When Yang Ling returned to his residence, a guest was already waiting there.
The guest was Commander Li Sen, who had pacified the barbarians for more than a month. He had deployed troops and used this period of war to establish his authority in the army. He was someone who knew how to seize the opportunity, so once he returned to Chengdu, he immediately used his newly established authority to consolidate his position in the army. That was why he had been busy for the past two days and had not had the time to visit Yang Ling.
Zhu Rangxu had a good impression of Yang Ling. Now that he found out that Yang Ling was a beast in human skin, and although the King of Shu was old-fashioned, he was indeed a rare virtuous king. To be tormented by illness and his unfilial son to this extent, Yang Ling was not in a good mood, so he was not in the mood to strike up a conversation.
Li Sen had also heard about the Second Prince's murder and knew that Yang Ling had a good relationship with him. He thought that Yang Ling was troubled by this matter, so he did not dare to ask. He went straight to the point and said, "Daren, when I returned to Chengdu, I immediately reorganized the troops, arranged my trusted aides, and sorted out the accounts and soldiers. There is progress now."
Yang Ling smiled and said, "That's good. In two days, I will return to the capital. It is not good to bring the Wolf Soldiers into the capital. Besides, Zongbing Song still needs to return to Guangxi to arrange the affairs of the tribe before returning. Xiaowu … I can't let go now, and Zongbing Song's talent cannot be wasted. When she comes back, I will arrange a suitable position for her. In this case, I will have to trouble you to mobilize a group of soldiers to protect me back to the capital. I also don't want to go to Shaanxi. The weather is getting cold, I want to go directly back to the capital. "
"Yes, yes, this is a small matter. Daren has the authority to mobilize the troops within the three guards. It is not a big deal to recruit a group of soldiers to protect you." Li Sen repeatedly agreed and said, "Daren, this lowly official checked the armory and discovered something. It is not a big deal, but the person involved is not an ordinary person, so I have to inform you. In the future, if someone investigates, with you as a witness, this lowly official will be able to escape responsibility."
Yang Ling asked, "What is it that you, Lord Li, can't make the decision?"
Li Sen laughed mischievously and said: "It is not a big matter. This lowly official checked the military equipment and discovered that the Chengdu Guards Army is missing two cannons. Furthermore, the consumption of gunpowder is even greater. After further investigation, I discovered that the cannons were borrowed by the Crown Prince's manor more than a year ago. It is said that wild boars often destroy the crops and sometimes injure people. They sent people to guard the cannons, but they cannot guard there day and night. Later, they discovered that when they use the cannons to bombard the cannons, the wild boars are frightened and often do not dare to come again for ten days to half a month."
He mumbled to himself, "You said the former official sold a favor and did this lousy thing, but now I have to clean up his mess. Those are military firearms. Not only is it inappropriate to do so, strictly speaking, it's also against the rules. Although two cannons can't do much, the villagers don't know how to use them and a lot of gunpowder will be wasted. It's not good for me to ask the Crown Prince for more. What do you think … "
Yang Ling sat in silence for a while, then lightly sighed and said, "En, this official understands. I will be responsible for helping you get it back."
The two of them discussed official matters for a while. Seeing that Yang Ling was in a bad mood, Li Sen obediently stood up and took his leave.
After this person left, Royal Prince Jingqing came again. This tall and fat royal prince entered the door and faced Yang Ling without saying a word. Yang Ling also had nothing to say. The two of them silently faced each other for a long time. Only then did Yang Ling order a group of imperial bodyguards to carry Miss Zhu's coffin back with Royal Prince Jingqing.
Royal Prince Jingqing bowed deeply to Yang Ling and paused for a while before straightening up. His eyes were full of tears, and without saying a word, he turned around and left.
Yang Ling's mood became even more gloomy. He strolled to the rear courtyard and saw Wu Wending's family of three talking about bows and arrows. They looked happy and harmonious, and his mood eased a little. He didn't disturb Wu Hanchao and Song Ai's family. Turning around, he went to the side hall, asked for hot water, and happily took a bath. After changing into a scholarly robe, he felt much more relaxed.
Yang Ling returned to his study. Just as he finished organizing a pile of files, Big Stick ran in with a huff and puff. "Daren, that Yang Shen from last time is here again, and that Miss Tuoba." He grinned and raised his hand, saying, "Daren, look, Miss Tuoba is really generous. Either she doesn't give a gift, or she gives a gold ingot just like this."
When Yang Ling saw this, he jumped in fright. Sure enough, it was a very large gold ingot. He estimated that it was twice the size of Miss Tuoba's fist. It was really difficult for her to carry it on her body.
Yang Ling hurriedly said, "Quick, quick, invite them in!"
Yang Shen's expression was tranquil, but Tuoba Yanran was smiling sweetly. Her pretty face was happy and angry at the same time. She was so gentle and charming that it was unspeakably moving. When she saw Yang Ling, she quickened her steps and smiled sweetly. "Greetings to Mr Yang. Mr Yang's literary skills are like Guan Zhong's, and his martial skills are like Marquis Wu's. I didn't expect that you would also be so brilliant in prison. Once a huge conspiracy was set into motion, the whole case was revealed. It really makes Tuoba Yanran admire you from the bottom of her heart."
Yang Ling invited the two to sit down and ordered, "Servants, quickly serve tea." Then he smiled and said, "I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it. It's just that there are many scruples in handling cases according to the rules of the Ministry of Investigation. It's convenient for me to do things, so I dare to search everything. In addition, Miss Zhu has left behind important evidence. The suspect … it's hard for him to move around. Even if he sneaks in, I'm afraid he won't have the time to search carefully. Whoever gets his hands on this fatal item, the case will be solved.
Hehe. "As he said this, a blush flashed across Tuoba Yanran's face. She rolled her eyes at Yang Ling and bit her lips with her white teeth. Then she said with some embarrassment," What Daren found is not only Miss Zhu's belongings, it seems … seems like there's something else? "
"Something else?" Her enchanting smile made Yang Ling's heart skip a beat. In his mind, he immediately recalled the panties and undergarments he found in Zhu Mengli's room, as well as all kinds of women's undergarments. After thinking for a while, he felt that something was wrong.
He slapped his forehead and repeatedly said, "Oh oh, I'm muddle-headed. Miss, please don't blame me." Yang Ling hurriedly took out the box of letters and handed it to Tuoba Yanran. He laughed dryly and said, "Brother Rang Jin is also one of the suspects, so I had to investigate. Please forgive me for my lack of manners."
Tuoba Yanran blushed and received it. She pretended to be magnanimous and said, "What are you apologizing for? Speaking of which, you are Rang Jin's great benefactor. Moreover, there's nothing shameful in this box." She tried to cover it up, but her little face turned even redder.
