On the eighteenth of the twelfth lunar month, as the New Year approached, the festive atmosphere was already palpable on the streets of Bianliang.
However, both Wang Fu and Cai You were preoccupied with heavy hearts.
"Is everything packed?"
Wang Fu asked, his voice hoarse as he looked at Lü Jinzhong, who had aged considerably.
"My Lord, everything is packed, but..."
Lü Jinzhong's voice choked, and tears welled up in his eyes.
He had served Wang Fu for most of his life, witnessing his rise to his current position. He had once thought he might become the steward of the Grand Tutor in his lifetime. But unexpectedly, Wang Fu not only failed to secure the position of Grand Tutor but was also summarily dismissed from Bianliang.
"But what?"
"The possessions at our manor outside the city have been confiscated by the Imperial Guard."
"Never mind. They are merely external possessions. Since everything is packed, let us depart today!"
Exhaling a long, deep sigh, Wang Fu closed his eyes in pain.
He had suffered a severe setback this time. He had intended to linger in Bianliang for a while longer, hoping for a change in his fortunes.
However, with the New Year imminent, he had received an imperial decree ordering him to proceed to his new post immediately.
"Yes, sir..."
Upon hearing Wang Fu's command, Lü Jinzhong could no longer dwell on his sorrow. He wiped away his tears and turned to leave.
When a tree falls, monkeys scatter. With Wang Fu in disgrace, most of the household staff had already fled. Even his concubines had dwindled to only two or three.
The others had all found excuses, either returning to their maternal homes or simply absconding with some gold and silver.
Half an hour later, in the back alley of Wang Fu's mansion, five carriages, forming a neat line, quietly slipped out of the back gate.
The once-powerful minister, Wang Fu, departed for Haozhou with his household, unnoticed.
As the carriages just left Bianliang city, heavy snow began to fall from the overcast sky.
Despite the presence of charcoal braziers in the carriages' hidden compartments, a small brazier could hardly warm Wang Fu's chilled heart in the midst of the swirling snow.
"The wind and snow are too heavy. Why don't we find a place to rest and shelter from the storm?"
Watching the snowflakes persistently seeping into the carriage through the gaps in the windows, Wang Fu sighed and instructed the coachman.
"My Lord, this wind and snow may not stop anytime soon. Since we are on the road, we must press on. Otherwise, we might have to camp in the wilderness tonight. Even if humans can endure this weather, the horses might not."
Although the coachman also wished to find a place to rest, years of experience told him that stopping here now might mean freezing to death in the wilderness by nightfall.
"Then, do as you suggest!"
Looking back at Bianliang city, which had already disappeared into the blizzard, Wang Fu lowered his head again, tightening the fur coat around him.
His vast fortune had all been confiscated by the Imperial Guard. Before the assets could be inventoried, this fur coat was the most valuable item he could carry with him.
The thought that his years of effort would now benefit others brought an inexplicable pang of pain to his heart.
After traveling for more than four hours against the howling wind, the carriages' speed finally began to decrease.
"My Lord, we are almost at Yongqiu. The wind and snow are too severe, and the horses are exhausted. Let's stay here for the night!"
"You make the arrangements."
Hearing Lü Jinzhong's hoarse voice, Wang Fu managed to utter a few words from his throat.
"Yes, sir!"
"Everyone, hold on a little longer. Once we reach Yongqiu, we will rest there for the night!"
With Wang Fu's permission, Lü Jinzhong quickly relayed the message to all the carriage drivers.
"Whoosh—"
However, before his words had even finished, an arrow flew out of nowhere amidst the swirling snow.
Lü Jinzhong felt a chill in his chest, followed by a gush of warm liquid spurting from his chest.
He instinctively reached for his chest, only to feel a cold arrow shaft...
The chief steward of the Wang residence, who had served Wang Fu for most of his life, let out a scream and collapsed powerlessly on the ground.
"Someone's killing people!"
Witnessing the scene, several terrified coachmen immediately scattered and fled.
But they had not run more than a few steps before they were shot down in the snow.
"What are you panicking about? No running! All of you, come back here!"
Hearing the shouts of murder from outside, Wang Fu shivered and immediately shouted loudly.
"Wang Fu! Your end has come!"
However, the only response was a cold voice.
"Don't you know this is still Bianliang territory? I am an official appointed by the court. The court will not forgive you if you kill me!"
Wang Fu spoke while cautiously observing the situation through the gaps in the window.
Yet, in that brief moment, screams erupted again from the carriage behind him.
When the screams stopped, he could faintly hear the sound of breathing from all around.
"Master Wang, you should alight."
Hearing the awkward accent outside the carriage, Wang Fu trembled as if he were sifting chaff.
"Don't kill me, don't kill me! I have plenty of money, however much you want!"
"Clang—"
As soon as Wang Fu finished speaking, a gleaming steel saber sliced through the gap in the window.
"Hahaha, at this point, do you still think you are the esteemed minister who was second only to the Emperor? All your assets have been confiscated by the Imperial Guard. What money do you have to give us?"
Listening to the curses from outside the carriage window, Wang Fu trembled even more violently.
"Boss, why bother being polite? Let's quickly chop off his head so we can claim the reward!"
"Master Wang, I apologize. You have committed too many wicked deeds. Your fate today is your own doing!"
Before Wang Fu could even make excuses, several steel knives were thrust into the carriage from outside. Caught off guard, Wang Fu's chest was pierced by a steel knife.
"Hang his body on a tree, cut off his head, and let's go!"
A quarter of an hour later, the headless corpse of Wang Fu, the former Junior Grand Tutor of the Great Song Dynasty, was hung on a roadside tree, while his head had vanished without a trace...