In the following years, Xiao Yue continued to pay attention to the developments in the capital from the border, and gradually understood Qin Zhao's intentions. Qin Zhao never thought of taking his military power.
They both understood that everything they did was for the stability of the court.
But even Xiao Yue couldn't help but be secretly shocked after knowing the truth.
Power is the easiest thing in the world to change people's hearts. How many people have tasted the sweetness of it and their temperaments have changed drastically since then. But this person has been in power for many years and can let go so easily.
What kind of mindset is required to achieve this?
Xiao Yue calmed himself down and stopped thinking about it.
He had led troops for many years, and based on what Qin Zhao had just said, he could roughly guess what had happened: "Of course you wouldn't be seeking death, so I guess you must have planned ahead of time to fake your own death and escape. Did the accident happen while you were faking your own death?"
Qin Zhao shook his head: "My plan has not yet been implemented."
He did want to retire, but that wasn't something that could be solved by faking his death.
After he leaves, what will happen to those who continue to follow him in the court, what will happen to his old subordinates, and whether they will be held accountable later. These are all things he has to consider.
Therefore, he originally planned to gradually withdraw his forces and leave after everything was properly arranged.
But something unexpected happened.
"During that time, I happened to be traveling near Jiangling and was ambushed. All my personal guards were killed. And I..."
He was poisoned, lost all his memory, and ended up in Linxi Village.
As Qin Zhao recounted this, Xiao Yue's brows furrowed ever deeper. After he finished, he slammed the table and angrily exclaimed, "What's the point of this? You're just killing the donkey after it's done its work?"
Qin Zhao's eyebrows twitched, and he didn't like the word Xiao Yue used.
But he didn't care about that. Xiao Yue continued, "Wait, is that mean the little emperor sent someone to assassinate you? Where did that brat get the courage?"
The current emperor has a weak temperament, which was one of the reasons why the late emperor was not confident in handing the throne directly to him.
Unfortunately, the late emperor had bad luck. Before his death, his children either died of illness or became stupid and dull. Only the current emperor, apart from being soft-tempered, was a gifted child.
Xiao Yue hadn't seen the little emperor for many years. The last time they met, he could only hide behind Qin Zhao and wipe his tears quietly.
Qin Zhao sighed: "I don't know."
Xiao Yue was a warrior after all, so he didn't bother to think about the twists and turns involved, and asked directly: "What are your plans?"
"Go to the capital and find out the truth."
"It's been so many years since the incident, and there's no evidence. How can you investigate?"
"Confrontation."
"You want to break into the palace?" Xiao Yue sat up straighter, frowning, "This general will not help you rebel. Although I don't like that little emperor, the royal family has been kind to my Xiao family, so I wouldn't do anything like rebelling."
"..." Qin Zhao said, "I don't intend to rebel."
Xiao Yue: "Then you——"
"I just hope you can help me with a small favor when necessary."
"How small?"
"It's just a piece of cake."
Xiao Yue withdrew his gaze and seemed to have become extremely interested in the wine glass in front of him.
Qin Zhao said, "Tell me what the conditions are."
Xiao Yue opened his palm and made a five sign to him.
Qin Zhao: "..."
His head began to ache again. Qin Zhao closed his eyes and said, "Xiao Yue, after so many years in the border areas, have you finally learned how to be a bandit?"
Xiao Yue was unhappy: "What do you mean by bandits? Do you know how many soldiers and horses I have to support? Do you know how much those kids eat? The little food and fodder the court sends every month is barely enough to keep them half full. What's wrong with asking you for 50,000 taels? You, the regent, can't even come up with this little money?"
Qin Zhao was almost laughing because of him.
He said calmly, "Do you know that I've been teaching for the Gu family recently?"
"I know."
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