When Song Ci, Nan Jiyun and others hurriedly arrived at the Yangxin Hall, it was already late at night.
Song Ci looked anxious and said in a deep voice:
"Your Majesty, Emperor Rouning is missing!"
When Xiao Cheng heard this, he nodded, indicating that he already understood.
Nan Jiyun on the side, Guo Jie's face showed bitterness, and they all fell to their knees with a pop, kowtowed and said in a trembling voice:
"I am waiting for death!"
Xiao Cheng looked at Nan Jiyun and Guo Xie who were kneeling on the ground to plead guilty, and frowned:
"I have arranged so many manpower, why did something happen to Emperor Rouning again?"
Previously, it was Nan Jiyun who led the Imperial Army to be responsible for the escort. Emperor Rouning, also known as Bian Liuyun, was poisoned. It can also be said that it was because she did not expect someone from the Xia Kingdom's mission to take action.
But now, the Forbidden Army, Sticky Rod Department, and Dongchang have mobilized so many manpower to take charge, but something still happened. This time, Xiao Chengruo still managed to pass it off lightly, which was a bit unjustifiable!
When Nan Jiyun heard this, his face showed a look of shame, anger, guilt and self-blame, he lowered his head and said:
"My incompetence has led to my negligence. Your Majesty, please punish me!"
Xiao Cheng frowned and said in a deep voice:
"It's not time to punish the crime yet. I ask you, what happened?"
Xiao Cheng had met Bian Liuyun before. Judging from her appearance, she should have run out on her own.
Even though Bian Liuyun's cultivation is considered to be a master, and her martial arts and classics are also quite admirable, how on earth can she get from the Forbidden Army, Niangan Department, Dongchang and King Qi by herself?
Sneaked away from underneath?
Guo Xie on the side heard this and quickly replied:
"Back to Your Majesty, Emperor Rouning has been gradually recovering recently. It coincides with the Lantern Festival Festival, so she insisted on coming to play. The minister refused, but King Keqi also helped to speak. Emperor Ji has a special status, and the Xia Kingdom's envoy is
The envoys and ministers of other countries really had no excuse to refuse, so they had no choice but to escort the emperor to the city."
Nan Jiyun answered and gritted his teeth and said:
"There were too many people in the city, and there were some riots at the right time, causing the crowd to be chaotic and disorderly. I was temporarily unaware, and when I reacted again, the Emperor Ji had disappeared... I have repeatedly neglected my duty and betrayed His Majesty's trust. I deserve death.
, please forgive me!"
When Xiao Cheng heard this, he narrowed his eyes slightly, looked solemn, and scolded:
"If you want to be punished, you must first investigate the matter for me! Otherwise, everyone will mess up the job, then just slap their butts and leave, leaving me with a mess?"
When Nan Jiyun heard this, his face flushed even more, showing his shame.
Song Ci, who was standing aside, heard this and suddenly said:
"General Nan, did you just say there was a riot?"
When Guo Xie heard this, he quickly said:
"We went to investigate after the stick-sticking incident. The people just had some quarrels because the crowd was too crowded. After a little mediation by the patrol camp, the matter was settled."
It was this sudden commotion that caught Nan Jiyun and Guo Xie's people off guard, resulting in the disappearance of Emperor Rou Ning. This was too much of a coincidence for Song Ci to doubt it.
Just because he had no evidence to prove that this riot was instigated by some people, and the sticky pole had also been investigated, Song Ci couldn't say anything.
When Xiao Cheng heard this, he snorted coldly and said:
"You are not good at this matter at the stick-sticking department. What can you find out from the investigation? Feng Bao, let you go to the Dongchang to investigate again!"
Ever since Xiao Cheng split up the Niangan Department and Dongchang, Guo Xie's Niangan Department has focused more on assassinations and lurking. All the talents who were originally responsible for investigating and gathering intelligence were transferred to Dongchang.
A group of stick guards who only know how to kill people were asked to investigate this matter, but the results they gave were not very reliable.
And if it's too much of a coincidence, it's not worth believing.
Behind this incident, there is most likely someone behind the scenes. The suspicion of King Qi is very high, and it is almost him!
Feng Bao on the side heard this and quickly responded and took over the job.
Song Ci spoke again at this time:
"Your Majesty, there is no curfew tonight because of the Lantern Festival. In order to find the whereabouts of Emperor Ji as soon as possible, we must order the four gates in the city to be sealed to prevent the thieves from escaping. At the same time, we must ask for an explanation from the Xia Kingdom envoy!"
The deep meaning in Song Ci's words was not just that he wanted to send people to find Bian Liuyun's whereabouts as soon as possible.
The most important thing is to ask Xiao Cheng to show off his cards to King Qi immediately and ask him to hand over the real Princess of Xia Kingdom, so as to prevent the person with the identity of "Emperor Rouning" from falling into the hands of malicious people.
