My Fantastic Chef Wife

364. Setting an Ambush

Translator: ChowvanLee

Wang Meng, who was beside Yan Ziyan, asked, “We have shown you all the places. Our warehouse, register books and the bill on food and drinks of soldiers. You’ve seen it all.”

Wan Shijie added, “These are all about this city. I want to check on the frontier. If everything is fine there, I will immediately go back to the capital city and report the situation to the court.”

Wang Meng said, “But the provisions and funds are mainly in this city. Doesn’t the bill of the frontier mean everything?”

Wan Shijie shook his head, “The imperial court takes provisions and funds for troops seriously. They ordered me to check it carefully, so I can’t neglect anything. I plan to go to the frontier tomorrow with General Yan. General Yan, what do you think?”

Yan Ziyan answered, “Of course. I’ll go with you.”

…

After the dinner, Yan Ziyan had someone send Wan Shijie back to his room. He and others stayed to discuss while drinking.

Yan Ziyan took a sip of alcohol and continued, “I always feel that this Official Wan has a purpose. He is bad news.”

Wang Meng also took a sip of alcohol, and then he vented it out. “It took you that long to figure it out? I found out his malice long ago. He checked the bill one page after another, but he was actually absent-minded. He totally forgot what he’d seen on the bill yesterday, which means that he isn’t here for the bill.”

Yan Ziyan said, “Is he trying…”

And then he made a gesture of slitting his throat.

Wang Meng said, “Definitely. The people in the imperial court have evil designs. The Emperor and State Preceptor are both cunning. When they need us, they’ll treat us well, but when they don’t, they’ll get rid of us. Look at what General Xiao has got. I heard that he is a government official in the capital city and had no real power. Obviously, someone doesn’t want him to get more support from the public than the emperor so they keep suppressing him.”

Wang Meng added, “If this Official Wan is here this time to kill me. Then how would he retreat after he’s done it?”

Wang Meng said, “He got a despatch from the imperial court. He can kill you for any reason and then get out of here. If we try to stop him from leaving, he can plant rebellion on us. The imperial court will sentence us, too.”

Another colleague of Wang Meng said, “That’s right. Yesterday, when he was checking the bill, I paid attention to his hands. His hands are covered with calluses. Obviously, he is not a civil official but a military official. I suppose he’s a killer who will risk his life for a mission.”

Yan Ziyan frowned and continued, “If he’s here to kill me, the reason he doesn’t do anything now is that he might be wary of you. So, are we trying to lure him into doing something now?”

Wang Meng said, “Not only do we should lure him into action, but we also have to pounce on him and find a reasonable reason to kill him.”

The group discussed the details of this action again.

…

The next day.

Yan Ziyan on a horse came to find Wan Shijie in the early morning.

“Official Wan, did you sleep well last night?” smiled Yan Ziyan.

Wan Shijie nodded, “Good!”

“Last night, you said that you want to go to the frontier. It happens that I have time at the end of the year. Let’s go today.”

Wan Shijie noticed that Wang Meng, who was always by Yan Ziyan’s side, was gone. He asked, “Where’s your deputy Wang Meng and the others?”

“Someone has to stay, so I have asked him to train the soldiers.” Yan Ziyan chuckled.

Although Wan Shijie has doubts inside, he also thought that this was a good opportunity to kill Yan Ziyan, so he might as well go with Yan Ziyan.

Yan Ziyan brought two guards along, whose kungfu skills were common, while Wan Shijie brought many kungfu masters. No matter what, Wan Shijie had the upper hand.

They rode out of the city.

It had been heavy snow a few days ago. Carriages couldn’t pass the road, so they could only ride horses.

Yan Ziyan didn’t seem to be on guard against Wan Shijie at all. He only talked about the military garrison. He had been introducing him to the situation around the frontier all the way, talking about the life of the soldiers and what the soldiers were suffering, especially the coldness. They didn’t have enough quilts, so some of the soldiers had to share a room with more than ten people. Also, they couldn’t get hot water and they could only bear it.

But Wan Shijie was completely indifferent.

This kind of life was very far away from him. As long as he returned to the capital city after completing his mission, he could live in a big house. There would be servants waiting for him and he could have delicious meat and alcohol in a warm room.

What does the life of the people here have to do with him?

Yan Ziyan observed Wan Shijie carefully as he spoke. When he looked at Wan Shijie’s face, he doubted his purpose even more.

From the Heihe City to the frontier, there were four hours’ deserted mountain roads.

Wan Shijie deliberately slowed down and observed the situation around him.

‘This road is covered by thick snow and is surrounded by trees. If I kill him here … no one would know it.’

‘After he dies, I could throw him under the cliff. The thick snow would help me cover his dead body for a long time.’

Thinking of this, Wan Shijie eyed his two subordinates. They understood and took out their weapons.

Yan Ziyan still looked off-guard.

At a turn ahead, Wan Shijie suddenly raised a knife and stabbed at Yan Ziyan.

Yan Ziyan dodged the first blow.

He deliberately asked with horror, “Official Wan, you…”

“Yan Ziyan, you rebelling bandit, go to hell!” Wan Shijie said and was going to stab Yan Ziyan again.

