“Don’t drink!”

Her voice cut through the air like a sharp sword, filled with blood-curdling urgency, suddenly interrupting the harmonious banquet atmosphere.

That’s when chaos erupted.

Moon Ying, who stood beside Xiao Jue, was holding a wine pitcher. She had just finished pouring the wine and hadn’t yet withdrawn her hand. As soon as He Yan’s words fell as if receiving some signal, the wine pitcher transformed into a dagger in the blink of an eye, thrusting toward Xiao Jue without hesitation.

The young man remained composed, showing no trace of panic. The jade cup in his hand flew through the air, colliding with the dagger. Both shattered to pieces, stopping the blade’s advance toward him.

In an instant, the sound of movement erupted from all sides. The beautiful women who had just been performing hadn’t all retreated – they stood on both sides and suddenly lunged at Xiao Jue. This was a carefully orchestrated assassination attempt.

“Uncle!” He Yan called out. The young man slapped the table, his sword falling into his hand as he was surrounded by over ten attackers. He coldly instructed her, “Stay back!”

Sun Xiangfu seemed stunned by this sudden turn of events, cowering under the table while crying out, “Help! Someone come quickly—”

He Yan kept her attention focused on the guard behind Yuan Baozhen. She had originally thought that since this person was He Rufei’s man, his presence behind Yuan Baozhen must have had some purpose. But in her shock and anger, she had only paid attention to the wine on the table, never imagining that the surrounding women would-be assassins. Yuan Baozhen retreated several steps under his guard’s protection, his expression panicked.

The guard hadn’t made a move.

Could today’s assassins be a coincidence? As He Yan pondered this, she looked again at Xiao Jue surrounded in the middle, and nearly exploded with anger.

The assassins were all women – both the dancers from earlier and the zither players. Though they appeared gentle and graceful with their light movements, their attacks were deadly. Hidden weapons flew from their sleeves toward Xiao Jue as their flowing sleeves swept through the air.

In this grand evening banquet, only Xiao Jue stood alone against ten. Whether it was He Yan’s previous life on the battlefield or this life’s martial arts competitions, all had been honorable and straightforward encounters. She had never witnessed such underhanded, despicable methods. Filled with righteous indignation, she grabbed a small knife used for cutting roasted venison from the table and rushed into the crowd.

“Uncle, I’ll help you!”

Halfway through her words, He Yan suddenly remembered that she was now “Cheng Lisu” – how could a useless young master from Shuo Capital know martial arts? She realized she couldn’t openly display her martial prowess. As her thoughts shifted, she shouted, “Why are their sleeves so long? I can’t even see you anymore!” As she spoke, she grabbed one woman’s sleeve and slashed it with her dagger, cutting it clean through.

With the flowing sleeve now shortened, the concealed weapons became obvious. He Yan continued spinning through the crowd, shouting while moving. Her movements were agile, slippery as a loach – everyone tried to catch her but couldn’t. The young master’s shrieks and cursing made the scene somewhat comical.

Xiao Jue swept away an attacker’s blade with his sword and glanced at her.

He Yan continued shouting, “Help! Murder!” While blocking an incoming flying dagger with her palm, she took the opportunity to kick the face of a woman beside her.

Xiao Jue’s mouth twitched.

The singing girls’ target was Xiao Jue – all their deadly techniques and hidden weapons were aimed at him. The sudden intrusion of this youth had thrown everything into disarray. Moon Ying’s face turned ashen as she clenched her fingers, hissing hatefully, “Damn you!” She chopped down toward He Yan’s crown.

He Yan cried out “Aiya!” and dodged behind Xiao Jue, calling “Uncle, save me!” while internally marveling.

These ten-plus women all possessed extraordinary skills that couldn’t have been acquired overnight. Their techniques seemed more like those of death squads specifically trained for assassination.

Who had Xiao Jue offended so grievously that they would employ such methods to kill him?

Among the group of women, Moon Ying’s skills were particularly formidable – or rather, her arsenal of hidden weapons was endless: date pit arrows, plum blossom needles, Emei piercers, iron lotus flowers… He Yan couldn’t fathom how she concealed so many weapons in her sleeves. However, Xiao Jue seemed unwilling to take her life, his sword tip avoiding vital points.

He Yan knew he had been exceptional in swordsmanship since his youth, with outstanding martial skills. Now reunited after so long, the first time she witnessed him in action was in such circumstances. The assassins couldn’t get near him, all falling to his Drinking Autumn sword. As they lay incapacitated, he grabbed Moon Ying’s sleeve, his arm turning as he pulled her forward. The next moment, his sword tip was at her throat.

