Chapter 24: The Zhu Family Mother and Daughter (1)
Upon realizing the gravity of the situation, I immediately sent a transmission to my sister.
"What?"
"Assassins. There are assassins on the road. They're quite skilled. A woman picking silk at the fabric shop, dice gamblers, two old men burning bear bile, a beggar in front of the restaurant. Hurry!"
Those bastards over there were assassins who would carve up people for money day or night.
"Don't move. Wait until Sa Baek and Sa Suknim arrive. Got it?"
"Of course. I'll pull the eunuchs into the palace and summon the soldiers. Go."
"Alright."
My quick-witted sister slipped inside the gate without showing any sign.
If anyone noticed, they wouldn't know what kind of servants the assassins were.
After sending her, I walked towards the side where the Directorate of City Overseers' high officials were.
Slowly, with the most eunuch-like gait.
I couldn't deceive my eyes, you damn assassins.
The public official who was with us was actually my older brother-in-law.
The ones guarding the Zhu family with the Jinyiwei were none other than the eunuchs from our Directorate of Ceremonial.
So, they had mastered the Jianghu's Ten Great Formations from the start.
'But who the hell are these filthy commoners trying to assassinate right in front of the imperial palace...? Wait, wait... August of the 17th year of Yongle, August...'
The chief eunuch returned from the fifth voyage around the 20th day, and again...
"Brother! How did the sea voyage go?"
At this time, I wondered if there was a big guest in the palace, and Jeong Go approached.
"Yes, listen well, Goya..."
At that moment, while answering Jeong Go, a certain event surfaced from the bottom of my memories.
I finally realized who the assassins were targeting.
'These bastards! Even if I beat them to death with these sticks, it's not enough! Assassins trying to assassinate the Crown Prince right in front of the imperial palace?'
The target they were waiting for with their mouths wide open was Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi.
It was clear.
It must have happened before the chief eunuch returned from the expedition.
Before regression, I only heard about it through rumors.
I was just a minor at the time.
The Crown Prince, that is, the future Hongxi Emperor, had gone with his elder sister, Princess of Jinxiang, to find the tomb of their mother, Empress Dowager Xiaowen, and returned to the palace that day.
Otherwise, the imperial concubine who was already suffering from various minor illnesses would have sustained further internal injuries that day.
In the end, she passed away a few years later.
If they had brought along the second son, Zhu Zhanji, who had aptitude for martial arts, the outcome might have been different.
But leaving both the Crown Prince and the Grandson out of the palace at the same time was extremely dangerous considering the future of the state.
So, Emperor Yongle and the great ministers would never have allowed it.
If that happened, what then?
It was an unsolvable problem.
"Why are you like this?"
"Don't be surprised. If you show any sign, trouble will erupt. Assassins are laid out on the road."
"Assassins... you say?"
As expected, Jeong Go's eyes flashed for a moment like a disciple from the major sect, but he remained calm.
"Yes, not just a few. I don't know if you've heard of formations, but they're setting up formations and waiting for the target."
"Formations... I know. But things are urgent right now, so I have something I want to tell you later."
I knew what the guy was trying to say.
He was trying to reveal his background.
Perhaps he wanted to talk about his connection with the Hainan Sect too.
According to what he said, that was a story for later.
"It seems they're planning to strike in front of Yuwol Pavilion. Today, His Highness the Crown Prince..."
I nodded, informing him that the Crown Prince's party was returning.
Jeong Go's expression sank upon realizing the severity of the situation.
"What will you do, brother?"
"If I tell the eunuchs of the Directorate of City Overseers the truth, a disturbance will occur, and then both the eunuchs and the people will be in danger. Naturally, we should divert towards Xi'an Gate."
If we left the eunuchs of the Directorate of City Overseers as they were, when the incident broke, they would all die.
When the Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi arrived and the incident happened, the high officials would all throw themselves in front of him to die in his place.
The Jinyiwei guarding the Crown Prince would also use the eunuchs as shields to counterattack.
That was the duty of the eunuchs of the Directorate of City Overseers.
Not only road maintenance, but also patrolling the roads was their duty.
It was a fate born from their duties.
But now I understood a little.
Why the sudden change to Directorate of City Overseers in the early morning.
Why they were specifically sent to Xi'an Gate.
Someone who knew that the Crown Prince was returning today and also knew that I had learned martial arts.
