"He's not Zhou Xiang?"
Wu Yanxiu shouted as soon as she figured out Xie Ruiqi's identity, "Let's go and arrest him!"
He hastily took a few steps forward and suddenly remembered something. He turned to Xie Ruiqi and said: "You, bring a few people who recognize Zhou Xiang and accompany me to capture him. As long as we can capture Zhou Xiang, it will be a great merit for you."
Xie Ruiqi hurriedly picked a few clerks to accompany Yang Fan and Wu Yanxiu outside. The yamen was like a small imperial court and took up quite a lot of space. When they reached the front gate, they saw several officials walking towards them.
When they saw Xie Ruiqi, they greeted him, "County Secretary Xie, are you going out?"
Xie Ruiqi anxiously asked, "Have you seen County Lieutenant Zhou since you came from outside?"
The officials shook their heads in confusion. At this moment, a passing scribe suddenly interrupted, "County Lieutenant Zhou? I saw him go in that direction. Is County Secretary Xie looking for him? "
Wu Yanxiu leaped forward and grabbed the man's collar, shouting, "Quick! Take us to him immediately! "
The scribe did not know Wu Yanxiu's identity and could not help but panic. Xie Ruiqi hurriedly said, "Hurry up! Zhou Xiang has committed a major crime and this is an official sent by the imperial court to arrest him! "
The scribe suddenly realized and hurriedly said, "Please, please come this way."
Zhou Xiang jumped over the wall of the yamen and ran along the alleyway. Not long after, a large group of people caught up with him. Zhou Xiang ran to the main street and saw that the soldiers were getting closer and closer. He suddenly grabbed a knife from a nearby pork stall and threw a basket of vegetables at the pursuing soldiers.
As a County Lieutenant, Zhou Xiang was responsible for arresting criminals and robbers. He was skilled in martial arts but was not strong enough to deal with soldiers. Moreover, these soldiers were the elite of the imperial army. Fortunately, Yang Fan hurriedly shouted, "The capital region is a restricted area. Do not cause any trouble."
The soldiers only listened to Yang Fan's orders and when they chased after him, they had some misgivings. They did not want to kill anyone by accident, nor did they want to create a mess in the market. This allowed Zhou Xuan to escape a little further. However, Zhou Xiang had been an official for a long time. His stamina was no match for the Imperial Army soldiers. By the time he reached the end of the long street, his legs were as heavy as lead.
Seeing that he would be captured alive if he continued running, Zhou Xuan looked up and saw a small temple in front of him. He immediately rushed in with his saber.
Wu Yanxiu had suffered in the grasslands for several years, so he had a good physique. He lifted his robe and ran quickly. Seeing that Zhou Xiang had escaped into the small temple, Wu Yanxiu immediately shouted, "Quick! Surround the temple immediately! "
The small temple wasn't big, and it didn't seem to be much bigger than the Earth Temple. There weren't any incense offerings in the temple, and it was cold and deserted. There was only an old temple attendant guarding the small temple. He was sitting at the door, drying his torn cotton-padded jacket. Seeing Zhou Xiang rush in with a sharp saber in his hand, he was so scared that he stood at the door, not daring to go back.
The soldiers quickly surrounded the small temple and began to chase away the peddlers and passers-by who were setting up stalls. Seeing this, Yang Fan frowned slightly and said to Wu Yanxiu, "Although there is only one thief, we must guard against a cornered dog jumping over the wall and stabbing people with a saber. Duke, please guard outside with your men. I will go in and capture him. "
Wu Yanxiu was naturally happy with Yang Fan's arrangement. He said, "General Yang, be careful."
Yang Fan laughed and said, "Relying on him? He is still not my match. "
Yang Fan said in a loud voice, "All of you guard here. I will go in and capture him."
One of Yang Fan's cooks called out, "Great General's life is priceless, how can you put yourself in danger? He is just a county officer, how much ability can he have? Let this lowly officer lead some men in and capture him."
Yang Fan waved his hand and walked in alone with his saber. Wu Yanxiu immediately said, "All of you guard this place. If he escapes, I will hold you responsible!"
The words on the temple's plaque were peeling off so much that Yang Fan couldn't clearly see the name of the temple. He walked into the temple, crossed a small courtyard, and entered the main hall. He saw Zhou Xiang clutching the sharp saber tightly, looking up at the statue of a deity in a daze.
The deity statue was old and simple. Because the old temple attendant cleaned it from time to time, its facial features could still be seen clearly. However, this deity statue was rare. Although Yang Fan saw it, he couldn't tell which deity it belonged to.
Zhou Xiang heard footsteps but didn't turn his head. He only muttered, "It's fate. At this moment of life and death, I actually escaped to Bigan Temple. This … is probably God's will. "
Only now did Yang Fan know that this small temple, which had almost no incense offerings, was actually worshiping Bigan, a loyal minister during the Shang dynasty.
Yang Fan let out a light sigh and said slowly, "I don't believe in God's will. I believe that everything depends on human effort. However, I have to say that you people are hot-blooded, but you can't accomplish anything and are more than capable of ruining things. Such an important matter, yet you can let others casually overhear it. This matter is not confidential, so what can you accomplish? "
Zhou Xiang suddenly turned to look at Yang Fan and said sternly, "Who reported it? Zhang Zhongzhi, Zu Yanqing, or … "
Yang Fan interrupted him and said, "If it was your accomplice who reported it, then it can only be said that you don't even have the ability to judge people. The person who reported it is an outsider living in Prince Consort Wang's residence, Song Tan, Song Zhixun's son. How could you let him overhear such an important matter? Isn't it ridiculous?"
