Chapter 50: The Eunuch

Wang Hai felt a sinking sensation in his heart.

This was turning into a major incident.

Below the leader of the Ming Sect, the highest-ranking positions were held by the Left and Right Envoys. Fifteen years ago, the Left Envoy was already a supreme master, and the two were equals in rank; it stood to reason that the Right Envoy would be no less capable.

Moreover, over the past decade or more, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had received no news whatsoever about this Right Envoy—not even their gender was known.

Originally, the plan had been to catch a minor operative, follow the trail, and dig out a few diehard members of the Ming Sect. Who would have thought they’d end up grabbing the tail of a whale instead?

This was going to be difficult.

When the Embroidered Uniform Guard captured this person, they hadn’t realized the connection to the Ming Sect, and their methods had been rough. In a few days, this lead would likely be lost.

If the Right Envoy’s martial skills were indeed at the highest level, then within the Embroidered Uniform Guard, only Li Miao, Zhu Zaichen, and Bu Lei, the Commander of the Northern Suppression Division, could confidently handle such an opponent.

If the target were a martial artist with a stronghold and a foundation, it would be easy enough to muster troops to encircle and suppress them. But ever since the Ming Sect was gravely wounded fifteen years ago and went underground, its experts operated alone.

To capture such a lone expert, it would require someone capable of keeping them from escaping with lightness skills, holding them in place until reinforcements could arrive.

Since Li Miao had left, Zhu Zaichen had to remain in Shuntian Prefecture and couldn’t leave easily.

Bu Lei, the Commander from the Northern Suppression Division, was currently not in the north and couldn’t be summoned back in time.

“I’ll send someone to inform the Commandant, while I investigate this lead in secret. If I can’t handle it, I’ll retreat in time,” Wang Hai resolved.

Besides Li Miao, Zhu Zaichen, and Bu Lei, Wang Hai was already among the top experts in the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Pushing this task onto someone else was less reliable than handling it himself.

“All these incidents piling up along this route seem faintly connected, as if some thread ties them together—it doesn’t feel like coincidence.”

“I must look into this. I can’t let these matters disrupt the Commandant’s plans.”

Wang Hai stood and questioned the captive, whose psychological defenses were already shattered. Glancing nervously at Xiao Si, who had returned to the table to snack, the captive trembled uncontrollably and spilled everything he knew.

Once all was clear, Wang Hai wasted no time. He immediately rose, bringing Xiao Si with him.

He called for someone to deliver a message to Li Miao, then gave Xiao Si a few instructions, packed his belongings, and mounted his horse to set off.

Since Xiao Si had no martial arts skills and could only rely on trickery, he wasn’t suited for tailing anyone. Besides, someone was needed in Jinan Prefecture to coordinate the men sent from Shuntian Prefecture to the Mount Tai Sect.

Xiao Si remained in Jinan Prefecture until the afternoon, when word arrived: the Embroidered Uniform Guard from Shuntian Prefecture had arrived.

Stepping outside, she saw several figures standing in the courtyard—hundred-man commanders under Li Miao, and a thousand-man commander from the Northern Suppression Division. They all recognized Xiao Si.

Normally, out of respect for Li Miao, these men would greet Xiao Si with friendly smiles.

But today, for reasons unknown, none spoke; instead, they exchanged furtive glances and discreet signals with Xiao Si, as if conversation was inconvenient.

Just as Xiao Si was growing puzzled, a shrill voice sounded from outside the gate: “Since when does the Embroidered Uniform Guard accept women?”

“Where is Commandant Li Miao? Why don’t I see him? I have business to discuss with him.”

As the voice drew nearer, a middle-aged man entered. He was around forty, pale-faced, clean-shaven, with a mincing gait and a voice sharp and high-pitched, almost feminine.

Having spent years in Shuntian Prefecture, Xiao Si immediately recognized the type: a eunuch.

The thousand-man commander from the Northern Suppression Division quietly said to Xiao Si, “Miss Si, that’s Cheng Yuanzhen, the Chief Attendant Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonies.”

“He’s come with ill intent—be careful.”

The eunuch Cheng Yuanzhen stopped before Xiao Si, gave her a once-over, and demanded, “Who are you? Is this office a place where any woman can come and go as she pleases?”

He turned to the commander and said, “What’s this? When the Embroidered Uniform Guard goes on assignment outside the capital, you bring women along?”

“His Majesty is far too lenient with you. If those of us in the palace were as careless in our duties as you are, we’d be flogged for sure~”

From his tone, Xiao Si immediately understood that this eunuch had not come in good faith.

Recalling the hesitant demeanor of the commanders earlier, Xiao Si grasped the situation.

Something had gone wrong.

Whatever happened with Zhu Zaichen in Shuntian Prefecture, their mission was at its final stage—just waiting for all hands to assemble. Yet now, a malicious eunuch had been brought along, making no effort to hide his hostility.

With this man present, conversation was impossible. Xiao Si drew out a waist token and declared, “I am a secret agent of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, here to report on the mission. Now that I have, I will take my leave.”

Without sparing the eunuch a glance, she strode out the door.

She didn’t go far, simply crossing to a spot opposite the office to wait.

As the sun dipped low, one of Li Miao’s hundred-man commanders emerged, glanced around, spotted Xiao Si, and hurried over to greet her in a low voice.

“Miss Si.”

“Brother Zhang,” Xiao Si nodded. “What’s going on? Who is that eunuch?”

Commander Zhang forced a bitter smile. “Miss Si, they’re about to steal the fruits of our labor!”

“We had assembled our men and were ready to depart. The Commandant went to the palace, and when he returned, he smashed up his courtyard in anger.”

“The next day, the palace sent some eunuchs, saying the Directorate of Ceremonies would join our mission.”

“Now, half of our duties have been handed over to these eunuchs. Half our men have been replaced as well.”

“That one from this afternoon, Cheng Yuanzhen, is their leader. He’s been making trouble for us the whole way.”

“With Hai not here, we’re unsure of the Commandant’s wishes, and Commander Wang from the Northern Suppression Division is only lending a hand. As the Commandant’s adopted daughter, you know the situation better than anyone.”

“What do you think we should do now?”

Xiao Si pondered, then sliced her little hand downward, gazing up at Commander Zhang.

“My lady, we can’t kill them. These are palace men—we don’t know the whole story, and killing them would bring serious trouble.”

Xiao Si extended two fingers, wriggling them along her arm.

“Poison won’t do either. Even if it can’t be traced immediately, it’ll come back to bite us.”

She thought for a moment, then nodded. “Here’s the plan.”

“There are five days left until the Alliance of Five Peaks, and Tai’an City isn’t far. Two days on horseback and you’ll be there.”

“I’ll go ahead and inform my father of the situation. You all delay them—travel slowly.”

With that, she suddenly reached out, her fair little hand lightly tapping Commander Zhang’s chest.

“Brother Zhang, forgive me for this.”

With that touch, she passed a trace of an almost undetectable poison into Commander Zhang’s body.

She was careful—Commander Zhang’s inner energy would protect him, so he’d be fine, but he’d still show enough symptoms to feign illness and delay the journey.

“Find a way to have a meal with some of the eunuchs; they’ll catch it too. If our own men fall ill, it should buy us some time.”

Commander Zhang rubbed his chest, forcing a wry smile. “All right, all right.”

Without hesitation, Xiao Si turned away, went to the stables for her horse, mounted up, rode out of the city, and through the night headed straight for the Mount Tai Sect.