Chapter 549 - 549: a.s.sa.s.sination of the Sect Master
Chapter 549: a.s.sa.s.sination of the Sect Master
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Princess Hui An exploded. “Hey! Does she have to bully me like this? I’ve already given her enough respect by practicing in the morning, but she still wants extra practice at night? I don’t want to go!”
The palace was a place where people worshipped the high and trampled on the low. There were many tragic cases of people falling into the mud overnight.
Consort Xian looked at the clearly missing dishes on the table and her expression turned cold. “A group of sn.o.bbish servants!”
Liu Sande said helplessly, “There are rumors in the palace that the Third Prince harmed the First and Second Princes in the peach forest. His Majesty was furious. I’m afraid the Third Prince is… doomed this time…
Consort Xian looked around. “Where’s Hui An?”
A young eunuch entered. “Your Highness, Princess Hui An was taken by Princess Jingning to Kunning Palace to practice archery. She said that if she doesn’t practice well, she won’t let the princess back.”
Hearing this, Consort Xian heaved a sigh of relief.
Emperor Jing Xuan woke up the next morning. Not long after he woke up, the capital magistrate asked to see him outside the palace. He said that the White
Lotus Society had sent a letter over.
Emperor Jing Xuan could not care less about the imperial physician’s instructions and asked someone to bring the capital magistrate in.
“A waiter from a tavern sent it to the government office. He said that the guest gave him a silver ingot and asked him to personally send the letter to the Imperial Capital. I brought people to that tavern to arrest him immediately.
Unfortunately, it was already empty when I reached.”
As the capital magistrate spoke, he handed the letter to Eunuch Fu.
Eunuch Fu opened it and checked carefully. After confirming that there was no danger, he presented it to Emperor Jing Xuan on the dragon bed.
After Emperor Jing Xuan read the letter, he was so angry that he almost fainted again.
“Your Majesty! Don’t be angry!” Eunuch Fu was frightened to death. The imperial physician had reminded him that there was a risk of a stroke if he fainted again.
Emperor Jing Xuan took a deep breath and tried his best to calm down. He gritted his teeth and said, “b.a.s.t.a.r.d! He actually wants me to exchange Jingning for my eldest son! ”
No one dared to breathe loudly.
The White Lotus Society was really asking for an exorbitant price. They even dared to raise such conditions.
However, on careful thought, only Princess Jingning was more important than Xiao Duye in the dynasty.
The Empress did not have a legitimate son. Princess Jingning was the only legitimate child.
Secondly, there was her indescribably precious birth characters.
In that case, would His Majesty agree?
Of course, Emperor Jing Xuan would not agree.
General Leng requested to lead troops to eliminate the White Lotus Society, but he was jointly opposed by the civil officials.
Grand Commandant Lin said, “Unless there’s no other choice, you can’t mobilize troops wantonly. Not only will it cause panic among the people, but it will also cost money and the lives of the soldiers of the three armies.” General Leng said coldly, “How can our Great Zhou soldiers be cowards!”
Grand Commandant Lin said seriously, “But the soldiers of our Great Zhou should not make meaningless sacrifices!”
General Leng snorted. “How can saving His Highness be a meaningless sacrifice? Even if you have to be a chicken, a coward, a scaredy cat yourself, don’t implicate the soldiers of the Great Zhou!”
Emperor Jing Xuan looked at Xiao Shunyang in front of him. “Second Brother, what do you think?”
Xiao Shunyang cupped his hands and said, “I agree to send troops.”
Jing Yi’s father, Marquis of Weiwu, said, “Your Majesty, I think it’s inappropriate. With the strong military strength of the Imperial Court, we can definitely destroy the White Lotus Society, but has the matter really reached such an irreversible stage? I heard that the peach forest is dangerous, and our soldiers will definitely suffer heavy casualties. The Old Protector Duke once said that the victory obtained with huge sacrifices was a defeat.”
“The soldiers are not afraid of death, but they should not die for nothing. I boldly suggest—peace talks.”
