Chapter 21: Collusion with Insurgents

"Mr. Mo, you have colluded with rebels and harbored ulterior motives. This... I'm afraid this is becoming quite difficult to explain, isn't it?"

He paused, a hint of playful mockery lacing his voice.

"How about this: you two stay outside and chat at your leisure. Discuss it thoroughly and decide who exactly is going to shoulder this burden of blame? As for me, the Estate of the Prince of Yan is comprised of absolute loyalists and virtuous warriors. We just personally executed the ringleader of the rebellion, ridding the nation of a scourge—a deed of undeniable merit!"

As soon as Xiao Zhan finished speaking, a deathly silence fell outside.

After a long while, Qin Cang let out a roar that sounded almost beast-like. "Xiao Zhan! You animal! Do you have any idea what you've just done?!"

"I know perfectly well," Xiao Zhan replied, leaning against the door panel, his tone as casual as if he were discussing the weather. "I killed someone who wanted me dead. Is there a problem with that?"

"He was a witness! A witness who could prove that all of this was a conspiracy!" Qin Cang’s voice cracked with agitation. "You killed him, and we’re all going to die! We’re all going to be toyed with and destroyed by that old witch!"

Xiao Zhan let out a scoff. "General Qin, you really are naive. Do you honestly think that if the Ghost-Masked Man were alive, he would clear your name? Don't dream. Since the Empress Dowager dared to play this game, she already had every contingency planned out. Even if he were alive, he would only end up claiming that you and I conspired to rebel together. Don't you believe that?"

Qin Cang was left speechless, choked by the realization that what Xiao Zhan said was likely the truth.

From outside, Mo Zhai spoke in a sinister tone: "Xiao Zhan, you are indeed clever. But you think that by killing him, you can extricate yourself? You are wrong! Now that the witness is dead, the charge of treason against your Estate of the Prince of Yan is even more firmly established!"

"Is that so?" Xiao Zhan’s voice was filled with amusement. "Mr. Mo, I think you’ve mistaken one thing. The one who is dead is the Ghost-Masked Man, not me. And the Ghost-Masked Man, after all, was one of your Empress Dowager’s people."

He paused, his voice suddenly turning ice-cold. "The situation now is that the Empress Dowager’s men attacked the residence of a loyal official and were struck down by that official. General Qin came here under the Emperor’s imperial decree, only to be besieged by the Empress Dowager’s men. How do you think the Emperor will react when he hears this story?"

Mo Zhai’s breathing hitched sharply.

Xiao Zhan continued, "What’s even more interesting is that many people here heard what the Ghost-Masked Man said before he died. That the Empress Dowager promised him the Estate of the Prince of Yan and the Thunder Lord Cannons? Tsk tsk, that is ironclad evidence of treason."

"You... you are slandering us!" Mo Zhai’s voice turned shrill, though it clearly lacked conviction.

"Slandering you?" Xiao Zhan laughed heartily. "Mr. Mo, I didn't say a thing. It was the Ghost-Masked Man who confessed it himself. What does that have to do with me?"

***

A strange silence descended outside the gates.

Xiao Zhan knew that Mo Zhai’s mind must be in turmoil. The death of the Ghost-Masked Man was both a relief and a disaster for him. It was a relief because there were no witnesses left, meaning the Empress Dowager’s conspiracy would not be fully exposed. It was a disaster because the situation had spiraled completely out of control, and he had to find a way to clean up the mess.

Sure enough, Mo Zhai soon made his choice.

"Qin Cang!" Mo Zhai’s voice drifted in. "You see the situation now. This brat Xiao Zhan is as cunning as a fox; if we continue to fight each other, we will only let him reap the benefits! Why don't we form a temporary alliance, take down the Estate of the Prince of Yan first, and then settle our own accounts?"

Qin Cang sneered. "Mo Zhai, do you take me for a three-year-old child? A moment ago you were trying to arrest me, and now you want to form an alliance? Do you think I would trust you?"

"General Qin, those who understand the times are the wise," Mo Zhai said, his tone darkening. "Your current plight is no better than mine. Xiao Zhan possesses those lethal weapons; neither of us can defeat him alone. Only by joining forces will we have a chance at survival."

Listening to their conversation from inside, Xiao Zhan curled his lips into a cold smirk.

As expected, a cornered dog will jump over the wall. Mo Zhai and Qin Cang were both driven into a dead end by him and had no choice but to huddle together for warmth. But that was fine; it saved him the trouble of dealing with them one by one.

"General Qin, Mr. Mo, have you reached a decision?" Xiao Zhan asked loudly on purpose. "Would you like me to give you some time? I’m not in a hurry, anyway; the estate has plenty of grain and provisions—enough to last a month."

As soon as these words were uttered, whispers broke out outside.

Xiao Zhan knew that the morale of both Qin Cang’s remaining troops and Mo Zhai’s cavalry had hit rock bottom. The death of the Ghost-Masked Man had made everyone realize that the nature of this battle had completely changed.

"Xiao Zhan!" Qin Cang finally spoke up. "If you have the guts, come out and fight! What kind of hero hides inside his own estate?"

"General Qin, that’s where you’re wrong," Xiao Zhan replied lazily. "Why should I go out? There are so many people out there; I’m not stupid. Besides, my Estate of the Prince of Yan has been loyal for generations and never initiates conflict. If you want to fight, I will accompany you to the end. If you want to leave, I won’t stop you."

Mo Zhai gritted his teeth. "Xiao Zhan, don’t think that hiding in your estate will keep you safe! I have plenty of ways to deal with you!"

"Oh? What ways?" Xiao Zhan asked with interest. "Are you going to burn the estate down? Or dig tunnels? Mr. Mo, feel free to try. But let me remind you, you’ve already seen the power of my Thunder Lord Cannons. If we really fight to the death, it’s not certain who will live and who will die."

As he spoke, Xiao Zhan signaled his house guards, who fired several shots into the air.

"Rat-tat-tat! Bang! Bang! Bang!"

***

The gunfire echoed in the night sky, making everyone’s hearts skip a beat.

Xiao Zhan listened with satisfaction to the commotion outside, knowing his intimidation had worked.

"Brother," Xiao Yunchang walked to his side and asked in a low voice, "are we really going to keep dragging this out with them?"

Xiao Zhan shook his head. "Sister, don't worry. It won't be long before someone comes to rescue us."

Xiao Yunchang looked at him in confusion. "Who would come to rescue us?"

Xiao Zhan smiled mysteriously. "You will know soon enough."

He was right. In the current situation, it was not he who was the most anxious, but the Emperor.

The words the Ghost-Masked Man said before dying, coupled with the sight of Mo Zhai and Qin Cang jointly besieging the Estate of the Prince of Yan, would soon reach the Emperor’s ears. When that happened, what would the Emperor think?

The Empress Dowager’s men attacking the residence of a loyal official—what were they trying to do? Commit treason?

Xiao Zhan believed that it wouldn't take long for the Emperor’s own forces to arrive. And when that time came, the real show would only just be beginning.

Outside, Mo Zhai and Qin Cang were still discussing their plan to storm the estate, unaware that they had already stepped into a trap carefully laid by Xiao Zhan.

Xiao Zhan looked at the sky and, guessing that the time was about right, shouted toward the gates: "Mr. Mo, General Qin, have you finished your discussion? I’m sleepy and I’m going to bed. If you want to fight, hurry up; don’t delay my rest."

At these words, sounds of gnashing teeth erupted from outside.

"Xiao Zhan! You just wait!"