Chapter 6: Roots and Nodes

At this point, Su Jin seemed to recall something, letting out a dejected sigh, and said: "Is it fate? Is it destiny? Alas, what use is it for me to tell you this now? I fear you are already deeply mired in the quagmire, unable to extricate yourself. If you can trust me, take the silver from the guest room and leave the city for your hometown at once. Otherwise, if you get further involved, there will be no turning back, and you may not escape this impending disaster, with life and death uncertain."

On weekdays, Li Xilai does nothing else but assist Governor Wang in overseeing the various accounts of the government office. He is also responsible for recording items that the official accounting office cannot document. This time, it seems that the Wang residence has encountered some issues, as it appears they are being scrutinized by someone within the court, and there are even plans to investigate the accounts of the Nanjing government for the past few years

At this moment, Tan Zong was actually still lying down, so he could not muster much strength in his legs. Otherwise, given that he was exerting even the strength of a newborn, and specifically targeting the relatively vulnerable shin of the assailant, he would likely have been able to kick the assassin's leg in two. However, at this moment, he could only barely manage to knock the person down, and that was still thanks to the assistance of the door threshold.

Seeing the assassin's cleverness, Tan Zong also unconsciously let out a light sigh

This assassin is naturally an ordinary person. Initially, he was quite defiant, but when pressed by the dagger, he immediately panicked and hurriedly pleaded for mercy, saying: "Hero, spare my life, hero, spare my life! I will tell you everything, I will tell you everything."

Why? Su Jin lowered her head to look at the candle flame, and a hint of fatigue unexpectedly appeared in her pair of phoenix-like eyes

At this moment, Tan Zong was already drenched in cold sweat from a series of unexpected changes. However, in the face of life-and-death urgency, although Tan Zong appeared somewhat flustered and his limbs were slightly uncooperative, he became even calmer in his heart.

"Miss... why, why?" At this moment, Xiao Man still had blood in her mouth, and her speech was somewhat unclear. However, at this moment, Xiao Man completely disregarded these issues and just mumbled the words from her throat, splattering her lips with a vivid crimson of blood.

You must understand that the person opposite is an assassin, armed with a genuine weapon. If you have the skill to stand up, the other party will naturally stand up as well. At that point, it may seem convenient for you, but the opponent will be even more at an advantage. Do you really think you can defeat someone wielding a weapon with your bare hands?

A quarter of an hour later, the Nanjing government office was ablaze, and a voice could be heard shouting from within: "The water is coming!"

Is it really that easy? Tan Zong, feeling somewhat strange, did not dwell on it further. He directly picked up the dagger and shouted, "Do you want to live or die?"

Tan Zong currently has this idea

At this moment, the assassin's life was in Tan Zong's hands, and he dared not say much. He hurriedly spilled everything he knew like pouring out beans.

However, this matter is quite confidential. If it were to be entrusted to outsiders, Governor Wang would have no trust in them, which is why he insisted that Li Xi personally handle it. With the assurances from Xiaoman and the coachman, along with Tan Zong's behavior and words during the journey, everyone felt that Tan Zong must be a drunken fool at this moment, thus they were at ease with Li Xi managing it alone.

If only I could burn away more than half of the book, leaving just a few remnants, it would naturally be even better; who knows, I might even receive an award for my efforts in salvaging it

The sensation of a cold metal object pressed against one's neck is likely an experience few have encountered, especially in a situation where the neck is easily cut. Aside from the protagonists in movies and television, no ordinary person could withstand such pressure

This is yet another major blunder by Assassin Brother

At this moment, the assassin has fallen. By the reasoning of an ordinary person, one would naturally think to get up first; after all, once up, it would be much easier to pick up a knife, grab a stick, or take action. However, in reality, if you truly think this way, you are mistaken

Tan Zong pressed a dagger against the assassin's neck, applying a gentle pressure, causing the sharp blade to draw a shallow cut on the assassin's neck

But who could have anticipated that Tan Zong was merely pretending to be drunk, and that his skill in feigning intoxication was so profound that he managed to deceive everyone, even taking care of someone like Li Xilai, an old fellow in his fifties.

Hehe... hehe... hahahaha

This afternoon, after we returned from Wenyuan Pavilion, you secretly turned back again, presumably to meet him... At this point, Su Jin's voice was already tinged with a hint of choking, as if she was too sad to continue speaking

Seeing Tan Zong seemingly frightened, Li Xi couldn't help but sigh, his expression instantly relaxing: "Hey, no matter how many people there are, today this matter is a deadlock. Ever since you entered this courtyard, regardless of how you handle it, your life is already at stake here. If you obediently take on this crime, then so be it; if you refuse, I'm afraid that next year on this day will be your memorial day. Hehe, if in another quarter of an hour the fire here does not ignite, the people outside will rush in to help you light this fire!" If you obediently take on this crime, then so be it; if you refuse, I'm afraid that next year on this day will be your memorial day. Hehe, if in another quarter of an hour the fire here does not ignite, the people outside will rush in to help you light this fire!