When Xiao Cheng heard this, he shook his head slightly and said:
"Don't worry, Emperor Rouning has been found!"
As soon as these words came out, everyone in the hall was stunned.
Hai Rui frowned and said loudly:
"Found it?"
Xiao Cheng looked unmoved and pretended to be indifferent:
"After I received your memorial, although I could not summon her due to state affairs, I immediately arranged for people to search for the whereabouts of the emperor, and soon I found the emperor Rouning."
Xiao Cheng only found out after Chu Li informed him after he returned to the palace.
Because the three of them did not have the authority to mobilize the army to seal the four gates at that time, and there was really nothing they could do, Song Ci led Hai Rui and Yan Song to wait in front of the palace gate for most of the night.
He left the palace for serious business, but he was not in a hurry to come back and wandered around outside twice. This made Hai Rui know, so why not? Xiao Cheng was a little annoyed by Zhang Zhao's previous remarks, let alone this
Hai Rui is a famous troll in history.
When Hai Rui heard this, his expression had been a little ugly since he entered the palace. Then he got a little better. He bowed slightly to Xiao Cheng and said in a deep voice:
"I have behaved disrespectfully before you, Your Majesty, please forgive me!"
Xiao Cheng waved his hand casually, indicating that he didn't care.
Song Ci was silent for a moment, took half a step forward again, bowed and said:
"Your Majesty, there is something fishy about this matter. Can you allow me to meet with Emperor Rouning and ask her why?"
In fact, the truth of the case involving Emperor Rou Ning has gradually become clear.
Among the three forces that attacked the Xia Kingdom's envoy, one was King Qi's men, and the target of the assassination was the fake Emperor Rouning.
Its purpose should be to make the world think that the fourteenth princess of Xia Kingdom, Rouning Emperor Ji Yu Yingyao, is dead, so that his biological sister does not need to enter the harem of Yun Kingdom.
The second force is most likely from the Li Dynasty. According to ordinary people's thinking, it should be to assassinate Emperor Rouning and destroy the peace between Yun and Xia.
But Song Ci still felt a little suspicious about this.
Peace between Yun and Xia is the general trend. The Li Dynasty should not be so naive as to think that killing a woman can prevent the peace talks between the two countries.
As for the third party force, their target is the maid in the mission who is suspected to be the real Princess Yu Yingyao of Xia Kingdom. Song Ci is the most unsure about this force.
However, Yan Song's previous words reminded him that this last force was most likely involved in this matter because many princes were competing for the throne in the Xia Kingdom.
But most of these things were just Song Ci's guesses and needed further investigation, so he made a request to meet Bian Liuyun.
Xiao Cheng heard the words, pondered for a moment, nodded and said:
"Yes, it's just that Emperor Rouning is still recovering from some injuries. Later, I will arrange for you to visit her!"
When Song Ci heard this, he immediately bowed and stepped back slightly.
Xiao Cheng turned to look at Nan Jiyun and said in a deep voice:
"Nan Jiyun! The previous incident of Emperor Ji's poisoning was not your fault, so I won't hold you accountable now. I allow you to take merit and find out the matter!"
When Nan Jiyun heard this, his heart became ruthless, his face was determined, and he gritted his teeth and said:
"If things go wrong, I would like to come and see you!"
Xiao Cheng nodded slightly, waved his hand and everyone left.
But at this moment, there was a flash of light above the skill panel of the Golden Finger Emperor Card and the skill of King Qi Wei [Strong Efforts to Govern].
【……
Work hard to govern - 1. When this card is equipped, reading and practicing martial arts will increase the random value. Reading and practicing martial arts late at night will double the value: 2. Summoning courtiers has a certain chance of increasing people's support: summoning beauties has a certain chance of increasing various attributes.
(The probability is related to the character of the minister and the beauty.)】
On the golden finger, a line of fonts immediately appeared.
[The effect of "working hard to govern" is triggered, public support +2]
When Xiao Cheng saw this, he was slightly startled.
Having said that, where do you look at this public support value?
If it hadn't suddenly popped up today, Xiao Cheng would have forgotten that this setting existed...
-----------------------
When a group of disciples from hundreds of schools returned to Jixia Academy from the city in small groups, it was already late at night.
Perhaps because of the Lantern Festival today, even the Confucian and French disciples, who used to fight each other whenever they saw each other, have also calmed down a little. They only snorted lightly when they met each other, which was quite restrained.
.
But at this time, Wu Zixu, who was following a group of peasant disciples, paused, turned around, and looked deeply at Zhongqing City, which was brightly lit and immersed in the joy of the festival.
Take a look.
The more joyful this day of family reunion was, the more hatred in Wu Zixu's heart became unforgettable and unforgettable.
