"Mr. Yang, are you okay?"
"Your Highness …"
The two of them were surrounded by people. They could only force a smile and respond to these people who were asking about their well-being.
At this time, the abbot of the temple also knew the identity of these two people. He was supported by two young acolytes and shakily squeezed over and chanted the name of Buddha. The old monk was over 90 years old. Yang Ling and the young Princess were so flustered that they hurriedly put their palms together and returned the greeting.
After a lot of noise, they finally escaped from the monastery. Wu Hanchao said in fear, "Your Excellency, let's go back immediately."
"Why are you panicking?" Yang Ling's cheeks were red and swollen. He laughed for a long time. The little bit of anger in his heart was ignited. "Can another assassin fall from the sky now? It's rare to be happy today. Alas! "
He turned around to look at the temple behind him and sighed, "Does a person in a high position have to live alone and be isolated from the rest of the world? If I immediately go out with the Four Great Vajrapani to protect me, no matter who I see, I have to be separated by a wall of people. What's the point of living? "
Wu Hanchao and the others hurriedly knelt down and bowed their heads. "It's our fault for not defending well enough. Please punish us, Your Excellency."
Yang Ling said lightly, "It's not too late to kill Ma Su after losing the street pavilion."
Wu Hanchao heard this and immediately blushed, sweating profusely.
Seeing his embarrassed appearance, Yang Ling's heart softened. He sighed and said, "Get up. I was just traveling and didn't arrange any time for you. Alas! People only see the glory of being an official, but they can only be like the Bodhisattva in the temple, high up and worshiped by people. They also lose a lot of the joy of being a human. "
His expression darkened. Then he raised his eyebrows and said sternly, "One can only be a thief for a thousand days, but not guard against a thief for a thousand days! The thief just now was not the Three Freaks of Mount Ba, but the second young master of the Maitreya Cult, Li Dayi. The Maitreya Cult has not given up on rebelling and has been going against the imperial court again and again. Inform Wu Jie immediately and ask for all the information about the Maitreya Cult from Dongchang. From now on, the Inner Court will participate in the extermination of the Maitreya Cult. Don't let any of them go! "
The high-level officials of the Maitreya Cult were likely to have infiltrated the imperial court. The news of lurking in the military and government yamen was too important. It was not appropriate to say it in public. Yang Ling swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue. He flicked his sleeves and said, "Where is the big stick?"
"Sir, Big Cudgel has already led his men to chase after them!"
Yang Ling snorted and did not say anything else. Just now, he shot Li Dayi and used the Empty City Stratagem to scare him away. Yang Ling was also very nervous. He gave the blueprints of the flintlock gun that was being developed by the Inner Court to Adni. Although the gun that she modified was easier to operate, it could still only fire one bullet. It was still possible to pull the trigger with one foot, but it was impossible to load the bullet.
At that time, he was only worried that Wu Hanchao and the others would rush in when they heard the gunshot. Li Dayi was at the door. If he felt desperate and turned back to fight with him, then he would definitely die. Although Li Dayi used a trick to escape, it was also because a group of personal guards really valued his life above everything else. That was why they did not dare to act rashly and could not be too harsh and chill their hearts.
Just as Yang Ling calmed down, Zhu Xiang 'er on the other side shouted in exasperation, "Aiya, aiya, it's so annoying. I said it's okay! It's okay! It's okay ~ ~ ~! Boots? … I … wanted to break free from the rope, but I broke free! What's wrong, can't I? "
Yang Ling turned around and saw Zhu Xiang 'er with her hands on her waist, her almond-shaped eyes staring at Zhu Rangjin and the rest of the family. When he looked over, the little girl's gaze was like a flying knife thrown at him. Yang Ling was so scared that he quickly turned back. At this moment, there was the sound of horse hooves in the distance. Looking over, there was a general riding a horse in front, and behind them was a civil official in a sedan chair. Behind the sedan chair were the flags, drums and trumpets who were supposed to open the way. They were waving the flags and signboards, majestically and continuously, rushing towards Zhao Jue Temple.
It turned out that Zhu Rangjin had sent a trusted aide back to the Prince's Mansion to retrieve the gold. Because Li Dayi had limited the time, he did not dare to delay. He hurriedly reported to the King of Shu and rushed back with the gold.
When the King of Shu heard that his eldest son had just been rescued, his youngest daughter was kidnapped, and that the imperial envoy, Mr Yang, was involved, he did not know what evil had happened to the refugees. He was hopping mad and immediately ordered the three departments to arrest them.
