Chapter 139: Nameless

Wuming lay on the bed, pressing his ear against the wooden planks. Although the footsteps next door were faint, he could hear them clearly.

Wuming breathed evenly, letting out a soft snore.

In the next room, the young and scholarly man turned to look at the middle-aged man and nodded slightly. Then, he drew a copper tube from his sleeve, slipped it through a crack in the wall, and blew a puff of smoke across.

Wuming saw the smoke, a flash of disdain crossing his eyes. The lean man quietly produced a pill and held it in his mouth.

Having blown the smoke, the scholarly young man returned to the table and served the middle-aged man a seat.

"My lord, Wild Chicken sent word that Long Chengen is currently drinking a welcome banquet at the prefect's residence. Shall we make our move tonight or what?"

These two were none other than agents from the Imperial City Department of Southern Liang. The middle-aged man was the Chief Warden Hou Ping, and the scholarly young man was the Warden's Assistant Zhang Peng.

Chief Warden Hou Ping said in a low voice, "No, we have just arrived. We must handle matters with utmost certainty."

"I have heard that this Qianjiang City has already fallen under the control of maritime bandits, making the situation rather complicated. Let us observe the situation first."

"The troops brought by Long Chengen are outside the city. Send someone to keep an eye on them."

Warden's Assistant Zhang Peng nodded and said, "I will go right now."

Zhang Peng quietly opened the door, stepped onto the rooftop, and vanished into the night.

Wuming feigned sleep the entire time, pretending to have been knocked out by the sleeping smoke.

He did not yet know who was in the next room, but judging from the intermittent sounds, the other party also seemed to have come for Long Chen.

He had not expected so many people to want Long Chen dead.

Wuming pondered in his heart how to figure out the other party's background and ensure they did not steal his credit.

....

By the river outside the city.

Early in the morning, Long Chen stood by the riverbank. Just as he unbuckled his belt, intending to relieve himself comfortably into the clear river water, Zhang Qian walked over from behind.

Having intended to spray a stream across the river's surface, he now had to squat down to pee since Zhang Qian had arrived.

Zhang Qian stood right opposite Long Chen without any reservation, pushed her clothes aside, and relieved herself face-to-face.

"You haven't slept well these past two days and your internal heat is a bit high. Go buy some herbal tea in the city later to clear it."

Zhang Qian's urine was slightly yellowish, leading Long Chen to deduce that she had not rested well over the past couple of days and was definitely suffering from excessive internal heat.

Zhang Qian looked down and asked, "You can even tell from that?"

Long Chen said with certainty, "You have internal heat. You need to pay attention to rest."

After finishing, he pulled up his trousers, fastened his belt, walked a little upstream, and washed his face with the river water.

Just as he was about to head back, Dugu Jiali walked over while unbuckling her belt.

"My lord... you guys... washing your faces?"

Dugu Jiali awkwardly tied her sash back up.

Long Chen smiled and said, "Holding your urine is bad for your health. We just finished relieving ourselves, it's nothing."

Dugu Jiali knew Long Chen was a eunuch, but she felt too shy to urinate in front of him.

Zhang Qian said, "It's fine, he's not a man. Even the princess doesn't mind."

Long Chen said earnestly, "When the princess and I fought battles, we also relieved ourselves together. It's no big deal."

Dugu Jiali hesitated for a moment, then squatted down beside a clump of bushes...

Skin with Western Regions ancestry really was different—it was exceptionally fair.

"What are you looking at?"

Long Chen stared unblinkingly, and Zhang Qian took great issue with it.

"She has a bit of internal heat too; her urine is slightly yellowish. Let's buy some herbal tea for her as well."

Long Chen had sharp eyesight and had seen very clearly.

Dugu Jiali stood up and lowered her head to straighten her clothes.

Upon returning to the military tent, Wu Jian was practicing with his saber. Seeing Long Chen return, Wu Jian sheathed his weapon and walked over.

Wu Xiangyun emerged from the tent. The scars on her face had not yet peeled off, and she leaned on a cane with her left hand.

Wu Xiangyun's hair had been tidied up and her clothes changed, giving her the appearance of a proper young lady of a prominent family.

