Chapter 175 The Arrest (2)
In the courtyard, Zheng Mian's sobbing gradually subsided. Vice Minister Wang comforted him for a few more moments, and seeing that he seemed to have calmed down, he began to reprimand him, saying, "How could you return to the capital at a time like this, Lord Zheng? If it were discovered that a second-rank official like you had left your post without authorization, there would be big trouble! You must know that today is the day the new emperor ascends the throne. Success or failure hinges on a single moment, and Shanxi still needs you to oversee things!"
Li Xiaoxiao's heart skipped a beat, and her brows furrowed. What did this mean? How could the new emperor's ascension to the throne today be related to whether or not the success or failure Wang Shilang mentioned? Didn't the new emperor's ascension already indicate that their plans as traitors had failed? Why weren't they in a hurry to escape, but instead rushed to the capital?
What's going on?
Li Xiaoxiao suddenly felt that they seemed to have missed something, and the secret was in the courtyard.
Zheng Mian stood up, wiped away the tears in his eyes, stroked the coffin, and said in a heavy tone: "From the time I can remember, my mother always told me to respect Uncle Jingwen as if he were my own father. For decades, I have never forgotten to bring him out of that place that eats people up. But I never thought that what I would bring out was his corpse. He was wrapped in a tattered mat and thrown into a mass grave. This is an ending I never expected."
His voice gradually hardened: "Wang Yongqin, do you want to explain to me how Uncle Jingwen died?"
Vice Minister Wang sighed, "He committed suicide because he had finally avenged his great enemy and didn't want to implicate you... I was very surprised when I heard the news—"
Zheng Mian gave a cold laugh and suddenly said, "Arrest him!"
Several figures lunged at Minister Wang in an instant. Minister Wang was taken aback, dodged a knife, and whispered, "Zheng Mian, what are you doing?"
Wang Shilang's attendants quickly protected him and started fighting with Zheng Mian's men.
However, Zheng Mian's guards were clearly much more skilled than Wang Shilang's attendants. Moreover, Wang Shilang's attendants only focused on defense and dared not kill, while Zheng Mian's guards killed each of them with a single blow.
After two guards were killed in succession, Vice Minister Wang panicked: "Zheng Mian, you're insane! Did you bring assassins with you?!"
Zheng Mian said coldly, "You're only just realizing this? If you don't want to die by my hand, surrender and tell me the truth, and I might spare your life!"
The last guard beside Vice Minister Wang was also slashed by a knife. Several assassins chased after him relentlessly, and he begged for mercy repeatedly, "My lord, save me!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than a knife slashed at his neck, and his head rolled to the ground, landing right in front of Minister Wang.
Wang, the Vice Minister, turned deathly pale. He looked at Zheng Mian as if he were a demon returned from hell: "You, what do you want to do? Do you dare to kill me? I am the Vice Minister of War! My family knows I came out to see you. If I don't get back today, you won't have an easy time either!"
Zheng Mian said expressionlessly, "Now that things have come to this, would I still begrudge my own life? I'll give you one more chance. How did Uncle Jingwen die?"
Wang, the Vice Minister, said in a trembling voice, "I'm telling the truth, he really did commit suicide! I swear, otherwise you can open the coffin and check his neck to see if there are any signs of suicide. You're surrounded by assassins, they wouldn't miss it..."
Zheng Mian said coldly, "Of course I believe he committed suicide. What I'm asking you is why he tried to assassinate Li Ke! Ever since I learned that Li Chengyao was imprisoned by the emperor, I wrote to him, asking him to find a way to leave the palace. But the people I sent to pick him up have been waiting and waiting without any news from him. Something must have gone wrong. Now I understand. Did you deliver the letter I wrote to him to him?"
Vice Minister Wang was trembling uncontrollably. He knew. How did he find out?
Zheng Mian walked up to him, suddenly pulled a dagger from his pocket, and held it to Vice Minister Wang's neck: "Who ordered him to kill Li Ke? Was it you, or Prince Chun?"
Prince Chun?! Li Xiaoxiao's eyes widened. Holy crap, could it be another big fish?! Meng Guanqi's investigation wasn't thorough enough; they have another accomplice!
Moreover, it seems that Zheng Jingwen killing Aze was not Zheng Mian's intention; Zheng Mian had long wanted to take Zheng Jingwen out of the palace.
