The Imperial Guard’s Revenge
Chapter 101 Spy
Wang Yanqing was infuriated, and only then did she realize that he was holding her hand. She pulled it away with force, saying: “You, the dignified Chief Commander of the Imperial Guards, would actually do something so coercive and relentless?”
“Yes.” Lu Heng admitted without any moral qualms. His amber eyes fixed intensely on Wang Yanqing. Usually when he smiled, his eyes were filled with warmth, but now, they seemed bottomless without hint of a smile, “I don’t make promises that I can’t keep. Even if I reluctantly agree today, I’ll still have people watching you when you move out, the only difference is that they will stay in the shadows. Qing Qing, you’re no longer a child. Don’t waste your efforts and don’t gamble with your safety.”
Wang Yanqing believed Lu Heng could carry out anything. She was furious but felt powerless against him. Her ability to leave depended entirely on Lu Heng’s willingness to let her go. If he refused, what could she do but resort to suicide?
But a mere man wasn’t worth risking her life over. Reluctantly, she decided to compromise for now, saying: “I’ll move to the place I stayed yesterday, but you have to withdraw everyone from inside.”
Lu Heng thought to himself that Qing Qing was still too naive. In negotiations, making concessions was the worst mistake, one step back would only lead to more. He reached out and tugged at the quilt on her, saying: “Qing Qing, I don’t want to force you, but there are still spies in the city…”
Upon hearing this, Wang Yanqing immediately replied: “Then forget it.”
She began to lift the quilt to get out of the bed. She would rather be treated as a spy and leave the city alone than live under Lu Heng’s constant surveillance. Lu Heng stopped her, sighing: “Alright. But for now, you should keep them around. Everyone in the city knows the route of the wedding procession, and if someone is watching for you, having guards will offer some protection.”
Seeing that Wang Yanqing was about to refuse, he interrupted her: “You’re being impulsive and childish. Do you really want to live alone after this? Don’t be stubborn. Once we get through this troublesome period, you can take your time choosing your servants.”
His words were reasonable, and for a moment, Wang Yanqing couldn’t think of how to refute him. She realized that Lu Heng had many enemies, and now even foreign spies were coming to kill him. She didn’t have Lu Heng’s luck, and it was better not to joke about safety.
With a serious expression, she remained silent, and Lu Heng understood that she had agreed.
Knowing when to pull back, Lu Heng didn’t press the issue further. He gently asked: “You’ve been hungry all day. What would you like to eat? It was my oversight. You should have eaten first this morning.”
Wang Yanqing ignored him. After everything that had happened, why did he think she would still want to share a meal with him? The more she thought about it, the more wrong it felt. She had confronted him angrily, and he looked apologetic, but he really made no concessions.
Wang Yanqing realized that talking to Lu Heng was a mistake, she should have just gotten up and left. But it was never too late to mend a fold, she thought as she stood up and said: “Master Lu, you are cautious and place great importance on food. As an outsider, I shouldn’t trouble you.”
Having held back since he entered, Lu Heng could no longer tolerate her referring to herself as an “outsider.” He slowly said: “Qing Qing, have you forgotten? You are still my wife.”
Wang Yanqing suddenly looked up, thinking he was going back on his word: “We just agreed on this.”
Lu Heng quickly controlled his emotions, reminding himself not to let his temporary anger ruin the bigger picture. He nodded and said: “Yes, but my mother has been looking forward to my marriage. If news got out that my new wife suddenly fell ill and died, it would worry her. Can we wait a little longer until you ‘pass away,’ so I can arrange everything first?”
Bringing up his elder, Lu Heng struck a chord with Wang Yanqing. She couldn’t bear the thought of worrying that gentle and kind old lady, so she reluctantly agreed: “Fine. But I am leaving. After that, we’ll be strangers, each living our own lives.”
Lu Heng nodded, good-naturedly responding: “You have the final say.”
With Lu Heng’s assurance, Wang Yanqing felt slightly more at ease. However, when Lu Heng noticed that she was still wearing her gorgeous wedding dress, he felt a twinge of regret. He had wanted to take it off her himself, but now it seemed that would remain an unfulfilled wish.
He asked: “It’s getting late, and you are still injured. How about we eat first and move tomorrow instead?”
