Chapter Forty-Nine: Meeting Sun Sheng Again… (Please keep reading)

Early the next morning, Xu Boqing donned deep blue garments and, after greeting the Empress Dowager, left the imperial city once again.

It was a peculiar feeling to see his own wanted posters plastered across every street and alley, with the constables diligently patrolling and searching. Was this the true delight of changing one’s identity? He shook his head and, foregoing a carriage, wandered leisurely all the way to the southern part of the city.

He happened upon the lively music of suona and drums heralding a wedding procession. Following the sound, he unsurprisingly caught sight of his cousin, Xu Da.

Unlike his previous bedraggled state in the prison, Xu Da now looked robust and imposing, dressed in the vibrant attire of a groom, astride a tall steed adorned with a red flower. His stubble was clean-shaven, revealing the pride unique to youth. He greeted neighbors and onlookers with clasped hands as he led the procession.

Behind him, eight porters carried a grand red bridal sedan, flanked by musicians playing suona and drums, children singing and asking for candied treats to share in the festivities. Judging by the scene, the bride had already been received.

Perhaps due to yesterday’s incident, the city was on heightened alert, and the usual parade of the bridal sedan through the streets had been curtailed. The wedding party, after a brief display, proceeded directly to the groom’s home.

Whenever a wedding occurred, whether beggars or vendors, as long as there was no animosity, most people graciously stepped aside to let the procession pass.

Unexpectedly, when the wedding party encountered the constabulary at the intersection, the officers did not yield. Instead, they loudly insisted on conducting a routine inspection.

Leading the constables was none other than Sun Sheng.

Xu He had been reinstated after leaving the prison, but chose not to return to his post. He resigned from the constabulary and joined a city security firm as a bodyguard. With unrest in the land, the wealthy preferred to pay for safety rather than risk danger, so life was not too difficult.

Sun Sheng, knowing the rules of the prison and the silver required to buy one’s freedom, had paid close attention to Xu He’s family ever since they had left. Now, seeing himself on patrol while the son of his former subordinate rode a tall horse to wed, he felt a surge of spite, his plump face darkening.

The wedding party was stopped.

Xu Da, recognizing his father’s former superior and recalling this man as one of the main culprits who sent his cousin to the palace, was now blocking his own wedding procession. His expression soured.

He knew the wisdom of not contesting officials. Taking a deep breath, he dismounted, approached with a cordial smile and clasped hands, saying, “Greetings, Master Sun.”

Sun Sheng snorted and asked, “You know who I am?”

“I am Xu Da, son of Xu He, who once served as a squad leader under you in the constabulary,” Xu Da replied, forcing himself to explain with feigned admiration. “My father often spoke of Master Sun when he served in the constabulary. I have long admired you, and today, seeing you in person, is a stroke of great fortune.”

“Hmph, you’re good with words,” Sun Sheng sneered, paying him little mind. “Yesterday, an assassin slipped into the capital, and the second son of Minister Zhang was killed. You’re bold, marrying at such a time.”

“Well…” Xu Da knew of the incident, but the preparations had been completed yesterday. How could the wedding be postponed now? “It is my parents’ command and the matchmaker’s arrangement, Master Sun. Our family held the pre-wedding feast yesterday. If the marriage is not consummated today, it would cause a scandal.”

“Marriage? Very well,” Sun Sheng smirked, pointing at the bridal sedan. “Everyone passing by must be inspected. The capital has been searched from end to end, yet the murderer hasn’t been found. I have reason to suspect the criminal is hiding in the bridal sedan.”

“You—” Xu Da’s face changed, struggling to suppress his anger. “Master Sun, I came to receive my bride from her father’s house. A hundred people witnessed her enter the sedan. How could a criminal hide there, under so many eyes?”

“That’s not certain,” Sun Sheng said, glancing to either side as two constables moved into the wedding party, heading straight for the bride’s sedan.

“Master Sun!” Xu Da gritted his teeth. “I beg you, for my father’s sake, to show mercy. I would be deeply grateful.”

“This is merely routine inspection,” Sun Sheng replied, waving his hand. The two constables lifted the sedan’s curtain, revealing a bride in a bright red wedding gown, her head covered with a red silk veil—a sight obvious to all.

Yet Sun Sheng remained dissatisfied, smirking, “Lift the veil. Let me see for myself.”

“Master Sun!” Xu Da’s eyes reddened at the demand to unveil his bride. He forgot all protocol and shouted angrily, “Do not push your bullying too far!”

“Too far?” Sun Sheng, amused, sneered, “Your father never dared speak to me like that. You? You dare defy me?”

As he uttered “defy me,” his expression turned cold, and he reached out to teach this impudent youth a lesson.

But before his hand could touch him, a sharp whistle pierced the air—a flying stone struck his wrist, dislocating it.

The unexpected turn left everyone stunned. Xu Da was bewildered, while Sun Sheng clutched his swelling wrist in terror, howling, “Who! Who did this?!”

“Tsk, tsk. Such authority, Master Sun~” Xu Boqing strolled from the crowd, his voice laced with irony. “It’s been half a year since we last met—how have you fared, Master Sun?”

Xu Da murmured in disbelief, “Brother Qing?”

“You…” Sun Sheng, seeing his assailant emerge, instinctively wanted his men to seize him. But upon hearing the words, he scrutinized the newcomer, suddenly realizing he looked familiar.

His eyes widened as he recalled the ‘strange arts’ he’d witnessed in the dungeon half a year ago, and the psychological shadow left from that night. The young man before him matched that memory.

“It’s you!”

“Master Sun, your memory is quite sharp,” Xu Boqing said, stepping forward. The constables surrounded him, but he remained unconcerned, smiling with a hint of mockery, “What is the meaning of this, Master Sun?”

Sun Sheng was momentarily unsure how to proceed, and barked, “What are you doing here?”

After all, half a year ago he’d handled Xu Boqing like a chick. Now, not only had the man wounded him in plain sight, he stood calmly before him—anyone would be astonished.

“What am I doing?” Xu Boqing muttered, looking at Sun Sheng as if he were a fool. “Xu Da is my cousin. Today is his wedding day. As his elder, why shouldn’t I be here?”

His tone shifted, turning cold, “But you, Master Sun, as the constabulary’s deputy, instead of investigating the murderer of Minister Zhang’s son, you harass a newlywed couple. Tsk, tsk.”

“You… courting death!” Sun Sheng, seeing Xu Boqing not explain his presence but instead challenge him, was furious and signaled his men to seize him.

But as he raised his hand, he noticed Xu Boqing held a golden token, clearly bestowed by the palace’s Grand Steward of Cining Palace.

This token was granted by Emperor Yonghe shortly after ascending the throne, when the Grand Steward resigned. Though the title ‘Grand Steward’ carried no real power, within the palace it was equivalent to the highest rank.

This was why the Grand Steward once told Xu Boqing, “If I adopt you, most eunuchs in the palace would have to call you father!”—such was his confidence.

Seeing the characters “Imperial Gift” etched on the token, Sun Sheng’s hand froze midair. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed dryly, a sheen of cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.

Xu Boqing, seeing this, snorted coldly and, without hesitation, slapped Sun Sheng’s plump face.