Yang Ling saw that her face was full of shyness and happiness, which was much more pleasant than usual. Moreover, he had also read the letters. Not only were they in love with each other, but they also wrote to each other. Their biggest worry was that the King of Shu would not agree to their marriage. Not to mention that Tuoba was a barbarian, the most important thing was that the power of the 15 tribes in Shu had always maintained a certain degree of balance, stabilizing the situation in Sichuan. If the young master of the most powerful tribe were to marry into the King of Shu, this balance would definitely be broken.
Now that there's a chance, I know about their relationship. Since everyone knows about it, there's no harm in saying it out loud to help this couple. Thinking about this, Yang Ling smiled and said, "I misread Miss's letter. It's my fault. Today, I'll return the favor."
He paused and said, "After Second Prince's imprisonment, the King of Shu has many misunderstandings about him. He feels that he owes him a lot. Tomorrow morning, he will go to fetch his son back to prison with a full guard of honor. This is to make it up to him. If Miss asks someone to propose to the King of Shu today, in my opinion, there's a 99% chance that the King of Shu will agree. Haha, tomorrow might be a double blessing."
"Really? When I get back, I'll ask Master Ji Pan of the Yi family to propose for me … "Tuoba Yanran was so happy that she blurted out this sentence. Halfway through her sentence, her face turned red and she was so embarrassed that she could not say another word.
Yang Shen touched his nose and gave a muffled laugh. He said, "Being straightforward is a real person. What's the matter? "
Tuoba Yanran's embarrassment faded a little. She snorted and said, "A fake person only knows how to play dumb. Does he think I care about him? When he's out, I still want to settle the score with him. Humph! He learned the Heavenly Book but hid it from me. "
Yang Ling smiled and said, "Why learn the Heavenly Book? Everyone is a book. Some are thick, some thin, some deep, some shallow. You can't finish reading them all in a lifetime. "
He was expressing his feelings but Tuoba Yanran thought that he was helping Zhu Rangjin. She glared at him and said, "So you also know that he is learning the 'Heavenly Book of Rock Engravings'. After all this time, I'm the only one who doesn't know and you're helping him to hide it from me. Humph!"
When she mentioned the 'Heavenly Book of Rock Engravings', Yang Shen understood. It turns out that many mountains and rivers in Shu are engraved with strange ancient words. People could not understand them and so they said that they are Heavenly Books. Because they are engraved on rocks, they are called 'Heavenly Book of Rock Engravings'. He could not help but ask curiously, "Is he studying the 'Heavenly Book of Rock Engravings'?"
"Still pretending!" Tuoba Yanran snorted disdainfully, "I don't like sand in my eyes. Don't try to help him hide it from me. If this is not the 'Heavenly Book of Rock Engravings', then what is it?"
As Tuoba Yanran spoke, she took out a book from her sleeve and placed it on the table. Her pretty eyebrows raised and her expression was full of pride.
Yang Shen picked it up and flipped it open. He frowned and said, "It looks like it, but not at the same time. These simple strokes …"
He raised his finger and gestured for a while. Shaking his head, he said, "I have not studied the 'Heavenly Book of Rock Engravings'. However, these words look like it, but not at the same time."
Yang Ling took it and looked at it curiously. Since he did not recognize it, he placed it on the table and smiled, "You should comfort Brother Jin for being imprisoned for no reason. He is a man after all. Whenever he has some skills, he should immediately tell others. Isn't that showing off? "
Tuoba Yanran snorted and said, "In short, I have told him everything, no matter how big or small. There is no reason for him to hide something from me. What's so great about being a man?"
Yang Ling and Yang Shen burst out laughing. Yang Shen was still young and did not know how to joke. Yang Ling, on the other hand, smiled and said, "Miss Tuoba is amazing. I can imagine that Brother Jin will have a hard time in the future. Hmm, pain and happiness, hahahaha … "
At this moment, Liu Bangchao came in with tea and was placing the teacup on the table. Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of the book on the table. After taking a few glances, he suddenly exclaimed, "Aiya, Marshal, you also know the Ghost Handwriting? Hehehe, look at these words. My surname is Liu. Hehehe … "
"Uh … Why are you looking at me?" Liu Bangchao scratched his beard. His mung bean eyes looked around and looked at the three of them in confusion. The three of them scrutinized Liu Bangchao as if there was a flower growing on his face.
Yang Ling looked at his two companions who were too ashamed to show their faces. He took a deep breath and said, "There is the number one genius in Bashu here. He is so knowledgeable that I have never seen anyone like him. Tuoba Yanran is also a talented woman. Not only is she excellent in Chinese, she is also proficient in Tibetan and a few other languages. Needless to say, I … I know some simple words, Hanyu Pinyin, and English, but Liu Bangchao …"
Yang Ling rolled his eyes and asked, "Bangchao, can you read?"
Liu Bangchao said confidently, "Of course I can't read. Doesn't Sir know that I can read? I don't know how to read, but I can read this word …" He pressed his thick and fat finger on the book and said, "It reads Liu."
"How do you know it?" This time, even Yang Shen could not help but ask.
"Oh, there is an Old Ding in Sir's bodyguard. He is from Henan. I once saw him fiddling with this strange word, so I asked him about it. He was quite nervous and told me not to tell anyone. He said he is from the water tribe." Liu Bangchao scratched his head and said, "I have never heard of this tribe.
Da Bangchui scratched his head and said, "I've never heard of this clan before. Old Ding said that these characters are from their clan, and they use them to speak to the gods when they worship ghosts and deities. The ghost masters in the clan set up altars and burned the letters written in these characters to ashes so that the ghosts and deities would be able to see them. Haha, how mysterious. Anyway, with his character, I don't believe that ghosts and deities would have the time to listen to him. However, I casually asked him how to write my surname, and he drew it for me. The characters looked quite interesting, so I remembered them."
Yang Shen suddenly said, "So it is the language of the water tribe. I have heard of it before. Some people say that it is a book of witchcraft, used to communicate Yin and Yang. The water tribe originated from the Sui River in the central plains, which is in Henan. It is said that the water script originated from the 'Book of Luo'. According to the principles of the Book of Changes, astrology, and the five elements, it is used to deduce good fortune, predict misfortune, and solve difficult problems. It involves Yin and Yang, the five elements, and the eight trigrams. Hehe, I did not expect Brother Rang Jin to not only be proficient in the Book of Changes, but also to study the water script. "
Tuoba did not suspect that this strange word had anything to do with the relationship between a man and a woman. He was just angry that he had told Zhu Rang Jin everything he knew, but Zhu Rang Jin was hiding something from him. She rolled her eyes and laughed, "Fine, tomorrow when Rang Jin is released from prison, I will give him a big surprise to scare him. Mr Yang, please ask that guard of yours to come out and help me identify what is written on this. Don't think that he is the only one who knows. Tomorrow when he becomes the King of Shu, I will read it to his face to scare him."
Yang Ling also thought that it was interesting and laughed, "Big Bang Chao, quickly go and call Old Ding over."
Big Bang Chao replied, "Your Excellency, Old Ding has just left to support the coffin of Prince Jingqing's daughter. He has not returned yet."