“No.” Wang Yanqing firmly refused, pulling her clothes tighter around herself and casting him a cold glance, “Who knows what you plan to do tonight?”
Lu Heng raised an eyebrow, feeling quite wronged. However, he had a record, and at times like this, even jumping into the Yellow River wouldn’t clear his name. Lu Heng could only silently endure these accusations as he watched Wang Yanqing change and leave.
Putting on a wedding gown was cumbersome but taking it off was quite simple. Wang Yanqing opened the chest and found it filled with clothes that Lu Heng purchased for her. Through the screen, Lu Heng guessed what Wang Yanqing was thinking and said: “These things are nothing to me. You’ve helped me with several cases, so consider this your reward.”
Wang Yanqing thought for a moment. She would leave the capital eventually, but for now, she was staying here, and there was no need to be fussy in such a situation.
After recovering her memories and comparing her past experiences, she realized that Lu Heng was clever and articulate. When she felt awkward about the clothes, Lu Heng hadn’t treated it as a gift like other men would have, he framed it as a reward, greatly considering her dignity.
A person like this, even if he deceived her into thinking she was his sister during her amnesia, or even pushed her to her death, she probably wouldn’t have noticed.
After Wang Yanqing changed into the simplest outfit, she stepped out. Lu Heng was waiting outside, and naturally said: “The carriage is ready. I’ll take you there.”
“No need.”
“If, on my wedding night, my wife leaves the residence alone and someone sees her, what do you expect of my dignity?” Lu Heng said, “There are still many spies and their accomplices hiding in the city. It’s not safe for you to travel alone. I’ll escort you.”
Wang Yanqing knew that once Lu Heng made a decision, no amount of persuasion could change his mind. She didn’t refuse again but said: “Then I want to take Fei Cui with me.”
Very good, she had learned to bargain with him. Lu Heng was reluctant to let someone from Fu Tingzhou stay by Wang Yanqing’s side, but since she had regained her memories, this step was inevitable. Perhaps things needed to break to be rebuilt. If he blocked their meetings, Wang Yanqing would always remember Fei Cui fondly, and Lu Heng would end up looking like the villain. But if he generously allowed Fei Cui to return to Wang Yanqing’s side, she see the mess with the Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion clearly, which would permanently resolve Fei Cui’s influence over her.
Lu Heng quickly made up his mind and nodded: “Okay. I didn’t know her identity when I captured her during the day, I tied her up for an afternoon. If I offended her, please apologize on my behalf.”
Wang Yanqing silently nodded. Considering Lu Heng’s status, how could he apologize to an ordinary maid? Even if he had captured a third-rank official for an afternoon, no one would dare to demand an explanation from him.
His willingness to be polite was simply out of consideration for her dignity.
When Wang Yanqing woke up, it was evening, and after all the commotion, it was already dark outside. This time, unlike the wedding procession, Lu Heng left the residence quietly, carefully concealing his whereabouts as he escorted Wang Yanqing back to the courtyard where she was picked up.
The carriage entered through a side gate, but Lu Heng did not follow inside. He stopped outside and spoke to the carriage: “Recently, there have been whispers of danger, be more careful. You haven’t eaten properly all day, so don’t be troublesome, make sure to eat as soon as you get inside.”
After Lu Heng finished speaking, he turned to address the guards, ordering them to strengthen their patrols and remain vigilant during the night, then turned his horse and rode away. He didn’t take the opportunity to follow into the courtyard or engage in any self-serving actions. He left without any hesitation, as if he truly intended to keep his promise, severing ties and vowing never to appear before Wang Yanqing again.
Wang Yanqing sat in the carriage, listening to the sound of hoofbeats fading into the distance. Fei Cui, accompanying her, noticed Wang Yanqing had been still for a while and cautiously reminded her: “Miss?”
Wang Yanqing came back to her senses, shook her head lightly, and said: “I’m fine. Let’s get out.”
Lu Heng left the courtyard — though now it should be called the Wang residence. Then headed straight to South Fusi. The emergence of foreign spies in the capital, boldly attacking court officials, was nothing short of a slap in the face to the Imperial Guards. The emperor hadn’t asked about it yet, but tomorrow he would surely be waiting for an explanation.
