Jiaohua

Chapter 1690 Father and Daughter Kill Each Other
For Xia Zhaoyi and Shen Lie, encountering Shangtai Jinni in the Baiyinsuer Stone Tower was an unexpected delight.

They initially intended to set the fire, but having Shangtai Jinni set it on fire made it even more effective.

During the days that Shangtai Jinni was under house arrest by Shangtai Yu, Xia Zhaoyi was searching for the assassins who were still lurking in Lingdai City.

News of Wu Weili's affair had already spread. During this time, these former assassins were filled with fear and dread. On one hand, they were relieved to understand why their colleagues were frequently getting into trouble. On the other hand, they developed strong suspicions, beginning to wonder if Shang Taiyu's cronies were among those still working with them.

Fortunately, because Wu Weili was cautious and afraid of being exposed, he held back and did not ask too many questions about who was infiltrating Lingdai City. So, although the number of people who were exposed by Wu Weili was not small, it was not all of them.

Xia Zhaoyi found them to discuss how to rescue the Han people who had been captured and forced into slavery.

Previously, an unprecedented slave-killing incident broke out in Lingdai City. The Hulan family's excessive abuse of slaves led to a slave uprising, making the Hulan family a laughing stock. At the same time, the various nobles and officials of the Northern Yuan became increasingly strict in their control over those Han slaves. Some chopped off a few toes, some chopped off fingers, and a few wealthy families directly ordered a batch of shackles to put on all the slaves' ankles.

Moreover, it is impossible to accurately count how many slaves are still alive in the entire Lingdai City; a rough estimate suggests that there are at least three thousand.

Even if we can rescue all three thousand people, how can we get them out of Lingdai City safely?

These slaves suffered from hunger and cold year-round, were plagued by diseases, and many of them were missing toes, making it difficult for them to walk and preventing them from going very far.

Xia Zhaoyi believed that these long-time lurkers of the Butcher Clan had a deep understanding of Ling Daicheng and would have many good ideas. However, she found that they were all deeply mired in pessimism and despair, and their will was broken.

Xia Zhaoyi knew they were suffering greatly, so she stopped visiting and disturbing them, and only asked them to continue counting the number of slaves, counting as many as they could.

Turning her head, Xia Zhaoyi sought out Shen Lie to brainstorm a solution.

Shen Lie used the business acumen of Zhiye, thinking that he could first come up with a few ideas, spend money to buy these Han slaves, absorb them in batches as much as possible, relieve the pressure first, and then see what happens to the rest.

He was used to being rich and powerful, but Xia Zhaoyi found it difficult.

The Central Plains are rich in resources, teeming with wealthy merchants and gentry, and large merchant guilds are everywhere. In contrast, the Northern Yuan is vast but scarce in resources, which are highly concentrated in the hands of the nobility. It is difficult for ordinary people to become wealthy merchants, and even if they do, they must have deep connections with those powerful figures, making their past very easy to trace.

Therefore, "Master Zhi" could emerge suddenly in the Central Plains, but he could not emerge in the Northern Yuan.

Even if they could lie and say they came from the wasteland of Hechuan, it would be faster and cheaper to buy and sell Han people from Tanzhou, Ningsi, and Panyu, which are connected to the Han people in the southern corridor.

Shen Lie suddenly asked what it would be like further west or further north of Bei Yuan.

Xia Zhaoyi shook her head. Very few Han people could get to that place. She would like to try it if she had time in the future.

The two sat in silence for a while, when suddenly, the aroma of the female soldiers next door brewing medicinal ointment wafted over.

Xia Zhaoyi blinked and glanced at Shen Lie.

Just then, Shen Lie turned to look at her, his deep black eyes shining like stars.

Xia Zhaoyi asked, "What came to mind?"

Shen Lie smiled and said, "If wealthy merchants can't get out, then what about doctors?"

Xia Zhaoyi smiled and said, "That's fine!"

Shen Lie continued, "We'll create a ghost doctor, a ghost of demons and monsters."

Xia Zhaoyi nodded: "Doctors are scarce in the Northern Yuan. If a skilled physician emerges, he will be highly sought after. Fortunately, we have someone ready to imitate him."

Shen Lie said, "Feng Qingang."

Xia Zhaoyi said, "That's right!"

"To copy the same pattern."

