Chapter 70 On this cold night in late autumn, Xie Ci resolutely joined Feng Kun's camp.

Time goes back to the day when Xie Ci pledged his loyalty to Yuquan Palace.

That night, thick cumulus clouds covered the entire night sky, and the entire imperial city was immersed in the dark night.

Where the lanterns couldn't reach, it was pitch dark.

After the young eunuch who led the way left, Zheng Shoufang reached out and pushed open the door. His face was pale.

These days, people have been constantly handing over internal security affairs to him.

In the hall, Xie Cihe and the emperor suddenly ordered him to leave, which became the last straw that broke the camel's back.

Zheng Shoufang finally felt scared. He had been the head of the internal guards for so many years and he knew the old emperor very well. He began to realize that his death was approaching.

Neither hurried nor slow, as if the calm rhythm would come to an abrupt end the moment he had completely explained all the affairs!

No, he has to save himself!

He immediately tried to send a message to his other master.

——Zheng Shoufang is not a very honest person. For a leader of the inner guards like him, if he wants to remain evergreen, he must have the trust of the future emperor. He knows the emperor's intentions and has been associated with the prince for a long time. Imprisonment is just protection, so he has never cut off contact with the Eastern Palace.

Zheng Shoufang kept some things for himself when he took over.

In the middle of the night, a ball of paper flew out from the window, turned around and landed at the foot of the wall, where it was quickly picked up by someone.

…

What Zheng Shoufang didn't expect was that some people were overjoyed after receiving his letter.

…

So, the day after Xie Ci's birthday celebration, he met an unexpected person.

Just as the Wanshou Festival ended, the report on the investigation of the Jiangnan Grain City case arrived in Zhongdu. At the evening court, a stone stirred up a thousand ripples. Xie Ci Li Yi, who made his debut, immediately uncovered the various malpractices of the Secretariat, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Works, and the Censorate. A series of evidence intensified the conflict between Lin Guozhang and Feng Kun, and he launched a full-scale attack on these two people and their followers!

With the force of thunder, it quickly set off thousands of huge waves.

At this moment, no one knew that the final fierce battle of the Wei Dynasty had begun.

Xie Ci was different from his father Xie Xinzhong. He showed amazing political acumen and offensive power. He and Li Yi supported each other and approached step by step. The questioning in the court made the three censors and officials from the two parties speechless and unable to shirk responsibility. They were then executed by the old emperor outside the Meridian Gate.

After a whole day of bloody and intense fighting in the court, Xie Ci was exhausted both physically and mentally. Then, when he just returned to the government office, he saw someone he never wanted to see again in his life.

Dusk enveloped the earth, the night wind rose from the ground, and the chill of autumn whistled through the hall. There was no light on in Xie Ci's office. As soon as he came in, he keenly noticed that there was someone inside.

The ones who stayed behind in the office were Xie Ping and Xie Qi. Xie Ping stepped forward and whispered something in his ear, and Xie Ci suddenly raised his eyes.

As the night deepened, the setting sun sank into the horizon, and the remaining crimson served as the background, while the vermilion palace walls and the flying eaves of the gabled roofs of the entire government office were all black.

——The Secretariat's Political Affairs Hall is the highest center of government today. The office is located behind the veranda on the left side of the Jinshui Bridge in the outer court. It has a black tile roof and vermilion palace walls. In the center is the main hall where the prime ministers discuss government affairs. The offices of Li Yi and Xie Ci are the two largest halls in the first row on the left, with Li Yi in the south and Xie Ci in the north.

Xie Ci stood in the yard for a moment, then slowly walked in. Xie Ping and Xie Qi looked at each other, then silently retreated to the side. One of them stood guarding the door, while the other quickly walked out of the gate and stared.

Wheels rumbled on the road outside the court, dusk enveloped the earth, and the crimson and darkness intertwined, like a huge, gaping dark hole.

Xie Qi was guarding outside the door, with two palace attendants from the East Palace who had quietly arrived beside him. Xie Qi stood in front and behind them, and he couldn't help but pursed his lips tightly.

