Seeing that the emperor remained unmoved, Jian Yang continued to persuade him: "Your Majesty, according to the laws of our dynasty, Kun'er will be able to leave the palace and establish his own residence in another year. At that time, will you really dare to put him in danger?"
The emperor remained silent for a moment, then finally relented.
"Okay, we'll do it your way."
That evening, news spread that Jian Yang was about to go to the Royal Hot Spring Villa for recuperation.
Only then did Jian Hong learn that Jian Yang had been injured. That same day, he took his father to the Royal Villa to visit Jian Yang.
He never expected that Jian Yang would refuse to see them and tell Lian Xia not to come out and deliver a message, telling them to leave quickly.
Jian Hong was completely confused.
But the more Jian Yang forbade him to see her, the more uneasy he became.
After seeing his father, Prime Minister Jian, off, he found a teahouse nearby and sat down, hoping to find an opportunity to sneak into the villa.
Before he could even settle in, he noticed a man peeking out and secretly eyeing him.
Jian Hong was enraged by his gaze and slammed his fist on the table, shouting, "Who's lurking around here like this?"
The man immediately stepped forward and bowed, saying, "You must be the General Who Guards the North?"
Jian Hong frowned and asked, "And who are you?"
The man said, "My name is Wu Shan, and I serve the Empress."
Jian Hong looked him up and down; he was indeed a beardless eunuch with a small Adam's apple.
"Did the Empress send you to deliver a message to me?"
Wu Shan nodded and said, "That's right. Her Majesty the Empress sent me to tell the General that she was coerced by the Emperor to be used as bait to lure assassins. Her Majesty said she is very scared and hopes that the General will take her away quickly."
Jian Hong looked at Wu Shan suspiciously: "Do you have a token?"
Wu Shan's expression changed slightly as he said, "Uh, this servant left in a hurry and didn't have time to ask Her Majesty for it, but General, Her Majesty is truly in danger right now, you must save her no matter what!"
"What do you usually do in the palace?" Jian Hong asked calmly as he poured himself a cup of tea.
Wu Shan said, "This servant usually does errands for Your Highness in the palace."
Jian Hong took a sip of tea. "Who's taking care of the gray rabbit I gave to the Empress?"
Wu Shan rolled his eyes and replied, "It's Miss Xiqiu who's taking care of her. Miss Lianxia is busy serving Her Highness and can't leave her side."
Jian Hong smiled and said, "In that case, let's get started."
Wu Shan said excitedly, "Alright, this servant will lead the way for you right away!"
As soon as he turned around, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his neck and then fainted.
Jian Hong said in a deep voice to the accompanying guards, "Take them away."
Wu Shan was awakened by a bucket of ice water.
In the biting cold, he slowly opened his eyes, only to find himself bound hand and foot, not knowing where he was.
Standing before him were Jian Hong and several soldiers, each exuding an imposing aura, which made him tremble uncontrollably.
"General Jian, what do you mean by this?"
Jian Hong snorted coldly: "I have never sent rabbits to the Empress. Where did you get this idea from?"
Wu Shan was taken aback, then looked annoyed.
"Things have come to this point. General, you may kill me or torture me as you please. I have nothing more to say!"
Jian Hong smiled and asked, "Aren't you cold?"
Wu Shan was stunned again.
He didn't understand why Jian Hong suddenly cared about him.
But in the dead of winter, being doused with a bucket of ice water is bound to make you feel cold.
He was shivering uncontrollably, feeling as if he was about to freeze to death.
Jian Hongchao gestured to his subordinate, who then turned around and took a red-hot branding iron from the brazier beside him.
Upon seeing this, Wu Shan immediately turned pale with fright.
Even if he's stupid, he should know what this branding iron is for.
"General Jian Jian," Wu Shan stammered, "we can talk this over."
"What do you want to discuss?" Jian Hong took the pliers and pressed the soldering iron directly onto Wu Shan's thigh.
With a "sizzle" sound, Wu Shan let out a violent scream.
Soon, the whole room was filled with the smell of meat being roasted.
"Speak, what do you want to discuss with me?"
Wu Shan was already delirious from the pain. He stammered, "Tomorrow night... tomorrow night someone is going to attack the Royal Hot Spring Villa. Kill... kill the Empress..."
As soon as he finished speaking, Wu Shan fainted from the pain.
Jian Hong dropped the branding iron in his hand and solemnly ordered, "Gather all available troops within the capital and await my command tomorrow!"
"yes!"
The following day, after the court session, Hu Weiyan, the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices who rarely spoke in court, suddenly requested an audience with the emperor.
At this moment, the emperor had already arrived at the imperial study. Upon hearing this, he immediately ordered Eunuch Zhang to invite the person in.
"Lord Hu, why do you insist on discussing this matter with me privately, instead of during the morning court session?"
Hu Weiyan knelt before the emperor and loudly proclaimed, "Your Majesty, I wish to impeach General Jian Hong for privately gathering soldiers in the capital, with the intention of plotting a rebellion!"
The emperor's previously playful gaze suddenly turned incredibly sharp.
"Lord Hu, do you know what you're saying?"
Hu Weiyan shouted loudly, "Your Majesty, I hereby expose General Jian Hong of the Northern Garrison for amassing troops and plotting a rebellion!"
Throughout history, treason was a taboo subject that no emperor could tolerate.
Anyone who gets involved with the word "treason" will definitely not have a good outcome.
Zhou Jingzhi was no exception.
He said angrily, "I will send people to investigate immediately. Lord Hu, you may leave now."
Hu Weiyan immediately took his leave.
As soon as he left, the emperor immediately summoned his trusted confidant Zhao Ziyi and ordered him to investigate Jian Hong's movements.
By evening, Zhao Ziyi finally returned to report.
"Your Majesty, General Jian is indeed mobilizing soldiers, but he is not heading towards the palace."
Upon hearing this, the emperor immediately frowned.
He naturally believed Jian Hong, but his unusual behavior puzzled him greatly.
Just then, Hu Weiyan came knocking on the door again.
"Your Majesty!" Hu Weiyan said with a worried expression, "Jian Hong's army has been assembled. You must send troops to capture him quickly, or it will be too late."
The emperor looked at him coldly, "Who sent you here, and what is your purpose?"
Hu Weiyan was startled.
"Your Majesty, I have come alone, without any orders. My purpose is simply to protect Your Majesty and to be loyal to you!"
The emperor said indifferently, "Ziyi, please ask Lord Hu to go to the imperial prison and ask him who he is working for."
Zhao Ziyi immediately ordered his men to drag Hu Weiyan away from the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
"Your Majesty, what are your plans next?" Zhao Ziyi asked.
The emperor pondered for a moment, then said, "Let's leave the palace. I want to see for myself what Jian Hong is really up to."
At this moment, Jian Hong had already led his small, assembled army to the royal villa at full speed.
As soon as he arrived, he heard shouts and cries of killing coming from the villa.
Jian Hong immediately sent men to rush into the villa, where they saw the royal guards engaged in a fierce battle with a group of men in black.
Jian Yang was protected by the Imperial Guards in the center.
Upon seeing him, her eyes lit up immediately, and she exclaimed, "Brother, come and help!"
At Jian Hong's command, the soldiers he brought immediately joined the battle.
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