Chapter 251 Ning Yongnian's Intuition
After staying in Longzhou City for a day, Wei Changtian and his party continued their journey back to Shuzhou the next morning.
Nothing happened on the first day, but when everyone arrived in Lingzhou the next day, they heard the news that the Dafeng army was approaching Yuanzhou.
Such a situation is undoubtedly unfavorable to the Daning court, but it has nothing to do with Wei Changtian, at least not for the time being.
Right now, he only cares about how to destroy the Liu family.
As for Ning Yongnian. "Sir, the emperor has returned to the capital."
In the carriage, Chu Xianping put away the "code book" and reported the news he had just received from Tongzhouhui truthfully: "It came back last night, but he did not attend the morning court today. Only a few people in the court knew about this."
"Hmm? Back to Beijing?"
Wei Changtian was stunned, wondering why Ning Yongnian would return to the capital at this critical moment.
The battle of Jizhou has just begun, and Yuanzhou has encountered foreign enemies again. The war may break out at any time.
The fact that Ning Yongnian returned to the capital from the front line at this time could only mean that there was a more important matter waiting for him to deal with in the capital.
What could it be? Wei Changtian and Chu Xianping looked at each other, and after thinking for a moment, the same idea popped up in their minds.
"Send a message to the Tongzhou Association, telling them to be on high alert. Unless there is extremely important intelligence, they are not allowed to contact anyone else in the next five days!"
Wei Changtian frowned and said, "Especially Ning Wenyu. If nothing unexpected happens, Ning Yongnian will definitely test him."
"He is our highest-ranking spy in the palace. It would be best if we could keep him."
"But if you really can't keep it..."
“.”
Wei Changtian suddenly lowered his voice and whispered a few words.
Chu Xianping's expression changed slightly when he heard this, and then he nodded.
"Sir, I understand. I'll pass the message on right away."
That night.
Imperial Palace, Shiqu Pavilion.
Next to the stone pillars with carved beams and painted rafters stood two rows of warriors dressed in black and carrying swords. They were the Hualing Guards who had been incorporated into the Censorate.
At the desk at the end of the stone pillar, Ning Yongnian looked at the four people in front of him with an expression that was extremely gloomy.
The eldest prince, Ning Wenjun.
The second prince, Ning Wenyu.
The great general who defends the country, Han Zhao.
Taifu, Pu Siyi.
Except for the Minister of War Xiang Shiyuan who had died in Tianlao, these four people were the only remaining insiders of that important information.
In fact, Ning Yongnian had only suspected Xiang Shiyuan from the beginning to the end. He chose to tell the information to five people at the same time in order to avoid Xiang Shiyuan's suspicion.
Yes, Xiang Shiyuan did not doubt in the end, and he was indeed caught by himself.
However, the plan to take Jizhou City directly failed.
This means that there are spies among these four people. Two of them are his sons, one is a famous general who has assisted two emperors of Daning, and one is his teacher.
Scanning his eyes across everyone's faces, Ning Yongnian couldn't believe that anyone among these four people would betray him and the Ning family.
But that's the way it is.
Thinking of Xu Chengwen who was hung high on the city wall by Wei Yanyu, Ning Yongnian took a deep breath, his eyes unconsciously stayed on Ning Wenjun and Ning Wenyu for a while, and then he slowly said:
"You all already know about Jizhou's affairs."
"The soldiers of Daning are still fighting the rebels on the front line, but I chose to return to the capital at this time."
"I'm sure you have already guessed the reason. I want to hear what you think."
"Tell me everything."
“.”
After Ning Yongnian finished speaking, Shiqu Pavilion fell into a brief silence.
It was not until Pu Siyi, who was both a cabinet minister and a tutor, coughed dryly and was the first to answer: "Ahem, Your Majesty."
"I feel that we cannot jump to conclusions on this matter yet."
"The reason why Xu Chengwen was exposed may be because he acted carelessly."
“As to whether someone tipped off in advance?”
"I believe in the two princes, I believe in the general, and I believe in my loyalty to the emperor. I think I will never do such a treacherous thing!"
Pu Siyi was a well-known good man in the court, and these words would not offend anyone.
Of course, what he said makes sense. After all, it is possible that Xu Chengwen himself accidentally exposed himself.
However, Ning Yongnian didn't think so. He knew in his heart that someone must have leaked the secret.
The reason for such a judgment is not that he has any key evidence, but it is just a feeling.
But Ning Yongnian was extremely sure of this feeling.
"Teacher, you can't say that."
Shaking his head, Ning Yongnian sighed softly.
"The Xiang family has assisted our Ning family for five generations, but didn't Xiang Shiyuan still rebel?"
"As for Xu Chengwen, he is not a fool. He must know that if he is not careful, he will end up with his head and body separated."
"I don't think he would make a mistake with such a life-threatening situation."
"General Han"
Ning Yongnian paused and looked at Han Zhao again.
"You are a general who leads troops into battle, so you should understand this principle best."
“.”
Han Zhao was stunned when he was suddenly called upon, realizing that Ning Yongnian was going to speak for him.
He groaned for a moment, then clasped his fists and replied in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, I am just a common man, I do not understand any profound principles, I am clumsy in speech, and I do not know how to defend myself."
"I only know one sentence."
"If the father wants his son to die, the son has to die; if the ruler wants his subject to die, the subject has to die."
"Even if someone really leaked the news about Jizhou, that person is definitely not me."
"I hope the emperor will understand!"
“.”
Unlike Pu Siyi, Han Zhao took an upright approach.
No matter what, it was definitely not me who did it, no matter how you investigate.
"I understand."
Ning Yongnian glanced at Han Zhao again, whose expression remained unchanged, and didn't say much, because he knew that the probability of Han Zhao and Pu Siyi betraying him was indeed very low.
One of them was a Grand Tutor and the other a general, both of them had already sat in a position second only to the emperor and above everyone else.
What's more important is that the two are old, and it is not worth taking such a big risk for the illusory further power.
"Teacher, General, you two should go back first."
Turning his back, Ning Yongnian said calmly, "I want to talk to Jun'er and Yu'er alone."
"Yes, I will take my leave."
Pu Siyi and Han Zhao looked at each other with complicated expressions and then retreated together.
Leaving just after them were the two rows of Hualing Guards armed with swords.
“Clatter, clatter~”
The friction between the clothes and armor made a series of noises, and the feathers hanging on the hilt of the sword swayed up and down with each step.
"General Han"
Pu Siyi looked back at the closed door of Shiqu Pavilion and said to Han Zhao beside him in a low voice: "I'm afraid one of the two princes will not be able to attend the court tomorrow."
"Master Pu, I don't understand what you are talking about."
Han Zhao stopped and glanced at Pu Siyi, saying bluntly: "Han has something else to do, so I'll leave first!"
"you!"
Watching Han Zhao's hurriedly leaving back, Pu Siyi thought that he just didn't want to get involved in the fight for the throne, so he cursed him in a literary way, "reckless man" behind his back.
Han Zhao had already walked more than ten feet away at this time, and probably could not hear this complaint.
The wind was chilly and the murderous aura emanating from the Shiqu Pavilion behind him was almost bone-chilling.
He walked in the night at a moderate pace, his expression calm, but his hands hidden in his sleeves were tightly holding something.
It was a small copper coin with a small boat carved on the back and only two words on the front:
In the same boat.
(End of this chapter)
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