Wei Zhong rolled out of Xingqing Palace smoothly, got up, and hurried to solve the case.
Emperor Wende had issued a death order, and the source of the arrows could not be traced back to the mastermind of the assassination, so he could make arrangements for his funeral.
The Jinwu Guards don't need such an incompetent boss.
If your knife is rusty, don't just sit there and do nothing. Resign voluntarily and you can save your life.
If you go ahead and do it but fail to get the job done, you will end up dead.
Wei Zhong wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. The capital city in March had already become warm.
At this moment, he felt as if he was in the coldest days of winter, his whole body cold.
He looked fierce.
Anyone who dares to commit a crime in the capital will be arrested, regardless of whether he is a royal relative or a high-ranking official.
At this moment, he was terrified, yet excited.
Only major cases can arouse his passion.
If this case cannot be handled, he will take his own life without Emperor Wende ordering him to die.
…
Emperor Wende smashed another teacup, his anger rising.
"It's really lawless. I think someone is planning a rebellion."
"Your Majesty, take care of yourself."
"I think some people are eager for my death. The King of Zhao sent someone to assassinate me on my way back to the capital, and now it seems that this case is still not completely settled. The late emperor was too merciful before his death. He failed to completely exterminate the rebels, which is why we are in such trouble today."
"We need to conduct a thorough investigation this time. We should dig up cases from a few years ago and re-examine them. We should try not to let anyone off the hook."
"How is the deposed King Yan now? Is there any movement?"
Chang En knew that Emperor Wende was really angry and wanted to take this opportunity to launch a major purge, and even to purge the court and the army.
Chang En was terrified, but he didn't dare show it on his face. He bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the deposed King of Yan is still the same."
The deposed Prince of Yan, who had aided the Prince of Zhao in his rebellion, was stripped of his princely title by the previous emperor and demoted to a commoner. He now lived in a house in the northwest, near the Zongzheng Temple, which was under the temple's care.
Deposing the Prince of Yan was equivalent to confining him to the mansion, including his wife, children, and his biological mother, Concubine Shu.
Emperor Wende knocked on the table and said, "Make arrangements. I will go to see him tomorrow. Don't alarm the court officials."
Chang En bowed and accepted the order.
Emperor Wende had calmed down. "Follow me to the Cining Palace to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager."
The eunuchs gathered their weapons and escorted Emperor Wende to the Cining Palace.
Empress Dowager Xiao was very surprised, "Why is the emperor here at this time?"
Empress Dowager Xiao thought that since such a horrific incident had happened today, where the prince's wife was assassinated in the street, Emperor Wende should not have time to come.
Emperor Wende sat down and said, "I was thinking about my mother, so I came to see her."
Empress Dowager Xiao understood immediately. She sighed inwardly and asked, "Did Chaoyang really do this?"
Emperor Wende was silent for a moment, then said, "We found arrows made of fine iron at the crime scene. Arrows made of fine iron are used to make refined crossbows.
In the capital, only the Jing Camp and the Imperial Guards were equipped with refined crossbows. Queen Mother should know that such a refined crossbow would be difficult for ordinary people to even witness, let alone use to assassinate the prince's wife.
Only people of high status have the opportunity to obtain a refined crossbow and take it out of the barracks to use for assassinations."
After hearing this, Empress Dowager Xiao had nothing to understand.
She sighed and said, "If Chaoyang really did this, I will never protect her. But she saved the late emperor's life. For the sake of this friendship, I will spare her life."
Emperor Wende nodded. "Once I have thoroughly investigated this matter, I will personally go to Fengxian Palace to inform Father. I have tried my best, but someone's ambition has grown. She is no longer the Princess who once sacrificed her life to save others."
Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Xiao sighed again, "I really can't understand why Chaoyang has come to this point. Is it because he lost face because of being suppressed by the younger generation?"
Emperor Wende said, "Your Majesty, do not worry about this man. As the saying goes, you can survive the misfortunes sent by Heaven, but you cannot survive the misfortunes you bring upon yourself."
Empress Dowager Xiao nodded and said, "Your Majesty, please make the decision." She had no say in this matter.
After Emperor Wende left, Empress Dowager Xiao was silent for a long time before she instructed those around her, "Prepare a gift and send it to Madam Zhao. Tell her that I am here to calm her down and to take good care of her health. She shouldn't go out for the time being. The court will definitely give her an explanation for this matter."
The palace maids received the order, prepared gifts, and sent them to Prince Ning's mansion.
…
When Liu Zhao returned to the palace, Yu Ge'er was accompanying Gu Jiu, practicing calligraphy quietly.
"How is it?" Liu Zhao looked at Gu Jiu worriedly.
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "I'm fine, and the child is fine too."
Liu Zhao whispered, "I will avenge you."
Gu Jiu asked with a smile: "Did he kill the person?"
"Not far from death."
Yu Ge'er secretly pricked up his ears and listened quietly.
As a result, he was discovered by Liu Zhao.
Liu Zhao pinched his son and said, "Go play next door."
