So that's how it is.
Following the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet yesterday, Prince Yu and Princess Jingyue were successively dismissed from their posts, while Consort Liang was demoted to the rank of Noble Lady. It was then that they conceived the idea of plotting to seize the throne.
What a powerful force is needed most to seize power.
Now Zhao Qingshu has opened that underground den of iniquity, has dealings with many officials in the court, and has even used his incriminating evidence and opium to control them.
That's why he set his sights on the shelter that Zeng Yaxian had previously run.
Because Zeng Yaxian had applied for the expansion of the shelter a month ago, and the government had already issued the approval, he was able to take this opportunity to transport a large number of people, weapons and gunpowder, and lie in wait in the capital.
When the plot is exposed, the court officials and the soldiers inside the palace will work together to successfully stage a palace coup.
As Song Xizhi thought about it, he couldn't help but feel a cold sweat running down his back.
If she and He Jingyan hadn't gone to that underground den of iniquity beforehand, how could they have believed that Zhao Qingshu would be so audacious!
What's even more frightening is that he actually possesses such strength.
As Song Xizhi pondered this, he looked up again in Zeng Yaxian's direction, his heart pounding wildly.
She never imagined that Zeng Yaxian, who was rumored to be so foolish and jealous, and who was completely deceived by Zhao Qingshu and Zhao Qianlan, was actually the same person.
A young lady raised in the capital city, yet she possesses such skill and ambition, wanting to do something so earth-shattering...
“I understand your concerns. If the soldiers arranged by Zhao Qingshu enter your shelter, it will be like wolves entering a sheepfold. The girls you have adopted will definitely not have a good ending.”
"And you can't just stand by and watch Zhao Qingshu's scheme be destroyed like this, so you want to wait until all your people have arrived at the containment facilities, and then detonate all of them, destroying his people and his plans together?"
When Song Xizhi finished speaking, his throat tightened.
How can you accept dying like this?
"To die without knowing the truth, to die silently, to have those young lives taken with you? To have all the uninformed people of the world curse you for everything you do—and don't forget that your surname is Zeng!"
If Zeng Yaxian did such a thing, once the truth is buried, the good reputation her parents had left in the public will also be completely destroyed.
As Zeng Yaxian listened to Song Xizhi's words, it was as if her words possessed a powerful force, soothing all the worries and fears in her heart.
Although she was aggressive, she immediately calmed Zeng Yaxian's tense heart.
Zeng Yaxian shook her head at Song Xizhi: "There is no other way, this is the best way."
Song Xizhi shook his head: "Do you think he only has these people?"
Do you think that someone as wary as him would place all his bets on you?
“You are just his last move. Even if you risk your life and blow up your shelter, he can still seize power.”
"Rome wasn't built in a day. Zhao Qingshu's idea didn't come out of nowhere. Countless officials within Dagan had long been secretly colluding with him, and the foundation of Dagan had long been corroded by these decadent parasites."
Zeng Yaxian listened blankly, her pale lips moving, her face full of disbelief: "What you said... is it true?"
"What exactly is going on?"
Song Xizhi didn't explain, but carefully reached out and stroked the back of her uninjured hand: "Actually, none of us need to die, we can all live well."
She leaned close to Zeng Yaxian's ear, lowered her voice, and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear:
"If you believe me, if you don't want the great cause of death that your parents risked their lives to protect to be destroyed, then help me find an account book from his side."
"The ledger may not record any amounts or numbers, or it may not even look like a ledger at all. But it must be Zhao Qingshu's most precious possession, hidden in an unexpected place, and it must have names on it, the names of officials in the court."
As Song Xizhi spoke, his tone became increasingly solemn: "As long as the ledger is found, none of them will have to die."
Zeng Yaxian stood there, blankly processing everything Song Xizhi had said, struggling to regain her breath.
She focused her gaze on Song Xizhi's face and then slowly smiled.
"Thank you……"
"Thank you for saving them..."
Zeng Yaxian laughed and then burst into tears.
...
By the time Song Xizhi and Zeng Yaxian emerged separately from the alley, it was already completely dark.
When she returned to the Marquis's residence, she found that the lights in her courtyard had already been turned on, and the courtyard was filled with laughter and chatter, looking quite lively.
Song Xizhi was slightly stunned, then realized that it was He Jingyan who had returned.
He not only returned, but he also no longer had to hide the news of his awakening, which is why everyone in the courtyard was so happy.
Marquis An Ding and Madam He also rushed to the courtyard to see him.
Song Xizhi entered the room, smiled and chatted with everyone for a few words. Seeing the bright look in An Dinghou's eyes, he couldn't help but twitch the corners of his mouth.
Everyone had left.
The two sat side by side on the soft couch, with a square table between them. Song Xizhi pondered for a moment, and then the man spoke first.
"Where did you go tonight? Why are you so late coming back?"
Song Xizhi suddenly turned around and looked at him seriously across the square table: "Where did you go today? Why are you back so early?"
"And where did you go yesterday and the day before?"
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