Chapter 117： Kaikyo

The empress was assassinated and injured, and the suspect was arrested and imprisoned. Qiu Hunting could no longer go on.

Li Zifu ordered Yinniang to be released, and she was asked to withdraw the government soldiers guarding outside Shanglin Garden.

Then Li Zichou returned to court with many courtiers, and the women of the aristocratic family were escorted home. As for the three departments of the Ministry of War, the City Defense Department, and the Shanglinyuan Supervisor, several officers were brought back to the capital to be criticized and punished due to serious dereliction of duty, while the rest stayed in Shanglinyuan. Dali Temple also postponed returning to Beijing and stayed in the paddock for investigation and evidence collection.

Xie Zhi was in a panic. Because of a series of coincidences, Yang Dejin was identified as a murderer who attempted rebellion and attempted regicide. This was beyond her expectation.

Obviously, in the middle of the night the day before, Yang Dejin was almost plotted against. If Xie Zhi hadn't prepared for it, Yang Dejin might have died!

Damn! This group of mediocre officials who don't distinguish between right and wrong and turn black and white!

It was about Yang Dejin's safety, even Xie Zhi, who was always indifferent and easy-going, couldn't help but curse.

No, no, calm down, Xie Zhi, calm down. She persuaded herself in her heart to be more calm at such moments.

Should I go to Bai Qingyang to intercede?

Despite all precautions, the empress fell into the assassin's trick, and she was probably very angry. If there is not enough evidence to prove that Yang Dejin is innocent, she will not let him out.

How to do it?

"Xie Shilang." Meng Shike patted Xie Zhi's shoulder, and then she caught her backhand reflexively, "Oh, don't, don't, it's me!"

"Ah... um, yes, I'm sorry." Xie Zhi let go with an apologetic face.

Meng Shike pinched his arm in surprise, and looked at the thin and frail Xie Zhi, who did not expect her to be so strong.

"Don't worry too much. Didn't His Majesty say to deal with Prince Yu after the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet? We still have time."

"Do you believe that Prince Yu is innocent?"

"Haven't you been by his side all the time, didn't you see what he was doing?"

"Last night...I was gone for a little while."

Meng Shike was silent for a while: "...is it time for me to talk to you alone?"

"Yeah." Xie Zhi replied, "After that, I went to find Ji Zhuilu again, but I wasn't by her side either."

"I see..." Meng Shike pondered.

"I must prove that Yang Dejin was framed." Although he was at a loss, Xie Zhi still did not give up.

"That's right, I came here to tell you something."

"What's up?"

Meng Shike lowered his voice and whispered something in Xie Zhi's ear.

Xie Zhi showed a surprised expression: "Does Bai Qingyang know?"

Meng Shike shook his head: "She is so focused on His Majesty, how can I find a chance to tell her?"

Xie Zhi: "Bring them back to the imperial city, and I will interrogate them myself."

"it is good."

//

In the forbidden area, the Royal Study Room.

There are layers of rice paper, and there are many handwritings on each sheet. Li Zichou is sorting out events related to the plot of the original novel.

Before she entered the mountain, she had three kinds of preconceptions: one is that she escapes the control of the plot, she is safe and sound, and retreats in one body. One is that she is subject to the control of the plot, she is ambushed in the paddock, and she returns seriously injured. There is another kind, the plot is out of her control, she was unfortunately killed and died in the mountains.

As far as the results are concerned, it seems that she has not escaped the control of the plot: she was also assassinated, was also seriously injured, and the prairie people were also arrested, and the chief envoy who confessed was also Prince Yu.

Variables also exist, Bai Qingyang who rashly broke into the mountain to rescue her, and... Yang Dejin.

In fact, Li Zishou wanted to believe that Yang Dejin was innocent, but she didn't believe in the laws of this world. Even though it had never happened before, she still worried that the law of karma would be distorted, and the plot would force the characters to behave as they should.

Yang Dejin is right. From the earliest lake tour to the current assassination, although many details have changed, the important plot is still happening.

