It was dusk now. In the Pingan Market Town of Luoshui County, the bustle of the day was gradually coming to its end together with the setting sun.

People were on their way home. The bustling street gradually cooled off, revealing the broad and wide ground. Among the rows of houses on both sides, restaurants and teahouses lit up the lanterns on the lintels to attract coming and going customers.

A carriage train was moving slowly along the main road from south to north. A carriage stood out in the line.

The carvings on the carriage's walls were not intricate but delicate, and the doors and windows were all covered with water-green curtains made of pearl velvet. When the carriage moved, the crystal tassels on the top of the curtain made clear sounds, and their shadows swayed.

Some pedestrians stood and watch. It was easy to discern that the person in the carriage must be a young woman.

Pingan Market Town was one of the large towns in Luoshui County. Here was its main street. Went straight northward along this street and one could reach the capital in three days.

Suddenly, loud shouts came from all the directions, and many men in black rushed on the street, circling the carriage train.

“Leave the things behind, and we'll let you go! Be smart!"

A man who had a lean and ugly face shouted. His eyes were dangerous.

The head of the train replied to him seriously on a horse,

"How dare you! Who are you? Who gives you the guts to intercept an official here?"

"Cut the crap! I don't care you're an official or a slave. Go and catch them!"

The ugly man was crazy. He waved his sword, and two parties began to fight.

There were only a few dozen people in the carriage train. They were apparently outnumbered. Many of them injured and the ground was stained with blood.

The man hacked his opponent down and approached the carriage in the road. The coachman had died. His bloody body leaned against the shaft with a sword thrust into his back on the slant.

The man narrowed his eyes viciously and curled his lips.

He approached the carriage and lifted the curtain with his sword to see the inside.

The carriage was empty!

No one in the carriage? How was that possible? Didn't the message say that they would go through Pingan Market Town to meet the Eastern Depot guards in the capital?

Was the message wrong...?

When he was thinking in surprise, a gust of wind howled over.

A steel ball as big as an egg hit him right in the middle of the back of his head and broke his skull. Red blood and white brain gushed out at once.

At the same time, on both sides of the road, the merchants who were freezing with fear, picking flats or selling vegetables, took out weapons from their trolleys and bamboo baskets and joined the fight against the men in black.

In a teahouse aside, someone shouted from above,

"Stupid thieves, your nightmare Zhao has been waiting here for a long time."

Zhao Wuji stood on the third floor of the teahouse, holding a steel ball. He kicked the wooden handrail broken and jumped to the middle of the road with his subordinates.

"Teach them a good lesson! Kill them all!"

Zhao Wuji gave the order, and guards dived out like the beasts leaving the cage. With high morale, their shouting made many men in black shook with fear.

With a sneer on his lips, Zhao Wuji looked around sharply. He put away the steel ball and drew his sword, striding forward.

In a flash of cold light, blood burst out. Zhao Wuji led many guards this time. They each had a unique talent and acted ruthlessly. The battle soon came to an end with a heavy casualty of the men in black, whose way out was cut off. They folded their hands for capture.

Zhao Wuji sneered and asked his subordinates,

"Chain those alive and tuck them into the carriages! Carry them back to the capital!"

Moans of pain came aside as he had just finished speaking. Those unarmed men in black foamed at the mouths and fell to the ground, unconscious.

A guard put his finger under their noses and then got up,

"Captain, they all took poison."

Zhao Wuji nodded. He knew the reason. They buried poison in their teeth or under their tongues before they act. If the mission had failed, they would have committed suicide at once and must not be caught by the enemy.

From the back of the street corner suddenly ran over a team of official guards. They formed an arch to encircle Zhao Wuji and his subordinates.

"I'm the vice governor of Luoshui County. We've received a report of an armed brawl here. Come with us to Prefect's Mansion for trial!"

The leader of the team was in his thirties, wearing his dark grey official suit. His face was white, looking awe-inspiring when he spoke.

