Volume One: The Overseer and the Examinee Chapter Fifty-Eight: Prudence Above All

When they left the Office of Town Pacification, it was already close to midnight.

The streets lay empty and silent, with only their small procession of carriages and horses moving slowly forward.

Although the Embroidered Uniform Guard had suffered a great upheaval this night, their attitude toward Huang Ming and his companions remained amicable; even now, they sent escorts to see him home.

Inside the carriage sat three people: Huang Ming, Qi Changfeng, and Huang Bingkun.

Yet the atmosphere was heavy and subdued, with no one speaking for a long time. The shock of the assassination had struck them all deeply, leaving them at a loss for words.

After a prolonged silence, Huang Ming was the first to break it. “I fear the days ahead will not be easy for you.”

Huang Bingkun paused, then sighed and nodded. Even with his position, he could well imagine the pressure the Embroidered Uniform Guard would face after this.

“In the midst of internal and external troubles, do your best to advise Commander Zhu to hold steady above all else.”

“Internal and external troubles?” Huang Bingkun asked, somewhat puzzled. “I know of the internal ones—how we have become targets—but what of the external?”

“Internal trouble is not only the targeting by certain factions at court,” Huang Ming said gravely. “I could not speak freely just now, but the truth is before us. The death of Deputy Commander Nie will inevitably trigger a chain reaction. Suspicion will fester within your ranks.”

Huang Bingkun’s face darkened. He had not considered this, but once pointed out, he understood. “If that’s the case, our Embroidered Uniform Guard will be further weakened. And if those officials at court who have long displeased us use this as an excuse to attack…”

“That’s why I say your internal unity must not unravel. I don’t believe the White Lotus Sect is truly capable of planting so many spies within your ranks. If an internal investigation would only sow more chaos, it’s better left undone.”

Huang Ming looked at him earnestly. “Sometimes, maintaining internal stability is more important than anything else.”

“I understand,” Huang Bingkun nodded firmly. “I will report this to Commander Zhu. And the external trouble?”

“Naturally, it is what the White Lotus Sect might attempt next,” Huang Ming replied, his gaze cold. “From what we’ve seen, their entire scheme tonight was aimed at assassinating Deputy Commander Nie, but that cannot be their true purpose.”

“It is simply that Deputy Commander Nie has thwarted their plans too many times over the years. Now, with a new conspiracy brewing, they would stop at nothing to eliminate him—even sacrificing key informants they have planted within the Guard for years.”

Huang Bingkun nodded in deep agreement. “I see. This plot is merely the prelude to something greater. And our Embroidered Uniform Guard has always borne the responsibility of eradicating the White Lotus Sect, so the pressure on us will only grow.”

A bitter expression settled on his face. “But now that even Deputy Commander Nie has fallen to their schemes, is there any way left for us to contend with them?”

Nie Qingyao had always been the pillar of confidence for the entire Guard, especially in the struggle against the White Lotus Sect. His death dealt a blow beyond measure to them all.

Huang Ming regarded him. “My suggestion is to suppress the news of Deputy Commander Nie’s death as much as possible. Do not let outsiders know whether the White Lotus Sect succeeded. That way, they may be forced to hold back or, at the very least, delay their next move…”

“That’s easier said than done,” Huang Bingkun replied with a bitter smile. “Even if we order strict secrecy, word of Commander Zhu and the others’ sudden return tonight will surely spread.”

“Delay it a day if you can. You can even circulate false news—say that Deputy Commander Nie was gravely wounded in an assassination attempt, which prompted Commander Zhu’s return. As for the captured assassins, they are being held, so there’s no fear of the truth leaking out from them.”

“It’s all we can do,” Huang Bingkun agreed. Ultimately, how this would be handled depended on Commander Zhu and perhaps those even higher up.

Thinking back, he realized that the young man before him had once again rendered the Guard a great service. Had he not arrived in time, the assassins would likely have escaped unnoticed, and any hope of concealing Deputy Commander Nie’s death would have vanished.

With these matters settled, Huang Ming fell silent, closing his eyes to rest.

Before long, the carriage came to a gentle halt. A member of the Guard escorting them outside announced respectfully, “Young Master Huang, we have arrived.”

Huang Ming opened his eyes. “Thank you.”

He was about to bid farewell to Huang Bingkun when the latter suddenly recalled something and asked in a low voice, “Young Master Huang, do you remember Niu Si?”

“Who is that?” Huang Ming raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

“You are truly magnanimous, young master, to have forgotten even such an enemy,” Huang Bingkun flattered, then explained, “Niu Si was the prisoner who tried to harm you in the South City garrison’s dungeon.”

“Oh, him…” Huang Ming remembered. “So, he fell into your hands?”

Huang Bingkun shook his head. “To tell the truth, I had intended to use him to help you settle the score, and perhaps learn who was behind it. But upon further investigation, I discovered that Niu Si had already died.”

“Dead? Silenced?” Huang Ming reacted at once, his brow furrowing.

In truth, he had not given much thought to the attack he suffered the day he arrived in this world. For one, the attempt had failed, and it was clear the man had been acting under orders. For another, so many things had happened since—each more pressing than seeking revenge.

Of course, Huang Ming’s willingness to let it go did not mean the matter was truly over. Huang Bingkun, eager to curry favor, would naturally try to uncover the truth and bring the mastermind to light, hoping to earn Huang Ming’s gratitude.

He had not known what Huang Ming truly felt, so he intended to investigate thoroughly and only report back once he had the answer and the culprit in hand.

But the key figure had turned up dead!

Originally, Huang Bingkun had planned to press on with his investigation and only report back once he had concrete results. But with such a crisis befalling the Guard, he felt increasingly unsafe and decided to use this matter to win some favor now.

“He was almost certainly silenced. My inquiries showed that he hanged himself in his cell the very night you left the prison.”

Huang Ming sneered. “Suicide? How convenient. The oldest trick in the book. Did you find any other leads?”

“I learned that the head jailer, Feng Wu, was in charge that night. It was most likely his doing.

“As for who ordered him to target you, that remains unknown. I had planned to question him, but then duty called me out of the capital, and when I returned…”

“Don’t pursue this matter openly,” Huang Ming advised with a faint smile. “You can use Niu Si’s death to put some pressure on Feng Wu and gradually extract the information we need from him. I’m in no rush.”

It was clear that whoever had tried to have him killed must have close ties with the civil officials at court, and now was certainly not the time to settle accounts with them.

So, just as within the Embroidered Uniform Guard itself, caution and stability must come first.