Li Xiaoxiao didn't dare to breathe too loudly, afraid that she might mishear something in her excitement. One of the two people in the courtyard was facing a life-or-death situation, and the other was filled with hatred. What they said was probably true.
With a sudden exertion of force, Vice Minister Wang felt a sharp pain in his neck as the skin was pierced. Moreover, Zheng Mian showed no sign of stopping; if the wound had gone in another half inch, he would have been killed!
He was terrified and stammered, "It was the Prince! It was the Prince who gave the order. After receiving your letter, he forged your handwriting and wrote a letter to Zheng Jingwen, telling him not to leave the palace for the time being. There's one last task to complete: to eliminate Li Ke..."
Zheng Mian's eyes widened suddenly, and he swayed. As a top scholar, he was naturally intelligent and quick-witted. He immediately understood and laughed bitterly, "So that's how it is, hahahaha~!"
He burst into laughter, the laughter a mixture of self-mockery and lamentation about the decline of morality.
Wang Shilang was both anxious and worried. Wasn't he afraid of attracting attention by laughing so loudly?
Zheng Mian laughed bitterly, "I always thought Prince Chun wanted to help Li Chengyao ascend the throne so he could gain merit for supporting the emperor. But it turns out he has grander ambitions; he wants to replace him! With the Crown Prince dead, Li Ke gone, and Li Chengyao missing, the most difficult problem—the legitimate heir—is eliminated. The other princes are naturally no match for him. Once the entire Great Wu Dynasty is without a direct heir, the throne will pass from brother to brother, and he can become the next emperor without any problem. No wonder he wanted to exterminate the Crown Prince's line. If he didn't wipe out the Crown Prince's entire family and Li Chengyao, how would he have a chance?"
Vice Minister Wang offered a reluctant explanation: "How could that be? Prince Xin is still alive, isn't he?"
Zheng Mian said, "What difference does it make whether he is here or not? He fled the capital without regard for his deceased parents, and his reputation is already ruined. His character is flawed. How could the court possibly support such a prince to ascend the throne? Besides, now that he is on the run, how difficult is it to fabricate news of his death? As soon as the crown prince dies, he will immediately become the next emperor. Brilliant, truly a brilliant move."
If he hadn't personally gone to the capital, he would never have known that Prince Chun, with whom he had always cooperated so well, was actually plotting this! He was hiding it too well.
Zheng Mian said sadly, "I've said it before, I have absolutely no interest in who succeeds me to the throne. I never object to whatever you want to do, but how dare you? How dare you?!"
His voice grew increasingly furious, his eyes bloodshot, and he gripped the knife tightly: "I told you long ago, Uncle Jingwen is the most important member of my family. How could you let him go to his death?! Don't you know who Li Xiaoxiao is, the one who's always with Li Ke? Even if Uncle Jingwen manages to kill Li Ke, do you think he'll come out alive?"
"Do you think I'll believe any excuse you make up? Do you think I won't get news from the palace just because I'm far away in Shanxi? By the time I find out, it'll all be over. Prince Chun has successfully ascended the throne. What can I do to him? Is that what you all think?"
Tears streamed down Zheng Mian's face: "Hypocritical, disgusting. How are you any different from Emperor Jian'an back then?"
Wang Shilang suddenly calmed down: "Lord Zheng, it's come to this point, it's too late for you to regret it. If the Prince fails and the Crown Prince survives, then we will all be guilty of the heinous crime of exterminating nine generations of our families. Are you prepared to lead your entire clan of nearly a thousand people to their deaths?"
Zheng Mian took a step back, and the dagger in his hand fell to the ground.
Wang Shilang touched his neck, which was raw and bleeding: "We're all in the same boat now, there's no turning back. I know you respect Zheng Jingwen, but he was able to stay in the palace until Emperor Jian'an was poisoned, which is a great revenge. In fact, his life was already destined to end the moment he entered the palace. Why are you so upset and insist on dwelling on this? For a loyal servant like him, to be able to go to the underworld to serve your father was his lifelong wish, wasn't it? You should be happy that his wish has come true."
Vice Minister Wang bent down, picked up the dagger, and returned it to Zheng Mian: "Zheng Jingwen failed to kill Li Ke because of a mistake, but we still have a chance. In two or three hours, it will be the Crown Prince's enthronement ceremony. As the heir apparent, Li Ke will definitely stand by the Crown Prince's side. When the altar explodes, both father and son will be reduced to dust. A country cannot be without a ruler for a day. The scholars who received your medical treatment in the second year of Jian'an will come out to plead for your life. Everything will proceed smoothly..."
