Chapter 554: A Test
Emperor Jingming: "Ashu will play chess with you? I remember her teacher said that what she disliked most was playing chess."
Zhao Shen didn't want to bring up the past, so he smiled and said, "When she's bored, she'll play a game of chess with me, but her chess skills..."
He didn't finish his words, but Emperor Jingming understood: "You should be the one who's happy that you don't have to play chess with her."
The difference in chess skills is too great, so we really can't play.
Seeing that he had no intention of playing chess anymore, Zhao Shen yawned and said, "Things outside will probably take some time. I'm really sleepy, so I'll take a nap first."
The eunuch beside Emperor Jingming took him to rest.
Emperor Jingming sat alone, looking at the chess game in front of him.
That night, the Shenwu Army entered the city, breaking the stalemate that had lasted for more than ten days.
But they still underestimated the cruelty of King Yong. He issued the massacre order with the mentality of fighting to the death. Chen Shao led his men to try their best to save people, but the city still suffered heavy losses.
By the time everything was over, it was already dusk the next day.
The setting sun reflected on the bloodstains on the ground, as if everything in the city was dyed bloody.
Finally, Wei Zheng brought Prince Yong's body into the palace.
After the emperor ordered his men to verify his identity, he turned to Zhao Shen and asked, "What do you think?"
Zhao Shen stared at the corpse for a long while: "It died too easily."
Wei Zheng thought he was saying that he had let Prince Yong die too easily, so he explained, "Your Highness is a royal descendant. How could I dare to make such a decision on my own? The truth is, he was already dead when I saw him. According to those around him, the prince committed suicide."
Emperor Jingming sneered: "Do you believe he will commit suicide?"
After all this trouble, just to commit suicide in the capital?
Emperor Jingming thought this was a joke.
Wei Zheng said, "But the imperial physician has already verified his true identity."
Emperor Jingming took a deep breath and said, "Forget it. I will announce to the world that Prince Yong committed suicide after his attempt to force the emperor to abdicate failed. The people associated with him will be dealt with according to the circumstances."
Wei Zheng accepted the order.
He was considered to have made a contribution this time, but he was not at ease. The capital suffered heavy losses this time, and it was his duty to protect the imperial city. It was his dereliction of duty that things had developed to this point.
After he left, Emperor Jingming asked Zhao Shen again: "Did he escape?"
Zhao Shen laughed and said, "A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall. How do we know that the man who came to the capital is Prince Yong?"
Emperor Jingming was surprised: "You mean he didn't come to the capital at all? Then why all this trouble?"
Zhao Shen said, "Whether he comes or not, it doesn't really make any difference, right? You could even say this is a test from him."
Emperor Jingming was even more puzzled: "The cost of this test is too high. He will be charged with treason. All those associated with him will be implicated, and his power will suffer a major blow."
Zhao Shen said calmly, "He's already been exposed. Even if it weren't for this incident, his power in public wouldn't have been preserved much. As for what's going on in secret, don't we still have a clue?"
No one knows how much power Prince Yong has accumulated. Now that he has gone from being in the open to being in the dark, it will be even more difficult to deal with him in the future.
Zhao Shen had a feeling that Prince Yong's goal was not the throne, but he was just playing with them because he was bored.
He reminded Emperor Jingming: "It's time to deal with that person in the palace."
Emperor Jingming knew he was talking about Ning Huanyi, nodded and said, "You go, others probably can't match her."
Zhao Shencai didn't believe that the emperor asked him to kill Ning Huanyi because of this.
"I've asked everything I need to ask, but no one can cure the poison in me."
He felt that the emperor was just like Ji Yunshu, always holding out hope for unrealistic things.
Emperor Jingming said seriously, "I know, but she is the Saint of Southern Border, and she has inherited the true art of witchcraft. I don't believe she truly knows nothing. You want to live, don't you? I'll leave her to you. Do with her as you wish."
Zhao Shen had actually already prepared himself for the possibility that the poison could not be cured. Now that he had another year, he was already very content.
But every time this matter was mentioned, whether it was Ji Yunshu or the emperor, they were desperately trying to find a way to keep him alive, which gave him a strange feeling in his heart.
"I thank the Emperor."
Emperor Jingming smiled and said, "Don't take it lightly. What if? There's no harm in trying a little longer. I'm counting on you to serve me for a few more years. And Ah Shu, your mother will definitely not let her be a widow for the rest of her life. If you die, I'll have no choice but to find her another young talent. But she likes good-looking men, which is a bit of a dilemma. It's really hard to find someone as good-looking as you among all the civil and military officials in the court."
Seeing that he was becoming more and more nonsensical, Zhao Shen left with a sullen face.
Unfortunately, he was still a step too late, and Ning Huanyi disappeared.
Zhao Shen looked at the people who had served Ning Huanyi and turned into corpses, his face gloomy.
This woman is really vicious. Since she entered the palace, these people have been serving her, but she is ruthless in her actions.
Even the little palace maid who was in charge of sweeping outside was not spared.
The capital was in chaos for a day and many people died, but the imperial guards did not attack the palace. Ning Huanyi's place was the place with the highest death toll.
Ning Huanyi also disappeared.
When Emperor Jingming learned about this, his face turned pale: "I sent people to guard her, how did she escape?"
Zhao Shen was quite calm: "Those people are dead. You are right. Her witchcraft is more powerful than we thought."
Emperor Jingming said bitterly, "If I had known earlier, I would have locked her up in a dark cell."
Zhao Shen said, "Forget it, just run away. You never know when we might meet again."
Ning Huanyi escaped, not died.
She must have something else to do.
Zhao Shen had a feeling that they would meet again soon.
Emperor Jingming was suspicious: "Did you know this would be the result?"
Zhao Shen said calmly, "It's not that I knew it early, but when I think about it, when Madam Qi met Ah Shu in Yongzhou, she knew she was exposed. She revealed so many flaws, how could she not be on guard?"
Emperor Jingming: "You are right, I was too anxious. Well, the court will be busy for a while. The case of Prince Yong's treason must be thoroughly investigated. Will you still go to Youzhou to find Yunshu? Or will you stay in the capital and wait for her return?"
His hint was very clear. This was a time when capable officials were needed. As long as Zhao Shen took over this matter, he would be able to make contributions and be promoted.
But Zhao Shen refused: "I am worried about Ah Shu being there. Let's go and take a look. There are plenty of people to deal with the affairs of the capital, but Youzhou cannot afford to lose anything."
Emperor Jingming complained bitterly, "You speak so eloquently, but you still want to go find Ah Shu. You don't even care about me. I've been thinking about you day and night these days. I finally waited for you to come back, and you've only been here for a short time, and you're leaving again?"
Zhao Shen helplessly explained, "I'm so young, and I'm already a third-rank official. No matter what merits I have, any further promotion would be a bit eye-catching. I know the emperor is kind to me, so let's save the reward for other things. When Ah Shu comes back, give her some more gold and silver jewelry. She'll like it."
Emperor Jingming snorted coldly, "Ashu doesn't have enough gold, silver, and jewelry? When she got married, her mother gave her so many precious things, and she still misses mine? Forget it, go away. Tell my uncle to let him and his cousin stay in Youzhou peacefully. They are the only ones I trust."
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