APSIL -Chapter 48 Murderous Intent Under the Night Sky

At dusk, Rongshui Village was filled with curling smoke from cooking fires, peaceful and tranquil. Whether viewed from nearby or from afar, it seemed no different from any other village on the outskirts of the capital, welcoming another ordinary dinner after a busy day.

However, at this very moment, in the fields where piles of straw stood after the harvest, more than one pair of vigilant eyes was watching the official road in the distance and the small path leading directly into the village.

If the camouflage covering their heads and bodies were removed, the faces revealed would certainly shock anyone.

Because they were all ordinary-looking villagers during the day…

When a dusty group of more than ten riders finally turned from the main road and approached, the villagers acting as hidden sentries clearly saw them, yet made no reaction at all. They actually allowed this group to travel unhindered all the way to the entrance of the village.

The gate of the Zhang family residence was only half open. Old Liu, who was sitting in front of the gate dozing off, seemed to have been awakened by the sound of approaching hooves. He raised his head and glanced at the newcomers before dusting off his clothes and standing up.

“Oh? Still people coming to seek knowledge and become disciples this late at night? Cuiyun Residence is in the bamboo forest behind the village. Just follow that road straight up. After entering the bamboo forest, keep walking along the path. When you reach the Pixiu screen wall, turn there and you’ll find it.”

As he spoke, Old Liu let out a lazy yawn and sat back down on the doorstep as if he had no bones in his body.

He muttered: “It’s almost nighttime and they’re still coming to study. People from the capital really have a lot of enthusiasm. Even with guards accompanying them, aren’t they afraid of the rebel soldiers outside?”

The middle-aged man leading the group narrowed his eyes.

He exchanged a glance with the people beside him, then dismounted and walked toward Old Liu.

When he reached him, he forced a smile, cupped his hands, and asked: “Just now you mentioned rebel soldiers? We are not from the capital. We came here urgently seeking a great scholar, so we did not hear about such a matter on the way. Could you explain it in detail?”

“Rebel soldiers? Ah, that.”

Old Liu smiled like a long-winded gatekeeper who answered three questions after being asked one.

“That was news deliberately brought by people from the Duke of Zhao’s residence.”

He chuckled.

“They said that someone at the Linhai Camp of Tianjin rebelled, but the Zhenhai Camp suppressed them. A few rebels escaped. Naturally, all the troops around the capital will soon be mobilized, and a nationwide manhunt will begin.”

The middle-aged man instinctively narrowed his eyes.

Anyone familiar with him would have noticed that killing intent was already hidden beneath his expression.

“If that is the case, compared with us traveling outside, shouldn’t this village be even more dangerous?”

“What danger is there?”

Old Liu laughed.

“I was thinking those escaped soldiers probably won’t dare come here. Maybe they’ll rob travelers along the roads, gather some money and supplies, then hide deep in the mountains to survive.”

“The nobles staying at Cuiyun Residence behind the village all have many guards. As long as those rebels aren’t stupid, they won’t come here.”

“Those nobles also said that rather than running around randomly, it’s better to stay put and wait for the capital to send people to protect them.”

“I see.”

The middle-aged man’s gaze became deeper.

“Thank you for your guidance, old brother.”

He raised his hand in thanks, then returned to his horse.

Seeing his subordinates exchanging glances, he coughed lightly before speaking: “Very well. We will follow this kind-hearted man’s advice and go directly to Cuiyun Residence.”

With a loud response, the group immediately moved forward.

Only after the sound of hooves disappeared and the dust settled did Old Liu finally collapse onto the ground.

He wiped away the sweat on his forehead and cursed quietly without turning his head.

“A-Liu, what a wonderful task you gave me! If those people tear apart this old body of mine, do you expect your Auntie Liu to become a widow?”

The next moment, the half-closed door behind him opened.

A figure stepped out.

It was A-Liu.

He held a short bow in his hand.

Ignoring Old Liu’s complaints, he walked to the roadside and observed for a while before calmly saying: “Close the door properly. I’ll go out first.”

Seeing A-Liu leave and quietly disappear into the gradually darkening night, Old Liu spat unhappily.

