60. A chilling message
The scroll bounced over the floor, followed by a frustrated shout. The servants stood at the edge of the room cowered and took steps back as far as they could. "You." the master pointed to the messenger, who had tried to slink into the darkness of the room. But now being summoned he swiftly stepped up. "Prince Qi needs to be punished for his actions! Tell our men in the capital to follow through with their plans to abduct Princess Qi."
"But master, Dong Ryu advised against it."
"Of course he advised against it, he is doing everything he can to foil my plans. Which is why our team is keeping a close eye on him. He knows what will happen should he actually move against him. Tell our men to go to the inn where Princess Yunchuan is staying, one of her maids will help us. Our men will have to steal a set of clothes of the maids of the imperial palace. Dressed in these clothes the maid will go to the Mansion Qi and hand this scroll to the Princess Qi. This will get her out of her mansion. When she is on the road to the imperial palace our men can abduct her." The messenger bowed and ran out, eager to leave the room as soon as possible. The master turned, sat down and said: "Prince Shuomo also needs to be punished."
Someone called for him from outside, Yan realized this slowly as he woke from his sleep. Still shaking the sleepy feeling off Yan observed Su, who was luckily still sleeping. Mumbling something under his breath Yan slowly rose, making sure not to disturb Su and walked to the door. He softly opened it and then closed it behind him. "Your Highness, forgive me for rousing you, but something has happened at the northern weapons magazine." Captain Liu said in whispered tones.
"What has happened?" Yan asked.
"There was a fight last night, the guards were captured and bound. They were found by the morning guards. That's when they also discovered that the mark of the Ghost Army was painted on the door, but strangely the attacking group didn't force the doors and steal the weapons within. The morning guards asked for you to come and see." Captain Liu said as they started to walk to the gate.
"The mark of Xuan, but nothing was stollen and the guards weren't killed?" Yan repeated in wonder. Captain Liu nodded: "That's right."
"Get my horse ready and sent Fei Yuan ahead to Xie Beiming. Let him ask Xie to rouse his best shadows. We will meet Xie at Feiyun Manor and from there go to the weaponry." Yan quietly entered his room and got dressed, Su had woken but was still very foggy, so slightly slurring her words she asked what was going on. "There is trouble at one of the weaponries, they found the mark of Xuan. I'm going there to investigate. I'm taking captain Liu and brother Xie. Fei Yuan will return home after he concluded the task at Feiyun Manor I gave him just now. Try and get some more sleep. I'll be back later today." He quickly gave Su a kiss and left.
Yan and captain Liu rode to Feiyun Manor, from which Xie ordered his shadow fighters to head to the warehouse. A little while later the three men left for the warehouse. The surrounding of the ware house seemed calm, there were no signs that the shadow fighters had engaged in a battle, but none came to greet them which was odd. Yan Xie and captain Liu rode out to the clearing and met a scene of carnage. The guards that had been reported as captured lay with deep cuts across the neck on the ground, which had colored a deep red from the blood that had been spilled. Captain Liu ordered some of his men whom had of course followed the Prince Qi, to see if any had survived and who had been killed exactly. In the meantime Yan had proceeded to the warehouse, over its doors a large mark of Xuan was painted. But there was more writing below it. "Captain? Had any reported on the writing under the mark?" Yan called out before he was close enough to read. "No, only the mark had been reported."
"So the writing was added after the initial report and before our arrival." Yan mused aloud. Xie joined him and asked what was written. Yan took a few steps closer to be able to read the writing and when he did his blood turned cold. Xie asked again and Yan responded: "Where is your wife, the noble consort Princess Qi?" It was as if the world froze and sound couldn't travel anymore momentarily. All Yan felt was a fist tightening around his heart. Then he swiftly turned and vaulted onto his horse, looking down upon Xie and Liu he said: "Whoever they find take them back to the capital and lock them in prison, not at the palace, at Mingjing Office. I'll join you after I've seen that Su is safe and sound."
"Go brother Pei, we'll handle this." Xie said, also anxious for Yan to establish that Su was safely at home.