Chapter 018 Wandering in Chang'an City
The Eastern City Gang's side branch was very easy to get through.
With a system-external plug-in, Wei Wanlan easily obtained all the misdeeds of the Eastern City Gang from the original book, and exposed their dirty dealings with just a few words.
The Great Wei Inspector was stunned.
If it were someone else, they would have thought this young lady was an undercover agent planted by the government in the Eastern City Gang. But seeing her innocence and fragility, her eyes as clear as a young deer's, how could they associate her with an undercover agent?
The Great Wei Inspector obtained several confessions from Wei Wanlan, and was impressed by the evidence, seeing the Eastern City Gang's cruelty towards the common people.
"Well done, Miss, your righteous act will surely enable the court to completely eradicate these villains!"
The Inspector was greatly elated, and politely escorted Wei Wanlan out of the yamen.
When Wei Wanlan left the yamen, the sun was near setting. It had been half a day since he left the palace.
The clouds under the setting sun were a dark red with golden edges. Having done a good deed, Wei Wanlan felt light and airy, taking a long sigh, feeling the cool and sweet breath in his lungs.
Wei Wanlan: "System, am I great or what?"
【Yes, host, you are wise.】
Receiving the system's approval, Wei Wanlan was even happier.
But he also sensed that the system did not seem to recognize him as much as he imagined, so he paid a little more attention and murmured softly, "Then... did I do anything wrong?"
The setting sun melted into gold, the scattered light shining on Wei Wanlan, seemingly dissolving his snow-white skin, his outline gentle and quiet.
The system said solemnly to Wei Wanlan: 【The Inspector system is the policy of the Regent King. We originally left the palace to investigate the Regent King's birthday and kill him, but you ended up adding luster to him.】
Considering that the host was not too smart, the system translated it into human language, meaning that overthrowing the Eastern City Gang would make the common people more trusting of the Regent King.
【I wanted to stop you, but you agreed too quickly.】
"I..."
Wei Wanlan was slow to realize again. He had never thought about it from this angle. If the system hadn't brought it up, he might never have known about it in his life.
Suddenly, the sound of metal colliding resounded.
Wei Wanlan turned around and saw a crowd of armored soldiers from the Department of War marching out of the yamen, torches blazing high, and Secretary of the Department of War Qin Zhen among them.
"Everyone, hear the order! Immediately execute the villains of the Eastern City Gang!!!"
"These scoundrels have terrorized Chang'an, this time not a single one shall be spared!!!"
"The Regent King has commanded, the peace of Chang'an must not be disturbed, we shall eliminate them all, purge the dregs and uphold justice!"
"Charge!"
【You see, the Regent King is about to reap the merit that should have been yours. I've always wanted to suppress the plot of the Eastern City Gang. I hope to add luster to you.】
Wei Wanlan's heart was touched, and he was temporarily speechless.
Following the crowd, the army turned into Pingkang Alley, the din deafening, the shouts thick, and then, according to his confessions, one by one the ringleaders of the Eastern City Gang were dragged out of their dens.
This included the court officials who had sheltered them, as well as the various hall masters, incense masters, small henchmen, and ruffians...
Some who dared to resist, with the Regent King's army order like a mountain, were immediately executed without mercy.
The army's swords flashed like water, wherever they went, purging the dregs and upholding justice, leaving no remnant.
Wei Wanlan stood in the firelight of Pingkang Alley.
The firelight reflected the crowd of onlookers witnessing the downfall of the Eastern City Gang.
The people had long detested the Eastern City Gang, avoiding them in their daily lives, and if they had sisters or daughters, they would be harassed when they went out, not to mention this group also engaged in child trafficking, hired goons, and counterfeiting...
At this moment, someone in the crowd shouted, "It's about time these dregs were eradicated, the Regent King has done well!"
"These corrupt officials and gangsters must be severely punished, they colluded with each other, the common people had no recourse, how could we have a living?"
"The Su family descendants have protected our rivers and mountains unharmed for generations!"
"Long live the Regent King, long live the Regent King, long live the Regent King!"
"..."
Without any coercion, not even Su Jingzhi appearing on the scene, the people of Pingkang Alley spontaneously knelt towards the northwest, the direction of the imperial palace, saluting the Regent King.
The light and shadow revealed the same devout expression on every face.
Wei Wanlan was slightly moved by this clamor.
And the clamor also drew his thoughts back to the imperial palace, to a certain upright and majestic man, his brow furrowed slightly. There was a sense of blooming flowers in the bottom of his heart, his pupils flickering. But he remained silent for a moment.
The system reminded: 【The subject is weak, the minister is strong. Even if you kill him in the future, the people will not buy your account.】
"So you mean I should eliminate the Eastern City Gang a little later?"
【That would be best, it can help you establish your authority.】
But what about the people?
They have welcomed the day when the officials purge the evil, do they have to wait even longer, until the time when he kills the Regent King?
Wei Wanlan collected his thoughts, feeling that if he asked this question, the system would zap him with lightning, burning even his hair, and that feeling was just too unpleasant.
Wei Wanlan sighed, being an emperor is really difficult.
***
Boom!
Boom - Boom - Boom!
Late in the watch. There were successive drum beats, these drum beats were heavy but powerful, emanating from the various watchtowers of Chang'an, each one like a nail hammered into people's hearts.
The Chang'an residents who had just been watching the downfall of the Eastern City Gang on the streets, upon hearing these drum beats, were all like having a button triggered, putting aside their curiosity, hurriedly closing their doors and going home.
