15.5

Zhao Xinran’s marriage settlement, Zhao Xuan but secretly remembered Zhao Bixuan a sum of money, but also suspected that she was a woman in the Palace, why the hand stretched so long, even Ji Gongfu secret things can know. Qi Yining is again favored her, will never talk about this kind of family scandal in front of the palace consort, see her in the former dynasty should have contacts. Zhao Xuan does not like to be attacked from the back, Zhao Bixuan’s method of suppressing the first family and lifting up the concubine branch has already violated his bottom line.

He ordered someone to investigate Zhao Bixuan properly and wanted to cut off one of her hands. Thinking that she was that person’s favorite woman, he could not control the violence in his heart. He was surprised by the news that the person behind Zhao Bixuan was not Qi Yining, nor the old Marquis Wen Yuan, but Qi Jin Yu.

He still remembered that when Qi Jin Yu sneaked out of the palace when he was a child and got lost in the lantern festival, it was Zhao Bixuan who led him to him and asked him to send Qi Jin Yu back. This was the only time the two of them crossed paths. But now, it seemed that they were still seeing each other in private. A man who defended a woman so well, and even told her about the secrets of the former dynasty and helped her take revenge, this relationship was not simple by any stretch of the imagination. What was Qi Jin Yu approaching Zhao Bixuan for? Did it simply stem from the attraction between a man and a woman? Or maybe he wanted to plot against someone through her?

Zhao Xuan suddenly wanted to see with his own eyes what that man’s expression was when he learned the true nature of his favorite woman.

Zhou Yunsheng soon gave Prince Gong gave marriage, the Empress Dowager in case things change, the wedding will be set in March of the next year, but also frequently called Luo Lan into the Palace to accompany, and did not forget to Prince Gong called on, so that the two couples to cultivate their feelings. Prince Gong looks handsome identity noble, Luo Lan since the joy, blushing face with him behind the Royal Garden, eyes in addition to his back, where you can still see the garden full of chrysanthemums. Zhao Bixuan seems to have self-mutilation tendency, specializing in picking the two alone when they hit up, see them together to talk and laugh about the figure, several times have red eyes, back to the Feng Yi Palace sick a big.

More let Zhou Yunsheng think this woman has no sense is, she even from the Empress Dowager to come to the second Prince, also with the Royal Garden, causing the second Prince infected with wind and cold even a few days of high fever. The empress dowager learned of this matter live eat her heart have, Qi Jin Yu but heartbroken not, more and more guilty of her love weight.

Zhou Yunsheng one face two people’s adulterous love to push waves, one side to step up the control of the court. Whether it is him, or before the Qi Yining, all have the talent to strategize and win, although slack for three years, so that part of the power to Prince An and Prince Gong hands, but also spent only a month or disintegration, or recovered, of course, which does not include the Northwest military power.

Zhao Xuan that guy will also do drama, back the next day on the initiative to hand over the tiger, seems to be no love for power, but the Northwest will be his die-hard loyalists, only recognize the person, do not look at the charm, his handwritten transfer order than the holy decree has more prestige, this tiger is now a piece of copper and iron. And he repelled the Northwest ministries, but not cut down all, like wolves driving sheep, the most fat – beautiful a few slaughtered, the rest left to eat slowly. In this way, he not only got the military success, but also because the border is not stable and long hold the Northwest regime, really play a good hand calculator. He even privately traded with the ministries and made a big profit.

The spies sent by Zhou Yunsheng couldn’t find out more, but from these sporadic signs, Zhao Xuan’s power and wealth was estimated to be no less than the emperor’s. If he had a rebellious heart, Zhou Yunsheng wasn’t sure that he could suppress it with all his might. If he is rebellious, Zhou Yunsheng is not sure that he can suppress him with all his might, and the world will definitely be divided in half.

Zhou Yunsheng took the tiger talisman and shook his head and smiled bitterly, but he did not intend to intervene in the affairs of the Northwest.

——————–

A month later, the Royal Family is going to hold the annual autumn hunting party, Zhou Yunsheng brought the roster of all the officials and ordered the officials above the fourth grade and all the clans to accompany the party, Zhao Xuan is naturally in the list.

“Great General, when will we return to the Northwest? Although the capital is good, it’s not our territory, and it’s quite inconvenient to travel.” A military general was riding his horse at Zhao Xuan’s side, his voice lowered to an extremely low level.

“Wait a little longer, I still have things to do.” Zhao Xuan rushed to look at the imperial chariot not far away.

The military general nodded, not daring to ask more questions.

