Attack on the Posthouse

While the two were talking, a commotion rose outside the door.

Moments later, someone arrived outside Yang Qing's room.

At the sight of the bodies sprawled every which way outside, the newcomer's face went white.

Trembling all over, he stepped forward and raised a hand to knock on the closed door. "My lord? Lord Yang?"

Yang Qing signaled for Bu Er to open the door, then walked slowly out. "Posthouse Deputy Fan, do you know your crime?"

The instant Posthouse Deputy Fan heard Yang Qing speak, his expression changed. He dropped to his knees with a thud. "I am guilty, my lord! Please forgive me!"

He had never imagined that anyone would dare take advantage of this sudden downpour to commit murder at the Posthouse!

And their target was none other than the Military Governor, whose prestige in Yan Prefecture now blazed like the sun at its zenith!

Fortunately, Yang Qing was unharmed. Had he been injured, a lowly posthouse deputy like Fan could have had ten heads, and even those would not have been enough for the executioner.

"As posthouse deputy, you failed to screen the guests carefully. You are indeed guilty of neglecting your duties! Hurry and check the premises for casualties!"

"You are right to reprimand me, my lord! I will send men to check at once."

Posthouse Deputy Fan was about to withdraw when more footsteps sounded behind him.

Turning, he saw one of Wei Li's personal guards.

The guard, normally so imposing, was now covered in bloodstains. His clothes were in tatters, with several conspicuous cuts and punctures left by blades.

"My lord, this..."

Seeing the guard's furious expression, Posthouse Deputy Fan recoiled several steps in fright.

"Posthouse Deputy Fan, what punishment do you deserve for allowing men to commit murder?"

"I—I did no such thing! Truly!"

At the guard's words, Posthouse Deputy Fan hastily denied the accusation, stealing a pleading glance at Yang Qing.

Yang Qing addressed the guard. "I was attacked by assassins just now. Could Deputy General Wei also have...?"

The guard glanced at Yang Qing, then quickly lowered his head and bowed. "Yes! The deputy general was supposed to leave the Posthouse for Yan Pass today, but the heavy rain delayed him."

"Who could have known that this delay would leave him wounded by an assassin, his life hanging in the balance!"

Yang Qing's expression grew solemn. "His life is hanging in the balance? Have you sent for a doctor?"

The guard said, "Someone has already gone to fetch one. I wanted to come out earlier, but that assassin was terribly difficult to deal with. I fought him for a long time before forcing him to retreat."

His expression filled with frustration. "Unfortunately, I let him escape without getting a clear look at his face."

"I have already ordered a search. Right now, Deputy General Wei's injuries are our most pressing concern."

With that, Yang Qing headed forward. "Come with me to see him."

Turning to see that the guard still had hold of Posthouse Deputy Fan, he said, "The court will decide Posthouse Deputy Fan's guilt and punishment. If you attack him here, you will be no different from him!"

The guard seethed with resentment, but with Yang Qing having spoken, he could no longer lay a finger on Posthouse Deputy Fan. Releasing his grip on Fan's collar, he hurried after Yang Qing toward Wei Li's quarters.

From a distance, they could see the Medical Hall's staff carrying basin after basin of bloody water outside. The stench of blood assailed their nostrils.

Alarmed by the sight, the guard stepped forward and stopped one of them. "How badly is the deputy general injured?"

The Medical Hall apprentice said, "We are doing everything we can to save him, but judging by his condition, I fear the outlook is poor."

"Nonsense! Heaven watches over good men like the deputy general. How could his outlook be poor?"

The guard shoved the apprentice, sending him tumbling to the ground, basin and all.

The apprentice had some courage. After slowly getting to his feet, he said to the guard, "Sir, naturally I hope he recovers too. But his condition truly is critical."

With that, he ignored the guard's expression and went straight back inside.

Yang Qing stood quietly to one side throughout, his face more solemn than ever before.

After an unknown stretch of time, the closed door opened from within, and an utterly exhausted doctor emerged.

The guard went up to him. "How is the deputy general?"

The doctor wiped the sweat from his face. Meeting the guard's grim gaze, he instinctively said, "I have done everything I can."

"You... say that again?"

The guard stepped forward and hoisted the doctor off the ground by his clothes. "The deputy general will be all right, won't he?"

"Sir—cough, cough—please have mercy..."

The doctor bowed and begged the guard to spare him.

"The deputy general's heart and lungs were wounded. I have done everything I can, but the bleeding simply will not stop..."

The guard hurled the doctor to the ground like a sack of rags, then strode into the room.

Yang Qing glanced at the doctor before stepping inside as well.

A lingering stench of blood filled the room.

Wei Li lay on the bed, his body covered in blood.

One arm hung over the edge of the bed, blood dripping from his fingertips onto the floor.

Before long, a small puddle formed beneath it.

Wei Li's face was deathly pale, his breathing so faint it was almost imperceptible.

At the sound from the doorway, Wei Li slowly turned his face from where it had lolled to one side.

When he saw who had entered, his eyes flew wide, and his chest began to heave violently.

"Lord... Lord Yang?"

Yang Qing approached slowly and stood beside him. "Yes, it is I. I have already sent word to Doctor Luo. He should be on his way here."

Wei Li's eyes remained fixed on Yang Qing's face.

"Good, good. Lord Yang, you truly are..."

Before Wei Li could finish, he began coughing violently.

Blood mixed with froth gushed from his mouth, wave after wave.

His eyes still stared fixedly at Yang Qing.

"Someone, come quickly!"

The guard lunged forward to catch Wei Li's sliding body, only to be splattered all over by another gush of blood.

"Deputy General? Deputy General?!"

Wei Li hung limply in the guard's arms, every trace of life already gone.

The guard turned to look at Yang Qing, but all he saw was his back as he walked slowly away.

Just outside the door, Yang Qing encountered Dai Sheng hurrying toward him.

"My lord, I heard something happened here at the Posthouse?"

Yang Qing nodded. "That is correct. Some villains broke into the Posthouse under cover of the heavy rain. Their targets were Deputy General Wei and me."

"Then... what happened...?"

Looking at Yang Qing, whose clothes were slightly disheveled but who bore no visible injuries, Dai Sheng's heart gave a violent thump. "Deputy General Wei...?"

"Deputy General Wei succumbed to his injuries. Nothing could save him."

"What... what are we to do?"

Dai Sheng staggered back a step, his fat body swaying twice.

"Report the truth to the throne. Also, notify Chancellor Wei!"

At Yang Qing's mention of Chancellor Wei, Dai Sheng trembled even harder.

"I... I will see to it at once..."

Dai Sheng forced out a reply, then immediately turned and headed toward the County Office.

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