"You want to take me to Prefect's Mansion for trail?"

Zhao Wuji laughed aloud, raising his broadsword close to the vice governor's white face.

The vice governor's face paled with fear because of the blood-covered broadsword. He took a big step back, pressing his lips with panic and antagonism, and said,

"How dare you! A life for a life is a generally acknowledged truth down the ages. You went around killing so many people here, of course I shall..."

Before he had finished, a gold plate suddenly emerged in front of his eyes. The characters on the plate, the Eastern Depot, were bold and clear that the vice governor, who was still impassioned, stared his eyes and swallowed the rest words as if a claw was gripping his thin neck.

Zhao Wuji lifted his eye-corners with arrogance,

"I'm the captain of Squad Three, Zhao Wuji. I'm here to catch important criminals." He then pointed at the carriages,

"They are the brothers of the branch depot in Chongcheng Province. Now, are you going to take us back to the Prefect's Mansion?"

"I, I'm not... Sorry, sorry for being so clumsy!"

The vice governor was sweating. He bowed to Zhao Wuji once and again in a humble manner, daring not to meet Zhao Wuji's cold eyes.

Then he waved his hand to people behind him. Official guards backed on both sides of the road and gave way to the guards.

Zhao Wuji saluted his colleagues of the branch, speaking aloud,

"Thank you for your aid this time. I'm much obliged to you."

Regardless of the pain, the guards of the carriage train saluted him,

"No problem! You are welcome. It's our duty to serve the Master. Please bring our regards to Master Leng after you returned to the capital."

Zhao Wuji heard this and paused. He looked a little gloomy but didn't say anything. Then he put on a beam to bid farewell to those colleagues and left with Squad Three.

At the same time, in the capital.

Lu Rong, the second captain of the Eastern Depot, led a mighty contingent to go through the bustling market, heading for the Palace.

This large team possessed over fifty carriages, on which loaded heavy wooden boxes bound securely with strong hemp ropes. They left rows of the deep track on the soft yellow earth as they went by.

The capital was the most prosperous place in Dayi. The streets and lanes were still lively even at dusk.

This large contingent attracted countless onlookers and comments on the market.

The track on the ground showed the weight of the loads. People were curious about the stuff in the piles of boxes.

A few days ago, under Leng Qingtang's command, Lu Rong led more than a hundred of his guards to secretly leave the capital with disguise to coordinate with his colleagues in Muyang Province. He got the stuff, and they divided into six groups to carry these stuffs back to the capital from different routes. Then they converged in the northern suburb and went straight to the Palace.

Leng Qingtang had told him that the stuff in the boxes was of much significance that once they got it, they should hand it to the Emperor directly.

After they smoothly returned to the capital, Lu Rong led the team to pass through the bustling market as planned. On the one hand, it would draw much attention to let their action widely known. On the other hand, in the capital, the central hub of the country, all the imperial court offices gathered. Anyone who wanted to put a spoke in their wheel must think it through in advance. Therefore, they would be safe and unimpeded going this way.

The contingent slowly went across the Five Dragon Bridge. It was stopped outside the Palace by the Honor Guards at Houzai Gate.

Lu Rong and others had already put on the uniforms of the Eastern Depot. Looking up, he held the waist tag and spoke aloud to the chief of Honor Guards on the gate tower high above,

"Commander Fang, I'm Lu Rong, the second captain of the Eastern Depot. Under Master Leng's command, I'm bringing evidence of an important case from the provinces to His Majesty. I need to hand it straight to His Majesty!"

On the gate tower, Commander Fang in armor looked at the glittering waist tag of the Eastern Depot and slightly frowned,

"With respect, Captain Lu. Is there a summons?"

Lu Rong said, "It is a matter of great importance, so our returning is confidential. His Majesty didn't summon us."

"Well..."

