Chapter 542 - 524: Trump Card
Xie Xun is currently at the Kyoto Capital Guard Office. He avoided the searches by the Jinyi Guard and Forbidden Army and abducted Zhang Boxi on the street. Years ago, thousands of Kyoto Capital Guard officers followed him in leaving the Capital City, among them were young heirs from aristocratic families. Lin Xiao, Zhang Boxin, and Zhou Liyu were among those who departed with him, and they now serve as Generals of the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry.
Those Kyoto Capital Guard members were integrated into the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry’s forces, indistinguishable from one another. Lin Xiao, Zhang Boxin, and Zhou Liyu all achieved notable accomplishments. In the Capital, Xie Xun is isolated and bereft of allies — lacking men and without power. If Yuwen Jing hadn’t captured Marquis An Yuan and others, he could have concealed his identity and once again secretly led Feng Changqing and Su Yuejiao out of the Capital. Yet he could not disregard the life and death of Marquis Zhenbei’s former subordinates, nor could he tolerate Yuwen Jing’s cruelty and depravity.
To stop Yuwen Jing, Xie Xun must wield an army in his hands.
The Kyoto Capital Guard is Xie Xun’s only option.
Zhang Boxi is currently the Kyoto Capital Guard Commander and the fiancé of Princess Xue Lan. They were betrothed a year ago, and their wedding is planned for the end of this year. With Marquis An Yuan’s entire family imprisoned, Zhang Boxi would not remain indifferent. Xie Xun’s most evident realization is that the Kyoto Capital Guard is not actively guarding the Capital; during the Jinyi Guard’s arrests, they neither obstruct nor aid in such atrocities.
Such a dire situation, once experienced three years prior, is already far too much.
"Young Marquis..." Zhang Boxi greeted Xie Xun with dread and alarm upon seeing him, "You’re really in the Capital? You..."
The Jinyi Guard scour the streets with relentless determination, turning over every pebble to find Xie Xun. Zhang Boxi believed that Yuwen Jing was merely redirecting his anger over Feng Shu’s death, never imagining that Xie Xun was truly in the Capital. The South is at war, yet here the Young Marquis is in the Capital. Oh no—now he must be addressed as Prince.
"Zhang Boxi, the time has come!"
Over these years, the Shadow Guards stationed in the Capital were not idly waiting. They closely monitored the city’s power dynamics, family ties, deployments within and around the Imperial City, conflicts between the Kyoto Capital Guard and the Forbidden Army, and more. Xie Xun understood it all perfectly. After Xie Xun left the Capital, the Kyoto Capital Guard indeed fell into a slump for a time, as many aristocratic heirs had followed him away. Zhang Boxi dealt with the fallout, including burning down the Kyoto Capital Guard Office, conveniently destroying their personnel records in the process.
Yuwen Jing’s favored forces are the Forbidden Army and Jinyi Guard, especially the latter, who openly disdain the Kyoto Capital Guard. Before Xie Xun took over, the Kyoto Capital Guard was already a disorganized group. After Xie Xun defected, once a tightly-knit force under his command, the Kyoto Capital Guard again fractured into fragments. Ying San, under Xie Jue’s arrangement, quietly infiltrated the Kyoto Capital Guard while using the alias Yang Lin.
Over three years, he dutifully carried out tasks within the Kyoto Capital Guard and has now risen to the position of Deputy Commander. Of course, his rapid ascent to this position is not merely because of his hard work; it is also due to the backing and machinations initiated by Xie Jue.
Xie Jue and Xie Xun had long agreed that all Shadow Guards should remain in the Capital. Simply collecting information would be wasteful; if they ever needed to retake the Capital, there must be allies within, and a military force is essential.
The Jinyi Guard and Forbidden Army, tightly controlled by Yuwen Jing, are difficult to shake unless one is willing to spend ten years establishing firm footing — a timeline that is simply unrealistic!
The Kyoto Capital Guard is their best option!
Thus, they maneuvered Marquis Zhenbei’s former subordinates into action, planting the Shadow Guards within the Kyoto Capital Guard. While it appears that Zhang Boxi handles the Kyoto Capital Guard’s affairs, in truth, Ying San has gained Zhang Boxi’s trust, allowing Xie Xun to remotely control the Kyoto Capital Guard.
Thus, for all these years, the Kyoto Capital Guard remains trained under Xie Xun’s methods from their heyday. Personnel records are meticulously curated by Ying San, ensuring the force retains its strength despite its year of decline.
Zhang Boxi is an exceptionally clever man — far beyond merely clever. Yet he is not a talent for administration, as he belongs to a collateral branch of the Zhang Family. He lives with remarkable clarity, seemingly aware of a hidden hand directing the Kyoto Capital Guard. Seeing its orderly operations, and as its Commander, he turns a blind eye toward the power behind his endeavors, paying no heed to the unseen catalysts.
As a result, he enjoys all the benefits.
When Marquis An Yuan arranged a union between his legitimate daughter and Zhang Boxi, Zhang Boxi immediately understood who was behind the scenes, who was orchestrating the Kyoto Capital Guard’s operations.
He is left with only two choices.
First, agree to the marriage, wed the noble Princess Xue Lan, and align himself with Marquis Zhenbei’s faction. Second, refuse the marriage and remain loyal to the Yuwen Royal Family, continuing his previous stance of detached neutrality — indifferent to who rules the land — treating the Kyoto Capital Guard as a mere pawn that cannot even stir waves amidst a raging storm.
