After getting Li Shimin's handwriting, Chen Jingke went straight out of the palace without even looking at Xiao Sizi.
However, he did not go directly to Dali Temple to ask for help. Instead, he first returned to Zixiao Temple and found Yang Tianlu.
"Are you ready with what I asked you to prepare?"
Yang Tianlu said worriedly: "Are you really going to do this?"
Chen Jingke glanced at him sideways and said, "Why, will you also be soft-hearted?"
Yang Tianlu shook his head and said: "It's not that you are soft-hearted, but is it worth it? If it gets spread, it will be very detrimental to your reputation."
Chen Jingke sneered and said: "I'm not planning to be a saint, so what are I afraid of? Besides, this is not a sinister thing. Even if it gets spread, it won't have much impact on my reputation."
"Maybe it will make people respect me a little more, and there won't be so many embarrassing things about me in the future."
Yang Tianlu sighed and said: "Okay, I have prepared the things. They are in a hidden place in the south of the city."
Chen Jingke gave him Li Shimin's handwriting and said: "Go to Dali Temple, pick him up and send him to that place."
Yang Tianlu took the order and left helplessly.
He really didn't want Chen Jingke to get involved in this kind of thing, but he couldn't stop it despite trying to persuade him several times.
He also hinted to Changsun Wugou, Sun Simiao, Wu Shu and others that Chen Jingke's methods were too shocking and would have too great an impact on his reputation if word spread, so he asked them to dissuade him.
It's just that everyone has the same answer, just follow what he told you, no matter how shocking it is, it doesn't matter.
When there was no other way, he could only do as he was told.
He put on casual clothes and went to Dali Temple to take Wang Xiuqi away smoothly.
During this period, he also used his identity as an imperial guard. Otherwise, if an unreasonable person claimed that he had an order from the emperor to remove a prisoner, he would most likely be arrested as an accomplice of the prisoner.
Wang Xiuqi was also very frightened these past few days, and his life was also very painful. He finally found out that the group of kidnappers he was looking for had injured the prince.
Naturally, Wang Zhuo and others also knew about this matter. At this moment, everyone still didn't understand who was the murderer who caused the destruction of the Wang family in Taiyuan.
I wish I could strangle Wang Xiuqi to death.
The one who regrets the most is Wang Zhuo. Why should you trust him and why should you keep him with you?
He is also the one who wants to kill Wang Xiuqi the most.
However, they did not have this opportunity, because Wang Xiuqi was detained in a cell alone, and a large group of them were detained collectively in the next door.
Not only that, what they ate was all rotten food. Although what Wang Xiuqi ate was not good, at least it was clean and fresh food.
This made them even more suspicious that he had surrendered to the emperor. The emperor used the prince as bait to find an excuse to kill the Wang family in Taiyuan?
Although this idea is ridiculous, everyone who hates it so much chooses to believe it.
Then they began to verbally insult him in various ways, and even poured feces and urine on him.
Wang Xiuqi could only hide in the corner and tremble, not even daring to talk back.
After being detained like this for two days, when the jailer came to take him away, instead of being afraid, he felt impatient.
Originally, he thought that the other party was going to take him to the torture chamber for torture, so he was mentally prepared to do it no matter what the officials asked him.
Anyway, if the prince is injured, he will definitely die, so why bother struggling and suffering.
Soon he discovered that these people were obviously leading him outside the prison.
He was wondering, shouldn't he be interrogated directly in the lobby instead of being tortured and recording a confession?
However, no one knew beyond the prison gate that this was not the case, and that the jailer had handed himself over to an outsider.
The key is that he knows this person, and everyone in Zixiao Temple is in charge of Tianlu.
He hated Chen Jingke so much that although he could not take revenge, he recognized all the important figures in Zixiaoguan.
At this moment, no matter how stupid he is, he knows that he will probably fall into Chen Jingke's hands.
When he thought of the pain that hateful boy had caused him, he felt a dull pain in his lower body.
His final self-esteem made him unwilling to fall into the opponent's hands and shouted:
"You can't hand me over to him. Take me back quickly. I want to go back to prison. What you do is breaking the law."
No one paid attention to him at all. Yang Tianlu waved his hand, and two people came over from behind and controlled him.
Wang Xiuqi became even more panicked and began to speak indiscriminately: "I have important information to disclose. I have evidence of the rebellion of the nobles. I can accuse them..."
But still no one paid attention to him.
Yang Tianlu frowned slightly and said, "Noisy, block his mouth."