He stepped forward and patted Zheng Mian on the shoulder: "The prince means that he wants you to return to Shanxi as soon as possible, but if you want to stay until today, you can leave. Your family has a blood feud with the late emperor. Now that his entire family has been wiped out, you can say that you have achieved your wish and have not lived in vain."
Zheng Mian's body seemed to give way, his legs buckled, and he collapsed in front of the coffin.
The assassins surrounded him, wanting to help him up, but not daring to.
Vice Minister Wang patted his long robe and said, "I must also prepare to return to court. The enthronement ceremony is in a few hours. How can I miss such a grand spectacle?"
"You're the real show! Your whole life is a show! You traitorous dog!" A curse came from outside the courtyard. Minister Wang was shocked. In a flash, a dark figure jumped in from outside the courtyard and slapped him hard across the face, making him spin twice before collapsing to the ground. His head was buzzing, and he involuntarily spat out two teeth.
Li Xiaoxiao rarely hits someone so hard; Wang Shilang really disgusts her!
Zheng Mian, who had fallen to his knees in front of the coffin, exclaimed in shock, "Who is it?"
The assassin beside him had already slashed at him with his sword, but Li Xiaoxiao dodged, grabbed the assassin's arm, swung it around, and threw him more than 20 meters away. The assassin crashed into the field, crushing a large number of seedlings.
Such divine power?!
The assassins surrounding Zheng Mian all took a step back, firmly shielding him behind them.
Li smiled and said, "Stop! If you don't want to die, stay here and don't move. There are only a few of you, you're no match for me."
Zheng Mian had calmed down: "Are you Li Xiaoxiao?"
Li smiled and said, "It's me."
Looking at Vice Minister Wang, who was lying on the ground unable to get up, Zheng Mian recalled their conversation and couldn't help but smile wryly, "Did you come back with Uncle Jingwen's coffin? Did you hear our conversation just now?"
Li smiled and said, "I heard everything."
Zheng Mian, however, felt as if the burden on his shoulders had suddenly become lighter: "It's good. It's the Crown Prince's blessing and good fortune to have someone like you by his side."
It's good that he's here; it saves him from having sleepless nights.
Li Xiaoxiao reached out her hand: "Wait a moment."
She strode forward and delivered a swift chop to the scrambled-to-the-edges Minister Wang, knocking him unconscious. She then lifted him up and tossed him onto the carriage that had just carried the coffin, like a dead dog: "Alright, the troublemaker has been dealt with. Let's sit down and have a proper chat."
Zheng Mian was taken aback. Wasn't he the mastermind behind all the trouble in her eyes? Shouldn't she just take him down? What was there left for them to talk about?
Li Xiaoxiao glanced at the guards who were always on guard around Zheng Mian, and pointed to the courtyard gate: "Get out, or you will all end up like the first person, stuck in the mud and unable to get out."
She sneered, "I don't know how many of your family's assassins I've killed, and not one of them has ever escaped. Don't throw your life away."
The assassins couldn't help but take a step back; the name Li Xiaoxiao was their nightmare.
Zheng Mian sighed: "All of you, step back and go outside the courtyard."
The assassin cried out urgently, "My lord!"
Zheng Mian said firmly, "Step back. If General Li wants to kill me, there's no need for us to talk."
The assassins exchanged glances and had no choice but to retreat outside the courtyard.
Li Xiaoxiao strode into the house in the courtyard and lit the lamp: "Lord Zheng, please sit down."
Zheng Mian bowed and sat down opposite Li Xiaoxiao.
Li Xiaoxiao moved the lamp in front of him and carefully examined Zheng Mian. He was probably in his early thirties, with a handsome face, but he looked rather thin, probably because he inherited his father's physique.
This is a genius who became the top scholar at the age of sixteen! She's even younger than her husband, Meng Guanqi.
She was sizing up Zheng Mian, and Zheng Mian was also sizing up her, this renowned peerless master.
Although this was their first meeting, the two had already clashed several times behind the scenes. As long as Li Xiaoxiao was there, he never lost a battle; usually, all of his men were killed.