The young man’s voice was low, seemingly more melodious than the earlier zither music, carrying undisguised killing intent that pierced through the air.

“Who sent you?”

He Yan couldn’t help but look at the guard behind Yuan Baozhen.

The guard stood protecting Yuan Baozhen, revealing the face that had been hidden in the shadows. His expression also showed great panic, as if he hadn’t expected this situation either. Nothing seemed amiss, but He Yan noticed his index finger slowly curling into a half-circle.

No one would pay attention to a guard at such a moment. The finger movement was so subtle that if He Yan hadn’t been watching him closely, it would certainly have gone unnoticed.

Years of honed instinct made her turn back reflexively, only to see the doorkeeper who had been cowering under the table lunging toward Xiao Jue.

“Watch out!”

Xiao Jue was still pointing his sword at Moon Ying. He Yan, disregarding everything else, pushed him aside with her palm. The attacker reached her front and was immediately stabbed through the throat by Xiao Jue.

While all the assassins had been women, who would have noticed this doorkeeper? Moreover, from the moment chaos broke out, he had acted like all other helpless servants, hiding under the table. Who could have guessed he was the final piece in the plan?

“Are you hurt?” Xiao Jue asked with furrowed brows.

He Yan shook her head.

Moon Ying on the ground suddenly started laughing.

In the deathly silence, her laughter was particularly jarring. He Yan turned to look – blood stained the beauty’s lips, but her expression was fierce.

He Yan stepped forward and asked, “Who are you, people? Why do you want to harm my uncle?”

Moon Ying looked at He Yan, her expression vicious: “If you hadn’t interfered, today wouldn’t have ended like this! You’ll never know who my master is…”

More and more black blood spilled from her lips – an unnatural color – and looking around, all the other women were the same. He Yan understood – they were truly death squads. Once the assassination failed, they would take their own lives.

“Is that so?” Xiao Jue looked at Moon Ying, suddenly smirking with mocking eyes. He said, “Countless people in this world want me dead. But only one would be so impatient.”

“I accept this grand gift from your master. I hope they can handle what I send in return.”

Moon Ying’s face changed drastically. But she had already taken poison, and within moments, her face turned ashen. Like the other ten-plus women, she perished, her jade-like body now lifeless.

Xiao Jue stepped over her corpse and stood in the middle of the hall, looking at Sun Xiangfu who was still trembling under the table. He reprimanded, “Magistrate Sun, perhaps you’d care to explain why the maids at your banquet tried to assassinate me. Were you deliberately plotting against the Commander?”

Sun Xiangfu’s mind had already turned to mush from fear. Hearing this, he nearly burst into tears. Seeing that the assassins were dead, he finally dared to emerge from under the table, hurriedly explaining, “Commander, I truly didn’t know, I didn’t know! Even with ten times more courage, I wouldn’t dare plot against you! These singing girls only joined my household half a month ago, I… I didn’t know they were assassins! Lord Yuan, Lord Yuan, please help explain, I- I don’t know what’s going on!”

Yuan Baozhen, who had remained silent until now, finally came to his senses. Patting his chest, he said with lingering fear, “Magistrate Sun, this isn’t about whether you knew or not. These singing girls were from your household – if anything had happened to Commander Xiao today, you couldn’t have escaped responsibility. I don’t think this matter is as simple as it appears. We should clean this place up first and call the coroner to examine these people’s identities and origins.”

He then turned to Xiao Jue: “Commander Xiao has been startled as well. Perhaps you should freshen up and move to another location to hear Magistrate Sun’s explanation. I suspect these singing girls came with careful preparation.”

Xiao Jue looked at him with a half-smile and said, “Very well.”

This evening banquet came to an abrupt end midway, and clearly, no one had the mood to continue. The hall was in complete disarray. The coroner and yamen runners arrived quickly to remove the singing girls’ bodies. Yuan Baozhen asked, “Should we search their bodies for any identifying items?”

“Having been in the Sun residence for half a month, any such items would have been well hidden by now, not left on their persons. If anything is found, it would likely be planted to frame others,” Xiao Jue stared at Yuan Baozhen, saying coldly, “Lord Yuan should be careful not to fall for such tricks.”

Yuan Baozhen’s scalp tightened in response.

Xiao Jue ignored him and turned his head, only to see He Yan standing motionless in place. He suddenly recalled that she hadn’t spoken much since earlier.

Had she been frightened?

“Why are you standing there? Let’s go,” he said to He Yan. Just as he finished speaking, he felt someone tugging at his sleeve.

