Just after celebrating the fact that Ning Yu knew nothing of the grain depot, Grand Preceptor Xie remembered the Imperial Jade Seal. Immediately, he pounded the account book on his table. Xie Laibao shut his mouth as soon as he saw the Grand Preceptor's reaction.
"Bring a few extra men with you tonight when you go over," Grand Preceptor Xie ordered Xie Laibao, who hastened to demur.
Then he asked timidly, "Grand Preceptor, will something happen tonight?" Almost everyone in the Grand Preceptor's estate knew that His Majesty was at odds with their Grand Preceptor. When Grand Preceptor Xie mentioned bringing more manpower, Head Steward Xie immediately thought of His Majesty.
"If anything does happen," Grand Preceptor Xie said coldly, "There's no need for you to risk your lives, either. Just come back. If they want to steal, then this old man will make it hard for them to steal a single grain."
Three generations of Xie Clan members had looked after the grain depot in the western suburbs. There was a switch inside the storage area that was connected to a system of irrigation canals filled with kerosene[1. kerosene (火油) - huoyou. Ancient Chinese had started using underground oil fairly early in their history. You can check out a diagram of ancient Chinese oil drills .]. If anyone triggered the switch by the entrance, the kerosene would be lit on fire and destroy the entire depot. Grand Preceptor Xie's paternal grandfather had set up the system in the past. That was because if anyone discovered their Xie Clan secretly harboring army provisions, then they'd be hard pressed to escape the death sentence. The fire was meant to destroy all the evidence. Because the depot had gone through three generations of Xie Clan members without ever being discovered, this switch had ended up being an ornament instead. If Grand Preceptor Xie hadn't made his remark just then, Xie Laibao wouldn't have even remembered the switch.
"Grand Preceptor?" Xie Laibao could discern the meaning hidden in his words. If anyone tried to steal the grain, they could just watch the granary burn to ashes. Even so, Head Steward Xie felt pained by the thought.
"Go on," Grand Preceptor Xie waved a hand.
"Yes," Xie Laibao could only obey.
Grand Preceptor Xie pinched the thick account book between his fingers. Since he and Ning Yu were on different paths now, how could he leave her any satisfaction? While Grand Preceptor Xie's men were arriving with their grain delivery, Supreme Commander Lou had already sent men out in groups before night fell. The four main gates of the capital city were filled with people streaming in and out everyday. Humans, horses, and carriages formed a constant stream of traffic. One hundred men dressed as peddlers, laborers or coolies mixed in with the crowd in twos and threes to leave the city. Even if the guards had been given instructions by Grand Preceptor Xie to inspect for any people from the palace, they weren't able to discover these 100 disguised Dragon Guards. Meanwhile, the eunuch that Empress Dowager Xie had sent out with a letter for the Grand Preceptor's estate was detained outside the palace by an imperial guard. The letter was confiscated and the person captured, then locked away in one of the dungeons beneath the Supreme Splendor Hall.
Ning Xiaoyao was completely ignorant of Supreme Commander Lou's actions. After eating dinner, she and Erya started scraping off royal insignias from various gold, silver, and bronze wares until it grew dark. When the sun set, a crescent moon showed its face in the skies. Black clouds rolled across the horizon until it began to rain heavily. Ning Xiaoyao despaired in the face of such annoying weather, her bad mood leading her to devour half a basket of meat buns. Shadowgale and the rest began to worry that she'd hurt her digestive system if she kept wolfing down food.
"The rain's too heavy," Lou Zigui said as he looked out the window. "Maybe you shouldn't go."
Ning Xiaoyao was putting on a palm-bark rain cape when she replied, "Hehe, did you forget about Zheng A'Niu already?"
YOU ARE READING
Unruly Phoenix Xiaoyao
Historical Fiction****for offline purposes only **All the credits go to the author and translator *The image is also not mine. Synopsis: The fat cat Black Tubby said, "Supreme Commander is a good person, meow!" The bird Grandfather Sparrow said, "Supreme Commander is...