When the Chief Secretary, the Inspector, the Commandant, and the Magistrate received the news, they immediately gathered their troops and headed straight for Zhao Jue Temple. At the same time, they separately informed the subordinate yamens to send their personnel. Rescuing the imperial envoy, rescuing the princess, who would be willing to fall behind? A large group of people rushed out of the city at the same time. The Commandant's office was the furthest away and was closer to the city. It was convenient for them to communicate with the military camp outside the city, so they received the news the latest. However, the general rode a horse and arrived first. As a result, the civil and military officials arrived at the same time.
The two of them were safe and sound, so everyone was happy. The officials immediately felt relieved. The officials surrounded them. Some were inquiring about the situation, some were denouncing the evil cult, some were comforting the victim, and some were praising the two of them for fighting the bandits calmly. It was noisy until Liu Da Bang Chui rushed back with his men that they finally stopped.
Although Li Dayi was injured, his horsemanship was excellent. Moreover, by the time Liu Da Bang Chui and the others got on their horses to give chase, Li Dayi had already run a stone's throw away. He carried the Taoist and ran to a rugged area where it was difficult to travel. Then he dismounted and escaped into the forest. By the time Liu Da Bang Chui and the others caught up, they only saw a horse leisurely eating grass.
The valley was surrounded on three sides by green mountains and dense forests. It was a pipe dream for these twenty to thirty riders to search the mountain. Liu Da Bang Chui remembered that he did not know whether Yang Ling was dead or alive. He gritted his teeth and pointed at the mountain, cursing loudly. Then he galloped back.
Listening to him, Yang Ling cupped his fists toward the Administrative Commissioner and the Administrative Commissioner, two Daren, and said, "I have to trouble the two Daren in this matter. I ask the two of you to inform the yamen immediately, to gather all the government officials and strong people, to seal off all the roads, docks, big and small mountain passes, as well as all the towns and villages, to interrogate the unfamiliar residents."
He hesitated for a moment before saying, "If it takes too long, the various government offices won't be able to bear it. Let's set a deadline of three days. After three days, regardless of whether the person is caught or not, all the checkpoints must be withdrawn."
Arresting the bandits was part of the Administrative Commissioner's duty, hence he repeatedly complied. But the Administrative Commissioner An Wentao said, "Daren, assassinating the imperial envoy is a serious crime, plus that person is the leader of the Maitreya Cult. We must spare no effort to lay an inescapable net. If we only set a deadline of three days, the thief will not come out, I am afraid it will be very difficult to catch him. "
"No need," Yang Ling said, "Three days is enough. After three days, you can put up an announcement: Maitreya Cult's Cult Leader's son Li Dayi, assassinated the Imperial Envoy Daren, has been executed according to the law."
Everybody was startled. The Administrative Commissioner Lu Zheng was the first to understand; he praised, "Wonderful! Daren's move of loosening the reins only to grasp the reins better is brilliant. If someone is hiding in the wilderness, even a million people might not be able to find him. In this way, the thief will inevitably relax his guard. We will withdraw the checkpoints in the open, and secretly send out the patrol officers; perhaps it will be easier to catch him. "
The Administrative Commissioner and the others finally understood; they could not help but repeatedly nodding their heads. Yang Ling, on the other hand, was dumbfounded, and then he also nodded his head. Lu Zheng thought that by searching for three days, he would be able to relax the vigilance of the assassin, so that he could catch him openly and secretly. In fact, Yang Ling was even worse than him; he was basically using the method of searching for three days to force someone to take his life.
People who practice martial arts are just physically stronger than ordinary people, they are not indestructible. Although the power of a firearm is limited, but if it hits a human body at such a close distance, it will still cause serious injury. Moreover, Yang Ling saw very clearly that Li Dayi was indeed shot in the left side of his chest.
A legend with a crooked heart would not coincidentally be confirmed by Li Dayi. Lead bullets are poisonous, they will cause the swelling and the degree of decay of the wound, and they hit a vital point. Li Dayi has been running for his life, even on the mountain, he may not dare to stay for long, his injury will certainly be more serious. If there is a bullet in his chest that cannot be taken out, can he survive by smearing some grass and mud?
Blockading the main and small intersections for three days, as if they were searching the mountain, made him constantly anxious, and he could not seek medical attention. This kind of tiring running for his life caused his wound to worsen. If he could hold on until the third day, it would already be a miracle in the world. Why would he exhaust his manpower to look for a dead body?
Why frightened birds die? Killers do not necessarily use knives.
After this incident, it was impossible to continue the tour. Zhu Rangjin braced himself and prepared to be severely scolded by the King of Shu when he returned. The officials came in a hurry, but on their return journey, they put on airs. The banners and honor guards took a long time, but the large group of people and horses had not left the gate of Zhaojue Temple.
Zhu Rangjin and Yang Ling stood side by side at the gate of the temple. They looked into the courtyard for a while and said to themselves, "Strange, little sister suddenly wants to rinse her mouth, making everyone wait here."
