Chapter 244: Snatching People
In the mansion of Zhenyang Marquis.
The maids were cleaning the courtyard.
A night of cold wind and bleak rain passed, and the ground was covered with piles of fallen leaves.
The weather in late autumn has begun to turn cooler.
Inside the house, Xie Zhuoning and Murong Xu were discussing how to break the situation and cut off the minions of Prince Yong and the Crown Prince.
"Emperor Zhaowen's health has not improved. He probably won't survive for a few days. When that happens, Xiao Bicheng and Prince Yong will definitely fight for the throne."
In his previous life, Xiao Bicheng had Xiao Jinxuan to help him, Murong Yan to assist him, and he himself to plan for him behind the scenes. He also had the support of the Zhenyang Marquis Mansion and Changxing Marquis Yang He, so he was able to ascend the throne with absolute advantages.
But in this life, Xiao Jinxuan was instigated by her to rebel, and Murong Yan has now become her own conspirator. She successfully broke off the engagement, cut off the relationship between the Zhenyang Marquisate and the prince, and let Yang Lie take over Yang He's military power.
All Xiao Bicheng can rely on now is his legitimate position as the crown prince, a group of court officials led by his grandfather, the Right Prime Minister Sima He, and the secret pavilion entrusted to him by Emperor Zhaowen.
Therefore, it is still unknown who will win or lose in his fight with King Yong.
No matter who wins, it's not the result she wants to see.
Murong Yan filled a cup of hot tea for Xie Zhuoning, and asked curiously, "Qianqiu Palace is well-protected. How did you know that the emperor will soon die?"
Xie Zhuoning took a sip of tea and said slowly, "I observed the celestial phenomena every day and made predictions."
Not only did he know that Emperor Zhaowen would die, he could also accurately predict when he would die.
Although many things have changed because of her rebirth.
But Emperor Zhaowen's health had long been failing, and being able to hold on until now was already his limit.
Murong Xu heard her joking tone, but he didn't dare to take her words as a joke.
Because he noticed that there were several times when she seemed to be able to predict things before they happened.
His eyes narrowed slowly as he said, "Time is too tight. Once Emperor Zhaowen dies, chaos will break out. Although we and His Royal Highness Prince Xuan may have a fighting chance, it will definitely be a bloodbath."
Not to mention anything else, just to eliminate the power that the Crown Prince and Prince Yong have built up for so many years, there is no telling how many lives would be lost.
Corpses were scattered all over the ground and blood flowed like a river.
When those in power fight for power, it is the people who suffer.
He sighed, "If only Emperor Zhaowen could live another year or two."
As long as Emperor Zhaowen was still in power, the Crown Prince and Prince Yong could restrain each other.
They would then have the opportunity to slowly clip the wings of the Crown Prince and Prince Yong and replace them with their own men.
When the time comes, you can raise your arms and reach a high position at the lowest cost!
But this is just wishful thinking. After all, King Yan wants people to die at three o'clock in the morning, so who can keep them until five o'clock?
Unexpectedly, Xie Zhuoning took his words to heart, "Let Emperor Zhaowen live a little longer?"
Just as I was thinking about the feasibility of this matter, Fuling came in hurriedly, "Miss, it's bad, Miss Hongxiu is injured!"
Xie Zhuoning came back to his senses, stood up and said, "Let's go take a look."
When the two of them and Fuling rushed to the guest house, Song Yuqiu had already examined Hongxiu's body.
Murong Yan stood at the door and did not go in. As soon as Xie Zhuoning entered the room, he heard Song Yuqiu's voice lecturing people -
"Look at you, you were once an oiran, how shameful it would be if such a pretty face was disfigured? Fortunately, I have just developed a new jade skin cream that will never leave scars. If you make a nice sound, I will give it to you for free. How about that?"
Hongxiu's cheeks were red and swollen, covered with abrasions. After the skin and flesh were broken, only strands of bloody and blurry red flesh were left.
She lowered her head, looking depressed, and obviously had no mood to argue with Song Yuqiu.
Xie Zhuoning glanced over and saw her miserable appearance. He took the Jade Skin Cream from Song Yuqiu's hand, put a little on his fingertips, and gently applied it on the scars on her face. "How did you become like this?"