Xie Ci walked in step by step. There was no light in the room. A dark blue cloak commonly used by eunuchs had been taken off. A young man wearing the apricot-yellow crown prince's uniform was standing by the window with his hands behind his back.

Xie Ci slowly leaned forward: "Your Highness the Crown Prince."

The young man in front of him had a full forehead, sharp and handsome facial features like a knife blade, and his eyebrows were so similar to Xie Xinzhong and Xie Qi of the past. Crown Prince Li Min was overjoyed and immediately stepped forward to help him up.

"Get up quickly, get up quickly."

Crown Prince Li Min sighed with a look of guilt and self-blame on his face. "Back then, Lord Xie assisted the Crown Prince in his earnest teachings and knelt in the Golden Palace for me. But later..." His face revealed an expression of extreme regret and self-blame, and he even shed tears. "I was forced by that scoundrel, Lin Guozhang, and had no choice but to..."

"I galloped my horse and sent people north to Suzhou, but it's too late! The Eastern Palace has been imprisoned, and who would have thought that the Duke of Loyalty and Bravery's mansion would be stripped of its title and imprisoned! Over the past few years, every time I think about this, I feel heartbroken! I have sent people north many times to look for you, but unfortunately, there is no news!..."

Xie Ci stood there quietly for a moment. He followed the prince's performance and stepped forward to support him. Tears streamed down his face as he spoke in a hoarse voice, "Prince, you are not up to the task. There is no need to blame yourself too much."

So, Crown Prince Li Min quickly stopped crying and blaming himself under Xie Ci's comfort. The fair-skinned young man looked relieved and placed his hand on Xie Ci's shoulder: "Thank you for your success today. Your spirit in heaven must be deeply comforted."

"yes."

Xie Ci smiled faintly. In the dim dusk, his heart was filled with a cold clarity. This Crown Prince was here to secretly recruit him under his command.

Just come here directly, how confident.

Oh.

But it is also true. If the person in front of him was Xie Xinzhong or Xie Xi from the past, or even Xie Ci from three years ago, it is very likely that after the grief, he would resolutely devote himself to serving the prince again.

The men of the Xie family are of strong character and their loyalty is known to the world.

The Crown Prince is the legitimate heir to the throne, the legitimate successor to the imperial court! Now that the Xie family has assisted the Eastern Palace, they will continue to do so without hesitation.

It seems that Crown Prince Li Min knows the Xie family very well.

It's a pity that the person he met was Xie Ci, whose temperament had changed drastically after experiencing all kinds of hardships and darkness.

Li Min in front of him was still sighing with relief, and his words gradually transitioned to gathering Xie Ci again. Xie Ci sneered in his heart, and his brows were already gloomy and cold in the darkness. If Zheng Shoufang was an indirect executioner, then the crown prince in front of him could be said to be one of the most direct culprits of the downfall of the Xie family. He said he had to, had to what?

I had to sacrifice the car to save the driver!

Push his father out and save himself!

This directly led to the downfall of the Xie family. The titles that the Xie men had earned by sacrificing their blood and courage for generations were ruthlessly taken away. Sixteen-year-old males were sentenced to death, and female children were exiled thousands of miles away.

His father was beheaded because he tried to protect him.

Haha, actually wanting to recapture him is just a daydream!

But Xie Ci said nothing. After Crown Prince Li Min's passionate speech, he coldly and silently curled the corners of his lips, leaned over, and knelt on one knee silently.

He heard himself say, "Thank you. I am willing to follow the aspirations of my father and brothers. From now on, I will obey the orders of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

The dusk was dim, hiding his gloomy expression.

Crown Prince Li Min laughed heartily and immediately helped him up and thanked him, "Good, good, very good!"

After the Crown Prince left, Xie Ci was busy until late at night. Before leaving, he stood outside the office door and chuckled coldly.

…

It is already deep in autumn, and the window screens have been replaced with thicker ones. Although the light transmittance is not as good as before, it can still enclose the warmth in the room.

Gu Guan was quite satisfied.