Oh? Tan Zong was startled by what Li Xi said, and immediately pressed the dagger tighter against Li Xi's neck, asking: "How many people are ambushed outside?"

There is a saying that goes: "The arm cannot twist the thigh"

The threshold is something that usually goes unnoticed; people are accustomed to simply lifting a leg and stepping over it without a second thought. However, the situation is different now. The assassin has one foot inside and one foot outside, hunched over with their rear end sticking up high, making it extremely difficult to maintain balance. Now, with Tan Zong giving a kick, they can no longer keep their balance and immediately topple forward into the room.

Once again, I thought of the hidden plea in Qinghe's words for me to help her escape from the sea of suffering. However, Tan Zong suddenly came to a realization: "If it is truly possible to escape this calamity, then such a great favor must be repaid immediately. However, this situation seems rather difficult to break out of"

To speak of it, this move is akin to the weight of Mount Tai pressing down, yet it is more influenced by Tan Zong's nephew in later generations. This child, when mischievous, enjoys jumping on people's backs, regardless of who it is; no one escapes unscathed, as anyone who tries will know. Now, if Tan Zong were to apply this move on an assassin, exerting all his strength, how could the assassin not feel pain? Naturally, he would be in for a misfortune

In terms of the status of Nanjing Prefecture, although it is not a secondary capital, its position is distinct from other prefectures due to the fact that many officials have historically originated from Nanjing Prefecture. Consequently, its jurisdiction extends far beyond that of typical regions, directly overseeing a large part of Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, which is often referred to as one prefecture and two states (Suzhou and Hangzhou). Therefore, the accounts each year are exceedingly detailed, and if one were to investigate them thoroughly, it would likely not be an easy task to clarify.

As Xuan and Tan Zong pondered, they recalled the unexpected visit of Qing He at the tavern. The implications in her words were clear: one must be cautious, for the night held uncertainties. Moreover, it was precisely due to her warning that they had not truly become intoxicated, allowing them to remain alert until now; otherwise, they would likely have remained muddled until death.

Ah, it is indeed as that person said. Su Jin shook her head with a bitter smile, her pair of phoenix eyes slightly dazed as she gazed out the window, unwilling to exchange another word with Xiao Man. Su Jin raised her sleeve again, summoning a gentle breeze that extinguished the only candle in the room.

In the midst of Tan Zong's rolling, a figure dressed in black was seen, one foot outside while the other had crossed into the house, as if straddling the threshold that was nearly a foot high. The person in black held a gleaming dagger in hand, and with a swift motion, had already attempted to stab Tan Zong's legs three or four times, but unexpectedly, all were evaded by Tan Zong.

However, this royal mansion is indeed quite powerful, as it somehow knows that the higher authorities are actually here to investigate the accounts related to the water conservancy projects in Nanjing over the past few years. Therefore, it plans to find a pretext to burn this troublesome item directly. At that time, regardless of how it is handled, and regardless of whether the accounts are well-prepared or not, it will ultimately result in a situation where there is no evidence to contradict.

"Where are the accounts?" Tan Zong asked while searching Li Xilai's body. After a couple of attempts, he noticed that Li Xilai's chest was hard. He reached in and immediately pulled out a ledger that was about two to three centimeters thick.

At this thought, Tan Zongzhi could not help but think of Xiaoman again. He reflected that, given today's events, Xiaoman might just be a disposable tool, and once his own guilt was established, the next to die would likely be that girl Xiaoman. This thought immediately filled him with a wave of agitation. Although Xiaoman had wronged Tan Zongzhi, he still harbored some feelings for her in his heart, and he had even fantasized about a scene where he, Su Jin, and Xiaoman, the master and servant, would fly together.

"Three days ago, Wang Dong secretly sought you out and even gifted you a golden phoenix hairpin. Is that true?" As she spoke, Su Jin cast a fleeting glance at the gradually tightening left hand of Xiao Man, which was now showing a hint of blood.

However, at this point, the assassin still maintained a strong sense of integrity. His right hand, which was about to lose grip on the dagger, desperately tried to swipe it towards Tan Zong. Unexpectedly, Tan Zong seized his wrist, twisting it forcefully, resulting in a sharp clanging sound that echoed in the library as the dagger fell from the assassin's hand to the ground

The man in black was also extremely anxious. Seeing Tan Zongyue rolling further away, he could no longer stab him with the dagger and hurriedly moved a few steps closer to Tan Zong.

