Zong Chuke stared at Pei Tan and said: "Pei Tan, from now on, I, Zong, and your Pei family will be sworn enemies."

  The voice was slow and seemingly devoid of emotion, yet it had a sudden chill that pierced through one's heart.

  Pei Tan stared at Zong Chuke from a distance of over ten steps, the two of them were actually engaged in a game of chess between two hundred-year-old families, and today, Zong Chuke lost to Pei Tan who had planned ahead.

  He turned around, staring at Ziyuan and Wenlang by his feet like the god of death: "If I kill these two worthless tavern dwellers, it will be enough to vent my anger today."

  Time waits for no one, the black-clad man's blade flashed towards Ziyuan's neck. This time it was Zong Chuke's ruthless revenge, and there was no possibility of showing mercy again.

  "In exchange for the lives of these two people in the wine tower, I'll give you Leng Lang's entire corpse. This deal shouldn't be a loss for Master Shang either."

  "Halt!" A shrill cry was heard, and the black-clad man's knife barely grazed the delicate neck of Zǐ Cuān'er, leaving a faint blood mark, but he hastily withdrew it, shrinking back in fear.

  Zi Yan'er's mouth was bleeding from the corner, and she fell onto Wen Lang's body.

  Zong Chuke's eyes bulged out, like a terrifying specter of death. "Pei Tan, even if my son has committed a capital offense, it is for Your Majesty to decide his fate personally. What are you, daring to use private punishment?"

  Even if Zong Chuke had thought so earlier, he was convinced that Zong Huo's whereabouts could no longer be concealed, but he never expected Pei Tan to say something like "leave the whole corpse".

  Pei Tan gazed at Zong Chuke's twisted face, and the pair of hands that had been hidden in his sleeves slowly parted, revealing a right hand grasping a yellow scroll.

  As soon as he saw this, Zhong Chuke's eyes were bloodshot.

  "Pei Tan gazed at him for a moment, 'Pei understands that the Minister is concerned and confused, but as for Lord Lang's death sentence, it was already announced to the world nearly two months ago. His Majesty has also personally made a decision on this matter. Therefore, what the Minister said about needing His Majesty's decision even if Lord Lang had committed a crime no longer holds true today.'"

  Zong Chu's arms trembled with rage. If this matter were to be decided once more, it would undoubtedly mean that Emperor Zhongzong was a ruler who did not keep his word to the people of the world.

  Everything I said can be overturned.

  But this was impossible for any emperor in any dynasty.

  Don't joke around.

  It's more than just four words.

  "His Majesty has already given a secret order regarding this matter. The fewer people involved in the private execution of Zong Ho, the better."

  It's already been made clear in private that this matter cannot be made public, and the fewer people involved, the more it illustrates this point.

  But Zong Chuke still has illusions now and wants to let Zong Huo's crime be retried.

  This old man, over fifty years of age and well aware of his fate, has experienced countless rises and falls throughout his life. Yet now he has committed the most basic of mistakes.

  Zong Chuke was now completely dull, he could only hold one hand on the table, his eyes blurred looking at the young man in front of him who he wanted to kill with all his heart just a moment ago: "Pei Tan, I ask you, where did you put my Huo Er?"

  It's been a long time since I had any hope, and now I can still see Zong Huo alive in Chang'an. To be honest, it's already uncertain whether he'll be able to take one last look at Zong Huo's corpse in this lifetime.

  Even the great heroes who have been enshrined in history now look worn out and withered, their former glory completely lost.

  "Give me the intact corpse of Lord Lian in exchange for the lives of this wine shop couple, and I, Pei, will not go back on my word."

  Zong Chuke was like a deflated leather pouch, and the knife in his hand fell with a clang.

  ——

  Tonight someone lured the tiger away from the mountain, and the leader of the dead soldiers was entangled in a fierce battle until his clothes were stained with blood. He looked at the two companions beside him who were already on their last breath.

  It wasn't until then that he finally understood, they had unknowingly fallen into someone else's trap a long time ago, unfortunately, his own people still didn't know anything.

  The moon in the sky also seems to have been stained with a layer of blood color.

  Under the reflection of this Blood Moon, whether it's Wu Zhou or Chang'an, they are all the same.

  "Leader, we...can't hold on..." The dead warrior who had always fought side by side with him had blood at the corner of his mouth and sweat and blood dripping from his body.

  They are top-notch experts, but the people waiting for them in this thatched cottage are also experts.

  Pei Xian's body was also covered in bloodstains, but he still seemed to have the strength to fight. The knife in his hand gleamed with a bloody frost: "Kill them all, leave none alive."

  All of the Pei family's dark guards drew a black electric current in mid-air and charged towards the three figures clad in blood-red clothes.

  The leader of the dead warriors, whose eyes were originally on the verge of death, suddenly burst out a thread of blood, his knife tip instantly stabbed into the ground, but his gaze turned to the two dead warriors beside him.

  These two people were more seriously injured and absolutely could not survive. Since that's the case...

  The redness in his eyes deepened.

  "Up!" Pei Xian descended like a god from heaven, with his sword in hand, chopping towards the three men.

  In an instant, the leader of the dead soldiers let out a long whistle. Before anyone could react, he stretched out his two hands and lifted the two dead soldiers on either side into the air, throwing them violently towards County Magistrate Pei's knife.