Xie Ci was extremely busy today. She was in charge of the internal affairs for him. In the past few days, there were constant letters from Shuofang Qin Xian. She dealt with the ones she could handle first, and put aside the ones she didn't quite understand, and would reply after Xie Ci came back and asked him.

She handled these matters in Xie Ci's large study.

It is worth mentioning that the first thing Chen Yan did after arriving was to kneel down and ask Xie Ci to move into the large study in the middle road.

The core area of the entire former Duke Zhongyong's Mansion, and the large study of Xie Ci's father, the Northern Commander Xie Xinzhong.

Now Xie Ci has inherited Xie Xinzhong's mantle and become the core soul of the entire Xie family and the head of the Xie family.

Chen Yan burst into tears when he spoke of this, but Xie Xinzhong and his two sons had indeed become a thing of the past, and Xie Ci was in charge of everything.

That evening after the family dinner, Xie Ci responded in a mute voice and then moved over.

Gu Wan also benefited a little from this, as she handled these matters in that solemn and dignified large study.

She was so scared that she didn't dare to slack off. She sat upright and handled everything seriously.

Apart from that, I had to prepare to enter the palace.

Others entered the palace with a palace fighting script in hand, ready to kill everyone with their fingers raised, but she entered the palace ready to run away at any time.

She found it funny and hummed a song while preparing the things she would take to the palace. She never expected that the very thin and tough silver earring would come in handy again one day. She carefully stuffed it into the thousand-layer sole of her embroidered shoes.

"Pour the powder in the white bottle into the earrings. Be careful not to inhale it, it's poisonous."

Xie Ci sat at the round table in her boudoir, opened the hollowed-out pearl, and used a medicine scoop to stuff the yellow-white powder inside little by little to fill it up.

This medicinal powder was made by Gu Guanzhi after consulting their doctor. It was made by adding datura powder and other poisonous drugs, as well as several other ingredients.

Gu Guan stuffed several silver axe, copper wire and other things into the soles of his shoes, waist belt, and wooden hairpin, so that if he needed to change some clothes, he would have something to use.

"Well, it seems that Feng Kun is more skilled."

Now that the methods of all parties have become clearer, Feng Kun can be said to have used both kindness and force.

Gu Wan already knew what happened to the Crown Prince last night. She complained, "Why didn't he tell the Crown Prince?"

Talking about the old emperor.

Xie Ci said indifferently: "It's not that serious." He is just a prince, no one is important enough to the imperial power and the throne.

The old emperor's preference for the crown prince was simply because he disliked the third and fourth princes, but the former was not irreplaceable. Once the younger princes grew up, that would be another matter. Even at the moment of the old emperor's death, no one could dare to tamper with the imperial power.

"So, it's not entirely surprising that Crown Prince Li Min has rebellious intentions."

Gu Wan tutted his words: "It's a pity that the quality of these princes is just like that."

Compared with the old emperor, he is far behind. Although the old emperor is that thing, he has truly fought his way to where he is today.

Crown Prince Li Min was fine before, but ever since he suffered a setback and was imprisoned, it seems that he can no longer maintain his benevolence and virtue. Let’s not talk about the third prince, I wonder if the fourth prince will be any better?

Recalling what she saw at the palace banquet, she estimated that the Fourth Prince might be slightly better.

I don't know if he can do it, but he looks young and honest.

Gu Guan chatted while working, and stuffed the things into every corner neatly, but Xie Ci didn't say a word the whole time. Gu Guan stood up and took two pocket clothes - these were made by Xu and Qin Ying overnight, and they were still rushing to finish them. The shoes, socks and clothes for Gu Guan were inlaid with some very normal and inconspicuous silver chain beads. The beads were made by Xie Jiawei overnight, and they were all concealed and hollowed out, so they could be filled with things like earrings.

This bellyband, well, it covers a certain part of the underwear. Normally, when Xie Ci saw it, his cheeks would have flushed with embarrassment, unable to even speak. But today, Gu Wan took the two bellybands and filled them with beads, pressing them in. Xie Ci finished the earrings and then helped her add the powder and the auxiliary materials to knead them firmly, but he didn't say a word, his attention completely unconcerned with the two small garments.