"Yes, we will create the same kind of ruthless and insane things as Feng Qingang. It just so happens that in the eyes of these Northern Yuan people, Han people are lowly. If we use these Han people as materials, they will not feel bad."

After finalizing the plan, the two began to discuss how to secretly carry it out. In fact, it was quite simple. If they could establish the reputation of this "ghost doctor," then it would not be a problem to open up a special trade route for transporting medicinal materials for the ghost doctor. They could even get the active protection of these nobles of Lingdai City.

The question then becomes, who should be the "ghost doctor"?

One must be skilled in medicine, absolutely loyal, have courage and boldness, be good at martial arts, and have the ability to protect oneself and escape.

After much thought, Xia Zhaoyi pointed to herself and said, "Without a doubt, I am the best candidate."

Shen Lie's long, slender fingers enveloped her fingertips and took them away: "You are the commander of the Falcon Battalion. Anyone can do it, but not you. This matter is not urgent. I will arrange the selection."

Aside from dealing with these "slaves," there was another matter on this trip: Xia Zhaoyi wanted to give Shang Taiyu a strong dose of medicine.

Although the powerful Prince Changyan of the Northern Yuan Dynasty spent most of the year in seclusion and rarely went out, he enjoyed all the riches and honors he was entitled to. Moreover, his businesses expanded due to the development of trade routes. Goods from these trade routes were given priority to his royal residence.

That night, Xia Zhaoyi and Shen Lie went to the stone tower to set it on fire. Firstly, she wanted to let the spirits of the dead rest in peace and not become permanent spoils of war. Secondly, she wanted to use the fire to draw Ling Daicheng's attention, so she could then create a series of events and lead them by the nose.

But now, using Shangtai Jinni as a target is not bad.

During this period, with her instigation, two major events occurred in Lingdai City, a large city with a population of nearly 500,000. The first was Shangtai Jinni, and the second was the conflict between Yi Shurong and Shang Taiyu that Shi Baijin and Li Xinya spread along the way.

Rumors spread very quickly, and inevitably, various versions emerge along the way.

These versions infuriated Shang Taiyu.

He was always annoyed by Yi Shurong, and Yi Shurong didn't get along with him either.

But in some versions, Yi Shurong rubs his head on the ground, and he loses miserably.

These two matters, coupled with the approaching end of the year, left Shang Taiyu troubled and distracted.

Taking advantage of this moment, in a corner unnoticed by him, Xia Zhaoyi imitated his handwriting and wrote a bunch of trivial and insignificant arrangements.

So many minor, peripheral arrangements made the officials at all levels who received the orders curious as to why they were given written orders instead of verbal ones, but they didn't think much of it and didn't dare to provoke trouble at this time, so they simply followed the instructions.

Although it is a small matter, it is very busy and requires many people to leave their original positions.

For example, lights need to be added to the city after nightfall.

For example, snow cannot be allowed to accumulate on city streets.

For example, if the hunting grounds need to be reinforced, the style and material of the wooden railings must be exactly the same.

These small things weren't extravagant, but they were enough to enliven the entire winter in Lingdai City. The butchers that Xia Zhaoyi had met with were like water seeping into the city silently, and as many as they could seep in, that was how many people were affected.

It's already the fifth day of the Lunar New Year.

This year, Xia Zhaoyi, Shen Lie, and their subordinates spent the New Year in a very rushed manner, without feeling any festive atmosphere.

The plan is progressing smoothly; we're just waiting for tomorrow.

That night, Xia Zhaoyi was finally able to get a good rest, but she couldn't fall asleep no matter how hard she tried, even though she was nestled in Shen Lie's arms.

She didn't move, but Shen Lie's voice rang out softly in the darkness: "Ali?"

Xia Zhaoyi looked up: "...You knew I was awake?"

Shen Lie chuckled softly, his chest trembling slightly, and hugged her tighter: "Yes, I can tell the difference between your breathing when you're awake and when you're asleep."

They shared a bed only a handful of times, but a sense of intimate familiarity was slowly forming between them.

"What are you thinking about?" Shen Lie asked softly, his fingers gently brushing through her stray hairs.

Xia Zhaoyi said, "Tomorrow, I want to kill Shang Taiyu. I really want to."

"Then kill him."

“We can’t kill him,” Xia Zhaoyi sighed softly. “We can’t let Yi Shurong’s family become too powerful. The two of them can make each other miserable. A crazy Shang Taiyu is far more useful to us than a dead Shang Taiyu.”