"I am too naive." Hongxiu pulled the corner of her mouth in self-mockery.
When she was in Yihongyuan, she met a little sister named Qingyue, who was extremely cute.
In order to sell Qingyue for a good price, the madam asked a master to teach her various talents and delayed the listing.
So when she decided to rescue those poor girls who had fallen into the dust, Qingyue was the first person that popped into her mind.
When Qingyue was sold to the building, it was fifty taels of silver.
She knew the brothel owner very well, so in order to prevent her from asking for too much, she brought five thousand taels of silver.
But she didn't expect that when she offered to redeem Qingyue, she was rejected outright.
"Hey, Hongxiu, you really have climbed up the social ladder, you have become rich, and you are here to redeem others. But you have to think about mom, too. Once you leave, Yihongyuan will have fewer customers. If I don't bring in a new courtesan, how can I keep doing business?"
"I'll tell you the truth. Several distinguished guests have expressed their interest in Qingyue and are willing to pay tens of thousands of taels of silver to deflower her. She is my mother's cash cow. If you want to take her away for five thousand taels of silver, isn't that cutting off my financial resources?"
"Destroying someone's financial resources is like killing their parents!"
After saying that, he didn't bother with her and just had her thrown out.
She fell face first onto the ground, rubbing against the bricks, and ended up looking like a wolf.
After Xie Zhuoning finished applying the ointment on her, he took the handkerchief and wiped the ointment off his fingers. "You take good care of yourself. I'll take care of Qingyue's problem."
"Miss, be careful." Hongxiu reminded her worriedly, "There's someone supporting you from behind Yihonglou."
So the madam is fearless and no one knows what she will do.
Xie Zhuoning didn't take it seriously.
If you dare to open a brothel in the capital, how can you not have someone to support you?
Song Yuqiu followed with great interest, "Sister Zhuo Ning, I want to go too!"
It's so lively, it would be a shame not to go, right?
As soon as Xie Zhuoning agreed and walked out of the room, Murong Yan, who was standing in the yard, came over and said, "I'll go with you."
Xie Zhuoning nodded in agreement, and for convenience, he and Song Yuqiu changed into men's clothes.
On the way, Song Yuqiu asked excitedly, "Shall we go to Yihongyuan and rob people directly? Do you need my help? I brought a lot of itching powder, blinding powder, sneezing powder..."
She pulled out bottles and jars, showing off her strange powders.
Unexpectedly, Xie Zhuoning directly replied, "No."
"Huh?" Song Yuqiu was a little surprised. "If not to Yihonglou, where to go?"
Xie Zhuoning said, "Go to Yufusi and ask Xiao Jinxuan to borrow some weapons."
Song Yuqiu understood.
How can you rob someone with bare hands? Of course you have to borrow some handy weapons.
Sure enough, her sister Zhuoning is still thoughtful!
Murong Yan immediately said, "Then I will go to Jingzhao Prefecture to report to the authorities."
Song Yuqiu understood again.
If they can't beat the other side at that time, they will let the officers and soldiers arrest the other side in the name of fighting!
Wait, that's not right. Fighting is a two-way thing, so shouldn't they be arrested as well?
Could it be that her sister Zhuoning came to Yufusi not only to borrow weapons, but also to ask His Royal Highness Prince Xuan to rescue them when the time comes?
Otherwise, we already have weapons at home, so why go to the Yufusi to borrow them?
The more she thought about it, the more it made sense to her. Just when she felt that she had seen the truth, Yu Fusi arrived.
Feiyunwei reported back that Xiao Jinxuan was not there and had gone into the palace.
Song Yuqiu sighed, "His Royal Highness Prince Xuan is not here. It looks like we have come here in vain."
"Huh? Why are you running here for nothing? I'm not looking for him." Xie Zhuoning looked at her strangely and asked someone to call Wei Zhao out.
When Wei Zhao heard her purpose, he quickly went into the house and brought out a bundle of weapons, whispering, "These are the weapons that have not been destroyed after being confiscated. They still have the seals. If they are not enough, I will go get some more for you, Miss."
Xie Zhuoning smiled, "That's all. That's enough."