The attack was swift and silent; when Xu Chaozong's guards rushed to protect him, they barely managed to touch the fletching of the arrow.
Although the iron arrow was deflected slightly and did not hit a vital spot in Xu Chaozong's chest, it still pierced Xu Chaozong's right arm, penetrating three-tenths of an inch into the flesh.
This failed attack also alerted Xu Chaozong's guards, who quickly surrounded him.
Footsteps rustled and scattered on the ground covered with fallen leaves. You Tong looked up, still shaken, and met Fu Yu's gaze.
His expression was calm and collected, without a trace of panic in his eyes. When he looked at her, he seemed somewhat surprised, even delighted, but he didn't speak. His arms, holding her tightly, were strong and powerful, like iron hoops. He turned to face the assassin's direction, protecting her firmly. A sharp whistle rang out in the distance, followed by a response from further away, presumably the assassin delivering a message.
The guards of Prince Rui's mansion surrounded Xu Chaozong and his wife, along with the abbot, forming an impenetrable fortress.
In this situation, it's clear that no more hidden arrows will be allowed to get close.
Fu Yu frowned slightly, told You Tong to stand behind the guards, glanced at Xu Chaozong, and said, "I'll trouble Your Highness to take care of my wife." After saying that, his face turned cold and stern, and he strode off toward the direction from which the arrow had come.
...
The assassin's ambush location wasn't too far away, and Fu Yu moved with lightning speed, his figure quickly disappearing into the distance.
As they emerged from the bamboo grove, someone suddenly appeared to greet them from the side; it was Du He.
"What happened?" Fu Yu's expression was rather grim.
"The other side acted ahead of time, and their arrangements seemed rushed."
How many people?
“The first three or four were followed by others.” Du He followed closely beside him, chasing after the direction the assassins had fled. Seeing Fu Yu’s unfriendly expression, he hurriedly reported, “When I noticed, the general was already drinking tea over there. In the rush, I acted on my own initiative without warning, lest I disturb them. Please punish me, general.”
"It's alright." Fu Yu's expression was cold and deep, showing no sign of blame.
When discussing countermeasures that day, he made it clear that he would not obstruct or alert the assassins, and would allow them to confirm the crime of assassination.
In any case, he only needed to save Xu Chaozong's life and didn't need to care about the severity of the injuries. In fact, the more seriously Xu Chaozong was injured, the more advantageous it would be for him.
He could handle that situation.
What angered Fu Yu was something else entirely—
Based on the intelligence gathered earlier, the other party was planning to make their move on the Lantern Festival. Why would they suddenly rush to assassinate us ahead of schedule? Was the information Du He gathered inaccurate, or is there another reason?
Chapter 42 Affection
Today's prayer ceremony was crowded with people, so Fu Yu only ordered Du He to secretly accompany him with guards, and Xu Chaozong did not bring many guards either.
Now that they have been suddenly attacked, most of Xu Chaozong's guards stayed behind, and only two or three went out to chase after them.
Jintan Temple is situated at the foot of the mountain, with towering peaks behind it, making the terrain quite complex. Since it was previously deduced that the enemy would make their move on the Lantern Festival, and there had been no unusual activity last night and this morning, most of Fu Yu's men were still in the city, monitoring the movements of the group under the command of the Prince of Xiping. The number of men available here was truly limited.
The assassin seemed quite familiar with the area, using the mountainous terrain to conceal his presence and escape quickly.
The mountain range stretches endlessly, not particularly majestic, but it is filled with steep cliffs and precipices, its valleys strewn with jagged rocks and overgrown with thorns, making a pursuit no easy task. However, since the ambush has failed, the opponent will surely lie low for a while afterward, concealing their true intentions. Fu Yu's time in the capital is limited; how could he let this opportunity slip by?
Even if the mountain road is treacherous and difficult to traverse, we must do our utmost to capture the assassin alive before he is met by a backup.
After chasing for a while, Fu Yu deduced the direction the assassin had fled in and immediately said to Du He, "Take a shortcut!"
Du He understood, took the whistle and put it in his mouth, then ordered the guards to take a shortcut and surround them.
The guards Fu Yu chose to accompany him were all veterans who had fought their way through piles of corpses. They were exceptionally skilled, quick-witted, and far more courageous than the guards in the capital. Upon hearing the news, they immediately split into two groups, abandoning the relatively easy path and rushing into the thorny thicket to encircle the enemy on the orders of the whistles.
Fu Yu didn't hesitate at all. He traversed through the jumbled rocks and thorns, climbed the steep cliff, and charged forward with his sword.
Rocks slipped and mud flew everywhere beneath his feet; nine out of ten steps Fu Yu took would collapse the precarious path. Fortunately, he was as swift as the wind, and each time he managed to leap up before falling, chasing after his opponent with great danger for a while before finally intercepting him.