Gu Guan threw the things aside and used both hands to pull his face over. The two of them were very close. Xie Ci forced a smile. Gu Guan shook his face: "Xie Ci, thank you, don't be like this. Haven't we already discussed this? I'll just go in for a walk and come back out. Feng Kun is a man who never fights a battle without confidence!"

This is the truth. Gu Wan had spent a lot of time to comfort him yesterday, and he agreed to it, but when the time came, he found that it was not the case.

"Xie Ci, you promised me not to let your emotions affect your thinking and judgment."

Gu Wan pinched his cheeks and pulled them twice. She said playfully, "It feels like a long time since we last met. Who knows, maybe this is a good thing!"

Maybe you'll find the feeling.

When I got closer, I found that Xie Ci's upper body muscles were getting tighter and tighter, and his vigorous male hormones were very obvious, which could not be concealed by the thin autumn clothes.

Gu Guan blinked, looked away, and smiled at him.

Xie Ci also forced a smile. He stretched out his arms and hugged Gu Wan in his arms. It was not very close, but his strength was tremendous.

He said hoarsely: "Wait for me, I'll come pick you up when I get back!"

…

The sky was gloomy, dark clouds gathered, and a cold wind whistled through the empty palace square, making people's faces cold and their clothes fluttering.

Xie Ci personally escorted Gu Wan into the palace.

Li Yi too.

He personally went to the small village of Anping in the northern suburbs of Gu County and brought back his eldest daughter, who was only a little over one year old. Two days later, he had to personally send her and Princess Yu Manzhen to the palace.

Lu Haide came in person to pick them up. When Xie Ci and Gu Wan arrived, Yu Manzhen and her daughter had just entered the car. Gu Wan got out of the car, turned around and waved to him. The group walked farther and farther away, and finally disappeared at the end of the vermilion palace walls and the white marble floor.

In the vast and empty Jinshui Bridge Square, the golden-nailed and red-painted Suzaku Palace Gate slowly closed before my eyes.

The dark clouds rolled in, getting lower and lower, as if they would cover the towering palace with red walls and golden tiles in the next moment.

Xie Ci and Li Yi stood at the palace gate for a long time, clenching their fists.

The moment he turned around, a cold wind whistled past him. For the first time, Li Yi lost his grace and elegance. He said in a sinister tone, "If we follow him, there will be no good end for us!"

This is something we have recognized more clearly than ever before.

The resentment almost burst through my veins.

Xie Ci's face was as gloomy as the dark clouds behind him. In just a moment, his eyes were already bloodshot and he jumped onto his horse.

The silver-tempered parts of the bridle collided with each other, and for the first time he felt an unprecedented harsh sound!

…

Unexpectedly, this is not the end.

The power struggles and hatred in the court, the flashing of swords and the bloodshed everywhere, the crises and conflicts are never inferior to the real battlefield!

Xie Xinzhong and his son were defeated. They were defeated in the tedious and bloody power struggles, and they were also defeated by their own principles.

Xie Ci must not lose again!

…

Xie Ci and Li Yi were very capable. The left and right troops of the Beijing Camp and the rear guard troops that the old emperor appointed them to command all had owners, either belonging to Lin Guozhang or had already defected to Feng Kun.

After weighing various pros and cons, Xie Ci managed to insert Qin Guan, Chen Luo, Chen Lang, Su Wei and others who were transferred back to Beijing. Now Qin Guan and the others were united as one, and when Xie Ci took the opportunity to attack them repeatedly, they found the right opportunity to fight their way out and have gained a firm foothold.

Therefore, Crown Prince Li Min, who had accepted Xie Ci again, gained confidence, and with a crisis thorn in his back, an idea was almost out of control.

When Xie Ci returned home late at night, Feng Kun was already waiting for him.