Commander Fang seemed to hesitate. After thinking for a while, he replied to Lu Rong below,

"In that case, please wait here for a moment. Let me send a message to His Majesty."

"Commander Fang, please let me enter the Palace at once. The stuff in the boxes is too important for us to delay."

Lu Rong could wait to rush into the Palace.

The Honor Guards would spend at least two hours on the way even if they sent the message to His Majesty without a hitch. It would cause a shocking commotion in the Palace, and two hours was enough for a message to filter through.

The Master had told him to send these boxes to the Emperor as soon as possible.

It suddenly occurred to Lu Rong that before he left, Leng Qingtang gave him a holograph. He told him to hand this to the chief of Honor Guards if he had been stopped outside the Palace.

Lu Rong took out the letter and waved it to above the gate tower,

"Commander Fang, I know you are a devoted soldier. However, Master Leng ordered that I mustn't say it out. Here is a holograph from Master Leng, and you will get all you want to know from this."

Commander Fang asked his subordinate,

"Get the letter."

A guard quickly went down the gate tower, took the letter from Lu Rong, and went back.

Commander Fang soon read the whole letter. His face grew tight.

With his hands on the marble railings, he shouted below eagerly,

"Captain Lu, could you open the box and let me have a look?"

Lu Rong curled his lips. He mounted off the horse and went to a wagon. Then he cut the rope and opened the thick cover of a wooden box.

It was filled with silver ingots that glittering in the sunlight of the dusk.

Lu Rong closed the box and smiled proudly,

"This is only half of the illicit money seized by Master Leng during the investigation. The other half is converted into banknotes, which I will present to His Majesty later."

Commander Fang was shocked and didn't want to block them anymore. He immediately asked his subordinates to open the gate and let Lu Rong's team go...

In the Western Depot, capital.

An Hong scratched and scrambled into the central hall in panic.

"Master, Master!"

He was too anxious to dust his clothes and spoke with fear when he saw Ming Lan,

"I've just received a message that Shenle Marquis's men failed in Luoshui County because they got fake information!"

Ming Lan was doing manicure when he was astonished at the news. He threw the nail file away and narrowed his cold eyes,

"Rui Yanwan has been exposed."

"A rumpus is caused in the Palace because of something great!"

An Hong wiped his hot sweat and said, panting,

"The one you sent to gather information about the Eastern Depot contingent sent a message from the Palace. The Eastern Depot had already gone to Muyang, and they found Provincial Administration Commissioner, Jia Shuren's corruption and profiteering of official salt. Those wagons loaded the illicit money of this case, three million taels of silver ingot!"

"What?"

A chill suddenly traversed Ming Lan's body. He pulled An Hong close to him by clothes.

"Where is Jia Shuren!"

"In the Royal Prison of the Eastern Depot!"

An Hong answered with the grievance.

Ming Lan knew much about the Provincial Administration Commissioner of Muyang Province. Acted like a conscientious official, Jia Shuren abused his power with political manipulation. He had an inextricable link with the Wan clan.

The Wan clan was a business tycoon. With the power of the Imperial Noble Concubine Wan, it was easy to take advantage of the law’s loopholes to benefit their family trade on land and sea.

An Hong added,

"Master, at that time, Gu Yunxi and others made a loud noise looking for the missing damsels and attracted much of our attention. We didn't hear anything about the Eastern Depot leaving the capital for Jia Shuren!"

Ming Lan pushed An Hong hard onto the ground, bashing his bottoms and driving him to the verge of tears.

Ming Lan clasped his slender and white fingers. His fine-shaped nails sank into his palm, but he couldn't feel the pain.

He looked down, gritting his teeth, and spoke to himself,

"Well, fine, Leng Qingtang, that's the way you are! You attracted our attention and made your men run here and there, cheating us with the excuse of 'looking for the damsels'... And secretly put a finger into the Wans!"

"Master, what should we do? What if the Wan clan falls?”

