SWDnovel Chapter 192 The Death Squads Raised by Noble Families
Chapter 192 The Death Squads Raised by Noble Families
Lu Xiao mounted his horse and, disregarding all rules, galloped through the streets and headed straight for the palace.
The palace gates were wide open, and the guards made way for him as he approached.
The area outside the main hall was already crowded with people.
Yuwen Chengdu knelt before the hall, his body ramrod straight, like a stone statue.
His face was expressionless, but his hands were clenched into fists, and his knuckles had turned white.
It was his oversight.
It was he who allowed those scoundrels to infiltrate the Eastern Capital.
He turned this grand event into a nightmare, put His Majesty in danger, and caused countless people to die tragically.
He deserves to die a thousand deaths for his crimes.
Lu Xiao glanced at him, said nothing, and stepped into the hall.
Inside the palace, Yang Guang sat on the throne, his face ashen.
His hands gripped the armrests, his knuckles trembling slightly.
It wasn't out of fear, but out of anger.
"Zilie," he said immediately upon seeing Lü Xiao enter, "how is it?"
"Your Majesty," Lü Xiao clasped his hands in greeting, "the unrest has been quelled, however... many civilians were injured, the lanterns collapsed, and many houses were destroyed."
Yang Guang slammed his hand on the table, the sound echoing in the empty hall.
"Utterly hateful!"
Yuwen Huaji and his son Yuwen Chenglong's legs went weak, and they both knelt down.
They kept their heads down, not daring to breathe.
Yuwen Chengdu is in charge of maintaining order in the Eastern Capital. If His Majesty intends to hold anyone accountable, no one in the Yuwen family will escape responsibility.
Yang Guang's gaze swept over them, finally landing on Lü Xiao.
"Zilie, go and interrogate those people." He paused, his tone softening slightly, "Tell General Tianbao that I will not blame him."
The deed is done, and even executing Yuwen Chengdu cannot undo the disaster.
Moreover, this incident was clearly aimed at him; it was meticulously planned by someone to ruin this grand event and even take his life.
Yuwen Chengdu's momentary negligence did not warrant the death penalty.
Lü Xiao nodded: "Okay."
Yang Guang stood up, his face showing deep exhaustion.
With the help of palace servants, he slowly walked towards the rear hall.
That figure looked exceptionally old in the morning light.
Lü Xiao left the main hall and went outside.
Yuwen Chengdu remained kneeling there, motionless.
"General Tianbao, please rise," said Lü Xiao.
Yuwen Chengdu's body trembled slightly, but he did not get up.
He lowered his head, his voice hoarse: "Today's events are all due to my dereliction of duty. I... would rather die than shirk my responsibility!"
Lu Xiao didn't say anything, but simply reached out, grabbed his arm, and lifted it up.
Yuwen Chengdu remained completely still.
He was trying to fall downwards and refused to get up.
Lü Xiao increased his strength.
It still doesn't move.
Lu Xiao took a deep breath, exerted his strength, and lifted Yuwen Chengdu up!
Yuwen Chengdu staggered to his feet, still keeping his head down.
"His Majesty doesn't blame you," Lü Xiao said, looking at him. "This was a carefully orchestrated event. Even if it were me, today's events would still have happened."
Yuwen Chengdu remained silent.
His clenched fists spoke volumes about his feelings at that moment.
His Majesty doesn't blame him, but he blames himself.
Yuwen Chengdu, a dignified General of the Heavenly Treasure, actually allowed an assassin to infiltrate the Eastern Capital, almost endangering His Majesty.
How can he forgive himself?
"Once I find the mastermind," Lu Xiao patted him on the shoulder, "we'll settle accounts with him together."
Yuwen Chengdu remained silent, only nodding vigorously.
"Brother!" Yuwen Chenglong came over and advised, "Fortunately, His Majesty was not injured tonight, so you don't need to blame yourself too much."
Yuwen Chengdu glanced at him but did not respond.
"Yuanqing," Lü Xiao turned to Pei Yuanqing, who was covered in blood, "Where are the princess and the others?"
"They've already been sent back to the Prince's residence!" Pei Yuanqing wiped the blood from his face. "My eldest brother and second brother are both alright!"
He paused, a strange look on his face. Those people had gone mad tonight.
Instead of killing Yang Guang, they desperately wanted to kill Lü Xiao's wife and children.
Fortunately, he was skilled in martial arts, and with the help of many secret guards, they were able to protect Yang Ruyi and the others.
Otherwise, they would have actually succeeded.
Upon hearing Pei Yuanqing's words, Lü Xiao's eyes instantly turned cold.
Why not kill Yang Guang, but instead desperately try to kill his wife and children?
Xu Maogong.
Needless to say, the one who would target him in this way must be Xu Maogong.
He destroyed Wagang, and Xu Maogong will destroy his entire family.
"Jackie Chan," Lu Xiao turned to Yuwen Chenglong, "you interrogate those people."
"Alright!" Yuwen Chenglong's eyes lit up, and he responded loudly.
He'd been itching to get started for a while.
The interrogation took place in a secluded courtyard.
More than twenty assassins were bound hand and foot and made to kneel in a row.
They were ragged and covered in wounds, but each of their eyes revealed the cold indifference and determination unique to assassins.
Yuwen Cheng walked up to the person on the far left.
He crouched down and looked at the other person with a smile.
The man's face was covered in blood, his lips were tightly closed, and he did not utter a word.
"Speak," Yuwen Chenglong said with a smile, "who helped you sneak in? Who ordered you to do it?"
The man looked at him, a hint of disdain even curling at the corner of his mouth.
Yuwen Chenglong's smile deepened.
"You're not going to talk? Then don't."
His right hand suddenly shot out and plunged straight into the wound on the man's leg.
Those were wounds inflicted by a knife, deep enough to expose the bone, a bloody mess.
His fingers, like iron clamps, gripped the bone tightly, and he dug hard!
"ah--!"
A piercing scream echoed throughout the courtyard.
The man's eyes bulged out of their sockets, his face turned as white as paper, and his whole body convulsed violently.
He opened his mouth, as if trying to say something, but could only utter a strange "ho" sound.
Then, he fell straight down.
died.
He died from the excruciating pain.
Yuwen Chenglong withdrew his hand, tore off a piece of cloth, and slowly wiped the blood off his fingers.
"Next."
He walked toward the second person.
The interrogation lasted for a full two hours.
But the result made Yuwen Chenglong unable to laugh.
After asking around, he found that these people were too stubborn.
They didn't seem like a hastily organized group; they were more like trained assassins.
"Your Highness, I can't get any information out of them. They're even more stubborn than I am."
Yuwen Chenglong returned to Lü Xiao's place and said helplessly.
He used every trick in the book, even more ruthlessly than he had used against the Japanese, but it was all in vain.
Lu Xiao was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "You've already asked the question."
Yuwen Chenglong was taken aback.
"They are assassins kept by powerful families."
Yuwen Chenglong blinked, and then his eyes grew brighter and brighter.
People from powerful families are greedy by nature, and Lü Xiao had long harbored resentment towards them.
At this moment, regardless of whether Xu Maogong or the powerful families were behind it, he was determined to pin the blame on them.
"Yes!" Yuwen Chenglong slapped his thigh. "It was done by those aristocratic families! Damn it, I got them to admit it even though they were being stubborn!"
"It was done by a powerful family from the Jianghuai region."
Lu Xiao reminded him again, emphasizing each word.
Xu Maogong traveled around the Jianghuai region, and must have had connections with the local prominent families.
In that case, none of them will escape.