Chapter 535: Sleepless Night

The Jin Embassy lay quiet and still. Only the occasional vigilant guard moved back and forth on patrol.

Moonlight fell in sparse, mottled patches through a window beneath an old tree. By lamplight, an elderly man sat reading with a book in hand.

This was Bai Kuanyuan, Jin's envoy stationed in the State of Qi.

The door opened. An old servant entered, bent close to his ear, and said, “My lord, the man has been sent away safely.”

Without taking his eyes from the book, Bai Kuanyuan asked, “Nothing unusual happened?”

“The report says everything went smoothly. There was no abnormality at all. There should be no further problem.”

Only then did Bai Kuanyuan relax. He lowered the book, stroked his beard, and leaned back in his chair with a chuckle.

“Young Master Shao truly lives up to his reputation. He really is formidable.”

“Mm... a Strategy for Jin to Take All Under Heaven? Now I'm rather curious to see what exactly he intends to present to His Majesty, and whether it can truly earn this old man some merit.”

“What movement is there at the Wei Embassy?”

The old servant said, “It was close. Bu Fang personally led men into the Wei Embassy to seize him. Fortunately, he left in time. Any later and he would not have gotten away.”

“No wonder Young Master Shao was in such a hurry to leave and refused to delay even a moment.”

“He even alarmed Bu Fang?” Bai Kuanyuan was somewhat surprised.

After considering it for a while, he suddenly chuckled again. “There will be a good show tomorrow. I'm afraid Kang He will have to grit his teeth and keep acting.”

When Shao Pingbo first approached him, Bai Kuanyuan had received no authorization from the Jin court. He could not recklessly involve himself. If something went wrong, he could not bear the responsibility.

But Shao Pingbo had no time to wait for a round trip of messages requesting instructions. He promised not to drag Bai Kuanyuan into any trouble and said he needed only a small arrangement for reception and transport.

And so Bai Kuanyuan had managed to send Shao Pingbo away with astonishing ease.

The Wei Embassy certainly would not dare reveal the truth either. They would have to swallow their broken teeth along with their blood. Tomorrow, with a bellyful of rage, they would still have to put on a show before the Emperor of Qi, loudly demanding an explanation.

Qi, meanwhile, would inevitably conclude that Wei had taken the man away. Any investigation would focus on the State of Wei, neatly covering Jin's role in sending Shao Pingbo safely on his way.

All the crucial entanglement and trouble had been left at the Wei Embassy. None of it pointed toward the Jin Embassy.

The people who had truly succeeded had barely needed to do anything and now looked as though nothing had happened.

The people who knew perfectly well they had failed would still have to grit their teeth and perform a show, inadvertently helping conceal the true culprit.

How could Bai Kuanyuan not find it amusing?

Precisely because of this, he could not help marveling at Shao Pingbo.

The method of escape looked simple, but in truth it was anything but.

If the plan had not kept Bai Kuanyuan outside the trouble, if it had not been persuasive enough to move him, then without authorization from Jin, he would never have agreed to help Shao Pingbo.

Thinking through the whole sequence now, Bai Kuanyuan even found it stunning.

...

Moonlight washed the vast land below.

Two giant flying birds raced through the high night sky.

Looking back at the countless lights of the capital that had already vanished from sight, Shao Sansheng finally breathed out in relief.

Then he looked toward Shao Pingbo on the other flying mount.

Once again, he had to admit his admiration for this Eldest Young Master.

Earlier, Shao Sansheng had wondered how they could possibly escape in such haste while a group of cultivators kept watch over them.

Even if they sought help from Jin's envoy in the Qi capital, why would the man recklessly involve himself in such an affair?

Shao Sansheng had thought it nearly impossible.

Yet Eldest Young Master had done it with remarkable ease.

One short conversation was enough to make Jin's envoy urgently cooperate.

Shao Sansheng had listened to the entire exchange.

At first, Shao Pingbo offered a treasure to the Emperor of Jin and requested that Jin's forces help him escape.

The Jin envoy answered ambiguously.

Then Eldest Young Master said lightly, “Xuan Wei has already ordered Wei's envoy to take me out of the Qi capital tonight and escort me to Wei. Does Your Excellency wish me to go to Wei, or to Jin?”

