At the Maple Viewing Pavilion,Xue Liulan sat quietly on a stone bench. Today, he was bidding farewell to Gongzi Suyi.
Two riders approached. Gongzi Suyi, in his black robes, and beside him, a man with an ordinary face.
This was Liu Yi, the master of the Hidden Assassins of Windless. His martial arts were formidable, but his true talent was disguise. It was his art that had made the deception possible.
Ten days ago, Suyi had arrived at the Fifth Prince's residence under cover of darkness, responding to Murong Jin's letter.
"Suyi?" Xue Liulan had been shocked to see him. Suyi rarely came to Jindu, and never like this.
"Let's talk inside."
In the study, Xue Liulan, Murong Jin, and Xue Zhuoran sat with their guest.
"You invited him?" Xue Liulan frowned at his wife. "If Guo Shangzhong finds out about my connection to the vassal lords, he will be on guard."
Murong Jin lowered her head. She had only wanted to solve the immediate crisis. She hadn't thought that far ahead.
Xue Liulan sighed and put his arm around her. "Thank you for your intentions, my lady."
She blushed. "But I ruined your plan."
"If Suyi is discovered that easily, he wouldn't be the best swordsman in the dynasty," Xue Liulan laughed. "Right, Suyi?"
Suyi tilted his head. "True. But even if he finds out, it doesn't matter now."
"Hm?"
"Losing the Fifteen would be a blow to your strength, yes. But losing the brothers who fought beside you… that would break you."
"He's right," Xue Zhuoran agreed.
"So, what is the plan?" Xue Liulan asked.
"I brought Liu Yi, of course," Suyi said. "But I also brought someone else." He paused, listening intently to the air.
Everyone stared at him.
"His lightness skill rivals Liu Yi's," Suyi said with a smile. "Is he from the Vermilion Bird Camp?"
"Yi?" Murong Jin asked, confused. How did he know?
Suddenly, the sound of wind rushed past the window. Footsteps stopped in the courtyard.
"Brother, it's bad enough that girls chase me. Why are you on my tail?" Yi's voice, full of mockery.
"For the bounty, of course," a voice laughed back.
Yi dodged an attack, flipping backward and landing in the doorway of the study.
"What's going on?" Murong Jin opened the door.
"Sister Jin." Yi glanced at her. "This guy has been chasing me since I got here."
"Liu Yi," Suyi called out, walking into the courtyard. "The Snow Mountain Physician's bounty is high, but don't forget your manners."
Liu Yi laughed. "Not just high. Generous. Three treatments from the Divine Physician herself. People in the martial world would kill for that."
Yi groaned. "She's serious."
"Are you saying Chong Hua can't cure you?" Xue Liulan leaned against the doorframe. "If he hears that, he'll use you for target practice."
Murong Jin and Xue Zhuoran realized who this was. The master of disguise.
Liu Yi bowed. "Greetings, Your Highnesses."
"Let him see the Fifteen," Suyi said calmly. "He can make anyone look like them. Guo Shangzhong won't know the difference."
"Is he that good?" Xue Zhuoran asked.
Liu Yi looked at him. "May I borrow your sleeve, Your Highness?"
Murong Jin offered hers. Xue Liulan smiled, watching.
When Liu Yi lowered the sleeve, everyone gasped. He looked exactly like Xue Zhuoran. Even the pale complexion, the hint of illness, was perfect.
"Incredible," Murong Jin breathed.
"If I had that skill, I wouldn't be running from that woman," Yi muttered.
"But will it fool Guo Shangzhong?" Xue Liulan asked. "He has been watching the Fifteen closely."
"Simple. I have selected fifteen bandits of similar build. With the young master controlling them, I will turn them into the Fifteen," Liu Yi said confidently. "Disguise is meant to fool those who don't know the subject intimately. Guo Shangzhong has never been close to your men."
The tension in the room eased. But how would Suyi control them? How would he make them commit suicide at Guo Shangzhong's gate?
"I have sent a letter to the Su family," Suyi said. "The head of the clan will be here in three days."
"The ritualist clan?" Murong Jin was shocked. They had vanished years ago.
"Yes. I have… personal ties with them."
Xue Liulan hid a smile. Only he knew that Suyi's mother was from the Su family, and Suyi was their young master.
And so, it was done. The Su family head used witchcraft to control the fifteen bandits. Hanlu led the real Fifteen to slaughter Guo Shangzhong's household, and in the chaos of the fire, they swapped places. Guo Shangzhong watched fifteen men die by their own hands, believing he had won.
Hanlu and He Chengjian arrived at the pavilion with the Fifteen. They knelt before Xue Liulan.
"You have worked hard," Xue Liulan said, his gaze lingering on each face. "The Fifteen are disbanded. I don't know when we will meet again." He looked at Hanlu. "They are in your hands."
"Rest assured, my lord. We await your command."
The fourteen men bowed deeply.
"Until we meet again." Xue Liulan returned the bow. He turned to Suyi. "Thank you."
"Take care." Suyi mounted his horse and rode away. The others followed, disappearing into the dust.
Xue Liulan watched them go. The Fifteen were scattered like drops of water in the ocean. Guo Shangzhong would never find them.
As he walked back toward the city gate, a woman's voice called out.
"This commoner greets the Crown Prince."
He stopped. A woman in pale violet robes stood before him, bowing low.