"Very well, since you have this arrangement, I will bring the two children into the palace. Until you return, I will personally arrange for people to look after them and ensure that they are not in any danger!"
Yun Xun kowtowed and expressed his gratitude: "Your son thanks Your Majesty!"
Changing the subject, he continued, "However, Father, my men have learned that my elder brother, the Crown Prince, has not been behaving himself these past few years. His men have secretly laid an ambush during his recent trip out of the city, so..."
The emperor frowned and fell into deep thought, recalling Yun Zhuo's behavior in the imperial study just now, and then recalling the scene three years ago when the father and son had a falling out. It was impossible to say that Yun Zhuo had no suspicion of him.
Yun Zhuo not only guarded against his father, the emperor, but also built up his own power base in the court. He knew which officials were Yun Zhuo's men...
The emperor narrowed his eyes slightly. Once Yun Zhuo was dead, he would pick out those people, find some random crime, and have their homes confiscated, beheaded, and exiled! Not a single one would be spared!
Yun Xun noticed that the emperor's aura had become colder and heavier.
Then he continued, "Therefore, I humbly request that Your Majesty appoint Lord Cui to lead five hundred guards from the Palace Guard to another route to intercept and ambush the Crown Prince!"
"In this way, even if my elder brother, the Crown Prince, left this time to lure me out of the city, and then return to the capital to surround the imperial city while I am not paying attention, Lord Cui can also intercept and kill him outside the imperial city. Father will not be in any danger!"
The emperor lowered his eyes and looked at Yun Xun kneeling at his feet.
Yun Zhuo was a skilled warrior, and it is very likely that, as Yun Xun said, he left the city only to lure Yun Xun away, and then take advantage of the emperor's momentary lapse in vigilance to launch a counterattack.
Therefore, once Yun Zhuo left the city, he was to be surrounded and killed outside, not allowing him any chance to approach the imperial city, otherwise the emperor would be in danger.
Furthermore, Yun Xun has already sent the two children into the palace. This shows that Yun Xun trusts him completely, and with these two children as hostages, Yun Xun will always stand by his side!
After considering this, the emperor said, "In that case, I will send Cui Shao with you. You go first to bring the two children into the palace and entrust them to Huaifu's care. I will summon Cui Shao and instruct him to depart with you!"
"Yes!" Yun Xun replied. He had brought the two children with him when he entered the palace. Now the two children were waiting outside. He only needed to take them to Huai Fu and ask Huai Fu to take care of them.
After finishing this matter, he waited for Cui Shao outside the Imperial Study.
In the imperial study, the emperor told Cui Shao: "My secret guards discovered that the crown prince is acting strangely. He broke off relations with me three years ago. Tonight, I ordered him to investigate the missing grain, but he complained and refused to go. I'm afraid the crown prince has long harbored rebellious intentions!"
Cui Shao's whole body stiffened.
He knew three years ago that there would be a battle between the emperor and the crown prince.
Now, this battle has finally arrived.
"You will lead five hundred men out of the city with Prince Xuan, and follow his orders. Secretly observe the Crown Prince's movements. If you see his troops quietly returning to the capital, it means he is about to stage a coup, murder his father, and usurp the throne. You must help Prince Xuan capture the Crown Prince!"
Cui Shao's Adam's apple bobbed violently as he replied, "Yes, Your subordinate obeys!"
That night, the emperor watched as Yun Xun and Cui Shao left with their men. A fierce wind raged, bending the tree branches low and then quickly bouncing them back up, but not a single raindrop fell.
The emperor was unaware that his eldest grandson had been lost.
Yun Xun did not mention this matter at all in front of him.
After watching the procession leave, the emperor instructed the deputy commander of the Palace Guard to guard all entrances and exits of the palace and to conduct patrols diligently, without the slightest negligence.
He also ordered his secret guards to keep a close eye on Yun Xun and Cui Shao, and to report any news immediately.
After making the arrangements, he went to see the two children of the Xuan Prince's Mansion. Yun Yinzhou and his younger brother bowed and greeted him, being extremely well-behaved, seemingly oblivious to the impending storm outside.
The emperor smiled and said to Huaifu, "Take the two young princes to rest. They can sleep in my side hall. Have someone guard them and do not allow anyone to disturb them!"
Hostages, of course, must be kept under one's own nose, with one's own people guarding them at all times, only then can one feel at ease.
Huaifu should be taking the two children to the side hall.
As Yun Xun left the imperial city, he looked back and saw the pitch-black night pressing down on the city. A faint, cold smile appeared on his lips.
On the city wall, he and Cui Shao looked into the distance and saw Yun Zhuo's troops moving rapidly away. He and Cui Shao immediately discussed how to split up and act separately.
May Yun Zhuo never return!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
