Chapter 393 Zhao Xingjian was plotted against
The next afternoon, Deputy Commander Guo arrived with the remaining two hundred or so people.
The several groups of people sent by the court before either disappeared or returned in disgrace, so they were much more cautious this time and only shouted at the city gate that they wanted to see Wang Daru.
Wang Changyang came out soon.
Guo Jipeng approached with a look of concern, "Da Ru, are you okay? Did they do anything to you?"
Wang Changyang frowned, "They were very polite to me, but it's probably a bit difficult to persuade them to surrender."
"What? Zhao Xingjian doesn't listen to you?"
"I haven't seen him for many years. He is very paranoid now. It's so difficult!" Wang Changyang looked sad.
"Has the great scholar agreed to bring the Concubine Shu back to the palace?"
"It's even more impossible to reach an agreement." Wang Changyang waved his hands. "The queen's body has been cremated and the ashes have been scattered."
In fact, the Fan family should not have arrived at the place of exile yet. Wang Changyang said this to completely cut off Guo Jipeng's thoughts.
"What?!" Guo Jipeng's face darkened. "Master, what should we do?"
"It's no use for Consort Shu, but I can still try my best to persuade them to surrender." Wang Changyang sighed, "To be honest, I've been talking so much these past two days."
"How about letting me try?" Guo Jipeng suddenly said.
"You? I'm afraid it won't work." Wang Changyang shook his head. "He won't listen to anything I say. It will be a waste of effort for you to try to negotiate peace."
Guo Jipeng smiled and said, "You may not know this, great scholar. I am the cousin of Zhao Xingjian's late wife. With this relationship, he will certainly give me some respect."
Wang Changyang hesitated for a moment.
He knew that Guo Jipeng would never give up until he saw Zhao Xingjian again.
"In that case, shall I go and make an appointment with him for you?"
"Okay, thank you for troubling me, Master."
Wang Changyang returned to the city.
When Zhao Xingjian heard that Guo Jipeng wanted to see him, he pondered for a moment.
"Although you don't need to guess to know his purpose, he is indeed the cousin of my late wife. When Rong'er was a child, he troubled his family to take care of her for a period of time. He is a nice person."
…
After a while, the villager guarding the gate shouted, "You are from the imperial court! Come in! Leave your weapons outside!"
Guo Jipeng left his sword on his horse and went to the city gate alone.
The villagers guarding the gate followed Wang Changyang's instructions and searched Guo Jipeng carefully. They let him in only after finding nothing wrong.
Guo Jipeng walked into the city gate and saw Zhao Xingjian not far ahead, with Wang Changyang standing beside him. Both of them looked unhappy, as if they had just had an argument.
"Brother-in-law!" Guo Jipeng smiled and hurried over. "It's been a long time since we last met. Do you still remember me?"
Zhao Xingjian came over to greet him. "My cousin, I'm sorry for not welcoming you from afar! But if you're here to negotiate peace, please don't say anything!"
"Why are you so anxious? I haven't even opened my mouth yet!" Guo Jipeng glanced at Wang Changyang and said, "Could you please step aside for a moment, Master? I have something private to say to Lord Zhao."
Wang Changyang glared, "Is there anything private you can't say in front of me?"
Wang Changyang's face was full of vigilance. He seriously suspected that Guo Jipeng wanted to harm Zhao Xingjian.
The reason why he was putting on a show in front of Guo Jipeng today was because his family members were all in Beijing. Although the Fan family had already started to deal with this matter, it would definitely not be so fast.
For the safety of his family, he had to pretend to stay in Heihe City to persuade them to surrender. Only after his family arrived safely in Heihe Village could he publicly state his position.
Guo Jipeng smiled and said, "In that case, it's fine for the great scholar to stay."
"In fact, the emperor had long anticipated that the great scholar would not be able to convince Lord Zhao! The emperor also anticipated that the great scholar would take into account the relationship between master and disciple and would not be willing to take action against Lord Zhao!"
Wang Changyang's face changed drastically, and he suddenly pulled Zhao Xingjian back.
Guo Jipeng smiled sinisterly and flew towards them. He opened his hands and the powder in his palms attacked the two men under the influence of his internal force.
"It's poison! Hold your breath!"
Wang Changyang shouted and waved his wide sleeves to block most of the powder, but some still fell on the two men.
"Cough cough cough!" Zhao Xingjian inhaled a lot of poison powder in his breath because of his slow reaction. He fell to the ground and twitched with a painful look on his face.
"You..." Zhao Xingjian pointed at Guo Jipeng in disbelief.
The Zhao and Guo families had a good relationship before. Guo Jipeng was a loyal person. After Rong'er's mother died, he took the initiative to provide a lot of help.
Zhao Xingjian never dreamed that Guo Jipeng would harm him!
"Xingjian! Hold on!" Wang Changyang was extremely confused and tears streamed down his face. This powder was undoubtedly highly poisonous!
He is afraid that he cannot save this disciple whom he cannot bear to part with the most!
"Master..." Zhao Xingjian said with difficulty, "This disciple... is still a burden to you..."
"Don't be afraid! I'll get the antidote for you!" Wang Changyang rushed towards Guo Jipeng, waving his crutch and shouting angrily, "Hand over the antidote quickly!"
Guo Jipeng laughed heartily, "I'm sorry, great scholar! The only antidote was taken by me in advance! You've also been poisoned, and using your internal energy will only make the poison take effect faster!"
Wang Changyang really felt his whole body's energy stagnate. He covered his chest and said angrily, "You actually... even plotted against me!"
Wang Changyang thought that as long as he was with Zhao Xingjian, nothing would happen!
Now it seems that he overestimated himself!
"I was wrong!" Wang Changyang regretted, "That night, you did your best to fight off the assassin for me. I was moved by you and thought you were a good person..."
Guo Jipeng laughed and interrupted him, "We did that that night because we really wanted to gain the trust of the great scholar and get closer to Zhao Xingjian!"
"Actually, I didn't want to plot against the great scholar! But the great scholar stayed by his side and refused to leave, so I had no choice!"
"The Emperor said that as long as Zhao Xingjian can be killed, no matter the cost! I asked him at the time if the great scholar was included, and the Emperor said yes! Therefore, the Emperor will not blame me if I kill the great scholar!"
Wang Changyang was so angry that he was shaking all over. "I should have expected this! I should have expected this!"
"Someone come quickly! Something's happened to the Master!"
"The master has been attacked! Call a doctor!"
The gatekeepers and the villagers on the city wall rushed over shouting and holding spears, surrounding Guo Jipeng.
"Master! Master!"
Seeing Zhao Xingjian lying on the ground with his eyes closed, his life or death unknown, the villagers burst into tears.
They surrounded Guo Jipeng like crazy, "You bastard! Hand over the antidote!"
"Otherwise I'll cut you into pieces!"
"Just you guys?" Guo Jipeng easily knocked down the villagers.
He clapped his hands and walked out leisurely, "Heihe Village is nothing special!"
The villagers working in the fields nearby all rushed over, "You bastard! We'll fight you to the death!"
Men and women rushed forward without hesitation, some hugged his waist, some hugged his legs, some hugged his arms, and held Guo Jipeng tightly.
Guo Jipeng tried hard to shake them off, but they refused to let go.
The villagers didn't know martial arts, but they had only one thought in their minds: Even if they had to die today, they would not let this bastard escape like this!
"Master! Great old scholar!" Ye Yanping's anxious voice came.
"Yan Ping!" The villagers cried helplessly, "What should we do?"
"The Master and the great scholar have been poisoned and are dying!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
