roam this mountain—do you plan to spend the night with them?!”
Wang Sili finally understood Meng Xizhao’s intent, but hesitated and whispered: “But… Master, within a twenty-li radius, there’s not a single village…”
Meng Xizhao slowly raised his head, not exactly angry but as if questioning his own ears: “I didn’t hear you clearly—did you say there’s nothing around here?”
Wang Sili: …………
Wailing silently—of course, the auspicious sign had to appear somewhere far from people. He had finally found a remote peak, scarcely even hunters visited, and now this happens.
It was Meng Xizhao’s fault. Had he brought more people to stay on the mountain, none of this would be an issue.
Wang Sili didn’t dare repeat himself and lowered his head, avoiding Meng Xizhao’s gaze. Whatever Meng Xizhao wanted to say, he could not speak. Meng Xizhao pinched his forehead and sighed: “Fine. No matter what, we’ll make the fire.”
Night was approaching. If they couldn’t even start a fire, who knew what might happen tonight?
They needed to spend the night around the fire and find their way down in the morning. Meng Xizhao instructed them to find an open area: even if the smoke wasn’t visible at night, the firelight would be clear. If the magistrate’s office noticed they hadn’t returned, they would come looking—and the fire would serve as a beacon.
Meng Xizhao’s plan was sound—but he had no idea his horse would soon be stolen.
With a fire starter and plenty of collected wood, a bonfire was quickly built. They sat quietly around it, forming a circle. By now, night had fallen. The mountains, already frightening by day, were far more intimidating in the dark. Meng Xizhao could even hear distant howls.
Among them, Xie Yuan remained the calmest. He glanced at the surrounding darkness, then back at Meng Xizhao, and quietly suggested: “Master, sitting here may not be safe. Perhaps we should climb a tree for the night.”
Meng Xizhao looked up at the nearby straight, tall tree trunk and hugged himself mournfully. “You climb if you want. I can’t make it up there.”
Xie Yuan: …………
Meanwhile, after night fell, Qingfu hadn’t seen Meng Xizhao return. Worried, he told Yin Liu he would go wait at the city gate. Yin Liu, also anxious, stayed behind to guard the mansion.
And then the incident occurred, shortly after Qingfu left.
Longxing Mansion was not Yingtian Prefecture. There was no nightlife here—once dusk fell, people rarely went out. Partly because the area was not bustling, and partly because the populace still feared Nanzhao’s incursions—they wouldn’t go out after dark.
Thus, it was easy for the Nanzhao agents to enter the government office unnoticed. Outside, no one could see them.
The five hundred elite soldiers sent by Emperor Tianshou were here to apprehend spies, not to guard the mansion. They were stationed elsewhere in the city to avoid suspicion, signaling to the mansion guards that they were not here to seize assets. Once the spies were caught, they would leave.
The local constables were no match—they could barely handle simple tasks. They could neither fight the Nanzhao operatives nor detect their presence.
The agents searched the entire back courtyard of the mansion but found no sign of the magistrate.
The leader refused to believe it and retraced his steps, examining every detail. They managed to pinpoint Meng Xizhao’s residence—only to find it empty.
The leader was incredulous: “What? Where did the magistrate go?”
One of his men asked: “Could he have received a warning and fled?”
Leader: “Impossible!—”
Before he could finish, a sudden crack came from behind, as if someone had stepped on something.
In an instant, everyone turned. Yin Liu’s heart pounded violently. Realizing she had been discovered, she immediately turned and ran, shouting:
“Help! Thieves! There are thieves inside!”
At her shout, the Nanzhao agents realized something had gone wrong. They immediately threw their signature hidden weapons, and with a scream, Yin Liu collapsed to the ground.
They tried to move forward to finish her off, but the sounds of commotion alerted nearby constables and soldiers, who were rushing toward them.
The mission was compromised. The leader, furious, clenched his weapon tightly. “Kill them all and break through!”
The others responded immediately: “Yes!”
…
Those entrusted with tasks by the Nanzhao princess were naturally elite operatives.
The leader, in particular, would rank among the top ten masters in any martial world.
In an instant, he cut down seven or eight men. The constables were no match for these Nanzhao agents. The soldiers could have put up a fight, but only under equal numbers and in coordinated attack—here, they were surrounded.
Soon, a gap opened in the crowd, and the agents fled. Before leaving, they lobbed an oil-soaked cloth onto the courtyard fire with a flick of their fire starter. Flames erupted immediately.
Some panicked to put out the fire, others gave chase. When the commander of the militia learned what had happened, he ran out without even donning armor, furious. The Nanzhao agents, having no horses, immediately made for the pawnshop, where the shop owner had been waiting. Seeing the commotion, she didn’t know if the mission had succeeded.
