Chapter 42: Silence (IV)

In the darkness, only deathly silence remained.
Both sides stood in silence, staring at each other without saying a word.
They both knew what had happened; they understood everything clearly. This was a game—one where neither side could afford to lose.
“Report!”
A deputy general rushed over to Gao Xiuyan and bowed, saying, “General Gao, dozens of corpses were found near the old locust tree in the back yard—apparently killed not long ago!”
“Oh? Is that true? Falsifying military reports is a capital crime.”
Though Gao Xiuyan spoke to the deputy general, his eyes were fixed on Crown Prince Li Heng, his expression quite amused.
“Not a word of it is false!”
The deputy officer gave Gao Xiuyan a military salute, his reply firm and resolute.
“Good! Then let’s go take a look!”
Gao Xiuyan waved his riding whip and turned to head toward the back yard.
Shaking his head, Crown Prince Li Heng also stepped forward to follow.
When everyone arrived in the back yard, they were shocked by what they saw.
Dozens of palace guards were tied to several old locust trees, with neat knife wounds at their throats.
Killed with a single strike.
It was obvious they had been tied to the trees in advance before being murdered. Each of them had a piece of burlap stuffed in their mouths, preventing them from shouting for help. It wasn’t until the Jinwu Guard soldiers searched the back yard that they discovered such a tragic scene…
“Your Highness, I told you I heard the sound of fighting. It seems the murderer is inside the mansion.”
Gao Xiuyan sighed leisurely, looking pleased with himself.
“Gao, who do you think you’re talking about?”
Pu Dachui, unable to tolerate Gao Xiuyan’s indirect insults, snapped angrily.
“Oh? Which dog is barking nonsense? It seems no dog here has the right to speak in Your Highness’s residence.”
Gao Xiuyan waved his hand dismissively, casting a disdainful glance at Pu Dachui.
“You…”
How could Pu Dachui tolerate such an insult? He immediately reached for his sword.
“Dachui!”
Li Kuo grabbed Pu Dachui’s wrist with one hand and said softly, “Stop causing trouble. Listen to me—bear it.”
“Hmph!”
Pu Dachui angrily pulled his hand away from the sword hilt and sighed.
“Tsk tsk!”
Gao Xiuyan shook his head. “Your Highness, things have become complicated now. I don’t believe the murderer is General Li either. But these are lives at stake—so many of General Li’s men killed here, and his subordinates armed in the night…”
Li Heng snorted coldly. “What do you mean by this, General Gao? I merely happened to meet General Li here by chance.”
“Yes, yes. But the laws of the country are strict. You can’t show favoritism, can you?”

Gao Xiuyan seemed quite troubled: “How about this? General Li could go to Jingzhao Prefecture first and have some tea. Once the governor inquires further, General Li and his party’s innocence will be proven, and then it will be easier for everyone to explain themselves, right?”
Li Heng waved his sleeve and said, “Is this, General Gao, a threat to me?”
“Oh, Your Highness, you’re too kind. I merely meant that since you came to this forbidden place in the middle of the night, it’s already… hehe, if you get involved with one or two bandits as well, it will surely be difficult for Your Majesty to explain things.”
Gao Xiuyan finally found an opportunity to threaten the crown prince and, like a venomous snake, clung to his prey, continuously hissing.
“You…”
Li Heng’s cheeks turned pale with anger, but he couldn’t muster any counterargument. What Gao Xiuyan said made sense—meeting Consort Wei in the dead of night was unreasonable no matter how you looked at it…
“Your Highness, think carefully… think more carefully…” Gao Xiuyan said, raising his head triumphantly to tempt him.
Li Heng fell into silence for a moment.
If he allowed Gao Xiuyan to take Li Kuo away now, the pawn he had painstakingly cultivated might be ruined. But if he risked everything to protect the young man, he might end up in trouble himself.
If that was the case, he had no choice but to sacrifice one to save the whole…
“If Your Highness insists on refusing, I’m afraid I’ll have to use force and ‘invite’ General Li to Jingzhao Prefecture. That will inevitably damage relationships among us.”
Seeing Li Heng on the verge of collapse, Gao Xiuyan added another harsh blow without hesitation.
These words immediately ignited a reaction.
Pu Dachui and Dou Qing both drew their swords and pointed them at Gao Xiuyan.
“Damn you, you bastard Gao! Do you think just because you have a sword makes you special? None of us in the Tongwu Camp are cowards. Want to take our general away? Fine, try my grandfather Pu’s fists first!”
Dou Qing also gripped his sword tightly: “General Gao, we’re all comrades. There’s no need to go this far. You know what you did in Jiuqu. If we really have to go to extremes, we in the Tongwu Camp aren’t afraid of you!”
“Good, good, very good!” Gao Xiuyan said, unafraid, clapping his hands in approval. “What a wonderful display of loyalty to your master! But I, Gao, won’t fall for this! I’m determined to take this man away today!”
“Try it, you bastard!”
The soldiers of the Tongwu Camp drew their swords one after another, and the Jinwu Guards surrounding them also pulled out their blades.
The glint of steel was terrifying.

Gao Xiuyan shook his head and pushed away Pu Dachui’s sword. “What are you trying to do? Rebel? This is Chang’an City, the city under the emperor’s rule! You’ve already violated the laws by ignoring the curfew and staying outside illegally. Now you dare resist arrest with force?”
“Tch!”
Pu Dachui spat out a mouthful of phlegm in disdain, glaring fiercely at Gao Xiuyan. “You know exactly what you’ve done!”
“Enough. I’ll go with General Gao.”
Li Kuo smiled slightly. “What’s white won’t turn black, and what’s clear won’t become turbid. Since I have a clear conscience, why fear scrutiny?”
Li Kuo had been waiting for Crown Prince Li Heng to speak. He desperately hoped the prince would step forward and speak in his defense! Even if that speech couldn’t change the outcome, it could at least reassure his hundred or so men.
But nothing came. The prince said nothing. They were nothing but plague victims to be discarded once used—someone the crown prince wanted rid of as soon as possible.
In the end, it was still his men who spoke up for justice…
What more could he say? What was there left to say?
“General, why listen to him? We have swords—let’s fight to the death!”
Pu Dachui protested angrily. Gao Xiuyan had tried to kill the general several times. If they ended up in the dark prisons of Jingzhao Prefecture, without some kind of connections or bribes, there was no way they’d get out alive!
“Yes, General! The men follow your lead—let’s go and fight them to the death!”
Dou Qing already reached for his sword hilt. With just one word from Li Kuo, he would fight to the death against them.
“No need. I appreciate your loyalty, everyone.”
Li Kuo bowed to each of the soldiers. “The way of a gentleman has four aspects: strength in upholding justice, humility in accepting advice, caution in accepting rewards, and diligence in self-discipline. I consider myself strict and cautious in self-cultivation. If my character is upright, I need not fear evil shadows. So, I’ll go with General Gao to Jingzhao Prefecture!”