Thunder resounded through Chang 'an. The rain did not lessen, but instead seemed to be getting heavier.
Xu Buling walked out of Zhang Xiang's mansion in a straw raincoat. He did not care about the heavy rain and only thought about the information he had just asked.
According to the information he had obtained so far, the general process should be:
Sixty years ago, the Xiao family secretly hid the Dragon Lock Gu.
Ten years ago, the Cui family used the Dragon Lock Gu to kill Zhu Silk Mountain.
After that, Song Ji's death soldier B robbed the Dragon Lock Gu.
The Dragon Lock Gu disappeared in the summer of the year before last.
In the winter, he was hit by the Dragon Lock Gu.
The timeline of the Dragon Lock Gu gradually became complete, and the fog covering it became slightly clearer.
First of all, someone must have deliberately thrown out bait to interfere with the original sequence of events. Jia Yi said that he gave the Dragon Lock Gu to the Wolf Guards ten years ago, the corpse of the Tomb of Martyrs, and the evidence of the coffers were all fake. The purpose was to lead him to the palace.
Secondly, the Dragon Lock Gu had been in the hands of the Emperor for at least six or seven years.
The Emperor knew about the Dragon Lock Gu, but he did not say it because it was not easy to explain. But this was also doubtful. After all, the palace treasury was in the Imperial City, and the chance of it being lost was too small, unless there was a spy in the palace.
The person who deliberately led him to the palace to confuse him was obviously not the Emperor. If it was the Emperor, he could have directly released the real news. There was no need to go through so much trouble to fake it.
But now, Xu Buling did not believe that the Emperor had nothing to do with the Dragon Lock Gu.
After all, the reason he came to the capital was that there were rumors in the streets that there were vassal lords plotting to unify the country and that the court was preparing to remove the vassal lords.
It was too much to set up such a big trap just for him. Even if he was killed, it would not change the fact that the Xu family had too much military power and great achievements. Because Su Of Gojoseon was only in her forties. If she wanted to, she could have a bunch of sons.
So the ultimate purpose of using the Dragon Lock Gu on him was most likely to reduce the Xu family's military power and fiefdom.
The removal of the vassal lords could not be without reason. Otherwise, it would cause the other vassal lords to resist.
The removal of the vassal lords must be the Xu family's mistake.
The only way to get the Xu family to commit a crime that would cause them to lose their status as vassal lords was to rebel.
The Su King obviously wouldn't take the initiative to plot a rebellion, so the simpler way was to have him, a martial arts expert and heir in the capital, deceive the monarch and offend his superiors.
There must be a reason why he deceived the Emperor and offended his superiors. Therefore, he led all kinds of clues to the Emperor and sent antidotes to ensure that he would recover some of his martial arts skills.
He must have a reason to deceive the Emperor, so he led all kinds of clues to the Emperor and sent the antidote wine to ensure that he would recover...
Xu Buring knitted his brows tightly. Although he did not find out who the mastermind was, he finally figured out the motive of the person behind the scenes. It was only with this goal in mind that he would make such a messy pile of things.
Now that he knew the goal, it was much easier to break out of this situation.
Whether it was the Emperor or someone else who set up this trap, it was all to make him have no choice but to deceive the Emperor and offend his superiors in order to form the conditions for removing the vassal state.
Then he would do the opposite, which was to not deceive the emperor and offend his superiors. In fact, it would be fine as long as he remained loyal and devoted. His hands were his own. Anyway, now that he no longer had the Dragon-Locking Parasite, he didn't believe that he wouldn't make a single mistake. If he obediently studied in Chang 'an City, the imperial court wouldn't be able to use groundless accusations to behead him and remove King Su's vassal.
If the Emperor dares to do this, the Seven Princes will not be a joke.
Thinking of this, Xu Buling calmed down a little.
…
The heavy rain pattered on the bamboo hat, bending the edge of the bamboo hat.
Zhu Manzhi held the bamboo hat with both hands and trotted to Xu Buling. At this time, she was far away from Zhang Xiang's mansion. She chattered with shock and admiration.
"Wow, Crown Prince Xu, you're so good. A dozen people are gone. You're even better than my father …"
Xu Buling threw the iron sword to Zhu Manzhi. His expression was calm.
"Don't you listen to books every day? One against a thousand, superb martial arts, do you think that's nonsense from the storyteller? "
"Hehe …"
Zhu Manzhi was a little excited. She hung the sword on her waist and blushed. She thought about it and squeezed under Xu Buling's arm. She stood on tiptoe and hooked her arm around Xu Buling's shoulder like a good brother. She lifted her chin.
"The storyteller said that the Young Master bullied men and women and loved married women. Is it true?"
"…"
Xu Buling thought about it carefully and nodded.
“？”
Zhu Manzhi frowned. She raised her small fist and punched Xu Buling's shoulder. "Young Master Xu, you … you can't do this. Only those lechers will take the virginity of married women. You're so good, handsome, talented, and powerful. How can you do that kind of thing …"
Xu Buling shook his head and chuckled. He removed his arm from his shoulder and held her cold hand.
"Then, Miss Zhu, what kind of girl do you think a Young Master like me should like?"
"…"
Zhu Manzhi's hand was held in his palm. She squirmed a little bashfully, but she could not pull her hand out. That was it. She frowned and thought about it for a moment.
"The Young Master is nineteen this year. The girl he likes should be younger than you. Hmm … fourteen years old and above is the best. She should also know how to read and write so that she can chat with the Young Master about poems. She should also know some martial arts so that she can train the Young Master. As for looks … the Young Master is so beautiful. He can't be too ugly. Otherwise, they won't be a good match … "
Xu Buling held her hand and walked in the rain. He nodded seriously. "Miss Zhu's words make sense. According to what you said, Qing Ye is too suitable. She is devastatingly beautiful, knows martial arts, and knows how to read and write. She's also just the right age …"
Zhu Manzhi blinked. She suddenly looked a little unhappy. However, she did not dare to show it. She lowered her head and said softly,
"Hmm … Little Ning is a taciturn person. The Young Master also doesn't talk much … Two people who don't talk much will be boring together. Two people who talk a lot will definitely quarrel. The Young Master should find a girl who talks a lot … "
Xu Buling gave her a sideways glance. "I haven't seen many girls who talk a lot."
Zhu Manzhi pursed her lips. She rolled her eyes and thought for a moment. "Take your time. You'll meet one eventually …"
Xu Buling nodded. He pulled Zhu Manzhi back to the small courtyard. In the bedroom, he took off his wet robe and changed into a clean one.
Zhu Manzhi had been lying on the roof for a long time. Her clothes were already wet. Unfortunately, the room was not big and there was no screen. She hesitated for a moment and did not dare to take it off. She just looked at the painting on the wall with a blushing face.
After Xu Buling put on his clothes, he put on the bamboo hat and coat again. He raised his hand and pinched her face.
"I'll go back to the city in a few days. I'll come to find you then. Your father is so powerful. You don't have to worry. After I leave Chang 'an, we'll go to Jianghu together."
Zhu Manzhi naturally looked forward to it. However, after seeing Xu Buling's martial arts, she felt a little embarrassed.
"You won't dislike me, will you?"
"We're brothers of the opposite sex. Why would I dislike you?"
Xu Buling chuckled. He opened the door and walked out. He raised his hand and waved.
Zhu Manzhi obediently watched him leave. She only giggled when Xu Buling's figure disappeared over the wall of the courtyard. Satisfied, she threw herself on the bed …
