Tang Dynasty Hidden Guards

The results were announced the following day. Xue Wei ranked second with 98 points, making a strong entry into the top 100. Liu Jingren, the Right Thousand Bull Guard General, currently holds the top spot with 99 points.

Also in the top five are Yehuli, a general of the Thousand Cavalry Battalion from the Mohe ethnic group, who ranked third with 95 points; Chen Xuanli, who ranked fourth with 94 points; and Wu Yanxiu, who had just been released by the Turks, who scored 92 points.

Meanwhile, in Wu Chengxun's residence, the three Wu brothers were discussing countermeasures for the failed kidnapping.

"I thought Yuan Min was in Xue Wei's sack, but... I was fooled by that bastard! I hate him so much!"

Wu Jizhi slammed his fist on the table. Wu Chongxun calmly said, "Yuan Min is definitely hiding in the next room. Didn't you search it?"

"I did a quick search, not a thorough one, but I didn't find anything."

Wu Chongxun sneered, "There's very likely a secret room in the building, and she's hiding in it."

"Brother, leave Yuanmin to me. I promise I'll bring her to you in a couple of days. Actually, catching her is a piece of cake."

Wu Chongxun shook his head. "Touching that woman will cause a lot of trouble and will be a losing proposition. Forget it, let's just ignore her."

Wu Chonglie snorted in dissatisfaction, "Is the trouble you're referring to Princess Taiping, brother? Are we afraid of her?"

Wu Chongxun coldly replied, "The trouble lies with the Emperor, not Princess Taiping!"

Wu Jizhi and Wu Chonglie were both stunned, not understanding why their elder brother would say such a thing.

Wu Chongxun slowly said, "I have just received important information. It turns out that Xue Wei was behind Gao Jian's murder."

Wu Jizhi and Wu Chonglie were shocked. "How could he do that?"

"How he managed it is not important; Princess Taiping can help him. What is important is who ordered him to do it. I suspect it was the Emperor who ordered him to do it."

"What is your brother worried about?"

Wu Chongxun hesitated for a moment before saying, "Don't you know? The Emperor is selecting the Plum Blossom Guards."

Wu Jizhi nodded. "I've also heard some rumors. It's said that there are three Plum Blossom Guards."

Wu Chongxun sneered, "All the rumors are nonsense. There is only one Plum Blossom Guard. He was established by the late emperor and has served three terms so far, which is why we say there are three. The first term was Xu Shiji, the second term was Ming Chongyan, and the third term was Di Renjie."

After Di Renjie passed away two years ago, the position of Plum Blossom Guard became vacant. The Emperor had been considering a fourth one, and I originally thought it would be one of the Zhang brothers. However, Shangguan Wan'er said that the Emperor would choose the fourth Plum Blossom Guard from among the imperial family and relatives of the empress. I am one of the candidates, and I hope that I can become the fourth Plum Blossom Guard.

Wu Jizhi and Wu Chonglie then realized that their elder brother wanted to become a member of the Plum Blossom Guard.

"What are the benefits of having a hidden guard?"

"The Hidden Guard is the emperor's representative. It is omnipresent, yet you cannot see it. It is detached from the court, yet it is above the court. If I become a Hidden Guard, I can put my father on the throne as crown prince. Do you understand?"

The two nodded repeatedly, and Wu Jizhi suddenly understood, "Brother, are you worried about Xue Wei and your competition?"

Wu Chongxun hesitated for a moment and said, "I don't know who the candidates are, but I think my competitor is not Xue Wei, but more likely Princess Taiping. Yesterday, Princess Taiping took out the Emperor's Golden Token, which obviously did not go to the palace to ask for it on short notice. She has always had it, but none of us knew it, so I am very worried."

But Shangguan Wan'er told her father, "The Emperor prefers to support the younger generation of the Wu family. Do you understand? Wu Chengsi's eldest son is dead. Now I am the eldest son of the Wu family. This is my opportunity. I must be diligent and self-disciplined. Even if I have to pretend, I must do it properly. I agreed to marry Li Guo'er for this opportunity."

