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Night Patrol
T/N: Translated by Jen on Broken Jinsei! Please do not repost my translations! All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
The inside of the Ruan manor was dead silent.
Lu Qi Yang reached out to feel the man’s pulse. Seeing that he was already dead, he extended his hand into his collar to feel around. After searching a little, he fished out a letter soaked in blood from the man’s inner pocket and folded it up.
Shen Lan Chi was beside him the whole time. Seeing the letter, she couldn’t help but ask in shock, “What’s this?”
“A forged letter.” Lu Qi Yang had that folded letter placed into his sleeve, saying in a low voice, “They imitated the second prince’s handwriting, writing to the exiled bandits in Jiangbei. If this letter gets seen by someone, then the second prince certainly will be in a very difficult position.
Shen Lan Chi’s heart slightly jumped.
If this letter really imitated Lu Zi Xiang’s handwriting, then that means someone wants to have the roaming bandits case’s dirty water splashed onto Lu Zi Xiang. Doing something like this, the only one that can benefit from it within the borders of Chu was none other than one person——the Crown Prince Lu Zhao Ye.
As for who carried it out…..
Unknown as to why, Shen Lan Chi’s breathing suddenly sped up.
While she was distracted by various thoughts, Lu Qi Yang already entered the Ruan family’s reception hall. After going around in a circle, he came out again, picking up the bloody axe on the ground and throwing it into a dry well in the courtyard, “Hejian Wang is also here, just he’s quite drunk. Based on Hejian Wang’s drinking capacity, afraid when he wakes up tomorrow morning, he won’t remember what happened tonight. It’s not good to stay here for long, let’s leave first.”
Shen Lan Chi glanced back at Ruan Bi Qiu who had fainted on the ground before finally dragging along Bi Yu, whose legs were already awfully weak, and also unable to speak, as she hurriedly followed Lu Qi Yang outward.
With things already like this now, presumably the Ruan family will understand what to do in order to profit.
It was already late into the night, the streets and alleys already empty of people. The two of them hurriedly walked to the riverside, only seeing a paper lantern left behind on the ground. The slightly flickering dim light illuminated upon one side of the waves, making the water sparkle. A few flying insects attracted by the light directly danced around the lantern screen, not knowing weariness.
“Why are you here?” After Shen Lan Chi calmed her emotions, she immediately said anxiously, “Do you know how dangerous it was just now! If something were to happen to you, what will I do…..”
Hearing this, Lu Qi Yang’s complexion suddenly darkened.
“You also know that the Ruan manor was extremely dangerous just now?” He used his hands to grab Shen Lan Chi’s shoulders, his fingers nearly digging into her skin, “If I hadn’t come, afraid you would’ve already died under that evildoer’s axe!”
Shen Lan Chi was at a loss for words.
“I……..” She slightly lowered her eyes, listening to the gurgling sound of water by her ear and softly saying, “It doesn’t matter at all if I die, but if you…….”
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
She has already died once. Dying again wasn’t that big of a deal. But, Lu Qi Yang can’t die, and he further can’t die because of her.
“Are you stupid?” He coldly sneered and said, “I went to the Ruan manor to trace the roaming bandits case. I have martial arts to protect myself. Never mind that one person just now, even if there’s another ten or eight, I can still retreat fully intact. Can you? Shen second miss.”
“Isn’t that roaming bandits case being investigated by Ruan Ying and Hejian Wang? All say that it was the Jiangbei bandits that had traveled up north and entered the capital, brazenly committing these crimes…….” Shen Lan Chi recalled the news she’d heard these last two days and said.
“If only it really were that simple.” Lu Qi Yang lightly sighed and said, “Did that killer say something to you earlier?”
“He said……” Shen Lan Chi’s eyes slightly turned, saying, “Said that Ruan Ying blocked a noble personage’s path.”
“Do you know who the ‘noble personage’ he spoke of is?” Lu Qi Yang asked.
“The head of the bandits?” Shen Lan Chi asked tentatively.
“No, it’s your second uncle, the Superintendent of Supervision and Assessments[1], Shen Xin Shu.” Lu Qi Yang said.
Shen Lan Chi’s gaze flickered, softly muttering, “I should’ve long guessed it.”