Zhu Rangjin was not stupid, and Yang Ling was afraid that he would figure out the reason. Both of them could not help but feel awkward. Mr. Yang's feet were worthless, but the Commandery Princess's feet were not to be touched. He hurriedly interrupted, "Ah, Brother Rangjin, your sister is very favored by the Crown Prince and Brother Rangjin. Just now, looking at the expressions of the officials, they are also very respectful to the Commandery Princess, and their etiquette is no less than that of the Crown Prince."
When Zhu Rangjin heard this, he did not think about this strange matter anymore. He laughed and said, "Your Excellency does not know? Xiao Mei is clever and quick-witted, Fu Wang, Wang Xiong and I indeed dote on her very much. But there is another reason why these civil and military high-ranking officials in Chengdu treat Xiao Mei with as much respect and courtesy as they treat Wang Xiong. "
He smiled slightly and said, "When the current Emperor ascended the throne, father sent an envoy to the capital to send congratulatory gifts. It was little sister who went. After little sister came to the capital, she was very favored by the Empress Dowager. Moreover … father has been repeatedly encouraged by the imperial court, and has no more rewards. When the new Emperor ascended the throne, it is inevitable that more rewards will be given. Thus, the Empress Dowager issued an edict, asking little sister to come to the capital to accompany her and specially promote her to a princess. Little sister will come to the capital at the end of this year. This news has already spread in Chengdu, and the civil and military officials naturally do not dare to be disrespectful. "
The vassal kings could not be rewarded anymore, so they had to give their children. Conferring a princess not only showed the great kindness of the Emperor, but also destroyed the power structure of the local vassal kings, and shook the stability of the foundation of the country. Moreover, it was just another idle person in the palace. The royal family's calculation was very precise.
"Little Chili wants to go to the capital to be a princess? This is bad, women often get tangled up in these messy matters, but they just can't grasp the main point. Looking at her embarrassed and angry eyes just now, I am afraid that she will not be very rational to accept my life-saving love.
Today she helped me take off my boots, will she find an opportunity to give me a pair of small shoes to wear? "
Yang Ling suddenly felt a little bitter in his mouth. He looked around and shouted to Liu Bangchao, "Bangchao, go and get a ladle of water for me, I also need to rinse my mouth …"
* * *
The magnificent Shu Palace was bustling, and it was not so lively even during the New Year. Not only did the officials, gentry and celebrities from Chengdu come to the Palace, as well as the Chieftains or representatives of various tribes, even the three Jun Princes of Chengping, Huiping and Jingqing came with their wives and daughters.
From outside the imperial river to the front of the Red Screen Wall, there was a long line of carriages and ceremonial guards. Those with lower ranks had to stop outside the Roaring Dragon and Roaring Tiger Pavilion. Inside the palace, there was an endless stream of servants and maids in the magnificent palaces and pavilions. This huge palace, which took up one-fifth of Chengdu, was already overcrowded.
Little maids and old nannies ran in and out carrying basins and buckets. The Palm Print Great Eunuch and the Chief of Internal Affairs were busy giving orders, their foreheads full of sweat. Among the palaces, there were scholars and scholars dressed in scholarly robes, civil and military officials dressed in formal attire, and tribal chiefs dressed in various attire. It was almost like a conference of ten thousand kingdoms.
The officials were discussing in private, mostly about the recent suppression of the rebellion of the barbarians, the slight recovery of the King of Shu, and the assassination of the imperial envoy yesterday. Of course, the most popular topic of discussion was whether the King of Shu intended to abdicate the throne with such a grand banquet today.
Inside the Yin An Hall, those who really stood at the top of the pyramid of power in Bashu were gathered. The three Jun Wang, the three officials of the Governor, and the Minister of Cloth, as well as the Chieftains and ambassadors who came to attend the banquet. Today, the King of Shu, Zhu Binhan, was wearing the Crimson Robe with a Coiling Dragon. He looked full of energy, as if he had completely recovered.
The Yin An Hall could not be compared to the Throne Room. There were seats below. Everyone was seated in two rows, Han and Yi. Yang Ling naturally sat at the head of the table. Opposite him were the Chieftains and officials. Yang Ling saw that Ji Pan Wasi and Tuoba Yanran were also seated. He could not help but smile and nod to them.
Sitting on the throne, the King of Shu said with a smile: "The imperial envoy was patrolling on behalf of the heavens. Upon arriving at Chengdu, he immediately rushed to quell the rebellion of the barbarians, quelling the disaster of a hundred years in one fell swoop. Today, I am hosting this banquet to officially welcome Official Yang after I return to the palace, and also to celebrate his achievements. Haha. "
Yang Ling hurriedly bowed and said: "Many thanks for Your Highness' generosity. This lowly official does not deserve it."
