The news that Zhao Muyun was ambushed by unknown bandits and fell off a cliff into a rapids spread to the capital and the Tianzi Mountain Villa at the fastest speed.
East Palace.
"Fell into the river? Hahaha! Good! Good! No remains left? Even better!"
Crown Prince Yinzhao was overjoyed when he received the secret information from his confidant. He paced back and forth in the study, almost dancing with joy.
"Zhao Muyun, Zhao Muyun, I wanted you to be the groom and live happily with Princess Qinghe, but you found out things you shouldn't know. I can't keep you here anymore!"
"Let our people withdraw immediately and erase all traces!"
"Tell the public that they were robbed and murdered by bandits, and that Zhao Muyun unfortunately fell into the river and died for his country!"
"Quick! Draft an order... No, wait a minute, wait for the 'corpse'... wait for confirmed news..."
Although he was excited, he was suspicious by nature and still wanted to confirm it again.
......
Tianzi Mountain Villa.
Emperor Yongchang was being fed medicine by the imperial physicians when he heard the eunuch's panicked report. He sat up suddenly, then fell back weakly, and began to cough violently:
"Wha...what? Zhao Qing...encountered bandits...and fell into the river? This is outrageous! We cannot tolerate such ruthless bandits in the capital! Investigate! Investigate thoroughly!"
He was so angry that he was shaking all over, but he also felt inexplicably weak and uneasy.
Concubine Xiao pretended to shed tears, but she sneered in her heart.
......
Jinyang Palace.
Prince Jin Yinxi was drinking tea when he received the news.
His hand holding the teacup paused, his brow furrowed slightly. "Falling into the river? No trace left? This ending... is quite unexpected... Was it the Crown Prince's doing? Or... Zhao Muyun's escape?"
He pondered for a moment and ordered, "Have our people carefully search the lower reaches of the river. If they are alive, we must find them. If they are dead... we must also find a way to recover their bodies. Also, closely monitor the reactions of Shuozhou and the capital."
Shuozhou City.
The news came quickly, like a bolt from the blue!
Han Zhong, who had just been able to walk, suddenly felt dizzy and almost fainted again. He was held tightly by Zhong Dahu and others.
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Wang Tiezhu's eyes were red and he roared that he wanted to go to the capital.
"calm!"
Han Zhongqiang suppressed his immense grief and dizziness and croaked, "No one is allowed to move without solid information! Increase vigilance and beware of any changes! Send people to search along the river immediately."
"Also, keep the news secret. Don't let Madam Bai and Madam Huan know, especially Madam Huan!"
By the end of his speech, his voice was choked with sobs.
In the entire Shuozhou City, the hope that had just been ignited seemed to be extinguished in an instant, and it was shrouded in a cloud of grief, anger and uncertainty.
At this moment, dozens of miles downstream of the turbulent underground river, in a hidden river bend in the reed marsh.
A wet figure was being carefully helped to the shore by several elite Night Warriors who had been waiting there for a long time.
Zhao Muyun spat out a few mouthfuls of turbid river water, coughed violently, his face was pale, but his eyes were surprisingly bright in the darkness.
He glanced in the direction of the capital, and with difficulty, the corners of his mouth formed an arc of relief.
The play is over.
Next, it was his turn to direct the next scene in the dark.
......
The dust in Black Wind Gorge has not yet settled, and the series of chain reactions caused by Zhao Muyun's death from falling off a cliff are still continuing to ferment.
After the initial ecstasy, Prince Yinzhao's suspicious nature began to rise again.
He paced back and forth in the farmyard, his brow furrowed. He spoke to Chen Xiong and Gu Dingming, who were standing by with their hands down, and said with a hint of imperceptible anxiety:
"Where's the body? I'd like to see him alive or dead! He just fell into the river and was swept away by the rapids... What if... What if he's not dead?"
He suddenly stopped and stared at Chen Xiong with sharp eyes. "Have you confirmed the scene? Have you confirmed that the carriage was completely shattered and the people were swept into the center of the dark river? What was the reaction of the guards?"
"Especially Wu Shangzhi, and his head guard Li Si?"
Chen Xiong bowed and said with certainty, "Your Highness, our men saw with their own eyes that the carriage rolled off the cliff, struck huge rocks, and fell apart before falling into the most turbulent part of the underground river. There is absolutely no chance of survival."
"Wu Shangzhi knelt on the spot and wept bitterly, heartbroken and unable to act out his feelings. Li Si and the remaining guards were heartbroken and frantically searched along the river, but the lower reaches of the underground river were filled with caves and whirlpools. Even if they found the person, they would probably only have rotten flesh and bones."
"I have dispatched three additional waves of personnel to conduct a thorough search along both sides of the river, and will not miss any clues."
Gu Dingming added with a mature and measured voice, "Your Highness, Zhao Muyun was poisoned and his injuries haven't healed yet. Furthermore, he fell off a cliff and drowned. Even if there was a one in ten thousand chance of not dying on the spot, it would be impossible for him to survive in such a harsh environment."
"The most urgent task now is not to dwell on vague possibilities, but to seize this opportunity to quickly consolidate His Highness's authority."
There was a shrewd gleam in his eyes:
"First, you should immediately issue an edict in the name of the Crown Prince Regent to commend Zhao Muyun for his sacrifice for his country, posthumously confer a high title, and generously reward his subordinates, especially the military and civilians of Shuozhou. This will demonstrate the great grace of heaven, appease the border troops, and also demonstrate your highness's benevolence."
"Secondly, immediately send a trusted minister with His Highness's handwritten instructions to Shuozhou. The name of the mission is to 'pacify the army,' but in reality, it's to take over the defense and investigate Zhao Muyun's former subordinates!"
"Han Zhong is seriously injured, and the group is leaderless. This is the perfect opportunity to gradually take control of his troops, horses, money, and food!"
"Third," Gu Dingming lowered his voice, "In the court, we should use this incident to purge the 'Prince of Jin's followers'!"
"With Zhao Muyun's death, the Prince of Jin has lost a right-hand man. His Majesty is away at the imperial palace. This is the perfect opportunity for us to eliminate dissidents and install trusted confidants! Several key positions in the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War must be replaced with our people as soon as possible!"
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