"Oh, then … Miss Tuoba, please leave the book here for now. When Old Ding returns, I will ask him to copy it into Chinese. I will attend the banquet tomorrow and find an opportunity to deliver the translation to you."
Tuoba Yanran happily agreed and put the book aside.
This time, Tuoba Yanran really did bring a large number of gifts. There were a total of three big boxes, and each box required four people to carry, and it was quite strenuous. Yang Ling did not know what was inside, and he was dumbfounded. However, Tuoba Yanran was used to being domineering. If she did not want to give gifts, no one could force her. If she wanted to give gifts, no one could refuse to accept them.
After sending these two off with great difficulty, Yang Ling did not even have time to rest before the little princess, Zhu Xiang 'er, arrived.
Zhu Xiang 'er looked sorrowful and Yang Ling did not know what to say to her. The two of them entered the study and sat facing each other in silence for a while. Yang Ling sighed softly, "Princess, I am really sorry. I rescued your second brother, but sent your eldest brother to prison …"
Zhu Xiang 'er seemed to have matured a lot after this incident. She only shook her head slightly and no longer looked unruly. After a while, she said with tears in her pretty eyes, "Thank you, Your Excellency, for clearing … clearing my second brother's name. This princess … is acting on my father's orders to deliver an invitation to Mister Yang."
"An invitation?" Yang Ling was a little surprised. The King of Shu's family was already in such a miserable state. Why would they still need to invite a guest?
"Mm!" Zhu Xiang 'er wiped her tears and said, "My father's body is very … very unwell. It is difficult for him to get up today. Tomorrow, he will personally fetch my second brother out of prison and hold a banquet for all the officials, as well as the chiefs of the various tribes who have yet to leave Chengdu … I would like to invite Mister Yang to the banquet!"
The King of Shu had always loved his eldest son and neglected Zhu Rangjin. Now, he finally realized his mistake. Moreover, his body had been agitated by this incident. It was likely that he would not be able to live to the next year. Due to his guilt, he must have decided to abdicate and pass the throne to the second prince.
Yang Ling knew this, but he could not bring himself to congratulate the second prince. He only silently accepted the invitation and promised to attend the banquet the next day. Zhu Xiang 'er politely sat down for a while, took a sip of tea, and got up to leave.
Yang Ling sent her to the main door. Suddenly, he remembered something and hurriedly caught up to her. He said, "Oh yes, the crown prince's manor borrowed two cannons from the guards last year to drive away the wild boars. This is a violation of military regulations. Could Your Highness please instruct us to return the cannons to the guards?"
"Eldest Brother's manor … cannons?" Zhu Xiang 'er was stunned at first. Suddenly, she realized and said, "Oh, you mean that. Those two cannons …"
* * *
Today was the day that the second prince, Zhu Rangjin, was released from prison. The King of Shu, Zhu Binhan, was dressed in a red dragon robe. He was fully dressed as a vassal king and personally went to the prison to fetch his son. Behind him was an empty sedan chair. The standard of the guards of honor was obviously the treatment of the crown prince.
He was so grand not only to compensate his son, but also to inform the civil and military officials and the people of the city that the two princes were both in prison. If he did not do this, how could he capture the people one by one to explain?
He had already sent someone to inform Zhu Rangjin. He had also agreed to the marriage between Tuoba Yanran and Zhu Rangjin. Today, the two auspicious ceremonies of abdication and engagement would be held at the same time. The King of Shu's manor was decorated with lanterns and streamers. It was extraordinarily lively, sweeping away the sadness and gloom of the past few days.
In the Chengdu prison, on the other side of the prison where Zhu Rangjin was locked up, the crown prince, Zhu Rangxu, was locked up. Separated by a corridor was his brother. His brother was going to be cleared of injustice and released from prison today. What about him?
Did someone set up a trap for him from the beginning? Or did they see that they could not harm his second brother again, so they came up with another plan to harm him? Or … it was all him …
Zhu Rangxu's expression changed. He shook his head in disbelief. "It's true that it's difficult for me to defend myself, but when Rang Jin was arrested, the jade pendant was also an indisputable token. Didn't he clear his name? I will hold on until the public trial is held and wait for the day the truth is revealed.
He was wearing a white prison uniform and sat with his back facing the prison door. His hair was disheveled and he no longer looked like the high and mighty crown prince. Just then, the prison door opened. There were six people in front of them, followed by two wardens, who were trembling with fear. These six people were the six Brocade Guards who had spied on Second Prince Zhu Rangjin last time. They didn't dare to offend them.
However, these prison guards were also puzzled. Why was it that the King of Shu's family had something to do with the rebellion when one of them came in, but it was still related to the second one? The Imperial Bodyguards had their eyes on them.
The leader of the Imperial Bodyguards walked to the prison door and raised his voice. "The Imperial Bodyguards stationed in Sichuan …"
Before he could finish his words, the two prison guards turned and left. They smiled apologetically as they walked and said, "We will take our leave."
Zhu Rangxu slowly turned around and said calmly, "Imperial Bodyguards? What are you doing here? Is someone in my family involved in this? "
The Imperial Bodyguard learned his lesson this time and took the initiative to step aside. A captain slowly walked out from behind and slowly raised his head. He smiled and said, "Crown Prince, it was me who wanted to see you. I asked the brothers of the Imperial Bodyguards to cover for me …"
"Yang … Mr Yang!" Zhu Rangxu's eyes widened and he cried out involuntarily.
Yang Ling smiled faintly and bowed in greeting. "That's me!"
※ ※ ※
It was too busy today. When Zhu Rangjin returned to his residence, before he had time to do anything, a large group of palace maids and eunuchs barged in. They carried all kinds of equipment and busily helped him dress up. There were too many things to prepare for the coronation today, not to mention the engagement ceremony for the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince also had to prepare auspicious clothes in addition to his coronation robe. He would first announce the coronation, then change into the auspicious clothes for the engagement ceremony. This way, Tuoba Yanran could not meet him. She opened another room and was dressing up.
The clothes were so complicated. Zhu Rangjin had worn gorgeous clothes, but he had never worn such complicated and meticulous clothes. It was just underwear. Others could not see it, so why did it have to be so formal? He was already sweating profusely even before he took action. However, he could only endure it and let others do as they pleased.
Inside and outside, he was wearing a black robe with auspicious animals, mountains and rivers embroidered on it. Inside and outside, he had already worn five sets. Another four palace maids came forward, carrying a white muslin tunic, a collar, a knee covering, a leather belt, a golden hook and a jade pendant. The materials were all of the best quality, but it was uncomfortable to wear so many of them.
After much difficulty, he finished dressing up. The crown was also properly placed on his head. Two eunuchs carried a huge bronze mirror. Zhu Rangjin could not help but hold his breath. Is this mine? He was no longer the elegant and refined young master dressed in black robes. However, there was an additional hint of might and seriousness in his handsomeness.
"All of you … leave. I need some time alone." Zhu Rangjin's voice was a little dry.
The eunuchs and palace maids bowed and left the room. Zhu Rangjin took two steps back in front of the bronze mirror and carefully looked at the person in the mirror.
