Chapter 67 Planning

The next day, at three quarters past five in the morning, just as the sky was getting light, the Golden Palace was filled with court officials.

A group of people headed by Yuan Zhang gathered together and whispered, discussing indignation what happened in the harem yesterday.

Wei Chengdongfang had just returned to Beijing. After hearing the news, he looked at Wei Hemian.

Wei Hemian explained yesterday's events in a rather lengthy manner, adding, "Huang's father is a captain of a thousand households, under the jurisdiction of Yuan Zhang. I heard that the Huang and Yuan families are cousins, so I'm afraid Yuan Zhang is going to use this as an excuse to cause trouble."

Recently, His Majesty has been in high spirits every time he attends court. Yuan Zhang naturally knows that he has been cured of the poison, but the poison has been cured, and it is useless for him to be unwilling.

Yuan Zhang was a minister who was highly valued by the previous emperor. He had disciples all over the world. It was easy to kill him, but how to deal with his power was a difficult problem.

Choosing Huang Baolin was just a deception. From time to time, Huang Baolin would reveal some true and false news to lower the guard of Yuan Zhang and others.

But if we continue to use Huang Baolin, the matter of Yu Zhaorong will become difficult to handle.

Just when he was frowning, He Yanchen came out.

The eunuch's shrill voice echoed throughout the Golden Throne Hall: "If you have something to say, please report it. If not, please withdraw the court—"

Captain Huang was the first to step forward and said, "Your Majesty, please help Huang Baolin. Huang Baolin has been well-behaved since entering the palace, but now he has been murdered. Your Majesty, please look into this matter!"

Before He Yanchen could say anything, Wei Hemian said, "Captain Huang, yesterday's incident has already been investigated. What are you going to do now?"

Captain Huang sneered, "Find out? How could two eunuchs mix up the food and medicine for no reason? This is too absurd."

He Yanchen looked at him nonchalantly, "Are you saying, Mr. Huang, that I am being partial and perverting the law?"

"I dare not. I am only worried about my daughter. I beg Your Majesty to find out who is behind this."

He Yanchen said calmly, "If Mr. Huang is worried about his daughter, please go to the purification room after the court session. I will remember your deep love for your father and daughter and let you serve Huang Baolin."

Captain Huang was stunned and couldn't say a word for a long time.

Yuan Zhang took a deep breath. His Majesty never spoke according to the rules, which made him not know how to refute for a while.

After the court session, Wei Hemian was called to the imperial study.

"Captain Huang can't be kept here. Find a way to get rid of him."

Wei Hemian had just stood still when he heard He Yanchen say this. He coughed twice and said, "Captain Huang has been very cautious in his actions over the years. I haven't found any mistakes on his part."

He Yanchen glanced at him sideways and said, "If there are no flaws, then create some for him. I just want him to die."

Wei Hemian understood.

"Yes, I will do it right away."

"But..." He hesitated again, "The Huang family has taken refuge with Yuan Zhang, and I'm afraid of alerting them."

He Yanchen chuckled and said, "Do you think Yuan Zhang truly believes in the virtuous king?"

Wei Hemian frowned: "He has been in private contact with the virtuous king for so many years, is it possible that he wants to turn against him at the last minute?"

"Yuan Zhang is a smart man. The military power in the court is currently in the hands of the Wei and Lin families. The virtuous king's elite troops don't stand much chance of victory. He probably wants to sit back and watch the fight, submitting to whoever has a chance of victory."

Wei Hemian sneered, "He has a good plan, but if Yuan Zhang really pretends to stand behind Your Majesty when the virtuous prince plots rebellion, wouldn't we have no reason to punish him?"

He Yanchen twirled the ring in his hand, his expression expressionless: "Zihui is too honest."

"It's normal for a few people to die in the chaos. Who would care how they died?"

*

At night, in a house outside Beijing.

Yuan Zhang went through many twists and turns and entered the back door. Just as he stood still, a dagger was pressed against his neck.

"It's me."

Hearing the sound, the man put down the knife.

Yuan Zhang lit a candle, which reflected the man's slightly embarrassed face.

The wise king threw away the dagger, lifted up his robe and sat on the stone bench. There was a long scar on his face, which was barely scabbed. It was obvious that it was left not long ago.

There is some resemblance between his eyebrows and eyes and He Yanchen's, but there is a bit more gloom and darkness in his eyes.

"Your Highness is too foolish. Even if you are escorted back to the capital, His Majesty cannot do anything to you without reason. But if you flee privately, it will be a serious crime."

How could the wise king not know this truth, but he could not bear it.

When they were young, he was the only one who bullied He Yanchen. He had never been as miserable as he is now.

He had wanted to go back to the West Sea for the time being, but he was chased along the way and had to hide from place to place. He was almost dead. When he returned, he found that the place where he had hidden his troops had been discovered long ago. He suffered heavy losses.

"Prime Minister Yuan, I'm not here to listen to your scolding."

Yuan Zhang was not convinced by the virtuous king in his heart. If the late emperor had not valued the virtuous king before and He Yanchen had not been interested in government affairs in the past few years, he would not have been tied to the virtuous king. Now that He Yanchen did not truly trust him, he could only bite the bullet and move on.

"I've made up my mind. Now that He Yanchen's poison has been cured, I'm going to take this opportunity to rebel against him!"

"No!" Yuan Zhang had a headache. "Right now, the Wei family only follows your Majesty's orders, and the Lin family is also neutral. We have no chance of winning."

The virtuous king ignored him and said, "I also have 50,000 elite soldiers left by my father. He Yanchen has tortured me to death! Only by attacking him while he has just recovered from a serious illness and is not yet on guard can we have a chance of victory. Otherwise, when he recovers, what's the point of fighting him?"

Yuan Zhang knew that what he said made sense. The Lin family's troops were far away at the border. In addition to the imperial guards and the Wei family in the capital, he also had troops under his command. If they fought a desperate battle, they would not necessarily be defeated.

But why should he gamble his own soldiers and the wise king on this?

He just wants to reap the benefits and doesn't want to take any risks.

"Wait a little longer..."

"What are you waiting for?" The virtuous king sneered. "It's too late for Prime Minister Yuan to regret it. If you don't help me, He Yanchen will settle accounts with you next."