“The day the second prince returned to the capital, the horse carriage suddenly went crazy and fell off the cliff. This matter was also planned by Shen Xin Shu. If that day, neither of us had gone to receive his Highness, then afraid the second prince would’ve already been out of luck. For Shen Xin Shu, since one plan failed, he just tried another one.” Lu Qi Yang said.
As Shen Lan Chi listened, she suddenly came to realization inside.
In the past life, the second prince had fallen down the cliff on his way back to the capital, losing half his life, unable to handle matters for a long time, so Shen Xin Shu naturally had time to slowly plan. But, now that she has been reborn, unknowingly disrupting Shen Xin Shu’s plans, it naturally caused this roaming bandits case to occur ahead of time.
“You…..” She suddenly realized something, angrily saying, “So, that day the second prince returned to the capital, you already knew about my second uncle’s scheme? I know my second uncle isn’t a good person, but you actually stupidly got on that carriage with the second prince? Isn’t that just looking to die?”
“The second prince and I are both martial artists, so naturally will be able to manage.” Lu Qi Yang crossed his arms, looking down on her and saying, “Could it be that you’ve never heard of the saying, ‘beating the grass will definitely startle the snake’?”
Right at this time, the originally quiet streets and alleys suddenly sounded with chaotic footsteps. A few beams of dim yellow light randomly swept around. Those footsteps were approaching from afar, accompanied by the noisy sounds of shouting and yelling.
“Quickly search! The criminal shouldn’t have gone far!”
“To actually dare commit a crime in the Ruan manor, truly audacious to the extreme!”
Seeing that the footstep sounds were getting closer and closer, Lu Qi Yang took off his outer robe that was stained by blood and said to Shen Lan Chi, “Give me your hand.”
“What are you doing?” She nervously said in a low voice, “Let’s quickly run…..”
“Give me your hand.” He said again, his voice resolute.
Shen Lan Chi had no other choice and could only have her hand handed over. Lu Qi Yang used a corner of his outer robe to wipe away the bloodstains on her hand, then used his clothes to wrap up a rock from the ground, wrapping into a ball and throwing it into the river. The bloody clothes landed into the river with a ‘plop’ and instantly sank to the bottom.
Shen Lan Chi finally noticed at this time, when using the hairpin to kill earlier, he’d blocked in front of her, actually letting her clothes not get stained with single drop of blood.
“In a bit, when someone comes, just say this.” He leaned over Shen Lan Chi’s ear and quietly whispered something.
Listening to his instructions, Shen Lan Chi slightly frowned, somewhat hesitating with her words: “This….is…..a bit too…..”
Just as she was hesitating, she felt a slight twinge on her earlobe. Turns out, the little heir had actually lightly bitten her while whispering by her ear. The warm sensation made her heart restless.
“…..You!” Shen Lan Chi casted him a glance, saying in a low voice, “How come never seen you this daring before?”
As they chatted, that group of capital city guards already rushed over holding lanterns in hand. When the head guard in the lead saw the two of them, he already had a few thoughts inside—–This young lady was dress in brocade, also followed by a servant girl behind her, so presumably the daughter of a wealthy family. And this half-naked, messily dressed, playfully grinning man was none other than the renowned Zhennan Wang Manor’s heir.
Anyone who was on duty at night would always be able to catch this heir returning home late drunk, or the marvelous scene of him having gotten kicked out of the gambling house after losing.
“Heir, what are you……” The head guard lowered the lantern and said in a low voice, “There’s been an incident nearby. You wandering around here at this hour, this humble one is also in a difficult position. Furthermore, this one next to you…….”
“No need to say more! I’ll confess everything!” Lu Qi Yang straightforwardly said, “That’s right, it was I that was pestering Shen second miss! Which loyal servant girl reported to the authorities? Deserved to be rewarded!”
These random and unrelated words of his actually let the head guard figure out what was going on here. Then, looking at that ‘Shen second miss’, her hair bun slightly messy, her face carrying a look of disgust, currently dodging him with all her might, the head guard was increasingly certain of his guess.
Presumably, it’s the Zhennan Wang heir pestering this girl here.
As expected of a renowned wastrel in the capital.
“I didn’t let a servant girl go report to the authorities.” Shen Lan Chi angrily said, “Never mind that you’d lost all your money, you actually don’t even have any clothes left! If you don’t have money, then let the servant go back to fetch some, what are you bothering me for? I’m not going to give you half a tael of silver!”