Tan Zong was indeed clever, but it is also possible that he did not think this much at all. In any case, at this moment, Tan Zong saw the assassin being kicked to the ground by him, and immediately rolled over, pressing down on him in one smooth motion

The assassin had a gaunt face, with a half-gray, unkempt goatee tightly pressed against his neck. A pair of eyes, resembling those of a hanged man, stared in terror at Tan Zong. Moreover, the assassin's hair was disheveled, and his overall appearance did not resemble that of a typical assassin; he looked more like a dilapidated scholar who had studied for a few years, at best a bookkeeper from some family.

This twist of the waist instantly saved Tan Zong's life

It cannot be said that Tan Zong is calm; this kick was not aimed at a person, but rather directed at the foot of the opponent that was planted in the room.

A dull thud was heard from behind, as if some kind of stick or similar object had fallen to the ground

At this point, Tan Zong himself knew that the situation had reached its most perilous moment; if not handled properly, it could lead to a situation where survival was impossible. Reflecting on how, before entering this courtyard, he had felt quite pleased with himself, believing everything was under control, Tan Zong couldn't help but want to slap himself. However, just as he raised his hand, he let out a dejected sigh and reminded himself that he was not to blame. After all, he had never anticipated that what began as a rivalry among young masters over jealousy would escalate to involve the entire royal residence.

Tan Zonglue looked somewhat suspiciously at the several jars of wine piled in the corner, feeling a bit puzzled. Just as he was about to ponder over it, a sudden whistling sound of the wind came from behind him, startling him greatly. In his surprise, Tan Zong made a misstep and tripped over the threshold in front of the house.

After a while, Su Jin finally let out a light sigh and raised her eyes to look at the pale-faced yet stubborn little man, saying: "You have been by my side for over seven years. Although we are officially master and servant, in private, we are like sisters. Therefore, how could I not know what you like, what you hate, and what you desire?"

After Tan Zong finished the last half jar of wine, he raised his eyes to the several jars of strong liquor piled in the corner. Suddenly, a thought struck him: "This is indeed the way; this might be the only method to seek life amidst death"

Therefore, what is most urgent at this moment is to take advantage of the chaos and rush forward, as it is possible to accidentally strike the master to death in the confusion

Seeing Tan Zong pick up the account book, he began to flip through it. Although there was no concern that this young scholar, who was not yet twenty, could discern anything significant at this moment, this matter was indeed a matter of life and death. Li Xi came to the conclusion that he could not allow Tan Zong to take it away so easily. He immediately raised his voice and said: "Tan Zong, if you do not take this item, it could lead to a prison sentence. But if you dare to take it out of this courtyard, you might very well meet a fate worse than death, and in the end, you would be labeled as one who committed suicide out of fear of punishment!"

As imagined by Tan Zong, this assassin is indeed not a professional; his true identity is that of the chief accountant of the Wang and Tu Bookstore.

As soon as he was mounted on the assassin, the assassin regained his senses and, without a second thought, slashed at Tan Zong's arm with a dagger. At that moment, Tan Zong was also in a fit of stubbornness, completely ignoring the dagger aimed at his arm. He simply lifted his buttocks and sat down again, causing the assassin to bend over like a shrimp that had been boiled.

Moreover, at this point, Tan Zong felt that he had not completely escaped danger. Judging by the opponent's tactics, the ambush here was merely one part of a larger scheme; it was likely that there were further measures in place. If he could not clarify the situation, he feared that the danger would only increase.

This accountant named Li Xilai is a native of the Wang residence, having served as an accountant for the Wang family since his grandfather's generation. He is highly trusted by the current governor of Nanjing, Lord Wang. Within the Nanjing government office, he holds a position that is indeed three degrees higher than that of a clerk.

At this point, Xiaoman seemed to recall something, and a hint of sarcasm suddenly appeared on her face as she said: "I wasted my time thinking highly of you, believing you to be an extraordinary woman akin to Zhuge Liang, yet it turns out you are merely this kind of person! I see that you only have some accomplishments in music, so how can you claim the title of a great figure in this world? Just wait until you enter the Wang residence; once Young Master Wang sees your true self, he will naturally discard you like a worn-out shoe!"

This is indeed a common trope in films and television, where an assassin fails in their attempt and, in a moment of crisis, resorts to foolish actions. For instance, at this moment, you are armed with a sharp weapon, and there is also a blunt instrument lying on the ground outside the door. Why the urgency to act at this very moment? Why insist on rushing forward so recklessly? If you were to encounter a dim-witted opponent, it might be excusable, but if you were to face someone more composed, that would truly be a recipe for disaster

Amidst the laughter, Xiao Man raised her right hand, pointing her index finger directly at Su Jin, and said sternly: "Miss, oh Miss, I thought you had some brilliant strategy to resolve the calamity brought by that madman today, yet it turns out you are relying on such ghostly and supernatural words, indulging in the most ethereal matters!"