"What the f**k are you talking about?"

Ming Lan refused to listen to An Hong's unlikable words. He tossed his sleeve and slapped An Hong in the mouth.

An Hong was hurt. He shut his mouth and dared not speak anymore.

Ming Lan raised his eyebrows and said with confidence,

"Don't forget, we have the antidote! And this is the trump card of Her Grace!"

In Leng's Mansion, capital.

In the study, Leng Qingtang stood at the desk and wrote on the paper.

After he was poisoned, Imperial Doctor Jiang fetched his teacher, medical sage. With their acupuncture and medical treatment, the toxin in Leng Qingtang's body was suppressed within his viscera after a fashion. That was the reason why he looked normal several days later.

Wearing a trailing dress made of dark-patterned brocade, beautiful Yanwan served by Leng Qingtang's side.

Grinding the ink, she looked at the characters on the paper and praised with a smile,

"Your handwriting is excellent, Master. The characters are of great momentum and elegancy!"

Leng Qingtang curled his lips. His skin-deep smile revealed something chilling.

Lu Rong came in and saluted Leng Qingtang before the desk,

"Master, I have succeeded in carrying out the assignment. I have handed all the illicit money to His Majesty in the Palace. Now I'm here to report."

"Fine. You've had a long day."

Leng Qingtang replied to Lu Rong. Keeping his countenance, he cast a glance at Yanwan aside and found confusion and a trace of panic on her face.

At this time, a eunuch entered the study and saluted Leng Qingtang,

"Master, we've just received a message that Captain Zhao had annihilated the bandits who were going to plunder the damsels in Luoshui County of Chongcheng Province. They will arrive at the capital soon."

"Fine!"

Leng Qingtang slowly put down the pen brush and extolled with pleasure. Then he turned his head to Yanwan, staring at her sharply.

She was pale and trembling.

"Arrest this woman."

The eunuch dived to panic Yanwan as soon as Leng Qingtang spoke. He easily pinned her arms behind her and kicked her hard in the legs to force her into kneeling.

Yanwan was reluctant to be controlled. She wept and put on a pathetic face,

"Master, Master Leng! Why are you doing this to me?"

Leng Qingtang looked calm, but his eyes were cold,

"Do you think I know nothing about your informing your master that the damsel had reached Luoshui County?"

"Do you suspect me because I went to the Eastern Depot with you at that time? The captains were also there when you assigned the mission. You can't wrong me and let go of the real suspect!"

Yanwan struggled and denied.

Leng Qingtang sneered,

"I did assign missions to the captains. However, I drew the map when I spoke. The place I marked on the map was not Luoshui County! Only the guards of the Eastern Depot understood what I meant."

"You didn't understand it and leaked my words out. That was a fake message. So, the one who bought you has suffered heavy casualties!"

Yanwan met his cold and sharp eyes. She was astonished and had nothing to say for herself.

Leng Qingtang asked,

"You made my cushion by yourself. The cotton fiber was stained with highly toxic Juehun Powder. The poison infiltrated in my skin and festered my wound. Then you framed Yun Guaner up, saying that the meals she prepared were poisonous to conceal your crime. Do you commit your crime? Tell me who gave you the orders."

Even he had guessed the answer, Leng Qingtang insisted questioning Yanwan face to face and listen to her answer.

Under his intimidating eyes, Yanwan laughed out loud in sorrow. Fierce went through her eyes and her words, with a hint of desolation.

"You're a dying man anyway, so why to ask?"

Lu Rong bristled up in anger. He rushed over and slapped on Yanwan's face, which twisted ugly under the force.

Leng Qingtang lifted his robe's hemline and seated on the chair. He curled his lips to show her an ice-cold smile,

"It doesn't matter. There are many good tools in the Royal Prison that can make you pain but can't make you die. The second captain, take her to the Royal Prison."

Lu Rong answered and left, lifting Yanwan.