Chapter 105: Blazing Flames and the Stench of Fish

Di Shun squatted by the roadside.

Wearing a conical hat and a short jacket, his pant legs rolled up high, his exposed calves were caked with dried mud, matching the mud on his bare feet.

With hands tucked inside his sleeves, he chatted animatedly with several similarly rustic peasants nearby.

“Hey, have you heard? The White Horse Temple was burned down in a massive fire.”

“Not just heard—I saw it myself. From way far off, you could see half the sky glowing red from the flames.”

“Right? And did you notice how the thunder and lightning rattled on for so long last night, but the rain only came late? Maybe the fire burned up all the clouds.”

“Hah, don’t say that—there’s a chance.”

“So shouldn’t we thank that fire? If all that rain had lasted too long, the crops would’ve been ruined.”

“Exactly! That fire really touched our hearts. It was so bright and satisfying, I got so excited I even sneaked my wife’s hairpin and swapped it for a few cups of old wine.”

“Ha! Your wife didn’t scold you?”

“Pfft, why would she? After watching the fire, she even drank two cups with me. Isn’t that great?”

“Cut the bragging. You’re the only one with a wife? Mine even slaughtered a chicken specially.”

“Stop, stop—just you two have wives? Who’s jealous here? Hey, have you heard about that courtyard incident?”

“Shh… don’t mention it. The puppies down there are all gone, but the three big ones are still alive and kicking. Watch out, they might bite us.”

“Yep, those are mad dogs—bite anyone they catch.”

“Tsk, you’re all so timid. Let me tell you, a brother-in-law of my third aunt’s sixth aunt’s younger brother said those dogs are now fixated on the two wolves upstairs.”

“Fixated?”

“Exactly.”

“Hey, are they trying to take over? Three dogs for two wolves—that leaves one extra.”

“Are you stupid? The big dog’s been wanting to kick out the loyal dog for a while. Heard the loyal dog’s been scheming behind the big dog’s back, but the big dog already knows.”

“Oh? Then the loyal dog’s done for?”

“Of course! We’re just waiting for the show to begin.”

By the roadside, in a narrow alley nearby, Qin Tiezong overheard this conversation and his face darkened.

He had only just slipped out of the East Gate that morning. When he arrived at the place, all he found were the bodies of his men; Di Miao was nowhere to be found.

Qin Tiezong didn’t know if it was the stench clinging to him or sheer anger, but his head spun dizzily and he felt faint.

Only then did he remember he needed to wash off the filth and grime covering him.

So he went to a nearby river and soaked himself in the water.

He even stunk up several fish, which floated to the surface, stunned.

Proud and vain as always, Qin Tiezong felt every fiber of his being ache painfully.

After some time, he wondered: Could Di Miao have been rescued by Di Ying?

That thought prompted Qin Tiezong to quickly clean himself and climb out of the river.

Only when he reached shore did he realize he hadn’t brought any spare clothes.

So he had no choice but to endure the chill and return to the city soaking wet.

He was alone now, afraid of what Di Ying might do to him.

Back in the city, he soon heard that Di Ying had been imprisoned.

Qin Tiezong felt a surge of happiness.

But glancing at his own disheveled state, he chose a quiet, less crowded path.

It was along this path that he overheard the peasants’ conversation.

Only then did Qin Tiezong finally understand: Di Miao must have been intercepted by Lai Wangcai.

That realization nagged at him, and he recalled how previously Xue Huaiyi had left Lai Wangcai and Wang Hongbin to confer and kicked him out.

A wave of bitter resentment welled up in Qin Tiezong’s heart.

Then, on the evening of the third day, something happened that made him hate Lai Wangcai even more.

That evening, Qin Tiezong was dozing in a bamboo chair beneath a large tree in his compound.

The heat made it impossible to sleep inside.

Near a lotus pond, trees beside the outer courtyard wall were dense and cool.

He had been feeling irritable these days and came here to rest.

Half dozing, he heard footsteps in the alley outside the wall.

One voice sounded urgent.

“Hurry up! The lord is summoning his trusted men tonight. We’ll deliver the big gift then—maybe our request will be granted.”

“What’s the rush? Lord Qin hasn’t even received an invitation. What serious talk could there be?”

“You don’t know a thing! Hurry up. Don’t be fooled by Qin Tiezong’s arrogance—he’s not even on the lord’s radar.”

“Ha! If that’s so… where will Qin Tiezong’s face go?”

“Face? Better save your life first. Move it!”

The two hurried through the alley, heading south.

To the south, diagonally opposite, stood Lai Wangcai’s residence.

Hearing their words, Qin Tiezong sprang up in a flash, unable to contain his fury, and stormed toward Lai Wangcai’s mansion.

He barreled in wildly, crashing straight into the council chamber.

Inside, as expected, were Lai Wangcai’s trusted men, clinking cups and celebrating something.

Suddenly, Qin Tiezong remembered: today was Lai Wangcai’s birthday.

And on such an important day, such a significant event, they hadn’t even invited him.

A raging fire of anger surged to his head.

He overturned the banquet table and pointed a finger at Lai Wangcai’s nose, berating him:

“Back when we were all lowly street rats, when you needed money or men, when you robbed and kidnapped, it was me who gave you those ideas.

Now that you’ve risen so high, on the verge of replacing Wu Qunsi and the others, you turn on me, discarding me like trash.

You’re truly shameless. Wearing an official’s robe doesn’t change your nature.

Ungrateful and betraying your brothers, you won’t have a good end!”

After finishing, Qin Tiezong stormed out in a huff.

Lai Wangcai was momentarily stunned by the outburst.

When he recovered, his eyes narrowed with cold malice as he watched Qin Tiezong’s retreating back.

Wang Hongbin leaned in and whispered, “Shall we do him in?”

Lai Wangcai nodded heavily.

Wang Hongbin immediately began arranging men.

Meanwhile, after venting his anger, Qin Tiezong suddenly realized how ruthless Lai Wangcai was.

He knew all too well that the moment he spoke those words in anger, Lai Wangcai would not let him off.

All the events and dangers flashed through Qin Tiezong’s mind.

He immediately sprang up, dashed out of the mansion, untied an unidentified horse at the gate, mounted it, and galloped away wildly.

His sudden speed caught his pursuers off guard, leaving them behind.

...

In these days of unrest, the old emperor, unable to eat well or sleep soundly, sat dazed on the corridor outside the imperial study.