Having settled Wang Yanqing’s matters and no longer worried, Lu Heng immediately threw himself into his official duties. Guo Tao and the others had long prepared to stay up all night. When they saw Lu Heng return, they looked at him with a mix of admiration and sympathy.
Leaving behind a beautiful bride on one’s wedding night to interrogate prisoners was truly a model of dedication for their generation!
When Lu Heng met the gazes of his subordinates, he knew they had misunderstood, but given the situation, it was better to let them continue thinking that way.
Sacrificing his wedding night for official business sounded much better than throwing himself into work due to his fleeing bride. Lu Heng sighed inwardly, having previously thought he couldn’t be so unlucky that Wang Yanqing would regain her memories right before their wedding night. But here they were.
The lights at the South Fusi burned all night. By the next day, when Lu Heng walked out of the prison, he seemed to still carry the smell of blood from the interrogation room. He glanced toward the east. At this hour, the emperor should be awake. Although it was still the New Year holiday and officials didn’t need to attend court, to prevent anyone from reporting him with ill intentions, Lu Heng decided to head to the palace early.
Ordinary officials had to go through numerous procedures to meet the emperor, but Lu Heng entered the palace unimpeded. He soon appeared in the Qianqing Palace, where the emperor, who was meditating in a Daoist robe, was not surprised to see him: “You just got married yesterday. Why are you here so early today?”
He really couldn’t help but bring it up, Lu Heng cupped his hands and said: “Your Majesty, some unexpected events occurred during my wedding yesterday. I captured dozens of assassins, eleven of whom are still alive. After last night’s interrogation, they revealed that they are from Japan and were ordered to infiltrate the capital and assassinate high officials of our court.”
The emperor wasn’t concerned with how Lu Heng got the Japanese assassins to talk, though he frowned slightly, his expression serious: “From Japan?”
“Yes.” Lu Heng replied, “Japan is in turmoil, with the shogunate fragmented and the royal family rendered powerless. Many princes and nobles have fled, intending to establish themselves along the southeastern coast of the Ming Dynasty. It’s said that some have already occupied the islands and declared themselves kings.”
Japan royalty, hoping to restore their former glory, sought an island near the Ming Dynasty to continue their reign. If they could control the southeastern coast, it would be better for them. However, fearing the Ming Dynasty, they devised a plan to send assassins to the capital, aiming to eliminate all the government and military officials in one sweep. With the Ming Dynasty emperor himself in disarray, they figured he would have no time to deal with them, possibly allowing them to seize the southeast.
Such a crude and violent approach was indeed in line with the Japanese way of thinking. Ever since the emperor began his path of Daoism, he had emphasized balance and harmony, avoiding arrogance and impatience, but hearing this made him sneer coldly and scoff: “Just like that?”
The border issues for the Ming dynasty had always been severe, with conflicts raging in all directions. The emperor, along with all the military generals, had focused their efforts on the northern front against the Mongols. The most powerful generals had come out of battle from Datong, displaying the emphasis on that region.
However, the southeastern coast was also not peaceful. The Jiangsu and Zhejiang areas had long been plagued by Japanese pirates, who would occasionally land to raid. When pursued by officials, they would retreat to the sea, coming and going, which had become quite tiresome.
The emperor thought a group of pirates could hardly pose a significant threat and had not found the time to address the issue. But now they dared to assassinate court officials and intended to establish a presence right at the the gates of the Ming Dynasty.
It was akin to tugging on the tiger’s tail, seeking death.
The emperor fell silent, deep in thought. Warfare was no trivial matter, having just driven back the Mongols last year, if he wanted to deal thoroughly with the pirates, many preparations needed to be made in advance. The most immediate concern was deciding which generals to send.
Lu Heng stood quietly in the warm Qianqing Palace, waiting for the emperor to decide. After a moment of contemplation, the emperor said: “First, let’s secure the gates and clean out the spies in the city. As for dealing with the pirates, we can discuss that after the imperial court session.”
Lu Heng raised his fists and responded efficiently: “Understood.”
Once he was given control of the city gates, he left the palace and immediately ordered the gates to be sealed, restricting all entry and exit. Neither the Japanese spies nor Wang Yanqing would be allowed to leave.
|| Author’s Note:
Lu Heng: I never lie.
|| Translator’s Note: Apologies for the delay, the site wouldn’t let me post yesterday. Enjoy!
Work hard Lu Heng!