"The Lord Zhao Bupi mentioned by Your Highness that day is indeed the biggest contender for the position of leader of the Imperial Guards. I know that I may not be able to beat him."
The two sat facing each other, and Xiao Zhixing poured him tea with a smile. "Is it because you're no match for him, or is General Zhang afraid that His Majesty will suspect you?"
Zhang Shanhai smiled wryly, "I can't hide it from Your Highness. Because of our camaraderie at Guixiong Pass, and because I genuinely admire Your Highness's abilities, Your Majesty..."
Sending him here this time is also a test; His Majesty and Chief Jiang both want to test the depth of his relationship with Xiao Zhixing.
He knows his own strengths and weaknesses, has no interest in forming cliques, is straightforward, and doesn't have the brains for it.
He admired Xiao Zhixing and naturally respected and revered her, but it was impossible for him to truly betray the emperor.
However, the leader of the Imperial Guard must be completely loyal to the emperor. Even if he were ordered to kill Xiao Zhixing, he would have to obey the order.
This is also why Jiang Bozhou hesitated and did not immediately propose to the emperor that he succeed to the throne.
The emperor probably understood the underlying reasons as well.
Xiao Zhixing gestured for him to drink tea and said with a smile, "I also value General Zhang's straightforward nature. Your honesty and loyalty are beyond question and are especially admirable. That's why I wanted to give you a helping hand without expecting anything in return."
Trying to promote this person who has some affection for you to the position of leader of the Imperial Guard would have many benefits.
The process is a bit difficult.
Zhao Yunqi absolutely would not allow the leader of the Imperial Guard to be disloyal.
Zhang Shanhai hesitated and struggled upon hearing this.
I don't know whether I should accept this tempting offer.
Once he accepts Xiao Zhixing's help, he will definitely have to repay it in the future. The prince said he doesn't seek any reward, but he must want an even greater return.
Xiao Zhixing said softly, "Zhao Bupi is indeed His Majesty's nephew, but he is also a descendant of the Zhao family. I have heard that he has a close relationship with Zhao Zhong, the Junior Tutor of the Zhao family. There are even rumors that the First Prince has been deposed, and His Majesty intends to adopt a son from the clan to inherit the throne. This Lord Zhao is of suitable age..."
As Zhang Shanhai listened, he was filled with dread.
He... he didn't even think of that!
I haven't heard of such a rumor.
Xiao Zhixing smiled faintly; of course, this rumor was arranged by her.
Because the Ghost Guard did indeed learn that some members of the Zhao clan were discussing in private that Zhao Zhong should submit a memorial to the emperor to consider the proposal to adopt a descendant of the Zhao clan.
Xiao Zhixing had a sudden inspiration and simply brought up Zhao Bupi, since he was the most outstanding among the Zhao family's descendants.
Zhang Shanhai was speechless for a moment, his mind was in a whirl, and he didn't know how to react.
Xiao Zhixing continued, "Once this rumor gets out, Zhao Bupi might have to give up his position as the head of the Jingwu Guard in order to avoid suspicion."
Others might suspect that the emperor had such thoughts, or that he might want to protect Zhao Bupi.
She was certain that Zhao Bupi would be abandoned.
If they had planned this earlier, the Emperor System and Zhao Yunqi wouldn't have needed to develop the Crown Prince selection program; they could have directly cultivated Zhao Lin and Zhao Bupi much earlier.
That being said, it was already quite unbelievable that Zhao Yunqi would agree to this absurd plan.
Zhang Shanhai's mind finally cleared up a bit. "This...this, if His Majesty truly intends this, then I..."
Wouldn't that mean even less of a chance?
Xiao Zhixing smiled mysteriously, "Do you believe me?"
Zhang Shanhai wiped his face and said, "I consider myself a fool, so of course I believe you, Your Highness. You are a wise man."
"That's settled then. You just need to wait patiently and pretend you know nothing. The opportunity will come naturally in time."
Anyway, this rumor has nothing to do with Zhang Shanhai or Xiao Zhixing, because she had been making arrangements for them since she learned about it two months ago.
Zhao Yunqi also summoned Zhao Zhong to give him a warning.
Even if it were revealed now, Zhao Yunqi wouldn't connect it to Zhang Shanhai.
He only needs to be someone who gets hit by a pie, someone Zhao Yunqi settles for as a second choice.
They saw off Zhang Shanhai, who was still somewhat dazed.
Xiao Zhixing is asking for the list of autumn imperial concubines collected by the Ghost Guards, some of whom have a high chance of entering the palace.
She wasn't planning anything specific; she just wanted to take the opportunity to send a few people to their side.
The imperial court and the harem are forever intertwined.
The next day, after seeing off Duke Li and Zhang Shanhai, she immediately packed her things and returned to Beiyuan.
Because her birthday was approaching, Granny He kept urging her to go back, saying that Xiao Yuanshan and others had sent gifts.
The Ghost Guard reported that the man who had sent her thirty Akhal-Teke horses on the day she turned thirty had come to deliver gifts again, though she didn't know who their master was.
"My subordinates tracked them down to Xia Prefecture, but they had vanished without a trace," Sun Rui said with shame.
Tell Sun Rui to step down.
Black Tiger contacted her and said, "I've caught up with him. He's gone to the border between Xia Prefecture and Qing Prefecture."
Xiao Zhixing immediately thought of the village where Xiao Yuanshan lived. She was somewhat expectant. Would it be like that?
Bai Feng also spoke up, "Hurry back, I feel that the second batch of men from the Northern Barbarians looking for Xiao Long is about to arrive."
Xiao Zhixing nodded, "Don't meet with them in person yet."
"I know, hehe, I've been researching protective formations lately and I've made some progress. Just wait, I'll have it done soon, then we won't be afraid of those weapons anymore."
"My two darlings, thank you for your hard work. Here's a kiss."
The two beasts immediately burst into laughter.
After instructing Lu Yao, Jiang Pu, and others to continue the disaster relief work, she hurriedly returned to Beiyuan with her guards and Cen Heng.
Cen Heng is now obsessed with improving the seismograph. He not only wants to enhance the instrument's precision, but also to expand its measurement range and accuracy.
Xiao Zhixing asked him to make two more copies, because one of these treasures had to be sent to the imperial court.
They returned to Kitahara four days later.
Granny He and Hongmei reported to her about the gifts she received for her birthday.
"The unknown lord has sent twenty Akhal-Teke stallions and twenty mares, along with one hundred thousand taels of gold."
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