  Hot blood splattered on the faces of Pei County and two dark guards, the corpses of two dead soldiers hung on the knife tip, their eyes staring out without closing.

  Pei County retrieved the knife from the corpse, turned around and saw the leader of the dead soldiers fleeing into the night, like a panicked ghost.

  Two dark guards looked at County Pei: "Lord Pei, aren't you going to chase after him?"

  Pae County sheathed his blood-stained long sword and gazed coldly into the night: "No need to chase, it's unnecessary now."

  The two dark guards seemed somewhat surprised, but looking at the two corpses under their feet, they thought for a moment and didn't say anything else.

  The leader of the dead men, covering the bleeding wound on his body, stumbled through the streets and alleys, rushing towards Zong Ho's mansion. Tonight's affair was premeditated by someone, and he must inform the young master that fortunately, most of the dead men's strength... remained in the mansion.

  He walked with hope, his feet leaving bloody footprints. The lives of these dead warriors were solely for the existence of their lord; as long as they had protected their lord to the end with their lives, that was all the value of these dead warriors.

  Just around another street corner and he would arrive, a smile spilled from his mouth, he slowly supported himself against the wall, walking step by step.

  Before his eyes, the soaring flames seemed to be mocking him.

  The leader of the dead warriors stared incredulously at the scene before him, this street had only their young master's mansion, and the raging sea of flames was just about to engulf it.

  How did it end up like this...

  The leader of the dead warriors stared with wide eyes, unable to take another step forward. With all the remaining strength of the dead warriors, how could they still not protect the entire mansion?

  His body, exhausted and drained of energy, suddenly knelt to the ground. The last hope of the leader of the dead soldiers was shattered, and he also ended up staring wide-eyed and unblinking at the street, just like those two subordinates he had pushed to their deaths.

  Inside the mansion, all the servants had fled in disarray, crying and wailing. All the dead warriors remained in their last pose before death, lying on the ground in strange and bizarre positions. Until the very end, they did not know how they died.

  In the kitchen, an old man finally walked out, Yin Wu Chang shook off the sweat towel at his waist, looked at the corpses lying horizontally and vertically in the yard, and let out a cold laugh.

  Why is he a godly chef? He can make a simple dish of braised pork belly and create an amazing savory flavor.

  Isn't it strange? Not really, because those things were originally flesh...

  Yin Wu Chang took out the so-called "secret formula" from his waist and threw the bottle into the raging flames.

  The so-called Pei's number one master is called Bi Luo Huang Quan, pursuing souls without constant.

  This game that had been set up for many days finally came to an end on this night, and as I looked around the mansion, there was not a single living person left.

  In a wide open door, Zong Huo's clothes were stripped off, lying on his side in the big bed, but he no longer had any breath of life.

  Even immortals cannot save him from his fate if he indulges in meat and lust every day.

  There is a heavenly punishment in the darkness, and those who act recklessly will only have a dead end.

  Pei County finally arrived at the mansion with his men, and indeed did not see the "escaped" leader of the dead soldiers. On the rooftop, Pei County saw Zong Huo, who had been dead for some time, and fell silent for a moment.

  A moment later, he said, "Bring out his body."

  Two dark guards looked at each other, "Why bother with this extra move? His Majesty's will is to cut the grass and eliminate the roots. Wouldn't it be better to let him burn along with the house?"

  Indeed, burning it all away like this is more in line with Zhong Zong's intentions.

  But...

  Pei County frowned: "First follow what I said, wait until tomorrow when we receive a reply from the young master, then wait for the young master's instructions."

  Perhaps it can be said that Pei Xian has been following Pei Tan for a long time and sometimes seems to be able to guess Pei Tan's intentions in advance.

  Two bodyguards rushed into the fire-surrounded house, and carried Zong Huo out in a sorry state. Pei Xian simply wrapped Zong Huo in a quilt, and the three of them left the mansion under the cover of night.

  On the second morning, three disguised merchants quietly left Wuzhou City with two large boxes of local goods. They had a road permit issued by the government office, so they naturally didn't receive any checks along the way. Moreover, small groups of three to five merchants were not considered important by the city gate of Wuzhou.

  As they left the city, those few dark guards finally couldn't help but say: "That maid..."

  In their elaborate plan, it was that young and tender girl who truly resided in the innermost courtyard of the mansion, orchestrating everything.

  Pei County's expression remained unchanged, "Her matter is for Young Master to decide, we don't need to interfere."

  The two dark guards exchanged a glance and ultimately swallowed their words back.

  …

  On the same day, Pei Tong put on the heavy official uniform and hat under the service of the maidservants, and entered the palace to report to Emperor Zhongzong.

  Zhong Zong listened to the whole story and his face did not show whether he was happy or unhappy, but just sighed and said after a moment: "Thanks for your hard work, Pei Gong."

  "It is a matter within my own duties."

  Emperor Zhong gazed at this young yet astute and resourceful subject, and slowly said: "The aristocratic families have been secretly colluding with each other, but in the end, only you, Pei, stand on my side."

  Pei Tan slowly lowered his eyes and chose to remain silent.

  This emperor who ascended the throne for a second time faced a court dominated by powerful aristocratic families, eunuchs in power, and an inner court controlled by relatives of the empress, while externally there were countless hidden worries...