"So it was him!"
Zhou Xiang first gnashed his teeth in hatred, but then he thought of how such an important matter was so easily overheard by others. He couldn't help but feel dejected.
Yang Fan took two steps forward and raised his head to look at the statue of Bigan. He said, "County Lieutenant Zhou, when I met you at the Wannian County yamen, I already suspected you."
Zhou Xiang was startled and looked at Yang Fan in astonishment.
Yang Fan said, "You didn't wear official robes, but official boots. I know that you just came back from the Prince Consort Wang's residence, so it's normal for you not to wear official robes. There are actually not many people with official positions in the yamen, so I should have stopped you to ask about your identity, but I didn't do so. "
Zhou Xiang looked at him in a daze, not knowing what to do.
Yang Fan continued, "When we rushed to your detention room, I saw County Secretary Xie's blank expression when he answered you. I knew that he wasn't you, but I still ordered him to be arrested, hoping to buy some time. Even when we were on the street just now, I still hoped that you could escape … "
Zhou Xiang's eyes brightened, and his excited voice began to tremble. "You … you also hate the Wu clan for monopolizing power and bringing chaos to the court? You and I are kindred spirits. Can you let me go? "
Yang Fan looked regretfully at him and lightly shook his head. "I once wanted to create an opportunity for you, and I created three opportunities for you. Unfortunately, you still couldn't escape. There are people from the Wu Clan among the people who came with me. I can't let you escape now. "
Zhou Xiang's face drained of blood and turned deathly pale.
Yang Fan said, "The Son of Heaven wants me to capture you alive. Do you understand why?"
Zhou Xiang was at a loss. "Why?"
Yang Fan couldn't help but sigh. These people had nothing but hot blood. They really weren't made for changing dynasties. He whispered, "Because the emperor … or King Liang, wants to use you to involve the Prince of Xiang and Princess Taiping. Do you understand?"
Zhou Xiang was suddenly enlightened. Yang Fan looked at him sympathetically. "Some people are willing to sacrifice their lives for their ambitions, but they might not be able to endure the torture of torture. In the end, even their illustrious reputation will be ruined. Thus, I cannot allow you to be captured alive. "
Zhou Xiang slowly nodded and bitterly smiled. "I understand."
Yang Fan slowly held his blade across his chest and stared at him. "Are you going to do it yourself, or do you want me to send you on your way?"
Zhou Xiang brightly laughed. "There is no need for you to do it. I am not a coward!"
He flipped his wrist and pressed the sharp knife against his chest. He looked up at the majestic statue of Bigan and said in a deep voice, "Since you're a person of my Dao, I'll leave the matter that we haven't competed in to you yet!"
With these words, Zhou Xiang gripped the hilt of his blade with both hands and fiercely thrust it at his chest. Yang Fan saw him move and couldn't help but avert his gaze. After a while, there was no more sound. Yang Fan turned his head and saw Zhou Xiang standing firmly in front of the statue of Bigan, his eyes bulging out of their sockets as he breathed his last.
… …
Wang Tongjiao, Zhang Zhongzhi, and Zu Yanqing had all been captured alive by Li Xian's men. Li Xian had brought Wang Tongjiao back to the palace and given him a thorough scolding. No matter how Wang Tongjiao explained, he refused to believe that Wang Tongjiao only wanted to assassinate King Liang, and that he had no intention of assassinating his mother-in-law or forcing his father-in-law to abdicate.
Li Xian's line of thought was not unreasonable. If he wanted to ensure the success of the coup, he truly couldn't just eliminate King Liang. If he wanted to achieve his goal, he had to kill Wei Empress after killing Wu Sansi. Only then could he ensure the complete collapse of the Wu clan and Wei Clan.
Was this the end of the matter?
Of course not!
The emperor's wife and the emperor's most trusted minister were all killed by you. Then, you wept and spoke your heart's content, and the emperor would let bygones be bygones and repent. He wouldn't have to worry that one day, when he didn't listen to you, you would kill him as well. Would he then be willing to follow your ideas and become emperor?
How naive.
If Zhang Jianzhi and Huan Yanfan had planned to continue allowing Wu Zetian to preside over the court after killing Zhang Jianzhi and Huan Yanfan, then not a single one of the Prince of Xiang, Taiping, King Liang, or any of the generals in the army would have responded to their actions. Wouldn't that be playing with the lives of their entire clans?
Thus, Li Xian did not believe that Wang Tongjiao's goal was that simple. Even though Wang Tongjiao's goal was actually that simple. In terms of politics, they truly were very naive. They hadn't even thought about killing Wei Empress. They simply believed that by killing Wu Sansi, they would be able to bring clarity to politics and peace to the world.
But who would be willing to believe these words of truth? Not only did Li Xian not believe them, he felt that they were just a few people. Other than Wang Tongjiao, there wasn't a single person they could bring out. They actually dared to plot the assassination of the empress and King Liang and threaten the Son of Heaven to abdicate. This was impossible!
Even though Zhou Xiang had already committed suicide to escape punishment, Wang Tongjiao, Zhang Zhongzhi, and Zu Yanqing were still alive. Li Xian believed that they might be able to find the true mastermind behind the scenes. Thus, he handed these three living witnesses over to Imperial Censor Li Chengjia and Supervising Imperial Censor Yao Shao as the chief interrogators, with Prime Minister Yang Zaisi, Li Jiao, and Wei Juyuan as his assistants.
The edge of his blade flashed as he pointed it at the Prince of Xiang and Taiping.
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