“Uncle,” the youth looked up, the usual cheerful smile gone from his face, showing rare nervousness. His gaze was unfocused as it fell on Xiao Jue’s face as if not seeing him. He said, “When that servant rushed over earlier and I pushed you away, he threw something in my face. My eyes hurt,” her voice was small, lacking its usual vibrancy, showing some panic, “I think I can’t see anymore.”

…

Doctors came and went one after another, quickly emerging with worried expressions, each shaking their head in silence, sighing deeply.

Xiao Jue’s face grew increasingly dark.

Sun Xiangfu watched from the side, frightened. Who could have imagined that Xiao Jue’s nephew, the youth who followed him, would have his eyes injured by the assassin? The doctors could only examine his eyes, and the youth only said he couldn’t see. Liang Province had no miracle doctors, and all available physicians had been summoned, yet none had a solution.

The powder on the ground had long been blown away by the wind, leaving no trace. Without knowing what poison it was, how could they create an antidote? Fortunately, only the youth’s eyes were injured, with no other harm done. Otherwise, if his life had been endangered, who knew how the Commander would rage?

“Commander,” Sun Xiangfu timidly said, “This official will seek out more famous doctors. Young Master is blessed by heaven and will surely be fine.”

Xiao Jue: “Get out.”

The anger in his words was clear to everyone. Sun Xiangfu dared not provoke Xiao Jue at this crucial moment and hurriedly retreated after a few words as if fleeing for his life.

Xiao Jue stood outside the room, pausing for a moment before entering. He passed the last doctor leaving and saw the youth sitting on the couch, expression calm, lost in thought. After a moment, He Yan waved his hands in front of his face, as if unwilling to believe he couldn’t see.

Because he complained of pain, the doctors didn’t dare use any medicine, only finding some soothing, cooling herbs to apply on clean bandages that were tied around his eyes.

He Yan had always been cheerful and smiling, sometimes clever, sometimes foolish – whether this foolishness was genuine or pretense remained unknown. Those eyes were beautifully shaped, clear, and bright, looking somewhat silly when wide open, but full of vitality and cleverness when curved in a smile. Now with the bandage covering her eyes, the youth’s face suddenly became unfamiliar, along with all those vivid expressions that seemed to blur away.

Xiao Jue suddenly recalled that earlier at the banquet, when Moon Ying and her group attempted the assassination, He Yan had rushed forward without hesitation. Even if He Yan hadn’t warned about Moon Ying’s wine, he wouldn’t have drunk it, but at that moment, the fear and anger in the youth’s cry hadn’t seemed fake.

It had even made people’s hearts tremble.

He walked inside, approaching He Yan’s couch.

He Yan seemed to sense something, but appeared uncertain, turning his head to look, carefully asking, “Is someone there?”

Xiao Jue remained silent.

“No one?” she muttered softly, then turned her head away and grew quiet.

Throughout their journey to Liang Province, He Yan talked extensively. When Xiao Jue wouldn’t engage, she would talk to Flying Servant. Flying Servant didn’t say much, and Song Taotao, who appeared later, filled that void. When someone usually so chatty suddenly grows quiet, it feels unnatural.

This youth was only sixteen years old, but different from ordinary people. Upon learning of his blindness, there was some panic, but surprisingly no wailing or tears. It seemed he quickly accepted this reality, though when sitting quietly, he inspired a touch of pity.

Perhaps it was because he was so frail – looking at him this way was pitiful.

Xiao Jue asked, “How do you feel?”

“Com… Uncle?” He Yan was startled for a moment before saying, “I’m just not used to it.” She reached out as if to touch her eyes but encountered the bandage instead, then withdrew her hand, asking, “My eyes, are they blind?”

Even his tone in asking this was calm.

Xiao Jue should have said “yes,” but at this moment, he found himself unable to speak the word.

Such a talented youth in his prime – with his abilities, he would surely have been promoted within the Liang Province Guard in a few years. A pearl in the mud could never stay buried. But losing one’s sight changed everything. Besides the impact on his future, just adapting to this darkness would require courage.

After all, he wasn’t born blind. Having something and losing it was far harder to bear than never having it at all.

“Uncle, you’re not feeling sad for me, are you?” He Yan suddenly said. Although his eyes were bandaged, his tone suggested that normally, he would have been wide-eyed, gaze full of mischief and teasing.

“Perhaps you’re blaming yourself?” she smiled and said, “Actually, you needn’t blame yourself for me. You should praise me – maybe if you praise me, I’ll feel that all this was worth it.”

“Praise you for what?” Xiao Jue said indifferently.

“For being amazing, of course.” The youth’s voice carried a hint of surprise and pride, “If I hadn’t warned you not to drink the wine earlier, this assassination attempt wouldn’t have been exposed. I’m your lifesaver – isn’t that amazing?”