But everyone's statements are contradictory. This assassination case has become a Rashomon. If Prince Yu is really the culprit, then doesn't it all prove the three laws of political strategy?

"Huh—Yang Dejin..." Li Zichou fell back on the couch, "Prince Yu..."

Muttering a few words she cared about: "Prince Yu...a prairie man..."

"Collusion..."

"rebellion…"

Not knowing what he thought of, Li Zichou immediately sat up and took out the "Hong'an Official History" from the bookcase.

I searched from the beginning to the end, and then from the end to the head, but I didn't find any information about the heirs of Emperor Lie and Concubine De.

Was Prince Yu's life experience really fabricated by Emperor Jing, as Yang Dejin said?

Why did he do this?

He established Li Chou as the crown prince, but recruited Prince Yu from the people, and opposed the two. Did he want Li Chou to inherit the throne, or did he want Yang Dejin, a man of doubtful background, to be the emperor?

Not long after Prince Yu's return, the court officials were exposed to the scandal of colluding with the enemy, and Prime Minister Bai was killed. In just one night, the prime minister's mansion was bloodbathed.

The collusion incident four years ago and the current assassination incident, Prince Yu's sense of participation in these two incidents is very subtle, and Li Zichou always feels that there is a faint connection between them.

Are these two incidents related to Prince Yu's life experience?

"Oh, Your Majesty, have you started working again?" Zhou Huaijin came in, saw the chaotic furnishings in the study, and couldn't help saying a few words, "Your injury hasn't recovered yet, the imperial doctor said you need to rest?!"

"It's okay, I don't feel any pain at all right now." Li Zichou waved his hand, "Huaijin, you came just in time, I have something to ask you."

Zhou Huaijin: "What's the matter?"

"Do you know how Emperor Jing determined Yang Dejin's royal status before he brought Prince Yu back?"

"Why do you ask this suddenly..." Zhou Huaijin gave her a strange look, "Didn't you say that Prince Yu has a jade pendant on his body? I heard that it was a palace sash given to Concubine De by Emperor Lie. It is the only one in the world. Emperor Jing relied on this Token, so he must be identified as the child of Emperor Lie and Concubine De."

Li Zishou: "Is that so..."

Zhou Huaijin: "What's the matter, you want to get rid of Prince Yu?" Didn't you mean to interrogate after the Mid-Autumn Palace banquet?

"No." Li Zichou shook his head and asked again, "Huaijin, do you know why Prince Yu is living among the people?"

"How could I know this? No matter how capable I am, it's impossible for me to know all the old news about the Tian family."

"That's right..." Li Zichou was a little disappointed.

Even if you ignore the assassination and grassland people, you have to heal your injuries first.

Suddenly began to ask about the past, Zhou Huaijin looked at her like this, and didn't know what was bothering her, after thinking about it, she still told what she knew:

"Didn't a huge rebellion happen in Dasheng in the thirty-fifth year of Hong'an?"

Li Zichou had seen the relevant content in the historical records, and she answered, "Prince Rui and Prince Ning caused it, right? What does this have to do with Prince Yu's exile among the people?"

"At that time, Prince Rui and Prince Ning invaded the palace, imprisoned many concubines, and formed a confrontation with Emperor Lie's imperial army." Zhou Huaijin explained, "At that time, the entire palace was ransacked, and many palace people fled in the chaos. Including a small number of concubines."

Li Zichou: "You mean, Concubine De might have fled to the people with the son of Emperor Lie at that time?"

Zhou Huaijin nodded, and said, "But this is just my guess."

How could he know what happened during Emperor Lie's reign? He heard these from the older generation, and he was not even born at that time.

Li Zichou: "Are there any portraits of Emperor Lie and Concubine De in the palace?"

Zhou Huaijin pinched his chin: "There is a portrait of Emperor Lie, but it's hard to say about Concubine De's. After all, the rebellion of the two kings destroyed many things in the palace."

Li Zichou: "Li is looking for someone in charge of internal affairs, why don't you ask her?"

"Row."