One of them was definitely the one who sent me to the Directorate of City Overseers.
But seeing that they left behind dozens of eunuchs who were obviously going to die when the incident broke, it wasn't our family.
'Who were they? Did they know about the assassins' attack?'
It didn't seem so. If they knew, they wouldn't have sent only me.
If they knew about the attack and sent me here anyway, it was tantamount to treason.
'Perhaps they wanted me to meet the Crown Prince? Why?'
A tangled web of unsolvable questions arose.
"Only tell Deung Gong. Naturally, have the eunuchs move a bit. I'll take responsibility. Even if I make mistakes, as a seasoned person, I won't mess up the job."
"Understood, brother. Don't we need to inform the soldiers at Xi'an Gate too?"
"His Highness is on an imperial inspection. He hasn't heard anything, so the middle-level officials won't move. A few assassins are nothing, they'll think it's a Jianghu matter."
The imperial inspection was only known to Emperor Yongle and the Jinyiwei commander, the head of the guards.
Once a secret is leaked through a few mouths, it's no longer a secret.
Sometimes a light mouth can bring disaster.
If it wasn't an imperial inspection, we would have had to send a large force to respond to exposure and threats.
That would cause huge financial losses.
Therefore, from the Crown Prince's perspective, it wouldn't be easy to get his father's permission.
Conversely, since filial piety to parents is the highest virtue in Confucianism, Emperor Yongle couldn't just cover it up.
Emperor Yongle himself cherished his deceased wife so much that he didn't remarry after Empress Dowager Xiaowen died.
The reason father and son agreed on the imperial inspection was in that context.
"For now, hurry. Save the eunuchs first. You go immediately to the Directorate of Ceremonial and report to Eunuch Yoon. Move the Jinyiwei right away."
With my rank and Jeong Go's, it was impossible, so the only way to move the Jinyiwei was through Eunuch Yoon or the chief eunuchs of the Directorate of Ceremonial.
"Yes, brother. Be careful."
After speaking, Jeong Go rushed to Deung So.
After a short conversation, Deung So naturally gathered the eunuchs.
At that time, I observed how the assassins reacted.
As expected, they were pretending not to look while watching everything.
If you looked at each one separately, you wouldn't notice, but when you stepped back to observe the whole, it was clear.
Eight pairs of eyes turning simultaneously towards Deung So.
They were sinister.
'Pervert? Sneaking a peek'
The eunuchs hated the assassins extremely.
They shuddered at the mere mention of assassins or killers.
They were their mortal enemies.
When the incident broke, who among those accompanying the Crown Prince would die first?
The eunuchs and powerless women.
"You bastards have chosen your resting place for today."
But there was no need to dirty my hands and suffer.
It was enough to just warn them in advance.
Whether I killed them or someone else, it was the same.
***
The Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi and Princess Zhu Zhanji, disguised as a normal wealthy family's daughter, were on their way back to the palace.
The mother and daughter had reached the end of the long journey of over 2,000 li from Yingtianfu to the capital, and now only Xi'an Gate remained.
"Father, you have worked hard on the journey."
Princess Zhu Zhanji's voice was bright at ten years old.
Although disguised as a normal wealthy family's daughter, the precious jade that was raised delicately in the palace could not be hidden.
Her features were distinct, and her eyes were clear.
When she grew up and the baby fat disappeared, she would become a beauty in the region.
She possessed both grace and intelligence, the daughter that Zhu Gaochi cherished, and the sister that Zhu Zhanji doted on terribly.
"Father is lonely and has followed us, suffering a lot. Father should bestow a great reward. Let me hear your wish."
"I only wish for my father to live long and healthy."
"Again, this father is going to choose for you? Let me see, what would be good?"
Feeling the daughter's thoughtful heart that wouldn't hurt even if put in the eyes, Zhu Gaochi's face lit up with a pleasant expression.
Outside the carriage carrying the mother and daughter, the Jinyiwei guards disguised as escorts were listening to the intimate conversation of the mother and daughter and smiling faintly.
On the driver's seat of the carriage, Gongsun Dajing, the Jinyiwei Qianhu commanding the guards, was sitting.
"You have all worked hard."
"No, my lord."
Gongsun Dajing answered to the praise from Zhu Gaochi coming from inside the carriage.