This powerful eunuch, dressed in a scarlet robe with a gilded kirin pattern and a black cape, had a pair of brilliant phoenix eyes beneath a golden winged crown, piercing to the extreme. A draft whistled through the hallway, shrouding Feng Kun and Xie Ci in darkness. He leaned forward, the rich, intense aroma of black water agarwood permeating all five senses. Feng Kun curled his lips, "Not only can I help you avenge yourself, I can also help you recover the remains of your father and brother!"

Xie Ci turned around abruptly, and his pair of cold black eyes suddenly became disturbed!

Their faces were very close, and Feng Kun nodded: "Your wife, your father and brother, as long as you are willing, I can help you."

Every word is like the sinful poppy flower, full of fatal temptation and attraction.

…

After leaving the Duke of Loyalty and Bravery's Mansion, as soon as I came out of the tunnel, the biting autumn wind whistled past, crackling, and the cold rain of late autumn finally came.

However, Feng Kun's expression was unprecedentedly calm and relaxed. He said in a hoarse voice, "Pass the order down and proceed according to the original plan immediately."

"Send word to Kou Chong that you can start inciting the Crown Prince!"

Huang Xin immediately accepted the order: "Yes!"

The exciting voices quickly spread in several directions. Feng Kun stepped into the rain in her black satin soap boots, splashing countless water.

This cold rain in late autumn was torrential, and the vortex of the entire capital city surged more violently than ever before in the cold wind and rain.

…

The sound of rain was incessant and the temperature dropped sharply.

Just when he was in the deepest sleep in the second half of the night, the sound of hurried footsteps broke the tranquility of Lin Guozhang's mansion.

The lights were quickly lit, and Lin Guozhang, who had been ill for a long time, sat up in shock, his small eyes suddenly shining brightly.

"Quick! Call everyone here and pass the order down to fully cooperate with Feng Kun!"

…

The leaders of the two parties are two mortal enemies who are fighting to the death and can't wait to kill each other, but at this moment they have an unprecedented tacit understanding.

Without any prior notice or cooperation agreement, they mobilized all their overt and covert schemes on the same day and made every effort to instigate and facilitate the Crown Prince Li Min's forced abdication and usurpation of the throne.

Xie Ci quickly got the task assigned to him.

He was angry and funny, laughing.

This crown prince is so ridiculous!

However, he soon stopped laughing.

The heavy rain and drizzling autumn rain lasted intermittently for half a month. At night on September 22, it poured down again like the first time.

Amid the sound of heavy rain, Xie Ci got into his carriage and entered the palace to report to the old emperor the latest developments of the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace's rebellion.

As early as the first day the Crown Prince came to see him, he had pondered over and discussed with Mr. Gu Wanfang and others before reporting to the Emperor.

Ten days ago, there was new progress every day.

However, the old emperor must have his own sources of information and is also well aware of it.

In the huge Yuquan Palace, more than half of the lights on the branch-shaped lamps were extinguished, and the lights on both sides of the jade steps were not lit, leaving the hall half dark and half bright.

Amidst the roaring rain, the old emperor's murderous intent was evident: "This damned rebellious son!"

With a "bang", a golden teacup with dragon pattern was thrown to the ground and shattered into pieces, and the incense burner, inkstone, brush, ink wash, memorials and other items were swept to the ground.

After the emperor's rage, the Yuquan Palace, which had been as chaotic as a hurricane, finally quieted down again. The old emperor raised his eyes, and his gloomy gaze, as sharp as an eagle, fell on Xie Ci, who had remained silent.

The tall, imposing figure in black armor, this youngest of the dynasty's new powerful officials, whose skills were no less than those of Feng Kun and Lin Guofu, the emperor said calmly, "Leave the matters of criticism to Li Yi first. The case of the Crown Prince's treason will be handled by you immediately! The main culprit must be eliminated, and those who followed in the rebellion must be apprehended!"

"As for the civil and military officials who followed the rebellion, I will let Xue Rongan and Liao Kai accompany you, and they will gather them together!"

The emperor's voice was old and deep, and it entered Xie Ci's ears in an instant, but it was as sinister as a poisonous snake!

Xie Ci suddenly felt a chill on his spine, which instantly permeated his entire body, freezing even his limbs and blood.