One of his men pinched Wang Xiuqi's mouth and stuffed a piece of cloth into it to make him unable to make a sound. Then he put a black cloth bag over his head and threw it on the carriage next to him.
Yang Tianlu bowed his hands towards the jailer, turned around and left without saying anything.
It was He Qiu who came to see people off. After watching Yang Tianlu and others leave, he also prepared to go back with others.
One of his subordinates couldn't help but ask: "He SiZheng, who is this mysterious person? He was able to take away important witnesses who murdered the prince."
Several other jailers also showed curiosity.
He Qiu reprimanded: "Since you know that the other party is mysterious, why do you ask? No matter who the other party is, it has nothing to do with us."
"Remember we didn't do anything today, and we never handed over any prisoners to people of unknown origins, do you understand?"
Everyone was shocked and said quickly: "Here."
He asked no more and took the people back to the prison.
Wang Zhuo and others in the prison initially thought that Wang Xiuqi was being dragged for interrogation, but when they saw that he did not come back, they couldn't help but become curious, so they asked the jailer:
"Where is Wang Xiuqi? Isn't the trial over yet?"
"Bah." The jailer spat and said, "Wang Xiuqi, we have never had such a person here."
"Don't talk so much nonsense, just be honest, or else you will look good."
After the jailer left, Wang Zhuo, Zheng Song and others couldn't help but curse. At this time, they finally confirmed that Wang Xiuqi was the spy.
Otherwise, why would the jailer say that he was not here? It was obvious that he had completed his mission and was let go.
When they think of this, everyone becomes even more filled with hatred.
Cui Lun, who had had a rift with Wang Zhuo for a long time, finally couldn't help but cursed: "Bah, you surnamed Wang are all white-eyed wolves. First you sent your daughter to the East Palace, and then you turned out to be such a traitor."
"Haha, now you have lost your home and brought us all into trouble. Now you must be happy."
Wang Zhuo said angrily: "What did you say? Our entire Wang family has been arrested, and you still slander us...I, I will fight with you."
After saying that, he rushed up and struggled with him.
If it were in the past, other people would have definitely stepped forward to break up the fight, but now they would either sit back and watch, or try to interfere with the situation and actually do something secretly.
After a while, Wang Zhuo was beaten until his nose was bruised and his face was swollen, unable to stand up.
The jailers watched from a distance and were very happy. Usually these nobles are so arrogant, but they never expected that they would be like this.
…
On the other side, Yang Tianlu took Wang Xiuqi all the way to the southernmost part of Chang'an City.
This place is even more shabby than where civilians live, it is a pure slum.
The road is very bumpy and potholed, there are smelly puddles and garbage piles everywhere, and there are traces of human excrement in every corner.
Pedestrians on the street were also in ragged clothes, walking very fast, and looking around constantly.
I don't know whether I am looking for a target, or trying to avoid danger that may appear at any time, or both.
The appearance of Yang Tianlu's carriage was naturally very eye-catching, but everyone stayed away from it, like a snake or a scorpion.
The people who can come here by carriage are not ordinary people. They don't dare to mess with him, and they even have to pray not to be seen by the other party.
Yang Tianlu had long been accustomed to everything here and directed the carriage to travel all the way to a dilapidated courtyard.
This courtyard is very dilapidated, but its walls are intact. It is one of the best mansions in this slum.
The carriage stopped at the door of the yard, and the coachman came down and knocked on the door. Three long and two short.
The people inside heard the secret signal and opened the door. When they looked out, they saw Yang Tianlu and quickly welcomed them in.
Yang Tianlu said: "Take the person to the backyard, clean him and give him a good meal so that he can recharge his energy."
"Here." Someone came over immediately and took Wang Xiuqi away.
Yang Tianlu himself came to the lobby and saw Chen Jingke who had been waiting here.
"Ma'am, I've already brought you here."
Chen Jingke did not ask Wang Xiuqi directly, but said: "Is this your stronghold?"
Yang Tianlu shook his head and said: "No, this is just my personal peripheral force. Usually they will help me inquire about some information and do some shady things."
Chen Jingke asked again: "Are there many such things?"
This is a secret, but Yang Tianlu did not hide anything and said honestly: "Not many, only Chang'an and Guanzhong areas have them."
"As far as I know, I don't know much about other places. There are only a few more important places here and there."
Chen Jingke nodded. The Tang Dynasty did not have a special spy agency. The bad guys organizations in film and television works were more similar to police officers.
Gather together some local ruffians who are usually difficult to manage and turn them into minions of the court.