But he chose to accept the marriage. This means that henceforth, he aligns himself wholeheartedly with Marquis Zhenbei’s faction. No one will openly acknowledge the implications; Marquis An Yuan, who offers his daughter in marriage, will remain silent, and Princess Xue Lan herself likely has no clue about the underlying schemes.
Zhang Boxi sees everything clearly but feigns ignorance. As a result, Xie Xun continues to oversee the Kyoto Capital Guard’s strategy, Ying San executes orders, and Zhang Boxi carries them out. This is the ace up Xie Xun’s sleeve in the Capital!
Unless it is a matter of extreme urgency, Xie Xun does not intend to reveal this card.
Originally, he and Xie Jue planned that when their army stood at the Capital’s gates, the Kyoto Capital Guard would cooperate from within, opening the gates and carving a bloody path forward.
Now, forced by circumstance, Xie Xun has no choice but to deploy the Kyoto Capital Guard.
At the entrance of the Jinyi Guard prison, Grandmaster Zhang and several royal uncles sit firmly on the steps, blocking the Jinyi Guard from entering to slaughter innocent family members. After Yuwen Jing issued his decree, Grandmaster Zhang was so enraged he nearly fainted — this was clearly a massacre of innocents. The first family targeted is Marquis An Yuan’s; Yuwen Jing is determined to exterminate Marquis Zhenbei’s former subordinates.
Everyone is aware that if Xie Xun falls into Yuwen Jing’s hands, his fate will certainly be grim. The Forbidden Army remains idle, stationed either at the Imperial City or the Forbidden Army Camp, refraining from involving themselves in the events at the Jinyi Guard prison.
The scorching sun beats down relentlessly as the hour set by Yuwen Jing’s command draws ever closer, weighing heavily on the hearts of all present like an immense stone. Nearby, some calculate the time remaining. Once the appointed hour arrives, the Jinyi Guard will stop at nothing to rush into the prison and begin the killings.
"I’ll enter the palace and plead for my life. I don’t believe the Emperor would dare abandon ancestral principles and truly engage in such inhuman actions." An elder member of the royal clan, having sat for hours, tries to stand, only to sway dizzily, unsure if it’s from exhaustion or anger. He nearly falls but is quickly supported by others.
This royal elder, in terms of lineage, is an uncle to the late Emperor, of extremely close blood relation. No one wants to face this predicament, nor see Yuwen Jing destroy the foundation of the Yuwen Family’s centuries-long legacy.
A few veteran officials beside him hold him back. Pleading for one’s life, is it truly effective? If it were, would the tragedy of three years ago have occurred?
Didn’t enough people die back then?
In truth, though these officials cannot accept Yuwen Jing’s slaughter three years ago, they understand it. Marquis Zhenbei’s overwhelming influence and military authority encroached upon the throne; any emperor with ambition and cunning would refuse to tolerate such power. But the problem lies in the brutality of Yuwen Jing’s methods. Not only did he target Marquis Zhenbei, but he also slaughtered numerous generals, causing rivers of blood in the Capital. Coupled with his absurd scandals, such as seizing ministers’ wives, he became a lightning rod for criticism.
Yet in the past three years, his governance has been without significant fault. He strongly supported the Cabinet in quelling the Yangzhou rebellion, using funds seized from the Su Family’s Trading House to replenish the national treasury, most of which was allocated to administrative matters.
To the ministers, the Yanyang Court appeared to thrive, with citizens enjoying peaceful lives. Who would have thought that while external threats like Beiman and Sannan arose, internal chaos would ensue?
For the sake of one woman, he has unleashed a massacre. He is utterly mad!
Outside Yangxin Palace, ministers kneel, begging for intervention — all to no avail. Even the Commandery Princess has entered the palace to plead, invoking Marshal Fang’s name, yet Yuwen Jing remains unmoved.
He is resolute in capturing Xie Xun, no matter the cost!
Zhang Shun leads the Jinyi Guard. Though they have yet to storm the prison, their murderous intent lingers in the air, waiting for the appointed hour.
"Sir, there is still time for one more incense stick to burn. The Grand Tutor and royal elders continue to block the prison entrance. If we charge in now, it will inevitably lead to conflict. Should they suffer harm, we won’t escape accountability. It’s better to proceed cautiously and not act precipitously," a subordinate by Zhang Shun’s side advises, seeking to avoid offending the Grand Tutor and veteran officials.
"What are we afraid of? A group of decrepit old fools clinging to their ages to flaunt their authority. We are acting on the Emperor’s orders. Defying imperial commands warrants death. The Jinyi Guard respects no one except the Emperor’s decree. If they wish to die, we’ll gladly send them to reunite with Marquis An Yuan’s entire family!" Zhang Shun’s tone is venomous — after being humiliated by Lin Helin once before, Zhang Shun is desperate to restore his dignity, unconcerned by the repercussions of offending these elders.
He holds the Emperor’s decree — who dares dispute!
If Lin Helin were present at the Jinyi Guard prison, then... Zhang Shun’s malicious thoughts surface; if this Eldest Young Master dared to appear, he would seize the chance to kill him in the chaos and avenge the humiliation of that sword duel!