Xiao Heye also received news of the emperor's assassination attempt on his carriage back to Qiushui Residence.
Xiao Heye was not surprised. He had seen Zhou Lin and Jiang Zhun's tacit understanding when they discussed the hunting at the morning court that day, and he had guessed what was going on.
"Master, things are as you predicted. The Prince of Huainan has indeed become restless." As soon as the two entered Qiushui Residence, Li Xun nodded and said softly.
Xiao Heye: "His ambitions go far beyond this."
"The Prince of Huainan dares to even touch the Emperor; there's probably nothing in this world he wouldn't dare to do. What does Your Majesty plan to do next?"
"We won't do anything; we'll just watch the show." Xiao Heye smiled and said calmly.
Li Xun was puzzled: "But just now at the Su residence, Master clearly did not agree to Lord Su's conditions, so why is he doing it now...?"
“Because… Yong’an isn’t chaotic enough yet.” Xiao Heye paused, then continued, “I had long anticipated that the Prince of Huainan’s sudden return to the palace was not simple. Why do you think he went out of his way to protect Zhou Ziqi as soon as he returned?”
Li Xun asked, "Why?"
Xiao Heye: "Zhou Ziqi was the late emperor's posthumous son. Zhou Tingyue has just ascended the throne and his position is unstable. Apart from a few outspoken and loyal civil officials, he has nothing else to rely on."
"The Empress Dowager used to be a courtesan, and she has no one to rely on. Without the support of her maternal relatives, once someone under her harbors disloyal thoughts... how long do you think Zhou Tingyue can remain emperor?"
Everyone says that Zhou Tingyue is wise and benevolent, and that he is diligent in his duties and loves the people.
But what use is it in Xiao Heye's opinion?
In times of chaos, a wise and benevolent ruler will only embolden those below him.
Furthermore, because of Su Tiyue's marriage to the emperor, Zhou Tingyue and Zhou Lin had completely fallen out, which led Zhou Lin to have the idea of getting rid of his nephew, the emperor.
Li Xun: "But I still can't understand why the King of Huainan would protect Zhou Ziqi?"
"Do you think a baby a few months old is easier to control, or Zhou Tingyue?" Xiao Heye laughed:
“The King of Huainan returned to the palace to seize power, but he couldn’t just kill Zhou Tingyue and take the throne. You have to understand that regicide is equivalent to treason, and the King of Huainan is so smart, he certainly wouldn’t want to bear the crime of treason.”
"So, Master means... the Prince of Huainan wants to find a puppet emperor?"
Zhou Ziqi is the most suitable candidate in the world.
This is why Zhou Lin did everything he could to protect Zhou Ziqi.
Once Zhou Tingyue dies, the only person qualified to become emperor is Zhou Ziqi, the posthumous son of the late emperor.
At that time, Zhou Lin only needs to use Zhou Ziqi's young age as an excuse to support him to the throne, while he himself will hold the imperial power.
Xiao Heye's lips curled slightly, looking nonchalant: "Let him be. If the Prince of Huainan is really capable, he can turn the world upside down. Anyway, the bigger the commotion, the happier we will be."
"This morning, Minister Su confidently told me that with the support of the Prince of Huainan, the Emperor would be firmly on the throne within six months..."
"Tsk tsk tsk, it seems that Minister Su's judgment of people is not very good. In less than half a day, the Emperor was pushed off the throne by the Prince of Huainan."
Hearing this, Li Xun couldn't help but feel worried: "Master, what should we do?"
"If there's excitement, we should just watch quietly. Otherwise, people will think that Beiliang is in this state because of our family." Thinking of the conditions Su Sui had mentioned to him that morning, Xiao Heye couldn't help but feel a little unhappy.
"But this servant is worried that the Prince of Huainan's next target will be you, Master... He doesn't even respect the Emperor anymore, I'm afraid..."
I'm afraid they won't be soft on Xiao Heye.
In fact, Li Xun's concerns were not unfounded. Xiao Heye and Zhou Lin had always been at odds. If Zhou Lin wanted to firmly control the imperial power, he would have to remove Xiao Heye, this thorn in his side, first.
Similarly, Xiao Heye's biggest rival right now is Zhou Lin.
Zhou Lin coveted Su Tiyue, either thinking of taking her for himself or plotting to give her to Yelü Shulie.
It's an obstacle no matter which way you look at it...
Xiao Heye stopped in his tracks, pondered for a moment, and then said to Li Xun, "Hanzhou is not at Qiushui Residence today, but I have something for you to deliver to him personally... It concerns the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, so it cannot be taken lightly."
Li Xun nodded in agreement: "This servant obeys. Master, are you not staying?"
“We must return to the palace. Such a big thing has happened. If we continue to hide in Qiushui Residence and do not show our faces, I am afraid that the Prince of Huainan will take the opportunity to cause trouble.”
"yes."
Before sunset, Xiao Heye finished explaining his business and returned to the palace alone.
That day was the last day of spring; after today, it will be the beginning of summer.
What was originally just a simple farewell turned into a plunge for Xiao Heye into an even deeper abyss.
That night, as darkness fell, two minor incidents occurred in Yong'an.
The first thing Su Lin did was to quietly leave Yong'an City on horseback.
Secondly, Xiao Heye was arrested and imprisoned by the imperial guards under Zhou Lin as soon as he stepped into the palace.
The reason was that he suspected that those who assassinated the emperor were acting on Xiao Heye's orders.
Of course, this is just a suspicion, there is no evidence... at most three days.
If no substantial evidence is found in three days, Zhou Lin will have to release the person.
Why would Xiao Heye be afraid of something he'd never done before? Zhou Lin's actions were simply a deliberate attempt to target him; it seems...
Xiao Heye couldn't escape the mudslinging about the assassination attempt on the emperor.
Xiao Heye was thus imprisoned in the dungeon of the imperial city.
It was this imprisonment that made Xiao Heye see human nature clearly. When he was at the height of his power and influence, everyone wanted to curry favor with him and become his colleague.
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