The Jin envoy was startled and openly doubtful.

So Shao Pingbo asked him merely to witness what happened.

“If Wei's envoy makes no move to take me away tonight, Jin may stand aside and do nothing. But if Wei does make such a move, then Jin may decide for itself.”

“If Jin refuses to receive me, then I will simply obey Wei's arrangements and go to the State of Wei.”

And so matters had become exactly what they were now.

The Jin envoy mobilized Jin's resources, sending flying mounts and retainer cultivators to escort them safely out of the Qi capital.

Yet Shao Pingbo himself stood silently beneath the stars, his face calm.

To him, successfully using a few methods to escape was nothing worth celebrating.

He had weathered too many storms. If he lacked even this much ability, he would never have survived until today.

Not only was he not happy, he felt humiliated.

To him, he was now fleeing after being driven out like a homeless dog.

There was not the slightest joy in his heart.

Nor the slightest relief.

...

Inside the State Guest Residence, in the courtyard where Shao Pingbo had stayed, Bu Fang personally remained in command.

He had mobilized both the cultivators in the capital and the resources of the Office of Investigation, waiting for reports from every direction.

More than an hour passed without a single useful piece of news.

Niu Youdao knew there was little point in waiting any longer.

Given Shao Pingbo's ability, if they still had not found him after this much time, the chance of catching him now was already extremely small.

“With Eunuch Bu here overseeing matters, I'll take my leave first.”

Niu Youdao offered the courtesy and prepared to return to the inn to think carefully about whether he should continue to Wei and keep hunting Shao Pingbo.

Standing tall and broad-shouldered beneath the moonlight in the courtyard, Bu Fang slowly turned to look at him.

“Where are you planning to go?”

“Back to the inn first. If anything happens, you can contact me at any time. With the Office of Investigation's ability, I doubt I can hide where I'm staying from Eunuch Bu.”

“I think there's no need to run back and forth and make things troublesome. Stay here.”

Niu Youdao heard the implication behind those words.

His eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at Bu Fang.

Guan Fangyi and Uncle Chen beside him became alert as well.

Bu Fang added, “Those are the Chief Steward's instructions.”

Niu Youdao said, “I'm afraid I don't quite understand the Chief Steward's kindness.”

“Stay. The Chief Steward will come see you personally first thing tomorrow morning.”

With that, Bu Fang turned and left.

Niu Youdao and the others had not departed, yet Bu Fang himself left first.

And even if they wanted to go, they could not.

A group of cultivators had already taken up positions around the courtyard. The three of them could no longer leave.

This had originally been Shao Pingbo's lodging.

Shao Pingbo had escaped.

Now the three of them were the ones being confined here.

“What is going on?” Guan Fangyi asked, somewhat nervous.

Niu Youdao frowned.

He could not make sense of it either.

He could think of no reason for Bu Xun to move against him.

...

“He escaped?”

Inside the imperial palace, Hao Yuntu had finished reviewing memorials and was soaking in a bathing pool, preparing to rest after his bath.

He sounded genuinely surprised.

Standing beside the pool, Bu Xun had already reported the situation in full. He nodded.

“Yes. He escaped. We moved one step too slowly.”

“He escaped during the banquet?” Hao Yuntu's gaze turned strange and deep. “Could someone from the Office of Investigation have leaked the news?”

His first thought was that there might be a traitor on his own side.

Compared with that, whether Shao Pingbo had escaped was almost secondary.

Bu Xun said, “That can be ruled out.”

“According to the cultivators who accompanied him, Shao Pingbo left the banquet before we made our move.”

“Moreover, the Wei Embassy's actions were obvious. They intended to help Shao Pingbo leave.”

“Before the Wei Embassy held its banquet, Niu Youdao had not yet entered the palace, so there could have been no leak from our side.”

“The Wei Embassy helped Shao Pingbo leave...” Hao Yuntu murmured, falling into thought.

Now that Wei had taken the man, he actually felt some regret.

He regretted not having decisively killed Shao Pingbo earlier.

His gaze lifted, and he ordered heavily, “Search with all your strength. Once he is found, execute him immediately!”

Earlier, he had felt it was not worth bearing certain reputational consequences merely for Niu Youdao.