What remains is a fierce battle.
A seasoned general, forged in countless battles and shrouded in the smoke of war, possesses a ruthless and cold-blooded approach far superior to that of a stealthy assassin. As long as he has a breath left and prevents his opponent from committing suicide, he can act without restraint. Fu Yu and Du He joined forces, employing offense as their defense, and within half an incense stick's time, they captured all the assassins alive.
There was no other movement from Jintan Temple, which shows that it was not a diversionary tactic.
Fu Yu, in a fit of rage, handed the assassin over to the guards of Prince Rui's residence to be taken back. Then, together with Du He and the guards, they chased down and captured the two who were there to meet them.
Once the dust settled, the guards went first, with Fu Yu and Du He bringing up the rear.
The mountain wind was cold, causing the withered grass and trees, which had not yet recovered from spring, to sway wildly. Fu Yu walked forward with a heavy brow, his brows furrowed.
Du He was his confidant, and after this surprise attack, how could he not know Fu Yu's worries?
"Does the general feel that this assassination attempt came suddenly?"
"It was sudden and rushed."
“My intelligence is accurate, and General Wei is known for his reliable work style; he’s never made a mistake before.” Du He frowned, carefully recalling the details of his intelligence gathering over the past two days, and said, “Could it be that the other side is deliberately creating a diversion to distract us, a feint to the east while attacking the west?”
"Impossible," Fu Yuduan denied.
Having led troops for years and been invincible, Fu Yu relied on the bravery of his soldiers as well as the meticulousness of his scouts.
Fu Yu had a general idea of Wei Jian, the Prince of Xiping,'s power in the capital. There was no need to waste so many elite troops on a elaborate deception. Furthermore, today's assassination attempt seemed spur-of-the-moment, not premeditated; it was more like a lucky break. He had sent Du He and Wei Tianze to investigate thoroughly, uncovering all the other details, but why was there absolutely no word about this sudden attack?
Why did the other party suddenly bring it up earlier?
Is it a coincidence, or did something go wrong?
Fu Yu pondered for a moment and hurried on. When they were almost at Jintan Temple, he said to Du He, "This time, you will keep a close eye on the interrogation of the assassin. Leave the task of finding out who the mastermind is to Prince Rui. What you need to investigate is the reason why the assassination was carried out in such a hasty manner."
"Yes, sir!" Du He solemnly clasped his hands in a fist salute.
...
At Jintan Temple, Xu Chaozong was still in shock.
Although he was born into royalty and held a noble status, he was born at a time when the country was strong. The court was hollowed out, and the regional military governors were too powerful to control. They not only held onto military power tightly but also embezzled taxes and recruited talented people. While civil officials remained loyal to the emperor, those skilled in martial arts were upright and ambitious—either stationed on the frontier with a patriotic heart or joined the military governors' staffs as advisors. Few were willing to stay in the capital, bound by constraints and subjected to humiliation.
The Prince Rui's mansion was well-equipped with guards, most of whom were transferred from the Imperial Guard.
The country has been at peace for a long time. Although there are often wars on the borders, the heartland of the capital is relatively peaceful. If it weren't for the gradual unrest caused by displaced people in recent years, it might not have been possible to fight a war for another two or three years. The Imperial Guards are mostly composed of sons of aristocratic families and officials to maintain appearances. Even though there are many who are clever and talented, they are no match for a young general like Du He who has experienced countless battles.
To be frank, most of the guards in the Prince's mansion are all show and no substance; they're good at putting on airs, but when it comes to actually getting things done, they're completely incompetent.
The assassin's sudden attack had barely saved his life, and the guards could only surround and protect him. Trying to capture the assassin on their own while keeping watch from both sides proved extremely difficult.
If Fu Yu and Du He hadn't chased after him, he would still have suffered this danger for nothing, with no way to thoroughly investigate and settle the matter.
By the time Xu Chaozong turned nineteen, he had experienced countless such events.
His handsome face paled slightly, tinged with anger, as he allowed the skilled monks in the temple to help him clean and bandage his wounds.
Xu Shu was taking care of him, her face pale, her chest pounding, still not recovered from the ordeal.
The couple remained silent until the monk finished bandaging his wounds and left. Then, the head guard entered with a slightly ashamed expression, knelt on one knee, and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, General Fu has already captured the assassin and sent him back, but some of his accomplices have escaped. Should we dispatch troops from the cavalry and the guards to surround this mountain and thoroughly investigate?"
Xu Chaozong shook his head.
"It was my dereliction of duty that I failed to detect the unusual activity sooner. Please punish me, Your Highness!"
"Enough." Xu Chaozong waved his hand again, wincing in pain from the sharp pain in his arm. After a moment, he said, "The people outside are all pilgrims. If we make too much noise, it will only cause chaos and panic. This kind of thing shouldn't be publicized. I'll make my own plans after we get back to the city. What about General Fu?"