How could she still think about such things at a time like this? Xiao Jue was speechless, unsure whether to consider this youth broad-minded or truly unconcerned.

“You don’t seem upset,” Xiao Jue said, “Your eyes can’t see, and perhaps never will again.”

At these words, the youth’s fingers curled slightly – though subtle, Xiao Jue caught it.

He was afraid, not as nonchalant as he appeared on the surface.

“Heaven wouldn’t be so cruel to me, would it?” He Yan said, “I’ve never done anything bad in my life, why treat me this way? If… if this is really how it must be, then I have no choice. There are many types of blind people – since I’m so capable, I’ll just be the most capable among them.”

Xiao Jue was slightly startled – these words sounded strangely familiar as if he’d heard them somewhere long ago.

“But Uncle, are you giving up so soon? I think you should find more doctors to examine me. Maybe I can still be cured – why do you speak as if it’s hopeless?” he asked.

Xiao Jue glanced at him. Though the youth tried hard to act normal, he was listless and dispirited. He said, “Rest well,” and turned to leave.

After Xiao Jue left the room, silence returned. Due to possible accomplices among the household staff, all servants had been removed from the room, with only Xiao Jue’s own man, Flying Servant, stationed outside the courtyard.

He Yan reached out, seeming to want to undo the knot behind her head, but after a moment lowered her hand without following through.

She lowered her head and murmured, “Ding Yi.”

Yuan Baozhen’s guard, He Rufei’s former servant, the one who personally delivered her poison in her previous life – she had heard Yuan Baozhen call his name. He was called Ding Yi.

…

In the study, Sun Xiangfu’s face was crumpled, nearly in tears.

Yuan Baozhen sat before him, saying, “Magistrate Sun, I cannot help you with this matter.”

“Lord Yuan, you can’t abandon me in my hour of need! You’re the only one who can help me now,” Sun Xiangfu said with a mournful face, “I truly didn’t know what was going on with those assassins today. Now the Commander is angry, and Young Master Cheng can’t see. Commander Xiao will surely direct his fury at me. I’m just a county magistrate – how can I withstand General Feng Yun’s wrath!”

Sun Xiangfu had personally witnessed how close Xiao Jue and Cheng Lisu were as uncles and nephews. When Cheng Lisu had that dispute with Sun Ling, seeing how Xiao Jue rushed to protect him was truly chilling. That was merely over a verbal argument, but now Cheng Lisu was blind – wouldn’t Xiao Jue demand a life for a life? Thinking of this, Sun Xiangfu trembled.

“I don’t think Commander Xiao is such an unreasonable person,” Yuan Baozhen consoled.

As they were speaking, Xiao Jue arrived.

Sun Xiangfu forgot about pleading with Yuan Baozhen and immediately knelt before Xiao Jue, lifting his robes.

“What’s the meaning of this?” Xiao Jue asked coldly.

“Commander, I truly didn’t know what was happening! I was also deceived by them! Even with a hundred lives, I wouldn’t dare plot against you!” Sun Xiangfu began pleading his innocence.

“Get up,” Xiao Jue glanced at him, seemingly disdainful of such behavior. He walked inside and sat in the highest chair, looking at him as he spoke, “Tell me how you encountered them.” After a pause, he added, “Those assassins.”

Could this mean… he believed Sun Xiangfu wasn’t the mastermind? Sensing this, Sun Xiangfu was instantly overjoyed. Meanwhile, Yuan Baozhen’s gaze flickered, but he remained silent.

Sun Xiangfu hurriedly stood up, not bothering to dust off his robes, and retreated to sit in a slightly lower chair. This arrangement, with him and Yuan Baozhen seated thus, showed deference to Xiao Jue. Sun Xiangfu wiped the sweat from his brow and said, “Actually, they only entered the household half a month ago. Initially, a new theater troupe arrived in the city…”

The troupe’s leader was an elderly woman who brought a group of beautiful young ladies to the city, saying their hometown was suffering from drought, leaving them no choice but to relocate to Liang Province. They set up their stage in the east of the city, performing three shows daily.

At first, only common folk came to watch. These girls were not only beautiful but also sang wonderfully, quite eye-catching. As their reputation grew, many nobles learned of them, and eventually, word reached Sun Ling’s ears.

In Liang Province, there wasn’t a beautiful woman Sun Ling hadn’t touched. The night he saw the performance, he ordered his men to buy the troupe of women for the household entertainment. The elderly leader refused and was beaten by Sun Ling’s servants. Just as she was about to be beaten to death, Moon Ying stepped forward, saying she would convince her sisters to enter the household willingly if Sun Ling would spare their leader.