"So, Big Brother has decided not to arrest Yuan Min?"

Wu Chongxun shook his head. "If I capture Yuan Min, Princess Taiping will take the opportunity to complain to the Emperor, which will greatly damage my reputation. That's why I said it's not worth it. I don't want to lose my position as a hidden guard for a woman."

"What about Xue Wei? If we let him go, how will we explain it to Zhang Changzong?" Wu Jizhi asked.

Wu Chongxun smiled sinisterly, "Didn't Princess Taiping say that we're not allowed to play dirty tricks? Then we'll play openly. In a polo match, broken arms and legs are nothing out of the ordinary."

Wu Jizhi and Wu Chonglie gave a thumbs up together, "Big Brother is truly brilliant!"

Wu Chongxun took two steps with his hands behind his back. "The problem now is that Xue Wei is only a substitute for the Left Thousand Bull Guard, and he may not have a chance to play."

"Then create opportunities for him to play. We can ask Li Linfu to give up his spot to him."

Wu Chongxun shook his head. "I don't want to expose Li Linfu's relationship with the Wu family over such a trivial matter."

Wu Chonglie, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up: "Then let Li Linfu pretend to be injured before the match, and he can recommend Xue Wei to replace him."

"Third brother's idea is good!" It was rare for Wu Chongxun to praise Wu Chonglie.

Wu Jizhi coldly said, "The task of breaking Xue Wei's leg is now mine!"

..........

"I got this especially for you, you have to wear it!"

Yuan Min exuded the aura of a domineering female CEO, pointing at the silver-threaded inner armor on the table and commanding in an uncompromising tone, "You have to wear it whether you like it or not!"

Xue Wei stared at the silver inner armor on the table, but the image of a mummy came to mind. What difference would it make if he wore this thing? No, there was a difference; he would have an extra pair of hands and feet.

"Is this thing even useful?"

"How is it useless? Do you know that there are no rules in polo? As long as you don't hit someone in the head, it's not a foul. Do you know how many people get their arms and legs broken every year in matches?"

"Doesn't this prove that the silver inner armor is useless?"

Yuan Min was so angry she laughed. "My goodness, Uncle Xue, do you know how much I spent on this silver-threaded inner armor? There are only thirty sets in the entire Tang Dynasty, and twenty-five of them are already buried underground. This one cost me ten thousand strings of cash. Do you think many people can afford that?"

Buried underground? Xue Wei suddenly realized, "This thing... is a shroud?"

"Never mind what it is. This thing is durable and legal. I'll give it to Grandpa when you stop playing polo."

"It really is a funeral shroud!"

Yuan Min rolled her eyes at him. "The imperial court forbids the private possession of armor, whether it's inner or outer armor. That's why I came up with this alternative. Besides, someone has tested it and found that it's very flexible to wear and can withstand blunt force trauma."

"What is its real name?"

"It's called Silver Thread Robe."

"But why do you call it silver-thread inner armor?"

"Wasn't I afraid you wouldn't want to wear it?"

Xue Wei rolled her eyes. In order to trick herself into wearing a shroud, she actually gave it the name of a silver-silk inner armor. No wonder she is the number one female boss in the capital city.

"I'm just asking you, are you going to wear it or not?"

"This is a shroud. If I wear it, I, the Three Absolutes Young Master, will become the Extinction Young Master. Everyone will laugh themselves to death."

Yuan Min suddenly changed her approach. She hugged Xue Wei's neck and said softly, "Old Xue, if you wear it, I'll give you a reward. You can kiss me."

"kiss!"

"You can kiss anywhere above the neck, except for the mouth."

"I'll kiss your tongue!"

"You wish! Let me correct you again: you can kiss any part of the body above the neck, except for the mouth."

"There shouldn't be a time limit for a kiss, right?"

"You little rascal, are you planning to hug me and nibble on me all day?"

.........

Xue Wei finally agreed to wear the silver inner armor for three reasons: first, it was worn inside so no one could see it; second, it was really durable and didn't affect his swing at all; and third, kissing on the cheek was not far from kissing on the lips.