Yan Ziyan’s two guards had already been killed by Wan Shijie’s subordinates.

Just when Wan Shijie thought he would make it, dense arrows suddenly shot out from the forest. Yan Ziyan was ready for this and had had his stomach on the ground. Wan Shijie’s two subordinates could not dodge and died from arrows.

Wan Shijie looked at Yan Ziyan with surprise, “So, you have set an ambush long ago!”

After that, he still tried to kill Yan Ziyan, but just as he raised the knife, an arrow hit his chest. Wan Shijie pulled the arrow off and wanted to complete his mission. At this moment, another burst of arrows shot towards him.

In a short while, Wan Shijie was shot into bits.

The snow ground went red because of blood. Wan Shijie and his subordinates lay down in the blood. His eyes widened, looking at the sky, as if he was still wondering why everything happened so suddenly.

Wang Meng and the rest rushed out from the forest.

Wang Meng put the bow and arrows asides, then said angrily, “Bro Yan, he really wants to kill you. Fortunately, we set an ambush here last night or you will be the one who dies now.”

Yan Ziyan frowned.

Wang Meng added, “The imperial court sent him to kill you. They failed this time, but they definitely won’t stop. Next, they will send another killer or summon you to the capital city. If you go, they will find a reason to trap you in the capital city and kill you later.”

…

Xiao Baoshan and Ye Xiaoxian were expecting the Chinese new year.

Because Empress Dowager had given them a lot of things, they didn’t need to buy food or anything. Now, what they needed to do was to set up the house, like hanging red lanterns under the eaves and attaching red paper to doors around the house.

Ye Xiaoxian was very happy. Her only regret was that she couldn’t celebrate the New Year with Li Hongmei.

Xiao Baoshan looked happy as well, but inside, he was not in a very good mood.

Ye Xiaoxian could tell that Xiao Baoshan was worried about Yan Ziyan. She told Xiao Baoshan, “Baoshan, are you worried about Yan Ziyan in the north. Will State Preceptor succeed?”

Xiao Baoshan said, “Unlikely.”

He knew the situation over there. Yan Ziyan had kungfu masters beside him. When they saw people from the imperial court, they would definitely be on alert.

Besides, they planned to assassinate Yan Ziyan in the military camp, where Yan Ziyan was the leader. It would be very difficult for someone to complete the mission if one was not familiar with the entire situation.

Ye Xiaoxian hugged Xiao Baoshan and asked, “Then what are you worried about?”

Xiao Baoshan felt Ye Xiaoxian’s face and said worriedly, “If State Preceptor’s assassins fail, State Preceptor and the Emperor will definitely summon him to the capital city and kill him on other charges.”

Ye Xiaoxian’s good mood was dispelled by Xiao Baoshan’s words. She said dully, “In this case, the imperial court doesn’t need any good officials. People who have contributed to the imperial court are treated as thorns!”

Xiao Baoshan said, “The current imperial court is rotten to the core. It has no a great emperor and good ministers.”

After Xiao Baoshan finished, Ye Xiaoxian hurriedly covered his mouth, indicating that he should not say anything more in case walls had ears.

…

On the 25th of this month, the news of Wan Shijie’s death spread to the palace.

The letter was written by Yan Ziyan, which explained that when Wan Shijie was inspecting the frontier, he was accidentally shot by soldiers of the Northern Qing Kingdom. Apart from Wan Shijie’s two subordinates, Yan Ziyan’s guards died, too.

The Emperor and State Preceptor did not believe this.

After the army of the Northern Qing Kingdom was defeated, they would come to harass Yan Ziyan’s army from time to time. But it was not very persuasive if Wan Shijie happened to be killed.

The Emperor discussed with State Preceptor, intending to summon Yan Ziyan to the capital city in the name of reporting in person the performance of his duties.

…

Before the Chinses New Year, State Preceptor went to Empress Dowager’s Palace again, wanting to sleep with her.

Empress Dowager was no longer in a leisure manner, and she was very enthusiastic to State Preceptor.

After the sex, Empress Dowager mentioned the assassination to Yan Ziyan. State Preceptor trusted Empress Dowager, so he did not hide and told her everything.

Empress Dowager asked, “Then what are you going to do with this Yan Ziyan?”

State Preceptor said, “Call him back to the capital city after the new year and trap him in the city.”

Empress Dowager pondered for a moment before asking, “If you summon Yan Ziyan back, then you have to send another person to the frontier. If a newcomer goes over, will soldiers hear his command? After all, they are all Yan Ziyan’s old fellows.”

State Preceptor said, “That depends on who is this newcomer. If we send Xiao Baoshan over, they will be convinced.”

Empress Dowager smiled, “Aren’t you always guarded against Xiao Baoshan? If you send him over, will you send killers to assassinate Xiao Baoshan then?”

State Preceptor hugged Empress Dowager and said, “We will cultivate someone who can replace Xiao Baoshan during this period of time. Now, stop worrying about this. It’s rare for you to be so enthusiastic to me. How about making out once more?”