#444 - There's an assassin! Protect the lord! - Cultivating Immortality, Starting from Childhood Sweethearts

“This servant will always be His Majesty's man.”

【Writing this, I hope readers will remember our domain name Taiwan Novel Network → 𝐭 𝐰 𝐤 𝐚 𝐧 . 𝐜 𝐨 𝐦】

Wei Xun kowtowed incessantly, his forehead turning red from the impacts; a few more and it would probably break the skin.

“Alright, alright, I was just saying it casually, why are you reacting so strongly?” Emperor Wu laughed, “If I didn't trust Xu Ming, would I have let him be the Commander? Use your brain, you should know that. Get up.”

Wei Xun swallowed hard, then tremblingly stood up.

Emperor Wu looked at Wei Xun: “But what do you say, if I let Xu Ming investigate Prime Minister Xiao, what do you think?”

“This servant… this servant has limited vision, how dare I presumptuously judge state affairs before Your Majesty?” Wei Xun said, terrified.

“You, this servant, you're quite good at playing dumb.”

Emperor Wu glanced at Wei Xun.

“However, both Zhuangyuan Xu and Prime Minister Xiao are pillars of the nation. How could I not trust them? But I heard that recently, inside the Imperial City, there are many remnants of the previous dynasty who, after a hundred years, are still causing trouble. Let Zhuangyuan Xu investigate this matter; it will be a good opportunity to establish his authority. I just wrote an imperial decree; take it and send it to the Xu residence.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Wei Xun responded quickly, grabbed the imperial decree from the corner of the table, wiped away his sweat, and walked out of the Imperial Study.

Just as Xu Ming returned to the Xu residence, he saw Eunuch Wei leading several eunuchs to deliver the imperial decree.

Xu Ming had guessed that Emperor Wu would give him a task recently, but he didn't expect it to come so quickly. It had only been a few days, and he hadn't even chosen the people for the Embroidered Uniform Guard yet.

Seeing Xu Ming return, Wei Xun, who had been standing for almost half an hour, coughed a few times and said loudly: “Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander Xu Ming, receive the decree!”

“Your subject, Xu Ming! Receives the decree!”

Xu Ming respectfully bowed.

Within the Xu residence, those with official positions stood behind Xu Ming to pay their respects, while those without official positions knelt, not allowed to raise their heads.

“Imperial Edict from Emperor Wu: Now, within and outside the Imperial City, there are remnants of the previous dynasty disturbing the peace of the nation, attempting to undermine the stability of the Wu Kingdom. I know that Commander Beihai has returned, weary from his journey, but only the Commander can put my mind at ease. Today, I hope the Commander will quickly establish the Embroidered Uniform Guard and, within two months, thoroughly investigate the remnants of the previous dynasty, and be sure to eradicate them completely!”

Xu Ming thought, as expected: “Your subject receives the decree!”

Xu Ming accepted the imperial decree.

On the other side, the Old Madam of the Xu residence was helped up by Chun Ni, then walked forward with a plate of items: “Eunuch Wei has worked hard; here are some pastries, I hope Eunuch Wei will not find them distasteful.”

Although they were pastries, what was wrapped inside was not sweet filling, but silver notes.

This was a very common method of bribery, except some officials used towels to wrap them, some used pastries, and some stuffed them in tea leaves.

“Sharing Your Majesty's worries is this servant's duty, I wouldn't want to trouble the Old Madam.” Wei Xun declined the pastries, “This servant must return to the palace to report back, so I won't stay any longer.”

The Old Madam of the Xu residence looked at Xu Ming.

Without the Old Madam's reminder, Xu Ming knew what he should do.

“Eunuch Wei, I'll see you off.” Xu Ming escorted Wei Xun out of the Xu residence.

At the entrance of the Xu residence, Xu Ming discreetly and secretly stuffed some more silver notes into Wei Xun's hands.

But Wei Xun still did not accept them.

“Lord Xu, you're too kind, really no need.” Wei Xun said with a smile, “We are all working for His Majesty, just fulfill your own duties. However, Lord Xu must keep the matters that His Majesty has instructed you to do in mind recently.”

“That is natural; sharing His Majesty's worries is the responsibility of us ministers.” Xu Ming nodded, and did not continue to stuff the silver notes.

Since the other party had so clearly refused, it meant that he would not accept them. If he insisted on stuffing the silver notes, he would only be making things difficult for the other party.

“Then this servant will take his leave first; Lord Xu, please work hard during these days.”

Wei Xun led the eunuchs away.

Watching Wei Xun's back, Xu Ming's eyes narrowed involuntarily.

Before, when Xu Ming gave Wei Xun silver notes, Wei Xun would decline a few times, but then quickly accept them.

But this time, Wei Xun refused to accept them no matter what.

Wei Xun was Emperor Wu's personal eunuch; Wei Xun's every move basically followed Emperor Wu's mood.

Since Wei Xun did not accept his gift, it meant that something had changed on Emperor Wu's side.

Perhaps Emperor Wu had already begun to be wary of him.

Thinking of this, Xu Ming couldn't help but smile.

Not long ago, Emperor Wu still treated him like a confidant, discussing everything without reservation.

As a result, only a short time had passed, and Emperor Wu was already wary of him.

To be honest, Xu Ming felt that Emperor Wu was somewhat schizophrenic.

Or rather, this was the emperor, always worried about gains and losses.

In fact, he had no interest in the so-called powerful minister at all, and he was even less interested in the throne.

He was a cultivator; if he was a good cultivator, his lifespan could be thousands or even tens of thousands of years.

Many emperors have abandoned the throne to cultivate, how could he shorten his life for a throne?

Logically speaking, Emperor Wu should understand this.

If Emperor Wu didn't understand this, then he certainly wouldn't have allowed him to control so much power.

Perhaps what Emperor Wu was thinking was that during these years in the Wu Kingdom, he would support some confidants to obtain the throne, and then he could live a carefree life?

In this way, he could both obtain a lot of resources and cultivate happily outside, without worrying about the problem of lifespan.

But the problem is that if I want to support someone, I can only support your daughter.

“Forget it, it doesn't matter, let's take it one step at a time. After I finish everything I should do, I'm afraid I will rarely return to this place.”

Xu Ming shook his head and returned to the Xu residence.

At the same time, in the suburbs of Wudu, a carriage swayed and drove towards Wudu.

Inside the carriage, Xu Pangda was eager to return home.

After several years, Xu Pangda was finally about to return to Wudu.

Xu Pangda missed his mother and his younger brother, but Xu Pangda didn't know if Xu Ming was in the capital.

But this still did not prevent Xu Pangda from being full of expectations.

Just as Xu Pangda's carriage was getting closer and closer to the capital.

Suddenly, the voice of a servant shouting came from outside the carriage: “There are assassins! Protect the lord!”

“Protect the lord!”

“You take the lord and leave quickly!”

Before Xu Pangda could figure out what was going on, the carriage suddenly accelerated, and Xu Pangda opened the curtain and looked out.

Those masked assassins killed all his servants in a very short time, leaving only one coachman.