At thirty years old, Gongsun Dajing had a handsome appearance, a young master praised by the Jinyiwei.
This meant he was a master trained with great effort by the imperial family and Jinyiwei.
Having a Qianhu in his forties was rare, and wearing the rank 5 pin Qianhu hat at just thirty was proof.
Why send ordinary people to guard the Crown Prince.
Gongsun Dajing was at the intermediate peak realm, and the other 17 guards were at the initial peak realm, one step below.
Considering that the masters of the major sects representing the Jianghu were usually just below the late peak realm, the composition was extremely powerful.
'Ha... it's almost over.'
Recalling the long journey of constant tension, Gongsun Dajing let out a small sigh.
Soon, only a quarter li remained to reach Xi'an Gate.
When they reached Xi'an Gate, they would set down all tension and rest well.
'I can't be at ease until I enter Xi'an Gate.'
Gongsun Dajing clenched the reins with determination not to slacken tension until the end.
Then.
"Do not be surprised, Qianhu Gongsun. Assassins are ahead. If you stop the carriage, they will strike immediately."
Suddenly, a transmission from a voice that had just gone through mutation came.
Upon hearing the word "assassin", Gongsun Dajing's mind snapped awake.
'Who?'
They could only signal to assassins by acting suspiciously, so they had to act calmly according to the suspicious transmission.
"I am a eunuch from the Directorate of City Overseers. I am in front of Yuwol Pavilion. Please slow down the reins. If not, you will enter the assassins' jurisdiction."
Another transmission flew.
'Yuwol Pavilion?'
Gongsun Dajing widened his eyes and looked at Yuwol Pavilion.
There, the back of a eunuch who was defecating with his back to this side was visible in front of the main gate of Yuwol Pavilion.
'He sent a transmission from far away? He's skilled.'
At that time, Gongsun Dajing missed three facts.
First, among the eunuchs of the Directorate of City Overseers, only those of rank 5 or higher who had cultivated martial arts.
Second, high-ranking eunuchs wouldn't be defecating alone.
Third, the voice was too young for a high-ranking eunuch.
"Provide evidence that you are not with the assassins."
Gongsun Dajing's suspicion was reasonable.
After all, his appearance might have been revealed, and assassins wouldn't do anything to create the optimal situation.
It might be an assassin disguised as a eunuch from the Directorate of City Overseers using cunning tactics.
Moreover, since he sent a transmission to the person claiming to be a eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, it was like admitting he was Gongsun Dajing.
Since it was a situation where the other party's identity was revealed to obtain additional information from an unknown enemy or ally, they couldn't blindly follow the transmission.
"Ha... pi...! Whether I believe you or not is not important. What is important is my words. Look at the Eight Trigrams formation based on me. When the carriage arrives at my position, they will act."
Upon hearing the firm transmission, Gongsun Dajing immediately examined the Eight Trigrams formation around the suspicious eunuch.
'Fabric shop... beggar... scholar...'
Surprisingly, various people were precisely setting up the Eight Trigrams formation.
"The woman at the fabric shop, the beggar in front of the restaurant, the sleeping scholar at the outdoor table of the bookstore, the dice gamblers, the two old men burning bear bile in front of the stall... Do I need to say more?"
The transmission came like a nail in the coffin before he could fully confirm.
'Heavenly Assassins! Shameless bastards! Who are you!'
Upon hearing the transmission, Gongsun Dajing realized what the assassins' positions and formations meant, and had no choice but to believe the suspicious eunuch.
If the young eunuch was the enemy, they wouldn't expose the core of their strategy.
When the Heavenly Assassins' formation was exposed, it was like carrying a fatal flaw.
"I believe you. If you deceived this Qianhu, your head will be cut off first."
"Do as you wish."
"When did you know? Is there support?"
"I found out just before."
"Then you couldn't have reported to the commander."
"Yes!"
Gongsun Dajing let out a short sigh as his hoped-for expectation collapsed.
However, they had to continue advancing.
They could retreat, there was a military camp in the rear, but...
The retreat to the military camp was blocked.
The assassins must have known about the military camp's existence.
Since they were close to the jurisdiction, they must have blocked the retreat.
'The imperial inspection of His Highness the Crown Prince must have been leaked by someone. They deliberately chose Xi'an Gate. Who is it, who dared to plot such treason.'
Gongsun Dajing clenched the reins tightly.