The bustling Chang'an streets soon lost their splendid attire and sank into the silence of the night.
This drum beat is called the night watch.
Wei Wanlan learned in his history lessons that unless one had official business, being caught out after the night curfew in Chang'an was a serious offense, and they could be executed on the spot just like the earlier "escaped prostitutes".
So being an ancient person is too difficult, dying here and dying there, Wei Wanlan didn't want to die.
【Then quickly find a place to stay.】 The system said.
Staying at an inn before the night curfew was the best place for Wei Wanlan to go. It's like going to get a room outside after the dormitory curfew, he understood.
So he sprang into action.
Glancing around on both sides, Wei Wanlan aimlessly searched for a place to stay.
Pingkang Alley was the red-light district of Chang'an, with red lanterns fluttering on both sides, soft songs drifting out from the various flower houses.
There were also some gentle and ambiguous movements, seeping through the thin window frames and into the street, floating into the ears of passers-by, making them confused:
"My lord, with this good luck flag, you will surely be unshakable, victorious in every battle..."
"I am as unshakable as a mountain, my lady is like a water wave, are we not a perfect match?"
"Hehe. My lord has marvelous talents, let me toast my lord one more cup."
Then the candle shadows flickered.
The voice was very loud, Wei Wanlan was a bit stunned, standing at the foot of that window, raising his wet eyes. A bit dazed.
The system, seeing him not speaking, knew that Wei Wanlan was being foolish again, and gently cleared his throat to remind him: 【Have you found it? A place to stay.】
"... Still looking."
He didn't quite like staying in song houses, and didn't dare go to brothels, wanting to find a cleaner place to stay, just an ordinary inn would do.
His steps stopped in front of the dark extinguished medical clinic.
The stone steps were quiet, with no moss.
Just the decoration alone made him feel at ease.
Probably not some messy place.
"Shopkeeper, doctor, is anyone home?" Wei Wanlan lifted his skirt and knocked on the door.
While waiting for the owner to open the door, Wei Wanlan's eyes fell on the wooden plaque hanging outside the clinic, reaching out to fiddle with the big "医" character carved on it, and as it rotated, he bloomed a somewhat innocent smile.
Then the door opened.
The light from inside the door softened, and he felt warmth in his heart.
Wei Wanlan felt that he had finally found a place to stay, but the person who came out, hobbling, almost scared his soul away:
"You—"
The jade-faced Xun Ye stared fixedly at Wei Wanlan: "It's me."
The foot that had been pierced by the arrow was tightly bandaged, his face covered with ferocious scars:
"You bitch, you didn't expect that your arrow would let old me into this clinic, avoiding the official's raid on the Eastern City Gang tonight, did you?"
Wei Wanlan's body leaned, his head buzzing, and he was dragged into the threshold by that man!
A strong sense of danger swept over him.
Wei Wanlan couldn't stand steady, the other party's hand was tugging at his skirt, he resolutely stepped on Xun Ye's wound!
"Aaahh—" Xun Ye's painful cry pierced the night.
Wei Wanlan pushed him away, not daring to stop, quickly fleeing into the dark alley outside the clinic, with Xun Ye chasing after him: "Stop!"
The alley was so dark that nothing could be seen.
The ground was very slippery, a stray cat startled by him leapt from the ground to the roof. Wei Wanlan was so scared that he wanted to cry.
Too terrifying...
Who can save me...
Tears rolled down his cheeks, drying in the cold winter wind, his cheeks taut.
Didn't even bother to wipe his eyes.
Wei Wanlan just wanted to hide from the bad guy behind him, if he was caught this time, the man would surely kill him!
Don't want to die, wuwuwu...
Running until he was exhausted, he could only hear his own breathing. Wei Wanlan leaned against the wall, collapsing on the ground. Xun Ye's voice was gone, his leg was crippled, so he probably couldn't catch up.
"Huff... Huff huff... Huff—"
Running was really not his forte.
He covered his chest, the porcelain cup underneath rising and falling rapidly, he drooped his head and dropped a hairpin on the ground, many soft strands of hair slipping down.
He knew his makeup was smeared now, his hair was also messy.
So unkempt.
Wei Wanlan felt pitiful for himself in his heart.
He was actually a very innocent person, mysteriously bound to the system, mysteriously embroiled in the mission, mysteriously having to kill the Regent King whom he couldn't even kill, and finally mysteriously ended up in this dark alley on a winter night, so cold, so cold.
Wish I could go home...
If only someone could take me in and hug me...
But in this world of scheming, there is an unwritten rule - the more unfortunate one is, the more trials of fate will befall them, here they practice: torture their will, starve their sinews, labor their body.
So just as Wei Wanlan could hardly move, a line of firelight shone from the alley entrance, the orange flames flickering, casting quivering shadows over the alley walls.
Qin Zhen's voice came from outside the alley: "Relay the Regent King's order, maintain the peace of the imperial city! Continue to hunt down the remnants of the Eastern City Gang, those who violate the night curfew shall be executed! That alley must also be searched!"
"Yes, sir!"
How come they're still coming?
Chased to the brink of collapse, an armored soldier holding a sword walked into the alley, getting closer and closer to him, Wei Wanlan's heart was about to stop beating.
【Host.】
【There's a sound of a bamboo basket next to you, you should hide yourself in the basket by the doorway, with the light this dim, they won't search carefully.】
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