The King of Shu did not mention the assassination attempt yesterday. Yang Ling and all the officials and chieftains understood tacitly and avoided the topic. Everyone cupped their fists and congratulated Yang Ling.
The King of Shu twirled his beard and waited for the congratulatory words to die down before continuing: "Ever since the late King Xian ruled Ba and Shu, it has been seven generations. I am the eighth King of Shu. Ever since I inherited the throne, I have not sought to expand but to defend. I have racked my brains and followed the example of the late King, using the teachings of etiquette to govern the western borders. Fortunately, with the assistance of the officials and chieftains, this land is still considered peaceful."
He sighed and said: "In recent years, I have been suffering from a serious illness and often feel sleepy. It is difficult for me to attend to government affairs. The affairs of my residence have long been handed over to the Crown Prince. Although the Crown Prince is slow in talent, he is diligent in learning and upholds the rules of the clan. He is well-educated and handles government affairs on behalf of me. Since the imperial envoy is here, I will announce the abdication of the throne to the Crown Prince. From now on, I hope that all of you will treat the Crown Prince kindly."
The people present were all of the highest rank in Ba and Shu and were well-informed. They had long known that there would be such an abdication. The three Jun Wang followed their usual practice and tried to persuade the King to abdicate. The King of Shu smiled and declined. He then stood up and said: "The gardens in my residence are exquisite and can be considered beautiful. It is now autumn and the golden chrysanthemums are blooming. 'Kikui Qiuxiang' can be considered one of the eight sceneries of Chengdu. Why don't all of you enjoy it? When the banquet starts, I will enjoy it with all of you."
Everyone stood up and respectfully sent the King of Shu to the back of the hall before retreating. Yang Ling went forward to chat with Ji Panwasi and Tuoba Yanran. As they were chatting, Zhu Rangjin came over happily. He first greeted Ji Panwasi and Tuoba Yanran and then said to Yang Ling: "Mr Yang, Yang Shen is also here. He has received the letter from the Grand Secretary and wants to see you."
Hearing this, Yang Ling was overjoyed and hurriedly asked: "How is it? Did Grand Secretary Yang agree? "
Zhu Rangjin laughed and said: "Is there a need to ask when you look at my expression?"
Zhu Rangjin led Yang Ling to the garden where Yang Shen was waiting. Zhu Rangjin said with a smile: "Yang Shen is brimming with knowledge. In my opinion, he is the number one talent in Ba and Shu. To be able to gain Mr Yang's appreciation and contribute to the Imperial Court, as a good friend, I am also very happy on his behalf."
Hearing his good friend's praise, Yang Shen did not put on a humble expression and only smiled lightly. Zhu Rangjin continued: "You two have a good talk. We will drink to our heart's content during the banquet later. I have been too busy today and have not had the chance to chat with some of my good friends. I will go and see Ji Panwasi and Tuoba first. I will look for you in a while."
Yang Ling and Yang Shen cupped their hands to bid farewell to Zhu Rangjin and then turned to walk side by side among the blooming chrysanthemum bushes. Yang Ling could not help but ask: "Does your esteemed father agree to let me recommend you to enter the Imperial Court as an official?"
Yang Shen's expression was also very happy. He hurriedly bowed and said with a smile: "Yes, at first I was still worried. After all, my father is an official in the Imperial Court. If I do this, I will inevitably attract some suspicion. I did not expect my father to reply and actually agree. He also said that once I enter the Imperial Court, I must strictly abide by my duties and fulfill my duties. I must not rely on my father's or Daren's relationship to be flashy and impetuous."
Hearing this, Yang Ling was overjoyed. Although his relationship with Yang Tinghe could not be said to have deteriorated, but ever since Yang Tinghe entered the Cabinet, due to differences in political views and the fact that Yang Ling had ordered people to break his horse's leg, their personal relationship had always been as faint as water. In particular, after Yang Yiqing and Wang Shouren became Yang Ling's faction, their relationship became even more estranged.
Later, Yang Ling found out that Yang Tinghe and Yang Yiqing's relationship had always been poor. Although it did not develop to the point where they were like fire and water, they usually did not interact with each other. Since Yang Yiqing had become Yang Ling's ally, Yang Ling had also become Yang Tinghe's potential rival. The officialdom was complicated. Making friends and appreciating talents could also make enemies for oneself. This was something that Yang Ling had not expected.
But he was very satisfied with Yang Yiqing's military performance. The Great Datong was an important gateway for the Tartars to invade the Central Plains. Dividing the Tartars also required the Datong garrison to move at the right time, seize the opportunity, and create a better opportunity for them to split. Other than Yang Yiqing, Yang Ling really could not find a second person to do this. Moreover, with his current strength, if he wanted to put a person in an important position, he did not need to worry about which faction this person belonged to or which enemies he had.