"Just got back, talking to the young mistress next door."
Xu Chaozong nodded, reluctantly put on his inner and outer garments, and led Xu Shu over.
...
Outside the meditation room next door, Du He stood guard with his sword. The door was open, and a cool breeze gently blew in.
The meditation room wasn't spacious; a bamboo bed by the window was separated by a simple screen, and outside was a simple bamboo table and chairs.
Fu Yu placed his sword on the table, standing tall and imposing in his jet-black robes. Hearing the noise, he raised his eyes, his gaze sharp and intense, his expression calm and cold. Although still young, his imposing and dignified aura surpassed even that of the Imperial Guard Commander. Compared to his restraint when entering the palace for an audience or attending a banquet at the Liuyuan Garden, he now subtly revealed the fierce general's reputation that resounded throughout the north, who had swept away powerful enemies with his iron cavalry.
Beside him, You Tong, in her flowing skirt, moved gracefully to the ground.
The couple leaned on each other and spoke in hushed tones. She held onto Fu Yu's sleeve, her almond-shaped eyes slightly raised, her face showing concern and anxiety. She dipped the embroidered handkerchief in water and slowly wiped away the traces of blood that had splattered on his temples and ears. Fu Yu obediently bowed slightly, letting her do as she pleased.
That intimate gesture felt so familiar!
Xu Chaozong's eyes were suddenly stung, and the wound on his arm also began to ache terribly.
When was it that she showed him such concern when he was in danger, even standing up to protect him? But just now, when he was wounded by the iron arrow, his clothes soaked in blood, and he was sweating profusely from the pain, her attitude was indifferent and cold. She didn't even glance at him, let alone offer a word of concern, and she couldn't even be bothered to respond.
Her tenderness and affection, which he used to have easily obtained but considered a burden, would now belong only to the man before him.
This thought was like a dull knife, cutting deeply into the soft flesh of my heart.
Xu Chaozong convulsed, instinctively clenching his hands in his sleeves, leaning against the door frame, and clenching his teeth tightly.
His gaze, which he had tried so hard to restrain after their reunion, now seemed to have lost control, glued to You Tong's beautiful profile, unable to look away.
Xu Shu looked over from behind, following his gaze. How could she not know what her husband was thinking?
A silent scene ruthlessly exposes the so-called reputation of a perfect couple.
After marrying into the royal family, she knew better than anyone how much affection existed between the couple, and how much estrangement and resentment there was. Xu Shu's face changed drastically, even more embarrassed and disheveled than when You Tong exposed and reprimanded her. Afraid that others would see, she forced herself to remind him, "Your Highness, be careful of the threshold." Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke.
Xu Chaozong seemed not to hear, and only came to his senses after being nudged twice by Xu Shu.
The moment her pupils focused, they met Fu Yu's gaze.
Those eyes gleamed with a sharp light, and the slight upturn of his eyebrows clearly concealed a tacit, unspoken sarcasm between men!
Xu Chaozong felt a tightness in his chest and was too weak to go in and disturb the situation, so he returned to his original spot to rest.
...
On the way back to Beijing, the two families did not travel together.
However, Fu Yu was worried that the guards in the Prince Rui's mansion, who were all show and no substance, would be unable to keep the assassin in check, so he sent Du He and the guards over to help, and took the opportunity to suggest that Du He help with the investigation.
Xu Chaozong needed his help and was grateful for his assistance, so how could he refuse? Not only did he agree, but after calming himself down, he took Xu Shu by his side and, unusually, formally thanked Fu Yu for his help and rescue. He said that if the matter were reported to Emperor Xiping, the Empress would not publicize it, and asked the couple to attend the banquet on the sixteenth without worry.
You Tong understood immediately, and since she was standing next to Fu Yu, she accepted Xu Shu's greeting without hesitation.
Fu Yu didn't take the couple seriously and didn't care.
Back in the city, after sending You Tong back to the Wei family mansion, I found a random excuse to go out and headed straight for Shibao Street.
The order was given, and Wei Tianze quickly responded and reported truthfully when Fu Yu asked about the situation he had investigated over the past two days.
There was absolutely nothing suspicious about it.
Fu Yu and Wei Tianze had known each other for a long time. They had fought side by side on the battlefield, entrusting each other with their lives on several occasions and saving each other from a hail of bullets and arrows on several occasions. Their friendship was deep and they had formed a bond of brotherhood. However, unlike Du He, whose background was clear and well-documented, Wei Tianze had been stranded in Qizhou as a child. Although his experience as an instructor after being recruited by the military was beyond doubt, his past experiences had never been known.
According to Wei Tianze, who was chatting and drinking, he was abducted by human traffickers when he was a child, and his name was given to him by a scholar he met on the way.