There is a god in the sky

Chapter 368 Joint Trial by the Three Judicial Offices 9

While the palace was filled with song and dance, a considerable disturbance was taking place outside.

The incident began when rumors circulated that the Imperial Guards were killing people everywhere, and officials with even the slightest blemish were in grave danger.

At this time, many officials received a secret letter at their homes, a secret letter bearing the Crown Prince's private seal.

Master Xiao happened to be a guest at the Yuan family's residence.

Officials like Yuan, the compiler, never participated in factional struggles and had little ambition, devoting themselves entirely to compiling books and repairing cultural relics.

But he also received a letter.

Editor Yuan almost thought the other party had sent it to the wrong person.

"What does this mean? Isn't the sign on my front door big enough?"

"Quickly, see what it says!" Master Xiao said, full of curiosity.

He's not home tonight, and I don't know if he has such a thing at home.

As Yuan, the editor, unpacked the package, he muttered, "Everyone says that the Imperial City Guard is cleaning up corrupt officials for the Emperor, but I don't believe the Emperor would do something so foolish."

Master Xiao sneered: "That depends on who's going to die."

Since ancient times, there has been no father-son relationship under imperial power. Now that the emperor and the crown prince are about to fight, the court is bound to be unstable.

Upon reading the contents of the letter, Editor Yuan screamed and threw it away.

"This...this is impossible!"

Mr. Xiao picked it up with a puzzled look, but before he could see it clearly, it was snatched back by Editor Yuan.

"Don't look! Please!" Editor Yuan tore the letter into pieces and paced anxiously around the room.

Mr. Xiao was both curious and embarrassed.

He had known Lord Yuan for over twenty years and had never seen him so flustered.

In that one glance, he only saw the words "wife".

As far as he knew, Yuan, the editor, was chosen as a son-in-law after passing the imperial examination.

He had a harmonious relationship with his wife, and what was rare was that his wife's family did not have high expectations of him and gave him enough money to do what he liked.

"Brother Yuan, is there anything I can help you with?"

"No...no, I'm sorry, I'm not feeling well today. Let me see you out first."

Lord Yuan was covered in sweat. Master Xiao wouldn't force him, so he stood up and said, "Go ahead and do what you need to do. I'll go back first. Don't keep things to yourself."

"Yes, yes, thank you for your understanding, Brother Xiao."

Master Xiao left completely bewildered. After thinking for a moment, he told the coachman to hurry home.

Xiao Ji had not yet returned, so Master Xiao asked the gatekeeper, "Has anything unusual happened in the manor today?"

"No, sir."

"Have any strangers been here?"

"nor."

Master Xiao was skeptical and hurriedly ran to the backyard, where he saw Madam Xiao with her maids and servants digging up the flowers and plants in the yard.

"Madam, what are you doing?"

With her hands on her lower back, Madam Xiao said wearily, "There are too many mosquitoes lately. Miss Shen suggested that we repair the courtyard to prevent them from bothering us."

Seeing that everyone's expressions were normal, Master Xiao felt a little relieved.

"Where's Miss Shen?"

"I just took the lady's pulse, and then taught everyone how to prepare a maternity bag. I even listed a whole page of precautions for childbirth."

Mrs. Xiao said sadly, "It seems she's made up her mind to move out."

Master Xiao disagreed, saying, "The outside world is in turmoil right now, with demons and monsters killing people at will. She is also an orphan from Guli Town, and it would be too easy for her to get into trouble if she moved out now."

Shen Lan's voice came from behind, "That's precisely why I need to move out. Firstly, it won't implicate the Xiao family, and secondly, it will make it easier to lure the snake out of its hole."

Master Xiao turned around, frowned, and asked, "Using your own life to lure the snake out of its hole, isn't that courting death?"

Shen Lan smiled and said, "It's not entirely without protection. The master said he would arrange for people to guard us in shifts for twelve hours a day."

"It's still too dangerous," Madam Xiao disagreed.

Shen Lan shook her head and explained, "Actually, given the current situation, the Emperor wants to depose the Crown Prince, while the Crown Prince's faction wants to maintain their position. They are scheming against each other, so they may not have time to pay attention to a nobody like me."

When Xiao Ji returned home and saw everyone there, he said with a serious expression, "Many ministers' families received a threatening letter today."

Thinking of the Yuan family, Master Xiao asked, "What are you threatening them with?"

"The Tong family used the secrets of the ministers to threaten them into supporting the Crown Prince. The Imperial City Guards are ruthless in killing, but the Tong family can protect their lives."

Who doesn't have some secrets?

The most terrifying thing nowadays is not having your life threatened, but that a secret you've kept for years has been discovered so easily by the other party.

This shows how many spies the Tong family has planted in the imperial court over the years.

Master Xiao looked around and suddenly couldn't tell whether the servants in the courtyard were human or ghosts.

"Come on, let's go inside and talk." He led his wife and son into the house.

Xiao Ji pulled Shen Lan in as he passed by.

Once the door was closed, Master Xiao began to recount what had happened at the Yuan family's residence, exclaiming, "I never imagined that Old Yuan would have such an extraordinary secret."

"It seems that the previous claim that the Imperial City Guard committed murder was also false."

"To this day, no one knows how many assassins the Tong family has kept, or how many are scattered throughout Bianjing City. From now on, we must keep a close watch on our home."

With Master Xiao out making arrangements, the Xiao family is now in the eye of the storm.

Offending the Crown Prince and the Tong family, no one knows if they will become the target of retaliation.

As Shen Lan gazed at the darkening sky, she said to Xiao Ji, "My lord, I would like to go and see Vulture Peak Mountain."

Things are probably not going well with the Marquis of Pingyang, otherwise there wouldn't have been no news for several days.

"Okay, let's go together. It's a good opportunity to go see the place you mentioned."

Madam Xiao stepped forward to straighten her son's belt and collar, and said, "Be careful in everything, and come back safely."

"Mother, don't worry. If anything happens, just go to the Princess's residence to take refuge."

Madam Xiao was puzzled, but she didn't ask for the reason immediately; she simply noted the sentence down.

Shen Lan changed into a set of ordinary cloth clothes, styled her hair in a single bun, and wore a mustache. Without a close look, she looked like a shrewd and lean businessman.

Xiao Ji and the others changed into the attire of the Hu people, blackening their faces, adding sideburns, wearing cloth hats, and exuding a strong smell of spices.

They exchanged a smile, showing perfect understanding between them.

"I sent someone to inform Commander Zhao that we will meet outside the city gate."

Xiao Ji said, "Commander Zhao is a confidant of the Emperor. With his testimony, this case will be decided even if it doesn't go through a joint trial by the three judicial departments."

After walking a short distance, Shen Lan asked in a low voice, "Is Commander Zhao truly loyal to the Emperor?"

Xiao Ji turned around and glanced at her, a helpless expression on his face.

"Who knows? Everyone has their own ulterior motives. The fact that he dared to have an affair with Consort Xie right under the Emperor's nose shows that his loyalty to the Emperor is not pure."

"It's as if everyone is wearing a thick mask," Shen Lan remarked.

In this capital city, everyone seems to be caught in a cycle of helplessness, everyone is two-faced, and everyone has two sides.

"Go out through the side door; the Xiao family should also be under their surveillance right now."

The Xiao residence had several gates, and Xiao Ji led them out through a small gate that was never opened on ordinary days.

Outside was a dark alley with high, bare walls, unsuitable for hiding people.

The four of them climbed over the wall, turned right, and disappeared into the bustling street.