But now, Yang Ling did not dare to hold out too much hope that Yang Tinghe would agree to recommend Yang Shen. He did not expect that Yang Tinghe would actually agree. This person really did not avoid relatives when recommended, and was very clear about public and private affairs.
What Yang Ling did not expect was that Yang Tinghe's move was most likely not for his son, but to improve his relationship with him. Now the days of the Qingliu faction in the capital were getting harder and harder. They had already been suppressed by Liu Jin to the point where they could not lift their heads.
Ever since Yang Ling's faction left the capital, the power of Yang Ling's faction had become a tortoise with its head in its shell. They were immovable and did not participate in anything. Yang Tinghe had wanted nothing more than for Yang Ling's faction to fall, but now he knew how domineering Liu Jin could be without the balance and restraint of Yang Ling's faction.
The Qingliu faction was suppressed, and as the leaders of the Qingliu faction, he and Li Dongyang were under even more pressure. Not only were they suppressed from the outside, but they were also attacked by the internal officials who were dissatisfied with them. As a result, the two big shots were now living like a year, and they eagerly hoped that Yang Ling would return to the capital as soon as possible.
Who knew that Yang Ling was addicted to fighting. After fighting the East and the West, he was now competing with the Barbarians. After receiving his son's letter home, Yang Tinghe calculated that this was a chance to ease his relationship with Yang Ling. Besides, no one knew his son better than his father. He still knew what his son was capable of, and he would not be ashamed of the position of recommendation, so he immediately wrote a letter and agreed.
Yang Ling did not know that there was such a background. To be able to obtain such an outstanding and knowledgeable person like Yang Shen to help him, he was naturally full of joy. Yang Ling happily said, "After attending the King of Shu's banquet today, I plan to return to the capital early in the morning tomorrow. Will you go to the capital with me?"
Yang Shen said, "I am ashamed. After receiving my father's letter, I did not rush over. If I leave now, there are many things that I have not explained to my family. My family's elders are all in Bashu. When I enter the capital this time, it will be difficult for me to come back. I will have to pay my respects to these elders. "
"Oh, there is no need to prevent that. It is not too late to go to the capital after you have taken care of your personal matters. In any case, after I return to the capital, I will be busy for a while." Yang Ling smiled faintly. He could not help but think of Liu Jin's always modest and humble face, but with hidden murderous intent.
The officials who came and went in the Chrysanthemum Garden could not do it either. Whenever they saw Yang Ling's official robe and jade belt, regardless of whether they knew him or not, they knew that this young man was the imperial envoy Sir Yang. They could not help but step forward to pay their respects. Yang Ling was annoyed and walked with Yang Shen as they talked. Gradually, they turned into a remote road.
In reality, there was no road here. Usually, the repairs were not very detailed. The grass on the ground was also not neatly cut. Yang Shen suddenly stopped and said in a strange tone, "It's the Heir. Why is he here?"
Yang Ling turned his head and saw two figures appear behind a few bushes of flowers and grass. They stood facing each other and were talking. Under the cover of the flowers and grass, the girl's figure was tall and slender. She was dressed in red. Standing sideways, her beautiful figure had exquisite curves. Looking at her appearance, it seemed that she was bitterly begging Zhu Rangxu for something.
Zhu Rangxu nodded and shook his head at times. His expression was very serious. Yang Ling said, "I heard that this Heir does not care about women. He is a very strict person. I did not expect that he would have a confidante." It was not good for him to peek at other people's private matters. Yang Shen did not want to bump into other people's private matters. Without prior agreement, the two of them gestured to each other and quietly turned away.
After walking a few steps, Yang Ling unconsciously turned his head and saw Zhu Rangxu shaking his head. He seemed to say something very angrily. The girl in red hurriedly pulled on his sleeve. Zhu Rangxu suddenly swung his sleeve and walked away. The girl stared blankly at him as he left. She wiped her tears and also turned to leave.
Yang Ling could not help but secretly shake his head. "I am afraid it is the emotional entanglement between a man and a woman. An undeserved reputation is really harmful! Zhu Binhan carried the reputation of the King of Shu for being benevolent and loving to the people. He guarded the western borders with the Confucian etiquette. This became a constraint in his administration. He knew that the barbarians were becoming more and more rampant and should have been severely punished as a warning to others. However, he still appeased and compromised. He tolerated evil and almost caused a disaster.
As for the Heir of the King of Shu, his status is extremely high. It is not a big deal for him to have a few wives and concubines. Just for the sake of his strict family style and reputation of not flirting with women, he has let down the beauty. Sigh! If it were me... "
Yang Ling shook his head again...