Each mounted a horse—injured or not—and even the shop owner prepared to flee.
The leader, anxious and angry that some of his men were injured and the mission incomplete, worried how the princess would react.
The militia commander and soldiers were closing in. Seeing them draw near, the leader’s eyes darkened, and he threw hidden weapons again.
But this time, he aimed not at the pursuing soldiers but at the shop owner, closer and easier to hit.
The shop owner was struck, wincing in pain and losing her balance. She fell from the horse, which reared and cried out, unable to follow the others. Those behind her collided in the chaos. The horse survived, but the shop owner was trampled, life extinguished under countless hooves.
The militia commander was thrown off as well but was helped up by soldiers. Seeing the Nanzhao agents slipping out of reach, he cursed in rage and finally remembered to ask, “Where’s the magistrate?!”
The answer from everyone was the same—no one knew.
…
Back in the mountains, things were calm. Well, “calm” might be an exaggeration—but it was quiet.
Luckily, it was already May, and the warm weather made sitting on the ground around the fire tolerable, though the damp earth left their bottoms wet with dew forming.
Early in the night, Meng Xizhao hoped someone from the mansion would find them and rescue them like heroic saviors. By late night, he no longer held such unrealistic hopes.
He was exhausted but dared not sleep, forcing his eyes open.
The others were similar. Wang Sili was nearly dozing without realizing it.
They each thought about what to do at dawn, unaware that a team was steadily approaching.
The Nanzhao agents, despite escaping with bloodshed, were not elated—they were exhausted and even arguing.
“…The mission isn’t finished. Why go back? I say we hide and attack again tomorrow!”
“Are you an idiot? Tomorrow, Longxing Mansion will sweep the entire city! Going back is suicide!”
“Returning to Ningren Mansion is no different! Our mission has failed!”
The leader, already irritated, felt murderous impulses. He considered punishing a subordinate to vent, when he noticed a faint firelight in the distance.
Eyes narrowing, he raised a hand: “Quiet! There’s someone there.”
Despite arguing, they could be serious when necessary.
Unable to see clearly, the leader motioned for silence, then led his men quietly toward the fire.
Meng Xizhao, nearly dozing, had his head droop and was jolted awake by the sight of the dwindling fire. He turned to fetch more wood.
Suddenly, a shadow moved in the trees. Meng Xizhao froze in alarm, unsure if it was man or beast, when several figures leapt out.
He was paralyzed. Xie Yuan instinctively stepped in front of him. The constables drew their blades.
They had all been killing throughout the night; the blood on their weapons no longer bothered them. Trained and coordinated, the attackers immediately cut down the constables without discussion.
Listening to the screams and the sounds of flesh being cleaved, Meng Xizhao felt his heart nearly stop.
After killing the four constables, the men paused. Their expressions were unreadable, and they said nothing. Only the one in the center stepped forward, scrutinizing the group’s faces.
The constables had weapons and skills—unfit to leave alive—but these seemingly weak people could be considered for other purposes.
He was puzzled. Why were these people here? Their clothing suggested wealth, but age, appearance, and temperament varied widely. What were they doing in this place?
His gaze first swept over Meng Xizhao, then fixed on Xie Yuan.
Because of his earlier misadventures, Meng Xizhao’s clothes were dirt-stained. Having been given the spot closest to the fire, his face was darkened by soot. His appearance had suffered, and in the leader’s eyes, he was second-rate.
Xie Yuan, however, was an absolute first-rate specimen. With his towering pine-like demeanor and a face delicate enough to rival a young woman’s, he was precisely the type of pretty boy the princess adored.
The mission hadn’t succeeded, but if they could bring a new male favorite back to the princess, perhaps they could redeem themselves.
Thinking this, the leader asked, “Who are you people?”
Hearing him speak, Meng Xizhao and the others froze for a moment. Only Jia Renliang’s face changed instantly—he recognized the accent as belonging to Nanzhao.
Meng Xizhao caught his expression and, before anyone else could look at him, shakily stepped forward. “Greetings, honorable sirs. We are merchants here for trade. We heard that Longxing Mansion’s Long Xian is highly sought after, so we came to see for ourselves. If you want money, that’s no problem—we can give it right now!”
He gestured for the others to do the same. Wang Sili and Jia Renliang, stunned, quickly retrieved all their valuables and handed them over.
The leader, unimpressed by the meager offerings, verified their identities and finally relaxed, tucking his bloodied blade back at his waist. He waved his men over: “Bind them all and take them with us.”
Meng Xizhao froze in shock, but before he could react, a hand chop struck his neck, and his body went limp.
The Nanzhao men lifted him as easily as if he were a sack of rice, their leering grins suggesting, “Weaklings like this are exactly the kind of playthings those cruel ladies love.”