TGCFNM -Chapter 517 Going Out to Have Fun Tomorrow?

The night Wan Xing returned, the Court of Judicial Review (Dali Temple) was suddenly placed under heavy guard.

The capital, usually bustling with activity, became eerily quiet after nightfall that day. Not a single person could be seen on the streets. Even the lanterns hanging outside shops were gradually taken down, and doors were tightly shut.

Wan Xing also ordered all of the Wan family’s shops to close, to reopen only after three days.

Under such strange circumstances, Fu Qingyu not only invited them to participate in a hunting trip ten days later, but also invited them to go out for a leisurely outing the very next day.

Chu Ling propped up her face in her hands. Her face was wrapped in thick bandages, making it look heavy and distorted.

“An outing?”

Wan Sanjin inhaled sharply, frowning. “Sir, you turned him down, right? With your face like this, how can you go out?”

Chu Ling sighed repeatedly. “I wanted to refuse, but didn’t you hear what he said? He said he’ll personally come pick us up tomorrow.”

Wan Sanjin leaned on the table with his elbow, looking completely baffled. “What exactly is he trying to do?”

Chu Ling shook her head blankly. She didn’t understand either.

“But why was your elder brother invited too? Their relationship isn’t that close, right?”

Wan Sanjin replied uncertainly, “I think so.”

Chu Ling waved her hand casually and gave up trying to guess. Whatever was going on, they would find out once they met tomorrow.

The next day.

In the afternoon.

At the entrance of the Wan residence, Qingtong slowly drove a carriage to a stop.

Just as Fu Qingyu was about to lift the curtain and step down, Qingtong stopped him.

“Young master, let me go knock on the door and call them. You can just wait in the carriage.”

Fu Qingyu paused, his gaze shifting slightly.

“No need. They’re here.”

As soon as Fu Qingyu finished speaking, another carriage drove out from the back gate of the Wan residence, stopping side-by-side with Fu Qingyu’s carriage.

Qingtong swept a cold glance toward it, while Zhang Dong simply turned his head away as if he hadn’t seen anything.

Wan Xing lifted the curtain and looked across, letting out a light laugh.

“Young Master Fu, you certainly kept us waiting.”

Qingtong frowned and replied, “Eldest Young Master Wan, please watch your—”

“Watch what?” Wan Xing’s smile faded slightly. “The decree hasn’t been issued yet. If I casually change how I address him or behave improperly, that would just cause trouble for your young master.”

Fu Qingyu looked at Wan Xing and nodded faintly as a greeting.

“Young Master Wan must have had a tiring journey.”

After speaking, he instructed Qingtong to lead the way in front.

Wan Xing also had Zhang Dong follow.

The two carriages set off from the front of the Wan residence, passing through the somewhat quiet long streets. They brushed past a patrol of soldiers before finally stopping at the city gate.

Wan Sanjin lifted the curtain and took a look outside. He thought they were about to leave the city, but instead Fu Qingyu stepped down from his carriage directly and smiled at him, gesturing for him to get down as well.

Wan Sanjin lowered the curtain in confusion, glanced at his elder brother, then at their lord.

“What kind of trick is this?”

Wan Xing frowned slightly and got down from the carriage first, with Wan Sanjin following right behind.

Chu Ling, wearing a veiled hat, stepped down last.

Fu Qingyu said nothing more and simply asked them to follow him. He led them to the side of the city tower. After taking out his identification token, he brought them up onto the city wall.

Even after reaching the wall, Fu Qingyu didn’t stop. He led them further along for a while before finally slowing down and stopping.

“The place I wanted to bring you today… is right here.”

With a faint smile on his lips, Fu Qingyu raised his hand and pointed ahead.

“That road is the only route to enter the capital. Isn’t it very wide?”

Chu Ling lifted the light veil of her hat, revealing a pair of slightly narrowed eyes as she looked ahead. The broad official road lay empty. Only the bleak autumn scenery remained—withered yellow leaves spinning as they fell, and the weather seemed to be getting colder and colder.