“Well, didn’t I also have the servant boy put down as a wager?” Lu Qi Yang had a shameless look, making the head guard somewhat sympathize this Shen second miss, “Losing my clothes, that is also a common thing. If you don’t believe me, ask this old Zhang here.” After saying this, he just patted the head guard’s shoulder.
“My lord, you’ve got the wrong guy!” That head guard hurriedly said, “Brother Zhang isn’t on duty tonight. I’m Hu Da Tie.” Pausing for a moment, Hu Da Tie carefully said, “There’s been a murder nearby, this humble one is working under orders, asking you two to come with me.”
Just as Hu Da Tie’s men were about to surround them, a heavy voice suddenly sounded in the night.
“Under whose orders?”
Everyone turned to look. Unknown as to when, on the other side of the stone bridge parked a black curtained large sedan chair with a black and gold roof. The sedan chair’s curtain was half lifted, revealing a figure sitting firmly inside. That man had a jade crown and frosty clothes, his face handsome, his body filled with the noble air of the imperial family. Turns out, it was the Second Prince Lu Zi Xiang.
“Your Highness?” Lu Qi Yang turned around, feeling somewhat embarrassed, “Didn’t expect to actually let your Highness catch me in this sorry state again…….”
When has Hu Da Tie ever seen such a scene before? His legs immediately went soft. Leading over his subordinates to kneel, “It’s under the boss…..under the Director of the Capital City Guards’ orders…….”
“The Chen family’s eldest one? Forget it.” Li Zi Xiang caressed the jade green ring on his finger, slowly saying, “Zhennan Wang heir was traveling together with me tonight. We’d merely separated half an incense stick ago. In any case, he doesn’t have the time to go commit the crime, so let him go.”
After saying this, his line of sight slightly tilted, sweeping over Shen Lan Chi’s face before retracting his line of sight again. Without waiting for Hu Da Tie’s reply, the sedan’s curtains already dropped down, covering Lu Zi Xiang’s figure. The sedan bearers lifted the sedan chair, turned around, and left.
Since the second prince has spoken, how could Hu Da Tie dare to not comply? He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, bowing to Lu Qi Yang and saying, “This humble one has greatly offended just now, asking lord heir to be magnanimous.” After saying this, he ordered the people behind him to make way, so as to let the two of them leave.
“Hey, Hu Da Tie.” After walking a few steps, Shen Lan Chi turned her head, saying to that head guard, “You send me back the manor. I’m scared that this Zhennan Wang Manor’s heir will come harass me again. On the way back, it’s still better to bring along some more people. Once I get back home, you go before my mother to testify for me, are you clear?”
• • •
When Shen Lan Chi returned to the An Duke Manor, the inside of the manor had long hung up the decorated lanterns. She originally thought that Shen first madam would already be impatiently pacing around in front of the door, waiting to lecture her, but unexpectedly, the front door this time was empty, having no signs of that nagging mother of hers.
She entered her mother’s courtyard with her servant girl, yet heard a woman’s voice coming from her mother’s room.
“Wen Xiu, what kind of relationship do you and I have? This kind of trivial matter is also worth you specially inviting me over to thank?” This woman’s voice was very valiant and refreshing, penetrating with a brightness that made people feel refreshed.
Turns out, it was Shen first madam’s close friend from the boudoir, Zhennan Wangfei, Xie Ying Luan.
“Ah Ying, it was ultimately your son that saved Lan’er again, so one must thank.” Shen first madam Ji Wen Xiu said, “Moreover, calling you over today, it’s also just to let you come taste the green tangerines[2] supplied from the south. By the way, the heir isn’t that young anymore, these last two years, have you looked over……”
Hong Que was standing by outside Shen first madam’s room, originally feeling groggy and drowsy, her head nodding little by little, seemingly about to fall asleep. When lifting her eyes, she suddenly saw Shen Lan Chi’s figure, exclaiming in a startle, “Second miss, you’ve finally returned!”
This shout startled the people inside the room. Shen first madam, who in the previous moment, was still tasting the tribute tangerines with Zhennan Wangfei, in the next moment, just pushed open the door and charged out, also not asking about ‘looking over potential daughter-in-law candidates’ anymore, just saying to Shen Lan Chi with a cold face, “Yo, the little sparrow that’s always out and away actually even knows to return home?”
