Dark Night at Tang Palace - Chapter 5
Yang Xuantong had summoned Song Xuance to a secluded mansion located in the western part of the city. The exterior of the mansion was ordinary, but the interior was exceedingly luxurious. As soon as Song Xuance pushed open the door, he felt an invisible sense of oppression. Taking a deep breath, he stepped inside.
“Xuance, how have you been?” Yang Xuantong’s voice came from deep within the hall, his tone tinged with a hint of familiarity. Song Xuance walked into the hall and saw Yang Xuantong leisurely sipping tea. Standing beside him were several cold-faced men dressed in black.
Song Xuance bowed and replied, “Thank you for your concern, Your Excellency. I am fortunate to be able to serve the imperial court thanks to your recommendation.”
Yang Xuantong smiled slightly, set down his teacup, and looked at Song Xuance with deep eyes. “I know you have doubts. Why were you summoned to Chang’an so soon after the Chengping case was closed? Why were you appointed as the ‘Imperial Inspector’?”
Song Xuance bowed slightly and respectfully replied, “I dare not make any speculation. I will follow Your Excellency’s instructions.”
Yang Xuantong nodded in satisfaction, a glint of coldness flashing in his eyes. “Xuance, do you know what the current situation inside the imperial court?”
Song Xuance was startled, then replied in a low voice, “Although the officials in the court seem to be working together to assist His Majesty on the surface, in reality, they are divided into factions, each with their own plans.”
Yang Xuantong sneered, “That’s right. In the imperial court today, Prime Minister Li Bi, Right Deputy of the Minister of Personnel Lu Qi, and Grand Marshal Guo Ziyi, these three people each hold their own power. They appear harmonious on the surface, but secretly they are vying for power. And behind them, there are other unknown forces. His Majesty is young and lacks vigilance against power struggles. If he is not careful, he will become a puppet in the hands of powerful ministers.”
He paused, his expression become grave, “And now, someone wants to seize the imperial power while taking advantage of the chaos. They have extended their hands beyond the imperial court, into the martial world, and even the Buddhist and Taoist sects have been infiltrated by them. The bloodbath in Chengping County is just the tip of the iceberg.”
Song Xuance was shocked. He recalled everything he had seen in the underground palace of Chengping. He had originally thought it was a conspiracy by local evil forces, but now it seemed to involve the entire imperial court.
“Pardon my cluelessness on the matter. What orders does Your Excellency have?” Song Xuance steadied himself and asked in a low voice.
Yang Xuantong slowly stood up, walked to Song Xuance, and gently patted his shoulder. “Xuance, you are extremely intelligent and bold. I need you to do something – find the mastermind behind this and completely expose their conspiracy.”
He stared intently at Song Xuance. “Remember, every step you take now is like dancing on the tip of a knife. If you make even the slightest mistake, you will be shattered to pieces.”
Song Xuance bowed deeply, “I swear to serve you to the death!”
Yang Xuantong nodded, “From today on, you will investigate secretly. Remember, do not act rashly. These black guardians have been assigned to you by me and they will assist you if you need them. And remember – don’t trust anyone, not even me.”
Song Xuance was shocked. He looked up at Yang Xuantong’s deep, unfathomable eyes, as if he could see the deeper darkness through him. He knew that he had been drawn into an unprecedented power struggle.
As night fell over Chang’an, the city was brightly lit and bustling with activity. However, behind this prosperity, countless pairs of watchful eyes were hidden. After receiving Yang Xuantong’s orders, Song Xuance began to investigate secretly, every step he took was like walking on thin ice.
He discovered a mysterious organization in the city called the “Dark Shadow Organization”. Although this organization is not well known, it has close connection with many important officials in the imperial court. What was even more chilling was that this organization had an elite assassin group called the “Shadow Unit” that specialized in assassinating opponents in the imperial court. Recent cases of high-ranking officials being assassinated were all done by their hands.