* * *
The King of Shu was the wealthiest of all the kings. His wealth was unparalleled in the world. Even the daily expenses of the royal family could not be compared to his. It was just that the King of Shu could afford some forbidden items but did not dare to use them.
Today, after seeing the grandeur of the King of Shu, Yang Ling finally believed these rumors. He had enjoyed the royal banquet in the capital and received the highest standard of hospitality from the wealthy families in Jiangnan. However, compared to the King of Shu, they inevitably paled in comparison.
The richness and luxury exceeded that of the royal banquet. The bearing and style were also better than that of the aristocratic families in Jiangnan. Under the orders of the Chief of Internal Affairs, beautiful and slender young girls dressed in expensive Shu brocade carried expensive golden plates and jade cups to serve the dishes that were meticulously prepared. Gold and jade slices, green cauldron and rhinoceros chopsticks, scarlet-lipped bear meat, roasted camel meat. The dishes were all top-notch dishes from all over the world.
Naturally, the King of Shu and Yang Ling were the focus of everyone's attention. The King of Shu was unwell and it was good enough that he could sit with them. He used tea in place of wine and no one dared to toast him. The Crown Prince and Zhu Rang Jin held their cups in place of their father and patrolled the table to urge him to drink. The officials took turns to toast Yang Ling.
In any case, today's pretense was to celebrate Yang Ling's victory, and this was not considered breaking the rules. It was fine for the civil and military officials to toast, but Yang Ling was only taking a sip, and no one dared to persuade him to drink. But even though the chieftains looked extremely respectful towards him, they were more daring when they raised their wine cups. If they did not finish the cup, they would not leave even if their faces and necks turned red.
Fortunately, the housekeeper of the King of Shu was experienced and had already thought of this. The rice wine prepared for Yang Ling was very light, which was why Yang Ling was able to drink it in a heroic manner. This made those chieftains, who felt that they had gained a lot of face, leave with smiles on their faces.
Although the rice wine was not strong, one would still feel dizzy after drinking too much. Yang Ling had to stand up and toast the King, the civil and military officials and the chieftains.
When Yang Ling toasted, the Crown Prince would naturally drink on his father's behalf. The civil and military officials and chieftains naturally did not dare to be negligent. When it was Tuoba Yanran's turn, Yang Ling did not expect such a delicate and pretty beauty, whose body was so delicate that it seemed like it was dancing on his palm, to be able to lift a jade cup and finish the wine in one gulp. Dumbfounded, he quickly pinched his nose and downed the wine.
Today, the King of Shu seemed to be in a very good mood. He sat at the same table as the three Jun Wangs and chatted softly. From time to time, he stroked his beard and smiled. It was only when everyone was a little tipsy that the King of Shu stood up with a smile and slowly picked up his cup.
The silence was like a ripple, spreading rapidly with the King of Shu as the center. The silence at the table caused the neighboring tables to quickly feel the strangeness. In a short while, all the officials noticed that the King of Shu had already stood up. The huge wave of whispers that had gathered to form a huge wave stopped abruptly. Everyone looked towards him.
The Zhu Rangxu brothers, who had been urging others to drink, hurried back and stood behind him. All the officials stood up in unison, but the hall was still completely silent.
"My lords, I have set up a banquet today to entertain Mr Yang Yang Ling. I have invited all the Bashu officials, chieftains, aristocrats and celebrities of Chengdu, and the three royal relatives of the Jun Wangs. Hahaha, good. As the saying goes, there is no time like the present. I have a piece of good news here and I want to inform all of you. My son asked Rangxu to … "
Just as he said this, he saw a maid rush in from the back door. Her footsteps were staggering and her face was deathly pale. The hall was completely silent and no one moved. So when a maid suddenly barged in, everyone couldn't help but be startled. The King of Shu also stopped talking and looked towards the maid.
With one look, he didn't have any impression of her. The King of Shu's household had many maids and the King had not been in the palace for the past two years, so he didn't think much of it. He only frowned and said, "What happened? Why did you barge in without permission? "
Prince Jingqing hurriedly stood up and said, "Royal Brother, please forgive me. This is a maid of this young prince's residence." As he said this, he waved his hand and said, "Quickly leave. What are you doing here without any manners?"
The maid looked somewhat beautiful, but her face was frighteningly pale. Her voice trembled as she said, "Your … Your Highness, Second Miss, she … she, she …"
At this point, she couldn't hold on any longer and fell to her knees with a sob.
