Empress Fu Yao [Volume 2] (Completed)✔

Every Desperate Step (Part 2)

Stars flickered in the deep night.

A line of dark iron clouds crushed down on an eccentric courtyard in the eastern city.

Eccentric, because in the midst of the layers of white-walled, dark-tiled courtyards built in the style of the inner continent, a completely Rong-styled wooden villa suddenly protruded out. Besides the Han-styled boundary walls and gate, the buildings within the villa were all made of the most primitive cedar-bark structures. The hallway pillars were constructed from iron-grain wood, a southern border specialty. Ox horn-shaped lanterns could be vaguely seen, slowly swaying from pavilion eaves, while a faint yellow glow spread out into the distance.

Clearly, the builder of this villa that didn't conform to the rest of the city had to be obstinate and unyielding – he held the deepest respect and belief for his birth culture.

Late night. The villa was silent. Wind rustling past the tips of the bayroots had yet to blow over in this direction.

"Honorable City Master!"

A sober cry suddenly shattered the moment of peace. Before the sound fell, someone already began frantically knocking on the door's bronze knocker!

"Which person is making such a ruckus!" In almost an instant, the inside of the seemingly silent villa suddenly erupted out with a deep yell with no sign of drowsiness.

On top of the bark-layered building also came faint glints from some dark objects that pointed guardedly at the night visitor.

"This lowly one is Second Guo! Head of the attendants!" The person desperately clanged the door knocker. "City master, something major has happened, something major!"

"His Honor doesn't see anyone at night! Why wait until midnight to come disturb!" The voice didn't back off. "Scram back to Su's hall!"

"Elder Su was assassinated!"

The loud shout cracked stone and shook sky. The deep voice inside the gate suddenly hesitated, as if processing the shocking information, after which scattered footsteps could be heard inside the villa. A while later a voice rose again, but was not the previous deep voice, but a steely, fierce tone. "What is the matter?"

"This subordinate isn't clear either ... there was an assassin ... the killer even left a letter on Elder Su's body!" Second Guo stood back from the door to let the lantern light within shine on his face, then held out the letter over his head in a deep bow.

Some light slowly passed out from inside the gate, passing over Second Guo and the couple of Guo attendants beside him whose features seemed familiar. Then the light moved aside, and after a while, a person vaguely gave an affirmative "en".

The large gate, thicker than normal doors, finally opened.

Two ox-horn lanterns drifted out guarded by a group of people. A middle-aged man strode out with steady steps. Following with Rong tradition, even in the winter he still was bare-chested, only draped with a multi-colored felt robe. However, he wasn't as tall-statured as normal Rong – he was actually of average height. A pair of light brown eyes darted around with a flash of ferocity that quickly faded.

He lifted his head, seeing that inside a wheelbarrow in front of him was Su Xuanyong's body covered in grass. He couldn't help but pause in shock, saying, "How come you even moved the body over?"

"Your honor." Second Guo bowed down. "Elder Su was assassinated nearby. He had heard that the Han inside the city were making strange movements. As he hurried over to pass notice to you, an unexpected mishap occurred, and us servants couldn't do anything, that's why ..."