History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Chapter 223 The Prince of Xianyang Asks Zhao Zhi
Tongtuo Street is located on the north-south central axis of Luoyang City, bustling with people and vehicles every day. Walking on this street, one can feel the solemnity of the government offices with their continuous walls and buildings, and also see the refined manners of the carriages and officials.

Yuan Pi couldn't help but say, "The capital is magnificent, the epicenter of all directions! It's a pity that the late emperor's great undertaking of moving the capital was completed, but he will never see this prosperous scene again."

Yuan Hui said, "Luoyang will be even more prosperous in the future, so Father, you must take care of your health and not worry about today's setback."

Yuan Pi knew his own body was healthy; as long as his wishes came true, living another ten or eight years wouldn't be a problem! But he still said, "I'm almost eighty years old..."

Zhao Zhi murmured, "It's time to get going."

She possessed superhuman strength; with a slight nudge, Yuan Hui fell towards his father. No one noticed that in the blink of an eye, she flicked the back of Yuan Pi's head.

In that one blow, the old scoundrel's skull, the size of an egg yolk, was instantly reduced to a pulpy mess.

The two brothers struggled to support their father, then noticed something was wrong and reached out to check his breathing in disbelief.

"what--"

“Ah, ah, ah!”

Ironically, the two sons that Yuan Pi had personally trained and brought with him were so terrified that they scattered his corpse, screaming and crawling around wildly.

When the soldiers arrived, Yuan Hui remembered that he had been bumped into first, which caused his father to fall to the ground. By then, Zhao Zhi had already changed back into her guard clothes and returned to the Prince of Rencheng's carriage.

Li Xuanmao stared at the straw hat that had appeared on Zhao Zhi's head, but he was actually lost in thought.

"Is Chief Secretary Li hot? Here you go." Zhao Zhi put the straw hat on the other person's head.

"You..." Woman, how come you have no manners at all? Li Xuanmao knew that scolding her would be pointless, so he just wore it.

Fatty Yuan Cheng came out. It was so hot, and the meeting room was poorly ventilated. After getting into the carriage, he quickly lifted up both sides of his false sideburns and fanned himself vigorously.

Li Xuanmao sat down, and the carriage started moving. He said, "I have seen Yuan Pi. The guards escorted him out of the palace."

"Hmm? He actually dared to come to the capital! I reckon the old scoundrel will use his advanced age as an excuse to beg His Majesty to let him stay in Luoyang."

"Does the Minister think His Majesty will reinstate him?"

"It's hard to say. If that old scoundrel didn't have some tricks up his sleeve, how could he have survived a treason charge? Quickly use your straw hat to fan me too. I have a feeling that the weather this year is abnormal. I received several official documents today, and many counties have experienced floods."

Yuan Cheng wiped the sweat from his brow and returned to Yuan Pi: "This man is hard to fathom. If he were disloyal, why would all the previous kings have valued him? In the end, he's just too greedy. Ever since we demoted his rank according to regulations in the sixteenth year, he's changed. At his age, if I really confront him, it would seem like I'm bullying him. If I don't bother with him, I'm afraid he might have a chance to turn things around one day!"

The car slowed down, and there were noticeably more soldiers on the street.

The guards who led the way returned with information and reported: "An old man has died ahead. The Tiger Warriors said he was a senior official in the court and was pushed to death by a pedestrian wearing a straw hat. The assailant has fled. The deceased's family is preventing the soldiers from taking the body away and is demanding that the Tiger Warriors search everyone wearing straw hats on the street. The Imperial Guards know the deceased was of high status and have already reported the case to the General of Chariots and Cavalry and the Court of Justice. They are waiting for their arrival."

Once the train stopped, the interior of the carriage felt even more stuffy.

As Li Xuanmao listened, he quickened his pace in fanning Prince Rencheng, causing Yuan Cheng's wigs to bounce up and down like two small wings.

Whoop, whoop, whoop——

Gradually, their eyes widened, staring intently at the straw hat.

Yuan Cheng was the first to react and ordered the guards, "Go and ask again, find out the name of the deceased!"

Then he asked Li Xuanmao, "I remember you didn't wear it this morning?"

"I wasn't wearing it."

"It was given to me by Guard Zhao Zhi."

Li Xuanmao looked like he was about to cry, and then added, "She didn't wear it this morning either."

Good heavens.

Could it be Yuan Pi who died?

"Reporting to the Minister, the deceased is Yuan Pi," the guard hurriedly reported.

Yuan Cheng's chubby face blocked the window as he stared at Zhao Zhi with suspicion.