Seeing Xiaoman still wearing a stubborn expression, Su Jin sighed once more, the weariness on her face becoming even more pronounced

You cannot take this away!

When it was previously mentioned, Tan Zong appeared to be so brave, but in reality, only he knew how dangerous the situation was. If he had not been able to remain calm in a moment of crisis, and if he had not maintained his clarity of mind, he would likely have been knocked out by someone waiting outside from the very beginning

However, it is not so easy to dispose of these accounts; even a slight damage could lead to significant consequences. Therefore, the group of aides around Governor Wang has exhausted all their ideas, yet none have proven effective. Coincidentally, this matter came to the attention of the eldest son of the residence, Wang Dong, who happened to have his own scheme to set up Tan Zong. Upon discussing it, they realized it was mutually beneficial. Interestingly, there exists a secret passage connecting the government office and the Wenyuan Academy, which led to the events of tonight.

Nanjing Prefecture, Wenyuan Academy

With numerous movies and television shows as a backdrop, Tan Zongxin knew that this was neither a good time to look back nor a moment to push forward. Without hesitation, enduring the pain on her face, she exerted herself and twisted her waist, rolling a few times along the threshold.

In the darkness, the girl with blood trickling from the corners of her mouth gradually walked away, and only Su Jin's words drifted into the wind: "As long as you do not regret, that is enough"

It is a pity that you have been bewitched by a ghost, and actually intend to conspire with that young master Wang to secretly imprison young master Tan! At this point, Su Jin suddenly became calm again, and her tone returned to a flat demeanor: You do not know that in my childhood, I once had my fortune read by an extraordinary person, who told me that my early years would be filled with hardship, but in the future, I would encounter the red phoenix in my fate, and naturally, my husband would be of high status, leading to a life free from disasters and misfortunes, and of immeasurable wealth.

A fortnight ago, when I made a bet with Tan Zong, it was merely to spare the face of those young scholars. However, a few days ago, when I encountered Tan Zong again, I already felt a connection between us. As of today, even before the results are announced, I have sensed the stirrings of the Red Luan star, and indeed, Tan Zong subsequently achieved the top position in the imperial examination. Upon reflection, I recalled the extraordinary experiences of my childhood. I intended to share these with you, to put your mind at ease, hoping that you would become my sister in the future. Yet, to my surprise, you have done such things behind my back! If it were not for someone secretly informing me, I would still be kept in the dark by you.

Looking at the thickness of this ledger, Tan Zong couldn't help but feel a pang of shame in his heart, thinking to himself that it was fortunate you placed the ledger on your chest; had it been on your abdomen, if I were to sit down, you probably wouldn't even feel a thing

Glancing at Li Xilai, who lay unconscious on the ground in black clothing, and recalling that reinforcements would burst in within a quarter of an hour, Tan Zong, feeling utterly helpless, simply sat down behind the desk. With the crispness of the snow and the red of the winter, he picked up the crispy roast duck and began to devour it.

Li Xilai's expression of extreme satisfaction on his face made Tan Zong feel an uncontrollable irritation in his heart. With a surge of determination, he thought about dealing with this person. However, as soon as Tan Zong considered that if he plunged a dagger into him, it would indeed be satisfying, but the troubles that would follow were certainly unavoidable, and it might even solidify his own guilt. Therefore, he changed his approach, seized Li Xilai's head, and slammed it down onto the ground, instantly knocking Li Xilai unconscious. Yet, Tan Zong still thought that if he plunged a dagger into him, it would indeed be satisfying, but the troubles that would follow were certainly unavoidable, and it might even solidify his own guilt. Thus, he changed his approach, seized Li Xilai's head, and slammed it down onto the ground, instantly knocking Li Xilai unconscious.

Regardless of whether you genuinely love that Young Master Wang or envy the wealth and splendor of the Wang residence, these are trivial matters. If you truly have the heart, considering our past sisterly bond, how could I possibly stop you?" Su Jin's eyes brimmed with tears, her gaze fixed on the trembling figure of Xiao Man, her tone shifting from gentle to firm, gradually becoming more resolute.

The fall was truly fortuitous; although it inevitably resulted in a rather embarrassing tumble, it perfectly allowed for the evasion of the ambush from behind. In the process, Tan Zong's right foot, which he had lifted in the momentum, struck an unknown part of his opponent.

"Speak, tell me everything you know about tonight!" As he spoke, he tugged at the assassin's mask, pulling down the black cloth that concealed the assassin's face. By the light of the candles in the room, Tan Zong vaguely glanced at the assassin's face. When he finally saw the assassin's appearance, he was taken aback in shock

Tan Zong is certainly not a fool; rather, he is someone who, relying on his family's power, often engages in fights at the university. At this moment, he is exceptionally calm, so when he sees the man in black approaching, without a second thought, he directly kicks out.