When he noticed more figures appearing from the houses around the village, he quickly entered his home, locked the door, then took a sickle from behind the door and tucked it into his waist.

This group was definitely not made up of good people.

Intercepting them at the village entrance was not impossible, but with villagers fighting cavalrymen while lacking powerful weapons such as bows and crossbows, casualties would be unavoidable.

The real question was whether luring them deeper into the village would truly go smoothly.

Could those pampered young masters who had never experienced danger, together with their guards, really deal with a group of vicious criminals?

Was Young Master being too reckless?

The weather had grown colder, and the sun disappeared especially quickly.

When the group entered the village, the sunset was still hanging in the western sky. But by the time they followed the village path toward the bamboo forest entrance, it had completely vanished beyond the horizon.

Night had fallen.

During their journey through the village, they had heard the sounds of daily life from both sides of the road:

The clatter of pots and bowls.

Parents scolding children.

Men and women arguing.

Animals calling out.

Faced with such a strong atmosphere of ordinary life, the group unconsciously lowered their guard.

Only when they reached the bamboo forest and discovered that their horses could hardly proceed along the narrow path did their expressions gradually become serious again.

The middle-aged man hesitated briefly.

He ordered ten people to stay behind and guard the horses, then lit a horse lantern and led the remaining twenty or so men forward on foot.

Although the bamboo forest was said to be behind the village, the “mountain” behind it was actually just a small hill.

Even walking at night was not particularly difficult.

With people both before and behind them, even if someone occasionally slipped or stumbled, others immediately helped them.

These men were clearly well-trained. They made almost no noise, with only the sound of footsteps pressing against the muddy ground.

Before long, they arrived before the screen wall Old Liu had mentioned.

The middle-aged man raised the lantern.

Under the light, two adorable-looking iron-eating beasts appeared on the wall.

The leader finally released his greatest concern.

They had found the right place.

Thinking about the life-and-death moments they had experienced at Linhai Camp and the several interceptions they had narrowly avoided on the road, he revealed a mocking smile.

Sure enough.

A group of arrogant young masters and young ladies who thought too highly of themselves.

They had not the slightest bit of caution.

At that moment, a sound of music drifted down from above with the wind.

At first listen, it was barely acceptable.

But when he listened carefully, his ears—which had heard countless wonderful melodies before—could not help feeling irritated.

The music suddenly stopped.

Immediately afterward, someone clapped and shouted: “Wonderful! This qin performance is excellent! I always said people in the capital keep praising Princess Yongping’s qin skills, but in my opinion, she is far inferior to you!”

The veins on the middle-aged man’s forehead almost burst.

The person playing the qin should be…

No.

It absolutely had to be Zhu Ying.

Could this stumbling performance compare with Princess Yongping?

Not to mention Princess Yongping’s status as the Emperor’s eldest daughter, her qin skills were considered number one in the capital.

This performance was something even a random courtesan from a brothel could surpass.

Was the person speaking simply opening his eyes and lying?

While he was silently mocking them, another voice came from the side.

“Zhang Chen, your praise is too exaggerated! How can Miss Zhu’s qin skills compare with Princess Yongping?”

“If there must be a comparison, then she should be compared with Xiao Shi and Nong Yu!”

Xiao Shi played the flute, didn’t he?

The middle-aged man was almost unable to tolerate this shameless flattery any longer.

Finally, he heard a calm and distant voice.

“Alright, alright. Yingying’s qin playing is indeed not bad, but your praise has gone too far.”

“Since it is such a long night, and all of you said you would stay up to guard Yingying while waiting for her birthday, why don’t we start by solving ten problems?”

At that moment, recalling the rumors surrounding Zhang Shou, the middle-aged man quietly let out a breath of relief.

The last trace of doubt in his heart disappeared.

That was right.

Tomorrow was the birthday of the eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhao’s residence.

People like Zhang Chen and Lu Sanlang flattering her was completely normal.

And Zhang Shou—who was rumored to love mathematics so much that even Ge Yong had accepted him as his final disciple—being unable to tolerate such nonsense was also normal.

However…

This birthday celebration would bring these inexperienced young masters and young ladies an unexpected surprise.