Seeing this noble madam before him and recalling that this place was the An Duke Manor, Hu Da Tie immediately understood his purpose here.
“This young lady had gotten harassed by the Zhennan Wang Manor’s heir on the way back, thus slow to return home!” Hu Da Tie hurriedly said, “This humble one can testify!”
Before Shen Lan Chi could let Hu Da Tie change his statement, she just heard these words, directly wanting to pass out on the spot.
“Lu Qi Yang is this capable now?” Zhennan Wangfei stepped out from inside the room, her noble face carrying a trace of chilliness, “I’d thought that the rumors all over the capital previously were just others spreading lies on top of lies, yet didn’t expect that this son of mine really dared to harass Lan’er!” Pausing for a moment, Zhennan Wangfei furiously said, “Lan’er, don’t you worry, I will certainly discipline him! I’ll go back right away to tell his father!”
“Wait—–” Shen Lan Chi hurriedly shouted.
Zhennan Wangfei was as swift as the wind and flames, also not taking the tribute green tangerines from Shen first madam, instead just lifting her dress and leaving without a second word. One can imagine, once Zhennan Wang learns of this matter, afraid he will ruthlessly beat up Lu Qi Yang again.
In her heart, Shen Lan Chi observed a moment of silence for Lu Qi Yang.
[1] 督课仆射 – From what I could find on it, this full title doesn’t actually exist. It’s another one of those titles that the author weirdly pieced together with different parts, although imo it sounds a bit redundant.
The easier part is the first half 督课(du ke) meaning to supervise and assess. No actual titles in ancient times used this as part of the title. Majority of the times, this term is used to describe the role of certain positions.
The second half 仆射(pu ye) was an actual title used in ancient times, and a rather old one that originated as far back as the Qin dynasty and later abandoned in the Song dynasty. 仆(pu) in this context uses the archaic meaning of to supervise. In modern usage of the character, it means down or low, commonly seen in 仆人(servant). 射(normally pronounced ‘she’ but in this phrase it’s pronounced as ‘ye’) means to shoot. The reason it’s used here is because in ancient times, at least back in the old dynasties, military power was more valued, hence 射 is referring to the archers. In the Qin dynasty, 仆射 was the left and right subordinates of the main archer. All head positions were assigned someone who was good in archery to assist them, so 仆射 was also usually the vice minister or assistant minister, these secondary positions. It was quite widely used in the Qin dynasty.
But, after the Han dynasty, the only title that used 仆射 was 尚书仆射 (shang shu pu ye) which can be translated as the Supervisors of the Secretariat, also divided as Left and Right. They worked directly under the 尚书令 Director of the Secretariat, and one of them replaces him once he retires.
However, in the early Tang dynasty, the Director of the Secretariat eventually became an empty position because it was once held by Li Shi Min (aka Emperor Taizong of Tang, also co-founder of the Tang dynasty). He was once the Director of the Secretariat of the Sui court, but he later urged his father (the first emperor of Tang) to rebel against Sui. So, to avoid out of taboo, the Director of the Secretariat position was left empty in the Tang court, and therefore 尚书仆射 became the de facto head of the secretariat, as well as the first Prime Minister.
The right and left 仆射 was later replaced with 太宰（Grand Chancellor) and 少宰 (Minor Chancellor) in the Song dynasty and 仆射 was never used again afterwards. Honestly, these titles got renamed and changed very often.
The author most likely formed the title from this quote in the Book of Han: “仆射，秦官也。古者重武，官有主射，以督课之…”
“Puye, Qin official post. Ancient people valued military, officials have an archer to supervise and assess them….”
As for the author’s intended use of the title in this novel, I’m really not sure, but thankfully, it’s only ever used once in this entire novel. The novel never really goes into what specific role or function this title has, so for context sake, just assume it’s a high and powerful position.
[2] 青柑 – In chinese, it’s literally called green tangerine, also known as calamansi.
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a moment of silence for our ml 😔🕯️
Thank you for the chapter~
I just wanted to mention that the “advance chapters toc” link doesn’t work and it redirects to the teaser
Thanks for letting me know! It’s fixed now.