Shen Lie asked, "You can't sleep because of this?"

Xia Zhaoyi paused, then said, "Just now, when I closed my eyes, all I could see were the heads in the cold stone palace. I've seen so many corpses, and I've seen high walls built from piles of bones, but that stone palace... it made me very sad. They had flesh and blood, eyebrows and eyes, old people and young children. The vast majority of these people were executed for failing to assassinate Shang Taiyu. Even old people and young children were driven to kill him, knowing it was impossible, yet they still insisted on doing it. To slaughter people, what kind of desperate situation were they driven to?"

Shen Lie said, "Yes, they are all heroes. Ali, Shang Taiyu will definitely die. I don't mean he will die of old age, but he won't live for more than two years. If he is still alive in two years, then I will come back and kill him with my own hands."

Xia Zhaoyi smiled gently and hugged Shen Lie tightly: "Okay, let him linger on for another two years. I won't think about it anymore. Now I'll try my best to fall asleep. We have a lot to do tomorrow."

"Mmm." Shen Lie lowered his head and kissed her forehead.

The officials in Lingdai City were especially busy the following day.

Some officials used the pretext of investigating the Stone Pagoda case to search the backyards of some middle-class noble families.

Some officials prepared to go outside the city to greet the messenger, who was said to be sent by Yi Shurong to deliver gifts.

Some officials prepared wine and dishes to entertain the other distinguished guests who would be arriving in Lingdai City that evening.

Other officials also had tasks to do. These tasks were deliberately arranged by Xia Zhaoyi; it was the last day, and she wanted Shang Taiyu to discover them.

Sure enough, since it involved Yi Shurong's messenger, who was there to deliver gifts, it didn't make any sense, so someone asked Shang Taiyu about it.

Shang Taiyu looked blank, and when asked, he realized he knew nothing about the numerous orders and directives issued over the past few days.

He pressed for answers until just before the Lunar New Year, then flew into a rage and ordered a thorough investigation, demanding results by noon today.

As a result, Ling Daicheng was busier and more chaotic than in the previous days throughout the morning and noon.

This result will inevitably be undetectable.

The officials who exposed all of this happened to be the ones who were on their way to pick up the so-called messengers of Yi Shurong outside the city. When Shang Taiyu saw them, he immediately thought of Yi Shurong.

He suspected that Yi Shurong had sent someone to deliberately tease him, and at the same time, he thought of what Shangtai Jinni had mentioned about Ali.

After all, when Ali destroyed his Eagle Star Fortress, she had already shown off her superb handwriting imitation skills.

Shang Taiyu immediately sent his personal guards to the princess's residence to summon Shang Taijinni.

Princess Jinni was late in arriving. It wasn't until two hours later that a guard returned with a message saying that the princess was injured and would come later.

Shang Taiyu was displeased and sent his concubine to her, threatening that no matter what happened, she must be brought to him.

Even if it's a corpse, it has to be brought back.

The concubine left in a carriage.

As the carriage drove away, the people of the Prince's Mansion sighed with regret.

Who could have imagined that Princess Ginny, who was so beloved and even enjoyed exclusive favor and had the right to establish her own household at a young age, would one day end up in such a state?

Winter days are short and nights are long; one day comes and goes, and then it's completely dark.

Shang Taiyu is still waiting.

Suddenly, the steward rushed in from outside in a panic: "Your Highness, Your Highness!!"

Shang Taiyu leaned back on the soft couch, two beauties massaging his legs. The butler's shout startled him. He kicked one of the beauties away, sat up straight, and said, "What happened? Why are you shouting like that!"

The butler knelt down, pointed outside, and cried out in a trembling voice, "Princess Ayasu! Princess Ayasu is dead! She was stabbed to death by Princess Ginny!"

Shang Taiyu frowned and immediately rushed over.

Princess Ayasu, who had left the palace by carriage today to summon Princess Jinni, lay on a white stretcher, covered with a magnificent cloak woven with gold thread. Her lifeless eyes stared blankly into the air, and her face was covered in blood.

Shang Taiyu bent down and lifted the feather cloak, taking a deep breath.

The princess's neck was almost broken. It was too cold, and her blood had already congealed on the way back in the carriage.

The servants who went with her were either killed or injured.

The least injured maid knelt down, stammering, "If the guards outside hadn't heard the commotion and rushed in immediately, we would probably be dead too. Just a door away, just a door away, the princess was so fast..."

