942 A Protes (2/2)
Sun Chengqi never expected that Luo Qikang would become a threat to him.
The Hedong Luo Village was far-famed in the Central Plains. Some of its members were dignitaries in the Imperial Court, and some of its other members were famous swordsmen in the martial arts world. Naturally, Sun Chengqi had heard of then, but he was a typical civil official who was only sensitive to people's official positions. Thus, he naturally differentiated between reputation in Jianghu and status in the Imperial Court.
If Luo Qikang had had an official position, no matter how low it was, then with the Luo family's influence, he would have gained the deputy envoy's respect. But he was only a common swordsman dressed as a common soldier among a group of guards.
After that fight in Golden Roc Castle, Luo Qikang had shot to fame in Jade City. Sun Chengqi had finally realized that he was not an ordinary person. Regarding himself as a superior, he had tried to co-opt Luo Qikang with an appreciative attitude, unaware of the fact that he had merely greatly offended this swordsman.
As a result, when Sun Chengqi was sitting in the tent, he was very surprised to see Luo Qikang walk inside uninvited when he raised his head. With a displeased look, he said, ”Guard Luo, you arrived just in time. I wanted to talk to you about something. Many firms in Jade City have sent petitions here, saying that you killed a lot of innocent people in the city. Is it true?”
”I killed a couple of people, but they were not innocent,” Luo Qikang said apathetically. He didn't even bow to pay his respects, not to mention call him ”Lord.”
Sun Chengqi was very sensitive to this kind of issue. He immediately stood up and said angrily, ”Luo Qikang, how dare you! Guards!”
Sun Chengqi called for the guards outside the tent, but nobody came in. Those guards had been devotedly fulfilling their duties all along, but at this moment, they were not where they were supposed to be. ”Get out. I'm busy today. We'll talk about your issue tomorrow.”
Luo Qikang fished out an official document from his chest and handed it to Sun Chengqi. ”Take a look.”
Noticing that this guard's tone was becoming more and more impolite, Sun Chengqi became vigilant. There were rigid procedures in the delivery of official documents. This document wasn't supposed to be delivered to a guard first. He took it and pulled out the letter in the envelope. His face changed drastically after he read just two lines, and then he skipped past the contents and directly looked at the seal at the bottom of the letter.
”Thi–This… This is vicious libel and vilification! Who sent this letter here? I'll go back to the Central Plains tomorrow and explain to His Majesty… ”
Luo Qikang whipped out his sword and squinted slightly. As if the target was a kung fu expert whose kung fu was as good as his own, he carefully stabbed the blade into the chest of the deputy envoy but didn't kill him right away.
In surprise, Sun Chengqi looked at the bleeding wound in his chest and then moved his eyes back to the guard whose face was slightly dark, having no idea at all why he would be stabbed. He took two steps forward and then fell to the ground with a thud, knocking down the table beside him as he did so.
Luo Qikang walked to the doorway of the tent but then turned around and walked back. He lowered his head and looked at the body lying prone on the ground. Suddenly, he whipped out his sword again and cut off the head.
He had become somewhat fond of the rules of Jade City.
Gu Shenwei was consulting with Zhong Heng on some affairs when a guard suddenly came inside and reported that a small team of cavalrymen had run out of the camp of the Central Plains and were approaching the front gate of the Dragon Army's camp.
After a quarter of an hour, Zhang You desperately ran into the tent, stumbled, and then knelt down to the ground yelling ”Help! Dragon King!” repeatedly.
Zhong Heng walked forward and tried to console him. After quite a while, Zhang You calmed down and said, ”The guards have revolted. They killed Lord Sun, the deputy envoy. Fortunately General Dugu had quick reflexes. He had some men escort me to the Dragon King's camp.”
Gu Shenwei was amazed. No matter how audacious Luo Qikang was, he shouldn't have dared to kill an official of the Central Plains in public. He was no common Jianghu swordsman. His recklessness might even get his whole family into trouble. ”What about General Dugu? Why didn't he come here with you?”
”I don–don't know.” The only thing on Zhang You's mind was a way to flee. He had never considered the safety of Dugu Xian.
The information that Zhang You offered was extremely limited, but soon, more accurate news came. The guards hadn't revolted. Luo Qikang had received the Emperor's order to kill Sun Chengqi.
Sun Chengqi had been convicted of colludomg with enemies as well as negligence that resulted in damage to the Imperial Court's reputation.
Zhang You's face was ashen-faced. Sun Chengqi had been following his instructions all along. If Sun Chengqi was guilty, then there was no doubt that he would also be held responsible. ”All of that was Assistant Minister Yan's orders!”
Soon, Dugu Xian had someone deliver another secret letter, saying that he could only be the Commander-in-chief for three more days because in three days, another Governor of the Western Regions and Commander-in-chief appointed by the Imperial Court would arrive.
Gu Shenwei was startled yet again. It had been less than a month since Wei Song's death. The message shouldn't have even reached the Central Plains yet. Why would a new official arrive so soon? And this person had also managed to convict Sun Chengqi of a series of crimes before his arrival.
After Zhang You regained his composure, Gu Shenwei and Zhong Heng immediately started consulting with each other for a way to deal with this issue. The name of the successor wasn't mentioned in the letter. Zhong Heng speculated, ”Clearly, this appointment was issued a long time ago and Wei Song didn't know that his position had already been taken away by someone else before he died. So, this person is probably not on the Empress Dowager's side but rather on her opponent's side.”
The biggest opponent of the Empress Dowager was Prince Xiao. Gu Shenwei had no idea why Prince Xiao would make this move. He was pondering whether he should seize this last chance to take Jade City by force.