Zhao Zhi: "It was my doing." "Then listen to me talking to Li Xuanmao for so long!" The old scoundrel is already dead, and he's still foolishly talking to Li Xuanmao!

At this time, a military officer from the Tiger Guard discussed with the guards at the front that since the General of Chariots and Cavalry and the Court of Justice had not sent anyone, the Imperial Guard wanted to ask Prince Rencheng to go and comfort the family of the deceased and temporarily take over the case.

Another convoy arrived, blocking Yuan Cheng and his group's retreat.

It's Prince Yuanxi of Xianyang!

His bodyguard, Liu Xiaogou, was leaning close to the car window, listening to something.

This is bad. Yuan Cheng, disregarding his anger, ordered Zhao Zhi: "How did you kill him? Tell the truth, be concise!"

"Li Changshi told his subordinates that Yuan Pi was the mastermind behind Zhifang Flower Shop. Just then, Wei Mao, the son of General Wei Qingbin, came to deliver food to his subordinates. His subordinates pretended to deliver food to Wei Mao..."

The Prince of Xianyang alighted from his carriage.

Yuan Cheng dismounted a step ahead of him, the straw hat clutched in his hand. "The Grand Commandant has arrived just in time. The Tiger Warriors say the deceased was Yuan Pi, who should have been living in Bingzhou."

Prince Xianyang: "I already know. Are you sure you want to go with that straw hat?"

“I brought it on purpose. How dare I ask the Imperial Guards to check every person wearing a straw hat on Copper Camel Street after a commoner has fallen to his death in the street!”

The Prince of Xianyang glanced at Zhao Zhi: "Is she the head guard you just hired?"

Yuan Cheng: "Yes, it's the Ulolan tribe. Her surname 'Zhao' was bestowed upon her by the late emperor."

Zhao Zhi bowed and clasped her hands in greeting to the Prince of Xianyang.

"Guard Zhao, what were you doing when Yuan Pi died? Minister, don't speak, I want to hear her answer."

Zhao Zhi: "I need to know when Yuan Pi died before I can answer the Grand Commandant." The Minister of Works was truly prescient, anticipating that the Prince of Xianyang would ask her this question, and instructed her to answer in this way in advance.

The King of Xianyang said nothing more, and he and Yuan Cheng came one after the other to the corpse.

Yuan Hui and Yuan Guo dared not look directly at the two kings. Every time they caught a glimpse of the straw hat carried by the Prince of Rencheng, they felt both resentful and frustrated.

The military doctor examined the body and stated: "There were no external injuries. This old man was knocked to the ground before he died. Perhaps due to his advanced age, he was suddenly startled..."

"Impossible!" Yuan Hui shouted, "My father was always healthy. He could even endure traveling from Bingzhou to Luoyang. How could he die from a fall? His Majesty comforted my father and told my family to live in peace in Luoyang. Who knew that he would suffer such a calamity as soon as he left the palace? Someone must be watching my father and deliberately trying to harm him! If the murderer is not thoroughly investigated, my brother and I will go to the palace gate and beat the Dengwen Drum to appeal for justice!"

"Insolence!" The Prince of Xianyang, already known for his fiery temper, became even more unforgiving of any threats uttered in his presence after assuming the position of prime minister. "Everything has its rules! Cases involving the deaths of commoners are handled by the Luoyang Bureau; do you think you can simply strike the petition drum as you please?"

Yuan Hui's hatred and heartache for his father were intertwined with fear, tearing at each other. His eyes were fixed on his father's motionless mouth and nose, but in the end, the former prevailed.

“This is no ordinary murder case!” His eyes reddened as he confronted the two kings. “My father was not an ordinary commoner either.”

Yuan Cheng asked Yuan Guo, who was standing to the side, "What's your name?"

Yuan Guo replied tremblingly, "Yuan Guo."

"You also want to beat the petition drum?"

Yuan lowered his head; he didn't have the guts to knock.

Yuan Cheng said, “Look, this is such a big matter. You brothers need to calm down and discuss it carefully. It’s so hot outside. Are you just going to let your father lie here?” After saying that, he “kindly” put the straw hat on Yuan Guo’s head.

suddenly!

Zhao Zhi shouted angrily: "Assassin—"

As she gave the warning, two dark flashes of light shot out from the crowd—crossbow bolts!

It moved with lightning speed, so fast that it was silent.

In a life-or-death situation, Zhao Zhi had no choice but to lunge forward with one arm to save Prince Rencheng and Prince Xianyang.

(End of this chapter)