If it weren't for the rebellion in the southwest of the Xia Kingdom that destroyed his family, how could his whole family be destroyed?
You must, you must climb to a high position by any means necessary, and use the power of the Yun Kingdom to take revenge on King Qi and the Xia Kingdom!!!
Xu Heng, who was standing beside him, felt Wu Zixu's violent and ferocious aura. He frowned slightly and said:
"Brother Wu?"
Wu Zixu came back to his senses, turned to look at Xu Heng, slightly restrained the murderous intention in his heart, nodded in agreement:
"Um."
Xu Heng opened his mouth to predict for a while, then finally sighed and said:
"It's Xu Heng who is not thinking carefully..."
He didn't ask much about Wu Zixu's past and what he was carrying, but based on their previous encounters and their interactions at Jixia Academy during this period, he could make some guesses.
So at this time, Xu Heng naturally didn't know how to feel relieved.
During the Lantern Festival, he insisted on taking him to Zhongqing City to relax, just to distract Wu Zixu's attention, but he seemed to have done the wrong thing with good intentions. After Wu Zixu saw the people in the city reunited and celebrated the festival, he was touched by the scene and felt sad in his heart.
The hatred became deeper and deeper.
Wu Zixu heard Xu Heng sigh, moved his lips, shook his head and said:
"This matter has nothing to do with you, so why take it all on yourself?"
Although the tone was harsh, to Wu Zixu, it was already considered soft.
After getting along with Xu Heng, Wu Zixu felt that Xu Heng's temperament and temperament were enough to make him a close friend, so he truly regarded him as a friend.
Otherwise, if someone else had insisted on taking Wu Zixu out, he would have used it as an excuse to have an attack and take this opportunity to make a name for himself!
Xu Heng wanted to persuade him a few more words, but seeing Wu Zixu's expression of being unable to explain, he sighed softly and said no more.
At this time, when several people were passing by the gate of the Self-Study Palace, a Yun State official in charge of the Academy suddenly stopped them and said:
"Um, is Wu Zixu here?"
When Wu Zixu heard someone calling him to stop him, he frowned and turned to look over.
When the official of Yun State saw Wu Zixu turning around, he looked him up and down, and then he said:
"Are you Wu Zixu?"
"Yes!" Wu Zixu said solemnly.
"I changed my clothes, but I didn't recognize it... Well, someone left a letter for you." The Yun State official said while handing over a thick letter.
When Wu Zixu heard this, he frowned immediately.
He was in Yun State, but no one would send him letters.
He hesitated for a moment, stretched out his hand to take it, and squeezed it slightly in his hand.
There wasn't much information left on the thick envelope. There didn't seem to be much paper in the envelope, just a hard object.
Without saying a word, Wu Zixu opened the envelope and poured out a token and a piece of letter paper.
On the letter paper, only the address and time were written, and nothing else.
Wu Zixu's eyes flashed, and he immediately looked at the red-gold token with the auspicious clouds and beasts engraved on it. He held it up to the Yun State official who had sent the message and asked:
"May I ask, what kind of token is this?"
The officials of the Yun Kingdom were also stunned for a moment, took a closer look, and then suddenly opened their eyes wide with a look of horror on their faces.
"This, this, this is the palace token! It was not uncommon before, it was worn by the palace attendants when they were out on business. But now, those who wear this badge are all people from Dongjishi Factory..."
The official's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately looked at Wu Zixu and asked cautiously:
"May I ask, who left it for you?"
When Wu Zixu heard this, his heart suddenly changed, and his eyes suddenly shone with incomparable light.
Dongchang’s token?
Although the name of Dongchang is not as loud as that of Shang Yu's backup office, that is, the sticky pole, it is still an institution established by His Majesty today, and is fully staffed by his trusted eunuchs.
It is said that there are Dongchang spies everywhere in the entire Yun Kingdom, monitoring the words and deeds of all officials in the Yun Kingdom, and their level of intimidation is no more than that of Sticky Rod!
Thinking of this, Wu Zixu was suddenly stunned and frowned slightly.
But why did Dongchang come to find me?
Although Wu Zixu believed that he was outstanding in talent and learning, he would definitely be able to make a name for himself in the Yun Kingdom. But after all, he had not been in Jixia Academy for a long time, and he had not even had time to make a big name. How did Dongchang find his own?
After pondering for a moment, Wu Zixu was suddenly startled.
Is it true that as in the rumors, Dongchang's intelligence capabilities are unparalleled in the world, and there is nothing above the Yun Kingdom that can hide their affairs? Has his origins been revealed at this time?
Unless this is the case, there is no way to explain why Dongchang would find me who has not yet shown his talents and reputation.
For a moment, Wu Zixu felt extremely fearful of the Yun Kingdom's intelligence agency.