The originally broad and strong shoulders looked even more powerful after being padded. The slender and stalwart figure, the temperament of the royal family, the gentle movement of the elegant and luxurious robes, all represented that this was a high and mighty person, a person above all, a dragon among men!
Is this me? Zhu Rangjin stared at the bronze mirror as if he was looking at a complete stranger. He stared for a long time, as if the figure in the mirror had become a little blurry. His eyes did not move away. He did not even notice that Yang Ling had appeared at the door with a guard.
Yang Ling coughed and cupped his hands together. He smiled and said, "Congratulations, Crown Prince. Yang Ling is here to congratulate you!"
"Ah!" Zhu Rangjin was shocked and suddenly came to her senses. She hurriedly went forward with a face full of smiles, pulling Yang Ling affectionately, "Sir Yang, I was just looking forward to seeing you. Come, come, come, come in and have a seat. Aiya, this robe is really troublesome, it's inconvenient to move around."
Zhu Rangjin complained as he carefully adjusted the crown and hat and looked into the bronze mirror.
Yang Ling slowly walked to the side and sat on a chair. Zhu Rangjin looked at the crown and saw that it was not crooked. He was relieved. He turned his head and saw the yellow-faced, thick-bearded guard standing at the door. The guard's arms were crossed and the knife was gently swaying at his waist. It was as if he was deliberately guarding the door to prevent people from entering or leaving. He felt it was a little strange.
He turned his head and smiled at Yang Ling. "I was just released from prison when I was picked up by my father. I was endlessly manipulated by this group of servants. I haven't found a chance to thank Your Excellency for clearing my grievances. It's just that Eldest Brother … "
Zhu Rangjin's smile gradually disappeared and was replaced with a sad expression. He said sadly, "I … I really didn't expect Eldest Brother to be such a person. I have deliberately distanced myself from power. Why can't he tolerate me?" Zhu Rangjin gently wiped the corner of his eyes with tears.
Yang Ling also had a sad expression. He said sadly, "I … really didn't expect that the Second Prince is such a person. Is power really that important? It can make you abandon your sibling relationship and harm your brother and sister. It's heartless! "
"What?" Zhu Rangjin suddenly raised his head. A pair of sharp eyes shot out a knife-like light. His eyes flashed. He stared at the calm Yang Ling for a long time. Zhu Rangjin suddenly smiled happily. "Sir Yang really knows how to joke. Hahaha, but I just got out of prison. I really can't take it anymore. Haha, hahaha …"
"Hahaha …" Yang Ling also laughed loudly. After laughing, he stood up and slowly walked to the wall. He looked at the painting on the wall and said, "The Second Prince, the Crown Prince, and the Princess, when they were young, went fishing together. It was a happy and harmonious life. It was really interesting. Second Prince, when I first saw this painting, I always felt that something was not right. I don't know what it was.
But now I understand. The incongruity lies in the fact that they are just children. They are more interested in fishing or playing. They are not seventy or eighty years old and only like to be quiet. There are only you three siblings by the river. Why do you need to climb up a high rock, so far away from others, and fish so attentively. "
Yang Ling gently stroked the painting and said, "The elder brother has the fish in his hand. The younger brother is trying his best to fish. The elder brother catches the fish and tells the younger brother about his joy. But the younger brother doesn't even look at it. He just stares at his fishing bobber. Is he jealous or is he sulking? Sitting and watching the angler, envying the fish … Good poem, good poem, a young man who is just over ten years old is so competitive with a fish. Is he really indifferent to fame and fortune now, treating the big fish, the throne, as nothing? "
Yang Ling turned his head. He had a smug look on his face. He smiled and said, "You imitated the handwriting of four people. You put the younger sister first and yourself last. Actually, you want to express the depression in your heart by saying 'envy the fish', right? Hehe, I am so smart. Second Prince, what do you think? "
Zhu Rangjin looked at him for a while and suddenly smiled. He walked to his desk with a smile and took a fan without a care. He gently fanned himself. His fingers were steady and his posture was elegant. He praised Yang Ling, "It seems that you have real evidence. Otherwise, you would not dare to speak so confidently to me.
But, is there anything wrong with me? I am also his son. I am the youngest son. Do I receive any more love? What is born to be my eldest brother's son? He has been good to me since I was young. That is because he cares for his brother. I have been good to him since I was young. Flattering the Prince, bastard! "
He suddenly stopped talking and pressed his palm on the table. Slightly trembling, he panted and said, "So what if I'm good? People will only speculate about me. It's like this once, ten times, a hundred times, and it's still the same. Why are there so many bastards who think they're smart and judge others by their own standards? I can't wait to kill them all! "
He yelled and waved his arm fiercely. His elegant and handsome face looked a little sinister. After a long while, he regained his composure and said with a faint smile, "So … I thought, why is the Heavens so unfair to me? Whether it is talent or ability, how am I worse than Zhu Rangxu? The only difference between us is the mother who gave birth to us! "
He looked outside the door. On both sides of the door was a dense bamboo forest. There was a Taoist in the bamboo forest that led to the front of the hall. The eunuchs and palace maids were standing far away. There was only the guard at the door.
He smiled easily and asked, "My plan can be said to be flawless. How did you know?"
Yang Ling also smiled easily and said, "Flawless? Don't I know now? I want to know. You want to kill the Prince and take the throne yourself. You have plenty of opportunities. Why did you wait until now? "
He laughed self-deprecatingly and said, "That's true. I am Yang Zhitou, Broom Yang. I only know how to harm people. Why would I know how to solve cases and save people? I think I am also a pawn that you used. Your Second Highness doesn't care about me at all, right?"
"You're wrong," Zhu Rangjin said very sincerely, "I really think of you as a good friend. Moreover, I think of you as an extremely talented and capable person. Yang Shen is already the most knowledgeable person I've ever met, but a great talent in ruling the world does not need to know so much, so much. You can point out the most correct path for others, that's enough.
Opening roads, repairing roads, building bridges, making carriages and ships, you may not know how to do these things. Naturally, there will be others to do it. However, the most important thing is that you pointed out the most convenient, fastest, and least laborious route. Yang Shen is a genius. Perhaps he can open up mountains and open forests. He knows many things. However, you are a person who can point out the right path. I really admire you. "
Yang Ling lowered his eyebrows and sighed softly. "I also admire you. You almost succeeded."
"You are wrong, Mr. Yang. Just because I saw through it doesn't mean I could stop it. I still succeeded," Zhu Rangjin said calmly.
"It is not that easy to kill the Prince. My eldest brother and I were taught by the same master. Although his martial arts is not as good as mine, it is not too far off. If I had poisoned him, there is no poison. It is colorless, tasteless, and does not leave any traces. If the Prince was poisoned or died from the stimulation, I would inevitably be suspected. Therefore, I thought … If I cannot kill the Prince, can I borrow a knife and let someone else do it? "
Yang Ling looked at Zhu Rangjin's beaming face and smiled faintly. "You also have a good reputation. Alas, an undeserved reputation is harmful."