When they arrived at their destination, the guards had already set up their camp, and the people took a short rest before dispersing. Although several brothers of the Qi family hated each other to death in their hearts, but on the surface, they are very friendly, Prince Gong is the longest and shortest of the royal brothers to follow Zhou Yunsheng around, to go deer hunting with him. Zhou Yunsheng saw his eyes always to wearing men’s hunting clothes, look extra valiant and magnificent Zhao Bixuan body aim, then know that he is afraid to miss Zhao Bixuan miss hard, the eyes can spit out fire.

Zhou Yunsheng had long planned to marry him, suddenly shouted ‘there is prey’, led a group of guards to gallop, and soon left the people behind. Qi Jin Yu hit the horse to chase for a while, saw Zhao Bixuan could not keep up, so he also pretended to be a poor rider and slowly stopped at the roadside. How the two enjoy this stolen time aside, Zhou Yunsheng into the dense forest actually bumped into a snow-white elk, immediately chased over.

The path in the forest is gradually covered by weeds, if you are riding a horse, it is really difficult to walk, Zhou Yunsheng will give the horse to the two guards to watch over, he led Meng Kang to the depths of the walk to a small stream, was about to draw a bow to shoot a deer, a masked man in black suddenly leaped down from the treetops, the speed of the amazingly fast.

Seeing him attacking straight towards the Emperor, Meng Kang hastily raised his sword to block, and was defeated after only a few rounds of exchanging blows, so he couldn’t help but panic,. Knowing that he was in no way a match for this man, he immediately blew the whistle hanging around his neck to summon the other guards. Zhou Yunsheng stood on the periphery of the battle circle with his bow and arrow on his back, observing with interest the black-clothed man’s muscular lines outlined by his powerful clothes.

That’s right, this man in black was Zhao Xuan. Not to mention that he was only masked, even if he turned into ashes, Zhou Yunsheng wouldn’t misrecognize him. He wanted to see what exactly he wanted to do, but soon lost his idle mood, only because Zhao Xuan was getting more and more ruthless, and had even started killing Meng Kang.

His pupils contracted violently for a split second as he drew -out the sword at his waist and kicked Meng Kang, who was close to death, out of Zhao Xuan’s range of attack. Meng Kang was dumbfounded, before this, he had always thought that although His Majesty practiced martial arts, his strength was definitely not comparable to them, soldiers who were used to bloodshed, but reality told him that he was dead wrong. The black-clothed man’s high martial arts is rare, but the emperor on him even the slightest does not lose the wind. Two people clash of swords, you and me, a few breaths between the dozens of strokes, and moves dangerous.

After the Emperor suddenly joined the fray, the murderous aura in the black-clothed man’s eyes quickly dissipated, turning into amazement and appreciation. He retreated as he fought, and without a trace, he led the Emperor King towards the deeper part of the forest, and based on the pair’s footsteps, they lost Meng Kang and the guards who hurriedly arrived in less than a quarter of an hour.

Zhou Yunsheng didn’t believe that Zhao Xuan wanted to kill himself, and he didn’t hesitate to dive in even though he knew it was a trap.

Seeing that the trees around him were getting thicker – and stronger – and the layers of branches and leaves were covering the sky, making the light around him dim, Zhao Xuan suddenly increased his attack, picking off the sword in the emperor’s hand in one fell swoop, clipping his hands back and pressing him against the trunk of the tree, tying him up with a piece of rope, and then ripping off the black cloth from his face, going to blindfold his eyes instead.

“Who are you? What do you want?” Zhou Yunsheng asked knowingly, blindfolding was a trick he was too familiar with.

Zhao Xuan didn’t speak and pinched his jaw, forcing him to open his mouth.

The familiar flavor drilled into his mouth, causing Zhou Yunsheng to almost burst into tears. Due to the suffocation of the past few months, he could not let him get away with it easily taking advantage of his moment of indulgence to suddenly storm back. Zhao Xuan nimbly dodged a teasing yin leg and pressed the emperor against the tree trunk once again.

“Do you know who I am?” God knows how much Zhou Yunsheng wanted to cooperate with him, and being able to hold back this questioning had mobilized all of his heart.

“What does who you are have to do with me?” Zhao Xuan asked, full of evil thoughts, “Do you know what your beloved consort is doing?”

“Don’t hurt her!” What do I care if she dies! Zhou Yunsheng’s harsh voice rebuked with his mouth out of place. He really couldn’t hold it together, obviously wanting to hug his lover tightly and recognize him, but he had to put on a humiliated and unbearable appearance.

