Chapter 1215 - 1001: The Credit Was Snatched Again
Chapter 1215: Chapter 1001: The Credit Was Snatched Again
The room fell silent immediately. Gu Chengyu was speculating in his heart who was responsible.
With a thud, Ming Yan fell to his knees, "This humble one has failed in his duties. I plead with the lord for punishment!"
Ming Yan’s task was carried out very unsuccessfully. He realized his shortcomings and had failed to assist the lord, instead becoming a hindrance. The Map Master was caught single-handedly by the lord, yet didn’t live long enough to be interrogated before dying at his hands.
"Tell me what happened!" The Map Master was a critical figure, knowing quite a few insides. If a way could be found to get him to talk, perhaps they could uncover what mistakes occurred at the border.
Bu Ke had already been captured, and the people sent by Daxing Sect had been caught in one swoop. Why would people still attempt a rescue?
Could it be that the people sent by Daxing were more than just the Map Master? Or was it that a covert operative had strayed into misdeeds? It was also possible.
"At that time, I and several guards were escorting the Map Master through West City. Unexpectedly, a group of masked men came forward and immediately attacked. I was caught off guard, and the Map Master was killed by them. When we pursued them to South City, they scattered and escaped, later being intercepted by the Military Department men. We had no choice but to explain, and by the time the misunderstanding was cleared up, those people had disappeared without a trace."
Thinking about this incident made Ming Yan feel stifled. Those people’s actions were too swift. Suddenly swooping down from the rooftop, striking with swords, attacking him all at once — there were as many as five of them.
"Describe their deployment to me!" Gu Chengyu sat down at the desk, frowning in deep thought.
"This group numbered about twenty, seemingly already ambushed there. They swooped down from above, initially five of them surrounded me. My martial arts are not refined, so I couldn’t shake them off at the moment. Within less than a moment, they retreated. When I immediately went to check, the Map Master was already dead, his throat pierced by a sword, with just one strike. Additionally, several Ding Generation guards were also injured, two gravely and unconscious."
The ambush was quite ferocious, and Ming Yan, being from the Ding Generation, felt self-recriminating about his injured brethren. This mission was a painful lesson for him.
After a while without hearing Gu Chengyu speak, Ming Yan swallowed and believed the lord must be angry.
"From what you said, they were completely aware of our movements, and knew your martial arts weren’t weak. Therefore, they were precisely divided, first using several to restrain you, making it easier for the others to deal with the several guards. Moreover, their goal wasn’t to rescue the Map Master, but to kill him. This suggests that the Map Master was abandoned and had to die."
"My lord!"
Gu Chengyu had just finished analyzing when Ming Mo’s voice emerged from outside.
"Come in!" Gu Chengyu remembered Bu Ke was escorted by Ming Mo. These people hadn’t spared even the Map Master; could there have been any mishap with Bu Ke?
"My lord! Bu Ke has been escorted to Dali Temple!" Ming Mo came in, startled at Ming Yan’s miserable state.
He was already aware of the incident where the Map Master was intercepted and taken. After all, it hadn’t yet darkened, and West City was bustling with shops, letting the news spread quickly.
In broad daylight, masked men intercept a convict and kill them; it’s indeed outrageous.
Gu Chengyu nodded at the words but noticed Ming Mo’s hesitant expression and realized things might not be as smooth.
"Where is Bu Ke now?" Gu Chengyu furrowed his eyebrows tightly and asked sternly.
Ming Mo sighed, the lord indeed had sharp insight.
"Due to the incident of the Map Master’s death, rumors quickly spread throughout the Capital a snowballing trend. At that time, I held your directive and had already placed Bu Ke in Dali Temple’s cell. To prevent any accidents with Bu Ke, I intended to personally guard him. But who knew, shortly after, Minister Kuang came."
At this point, Ming Mo paused, secretly glancing at Gu Chengyu’s expression. Seeing Gu Chengyu’s face unchanged, inside he felt uneasy.
"He said he was acting under the orders of the Crown Prince, wanting to interrogate Bu Ke personally. I refused, saying the person was brought back by you and must have your agreement. He left very angrily. Eventually, the Crown Prince arrived personally. He even fanned the flames in front of the Crown Prince, saying you harbored disloyal and disrespectful thoughts towards him. To prevent further malicious comments that would tarnish your reputation, I had no choice but to hand him over to the Crown Prince!"
Ming Mo finished speaking and deflated, kneeling beside Ming Yan. They both messed things up today, and no matter how severely they were punished, the mistake couldn’t be undone.
Gu Chengyu couldn’t help but let out a sarcastic laugh, "Has he come to steal the credit?"
"Minister Kuang even asked me to pass a message to you upon my departure." Ming Mo’s face was gloomy, his fingers clutching his clothes slightly pale.
"He told me the Map Master was already killed; since you couldn’t handle the matter, don’t insist. He took Bu Ke away under the Crown Prince’s orders; if you have opinions, just address them to the Crown Prince!"
At that time, hearing these words made Ming Mo almost punch Kuang Zhao Ying’s face. This contemptible person stole the lord’s credit and shamelessly uttered sarcastic remarks.
"He also said, the big gift sent by the lord, he gladly received it!"
Ming Yan was dumbfounded hearing this, finally angrily pounding the ground with his hand, blaming himself.
If he hadn’t failed to protect the Map Master, the lord wouldn’t have been slandered by that deceitful Kuang Zhao Ying. Plus, the Crown Prince was too unfeeling; the lord had done so much for him before. The Crown Prince’s actions were truly chilling.
Suddenly, another bloodstain appeared on the floor, and Ming Yan’s hand wound was larger than before.
Gu Chengyu glanced at the floor, furrowing his brows deeply, "If you must pound, do it outside; don’t dirty my floor."
At these words, Ming Yan drooped immediately. It’s confirmed, the lord was really angry; the lord rarely got angry.
"This time, it’s indeed a case of him reaping the benefits. Didn’t see it before; not only is his mind narrow, but he’s also quite shameless with plenty of cunningness."
Gu Chengyu contemplated, but this didn’t align with Kuang Zhao Ying’s character and conduct. It couldn’t be ruled out that someone was plotting behind him.
Could it be that Kuang Zhao Ying has already allied himself with someone? It’s entirely possible.
It’s not that Kuang Zhao Ying couldn’t pull off such a thing; it’s just after the Map Master had just died, Kuang Zhao Ying sought the Crown Prince; was it really a coincidence?
In such a short timeframe, was Kuang Zhao Ying’s reaction so quick? Considering the Crown Prince’s usual regard for him, where did Kuang Zhao Ying get the confidence to think the Crown Prince would agree to his interference?
"What did the Crown Prince say at that time?" Gu Chengyu recalled the Crown Prince’s attitude, feeling somewhat displeased.
"Strangely enough, the Crown Prince didn’t seem too concerned about this affair. But he did say you had made quite a contribution; although fatigued from days of work, your health must be worn out. Considering dealing with prisoners, these small matters could be entrusted to others!"