Chapter 81 – A Dead End

Hanlin Scholar Su Yi felt somewhat uneasy as he walked down the busy streets.

Despite having only been a government official for only a few days, he had already fully experienced what it meant to be a minister.

His studies had taught him about etiquette, righteousness, integrity, and honor, but he had never learned how to be cunning and deceitful.

There was a strange undertone to this year's war, which seemed different from the past. So he went to his teacher, Gu Liuyun, the Minister of Rites, to sort things out.

Wars affect the entire country, so Hanlin Scholar Su Yi felt he should understand this and do his best as a minister of the Ruen Dynasty.

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Then his teacher scolded him out of the room.

His teacher reminded him, "This matter is too murky, you shouldn't get involved. Focus on your duties as a Hanlin Scholar."

Hearing this from his teacher, Su Yi was ever more certain that something was amiss. Convinced of his suspicions he said, "War is not a matter of the court, but a matter of the nation, a matter of the people—"

"That is exactly what court matters are!" Minister of Rites Gu , shouted angrily at Su Yi. He slammed the table heavily and rebuked, "The war this year is not something that can be decided by me, nor by a mere Hanlin Scholar like you!"

Su Yi gulped nervously and didn't dare speak. He had never seen his teacher so upset.

Minister of Rites Gu Liuyun was so angry his expression fluctuated several times. He took a deep breath to calm down, and said slowly, "I am doing this for your own good... Do not inquire about this matter any further. If you get involved, you will be crushed in an instant...

"The bloodshed and struggles in the imperial court are far worse than the fights in the jianghu." Gu Liuyun waved his hand in dismissal. "You may leave."

"As your student, I"—Su Yi looked at the figure sitting on the chair and gritted his teeth—"will take my leave."

As a top scholar, Su Yi was smart. Given his status, he knew he could no longer interfere with the matter, so he chose to protect himself.

However, as a smart person, he disliked situations he didn't understand. He wanted to uncover what was hidden behind this matter...

Only someone who understood the overall situation could make the best move in crucial moments.

He began recording snippets of conversations with the scholars and teachers at the Hanlin Academy and even eavesdropped on the children of nobility who were still attending school.

Although these rumors were not very reliable, they still helped him gradually approach the truth of the matter.

They hinted at something that made this Hanlin Scholar shiver with fear.

Over the past few days, Su Yi has been dealing with the Hanlin Academy's affairs during the day and sorting out collected information at night. He has become so busy that he often stays overnight at the Hanlin Academy.

Su Yi stretched lazily, racked his brush, and looked at the sky outside the window. The sun was setting, so he pushed his chair aside, and stood up.

"I haven't been home in three days," Su Yi murmured, rubbing his forehead. Mother will complain again. I should buy some food to bring back."

Su Yi's father passed away early, and his mother raised him by herself.

The mother and son lived in poverty and relied on each other. Luckily, Su Yi was smart; he had been exceptionally intelligent since childhood and had now successfully aced the imperial exams.

Su Yi held his mother in great respect, so he brought her to live in the capital with him = as soon as he was appointed by the court.

Su Yi made his way home along the busy streets, which were crowded with pedestrians. Not wanting to waste time, he hurriedly bought some ingredients and headed home.

After leaving the bustling main streets, Su Yi noticed something was wrong. He glanced back and saw a man following him not far behind out of his peripheral vision.

Am I being followed? Is it imperial surveillance?

Su Yi's heart tightened inexplicably as possibilities raced through his mind.

It seemed that his secret investigations had been discovered.

Are they here to silence me?!

Cold sweat instantly soaked through his scholar's robes.

Who sent that man? The Eastern Depot? The Imperial Guardians?

Su Yi's pupils suddenly narrowed as he thought of someone he had seen a new side of today...

Or

was it my teacher Gu Liuyun, the Minister of Rites?

What should I do?

It would be a lie if he said he wasn't nervous. This was the first time Su Yi encountered such a situation.

He was aware of his own limitations. He was, after all, just a bookish scholar who lacked the strength to truss a chicken.

Su Yi swallowed nervously, but he kept a composed face. He continued walking forward as if oblivious to his stalker.

Su Yi casually glanced back and found that the man was still trailing him at a moderate distance. The man did not seem to consider hiding his presence and followed him openly.

Could I be overthinking this? Is this person not here to kill me?

Su Yi frowned and began to sweat.

I hope I am overthinking this.

Su Yi quickened his pace, hoping to shake off the man in the crowd while there were still many people around.

Turning a corner, Su Yi pressed himself against the wall, breathing heavily, and tried his best to overcome his nervousness.

Su Yi took a deep breath, calming himself a little. Cautiously, he peeked around the corner down the path he had come from.

He's still behind me!

He must be here to kill me! There's no other option!

Su Yi's breathing grew heavy again. He even saw that when he looked at the man, the man calmly met his gaze for two seconds!

I must escape!

The thought of running away sprang up in Su Yi's mind. As soon as the idea emerged, it grew uncontrollably, like a weed. He bolted!

I'm not far away from my home now! I know the area so I can hide at home! I'll be safe!

He screamed internally.

Suddenly, he stumbled to a halt.

No, I can't go home... Mother is still at home. I can't put her at risk, I can't endanger her... I can't go home.

A desperate idea formed in Su Yi's mind, and his frantic expression hardened.

I must... I must kill him!

He stood at the corner of Hulu Street, where there weren't many people. After turning this corner, the Fuzhao Courtyard was less than half a block away.

Su Yi stood by the corner, trying to hide himself inside of a dead end. He continuously adjusted his grip on a wooden plank he had picked up from the street.

His white lips formed a hard line. Sweat had dampened his temples, and stuck his hair to his cheeks, but his expression was intense as he stifled his heavy breathing to stay silent.

On the other side of the corner, a figure walked slowly toward this side, heedless of Su Yi's deadly determination.

Tap, tap, tap

—

The footsteps grew closer, and Su Yi held his breath, gripping the wooden plank tightly.

The person trailing him rounded the corner, appearing fully in Su Yi's view!

"Die!!" Su Yi yelled. With bloodshot eyes, he raised the wooden plank and smashed it down at the approaching figure!

Bonk

— The wooden plank bounced off the man's raised arm and was knocked away.

Su Yi felt a flash before his eyes and a tightness around his throat. He was suddenly grabbed by the neck, lifted into the air like a helpless baby bird.

Is this how it ends?!

At the corner of Hulu Street, two figures stood still under the sunset, one on the ground and the other lifted in the air. The setting sun elongated their shadows, creating an absurd silhouette.

Ye Beizhi looked at the scholar he happened to pick up and felt very troubled.

On his way back after buying some food, he encountered this scholar, who happened to be going the same way.

This was not unusual, but what was odd was that this scholar seemed to be a nervous wreck, constantly looking back at him, occasionally changing his pace to hide around people or even running away.

The most ridiculous thing was that the scholar even tried to ambush him as he walked past!

Ye Beizhi looked at the scholar whose face had turned livid and tilted his head in exasperation.

Should he... get rid of this nuisance?