Sun Ling generously agreed, and Moon Ying did indeed persuade her sisters. After entering the household, they were gentle and agreeable. Once in the Sun residence, Sun Ling discovered these girls weren’t just performers – they were also accomplished in the four arts, with Moon Ying being particularly outstanding.

Sun Xiangfu also came to know of Moon Ying.

Unlike Sun Ling, who only knew of pleasure and entertainment, Sun Xiangfu had some ambition. Being Liang Province’s magistrate was fine, but what if he could advance further? Even if he couldn’t advance, his position as magistrate wasn’t secure – he needed to maintain good relationships with everyone, familiar or strange, such as the newly arrived Commander of the Liang Province Guard, whom he didn’t know well.

Sun Xiangfu had requested Moon Ying’s services, having her entertain guests at the banquet. After all, there were two guests – Investigating Censor Yuan Baozhen and Right Army Commander Xiao Jue. Pleasing either one would ensure his peace of mind.

Though Sun Ling was somewhat dissatisfied, he could do nothing about it. Afterward, Moon Ying earnestly led her sisters in practicing dance and song. Every time Sun Xiangfu went to watch, he was very pleased. This maid was clever – though initially reluctant to enter the household when pleading for her leader, after experiencing the luxury of the Sun residence, she became increasingly shrewd. Sometimes when Sun Xiangfu spoke with her, he could sense her hunger for power.

Indeed, as people seek to climb higher and water flows downward, all people are the same, men and women alike.

Until the incident at tonight’s banquet, this was what Sun Xiangfu had believed.

As he recounted these events, perhaps due to embarrassment, he embellished somewhat. But stripping away the unnecessary flourishes, it was simply this: Sun Ling had been moved by beauty, not knowing he was bringing home a venomous snake.

“I never imagined they would be assassins. How… how could women be assassins?” Sun Xiangfu said, unclear whether he was speaking to Xiao Jue or himself. To the Sun father and son, women had always been playthings or gifts to curry favor with superiors. Now that they had been outmaneuvered by women, it was hard to describe his current feelings.

“These assassins entered the household half a month ago?” Xiao Jue asked.

Sun Xiangfu nodded, “Yes, this is all this official’s fault. I didn’t thoroughly verify their identities, thinking they were just women alone in the city, weak and pitiful, so I…”

While he was trying to portray himself as someone who took them in out of compassion for their weakness, Xiao Jue paid him no attention. He merely played with his teacup, saying coolly, “Half a month ago, Magistrate Sun hadn’t yet sent me an invitation to dine at his residence.”

Sun Xiangfu froze.

“However, half a month ago, Lord Yuan should have known when he would arrive in Liang Province.” He turned his head, looking at Yuan Baozhen with a half-smile.

Hearing this, Yuan Baozhen smiled and replied, “What does the Commander mean? Surely you don’t suspect me? Commander, think about it – if I had arranged for these women, how could I be certain they would be taken into Magistrate Sun’s household? I’m not omniscient, am I?”

“Of course, you’re not omniscient,” Xiao Jue’s lips curved slightly, speaking unhurriedly, “You only needed to write a letter to Magistrate Sun.”

This suggested Yuan Baozhen and Sun Xiangfu had plotted together.

Sun Xiangfu had just begun to believe he was cleared of suspicion, but Xiao Jue’s words immediately made him break out in a cold sweat. He hurriedly waved his hands, saying, “No, no! Commander, I didn’t – I don’t know what’s going on. I never received any letter from Lord Yuan!”

Yuan Baozhen stopped smiling too, looking at Xiao Jue solemnly, “Commander, with one word you condemn Magistrate Sun and me, without any evidence – it’s truly disheartening. I have no deep grudge with the Commander, and this is our first dinner together – why would I harm you?”

With his naturally kind face, these words seemed very sincere, with a touch of hurt at being misunderstood.

Xiao Jue stared at him for a while, then smiled after a moment, saying indifferently, “Just a joke, Lord Yuan needn’t take it seriously.”

His smile faded, returning to coldness, like a sword about to be unsheathed, concealing an impending storm’s ferocity.

“However, this matter has many suspicious points. Before they’re cleared up, I’m afraid I’ll have to impose on you for a few days,” he said.

“Commander… you’re staying here?”

After an assassination attempt, ordinary people would consider the place unsafe and leave quickly to avoid being targeted again – why was he staying?

“Yes,” the young Commander set down his teacup and stood up, tall and elegant, his gaze slightly cold, “Staying here to catch the thief.”

Don’t be hasty to curse me…