Emperor Jing Xuan’s gaze landed on the Old Marquis’s face. “Minister Su, what do you think?”
The Old Marquis said, “I agree to peace talks.”
The proposal to negotiate was accepted, but who would go to negotiate became the problem. The Second Prince recommended himself, but Emperor Jing Xuan did not agree.
He appointed Xiao Zhonghua as the peace amba.s.sador, and the Marquis of Zhenbei and General Leng accompanied him.
Xiao Shunyang said seriously, “Father, Third Brother is still sick. Let me go!”
Emperor Jing Xuan said calmly, “I believe you heard the rumors outside. Your third brother needs a chance to prove his innocence. Don’t s.n.a.t.c.h it from him.”
Xiao Shunyang frowned. “…Yes.”
“Cousin, are you really going?
In the carriage back to the residence, Jing Yi asked Xiao Zhonghua.
Xiao Zhonghua gathered his cloak. It was already hot in early summer, but he was still weak and cold.
“The imperial edict has been issued. I have no choice but to go.” “You can excuse yourself with your illness.”
“Jing Yi, life is death, and death is life. I have no way out.”
Jing Yi was about to say something when Xiao Zhonghua spoke softly.
“The news from the spies is that Northern Yan intends to have a marriage alliance into the Western Jin. Once these two countries are married, you know the consequences, right? How do you think my father will protect the Great Zhou? Will he fight with Northern Yan and Western Jin at the same time, or send a princess to reconcile?”
“The emperor of the Western Jin Dynasty praised Hui An’s beauty back then. Am I going to watch my compatriot sister be given to an old emperor in his sixties as a favored concubine?”
Jing Yi fell silent.
Xiao Zhonghua said, “I’m not doing it all for Hui An. I have my own ambitions. I’m not doted on by Father. I can only firmly grasp every opportunity. I can’t let go of the chance to live or die.”
In the Imperial Study, the princes and ministers left one after another. Emperor Jing Xuan left the Old Marquis alone.
He gave Eunuch Fu a look.
Eunuch Fu understood and retreated to guard the door.
Eunuch Quan wanted to come over and guard with him. He said calmly, “Back off!”
The corners of Eunuch Quan’s mouth twitched. He secretly rolled his eyes and retreated 30 feet away.
“Su Shuo.” Emperor Jing Xuan looked at the Old Marquis solemnly. “I asked you to accompany me to the White Lotus Society this time because I actually have another mission.”
The Old Marquis cupped his hands and said, “Your Majesty, please speak.”
Emperor Jing Xuan said coldly, “I want you to set a military order to kill the Sect Master of the White Lotus Society!”
“His Majesty asked you to kill the Sect Master of the White Lotus Society?” Qin
Canglan frowned and looked at the Old Marquis. “You agreed?”
The Old Marquis glared at him. “Is there any room for me to bargain? Besides, even if His Majesty doesn’t instruct me, I plan to kill MO Guiyuan.”
Qin Canglan looked at him. ‘Your body…”
The Old Marquis said casually, “I’ve long recovered! Don’t worry about me! I don’t care about a mere MO Guiyuan!”
Qin Canglan did not think that Emperor Jing Xuan was deliberately making things difficult for him. With the current situation, killing MO Guiyuan was indeed the best strategy.
However, it was more or less ridiculous to make a military pledge. It was not in line with his actions.
It seemed that His Majesty was really forced by the White Lotus Society.
Qin Canglan said, “If I weren’t injured, I would have been the one to a.s.sa.s.sinate
MO Guiyuan.”
The Old Marquis’s face darkened. “What do you mean? I’m not as good as you, right? Even if you’re not injured, I would be one who kills him!”
It was rare for Qin Canglan not to bicker with him. He reminded him, “MO
Guiyuan must have guessed that the Imperial Court won’t compromise easily. The so-called peace talks are just a cover. He must have set up an ambush and traps long ago. I heard from Wei Ting that MO Guiyuan has a very powerful expert by his side called Slave Xiu. You have to be careful of this person..”