Zhu Rangjin did not understand. He continued, "Therefore, I began to look for a murderer who has nothing to do with me. A murderer who can kill my eldest brother without implicating me … are all barbarians. Ah Da has always been arrogant and insufferably arrogant.
However, he has never thought of rebelling. It is not that he does not want to rebel, but this idiot who has never seen the world has long regarded himself as an emperor. Therefore, I sent someone to pretend to be a merchant and sell him the most exquisite and expensive porcelain and silk that he has never seen before, to let this barbarian who calls himself a king in the deep mountains broaden his horizons. I also bragged to him what a real emperor should do, tempting him to sit on the dragon throne and make dragon robes.
Because I know that his territory is limited. No matter how much trouble he makes in the mountains, father will not care too much. However, if he oversteps the rules and claims to be an emperor, father will not be able to sit by and watch. He has to deal with this matter. He has been ill in recent years, so the person to deal with this matter is naturally the Prince. Hehe, in fact, I am more suitable than him, but I have no chance to stand out. I will always be a spare. "
Yang Ling suddenly interrupted, "What about the gold brick? Did you also sell it to him intentionally? "
Zhu Rangjin disdainfully said, "A barbarian in the mountains thinks a yellow robe is a dragon robe, and a chair with two dragons carved on it is a dragon throne. Has he ever seen a real dragon robe or a dragon throne? However … this gold brick cannot fool him. I had no choice but to take the risk to get it, just to make his reputation a little bigger. "
Zhu Rangjin said, "He has Han people who have sought refuge with him. There is a fellow there who is a craftsman from Suzhou's Imperial Kiln Village who has committed a crime. He escaped and sought refuge with him. Although he has never seen a dragon throne or a dragon robe, he has seen gold bricks. Seeing that Ah Da is particularly concerned about this, he told him that just wearing the dragon robe and sitting on the dragon throne is not enough to be an emperor. His feet must be paved with gold bricks."
So that's how it was. The origin of the Gold Brick Theft Case was due to the absurd request of a Brute Tribe Chief. The world was truly unpredictable. Yang Ling was overcome with emotion. He asked, "You schemed and plotted, and put in so much effort to set up such a huge trap, just to kill the Crown Prince?"
"Yes!" Zhu Rangjin solemnly said, sitting there with the air of a king, "This matter cannot have the slightest connection with me. Father's health is getting worse and worse. If I wait until he inherits the throne, it will be even more difficult for me to touch him. So I must hurry.
The matter of him overstepping the rules and becoming a king has finally spread. As a vassal king, if I ignore it at this point, it will be a serious dereliction of duty. Father could only order Eldest Brother to rush over to deal with this matter. Haha, Eldest Brother is the same as Father, stubborn and inflexible. He also talks about benevolence to the bandits. I only used a little trick and sure enough, he listened to my words and went into the mountains to reform the barbarians.
As for me, I rushed to Wangzhu Creek to enjoy the scenery. The whole matter has nothing to do with me. When things get out of hand, Father will naturally put me, a backup, to use. "
When he said this, he sighed softly, "Of course, I will be benevolent and righteous to save him, but I also arranged people to say the same thing about Tumu Castle as Yan Gaocai. When the time comes, they will admonish me in public. I can only follow their good advice and use troops without giving in. Eldest Brother will not be able to escape death. Who would have thought … God sent you … You big broom. "
Zhu Rangjin shook his head and smiled bitterly, still looking very appreciative of Yang Ling, "The whole thing is like this, it was destroyed by you. I did not expect that Eldest Brother, who has always been dull, to learn to be smart this time and know how to use money and power to 'reform' the wicked. Haha, money and power are weapons that are always successful. They are the sutras that help people lay down the butcher's knife and become Buddha on the spot. Isn't it so?"
Yang Ling calmly said, "So, after your first plan failed, you used another one?"
Zhu Rangjin shook his head and said, "Man proposes, God disposes. If one plan fails, I will not blame God. I will wait patiently for the second good opportunity. If Father wants to abdicate, then so be it. As long as he dies, I still have a chance. On the day of abdication, I had the Chief Steward bring Tuoba and Ji Pan to visit the Princess before rushing to the garden to look for you. I found that Eldest Brother and Mengli were talking and you were standing in the dark watching, so I hid myself and did not go over.
Later, when I passed by the pond, I saw Mengli crying as she looked at the water. I called her to the back of the forest to ask her the reason. She and I are much closer than Eldest Brother. I promised to put in a good word for her. She then told me that she had an affair with the guard Tang Jiashan and that she was already pregnant. Now she really has no other way out … "
Yang Ling smiled coldly and said, "So, as her most trusted elder brother, you helped her choose a path … a path of no return."
Zhu Rangjin's eyes sharpened and he immediately restrained it. He said with a relaxed and composed smile, "Riches are found in danger. A real man is vicious."
Yang Ling thought for a moment, his gaze turning serious as he said, "You set yourself up to die, and used a series of schemes to lure out your elder brother, the 'true culprit'. This scheme … You came up with it on the spur of the moment after hearing about Zhu Mengli?"
Zhu Rangjin smiled proudly and said, "That's right."
"Genius!" Yang Ling murmured and sighed.
Zhu Rangjin smiled proudly.
"A genius of crime!" Yang Ling added.
Zhu Rangjin's smile froze and then he said with an unconcerned smile, "I immediately thought that God has given me a good opportunity. It's like the natural stronghold that the Barbarians rely on. With a little modification, it's a strange and difficult barrier to pass. Since I can't kill the Crown Prince and I failed to kill him with a borrowed knife, can I change it to the Crown Prince to kill me? "
Yang Ling interrupted him and said, "You're still using a borrowed knife to kill the Crown Prince." He shook his head and said, "You're an ambitious person. You're like a person, like the Maitreya Cult Master Li Fuda. He's also good at hiding behind the scenes and killing with a borrowed knife."
Zhu Rangjin smiled wholeheartedly and said, "Li Fuda? He's just a lowly bandit. What can he accomplish? I'm not borrowing your knife but the knife of the Inspector of Internal Investigations. However, you're willing to stand up for me and exchange it for the knife of the Yang Family. I'm grateful to you from the bottom of my heart. I used to admire you but now I'm liking you more and more. Didn't you see that I'm not angry at all when you ridicule me? "
He frowned and said, "Although it's a plan that I came up with in a hurry, I'm the one who borrowed the momentum. The whole plan can be said to be flawless. How did you see through it?"
Yang Ling smiled and said, "It's flawless but I have the help of the Weaver Maid!"
"What?" Zhu Rangjin was confused.
