HomeJade Has No FragranceChapter 148: Remembering

Chapter 148: Remembering

The alley was neither long nor short. Cheng Shu, striding with his long legs and exerting every ounce of strength, quickly saw the light at the alley entrance.

It was the morning sun tentatively breaking through the darkness, scattering dawn’s light across the human world.

He charged out like flying, when he suddenly saw a child standing there dazedly.

Cheng Shu hastily dodged to the side. Because his body turned too quickly, he lost his footing and fell sitting on the ground.

The frightened child burst into loud wails.

A man rushed over and embraced the child: “Bao’er, are you all right?”

The boy’s crying didn’t diminish. He stretched out his hand pointing at Cheng Shu.

“What’s wrong with you, charging around wildly so early in the morning!” The man glared angrily at Cheng Shu.

Cheng Shu, sitting on the ground, seemed stunned, his eyes staring straight at the father and son.

The boy hiding in his father’s embrace crying, the father’s face full of fury—in a flash of inspiration he thought of something and suddenly jumped up.

The man, holding the child, dodged swiftly, then saw that recklessly charging fellow walking over with an excited expression.

The man hurried away with the child, cursing as he went: “Encountering a lunatic so early in the morning.”

He looked back once and discovered that lunatic was actually still striding quickly in this direction. His expression immediately changed and he broke into a trot.

Cheng Shu kept staring at that father and son until the black-clad person dragged another black-clad person out from the alley. Only then did he remember to continue running.

He turned around and nearly collided with someone.

That person reached out to steady him: “Brother Cheng.”

The familiar voice made Cheng Shu’s taut nerves suddenly relax: “Heir, how is it you?”

Qi Shuo’s gaze turned toward the alley entrance.

Cheng Shu followed his look and saw that black-clad person walking over. Because he was bringing another person, he wasn’t walking particularly fast, appearing increasingly sinister.

With one hand on his saber and the other lifting his robe hem, Cheng Shu made two-handed preparations: if he could fight, he’d fight; if he couldn’t, he’d run with the Heir.

“Heir.” The black-clad person stopped and saluted Qi Shuo.

Cheng Shu looked sharply toward Qi Shuo, full of shock: “Heir, what’s going on?”

“He’s my subordinate,” Qi Shuo explained.

“Then what about this one?” Cheng Shu pointed at the black-clad person under restraint.

That person hung his head with no reaction, uncertain whether dead or unconscious.

Given Qi Shuo’s composure, hearing Cheng Shu’s question still made him want to laugh. But thinking of the other’s relationship with A’Hao, he restrained himself and replied with complete seriousness: “This one is here to kill you.”

Cheng Shu: “…” He felt the Heir of Prince Jing was mocking him!

“Why would he want to kill me?” Cheng Shu stepped forward and pulled down the unconscious man’s face-covering black cloth. He looked again and again. “Never seen him before.”

The sky had quietly brightened. Not far away, quite a few people lingered, curiously pointing this way and that.

Qi Shuo said: “Let’s go to the Jinlin Guard and speak with Grand Commander Cheng.”

At the mention of the Jinlin Guard, Cheng Shu excitedly patted Qi Shuo’s arm: “Heir, I remembered!”

Qi Shuo’s face showed delight. Compared to Cheng Shu’s excitement, however, he was exceptionally calm: “Speak of it at the Jinlin Guard.”

“All right.” After walking a few steps, Cheng Shu stopped again. “Almost forgot—I have duty today.”

Qi Shuo pointed at the unconscious black-clad person: “Encountering this sort of thing, you wouldn’t be at ease on duty either. I’ll send someone to request leave on Brother Cheng’s behalf.”

Cheng Shu nodded, suppressing a bellyful of questions as he rushed to the Jinlin Guard.

Hearing the two had arrived, Cheng Maoming immediately set aside matters at hand. When he saw the two black-clad people, he was startled: “This is—”

That kind of attire clearly specialized in robbery and pillaging.

