After a long silence, Zhong Zhiheng stared at the tea leaves in the cup, then said to Zhao Ruhai in a deep voice, "Tell Jiang Bairen to investigate the details of Taoist Qingxu and Yongle Temple."
"Yes. I obey your command." Zhao Ruhai bowed and retreated hurriedly.
"Siyao, is it really you?" For a moment, Zhong Zhiheng was the only one left in the room. He slowly stood up and walked to the portrait. He looked at the woman in the painting. After a while, he let out a soft sigh, "Siyao, you still have concerns in your heart. Why did you leave so resolutely back then?"
His fingers gently stroked the face of the woman in the painting. When he spoke again, Zhong Zhiheng's voice was filled with resentment that could not be concealed: "Siyao. Do you hate me for ruthlessly demoting Mingwei, or do you blame me for being determined to trap the seventh brother in the capital? Or both? Siyao. Why do you always lean towards them? Haven't I done enough?"
Of course, there was no response, except for the biting cold wind outside.
…
Pingxi Palace.
"Your Highness, what did you say? His Majesty doesn't want you to return to the Northwest and wants to keep you in the capital?" Meng Tan looked stunned.
"I've expected this, why are you doing this?" Zhong Zhiling took off his cloak and threw it to Meng Tan. He said to Meng Tan, "You can write to the princess now. It's time."
"Yes, I understand." Meng Tan nodded hurriedly, while hanging up Zhong Zhiling's cloak. He scratched his head and said, "Although we expected it long ago, we have also made preparations long ago. But I still feel quite surprised to hear it out of the blue."
"What's so surprising? He has been eager to force me to hand over the military power in the northwest. It would have been fine if I didn't return to the capital before, but now that it's delivered to my doorstep, how could he not take advantage of the situation?" Zhong Zhiling said in a deep voice, while reaching out to pour himself a cup of tea.
"But His Majesty has just dealt with the Xu family and reorganized the Southern Xinjiang camp. How long has it been since then? Now he is targeting the prince and the Northwest Camp again. Isn't His Majesty afraid of causing trouble?" Meng Tan frowned.
"He is afraid of trouble, so he is just talking about it now," Zhong Zhiling said slowly, "but once the Southern Xinjiang camp is safe and sound, he will not just talk about it."
"What? Your Majesty is planning to use the Southern Xinjiang Camp to contain our Northwest Camp?" Meng Tan burst out laughing. "Let alone whether the Southern Xinjiang Camp can compete with our Northwest Army, the two camps are thousands of miles apart, so how can they contain each other?"
"That's not necessarily true. Our Northwest Army can quietly attack southward, but why can't the Southern Xinjiang Camp quietly attack northward?" Zhong Zhiling took a sip of tea and said slowly, "And His Majesty intends to include Tibet in the Southern Xinjiang Camp. I'm afraid Cheng Xiangyang has the hope of becoming the first Tibetan general. What is His Majesty's intention? Don't you know?"
"If Tibet is really included in the Southern Xinjiang Camp, it will really confront our Northwest Camp," Meng Tan nodded, and laughed sarcastically, "But if His Majesty knew the identities of Chi Chongyuan and Cheng Xiangyang, he would probably regret killing Xu Chengjin so easily."
"He will regret it, and he will regret it one after another," Zhong Zhiling seemed to suddenly remember something and looked at Meng Tan, "And Meng Tan, let Jinghui add fuel to the fire. This matter must be completed before I return to the northwest."
"Yes, Concubine Hui has always been doing her best." Meng Tan said.
"That's good. No matter what, Mingwei needs to be guaranteed," Zhong Zhiling said calmly. While taking a sip of tea, he suddenly looked at Meng Tan, "How is Qin Lu doing? Did you find out the formula?"
"Your Highness, old man Qin Lu is very stubborn. I cut off a finger of Qin Chong and sent it to him, but he refused to tell me," Meng Tan said. After a pause, he lowered his voice and said, "Your Highness, do you think Qin Lu really doesn't know the formula of Huanqingsan?"
"He has been poisoning for nearly 20 years, how could he not know the formula of Huanqingsan? I don't believe it," Zhong Zhiling curled his lips sarcastically, and said coldly, "I don't care whether that child named Qin Chong is dead or alive, I just want the formula."
"Yes, I understand," Meng Tan said, bowing, "I have already asked as soon as possible."
…
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