klisemfg Chapter 166: Undercurrents Surge in the Imperial City
Chapter 166: Undercurrents Surge in the Imperial City
Tianqi City Imperial Palace, Pingqing Hall.
Just after the morning court session that day, Emperor Tai'an Xiao Chongjing set out for Pingqing Palace. Before he could sit down, Zhuoqing walked in with a serious expression, clutching a roll of paper.
"Stand up, Zhuoqing. Why are you in such a hurry today?"
Emperor Tai'an looked calm and composed. He glanced at Zhuoqing who was kneeling on the ground and asked.
Zhuoqing stood up, unfolded the scroll in his hand, and said hesitantly:
"Your Majesty... The three disciples I sent to Qiandong City two months ago to monitor the Zhenxi Marquis' Mansion have disappeared..."
Emperor Tai'an had just placed his hand on the teacup, but before he could pick it up, his brows furrowed when he heard this:
"Missing? When did this news come out?"
Zhuoqing handed the scroll to Xiao Chongjing respectfully and said:
"Jin Li and the other two have always received a secret letter every three days, which is sent directly to Tianqi through the post stations along the way."
"But since the fourth day of this month, I haven't received any reports from them. So I sent my trusted disciple Jin Wei to rush to Qiandong City to investigate..."
"The above is Jin Wei's report, please review it, Your Majesty!"
Xiao Chongjing snatched the scroll of paper away, and the news on it immediately made him feel uneasy.
"Respectfully, Master:
Disciple Jin Wei arrived at Tianqi City at 3:00 PM on the sixth day of this month. After making inquiries from many sources and contacting the spies hidden in Qiandong City, he learned the news.
The bodies and waist badges of Jin Cheng and Jin Zhen were found in the lower bay of Boyue River, south of Qiandong City. Jin Li's life or death is unknown.
According to the informant, Jin Li and the other two were last seen on the top of Jiyue Tower in Qiandong City, and then Jin Cheng and Jin Zhen mysteriously ran into the Boyue River.
Jin Li was abducted by a elusive young man and taken to the Zhenxi Marquis Mansion, and there has been no news since then..."
Xiao Chongjing's expression became increasingly grim. Zhuoqing quietly raised his head and glanced at the emperor, saying:
"Your Majesty, in my opinion, this young man is either Baili Dongjun or that audacious Wen Yanzhao!"
Xiao Chongjing held the memorial in his hand, his nails turning white from the force.
He seemed not to have heard Zhuoqing's words, but just gritted his teeth and spat out a few words:
"Traitors, I was too polite to them!"
Zhuo Qing saw Xiao Chongjing's anger and quickly poured a cup of tea in front of the emperor.
"Your Majesty, please do not be angry. The dragon's health is at stake!"
Xiao Chongjing threw away the piece of paper, took the teacup from Zhuoqing's hand and asked:
"How many days has Feng'er been away?"
Zhuoqing thought for a moment and replied:
"His Royal Highness Prince Langya has been on the journey for four days. He should have reached the territory of Shuzhong today."
Xiao Chongjing held the teacup and said nothing for a long time.
"Snapped!"
He threw the teacup heavily on the table in front of him, stood up and looked towards the southwest:
"What if Feng'er fails to persuade that traitor of the Wen family?"
"They dare to attack the people of the Imperial Palace now. Their intention of rebellion is obvious. Send a team to protect Feng'er. Do it now!"
When Zhuoqing heard this, a hint of viciousness flashed in his eyes which Xiao Chongjing did not notice.
A plan to drive the tiger to devour the wolf has already come to mind!
If Xiao Ruofeng fails to complete this task and becomes enemies with Wen Yanzhao and the Zhenxi Marquisate, the only person who can prevent Prince Qing from seizing the throne is Prince Jingyu.
King Jingyu Xiao Ruojin was originally a mediocre and incompetent person. If Xiao Ruofeng had not been helping him all the time, Xiao Ruojin would definitely have no chance of winning the battle for the throne with King Qing Xiao Xie!
Zhuoqing stood hunched behind Xiao Chongjing and answered in his usual low voice:
"I obey your command... But, Your Majesty, I have another idea, but I'm not sure if I should share it with you."
Xiao Chongjing only uttered one word:
"Say!"
Zhuoqing quickly spoke:
"Prince Langya has not yet met Wen Yanzhao. There is still room for maneuver in this matter. Why don't we wait for news from him first?"
"If he can somehow convince the traitor Wen Yanzhao to retract his rebellious heart, we will then promise him high positions and generous salaries, and grant half of Lingnan to the Wen family as a fiefdom..."
"This way, we can focus on dealing with Baili Luochen in Qiandong City!"
After saying this, Zhuoqing added hypocritically:
"I am an old servant, and my words just now were one-sided. I beg your majesty to make the final decision!"
The hall was eerily quiet; the only sound that could be heard was Xiao Chongjing's heavy breathing.
"Hmph! You're just blindly tolerating and giving in. Do you intend for everyone in the world to see me as an incompetent ruler who only knows how to appease and compromise?"
Xiao Chongjing suddenly turned around and looked at Zhuo Qingdao with a sinister look.