Shang Taiyu said angrily in a deep voice, "Where is she?"

"Outside, outside..."

Shang Taiyu immediately stepped outside.

Shangtai Jinni was brought back. She knelt on the snow at a distance, disheveled and filthy, but her eyes were unusually bright. Compared to the night the stone tower caught fire, she now looked more like a wild wolf.

Upon seeing Shang Taiyu, before he could even speak, Shang Taijinni shouted, "I killed Ayasu, but you forced me to do it!"

Shang Taiyu's forehead veins bulged, and his eyes were fierce, as if he wanted to devour her alive.

He strode over and confronted Shangtai Jinni: "You heartless beast, you burned my stone tower and even killed my beloved concubine!"

Shangtai Jinni said fiercely and quickly, "I thought my father loved me, but that's not true. You are not worthy to be my father. My father is an eagle of the grassland. He is mighty, brave, and heroic. But you are a good-for-nothing! You are very weak. You fell ill after being angered by Ali. You are old, an old thing! Bah!"

Shang Taiyu was furious. He turned from walking to running and, with a whoosh, drew the broadsword from a guard standing to the side.

The people around gasped in surprise.

"Come on, kill me! You useless bastard! When your daughter was harmed and her life was threatened, not only did you not protect her, but you also imprisoned her afterwards! Shang Taiyu, I hate you, I hate you to death! Come and kill me now!"

When she got excited, Shangtai Jinni tried to stand up, but the guards next to her forcibly pushed her back down.

"Then I'll grant your wish!!" Shang Taiyu stepped closer, raising the large knife in his hand—

Just then, the hidden weapon hidden between Shangtai Jinni's fingers suddenly shot out.

The hidden weapon was extremely fast, and the arrowhead was poisoned.

But she completely underestimated Shang Taiyu.

Although Shang Taiyu is almost fifty years old and his skills are not as good as when he was young, he still has the ability to block her hidden weapon with the big knife in his hand.

The poisoned hidden weapon was knocked down, and the deep blue venom spread across the snow, creating an exceptionally beautiful and eerie scene under the lamplight.

The guards immediately cried out and surrounded him: "Your Highness!"

Another person quickly kicked Shangtai Jinni to the ground.

Shang Taiyu was so angry his blood was boiling: "You—!"

He turned to glare at Shangtai Jinni, only to see her fingers about to launch another hidden weapon, so he quickly retreated.

With a flick of her fingers, Shangtai Jinni launched a hidden weapon at her own neck in an instant.

A small arrow was shot out and pierced her throat.

She was breathing heavily, her face extremely pale. Before she died, she glared at Shang Taiyu with the most vicious look she had ever had.

"You, you ruined me, you ruined me... I hate you!"

Shangtai Jinni died just like that.

Shang Taiyu was still panting heavily, angry with her.

Before he could recover, his steward rushed over again: "Your Highness! Your Highness!! Something has happened!!"

Shang Taiyu can't stand this tone and this voice right now.

He immediately turned around, his heart pounding unusually fast, as if it were about to burst out of his chest.

"What is it?!" Shang Taiyu roared.

“Dead…” The butler’s legs went weak and he collapsed to the ground, wailing, “They’re all dead!”

"What?! They're all dead?!"

"The Prince's Mansion! The other people in the Prince's Mansion!!"

Shang Taiyu didn't understand what this meant. After a moment's hesitation, he immediately gripped his broadsword and strode towards the direction the steward had come from: "Follow me, all of you!!"

The large contingent of guards followed.

Princess Ayasu's body still lies in the same spot, just as it was when Shang Taiyu left.

Before Shang Taiyu could ask any questions, another guard stumbled over, pointed behind him, and said that everyone was dead.

Shang Taiyu's head was buzzing, and he rushed over immediately.

Before he could get close, the guard who had run to deliver the message clutched his stomach in pain, collapsed, convulsed a few times, and died.

Following the direction the guard pointed, Shang Taiyu walked along a small path, and his eyes widened in shock at what he saw.

The snow was littered with corpses: guards, maids, servants, laborers...

Each body died a gruesome death, with black blood slowly flowing from their seven orifices and buttocks.

The guards who came with Shang Taiyu were so frightened that they couldn't speak. They all drew their swords and stood guard around Shang Taiyu.

Fortunately, nothing unexpected happened to them.