"oh!"
Yu Ge'er put away his textbook and went next door.
After Yu Ge'er left, Liu Zhao said, "Don't go out recently. Your father may make some big moves."
Gu Jiu asked hurriedly: "Will you be implicated?"
"I'll be fine. We just have to keep a low profile and stay out of the action."
"I see."
"Your Highness, Madam, someone has come from the palace and said they're bringing a gift to calm Madam down."
Not only did Empress Dowager Xiao send people to send gifts to calm Gu Jiu, but Empress Pei, Concubine Chen, Concubine Luode and others, as well as Emperor Wende, also sent people to send gifts to calm Gu Jiu.
Gu Jiu laughed and said jokingly, "If you don't get assassinated first, you can still make a small fortune."
Liu Zhao was a little scared and still worried, "Just lie down quickly, I'll take care of the people in the palace."
Gu Jiu nodded, "I'm just being lazy, you send them away for me. Remember, be polite when you speak, and don't offend people for no reason."
Liu Zhao said, "Don't worry, it's just a small matter, I promise to take care of it for you."
Liu Zhao went out to send the people from the palace away.
Lin Shuping whispered, "Your Highness, the Queen has sent someone to pass on a message."
Liu Zhao nodded, sent the person away, and then returned to the study in Wenshuyuan.
"What message did the Queen send?"
"Your Highness didn't go to Weiyang Palace today, and the Queen seems very angry. Send someone to remind Your Highness not to forget what you promised."
Liu Zhao sneered, "The Empress is quite anxious. It's only been a few days, and she's already sending people to urge us. Tell me this: the court is in turmoil, and it's better to stay calm than to act. Once the storm has passed, I will plan a future for my fifth uncle."
Lin Shuping took the order and left.
Liu Zhao tapped the table.
Qian Fu walked out from the darkness into the light, bowed, and said, "Your Highness."
"How's it going?"
"According to the clues provided by Madam, the Jinwu Guards have already seized the gambling house's account books from the home of a student named Zhang from the Imperial College. Furthermore, no one is allowed to enter or leave the Princess's residence. Everything else is fine, except for the fresh vegetables, which will run out tomorrow morning."
Liu Zhao sneered, "As long as you don't starve to death, it's fine. Have you been to the princess's residence during this time?"
"Several families came to return their gifts, but were driven away by the guards."
"Very good! Tell the boys to strictly follow my orders. There will be a generous reward later."
"This old servant will convey His Highness's words to the guards. Also, Master Wuwang has sent a letter from the northwest, stating that he has successfully met with Marquis Lu. However, Marquis Lu seems to be suspicious."
After saying that, Qian Fu placed Master Wuwang's letter in front of Liu Zhao.
Liu Zhao read the letter in one breath, then put it in a charcoal brazier and set it on fire, burning it to ashes.
He smiled faintly, "My uncle has always been very suspicious. It's normal for him not to trust Master Wuwang. Write back to Wuwang and tell him not to do unnecessary things, to be content, and to gain the trust of the Marquis of Lu first."
"I understand."
Qian Fu was a little hesitant.
Liu Zhao asked, "Is there anything else?"
Qian Fu hesitated for a moment before saying, "I'm a little worried about Master Wuwang. I'm afraid he'll find nothing. Over the years, we've been sending spies to the northwest without interruption, but with little success."
"What do you want to say?" Liu Zhao narrowed his eyes slightly.
"I dare to say that Madam's brother is in the northwest. Perhaps we can use the relationship of the Third Master Gu..."
"Don't mention this matter again."
Liu Zhao interrupted Qian Fu, his expression unusually serious.
He said solemnly, "You must understand that Madam can tolerate your Highness using Sihai Trading Company, but she will never allow your Highness to use Gu Ting. This is her bottom line, and it is also yours. Anyone can do this, but not Gu Ting."
Gu Ting is the bottom line that cannot be touched. Liu Zhao knows it, and Gu Jiu also knows it.
The couple never talked about this, but they had a tacit understanding.
As a member of the royal family, Gu Jiu could accept all kinds of exploitation and conspiracies, but he could not accept his brother Gu Ting being implicated.
Gu Ting is not smart to begin with. If he is involved in the royal struggle, he will only end up as cannon fodder.
Therefore, even though he knew that Gu Tingjiu was in the Tianlang Army and had a close relationship with Pei Meng, Liu Zhao never thought of using Gu Tingjiu to obtain information about the Marquis of Lu.
"Don't count on Gu Ting to deal with my uncle. Whether now or in the future, you'd better not have this idea."
Liu Zhao emphasized it again, and it could even be said that he was warning Qian Fu.
Qian Fu sighed inwardly, thinking that he had wasted a great opportunity.
However, he also understood that Gu Ting could not be moved.
"Don't worry, Your Highness. I will never act on my own. It's just that our people have almost no chance to contact the Marquis of Lu, not even Pei Meng."
"It doesn't matter." Liu Zhao said nonchalantly, "It's only the second year of Wende. Your Highness is not in a hurry."
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