On the one hand, it facilitates management and restraint, and on the other hand, it can also contribute to maintaining public order.
The dead soldiers and spies in Li Shimin's hands were actually personal forces that he personally trained to monitor the imperial city and Guanzhong area.
After all, this is his home base, and he must have full control over it, lest anyone imitate him and cause changes in the Xuanwu Sect.
As for outside Guanzhong, it is estimated that a few people will be arranged to monitor the gentry's lair or some important military towns.
If you want to monitor the whole country like Jin Yiwei, the manpower and material resources required are too huge. Even if Li Shimin is the emperor, he cannot support it without using the national treasury.
And if he dares to use the power of the treasury to openly establish a spy organization, what awaits him will be the disunity of his officials.
So what Yang Tianlu said is probably true.
Chen Jingke only asked one more question out of curiosity, and he didn't ask any more questions later. After all, this was the emperor's shady side, so it was better not to know too much about it.
"Let's go, take me to meet those villains you mentioned."
Yang Tianlu said: "Well, please come with me."
After saying that, he took him to the backyard and found an entrance directly to the underground from a room.
As soon as he entered, Chen Jingke felt a chill coming over him, which made him shiver.
Despite the torch lighting, the cellar was still very dark, and it took him a while to get used to it with his eyes closed.
Looking up, I found that this place was a small dungeon, the size of four or five rooms.
He couldn't help but say: "This place is so hidden, even if something big happens, the outside world won't know about it."
Yang Tianlu quickly explained: "This place was built with the help of the people above. Don't worry, I will never use it to do anything illegal."
Chen Jingke said without comment, "Where are the people?"
Yang Tianlu said: "It's inside, you come with me."
The cell is very small, just like a single bed, and each person is detained in it.
Chen Jingke counted them and found there were five in total.
These people just looked at the two of them and did whatever they were supposed to do, seeming to have accepted their fate.
Yang Tianlu introduced: "These people are all famous villains in Chang'an, and every one of them deserves to die."
"When I was first arrested, I was either yelling or crying, but now I have adapted to it."
Chen Jingke looked at their bodies, they were all very strong, and said with satisfaction: "Not bad, you haven't abused them these days, right?"
Yang Tianlu replied: "No, I serve you delicious food and drinks every day, which is better than what they eat outside."
Chen Jingke asked again: "Do you feed them the medicine I gave them every day?"
Yang Tianlu said: "I feed them every day. Now their bodies are stronger than when they were outside."
Chen Jingke was even more satisfied and said, "Okay, wake them up and I'll give them a few words."
Yang Tianlu stepped forward and shouted: "Everyone, get up, I have something to tell you."
These people didn't even bother to look back. One person even said in a strange tone: "Young, noble man? I'm still scared."
Yang Tianlu's face immediately darkened, and he wanted to scold him.
Chen Jingke raised his hand to stop him and said calmly: "I don't need any disobedient dogs. I'll castrate them all and feed them."
small book booth
Those few people were stunned for a moment when they heard this, and then they seemed to realize their situation. They no longer dared to pretend to be the boss. Each one got up more actively than the other and said:
"My lord, if you have any instructions, just give me your instructions."
"Yes, yes, I can do whatever you want."
Chen Jingke said: "Shut up."
The five people all stopped as if a switch had been pressed.
Chen Jingke then said: "The task I give you is very simple. I will send someone down later, a man with thin skin and tender flesh. Take good care of him."
At this point, he asked meaningfully: "Do you know how to serve me?"
Hearing this, the five people looked at each other in confusion at first, and then their eyes turned green, saying: "My lord, you are such a noble man. Where is the man? Send it over quickly. I can't wait any longer."
"Yes, yes, send him over quickly. I will definitely do my best to serve him and ensure that he is satisfied."
Chen Jingke warned: "Remember not to let him die. If he dies, you will all be buried with him."
The five people immediately fell silent, looking at this obviously young noble man as if they were seeing a devil.
Preventing someone from dying is not about protecting life, but rather to make the other person suffer for a longer period of time.
This man is so terrible.
Chen Jingke sneered and said, "Why, you still can't do it even if you don't want to?"
The five people shuddered and said quickly: "If you are willing, we can do it. We guarantee that he will not be able to die but will live."
Chen Jingke snorted coldly and turned around to leave, followed by Yang Tianlu.
When they arrived at the entrance of the cellar, Chen Jingke did not leave. He moved a chair and sat here, saying, "Has Wang Xiuqi eaten and drank? Bring him here."