//

Imperial City, somewhere in Anrenfang.

Meng Shike led Bai Qingyang who pretended to be casual out of the palace, and pushed open the door of the other courtyard. When the guards guarding the courtyard saw Shangfeng approaching, they saluted with their knives.

"Mr. Shi Ke."

"Miss."

Meng Shike nodded, and directly led Bai Qingyang into the house.

The room was very dark, and the faint light passed through the small window, shining on the dust in the air. Because of the airtightness, a smell of iron rust mixed with blood filled the whole space, Bai Qingyang couldn't help wrinkling his nose as soon as he entered.

Two iron chains were tied to the ceiling, and the other end of the chain locked the prisoner's hands, hanging him in a posture with his upper body raised and his arms raised. Because he passed out, he knelt on the ground with his head hanging down.

"How did you make it like this?" Bai Qingyang asked, wrinkling her eyebrows.

The people who were imprisoned had countless bloodstains on their bodies, and the tattered single clothes were dyed crimson. It was obvious that they had been treated inhumanly.

Meng Shike took a look at the miserable condition of the man, felt a little cruel, swallowed and said: "I was only interrogated by Xie Shilang."

"Xie Zhi?" Bai Qingyang was slightly surprised.

This is not like Xie Zhi's interrogation style. She always uses words to pry something out of the criminal's mouth. She has never seen such a horrible scene left by torture to extract a confession.

It seemed that Xie Zhi was really in a hurry.

Bai Qingyang stared at the unconscious prisoner for a while, and said, "Let's go."

Meng Shike: "Aren't you going to interrogate?"

Bai Qingyang: "The criminals that Xie Zhi has not tried yet, what can I do?"

Meng Shike: "Oh..."

"This person is very important." Bai Qingyang looked at the prisoner again, "Take care of him, don't kill him."

"Follow the order."

This man was caught by Meng Shike who ran all over the paddock with his men, so he must be strictly guarded.

The two walked out of the small black room and stopped in the yard.

"This man is very stubborn. No matter how Xie Shilang interrogates him, he will always confess to Prince Yu." Meng Shike said, "Do you think Prince Yu really wants to kill the king and rebel?"

"It's also possible that it's not being stubborn..." Bai Qingyang lowered his eyes and replied in a deep voice, "No matter who it is, it deserves death if it hits her."

She approved of Xie Zhi's interrogation methods. No prisoner could lie to Xie Zhirui from the criminal department. But at the same time, Bai Qingyang was also aware of Xie Zhi's discerning vision, and people with evil intentions would not be able to gain her trust.

This is where the contradiction lies. Prince Yu was behind the murder of the prisoner, but Xie Zhi believed that Yang Dejin was framed.

Without enough evidence, even Bai Qingyang couldn't easily conclude who was telling the truth.

Or maybe both are telling the truth.

Meng Shike: "Then...Prince Yu, do you need to send someone to watch over it?"

Bai Qingyang shook his head: "Prince Yu was imprisoned in the criminal prison. With Xie Zhi watching, I'm not worried."

She stood still in the front yard, looked towards the direction of the palace, and saw only the big trees and green shadows and the wall: "What I am worried about is that because of the deep-rooted prejudices before, His Majesty will kill innocent people regardless of reason, and let the real The murderer is free."

Meng Shike understood: "Then we have to hurry up and find out the real culprit behind the scenes."

Bai Qingyang hummed: "Let all the people under your command be alert. Although His Majesty has escaped disaster and the suspect has been arrested and imprisoned, I always feel that this matter is not over yet."

"yes."

"In addition to those old things in the court, we also have to keep an eye on the troubles in Shanglinyuan. There may be a remnant of assassins left in the hunting ground. We can't be careless."

"Yes, I will obey the order."

//

In the imperial study room, Zhou Huaijin carried a large pile of scrolls of portraits and threw them all on Li Zichou's desk.

"That's - so much??" Li Zichou stared at Zhou Huaijin with wide eyes.

