"An insider?" Prince Ying was full of suspicion. Feng Miao had been with the Zhou family for so many years. If he was an insider, he should have been discovered long ago.
Seeing his doubt, Zhao Xiuwen said, "Just think about it, given what he's done, why would the Dali Temple issue a wanted notice? And if he's wanted, with Lou Yunchun's ability, how could he not be apprehended? Even if he did escape, why didn't he leave the capital and instead come to you for help?"
These questions plunged Prince Ying into deep thought. He then listened to Zhao Xiu's words, "He asked to monitor Lou Yunchun, but in reality, he was tipping off Lou Yunchun. That day, Lou Yunchun paraded Shangshu Wang and Shangshu Luo through the streets, and I ran into them. He's been following me these past two days, intending to silence me. Yesterday, rather than saying I killed him, it would be more accurate to say I was protecting myself."
"Now that there's no evidence, it's natural for you to make excuses." Prince Ying still had doubts in his heart. "And if you knew the truth, why didn't you report it earlier?"
"I came to see the prince last night, but the guards wouldn't let me in. If the prince doesn't believe me, you can summon the guards to confront me."
Prince Ying remembered that the guard had indeed reported the matter, and it was because of the guard's report that he knew that it was Zhao Xiu who killed the person.
Seeing that he remained silent, Zhao Xiu continued, "Feng Miao is a greedy villain and a spineless person. If he can be bribed by the Zhou family with money, why can't he be forced into submission by Lou Yunchun with money and power? Besides..."
"Besides what?"
"Besides, things are different now." Zhao Xiu said boldly, "Your Highness, Minister Zhou, Minister Wang, and Minister Luo have all been dismissed. You don't have many people left in the court. He has been in the Zhou family for so many years, can't he see this clearly?"
There was a hint of sarcasm in his tone, which made Prince Ying feel annoyed. "What about you? Do you understand this clearly?"
"If I couldn't see clearly, I wouldn't have come to tip you off, and I wouldn't have stayed in the garden after killing Feng Miao, waiting for you to come find me."
Prince Ying frowned.
Zhao Xiu continued to plead, "Your Highness, I'm not a dog like Feng Miao, content with a rotten bone, nor am I like him, seeking only to survive. Even if I surrender and save my life, I will still be sentenced to life imprisonment and forced labor. Even if I escape the capital, I will be doomed to be like a rat crossing the street, hiding from place to place, never to see the light of day."
He straightened up, his expression tinged with arrogance. "With my talent and ambition, I, Zhao Xiu, would rather fight to the death than waste my life like this. This is the only life on the line. So, I beg Your Highness to grant Zhao Xiu a bright future."
After saying this, he bowed to the ground again.
Prince Ying stared at him, his eyes like knives, scraping across Zhao Xiu's bent back. After a moment, he asked in a deep voice, "That sounds nice, but what can you do for me?"
Zhao Xiu raised his head, a glint in his eyes, "I can go to Beiting for you."
Prince Ying couldn't help but laugh, but then he said coldly, "Do I need someone to go to Beiting for me?"
Zhao Xiu said confidently, "The closest route to Beiting is the Liangzhou North Road, and Lou Yunchun is taking this route. If he intercepts your confidants, they won't be able to reach Beiting."
Prince Ying said coldly: "Can you do that?"
Zhao Xiu smiled, "Of course I can. I can even use his influence to get him to send me to Beiting."
"What a joke! You are now a criminal, and a messenger sent by this king to Beiting. It would be fine if he didn't kill you, but why would he send you to Beiting? Do you really think this king is easy to fool?"
"Although Lou Yunchun has gone to Liang Province, the situation there is complex. With the Xiongnu to the north and the Western Regions to the west, he doesn't dare to confront Guo Yuanzhen head-on. If we want to capture Guo Yuanzhen, we have to lure him out. But Guo Yuanzhen is always cautious and won't be easily fooled. Only your secret envoy and secret letter can make Guo Yuanzhen's heart flutter. As long as I pretend to be captured by him and surrender to him to save my life, why should I worry about not being able to go to Beiting and see Guo Yuanzhen?"
"According to your plan, wouldn't it be more convenient for me to be a close confidant of the king?"
"But Lou Yunchun doesn't trust you, let alone your people."
Prince Ying pressed, "He doesn't trust my confidants, so how could he trust you?"
Zhao Xiu calmly responded, "He doesn't have to trust me. He just needs to think he can control me."
"How to grasp it?"
"My teacher, Mu Cong."
The two fell silent.
After a long time, Prince Ying stood up and walked towards Zhao Xiu. He looked around him several times, and finally stared at his face intently, and said slowly: "Lou Yunchun doesn't trust me, and I don't trust you either."
Zhao Xiu's heart sank, but he didn't dare betray a trace of panic. He raised his head and met Prince Ying's gaze. "You may not trust me, but you must trust the situation. The struggle for imperial power is a gamble. If you bet on me, you have at least a 50% chance of winning. But if you miss the opportunity, once Lou Yunchun and Beiliang have established their power, you'll be trapped in the capital for the rest of your life."
Upon hearing this, Prince Ying kicked Zhao Xiu in the chest.
This kick left no room for maneuver and made Zhao Xiu spit out blood on the spot, but Zhao Xiu felt relieved.
"You stayed by my side for so long, just for this moment?"
Zhao Xiu didn't answer, but wiped the corner of his mouth and said, "You only have two days to consider it. After two days, I won't be able to catch up with Lou Yunchun."
Prince Ying gave him a fierce look, then shouted towards the door, "Someone come!"
Two guards immediately ran in.
"What are your orders, my Lord?"
"Hold him down and keep him in solitary confinement. No one is allowed to approach him."
"yes!"
After Zhao Xiu was dragged away, Prince Ying summoned his confidant and asked him to enter the city to inquire about Lou Yunchun's whereabouts. Then he ordered someone to send a letter to Minister Kou, inviting him to come to the garden for a chat.
Seeing that Zhao Xiu had not been executed on the spot, Zhou Huai asked to see him and go into the hall to add some firewood. However, as soon as he stepped through the door, before he could even open his mouth, a vase was thrown at him.
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