Chapter 35: It Is All a Trap

The flight of the three Jinyiwei minor flags caused no surprise, simply because both Wang Lu and Pei Lun were centurions.

On the contrary, Wang Lu’s gesture of treating his subordinates with such courtesy left others nearby looking perplexed. After all, given the clear hierarchy of their ranks, Wang Lu only needed to stand there; yet, he had actually paid for the seating. Were there truly such benevolent superiors in this world?

"Please."

The waiter cleared the table with lightning speed, and Pei Lun reached out to invite Wang Lu to sit first. Wang Lu did not decline again, as doing so would have appeared disingenuous.

Once seated, the waiter asked with a beaming smile, "My lords, what would you like to drink?"

Wang Lu looked toward Pei Lun. Pei Lun had been observing Wang Lu intently, trying to glean something from his expression to serve as a baseline for their upcoming conversation. He immediately responded, "I am indifferent. You choose, my lord; I shall treat you to this tea."

"Do you have any fresh tea leaves?" Wang Lu turned to ask the waiter.

Usually, when one stands and one sits, the one seated would have to look up at the standing man, but the waiter kept his waist bent so low that he could maintain eye level with Wang Lu, or even lower. Wang Lu, having become accustomed to such treatment since his promotion to centurion, said nothing.

The waiter recited fluently, "Our shop’s signature Longjing green tea is crisp and refreshing, perfect for this cool autumn night. We also have aged Pu-erh, mellow and sweet, warming and comforting—a favorite among many dignitaries. However, since yesterday was the Ghost Festival, I have gathered some wild chrysanthemums to steep in tea, crafted according to our shop’s ancient methods. It clears heat and detoxifies, offering a delicate fragrance. Perhaps you would like to try that, my lord?"

Wang Lu pondered for a moment and smiled. "Then bring a pot of chrysanthemum tea to match the spirit of the Ghost Festival. And add a few tea snacks."

"Understood! Please wait, my lords, it will be served immediately."

As the waiter turned to leave, he sang out, "One pot of autumn chrysanthemum tea, several exquisite snacks! The presence of noble guests brings light to our humble shop; may the fragrance of tea accompany you, and may your Ghost Festival be peaceful!"

The chant made Wang Lu smile; he never tired of the charm of ancient tea culture, and Pei Lun chuckled along as well.

While they waited, Pei Lun saw Wang Lu staring blankly at the table, silent and introspective, and could not help but ask, "My lord..."

"Wait until later," Wang Lu deferred, though internally, he was brewing his emotions.

Pei Lun immediately fell silent, though his heart grew restless.

Soon, the waiter returned with a delicate side-handled pot, poured tea for both men, and set down a plate of almond cookies and a plate of osmanthus cakes.

"Please enjoy your tea, my lords. Call me if you need anything." Seeing that the smile had vanished entirely from Wang Lu's face, the waiter wisely retreated to a distance, though he kept glancing back, waiting to respond at the first sign of a request.

Wang Lu still did not mention the purpose of their meeting, saying only, "Please."

As he raised his cup, Pei Lun followed suit, offering a distant toast. After taking a sip of the fragrant tea, Pei Lun set down his cup, intending to offer a compliment to ease the atmosphere, but was startled to see Wang Lu’s expression filled with sorrow.

"Brother, I have failed you..." Wang Lu said, covering his face.

This scene caught Pei Lun off guard. He knew Wang Lu must have had a reason to seek him out, but what was this performance? He wasn't even close to Wang Lu!

"What are you saying, my lord? This is our first meeting. How could you have failed me?" Pei Lun asked, bewildered.

"I know Yin Cheng was your friend, but he was my friend, too!" Wang Lu surreptitiously rubbed his eyes, making them appear somewhat red, lending his performance an air of genuine feeling.

"Yin Cheng?" Pei Lun stiffened. Yin Cheng was his only friend in the Northern Imperial Guard Bureau; no one knew this but the two of them. How could Wang Lu know? However, that was secondary. Seeing Wang Lu acting as if he had lost a close relative, Pei Lun grew anxious. "What happened to Yin Cheng?"

"He is dead," Wang Lu said, exhaling a long, heavy breath.

"What!" Pei Lun shot to his feet in shock. *Clang!* His stool tipped over, drawing countless eyes toward them.

"Sit down," Wang Lu said steadily.

Once Pei Lun righted his stool and sat back down, Wang Lu did not wait to be asked. "Ling Yunkai, a banner officer of the Northern Imperial Guard Bureau, killed him on the charge of slandering Eunuch Wei."

"This..." Upon hearing that Ling Yunkai had killed Yin Cheng, a flash of murderous intent crossed Pei Lun's eyes, but when he heard the name "Eunuch Wei," his resolve weakened by a third.