Zhou Huaijin shrugged: "Not many, most of the portraits of concubines were lost due to the rebellion, and these are the only ones that remained, and some were repaired and re-engraved later."

Li Zishou: "Didn't I ask you to find the portraits of Emperor Lie and Concubine De? Why did you bring them all?"

Zhou Huaijin: "Emperor Lie's portrait is on the top, but the portrait of His Highness Concubine De was not found."

Seeing that Li Zichou had already picked up the portrait of Emperor Lie and looked at it, Zhou Huaijin continued to explain: "There are not many portraits with titles and seals, and the remaining ones without signatures are probably low-ranking concubines.

"Concubine Duan, Concubine Xian, Concubine Shu and other concubines were all inside, but for some reason, Concubine De was not found.

"It may have been destroyed, or it may have been taken away by the concubine Defei who fled."

The man in the painting is wearing a military uniform. From the artist's superb skills, one can see the majestic and heroic appearance of the Lie Emperor. Li Zichou pondered for a while, carefully rolled it up, and tied the tie.

"Your Majesty, why are you looking for the portrait of Concubine De?"

"I'm a bit concerned about something, I want to clarify it." Li Zichou put the portrait of Emperor Lie aside, and then picked up a picture scroll.

The movement of holding it was a bit fast, and she didn't pay attention to what was caught. It slipped from her hand and fell on the floor with a muffled "boom". Li Zichou hurriedly reached out to pick it up while supporting the table.

"There are too many portraits without names. Your Majesty, if you really want to know what Concubine De looks like, why don't you let those old fellows in the Imperial Academy come to recognize you?"

Zhou Huaijin suggested this, but she didn't hear Li Zishou's answer. She opened the scroll she picked up and stared at the portrait on it for a moment, with a surprised and dignified expression.

"His Majesty?"

Zhou Huaijin was curious about what she saw, and turned her head to glance. It's just an ordinary portrait of a woman, without signature or other special features.

"What's the matter, is this Empress Defei?"

Li Zichou shook his head.

"Then you..." Zhou Huaijin was even more confused.

"Huaijin," Li Zichou said, turning the portrait around to face Zhou Huaijin, "Don't you think this person looks familiar?"

//

A certain prefecture in the capital.

In the main room, people knelt side by side in a row. They lowered their heads, anxiously waiting for the person on the main seat to speak.

"Is there anyone who can explain to me what's going on with Shuobei people?" the master asked sullenly.

Someone replied with a trembling voice: "Your subordinates indeed sent them to the paddock according to your intention, but I don't know what went wrong..."

"I don't know what's wrong?" The master interrupted him, with a chill in his eyes, "I asked you, and you asked me instead?"

"No, dare not..."

"Things that are less successful than failures, such a simple task can go wrong!"

Another person boldly said: "My lord, Prince Yu has been framed and imprisoned. Li Chou will definitely not let him go. Our goal has been achieved."

"Purpose?" The master sneered, "My purpose is not to put Prince Yu in prison, but to kill them! My purpose is to get back the seat that should belong to me!"

"Yes, yes... this subordinate will keep in mind."

After a conversation, those who spoke out were silenced by their masters, and the others dared not speak up.

"Prince Yu...Even if she is in the prison, none of her subordinates are vegetarians." The master walked up and down in front of the hall, analyzing to himself, "Especially the one next to her named Xie, although Deadpool I won’t reveal my identity, but to that lone star of the evil spirit, the dead say more things than the living, and he may find me at any time!”

"Your Highness, they have already become vigilant, should we stop temporarily?"

"No! I have already reached this point, when will I wait until the next time?! Haven't you learned enough from the last failure? I don't want to wait so long!"

"But Your Highness, I don't know how long it will be until our troops return to Beijing. We can't compete with Li Chou now."

The person in the seat thought for a while, and said in his dark tone: "Our people marched from Shanglinyuan for half a day at most. Didn't Li Chou say that she didn't want to see blood before the Mid-Autumn Festival? Give her a big surprise at the banquet."

The author has something to say:

Xie Zhi: I admit I was in a hurry.