Prince Jingqing's expression changed. He frowned and said, "Mengli? What happened to her? Isn't she properly accompanying the princesses and princesses in the inner palace? What happened? Quickly tell me! "
The maidservant's lips were trembling and her face was pale. Before she could speak, another person barged into the back hall. She was dressed in green and had a delicate body. It was the princess, Zhu Xiang 'er. Her face was not much better than the maidservant's. The moment she entered the door, she shouted in a trembling voice, "Father, Sixth Uncle, Sister Mengli, she … she's dead!"
"What?" The King of Shu was shocked. Prince Jingqing's body swayed and he almost fell. Luckily, Zhu Rangjin reacted quickly and caught him. Everyone in the hall was stunned. Everyone held their breaths and stood rooted to the spot.
The King of Shu asked again in disbelief, "What did you say? Mengli, she … she's dead? "
"Yes, yes, yes." Zhu Xiang'er shrank her neck and nodded repeatedly. Her whole body was trembling and her curly eyelashes couldn't stop trembling. Tears had already blurred her eyes.
"What happened? Quickly, quickly go and take a look. " The King of Shu was supported by the Crown Prince as he staggered to the back hall. Zhu Rangjin supported Prince Jingqing and followed closely behind. The other two princes looked at each other in dismay. Finally, they stood up and followed behind.
The womenfolk were in the backyard of the palace. Outsiders were not allowed to enter. Prince Jingqing attended the banquet, but his beloved daughter suddenly died in the palace. What exactly happened? And who killed her?
Without permission, none of these officials dared to act rashly. Only after everyone in the Prince's Residence had left did they exchange glances and whisper to each other.
Yang Ling's status was high. He sat at the same table as the King of Shu. Other than him, the others at that table were all members of the royal family. Now that they had all gone to the inner palace, he was the only one sitting at the head of the table.
Mengli, or Zhu Mengli, was the daughter of Prince Jingqing. Since she was called Second Miss, she was probably still unmarried. Even if she was a legitimate daughter, she probably hadn't been given a title. That was all Yang Ling could guess. He had no idea whether this girl was flat or round, tall or short, fat or thin.
He raised the teacup to his lips and paused for a moment. Then he quietly put it down and sighed softly. "Am I wronged? I'm leaving tomorrow. I don't even know that girl. This killing shouldn't have anything to do with me, right? Do I, Yang Ling, look like a jinx who brings disaster along the way? Sigh! I'm really wronged... "
※ ※ ※
After a long time, footsteps sounded from behind. The hall suddenly became solemn. Everyone looked towards the entrance of the back hall. They saw Crown Prince Zhu Rangxu's face was ashen. Accompanied by the eunuch and the head of internal affairs, he walked to the front of the banquet table. He clasped his hands together and said in an unsteady tone, "Lords, let me thank you on behalf of my Lord Father for attending the banquet. Now... "
He took a deep breath and clasped his hands together. "Now that something has happened in the manor, it is really inconvenient to entertain you. Let me apologize on behalf of my Lord Father. Please return to the manor for the time being."
Zhu Rangxu then clasped his hands towards Yang Ling and said, "Sir Yang, and Inspector Daren, please stay."
Like a whirlwind, all the officials left the banquet table like a falling tide. Yang Ling and Lu Zheng walked towards Zhu Rangxu. Zhu Rangxu bowed to Lu Zheng and said, "Lord Lu, you are in charge of the punishment of Bashu. Now there has been a murder in the back garden of the manor. The deceased is... is the second daughter of Prince Jingqing's manor, Zhu Mengli. It is not good for too many people to enter the back garden. Please send two reliable and efficient constables to the back garden to take a look. Chief Shi, lead Lord Lu. "Lu Zheng's expression was stern. He did not say much and left with the head of internal affairs. Only then did Zhu Rangxu turn to Yang Ling. His expression seemed to be a bit absent-minded. He opened his mouth for a long time before saying, "Sir Yang, in Lord Father's shock and anger, his body... his body is very unwell. I have already called for the imperial physicians. Right now... right now the back palace is a mess. I still have to hurry and take care of things. I cannot personally send you back to the manor. I am very sorry. "
Yang Ling was not overly cautious and quickly returned the greeting. He said, "Not at all, not at all. Shizi, please restrain your grief. Shizi, please take care of His Highness. I believe that Lord Lu will definitely find the murderer and bring him to justice."
Hearing this, Zhu Rangxu's expression suddenly became very ugly. He forced out a smile and said, "What Daren says is correct."
Yang Ling said with a sigh, "This official... will take his leave now. I had originally planned to return to the capital tomorrow and then bid farewell to His Highness. Now this situation... Shizi, please go back and tell His Highness. Yang Ling will not disturb you. "
Zhu Rangxu bowed deeply and said, "Yes, I will see Daren off now."