Zhuoqing knelt down immediately after hearing this:
"I dare not, please forgive me, Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty, please understand. I am forever loyal to you and to Beili! What I just said was ill-considered..."
Looking at Zhuoqing lying on the ground, Xiao Chongjing thought for a moment and took two steps forward to wrap Zhuoqing up.
"Alas... I understand what you're thinking! Get up..."
"Since my mother passed away, I have no one close to me or trustworthy. You are the only one who has always been by my side. Of course, I know what you are thinking!"
Zhuoqing was terrified and stood up, his eyes avoiding everyone.
Xiao Chongjing twirled the emerald ring on his thumb (a new one, the previous one was broken by Li Changsheng out of fright!), thought for a moment and said:
"Is Su Xin still the commander of the Lingnan garrison?"
Zhuoqing nodded and replied, "Your Majesty, it is General Su."
Xiao Chongjing frowned and said:
"Su Xin has 30,000 border troops and 5,000 Buddhist cavalry. These soldiers are enough to destroy the Wen family!"
"I have issued an imperial decree to grant Su Xin the title of Marquis of Annan, a reward of five thousand gold coins, and to confer upon Madam Su a first-rank imperial decree, ordering him to train the soldiers day and night..."
Zhuoqing was about to speak when Xiao Chongjing raised his hand to stop him and continued:
"Draft a secret decree and have Zhuo Luo make another arduous journey to deliver it to Su Xin's camp immediately. This must not be known to anyone else. Otherwise, if that poisonous creature Wen Yanzhao gets to know about it, it will be another disaster!"
Zhuoqing bowed and said:
"I obey your order and will do it right away!"
Just as Zhuoqing was about to leave the hall, Xiao Chongjing's voice rang out again behind him:
"Tell General Yi Bu to come to the Purple Palace to see me after noon today. I have something important to discuss with him!"
Zhuoqing nodded and said:
"I've remembered this. Your Majesty, please be at ease and don't worry!"
……
At the beginning of the evening, Yi Bu, dressed in a black robe, was waiting in the side hall of the Purple Palace.
Soon, a young eunuch pinched his throat and said:
"General Yi, His Majesty has ordered General Yi to appear before the Emperor!"
Yi Bu clasped his fists and said:
"Thank you, young eunuch, for leading the way."
After entering the Purple Palace, Yi Bu looked up and saw Xiao Chongjing, who had taken off his dragon robe and was now wearing casual clothes, sitting upright on a square chair.
Yi Bu immediately knelt down and said, "General Yi Bu pays respects to Your Majesty!"
Seeing Yi Bu entering the hall, Xiao Chongjing hurriedly stood up to greet him:
"Oh, please get up quickly. General Yi is very busy. I got some top-quality Phoenix Dancong from the Western Chu territory these days."
"It's been a while since I last saw General Yi. Since our son Ruojin and your daughter are getting married soon, I've specially sent for you to come and have a chat."
Yi Bu was somewhat flattered and quickly thanked him:
"I thank Your Majesty for your grace. I am but a mere soldier. How can I possibly deserve such great kindness from Your Majesty? It truly humbles me!"
Xiao Chongjing put on a slightly hypocritical smile and pulled Yi Bu to sit in front of the jade table:
"General Yi, your words are too formal. In a few days, you and I will be relatives. We are one family and should not have different opinions!"
As he spoke, he raised his hand, picked up the purple clay teapot, and poured a cup of fragrant tea for Yi Bu.
They each drank a cup of Phoenix Dancong, and Yi Bu couldn't help but praise:
"I have long heard that the Phoenix Bush in Western Chu is world-renowned. Your Majesty has graciously granted me this opportunity to drink a cup. This is truly a life well spent!"
Xiao Chongjing smiled slightly and said:
"This is all thanks to Baili Luochen's contribution. If he hadn't fought a bloody battle with the Sword and Confucian Immortals and conquered Western Chu, we wouldn't be able to taste this tea!"
Yi Bu seemed to have heard the hidden meaning in Xiao Chongjing's words:
"Your Majesty is absolutely right. I would like to ask you a question. You sent me to the palace this time not just to invite me to drink tea with Your Majesty, right?"
Xiao Chongjing's expression changed, and then he put on a smile again:
"Yes, I heard that Ye Dingzhi, the remnant of the Ye family, seems to have been in love with your daughter Yi Wenjun for a long time. I invited the general here today for this very reason!"
Yi Bu was shocked when he heard this, and replied in panic:
"Your Majesty, please understand that my daughter Wenjun was held hostage by that thief, Ye Dingzhi, who broke into our mansion. Wenjun has no connection with him!"
"If I have lied in any way, Your Majesty, I ask that I and my daughter be punished for harboring a criminal!"
As he said this, Yi Bu was about to kneel down.
Xiao Chongjing grabbed Yi Bu's arm and said with a smile:
"General Yi, you're worrying too much. I didn't mean that... I just wanted to ask you to put my mind at ease!"
Yi Bu raised his head, somewhat confused by what Xiao Chongjing said.
Xiao Chongjing continued:
"I would like to invite the general to the Jingyu Palace to explain the pros and cons to your daughter and persuade her to write a letter to lure Ye Dingzhi to Tianqi City. General Yi, don't worry about the rest. I will arrange it freely!"
……