“Young Master Fu, what are we looking at here?” Wan Sanjin turned and asked.

Fu Qingyu gestured for Wan Sanjin to look toward the road and said patiently, “Don’t rush. Wait a little longer.”

Wan Sanjin and Chu Ling exchanged a glance, both seeing the same confusion in each other’s eyes—they still had no idea what exactly they were supposed to be watching.

But at that moment, Wan Xing’s expression suddenly changed, and he narrowed his eyes as he looked into the distance.

At the far end of the road, it looked as if a surging flood was rushing along the wide official road toward the city gate.

In just a few moments, the torrent was almost upon them.

At a glance, it seemed like tens of thousands of soldiers were charging forward while holding large banners aloft. The thunder of hooves and the shouts of men seemed to shake the heavens.

And the person leading them was none other than Prince Xiao’s heir, Xiao Shizi!

Chu Ling’s expression changed drastically. Instinctively steadying herself against the city wall, she blurted out, “This is bad!”

“It is bad,” Fu Qingyu said with a smile as he looked at her. “Rebellion is indeed not a good thing.”

As Fu Qingyu finished speaking, numerous soldiers suddenly surged up beneath the city gate. At the same time, the capital’s gates closed with a heavy thud.

The commander of the Imperial Guards, Xiao Yunsheng, personally led his troops onto the city wall and shouted sternly, “Xiao Lengjue! Stop immediately!”

“Let me in!” Xiao Lengjue’s eyes were bloodshot. “Let me see my parents one last time!”

Chu Ling was stunned when she heard this. Hadn’t Prince Qi’s consort already died?

“How dare you, Xiao Lengjue! Put down your weapons at once and take your men away!” Xiao Yunsheng shouted with an ugly expression.

Xiao Lengjue clenched his teeth tightly, gripping the spear in his hand.

“Shizi, we can’t fight them head-on!” Chu Rou urged anxiously. “Let’s retreat first and plan this carefully.”

“No!” Xiao Lengjue’s expression hardened. “If I abandon my parents, how would I be any different from a beast?”

He raised his hand high and shouted, “I only want—”

Whoosh—!

A sharp arrow suddenly shot out from behind Xiao Lengjue, its target clear—Xiao Yunsheng.

In that split second, Wan Xing dashed forward and caught the arrow in his hand. But almost at the same time, another arrow arrived a moment later. It struck Xiao Yunsheng in the shoulder blade, causing him to drop to his knees immediately.

It was as if a declaration of war.

The soldiers inside the walls were instantly stirred into a fighting frenzy. The catapults were prepared, and without even waiting for Xiao Yunsheng’s command, they launched their attack.

Wan Xing tossed away the arrow in his hand, grabbing one person with each arm and urgently pulling Wan Sanjin and Chu Ling aside to dodge.

Below the city gate, Xiao Lengjue was forced to respond. He ordered his men to retreat quickly while using arrows to temporarily suppress the attack.

On the city wall, stones kept raining down, while the archers quickly took their positions, waiting only for a command to release their arrows all at once.

Chu Ling tore off her veiled hat and glared angrily at Fu Qingyu.

“What are you trying to do?!”

“It’s not about what I want to do.” Fu Qingyu’s expression grew serious. “It’s about what Prince Xiao’s heir wants to do. He wants to rebel, so… I wouldn’t advise you to do anything for him anymore.”

Wan Sanjin replied blankly, “But we didn’t…”

Fu Qingyu didn’t listen and simply turned and walked away.

Wan Xing frowned in displeasure. “He’s forcing you to choose sides.”

As he spoke, his eyes fell on the collapsed Xiao Yunsheng. Seeing his face rapidly turning ashen, Wan Xing hurriedly said, “Quick, Sanjin! Go find Coroner Su and Doctor Zhuang!”

Avoiding the fighting between both sides, Wan Sanjin quickly ran down from the city wall.

Wan Xing hoisted Xiao Yunsheng onto his back and rushed down as well, with Chu Ling escorting them from the side.