"This old minister pays homage to His Majesty."
Emperor Zhaoheng of Jin suppressed the anger on his face and looked at Prime Minister Zhou with an unclear expression.
"Prime Minister, you are so eager to come to the palace. Is there something urgent you want to tell me?"
Prime Minister Zhou had a hunched back and looked very humble.
"I came to the palace today for two things. First, I want to apologize to the emperor. I was afraid that the emperor would be worried about the eldest prince being trapped in the northern wilderness, so I did not report it to the emperor immediately. I hope the emperor will forgive me. Second, I want to ask the emperor to save the eldest prince. The eldest prince has been captured by the bad guys and his safety is worrying. I hope the emperor can save him."
Emperor Zhao Heng sneered, "After the other party captured the person, what conditions did they ask you to release him?"
"Your Majesty, the other party wants Jin's iron-making technique, but this technique is Jin's national art, how can it be easily handed over to others?"
"Oh? Do you really think so?"
"I dare not lie to the emperor in the slightest."
"But I was afraid that those people would harm the eldest prince, so I pretended to agree to their request and secretly sent someone to sneak in and rescue the eldest prince."
Emperor Zhao Heng raised his eyebrows in some confusion, "You rescued the people?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Just when His Highness was about to return to Jin State and was about to reach the border city, a group of soldiers suddenly rushed out and kidnapped His Highness."
The flesh on Emperor Zhao Heng's face trembled. "Why, are the people from the Northern Wasteland chasing us?"
"Your Majesty, my people said that those who are not from the Northern Wasteland have completely different martial arts styles. My people have also found this in them."
Prime Minister Zhou handed a token to Emperor Zhaoheng.
Emperor Zhaoheng took it and recognized it at a glance. This was Xie Rui's man.
Emperor Zhao Heng's eyes changed several times, and he said calmly: "After the other party captured the person, what demands did they make?"
"Your Majesty, it's strange that after the Highness was captured by them, the other party did not take any action. I don't know what they want. I am really worried about the safety of the Highness, so I can only go to the palace to ask the emperor to save him."
Emperor Zhaoheng has already sent people to investigate the matter. By then, he will soon know whether what Prime Minister Zhou said is true or not.
"The treasure house in the palace caught fire yesterday, and the iron-making technique I kept in the treasure house was stolen. I wonder what Prime Minister Zhou thinks of this?"
"Your Majesty, I just heard about this matter today. It is really bold and reckless to dare to enter the palace to steal. Your Majesty must investigate it strictly and arrest those who dare to practice iron arts secretly."
After saying this, Prime Minister Zhou took out a cloth bag from his pocket and handed it to Emperor Zhaoheng.
"This is the Iron-making Technique that I have kept in my hands. I dare not let outsiders get their hands on it. Now that something like this has happened, I am very scared and afraid that I will not be able to protect the Iron-making Technique. So I came to the palace today to return the Iron-making Technique to the emperor for safekeeping."
Emperor Zhaoheng looked at the iron-making technique in his hand with a hint of surprise in his eyes. This was a big bargaining chip of the Prime Minister's Mansion, and he was willing to hand it over?
Emperor Zhaoheng opened the cloth bag and saw that it contained the genuine iron-making technique.
This iron training technique cannot be replicated, so he was not worried that Prime Minister Zhou would have someone make a copy of it.
"Since you have such concerns, then leave the Iron Training Technique with me for the time being."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"As for Rui'er's matter, I will definitely send someone to investigate and rescue him, so you can rest assured."
"Yes, I understand."
Prime Minister Zhou left the inner hall safely. When he reached the door, he saw a palace maid standing not far away. He sent away the eunuch in front of him and walked up to the palace maid.
When the maid saw Prime Minister Zhou, she hurriedly greeted him in a low voice, "This servant greets the Prime Minister."
"Go back and tell the queen not to act rashly. We will find a way to deal with the prince. Don't get involved in the theft of the treasure pavilion. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I understand."
After giving the instructions, Prime Minister Zhou left the palace without stopping.
Xie Rui had been sending people to keep an eye on Prime Minister Zhou's movements. When he learned that he had left the palace safely, his face darkened.
"What method did that old man use to appease the emperor?"
"The people I sent to spy on him said that they saw Prime Minister Zhou carrying something when he entered the palace."
Xie Rui's brows were twisted into a "川" shape, "Bringing something?"
"Yes, Your Highness, what can Prime Minister Zhou hand over that will allow the Emperor to let down his guard in a short period of time?"
Xie Rui paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back.
Is there anything that can make the emperor let down his guard in a short period of time?
Suddenly, he thought of something and stopped.
"Iron training."
"What did your highness say?"
The more Xie Rui thought about it, the more he felt that this possibility was very high. "It is very likely to be the iron training technique. The iron training technique cannot be replicated. If it is handed over to the emperor, then the rumors we spread will be self-defeating."
After hearing this, the confidant suddenly realized that it was Prime Minister Zhou who made the wrong decision that was more beneficial to him in such a short period of time.
But how could Xie Rui miss this opportunity to overthrow the Prime Minister's Mansion?
"Come here and send someone to the palace immediately to pass on a message... Ask her to find a way to get the iron-making technique that Prime Minister Zhou handed over."
The confidant frowned when he heard this. The emperor had been robbed once, so he would definitely be very cautious this time. It would not be so easy to steal again.
"Your Highness, isn't this too risky?"
"So we must be fully prepared. Even if we are discovered, the Emperor will never trace it back to us."
The confidant thought about it and decided that in this case they could only use another secret line.
"Don't worry, Your Highness. I will make the arrangements right away."
The city has been strictly investigating the whereabouts of Lian Tieshu, but after the city was sealed off for so long, there has been no news at all.
Because of the city closure, it was very inconvenient for people in the city to travel in and out, causing widespread complaints.
Emperor Zhaoheng had no choice but to temporarily open a corner of the city gate, and all people leaving the city had to be strictly checked.
On the third day after the city gates were opened, the second prince's mansion was robbed.
That day, Xie Rui was discussing matters with Emperor Zhaoheng in the palace. As soon as he came out of the hall, people from the palace came hurriedly to inform him of the matter.
Perhaps because he was too anxious, the other party's voice was quite loud and it just happened to reach Emperor Zhaoheng's ears.
Xie Rui did not dare to delay and immediately left the palace and returned home.
If nothing unexpected happens, something unexpected will happen.
The iron-making technique in Xie Rui's hand disappeared.
Xie Rui looked at the big hole dug in the house and jumped up and cried loudly.
When Emperor Zhaoheng learned about it, he left the palace overnight and saw Xie Rui still squatting in the pit crying uncontrollably.
"Father, I am guilty. I failed to keep the Iron Arts in good condition. I deserve death!"
Emperor Zhaoheng really wanted to kill him!
Such an important thing was buried in the ground outside his house!
Now we don’t know who stole the iron-making technique. If it’s the same person, then the other party would already have two copies!
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