Yang Ling smiled and changed the topic, "In an instant, you came up with such a plan and fell into a desperate situation. It's too perfect. If I directly framed your brother, when he was about to become the King of Shu, I'm afraid everyone would think that he was framed and the biggest beneficiary … you, would be the biggest suspect. This way, with a roundabout way of pointing the sword at him, no one would suspect anything. "
Zhu Rangjin laughed and said, "That's natural. I killed her and purposely left the jade pendant behind. I created a perfect scam and came up with a perfect plan. Then, I immediately rushed to tell my teacher. Because I'm in prison, there are many things outside that need to be done by him."
When Yang Ling heard the two words' jade pendant ', he said in surprise, "You purposely let her catch … your teacher? … Little Lingzi?! The person who conspired with you was him? "
"Haha, you didn't expect that, right? The matter of the jade pendant was simple. I didn't want to leave any traces. How could she, a weak girl, catch it? In the martial arts of the West Region, there's a tendon contraction method. Even if a person dies, if the corpse is not stiff, the tendon and meridians will be tightly contracted. How difficult would it be to make her struggle and grab the jade pendant to create a better impression? "
Yang Ling was no longer interested in the jade pendant. He stared and said, "Little Lingzi? He's your father's personal bodyguard and also the teacher of both you and the Crown Prince. Why is he willing to help you like this? Even if the two of you colluded long ago, you're just a powerless second prince and he's an old eunuch with no desires. Why are they willing to take such a risk? "
"Who says … old eunuchs have no desires?" Zhu Rangjin said slowly, "Little Lingzi was originally the son of the chief of the biggest tribe in the West Region's grassland. He lost in the fight for the throne with his brother and was castrated and exiled to the Central Plains. All these years, his biggest wish is to return to the grassland and ascend the throne. But father can't help him with this matter. I promised him that as long as he helps me wholeheartedly, I'll help him take back the grassland and land that belongs to him."
"Even if you ascend the throne, you have no right to mobilize the army to fight against the outside world and help a prince who lost power decades ago regain the throne. Little Lingzi has stayed in the palace for so many years, he wouldn't be clueless about the rights of a prince. Would he believe your nonsense?"
Zhu Rangjin smiled and didn't answer. The expression on her face was very strange. Lightning flashed in Yang Ling's mind. He suddenly said in shock, "You … You're not only after the throne! You still want to rebel?! "
Zhu Rangjin smiled disapprovingly and said, "Even if it's one, it's still the same. I've already passed the first day, why not the fifteenth?"
Yang Ling was speechless and murmured, "What a big ambition. When a person has their first desire, their ambition will continue to expand. You're really not content. If you really become the emperor, you should pursue the achievements of Qin Huang, Han Wu, and Genghis Khan."
"A real man should be born like this, right?"
Seeing that Yang Ling didn't answer, he smiled uninterestedly and continued, "With Little Lingzi by my father's side, I can act to my heart's content and don't have to worry that my father will really hurt me. When I'm in prison, if no one can tell that there's something fishy about it, my people will take the initiative to release some clues for the authorities to investigate. Luckily … the main judge is changed to you. You really didn't let me down."
"After I was in prison, I never thought that my father would think that I had done something shameful and actually wanted me to commit suicide to protect my reputation. Hehe, my heart is really cold and I don't have the slightest bit of guilt for what I've done. I forged my cousin's letter overnight. My people rushed over early in the morning to retrieve it and placed it in Mengli's room. In addition to the death trap I set for myself previously, once this item is discovered, according to common sense, it would be very difficult for anyone to suspect that the second murderer is innocent.
But that's not enough. There's still Tang Jiashan. Although Big Brother is rigid, he's not stupid. It can be seen from his behavior of 'educating' the bandits at Nine Silk Mountain. At the critical moment, he will definitely expose Tang Jiashan. That way, his crime won't be confirmed. Therefore, after my people knew that you took away the keepsake, they immediately carried out the next step of the plan: to kill and convict him! "
Zhu Rangjin raised his eyebrows and said slowly, "To convict someone of murder, we have to prove that the murderer is Zhu Rangxu. Before this, there's already no way for him to clear his name. If we get some blood on him, what do you think will happen? "
Yang Ling's eyes flashed and he said in realization, "This person is naturally your teacher, Little Lingzi? As long as the Crown Prince is asking about the King of Shu's injuries, this inseparable bodyguard of his will cut his finger or something and flick the blood on it. "
"That's right! Brother Yang is also a genius, a criminal genius! "Zhu Rangjin clapped his hands and laughed.
Yang Ling looked at him strangely and shook his head, saying, "Your plot has already been exposed. Do you think you can still ascend to the King of Shu's throne? You're at the end of the road, yet you're still so calm? I, Yang Ling, have seen too many heroes. But to be honest, those heroes of the era, no matter if it's in terms of meticulousness, wisdom, knowledge or shrewdness, are really too far behind you. "
Zhu Rangjin laughed and said, "Didn't you still see through it in the end? The heroes of the world are only Yang Ling and Jin 'er. You haven't told me, how did you see through my plan? This plan should have been flawless and watertight, unless you're like the legendary Bao Heizi, able to judge the Yang in the day and the Yin in the night to capture Mengli's ghost. "
Yang Ling looked into the void and said softly, "Who knows? Maybe … Miss Mengli really died with grievances, that's why she sent the clue to me. "
Zhu Rangjin's expression changed slightly. He forced a smile and said, "You … what nonsense are you talking about?"
Yang Ling said, "What really made me suspicious was your Shui script annotation."
When he said the correct name 'Shui script', Zhu Rangjin's expression changed drastically. He originally wanted to turn back to the shelf to look for this inconspicuous book that no one would be able to understand or want to read even if it was seen. But he still resisted the urge to turn back. Yang Ling had already said these two words and the record was obviously in his hands. What else was there to look for?
"You also know 'Shui script'? You patiently flipped through my book one by one? This is heaven's will, what more can I say? "Zhu Rangjin murmured.
Yang Ling shook his head and said, "I'm ashamed, I don't know Shui script. Even a great scholar like Yang Shen who is proficient in hundreds of miscellaneous studies doesn't know Shui script. But I happen to have a soldier who is a descendant of the Water Tribe's Ghost Master. He knows Shui script characters. Moreover, you have a very special female confidante. Her jealousy and possessiveness are unparalleled in the world. She found this book and happened to bring it to my residence. I also happen to have a subordinate who knows Shui script.
Your Second Highness, don't you think that heaven's net has a long and narrow net? You created a heavenly robe, a seamless heavenly robe, and your female confidante is a weaver. She used her jealousy and possessiveness to weave a pair of scissors and cut a gap in it. To be honest, I really believe now that it was Miss Zhu Mengli who led all of this and led me out of the fog. "
Yang Ling smiled sarcastically, "Or perhaps, I should thank Miss Tuoba. Behind every successful man stands a woman … No, in this era, it should be a group of women. And your woman, obviously stood in the wrong position and ran ahead of you. "
Zhu Rangjin smiled bitterly, "So it's like this … Yanran, Yanran, sigh! This silly girl, other than her, why would I like any other woman? If I can tell her, why wouldn't I tell her? She loves me, she really loves me too deeply. "
Yang Ling was stupefied, "This brother … probably has an unbalanced mentality since young and has a strong desire to enjoy the taste of exclusive love. He actually took Tuoba Yanran's strong jealousy, extreme restraint, and lack of privacy as the expression of her love and care for him. He actually looked like he was enjoying it."