——The old emperor wants to cut off the root of the refusal.

Chen Yan traveled thousands of miles to come to Zhongdu, even at the risk of being caught and attacked. Why?

It’s all for the old forces of the Xie family.

During this period, he has made every effort to gather the people together and has already recovered 60 to 70 percent of them.

These people did not believe that Xie Xinzhong was collaborating with the enemy. Unless there was a special situation like the Northland where the interests of everyone were violated, the loyalty of his followers was very high. Even in the Northland, there were people like Qin Xian and Zhao Heng who held on to the end.

Xie Ci's starting point is actually higher than Li Yi's. Even ordinary officials in the court who have to belong to the party naturally have a higher degree of favorability towards Xie Ci.

Even among the royalists, many people in the old emperor's close confidants were like this.

For example, the old Grand Tutor Wen Zhongqing, the cabinet ministers Wu Boyi and Zhang Yuanrang, the Shangshu Shang Rong and Du Jingzong, all expressed some nostalgia and joy because their speeches were invited by the old emperor.

As the son of Xie Xinzhong, he inherited his father's business and naturally stood at the top, even though he was so young.

Does the old emperor know?

Of course he knows.

So we must cut off Xie Ci's wings and hold him firmly in our grasp!

The incident with the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace made him extremely angry, but it also happened at the right time, otherwise the old emperor would have taken other measures after Xie Ci gained his footing.

——The Eastern Palace is the legitimate heir to the throne. Just like Xie Xinzhong in the past, the Crown Prince is also another core of the royalists’ beliefs and efforts to protect.

Xie Ci pretended to defect to the Eastern Palace, instigated the Crown Prince to rebel and usurp the throne, and then reported to the emperor. He personally captured Li Min and led people to wipe out the Eastern Palace's faction, which made him a target of public criticism.

The old emperor is going to cut off the root of the resignation!

We must truly turn it into a knife that can be held in the hand!

At this moment, Xie Ci was extremely angry. His hands under the black armor sleeves suddenly clenched into fists, and veins bulged.

"Your Majesty, I obey your order!"

The old emperor's eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, and they fell on Xie Ci's face. Xie Ci knelt on one knee without hesitation and accepted the order.

After quickly walking out of Yuquan Palace, I stood on the high white marble platform. The heavy rain turned into a white smoke in the dark night.

On a cold night in late autumn, rain splashed on him, and Xie Ci's resentment towards the emperor and the royal family reached its peak at this moment!

He raised his eyes, his deep, cold black pupils staring at the rainstorm, but his mind was coldly clear.

He rode back to the mansion in the heavy rain, stretched out his arms to express his gratitude, took off his wet black armor, wiped his hands, and without hesitation, picked up the pen to write a letter.

"Take the underground tunnel and give it to Feng Kun!"

On this cold night in late autumn, Xie Ci resolutely joined Feng Kun's camp.

…

Less than half an hour later, the letter arrived in Feng Kun's hands.

The sound of rain was pouring down in the huge study.

After reading the letter, Feng Kun burst into laughter: "Great, very good! I've been waiting for this day for twenty years!"

It has been more than ten years since he started to work hard at the bottom of the palace and finally he has waited for the day of revenge!

Let's start with the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace. He will eventually drag down this most noble person in the world who treats everyone like ants and kill him! Let him die in the most embarrassing way!

Feng Kun's eyes were stern.

After his laughter died down, he said, "Send a message to Xie Ci, asking him to make preparations and help him bring his wife, Gu, out immediately."

The message was on the desk. Feng Kun's eyes fell on it and he said calmly, "All attempts at coercion and coercion are not as good as enticing someone with their true heart."

Unfortunately, the old emperor will never understand this truth.

The author has something to say:

Hey, this is the necessary process of tempering. I'll pick someone up tomorrow, and something exciting will happen. Hehe (fly rubbing hands.jpg)

Haha, Ah Xiu is here! Today is the launch of the manuscript box, and Ah Xiu will come to catch it later~

Love you guys!! See you tomorrow~ (づ￣3￣)づ╭