Chapter 126: Killing Two Birds with One Stone

The complexities involved here cannot be explained in a mere sentence or two. If the Quicksand Pavilion were not allowed to act, how else could Master Lu be forced to reveal his true colors?

"He has already achieved fame and fortune; even if we were to offer a warning, he would likely turn a deaf ear," Han Qing remarked, his expression impassive. There was no need to make a scene now. What was meant to happen would come in due time; even if they intervened this once, could they prevent such developments from occurring in the future? Besides, he could no longer find a foothold in Luojing, let alone anywhere else.

"Then we do nothing?"

"We don't need to come forward ourselves. Let Old Master Lin do it."

What? Young Master Zhu found this exceedingly strange, yet he could not pinpoint the other man's true intentions. It all seemed like a convoluted game. He had been close with Old Master Lin these past few days, and the two even shared similar views within the imperial court. This back-and-forth had led other officials to believe the two were quite intimate.

Upon learning that he might be the target of an assassination, Chen Tianwei was initially gripped by terror. However, he maintained a calm exterior, continuing his routine of presiding over cases. On his way back to his estate that afternoon, he was suddenly struck in the leg by a sword. Fortunately, he dodged in time, narrowly avoiding his femoral artery. Soldiers from the nearby patrol camp arrived immediately and apprehended the masked assassin.

The incident shocked the Emperor. To dare to assassinate a fifth-rank official at the very feet of the Son of Heaven—was this not treason? Who could guarantee the safety of the Imperial City? The Emperor demanded an immediate and thorough investigation.

Chen Tianwei now lay on his sickbed, having handed all matters over to Lord Gao. Lord Gao visited specifically to console him and inquire about the events of that day. He also visited the officials with whom Chen had recently been close, asking if they had noticed anything unusual. All of them shook their heads, equally shocked to hear of such an assassination; they could scarcely believe that a legitimate fifth-rank official could be targeted in broad daylight. It was truly terrifying.

"My Lord, we discovered these letters at the residence of Old Master Lin from the Metropolitan Prefecture. It appears some people were conspiring with them regarding the movements of Master Chen in recent days."

What? After returning, the investigating soldiers presented the evidence. Old Master Lin was deeply frightened. He had no idea what was happening! He had only heard that a colleague had been assassinated and had been living in fear ever since. Why, then, were these letters appearing in his own home?

"Lord Gao, someone is framing me! I am at such an age—why would I ever engage in such vile acts?" he cried out in agony, his face a mask of disbelief. But it was useless to protest now; he had to be taken into custody.

"Old Master Lin, I will not listen to these slanderous accusations. If your innocence can be proven, we will certainly see you released," Lord Gao said calmly. Perhaps it was all one could do to resign oneself to fate.

After the old man was taken to prison, his butler and wife immediately sought help from other friends. How could such an obvious frame-up be the work of the old man? Lord Gao did not believe it either. Although these letters served as incriminating evidence, who could guarantee they weren't forgeries? Thus, he submitted the letters to the Emperor, offering his own assessment. The Emperor instructed him to handle the matter with full authority, decreeing that no conviction could be made until the true culprit was found.

New clues regarding the masked assassin emerged: he was indeed a member of the Quicksand Pavilion, a martial arts sect. Though the Pavilion rarely appeared in public, they had fixed residences and generally kept no contact with imperial officials. Once the incident occurred, Lord Gao led his men directly to the Quicksand Pavilion to state his purpose. The Pavilion Master, however, was evasive and dared not speak.

"Lord Gao, we have never dealt with imperial officials. Isn't it a bit improper for you to come here uninvited?"

"Pavilion Master, your subordinates let slip a few things while carrying out their task. I had no choice but to come and verify the truth." Lord Gao waved his hand, and his soldiers brought forward the captured assassin. "Does the Pavilion Master recognize this man?"

Seeing that the witness was present, the Pavilion Master had no choice. He had to admit that all of this had been done under orders. Furthermore, as a force from the Jianghu, if they could no longer stay in Luojing, they would surely have to move elsewhere. Since the Emperor generally adopted a policy of "watch and control" toward martial arts factions, as long as they had not actually killed the official, they might avoid severe punishment.

"Who ordered you to do this?"

"We heard it was Master Lu from the Hanlin Academy here in Luojing. We have cooperated with him for years and have indeed received many benefits. But this time, we failed." The Pavilion Master saw no reason to remain silent; since Master Lu had not kept his promise and had exposed them, they no longer felt bound by the rules of the underworld.

"And the contents of these letters—were they forged by you as well?"

"Indeed."

Seeing that everything was settled, Lord Gao left the Quicksand Pavilion and immediately dispatched men to arrest Master Lu. This matter had endangered the life of an imperial official; he had been punished for his previous deeds, and it was unexpected that he would resort to the same old tricks again. Whenever someone stood in his way, he began a slaughter. Such a man was truly terrifying.

Master Lu was quietly drinking tea in his courtyard when soldiers suddenly burst into his home. A flicker of rage appeared on his face, and he was about to shout a reprimand when he saw Lord Gao strolling leisurely toward him.

"I don't think I need to say much more. You must know your situation, don't you?"

When intelligent people converse, they invariably know what crimes they have committed. To continue denying it would be absurd.

"How is this possible? How could you have found out it was me? There is no evidence!"

"You did intend to harm them both, but you forgot: in the world of the Jianghu, can everything really be bought with coin?"

What? Master Lu likely never imagined that he would one day be betrayed by the Quicksand Pavilion. The assassin who had targeted Chen Tianwei had been warned by the Pavilion long ago—the attempt was merely a performance. The true objective had always been to eliminate Master Lu. He thought he held the board in his hands, unaware that he was merely a chess piece. Alas, one wrong move, and the entire game was lost. As for the person behind it all, he was likely sitting in some quiet courtyard, leisurely reading the classics of Confucius and Mencius.