Yang Ling smiled, "Your annotation has nothing to do with the article. What you recorded is Baoning, Liu Lie, 3,200; Baoning, Lan Tingrui, Yan Benshu, and Liao Hui, 7,400; Mei County, Peng Youdao, 1,100, and so on. There are also some Miao, Yi, and Tibetan regions.
Have you heard of the 'Yellow Rice and White Rice Case' in the capital? Yellow rice represents gold, white rice represents silver, and the number of buckets and liters represents tens of thousands of taels. If I saw these things, I would not be able to find out that these are some arrogant and unruly people from various places. If I did not know that these numbers represent the number of soldiers and horses under their command, then I would have wasted my time in the Imperial Bodyguard and the Inner Factory.
With this suspicion, I could not help but think of your love for sightseeing and scenic spots. As for the Miao family's Lun Ti Stronghold Master, his hometown is remote and has no historical sites or beautiful mountains. Why did you go there? If I check the places you have been these past few years, I would not be able to help but be suspicious.
There is also your Eldest Brother's manor. He could not manage it, so he asked you to take care of it. You borrowed two cannons from the Imperial Bodyguard Institute in the name of the Heir Apparent. The cannons are only fired once every ten days to half a month, but the amount of gunpowder used is not small. Where did the gunpowder go? Sichuan's mountainous terrain is rugged, it is not suitable to use heavy cannons. But this gunpowder can be used to equip firearms and make fire arrows. It is a powerful weapon in the mountainous terrain. Or you can use it as a sample for other people to study and make your own military gunpowder. That would be even more reasonable. "
Yang Ling laughed self-deprecatingly and said, "Therefore, I, this Zhuge Liang, suddenly remembered many things that I had seen before, but I had overlooked many things. The King of Shu's lineage has produced virtuous kings from generation to generation, but not all the descendants of the King of Shu's lineage are virtuous. Zhu Yueqi, the son of the former King of Xian Zhu Chun, had conspired with King Gu to rebel. Zhu Yueqi had plotted to usurp the position of the Heir Apparent. There was also one who was sentenced to death. The reason for this was not made known to the world, but I am afraid it was all for the sake of the throne. Now, the same thing is happening again? "
"Hur hur, so what? My fate is up to me, not the heavens. Even if this is fate, I will still reverse it today. "Zhu Rangjin proudly said," Little Lingzi has taught a total of three people. Eldest Brother and I are the masters, so we can only be considered half disciples. The third person is a guard of the Prince's residence. He is Little Lingzi's true disciple, and his saber skills are not inferior to mine. I have already sent him to the prison to execute Eldest Brother to prevent any future troubles. Royal Father … will not have the chance to bring him out. "
Yang Ling's body trembled and he said in shock, "You … Are you not afraid of others suspecting you now? You should know that the Emperor's imperial edict has not been issued yet. The Prince can withdraw the edict at any time and let go of your position as Heir Apparent. "
Zhu Rangjin blinked and said with a smile, "What does this have to do with me? My men kidnapped a guard of the Prince of Jingqing's residence and brought him to the prison with his waist token. They created the scene of Eldest Brother resisting and killing him, leaving the corpse of the Prince of Jingqing's guard behind. Everyone in the world knows that Prince Jingqing was unwilling to let his daughter be humiliated and killed, so he carried out a private execution. I am currently assuming the position of Heir Apparent in the Prince's residence and starting to exercise the authority of the King of Shu. How would I know? I still want to pay my respects to Eldest Brother. No matter what, he is still my brother. "
Yang Ling trembled with anger at his shamelessness. He suddenly flicked his sleeves and said, "Aren't you afraid that I have already told the King of Shu? Or informed other officials? "
Zhu Rangjin said indifferently, "You won't be so inconsiderate as to make the case in the Prince's residence known to everyone. Yesterday, when you found out that my Eldest Brother was the murderer, didn't you also come directly to see Royal Father? Do you dare to tell other officials in advance? "
"If my Royal Father knows, then the situation is already set. Eldest Brother is dead, and he only has me as his only son. His only choice is to make the best of the mistake. In Royal Father's eyes, the continuation of the King of Shu's bloodline is definitely more important than his son's life. He will not allow the King of Shu's bloodline to fall because of the lack of descendants. "
Zhu Rangjin's eyes flashed as he said, "Other than you, there won't be more than one or two people who know about this matter. Moreover, in your eyes, the one who was forced into a dead end is me. In all likelihood, these people were all brought to the palace by you without a path of retreat. I can kill you all. Yesterday, the assassins were able to enter the palace. Naturally, they can come today as well, right?
I can also inform the people I have recruited to immediately take action and change everything before you send the evidence to the capital. This way, the Emperor won't be able to find anything suspicious and won't be able to do anything to me. I can even … once I have power in my hands, I can immediately take action to rebel and seize the country. "
Yang Ling looked at him in disbelief and shook his head, saying, "Madman, arrogant! Even if you can incite the chieftains of Sichuan to rebel with you at any time, do you think you can take over the world by leaving Sichuan? Under the attack of the Imperial Army from the north and south, your army will collapse in less than ten days. Your best way out is to retreat to Sichuan and defend it, or even be chased by the Imperial Army until you are forced to retreat step by step. You can imitate the Imperial Army and become a barbarian. "
Zhu Rangjin laughed out loud and said excitedly, "You are really talented. In this world, only I know of your talents. Follow me, I will put you in an important position. I will boldly implement all of your policies, such as tax reform, agriculture and commerce, strengthening the army and training in martial arts, and establishing new schools. Under my leadership, you can fully display your strengths and become a famous minister, a capable minister of the world. What do you think? "
"Follow you? You trust me? "
"Of course I trust you. As long as you give me an absolutely reliable proof of allegiance, what else can I not trust?"
"Proof of allegiance? Whose head? "
"My Royal Father! Originally, I wanted him to attend his son's ceremony today and then die of illness tomorrow. It doesn't matter if he dies a day earlier. "
"Beast!"
"The winner is the king, and the loser is the thief! Later generations will only praise the Great Emperor's wisdom and martial prowess, and will not call him a beast. The ancestor of the current Emperor rose the army from Yanjing and conquered the world in the name of Jing Nan. There were people who claimed to be loyal and filial, and scolded him like this. The result was that his ears and nose were cut off, and he was fed to the dogs. One wife and two daughters were used as prostitutes for the army. The eldest son was banished to the army, and the second son was made an official slave. They were all tortured to death, and after death, their bodies were thrown to the dogs. I heard that Mr. Yang has a beautiful wife and beautiful concubines, and a son has just been born. You don't want to follow in his footsteps, do you? "
Yang Ling was angry and amused at the same time. "I just praised you for your wisdom and intelligence, and now you have become an arrogant and conceited madman. You can talk about it after you conquer the world."