Zhao Xuan snorted coldly and mocked, “Now that you can’t help yourself but still care about her safety, you really are the seed of infatuation. Let me tell you, Zhao Bixuan is also rolling around under someone just like you at the moment, do you want to know who that person is?”

“Who is it?” Zhou Yunsheng inclined his head to avoid it, thinking that if you want to do it, just do it, what nonsense are you talking about, how many villains failed to accomplish anything because of too much nonsense. Waiting to delay until the guards arrive, you’re just waiting to suffocate yourself to death!

Zhao Xuan coldly laughed, “It is your good ……” Before he finished his words, he let out a low curse and admonished, “Don’t touch anyone else during this period of time, or I won’t be so gentle the next time we meet.”

Are you fucking – fucking – gentle? Zhou Yunsheng also heard the footsteps of the guards, his heart was indignant and depressed, and a little bit regretful, but when he thought that he didn’t know how to hold his breath after this person went back, he was relieved.

Seeing the emperor with his hands tied and blindfolded, Meng Kang and the others were greatly relieved. The emperor is really fortunate, although they may not be able to save their lives, but at least they will not be implicated in the nine clans. The group hurriedly untied the ropes and removed the black cloth, and were about to apologize when Duke Yu, who had received a pigeon message from Meng Kang, arrived with a line of elite soldiers and knelt down in fear.

Zhou Yunsheng rubbed his eyes and saw the culprit kneeling at his feet, he was furious and snatched a guard’s riding crop and smacked it hard on him, smiling but not laughing as he opened his mouth, “Great General Zhao came in good time!”

Several vice generals inwardly felt aggrieved for their own general. The safety of the paddock is the responsibility of the Gyeonggiwei and the Five Cities Military Command, so what’s it got to do with the general?

However, Zhao Xuan himself didn’t feel aggrieved. He endured several lashes from this person, and took the time to peek at his complexion, and saw that his eyes were really bright and sparkling because of his anger and humiliation, and the red at the end of his eyes seemed to come to life as if it was moving, and his appearance was countless times more colorful than he had imagined. Not to mention a few lashes, even if he gave up his life, he was willing.

Secretly gulping, he ran his inner strength to resist, and actually chipped the whip that the emperor threw at him.

The generals saw that the whip was damaged and thought that the emperor had hit too hard, and their hearts became more and more upset.

Zhou Yunsheng knew that these whips were tantamount to tickling his lover, and instead of feeling pain, he couldn’t help but enjoy it, so he had to withdraw his hand and ordered, “Search the mountain for me, and make sure that the traitor is captured alive!”

Zhao Xuan arched his hand in response, and without waiting to stand up, another column of soldiers came running quickly, saying that Prince Gong and Noble Consort Huiyi had been assassinated.

“How is your consort? Is there any injury?” Zhou Yunsheng anxiously asked after her, portraying the image of loving his wife like his life.

Zhao Xuan glanced at him, the lust-fire churning in his chest replaced by hostility. It seemed that he still refused to believe him. That’s right, how could anyone trust someone from an unknown background? In that case, it was necessary to teach him a profound lesson next time.

Zhou Yunsheng rushed back to the camp as fast as he could, and from afar, he saw that Zhao Bixuan’s and Qi Jin Yu’s tents were surrounded by guards, and there were several imperial doctors coming in and out, looking grave. He went over to inquire about the situation and learned that Zhao Bixuan was not in any serious condition, but Qi Jin Yu had been hit by several knives and was in critical condition.

“Give me the best medical treatment you can.” After Zhou Yunsheng finished explaining to the imperial physician, he reported to the empress dowager in the palace. The Empress Dowager immediately wanted to take the person back, but was stopped by the Imperial Doctor, saying that the injury was too serious to move, and that she would need to wait for another ten days and half a month before being able to do so.

Zhou Yunsheng in the paddock to accompany a few days, do enough brother and friend of the gesture of respect, which led the crowd back to the capital, go to enjoy some Zhao Bixuan pain and fear of expression. As for those assassins, but one did not catch – to live, they are all strong martial arts, well-trained, fled to a cliff edge to a leap down will be lost. The five cities of the Division and the commanding officer of the Gyeonggiwei sent a few thousand people in the bottom of the cliff to search, froze even a piece of rags have not found, as if disappeared into thin air in general.

Not only Prince Gong was assassinated, even the emperor was almost killed, the capital guards, five cities military division responsible for the defense of the capital Yamen was in a rage in the emperor completely cleaned up some of the high-ranking officials have been imprisoned, some dismissed, some demoted, and a period of people turned over. When the wind – wave a little calm, these several Yamen’s key positions are all replaced with the emperor’s inner circle, Meng Kang is a leap to become the commanding officer of the five cities of the Division of Military Horsepower, the official position is not high, but quite a real power.