Now he plainly no longer cared whether the man was Princess Consort Ying's elder brother.

Wei's intervention had awakened the Emperor of Qi's killing intent.

“Yes!” Bu Xun bowed and accepted the order.

...

Late at night, Bu Fang arrived at Prince Ying's residence with men in tow, dragging Hao Zhen out of bed.

The moment Hao Zhen heard that Bu Fang had come bearing an imperial command, how could he dare remain in bed?

When they met, Hao Zhen immediately asked, “Eunuch Bu, what command does Father Emperor have?”

The burly Bu Fang swept a cold gaze over everyone present and slowly asked, “Why is the Princess Consort not here?”

“Tell the Princess Consort not to dawdle. Have her come immediately.”

Hao Zhen at once sent someone to hurry Shao Liuer.

Women took more time to dress and prepare.

Before long, Shao Liuer arrived in haste, her hair not even properly arranged, long locks hanging over her shoulders.

Bu Fang did not torment them further.

At a gesture from him, someone behind stepped forward carrying a box and presented it before the princely couple.

The lid was opened for them to see.

Hao Zhen looked confused.

Shao Liuer's heart, however, began pounding wildly.

Was this not the very box she had packed and sent to her elder brother?

Why had an imperial attendant personally brought it here in the middle of the night?

What had happened to create such a scene?

The box was opened wider, revealing the contents.

Seeing the gold notes and silver notes inside, Shao Liuer became even more certain.

Her heartstrings pulled taut.

She had no idea how serious the affair was.

Bu Fang asked, “Your Highness, Princess Consort, do you recognize this?”

Shao Liuer replied, “This is the gift I took to my elder brother Shao Pingbo yesterday at the State Guest Residence.”

Hao Zhen reacted immediately.

Yet he also found it strange.

Shao Pingbo was his elder brother-in-law. What was wrong with giving him some money?

Could even that be a crime?

Bu Fang said, “His Majesty asks whether you know where Shao Pingbo has gone.”

“If you know, tell us immediately. You are not permitted to conceal anything.”

The people here knew only that Shao Pingbo had been staying at the State Guest Residence. They knew nothing beyond that.

After a round of questions and answers, Bu Fang took out the letter Shao Pingbo had left and handed it to Hao Zhen.

Then he bowed and withdrew, refusing to reveal a single unnecessary word.

Only after all the palace visitors had left did Gao Jianhou return with the information he had just gathered outside.

He reported that Niu Youdao had come to the Qi capital and entered the imperial palace.

Afterward, he and Bu Fang had gone together to arrest Shao Pingbo, only to find the place empty.

Shao Pingbo had escaped with assistance from the Wei Embassy.

Hao Zhen's face tightened.

He drew the letter from its envelope and read it, then passed it among several trusted men.

Only at the end did it reach Shao Liuer, who was still uncertain and alarmed.

The moment she saw the letter, a cold sweat nearly broke across her entire body.

Earlier, for the briefest instant, she had considered denying knowledge of the box because she feared becoming entangled in trouble.

Fortunately, she had reacted quickly.

If they had brought the object here themselves, they could hardly have come without cause.

And Eunuch Bu had possessed the letter all along yet had deliberately withheld it until after questioning them.

He had plainly been watching their attitude.

If she had denied recognizing the box, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

Her legs felt weak.

Living within the imperial family truly meant danger at every step.

Blessing and calamity could turn on a single thought.

Only after reading the letter did she understand that Shao Pingbo had not accepted her money.

He had returned it to her and left without saying farewell.

Hao Zhen still could not make sense of what was happening.

Bu Fang had personally gone to arrest Shao Pingbo?

After thinking for a while, he wanted to find Niu Youdao and ask directly.

“Where is Niu Youdao?”

Gao Jianhou replied, “Bu Fang has him under control inside the State Guest Residence.”

“Under control?” Hao Zhen stared.

He was even more confused.

He looked around at his trusted men.

Every one of them shook his head.

None could understand what was happening either.

The Emperor himself had sent men into their residence in the middle of the night.

Until they understood what was going on, none of them could possibly sleep in peace.

For these people, it was destined to be a sleepless night...

[End of Chapter 535]