"My lord, why did you plunder the common people last night?"

Wu Xiangyun accused him.

She had heard the commotion last night, held it in all night, and ultimately could not keep quiet any longer.

Long Chen said, "Rest assured, all the goods will be returned, and I will compensate them twofold. Just focus on recovering from your injuries."

"Captain Wu, take the elite cavalry guards and accompany me into the city."

Long Chen, Zhang Qian, and Wu Jian led the elite cavalry toward Qianjiang Prefecture.

Dugu Jiali comforted Wu Xiangyun, "Don't worry, we only took goods and didn't hurt anyone. His lordship knows what he's doing."

Wu Xiangyun retorted, "Is robbing people ever right?"

Dugu Jiali said, "This is just part of the plan. We are government troops, not maritime bandits."

Wu Xiangyun sighed and walked back into the military tent leaning on her cane.

When Long Chen reached the West City Gate, Sima Dou Yufei was waiting at the entrance to welcome him.

"Lord Long, by order of the prefect, I am here to greet you."

Long Chen's face darkened. With a cold snort, he ignored Dou Yufei and rode his horse straight into the city.

The morning city was bustling with activity. Vendors and common people were eating breakfast, the aroma of meat mingling with hawking cries to create a sense of prosperity.

At a nearby breakfast stall, a pale-faced man and a lean man kept their heads down as they ate.

These two were none other than Wuming of the Secret Guard and his subordinate deputy.

The two ate with lowered heads, their heads motionless and hands unceasing, only sweeping Long Chen with the corners of their eyes.

Long Chen did not notice Wuming's surveillance and continued riding through the streets until he reached the gates of the prefect's residence. A middle-aged man in cyan robes and a scholarly-looking young man passed by not far away.

These two were none other than the Chief Warden of the Imperial City Department, Hou Ping, and the Warden's Assistant, Zhang Peng.

Outside the prefect's residence, Chen Zu and a group of officials stood respectfully to welcome him.

"My lord."

Long Chen dismounted his horse and, refusing to speak with Chen Zu at all, walked directly into the main hall and sat down, his face full of displeasure.

Zhang Qian and Wu Jian stood guard nearby with equally cold expressions.

Unsure of what Long Chen meant, Chen Zu cautiously asked, "His lordship seems to be in a rather foul mood today."

Long Chen looked coldly at Chen Zu and asked, "You said there were no maritime bandits in Qianjiang Prefecture. Why did I see villages being plundered by maritime bandits last night?"

Chen Zu was dumbfounded, thinking to himself: Didn't you rob those places yourself, you bastard?

"My lord, last night... last night... those were not maritime bandits."

Chen Zu desperately wanted to say: Clearly you were the one who led troops on a pillaging spree, what the hell does it have to do with me!

Long Chen cursed angrily, "If they weren't maritime bandits, could it be that I robbed them myself?!"

The prefectural vice-governor, Sima, registrar, and other officials beneath him looked at each other in dismay. They all knew what had happened last night in their hearts, but none dared to spell it out.

Chen Zu smiled ingratiatingly, having no idea how to respond.

With a dark face, Long Chen sat down and asked, "How is the matter of troop recruitment going?"

Chen Zu immediately replied, "This official has already set up recruitment stalls in the city."

Long Chen asked, "How many troops have you recruited?"

Chen Zu awkwardly said, "It has just begun, so I do not yet know how many troops can be raised."

With a grim expression and eyes full of disdain, Long Chen let out a cold snort and said, "Useless trash!"

The officials and bailiffs below rolled their eyes. They looked unconvinced, yet none dared to act out.

Wu Jian stepped forward and reprimanded, "Lord Long hasn't had breakfast yet. How are you people doing your jobs? Hurry up and arrange the food."

Chen Zu immediately had a dining table brought in.

Long Chen glanced at the food and said coldly, "What is this trash? Go outside and buy some proper food back!"

Wu Jian immediately trotted outside to buy food from beyond the prefect's residence.

Not far away, Chief Warden Hou Ping saw Wu Jian, his gaze suddenly turning icy: "Does he look familiar to you?"