"How hard is it to conquer the world? Beside Zhengde, there is a person who builds the stage, and now in front of me, there is a person who destroys the stage, and they are working in full swing in the capital. Do you think I am the only one with ambition? If I rebel, there will be people who will respond, and at the same time cut off the lifelines of the north and south.
My allies will send their troops down the river to take Nanjing, and control the rich and luxurious land of Jiangnan. Ming Destiny's granary will fall into my hands, and the world will be in chaos. At the same time, my army will leave Shu and enter Qin. This year Shaanxi has a good harvest of grain and rice, and the soldiers' pay is sufficient. The army can go straight to the capital without stopping.
The northern border army is restrained by the Tartars and Wala, they will not dare to move. In the northwest, I can mobilize the Tibetans to make a move, so that the Gansu and Qinghai troops will not dare to return to help. Even if they dare to move, by the time the news reaches us, we will have already attacked the capital. Once the capital is lost, Zhengde will be destroyed, and the world's situation will be set in stone. Just like when the Prince of Yan defeated Jianwen in the past, the commandery dragon without a head can only bow its head and submit to me as the king. You understand military affairs, what do you think of my plan? "
Yang Ling sucked in a breath of cold air. "… a perfect strategy to usurp the country. There is no capable person in the imperial court, and even if there are capable people among the people, they can't be used. As long as we take the capital, the general situation will be gone. It's not just a possibility of success, it's completely possible. But who is his ally? And who … could it be King Ning? Will King Ning be willing to serve under him? That's right, I'm afraid everyone has their own plans, but can King Ning be a match for this person? "
Zhu Rangjin saw his expression change several times, and couldn't help but smile. "How about it? You should know that what I said is not false, and that this plan is absolutely feasible. As long as I obtain the King of Shu's military seal, and receive the support and support of the people of Shu, we can carry out this plan.
As long as you agree, I will immediately find a reason to invite my father here. At that time, with me, the filial son, you, the imperial envoy, and my father's loyal and devoted personal bodyguards, everyone will say that he died of a sudden illness, and no one will suspect anything. Life or death, it's all up to you.
A confident Emperor, dares to bestow upon his capable subjects the greatest authority and support, and I, will be that person, I will support you unreservedly, and allow you to achieve great achievements, just like Wu Hou, whose name will go down in history. Yang Ling, have you made up your mind? "
Yang Ling shook his head and laughed. "I am Zhuge, but you are not Liu Bei. Once you have power, your ambitions will only grow, and you will use all your forces to fight, causing the people to not have peace. You are not thinking of a thousand autumns and ten thousand years of history, but to achieve your own achievements. You are an ambitious and ruthless person, but you cannot bring prosperity and happiness to the people."
Zhu Rangjin was about to retort when Yang Ling said, "The Crown Prince will not die. When your men arrive, they will discover that the Crown Prince's cell is filled with four people, armed with bows and firearms. They are the four hostages that I gave to Official Gu. If the Crown Prince does not die, the King of Shu will not spare no effort to protect you. What else do you have to rely on? "
Zhu Rangjin was shocked and angry, and said sternly, "How dare you, without an order from the Imperial Inspector, you dare to bring a criminal out?"
Yang Ling laughed. "What? Putting on airs in front of me? "
Zhu Rangjin roared and used his palm like a knife, pouncing towards Yang Ling. From the side, the curly-bearded man flew over. "Bang! Bang! Bang!" The two exchanged three blows, and Zhu Rangjin retreated. With a strange look in his eyes, he asked, "Who are you?"
The man sighed softly and reached out to wipe his face. His eyebrows, hair, and beard were all fake. There was even a flesh-colored gel to change the shape of his eyes, and a purposely enlarged nose. The Imperial Bodyguard's makeup skills were quite unique, but the ginger dyed skin could not be changed for the time being.
Zhu Rangjin's face changed drastically. "Big Brother …"
"Rangjin, I never knew that you hated Big Brother so much."
"Rangjin, actually, Big Brother's martial arts are not weaker than yours. It's just that one time, after you lost to me, I realized that you would wake up in the middle of the night and practice hard. Your arms are red and swollen. Thinking of Little Brother's competitive nature, I will hold back some of my strength when we compete in the future. I just don't want to hurt our brotherly relationship. But, there are some things that I can't let go just because I want to. "
"I don't believe it!" Zhu Rangjin roared and pounced again. Zhu Rangxu did not draw his knife, but only met it with his palms.
Yang Ling turned around and walked out. When he reached the door and looked back, he saw that Zhu Rangjin's crown had been sliced off by his elder brother. Zhu Rangjin became even more frenzied. The books, wood shavings, and messy clothes in the room were all smashed into pieces by his frenzied tiger-like punches and kicks …
Zhu Rangxu still did not draw his knife.
※ ※ ※
A crazy knife!
Wu Hanchao and an expert from the Imperial Bodyguard retreated a few steps. The expert's skills were not as good as Wu Hanchao's. Although Wu Hanchao tried his best to withstand most of the knife's force, his clothes were still cut open. There was a soft armor in front of his chest, but his arm was cut open and blood was flowing.
In front of the King of Shu was a group of officials with ashen faces. Yang Ling had already sent Wu Hanchao and another expert to disguise themselves as servants to sneak in front of the King of Shu. Once he entered the palace, he pretended to have something to discuss with the King of Shu and diverted him away from Little Lingzi. Then, he announced Little Lingzi's plot.
"Hahahaha … There are not many in the world who can withstand my knife. It's not easy for me to stay. If I want to leave, who in the world can stop me? Hahaha … "
Little Lingzi, who was usually thin and withered like others' shadow, was not that thin and small. He gave people the feeling that he was a golden-armored giant, looking down on the world with unparalleled prestige.
"Bang!" A cloud of blood spurted out from his temple. Yang Ling blew on the muzzle and habitually reloaded the gunpowder and bullets in front of everyone. Then, he put it back on his waist and said calmly, "There is no martial art in the world that cannot be defeated, only firearms can!"
He looked at the dumbfounded crowd and said nonchalantly, "Carry him away."
* * *
"Did I harm him?" Tuoba Yanran was dressed in red. It was the first time she was seen wearing red. She looked exceptionally charming and stunning, but her beautiful face was filled with sorrow.
She gently squatted in front of Zhu Rangjin, who had committed suicide, and touched his face that was gradually turning cold. "Rangjin … Rangjin …"
She thought of the time when the two of them went sightseeing together and played the zither together. Her eyes became misty.
In prison, she bit his wrist tightly. He said, "I'm used to it …" His eyes were filled with love and pampering for her. There was not a trace of impatience or mockery …
She gently held his wrist. The bite marks on his wrist were still there. "Rangjin, I'm the one who harmed you. I will seek justice for you!"
Tuoba Yanran lowered her head and looked at the pair of unwilling eyes. Two crystal clear tears fell from her eyes. A chilling coldness quietly rose in her eyes …
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