Chapter Seventy-Three: Conspiracy

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(Still the same pinned message: After "Audience with the Emperor," the following chapters have undergone significant revisions. Everyone is welcome to reread them. I will strive to improve my standards and regain my form!)

The Xiliang soldiers gradually regrouped, preparing to withdraw. A few corpses were scattered across the ground, but Zhang Yu was certain Dong Zhuo would not lay a finger on him for the sake of a few dead soldiers. After all, he was no longer a mere commoner, and Dong Zhuo was no longer the chivalrous hero he once was.

Duan Ao shot them a glare, snorted coldly, and slipped back into his ranks.

"Young Master, where did you just go?" Han Long inquired. "Han Meng, Ziru, and I searched the entire western market for you but couldn't find you."

"Hmm?" Zhang Yu was puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"Didn’t you say you'd bought something in the western market, and it was too much for you to carry alone? You asked us to help."

"Who told you that?" Zhang Yu frowned.

"I don’t know… He looked like a servant, perhaps a shop assistant from one of the stores in the western market."

"Young Master, I'm afraid we have been set up," said Xiahou Lan. "Even these troops—it's all been premeditated. Since that person wasn't sent by you, why did you come here?"

"It was also a shop assistant who came to the Grand Commandant’s residence, saying that Han Long had caused trouble in the western market and asking me to come quickly to help. That's why I stopped by the resting house to fetch Zhang Biao and the others."

"We waited here for you, Young Master, and just then saw Xiliang soldiers snatching people in broad daylight. The three of us went to intervene but were immediately surrounded, which means our opponents were prepared. You arrived just as we were encircled, so they must have known our movements in advance and informed their people ahead of time, planning to capture us all in one sweep."

Han Long and Han Meng exchanged bewildered glances. Xiahou Lan and Zhang Yu fell silent, unable to make sense of the situation.

Suddenly!

A troop of cavalry burst forth from the side, surrounding the soldiers who were about to leave. Their armor was neither bright nor new—it looked rather worn—but it gave the impression of veteran discipline and strength.

"To wield arms within Chang’an—General Duan, would you care to explain this to me?" came a voice.

"Explain? Can’t I have a little fun? Since when do I, Duan Ao, need to explain myself to you?" Duan Ao, still fuming and unwilling to take it out on Zhang Yu and his companions due to Jia Xu’s presence, now faced a low-ranking officer who dared to question him, and he responded with open disdain.

"And what about the corpses on the ground, General Duan? How do you explain those?"

"Zhang Liao! Don’t get cocky! I am a Lieutenant General—do you think a mere Cavalry Captain can order me around? Take your Bingzhou soldiers and get lost!"

"Zhang Liao?" Zhang Yu’s musings were instantly interrupted. He looked toward the cavalry leader.

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Thick eyebrows, a short beard, a prominent nose, and wide-set eyes—clad in a purple robe, wielding a long saber, exuding heroic charisma.

"You are Zhang Liao, styled Wen Yuan?"

"Indeed, I am. I have long heard of Young Master Zhang’s reputation. I am on duty today, so I must ask your pardon for now."

With that, Zhang Liao raised his saber, calling out to his men, "Cavalry Captain Zhang Liao, responding to reports from western market shopkeepers. Lieutenant General Duan Ao has mobilized troops without authorization, allowed his men to seize women and surround the imperial brother. According to Han law, he should be detained. Any who resist will be treated as rebels and executed on the spot!"

"Truly worthy of being Zhang Liao," Zhang Yu thought with admiration. "To arrest a general with just a squad of cavalry—he is indeed a model for us all. Bo Wu, lend a hand."

"Hahaha! My elder brother is the Chancellor’s favored general, Duan Wei! Let’s see who dares to arrest me—I’ll have them beheaded on the spot—"

Before he could finish, Han Meng knocked Duan Ao unconscious. Zhang Yu dragged him by his armor to Zhang Liao. "Brother Wen Yuan, our first meeting—please accept this humble gift as a token of goodwill."

