Zhao Bi's affair was widely discussed in Jiangnan, and public opinion was overwhelmingly against him, which was very unfavorable to him.
Just as the two were exchanging loving glances and expressing their heartfelt feelings, the hermit Jiecao arrived.
"Your Highness, if you displease the Emperor, it will be very disadvantageous for you. No matter how much kindness you have shown, it will eventually wear out." She looked somewhat similar to the imposter Zhao Shu had seen, but only in terms of facial features. Her commanding presence was something the imposter could never match.
After comforting Zhen Qizhong, Zhao Bi hurriedly left the house and spoke with Jiecao Jushi inside the fence. He was extremely respectful and treated Jiecao Jushi as a true elder.
"What good plan does Grandmaster have? Please teach me, Grandmaster." He said respectfully and humbly, his expression no different from that of an ordinary junior. Such trust was something he had never shown even in front of Emperor Mingde.
In his heart, Emperor Mingde was mostly regarded as a sovereign.
The hermit Jiecao was very satisfied with his attitude: humble and not arrogant, ambitious, flexible and adaptable, ruthless to enemies, but very protective of his own people.
"Have Prince Yong and Sun Yun been captured?" she asked slowly, taking a sip of tea.
Zhao Bi shook his head. "The situation in the capital is complicated, and there's been no news yet." With Huo Baichuan in charge in the capital, it won't be easy to gain an advantage.
Jiecao Jushi nodded, but did not reply immediately. Instead, he thought for a while before posing another question, "Why hasn't Weitingsi led his troops into the capital yet?" The Prince of Shu and the Prince of Jing have clearly raised troops, and Emperor Mingde must have already sent a message to Weitingsi. Why hasn't he left yet?
“If Zhao Shu doesn’t leave, then he probably won’t leave.” Zhao Bi angrily slammed his fist on the fence. “That Wei Tingsi has destroyed several branch strongholds. He’s truly hateful!” Although he ordered the tunnels to be blown up when he fled, Wei Tingsi patiently sent people to clear them. Those soldiers were numerous and powerful. Following the clues, they had destroyed several of his branch strongholds. Those branch strongholds had been built up over a long period of time to reach their current size.
Instead of feeling resentful and angry, the hermit Jiecao reassured him, saying, "Why are you in such a hurry? Let's see who loses their composure first. The one who loses their composure will lose."
"Yes." Zhao Biqiang suppressed his anger and did not continue speaking after what he had just said.
Jiecao Jushi looked at her and sighed slightly. She was still young and impatient. In this respect, Jiang Ying and her daughter were better than her and her son. "They claim that the one in Jiangnan Prefecture is your true self, but they just want to know the whereabouts of that child. We must not let them know about this matter, and we should not use it lightly. Good steel should be used on the blade. Yongwang Mansion is not important. The Empress Dowager is the one we need to guard against."
Zhao Bi listened attentively, and remained silent until the hermit Jiecao asked a question.
"Send someone to Jiangnan Prefecture later to deliver a message, insisting that Prince Yong and Sun Yun have been captured and demanding that they exchange something of equal value for their lives."
Exchanging one's life for another does not mean the person can be taken away.
Zhao Bi's eyes lit up upon hearing this. It was indeed a good idea. He raised his hand in a salute and said, "In this way, Zhao Shu and the Crown Prince will have to be hesitant to act. Then our people can spread the word that the two princes of Shu and Jing have betrayed the country and wanted to capture me to threaten the Emperor. Fortunately, my subordinates were quick-witted and managed to escape."
The so-called truth is all fabricated by two lips. Some people may not believe it, but who can make everyone believe it? It's enough that the common people believe it.
Back then, Zhao Shu fabricated all sorts of stories about the divine right of kings and the crown prince falling into the water and being seriously injured while digging a canal. Weren't those all made up?
Jiecao Jushi smiled, "It's good that you understand, but it's just a delaying tactic to buy time. We still need to capture Prince Yong and Sun Yun as soon as possible." After she finished speaking, she stood up and made a move to walk out, "A message came from Beiding Prefecture, saying that Wang Jiyang is causing a lot of trouble in Beiding Prefecture. I have to go to Beiding Prefecture. You should not stay in Jiangnan any longer. It's better to go back as soon as possible."
As a prince, the battlefield is ultimately not outside, but in the imperial court.
After saying this, he leaned on his cane and left the gate under Zhao Bi's watchful gaze.
When Zhao Shu received the letter sent by Zhao Bi, she remained silent. But the one who reacted the most was not her, but the Crown Prince. He held the letter and paced back and forth in the courtyard. "Ah Jun, people are the most important. Give them the fake Zhao Bi's body."
Wei Tingsi glanced at him and replied, "This is a trap. I didn't receive any letter saying that the Prince and Miss Sun had been arrested. If his men had already captured the Prince and Miss Sun, they wouldn't have made such a small request."
The Crown Prince hesitated, his reasoning finding Wei Tingsi's words reasonable, but his heart was filled with anxiety. "Just because we haven't received news of their arrest, does that mean we should ignore Zhao Bi's threats?"
"Your Highness, please calm down. General Wei is right. The Fourth Prince is most likely trying to get something for nothing. He's calculated that you'll worry about Prince Yong, so we can't fall for it." Yan Shiren reassured him, having to admit that the Fourth Prince's move was very effective and audacious. He hadn't expected the Fourth Prince to have such courage and strategy.
Looking at the Crown Prince, he paled in comparison... Shaking his head, he banished the thoughts that shouldn't be in his mind.
"Grandmother loves Uncle Nineteen the most. If Fourth Brother captures Uncle Nineteen, I wonder how he will threaten Grandmother." He had lost his composure and was desperately trying to calm down, constantly telling himself that this was a trap, that he couldn't trust them, and that he couldn't do as the enemy wanted.
But how can he not be anxious, how can he not be flustered?
Wang Jize and Chen Jianbo simply stood by, listening to the group's conversation. They exchanged glances, took a few steps back, and decided not to participate in the discussion.
To be honest, they also believed it was a trap and best to ignore it, but the people involved were Prince Yong and Sun Yun, both of whom were extremely important to Zhao Shu.
They dared not speak freely.
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