“This morning Brother Cheng left home and was attacked in an alley.” Qi Shuo pointed at the unconscious black-clad person.

A cold light flashed in Cheng Maoming’s eyes. He looked toward the other black-clad person: “Then this is the Heir’s man?”

“Correct.” Qi Shuo nodded, his expression calm as he explained: “Yesterday at your office, discovering the two important criminals died by poisoning, I suspected an insider. So I deliberately spread word that Brother Cheng had seen the criminals to see if I could draw out the mole. I didn’t expect the fish to truly take the bait.”

Cheng Shu was dumbstruck: “Heir, yesterday you already thought someone might assassinate me?”

“Just trying it out. The other party was too anxious.”

It also proved the mastermind’s desperation to conceal their identity.

“But how did you know they would make their move in that alley?”

“After drinking with Brother Cheng yesterday and returning to the mansion, I arranged for my subordinates to investigate. On the route Brother Cheng habitually takes from the General’s Mansion to the Imperial City, that alley was most suitable for an attack.”

Cheng Shu awkwardly touched his nose.

Both drinking, yet by the end he didn’t even know how he ended up lying in bed, while the Heir of Prince Jing went back and arranged all this. The difference was truly vexing.

Cheng Maoming walked close to the black-clad person and examined him: “I haven’t seen this person, but I already have an idea. Heir, hand this person over to me.”

If this wasn’t arranged by that Zhao fellow, he’d write the character “Cheng” upside down.

Qi Shuo nodded to his subordinate, who handed the unconscious black-clad person over to two Jinlin Guards.

“Watch this person well. If there’s another mistake, come see me with your heads.” Cheng Maoming warned his subordinates.

“Yes.”

Cheng Maoming raised his hand and patted Cheng Shu’s shoulder: “Young Master Cheng, rest assured. I’ll arrange for people to protect your safety.”

“That should be unnecessary now.”

Cheng Maoming showed incomprehension.

Cheng Shu unconsciously straightened his back and lowered his voice: “I remembered.”

Cheng Maoming froze, then showed great joy: “Who exactly was that important criminal?”

“He was a soldier from the Xuanwu Battalion.”

Cheng Maoming’s pupils constricted, clearly greatly shocked.

“Xuanwu Battalion? Young Master Cheng is certain?”

The Xuanwu Battalion was one of the Capital Garrison forces, normally stationed in the suburbs outside the capital.

“Certain. When I was fleeing the ambush toward the alley entrance, I nearly collided with a boy. Seeing that boy held in his father’s embrace wailing loudly, I suddenly remembered. Last year while walking on the street, a boy was also frightened to tears when nearly hit by someone. The man who frightened the boy was that important criminal. At the time I only glanced casually and didn’t retain a deep impression, which is why I couldn’t remember all this time.” Cheng Shu felt the satisfaction of breaking through fog. “That person was wearing Xuanwu Battalion clothing. No mistake.”

“Knowing the origin makes things easier.” Cheng Maoming clapped his hands.

Since he was a Xuanwu Battalion soldier, there must be people who knew the two criminals. Investigate their superior officers, and this thread would become clear.

At this point, Cheng Maoming instinctively felt uneasy.

Someone able to mobilize Xuanwu Battalion soldiers and silence witnesses within the Jinlin Guard—he might very well uncover major trouble.

But not investigating was also impossible. First, he couldn’t explain things to His Majesty.

Just then, a Jinlin Guard strode quickly in: “Grand Commander, we found Old Wang who guards the torture implements!”

“Where is he?”

The Jinlin Guard paused, lowering his eyes: “In the abandoned dry well in the office’s back courtyard.”

Hearing this, Cheng Maoming raised his foot and walked out.

Qi Shuo and Cheng Shu exchanged glances and silently followed.

That Jinlin Guard, seeing Cheng Maoming didn’t stop them, though surprised, didn’t dare speak out. The group quickly arrived at the location.

Novel List

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Latest Chapters