Zhang Liao laughed heartily and saluted Zhang Yu. "Young Master Zhang’s generosity will not be forgotten."

The Xiliang soldiers looked at each other, their leader’s farcical end leaving them bewildered. Having heard of Zhang Liao’s valor, and all being subordinates of the Chancellor, they offered little resistance and surrendered.

Zhang Liao and his Imperial Cavalry escorted nearly a hundred Xiliang soldiers away. Amid the western market merchants’ praise, Zhang Yu once again received a system prompt.

"Ding! Congratulations, host. You have acted bravely in the western market of Chang’an, standing firm against the fierce Xiliang soldiers. Your courageous image has deeply impressed the merchants and will spread further. Gained 500 reputation points and 500 experience points. Current reputation: 4,500 (of 12,300); current experience: 2,600."

Having quietly accumulated over 7,000 points, Zhang Yu was quite satisfied. He was about to lead his group back when he suddenly noticed the young woman beside Xiahou Lan.

One glance startled him—pale skin, light green eyes, flaxen hair.

A foreigner?

"You… What’s your name?"

The girl looked to be about fourteen or fifteen, timid and hesitant.

"Are you… His Majesty’s elder brother?"

Ah, she spoke Han—that made things easier.

"Yes, my name is Zhang Yu. May I ask your name, and why you were being held today?"

To his surprise, the girl’s worry turned instantly to joy. Without even answering his question, she hurriedly exclaimed, "Greetings, Imperial Brother! Thank you for saving me! My name is Zhi Qi, I am from the Great Yuezhi. Please, would you come with me to meet our lord?"

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"Yuezhi?" Zhang Yu considered his current situation—he was hardly in the mood to meet foreign guests. "I’m afraid I’m quite busy at the moment—"

At his words, tears immediately welled up in Zhi Qi’s eyes, turning her pale green irises into sparkling gems. "Please, it won’t take long. You won’t regret it, I promise."

"Ah, don’t cry…" Zhang Yu thought for a moment—after all, he was free for now, and a glimpse of foreign customs might be interesting. Besides, he might clarify the threads behind today’s events.

"Very well, I’ll go with you."

"Han Long, Ziru, Zishan (Cao Xing), Bo Wu (Han Meng), you come with me. Uncle Biao, take the others back to the resting house and wait for me."

"Thank you, Brother Zhang!" Zhi Qi exclaimed joyfully.

"Just call me Young Master—that title is a bit much for me."

The carriage rattled along the streets of Chang’an. Xiahou Lan and Zhi Qi sat outside the cab, guiding the horses as Zhi Qi directed them.

Han Long and the others rode alongside as guards, while Zhang Yu reclined on a cushion, deep in thought.

Zhi Qi had already recounted her story—a stranger had come to their residence, saying that a highly esteemed member of the imperial family would appear in the western market. The elders of her tribe sent her to wait, only for disaster to strike as soon as she arrived.

Zhang Yu massaged his temples, peeling back the layers of the scheme.

"A highly influential imperial kinsman? That only applies to me by a stretch. While my title as imperial brother is well known in Chang’an, I hardly have that much prestige. Clearly, this label was intended to attract the Yuezhi."

"If the person knows the Yuezhi… could they be connected to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs—no, to the Grand Herald’s Office? But I have no ties there. That seems unlikely."

"They knew Han Long and the others were at the resting house—easy enough to find, given their presence—but would a normal shop assistant dare to barge into the Grand Commandant’s residence?"

"It’s all clearly orchestrated—luring the Yuezhi girl to the western market, prompting Han Long and his companions to intervene, then drawing me in. Even those Xiliang soldiers could have been arranged by the mastermind!"

"Now, as she leads me to the Yuezhi, could this also be a trap? An ambush? A feast with hidden daggers?"

Zhang Yu lifted the curtain to check. They were still within the city, and the area was not deserted, so he relaxed for the time being.

"Who is behind this? What do they want? Each step is precisely connected to the next…"

"A chain of traps!"