“Your honour is wise, the day Prime Minister Lou alone gains all power, shall be the day your honour soar into the skies, this little one will require a lot of guidance and help from you ah.” Lips filled with compliments, the advisor and governor sharing knowing smiles.
The two people head towards city gates, the governor rambling about things he has encountered in the Capital: “Must say that this Capital City is better than Xia Xiang in all aspects, but the beauties of this Capital City ah, not gentle enough, how could they compare to the grace and passion of Xia Xiang women ah?” Words coming to a pause, he sees that the advisor is eagerly listening in, and once again speaks, “Having said that, there is one exception–– Prime Minister Lou’s madam, that is but a dear little lamb ah……a peerless beauty, but only such beautiful woman, is able to match up to Prime Minister Lou ah.” Catching that one glimpse in the courtyard that day, separated with too big of distance, he had not even managed to get a clear look of what Madam Lou looks like, but that elegance of hibiscus containing dew, even if that figure stood amongst the clusters of flowers, it still made people feel bedazzled, a stunning glimpse, difficult to forget.
The two people chatting and laughing, walking past the city gates, the advisor looks back, about to order the soldiers to close the gates, when a burst of hurried horse hooves rapidly approaches, the soldiers stops what they are doing, advisor and governor turning around, eyes met with only the rising of dust, and one galloping horse arrives below the city gates, within the darkness, the dim lantern is unable to clearly light up the person on the horse.
“Who is Governor of Xia Xiang, Prime Minister Lou has a message.” The person on the horse loudly shouts out.
The governor is stunned, he had only just arrived himself, and behind Prime Minister Lou’s messenger follows after, could there be new instructions? Not daring to display the slightest neglect, he walks up front, “What does Lord Prime Minister has to instruct?” Seeing the person on the horse beckon him forward, he knows it must be a secret message, cannot be heard by others. Nervously smiling as he approaches, the person on the horse immediately dismounts, leaning towards him; the governor’s mouth drops, raising his head to take a close look of the person, his face instantly pales: “You––––”
The advisor waits by the side of the city gates, watching the governor slowly walk over, speaking in private with that messenger, body is even shaking, seeming to be laughing. His body shrinks back, patiently waiting, but after waiting for a while, the governor is still maintaining that posture, heart hit with a chill, he jumps up in anxiety, just about to shout out, but suddenly sees that the governor’s body is already slowly falling, the messenger squats down, taking the pear wood box from the governor’s hands. The advisor’s heart rapidly beats, deep within this dark night, he seems to be able to hear his own heartbeat, pointing towards the governor’s location, he loudly cries out: “Assassin, an assassin––––”
The two city guarding soldiers upon hearing his cries, pulls out the swords from their waist side, unfortunately it is too late now, the messenger is as quick as lightning, the soldiers did not even manage to see his face, and had already died under his dagger. The advisor witnesses the entire scene, voice stuck in his throat, unable to utter a sound, legs turning numb, he kneels before the city gates, to no avail, his eyes is met with a flash of light……
The next day, news of the “Governor of Xia Xiang’s Murder Case” that thunderstruck the six provinces of the southern region, quickly made its way into the Capital City, a total of seven lives including the governor and horse groomers, not a single person survived, and this round of assassination, is but only the fewest number of deaths amongst the murder cases of officials from the southern region. During this same period, the crucial power holders of Xun Zhou, Hong Tong were successively killed. The biggest sacrifice being Governor of Xun Zhou’s entire family, thirty four lives, wiped out in one night.
And these three officials, are all powerful assistants of Lou Che’s from the southern region. This round of assassinations that thunderstruck the southern region, still yet to be solved twenty years later, whenever the commoners mentions this round of assassination, there is still lingering fear.
******
Dark clouds lay low, clear blue covered in boundless ash, the gloomy sky a misty grey, the northern wind picking up, only sensing prickling pain as it scrapes past the face.
Lou Che walks out of the study room, ink coloured cross collar robe complemented with black sable fur, ink green python patterned boots stepping along the light grey brick path as it produces rustling sounds, coming up to the crescent doorway, he hears Lou Sheng and the housekeeper discuss something from afar, takin