Originally in these several places inserted a lot of manpower of the empress dowager can only be angry dry eyes. She had been planning for years, but she didn’t think that she would fail in one night. Now, she has good reason to suspect that this assassination is Qi Yining’s self-directed drama.

The empress dowager guessed right, the assassin is indeed sent by Zhou Yunsheng, he originally did not think that he could kill this pair of dogs and men. Because the two are the children of destiny in this world, there is always an inexplicable power to protect, to put it plainly is the protagonist’s aura, unless they make their own deaths, or else it is very difficult for others to get their hands on them. Just like the last world, Xue Jingyi clearly has been that weak, but in his more than once under the serious stimulation to survive, but also maintain a good body, visible they do not want to die, who can not help them.

As expected, those people only seriously injured Qi Jin Yu, failed to take his life, under his desperate protection, Zhao Bixuan was unharmed. However, his purpose was to control the defense of the capital, not to take the lives of two people. It is not necessary to take the lives of the two people. It is too comfortable to die like this.

When the Empress Dowager learned that her son was seriously injured in order to protect Zhao Bixuan, she was so angry that she almost spat out blood and immediately summoned her to Ci Ning Palace to be punished for kneeling. Zhao Bixuan thought that the Emperor would rush to relieve her as he had done in the past, but she was disappointed in the end. She knelt for a day and a night, that person never appeared.

———-

Zhou Yunsheng did not have time to care about Zhao Bixuan dead or alive, assassinated on the day assigned Zhao Xuan full powers to thoroughly investigate this matter, now four days have passed, but even a little clue has not been found, he naturally want to leave the person to stay properly ‘reprimanded’ some.

When Zhao Xuan arrived at the entrance of the Qianqing Palace, he heard the sound of the emperor and Meng Kang asking and answering questions from inside the hall.

“You are eighteen this year, also considered to have grown into – people, have you ever thought about the matter of marriage?”

“Back to Your Majesty, three days ago, the first mother of the micromanager fixed a marriage for the micromanager.”

“Oh? Which girl is it?”

“It is the first second daughter of Lord Zhang, a member of the Ministry of Public Works, and also the real niece of the first mother of the micro-minister.”

“Push it.” The emperor ordered decisively.

“Huh?” Mangkang answered stupidly.

“Push it, your marriage has its own me to decide.”

Hearing this, Zhao Xuan was already filled with anger. At first, he had thought that this person was utilizing Meng Kang, but after so many days, how could he not see that he was genuinely returning to Meng Kang? He simply did not intend to let Meng Kang go to the Northwest to fight for his life anymore, but rather to keep him by his side to cultivate him. The jobs he found for Meng Kang are all in line with each other’s temperament.

In the five cities of the Division of the army as a secretary does not have to have much talent, only need to be ruthless, straight enough, bold enough, not afraid to offend people. These qualities Meng Kang all complete, and the emperor’s trust, the future is bound to mix well.

Why does he care so much about Meng Kang? Next time, I will definitely ask him. Zhao Xuan pressed down his heart, raised his hand and let the newly appointed eunuch go to report. Sixth and in order to protect Prince Gong has already died in the paddock, died when the head was cut off, actually did not even leave a whole body. The emperor ordered him to be buried, turned his disciple Lin An to the imperial court.

This assassination, the death of the dead, the withdrawal of the withdrawal, the vacated place to vacate the place, all kinds of mystery Zhao Xuan see clearly understand, originally did not intend to investigate thoroughly, held back some geniuses waiting for the emperor summoned, almost with excitement to the Yangxin Hall.

“Your Majesty, Lord Yu Guo Gong is outside seeking an audience.”

“Let him come in. Meng Kang, you go down, there is no need to be in a hurry about the marriage, I will certainly help you find a good one.”

“Thank you for Your Majesty’s grace, I will go back and tell my first mother.” Meng Kang originally was not satisfied with this marriage, just in the way of parents’ orders had to comply with, and now the emperor has given the word of mouth, he is naturally very happy, and General Zhao brushed past when he almost laughed his cheeks, but in exchange for the other side of the cold as ice, a knife, could not help but hit a jolt.

Zhao Xuan walked to the front of the hall to salute, raised his eyes quickly swept the imperial seat a glance, jaw instantly taut. This person was just finished bathing, a head of green silk draped over both shoulders, also stained with a few points of vapor, the body loosely wearing a pure black brocade robes, more set off a jade face such as faceted like grinding, dazzling eyes, there are strands of ambergris scent from the skin, refreshing the heart.