"Yin Cheng was drunk," Wang Lu said with a look of disappointment. "I had told him many times to drink less. We in the Jinyiwei don't work in ordinary places; everyone carries a 'Record of Impermanence' in their pockets. Who knows who might be jealous of your talent, twisting your words or stabbing you in the back? But he... he just wouldn't listen."

"Last night, while handling a case, I went to find Shen Lian and happened to run into Ling Yunkai hunting down Yin Cheng. Ling had the 'Record of Impermanence' in hand and witnesses among his men. I couldn't intervene directly, or Ling Yunkai would have surely accused me of being Yin Cheng’s accomplice, making it even harder to save him."

"I had hoped that since I was some distance from Ling Yunkai, I could take Yin Cheng back to the imperial prison and find a way to cover it up. But Yin Cheng was terrified out of his wits and recklessly attacked Ling Yunkai."

"Ling Yunkai was seriously injured by him, but he lost his own life."

Pei Lun breathed heavily, grinding his teeth as he asked, "My lord, you say you were Yin Cheng’s friend. You just watched as Ling Yunkai killed him?" Without realizing it, Pei Lun had changed his form of address.

"It was my incompetence." Wang Lu’s face showed no trace of pretense. "At the time, I only dared to risk being branded an accomplice to hold back Ling Yunkai’s men. If I had attacked Ling Yunkai directly, his men would have scattered to seek reinforcements from the local city guards."

"Despite my rank as a centurion, once the name of Eunuch Wei is attached to a matter, this uniform of mine is worthless—it counts for nothing."

"I have other men under my command. If I had caused a disaster, not only would I have suffered, but all my men would have been buried with me."

"You are a centurion as well... sigh, I don't expect you to understand my predicament, but we must avenge Yin Cheng!"

Pei Lun listened quietly until Wang Lu finished, then wiped the corner of his eye, seemingly casual, and smiled. "I am not an unreasonable man. If what you say is true, Yin Cheng should have thanked you for trying to give him a way out. It is a pity my brother was so foolish."

"If you don't believe me, you can verify it with those present that night. But be careful not to get targeted by Ling Yunkai. That man is a mad dog who bites everyone he sees. Although Shen Lian and I took advantage of his injuries to break up his men, a man who can stand toe-to-toe with two centurions like us while only being a banner officer must have someone powerful backing him."

Seeing Wang Lu staring at him, Pei Lun’s lips curled into a faint, murderous smirk as he gripped his black-gold staff. "The debt must be paid. I will peel his skin and drink his blood to comfort Yin Cheng’s spirit in heaven!"

Just as Pei Lun was about to stand, Wang Lu calmed him. "Do you intend to go alone?"

"You hold a high position in the Northern Imperial Guard Bureau and have men to look after; me going is the best solution."

"But then you will be dead, too."

Wang Lu placed a short blade on the table. "Before Yin Cheng attacked, he told me to take care of you. He said the two of you were soulmates, and if you knew what happened, you would stop at nothing to avenge him. He asked me to watch over you—even if he couldn't be avenged, he didn't want to see you throw your life away."

"But you just said you wanted to avenge him. Were you just toying with me?" Pei Lun recognized the blade as Yin Cheng’s. His eyes were once again filled with suspicion.

"This matter must be planned carefully." Wang Lu’s gaze was steady and forceful. "Ever since the Emperor fell into the water, dark undercurrents have been moving through the capital. It is a trap everywhere. We must not act rashly, lest we become someone else's pawns."

Pei Lun thought for a moment, then let go of his staff and cupped his hands. "Since Yin Cheng chose to entrust his final affairs to you rather than his superior, Shen Lian, he must have regarded you as a true friend. From now on, I, Pei Lun, am at your command."

"As long as you remember that Yin Cheng’s debt remains unpaid, I have no further objections!"

Wang Lu nodded, blew gently on his tea, and said, "Then, if I were to ask you to keep an eye on Thousand-Man Commander Lu Wenzhao of the Northern Imperial Guard Bureau, would you dare?"

Pei Lun frowned. "Does Yin Cheng’s matter involve Lu Wenzhao?"

"Yes." Wang Lu nodded. "I have always felt that Yin Cheng’s affair was not that simple. How could it be such a coincidence that Shen Lian went to the Jinling Pavilion on that day, and Ling Yunkai also went there? And it was Lu Wenzhao who sent Shen Lian."

"We must deal with those who killed Yin Cheng, but we must also find and eliminate those who are manipulating us from the shadows. Do you think I am right?"

"Since he is also involved..." Pei Lun paused, then said, "There is nothing I would not dare to do!"