Zheng Mian had imagined what she looked like. He had heard that she was a woman, but with such strength, she must be taller and stronger than a man. However, apart from being more energetic, she looked no different from an ordinary woman. Dressed in night clothes, she resembled a handsome man, with a strong sense of confidence and vitality in her eyes.
Who would have thought that such a slender body could contain such great strength? Truly, appearances can be deceiving.
Li Xiaoxiao looked at Zheng Mian and suddenly asked, "Do you look like your father?"
Zheng Mian was taken aback, wondering why she brought this up. But his mind was racing, and he felt relieved that things had come to this point. He sighed and said, "My mother said that we look very alike."
She mentioned his father, presumably having already found out the reason for his revenge.
Li Xiaoxiao suddenly said, "I also started as a maid and was extremely good to our young master. If the Crown Prince hadn't provided charcoal for this year's imperial examinations, I probably would have broken down the door and snatched him back in that freezing weather. Although the imperial examinations are important, nothing is more important than life. It's a pity that Zheng Jingwen doesn't have my strength or my courage... Your father and your uncle died tragically and unjustly."
Zheng Mian lowered his head.
Li Xiaoxiao spoke bluntly: "Your family lost two Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), and you lost your father at a young age. You must have suffered a lot of injustice and bitterness. I understand that you have a loyal servant like Zheng Jingwen who is determined to avenge his master and avenge the late emperor. But why did you attack the Crown Prince? He had absolutely nothing to do with the tragedy that happened back then..."
A look of pain and confusion appeared on Zheng Mian's face.
Li Xiaoxiao said, "The Crown Prince is about to ascend the throne, and you have walked right into his trap. The people who came with me have already gone back to report. After the enthronement ceremony is completed in a few hours, he will be the supreme ruler. If you then send him to him, you will be committing a crime punishable by the extermination of your entire clan. It doesn't matter if you die, but nearly a thousand of your clansmen will be buried with you. Is it worth it?"
Zheng Mian's eyes turned bloodshot, and his brows furrowed habitually.
It seems that the two deep vertical lines between his eyebrows came from this. He must have often been troubled by revenge, which is why such deep marks were left on his forehead over time.
Li Xiaoxiao said, "But there's still a chance. I just overheard that Zheng Jingwen's assassination of the Crown Prince wasn't actually your doing, right? He misunderstood someone else's orders and thought it was yours, which is why he lost his life. Is that true?"
Tears welled up in Zheng Mian's eyes. Li Xiaoxiao could tell that he had very deep feelings for Zheng Jingwen; otherwise, he wouldn't have come to the capital to find him after learning of his death.
Li Xiaoxiao said, "If you want to save your entire clan's lives, you must clear your name of the crime of plotting against the Crown Prince. If you are just an accomplice, and someone pleads for you, your clan may be able to escape this calamity."
Zheng Mian said sadly, "Now that things have come to this, who can plead for me?"
Li smiled and said, "As long as you are not the mastermind, there is still room for maneuver... You still have two hours to fight for it. There is no time to lose. Come with me to the palace to see the Crown Prince immediately."
Zheng Mian was taken aback. Enter the palace to see the Crown Prince at this hour? The Crown Prince was probably already preparing for his coronation ceremony, how could he possibly have time to see him?
Li Xiaoxiao said, "It's still unknown whether the ceremony can proceed as scheduled. Didn't you just mention blowing up the altar? If they've already placed explosives, we'll have to investigate thoroughly."
The faint sound of horses' hooves reached her ears, and Li Xiaoxiao turned around: "They're here."
Zheng Mian stood up unsteadily.
The assassins waiting outside rushed in, ignoring Li Xiaoxiao in front of them, and said urgently, "My lord, the soldiers are here. We will fight to the death to stop them. Please leave from the back of the mountain."
Li Xiaoxiao said with a dark face, "Leave? Leaving is a dead end. Besides, how many of you are there? How could you possibly be a match for the Imperial Guards? And I'm still standing right here, which one of you can escape?"
The assassins surrounded Zheng Mian, unsure of what to do.
Zheng Mian sighed, "Put down the knife. I will go with General Li to the palace to see the Crown Prince."
"My lord!"
"My lord, you mustn't!"
Zheng Mian's expression gradually hardened: "Things have come to this point, there's no point in saying more. General Li is right, whether the Zheng clan can survive depends entirely on the Crown Prince's decision. I've decided to tell the whole story and stop hiding."
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