It was with this appearance that he received Meng Kang? Zhao Xuan hated that he couldn’t go back to the day of the Autumn Service and slaughter that kid with a single slash.

Zhou Yunsheng was tossed around by this man last time, and this time he called him over, of course, he would not let him have a good time, and he angrily reprimanded and slammed his lamp, playing all the authority.

Zhao Xuan gradually calm in the scolding, see his mouth dry, stand up and pour him a cup of hot tea, and then proceeded to kneel, the heart secretly thought: and let you at ease for a moment, the next time you catch, I will make your beautiful eyes shed tears.

As such, after another half a month, Zhao Xuan finally found some clues under the emperor’s repeated urging, and presented them to the imperial court at the first opportunity.

Prince An in any case can not understand, those black-clothed people how to get involved with their own, that is the paddock, heavily guarded, not to mention he has the ability to send people in, even if he has, the object of his assassination should not be Prince Gong, but Sheng Emperor. Prince Gong a just adult to build the house of the Prince and what obstacles he, guilty of sending such elite to take his life?

A clear-eyed people know that the assassination of the biggest beneficiary of the incident is clearly that person on the throne, but prefer to plant to their own head. However, these words, he did not dare to blatantly say out, only kneeling in the Palace of a strong cry of injustice.

Zhou Yunsheng waved his hand and said I know, turned his head and detained him in the palace and sent Zhao Xuan to search his residence. Zhao Xuan never thought that the Emperor would hand over such important tasks to him one after another, seemingly trusting him very much. But on second thought, could it be that there is a trap laid out here?

What do you care, since that person laid, even if it is broken bones have to jump down to try, but the premise is to have that person as a companion. To the An Wang House, the soldiers carefully search, hate can not be smashed out of the wall bricks to feel one by one, really found a number of prohibited things, including Prince An and several ministers of the private letter, which involves salt tax, smuggling of iron, the purchase of warhorses, the hoarding of private soldiers and other fatal content.

It can be said that Sima Zhao’s heart is known to all.

News out of the dynasty in an uproar, this is still good to stay in the palace of Prince An immediately under the Zongrenfu, after a few rounds of interrogation has been the evidence is conclusive, incontrovertible, was removed from the title and position, confined in the An Wangfu. He pulled together a group of officials either put to death nine clans, either beheading, or dismissed to investigate, are not a good end.

As is the two rounds of cleaning after, courtiers again to one stop on the palace, see many of the emperor promoted up strange faces, all feel fearful, God Cham bone cold. It is said that the son of a million dead bodies in anger, Sheng emperor this seizure, although not as exaggerated as a million dead bodies, but also known as the blood flow into the river.

Thought that the emperor was the noble consort lost his mind, increasingly weak and muddle-headed, they thought they found the opportunity to rise up the ministers, and now completely stopped. Tiger also have snooze time, the emperor is still fourteen years old to thunder to suppress the emperor of the foreign relatives, who dares to play tricks in front of him, that is purely looking for death.

After collecting the court, he began to reorganize the military affairs, the four major garrisons of Daqi, in addition to the northwestern garrison, the generals of the other several garrisons were hammered one by one, and there were even a few who were beheaded for the crimes of dereliction of duty, embezzlement and fraudulent claiming of military honors. In the past, the three armies that were in disarray gradually turned into an iron plate.

After purging the court, the triennial examination began. As the younger brother of the dynasty’s favorite concubine, Zhao Jidong’s performance is especially noticed, and everyone is speculating whether he will top the list this time.

“Since there is, that is Hui Yi noble consort’s younger brother, a proper state uncle, the emperor can’t help but love the house.” Some people sourly flirted. The fact is also with their guess is generally no different, the royal list, Zhao Jidong’s name is clearly in the first place, actually won the Huiyuan. View the results of the students in the incitement of the person in mind, said the examiner with power for personal gain, defilement of the saints, etc., the head seems to have expected, immediately put the top ten volumes posted on the royal list, so that everyone can see a clear understanding.

Zhao Jidong’s article is not only rhetorical splendor, point of view is also extremely unique, and other several volumes in a comparison of the more and more appear to be excellent. Whether it is on the list of students or failed students, after reading his article are pleased and convinced, no longer dare to rumor. And then in the temple examination, he also wrote a beautiful article, so that the emperor saw the Sheng dragon heart pleased, praised him for his knowledge of history and talent, admiring him for the Golden Section Scholar, and after the Qionglin Banquet will be called to the Royal Drinking a few cups, seems to be very valued.