The Night Watcher of Great Jing - Chapter 85

“Shen Yan!”

Prince Rui’s expression was terrible. He had never imagined Shen Yan would behave with such arrogance.

The guards behind him tightened their hands around their saber hilts, but none dared actually draw.

Shen Yan leaped from his horse.

He first looked at Zhao Li, then at Zheng Lian, who was rising with his back bent and one hand clutching his side.

Finally, his gaze settled on Lu Zhao’s blood-soaked hands.

When he saw the faint red marks on both dark cheeks, Shen Yan’s eyes dimmed.

He turned to Prince Rui and smiled.

“The Jingning Guard is the Son of Heaven’s personal force. We answer to His Majesty alone.”

“Hounds and talons we may be, but we have only one master: His Majesty.”

“When did His Majesty grant Prince Rui the authority to punish members of the Jingning Guard as he pleased?”

“Or does Your Highness believe the Jingning Guard consists of slaves for you to beat and curse at will?”

Shen Yan’s manner remained relaxed.

Toward the end, his usual gloom vanished. His eyes narrowed, and his smile became extraordinarily kind.

But the sight of that smile sent a chill through everyone present.

Prince Rui clenched his teeth.

He could not possibly admit that he had deliberately humiliated the Jingning Guard.

But neither could he retreat.

The Purist Faction recognized him precisely because he dared oppose Shen Yan and his uncle.

Everyone else beneath Heaven wagged their tails at the pair. As an ambitious prince who was neither eldest nor legitimate heir, Prince Rui needed another path if he wanted to rise.

When opposition to powerful eunuchs became the politically righteous position at court, Prince Rui stepped forward.

Now that he had taken that stand, he could not withdraw easily.

He remained where he was.

“Shen Yan, I know Father trusts and favors you deeply, but the Jingning Guard has gone too far today.”

“On nothing but Lord Shen’s word and without the slightest cause, you drive tens of thousands from their homes like pigs and dogs. Does the law mean nothing in Lord Shen’s eyes?”

Prince Rui’s righteous accusation echoed through the air.

Zhao Li’s fists tightened again.

So this was what a clever tongue could do.

A brief emergency evacuation had become *driving people from their homes* after one turn through his mouth.

Unlike Zhao Li, who had not often witnessed this shamelessness, Shen Yan had long grown accustomed to being its target.

Condemning him and his uncle had become political orthodoxy in Great Jing. He was used to malice that had nothing to do with right or wrong.

He laughed softly.

“I will certainly report Your Highness’s benevolent concern for the people to His Majesty. Now, please…”

He had been about to ask the prince to leave. Then he paused, as though an amusing idea had occurred to him.

“Please wait here for the moment, Your Highness. Later, you will naturally learn why.”

The abrupt change let Prince Rui relax.

He was about to speak again when Shen Yan said, “Lu Zhao, go have your wounds treated. While you’re at it, find out which useless fool failed to guard the gate and allowed an idler inside.”

“And throw that thing on the ground into the mass grave for the dogs.”

Prince Rui stared in disbelief as Shen Yan stepped forward and kicked aside the outstretched hand of the corpse beneath the horse.

“Yes.” Lu Zhao clasped his hands.

Only then did his previous hard expression finally crack. Grimacing, he hissed through his teeth and shook his injured hands.

“A-Li. Come.”

With his hands clasped behind him, Shen Yan entered the fire watchtower.

Prince Rui tried to follow, but Zheng Lian, still rubbing his side, raised an arm to stop him.

…

Lu Zhao’s blood covered Zhao Li’s clothes. She followed Shen Yan with her head lowered.

After they climbed several steps, he asked, “Do you feel wronged?”

Zhao Li paused and looked up.

Shen Yan continued ascending one steady step at a time without turning.

“A little,” she admitted.

Social convention, imperial power, class…

Such things had remained unchanged throughout the ages.

“I’m upset that I wasn’t the one using power to bully people,” she said honestly.

Privilege was wrong, certainly.

But it felt wonderful.

Her bluntness drew a quiet laugh from Shen Yan.

“Don’t worry. We have many years ahead of us. Take your time.”

The words held more than one meaning.

By then, they had reached the top of the watchtower.

Shen Yan’s expression sobered. He raised a hand and pressed between his brows.

The visualization method for opening the Mind’s Eye was no longer a secret.

Shen Yan was highly perceptive and had naturally learned it.

When he surveyed the area and saw dense black-red corpse miasma surrounding a single column of bright yellow demonic aura, his brow tightened.

“That monster has eaten many people.”

Such destructive power in so little time.

Were strange incidents like this unfolding in every corner of Great Jing?

The question produced an answer almost immediately—one frightening enough to chill the heart.

Shen Yan breathed out quietly and looked at Zhao Li.

“I have mobilized the Capital Garrison to surround Jiahui Ward. The heavy crossbows can be deployed at any time.”

“The palace contains no more detailed record of the moth-woman. What do we do next?”

“I already ordered Li Qing to collect Sichuan chinaberry fruit throughout the city and boil it into a liquid,” Zhao Li replied. “With the heavy crossbows available, we should set an ambush. What does Lord Shen think?”

“Good.” Shen Yan nodded. “When the time comes, our devoted, people-loving Prince Rui can lead the first advance.”

He added leisurely, “Those princely guards are all skilled men. It would be a pity not to use them to test the road.”

“Yes!”

“What about the man from this morning?” Shen Yan asked.

Zhao Li led him down the watchtower.

They passed the dazed Prince Rui and entered a temporarily requisitioned home.

Imperial Physician Zhang from the Pacification Office worked inside. The air was saturated with the scent of Sichuan chinaberry fruit.

Yang Jian lay flat on a hard wooden bed.

Thumb-thick hemp ropes reinforced with copper wire bound his wrists, ankles, and head.

All his clothes had been removed except for a loincloth.

He was painfully thin, every rib protruding.

Yet his abdomen bulged high.

He resembled a dry reed with an enormous waterskin tied around its middle.

The skin had stretched into a paper-thin membrane. Black-green fluid could be seen inside.

It looked ready to burst at a touch and spray thick pus everywhere.

Fist-sized objects swam through the black-green slurry.

They crowded together in a dense mass, writhing from time to time and producing wet, viscous sounds.

One abruptly rammed the thin abdominal wall.

Shen Yan could see its wormlike shape and the cluster of tiny black eyes covering its head.

His hand twitched.

He forcibly suppressed the urge to draw his saber, split Yang Jian open, and stamp every creature inside to pulp.

Maintaining a calm expression, he looked away.

“Even the Sichuan chinaberry fruit cannot suppress their activity?”

Imperial Physician Zhang shook his head.

“Chinaberry water might kill him outright… and the things inside. Thousand-Household Commander Zhao requires live bait.”

“This old man can only adjust the concentration enough to suppress them.”

At this point, even the experienced physician swallowed.

“His organs have been completely eaten away. I don’t know how he remains alive.”

“His abdomen contains nothing but these creatures. Even suppressed by the medicine, they continue drawing nourishment.”