Even though today's incident was unpleasant, it was at most a murder case. The local government would investigate the case and search for the culprit. It would not affect Yang Ling's movements. Yang Ling had the thought of returning to the capital and was even more eager to do so. Returning to the temporary headquarters, he ordered Liu Da Chui to pack up and prepare to return to the capital the next day.
The banquet was stained with the smell of alcohol. Yang Ling had someone fetch water and took a bath. Then he changed into a soft robe and slowly walked out of the bathroom in bamboo shoes. Wu Hanchao came forward and said, "Daren, Yang Shen and Ji Pan Wasi said they have something to report to Daren. They have been waiting for you in the study for a long time."
"Oh?" Yang Ling felt it was a little strange. He nodded and walked into the study in his bamboo shoes. Seeing that the two did not sit down but were rubbing their hands and pacing back and forth in the room with a frown, he could not help but laugh. "What is it? Is the tea here unpalatable? Why aren't the two of you moving? "
"Daren!" Yang Shen cried out in pleasant surprise. Jepan Wasi had already pounced on him agitatedly. Grabbing his arms, he said, "Daren Yang, you are the imperial envoy, you … you are very capable in war, you will definitely be able to save him, only daren, please save him."
Yang Ling was baffled and asked, "Who does Brother Ji Pan want me to save?"
Yang Shen pushed Ji Pan Wasi away and hurriedly said, "Daren, there was a murder in the rear courtyard of the prince's residence. Prince Jingqing's beloved daughter, Miss Zhu Mengli, was strangled to death in the garden. When Prince Jingqing rushed over to investigate, he discovered that she was tightly clutching a jade pendant in her hand. That jade pendant was something that Brother Jingqing had always carried with him."
"Impossible. I have seen Zhu Rangjin's martial arts. If he wanted to kill a weak girl, would he be so stupid as to not know that his jade pendant had been torn from his waist? This is clearly an old-fashioned framing! "Yang Ling said decisively.
Yang Shen stamped his feet. "It is precisely old-fashioned that it is effective! Zhu Mengli died in the rear palace of the Prince of Shu's residence. That is a place that outsiders are not allowed to enter. She was strangled there, so the murderer must be someone from the Prince of Shu's residence.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Zhu Rangjin's jade pendant appeared in the hands of the deceased. What would Prince Jingqing think? As someone who has suffered the pain of losing his daughter, he only wants to pay with his life. Would he be able to calmly consider the suspicious points? If we don't arrest Brother Rangjin, how will Prince Jingqing explain this to Prince Jingqing? "
"Does this mean that Brother Rangjin has already been arrested? What about the Chief Inspector of the Department of Internal Affairs? What did Lord Lu say? "
"During today's banquet, there were people walking around the garden from time to time. To kill someone without being discovered would require a very short amount of time. One must be extremely skilled in order to silently kill someone in an instant. In addition, this person was able to lead Second Young Miss to the back of the garden. Not only is he someone she is familiar with, his status is also comparable to hers. In this way, there are very few suspicious people. Moreover, she is tightly holding onto the second prince's jade pendant, so how would the Chief Inspector dare to exonerate him? He has already been sent to prison. "
At this time, Ji Pan Wasi interjected, "Fortunately, he has been sent to prison. Otherwise, he would have been beheaded by Prince Jingqing's sword. We heard from Rangjin's mother, Madame Liu, that when the jade pendant was found on Young Miss Mengli's body, Brother Rangjin seemed to have gone mad. He only shouted, 'Someone is trying to harm me, it wasn't me.' When the sword stabbed into his chest, he didn't even try to dodge. It was only because the heir desperately hugged Prince Jingqing's arm that his life was saved."
Yang Shen said, "It is easy to suspect Brother Zhu's innocence, but to exonerate him is even more difficult. Daren's wisdom is unparalleled, especially with your status. Anyone would have to think twice before speaking. Daren, I and Ji Pan dare to use our heads to guarantee that Zhu Rangjin is not an evil villain. Please, Daren, you must save him. "
Yang Ling silently sat on the chair, his mind a mess, unable to make any sense of it. Was there someone who wanted to kill Junzhu in order to shift the target and frame Zhu Rangjin, or was it simply to frame Zhu Rangjin?
Unfortunately, Yang Shen and Ji Pan Wasi did not say anything of value, so how could he guess? But Zhu Rangjin, this person's knowledge of martial arts, temperament and character, had already been regarded as a friend by Yang Ling during this period of time. How could he just sit back and watch and leave?
At this time, Liu Bangchao rushed over excitedly, shouting, "Daren, will you be wearing an official's robe or light clothes when you leave tomorrow? If you don't need clothes, I can pack them up. "
Yang Ling sighed and waved his hand weakly, saying, "Pack what? Open the bag, this official will not leave tomorrow! "
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