Water Margin begins as a captain in Yanggu County

Chapter 313 What crime have I committed?
Geng Nanzhong spoke frankly, inevitably revealing that it was still a struggle for imperial power. At this moment, the affairs within the capital were basically settled; the only variable lay outside the capital…

Zhao Huan frowned and said, "Minister Su would not do anything reckless. After all, Minister Su and I were once... quite close friends!"

Upon hearing this, Geng Nanzhong added, "His Majesty has only met him once or twice. The Emperor Emeritus and he have a very close personal relationship, and Tong Guan is even more so... I don't need to say more about these things..."

From Geng Nanzhong's perspective, there are many thoughts on this matter.

Having served Zhao Huan in the Eastern Palace for so many years, Geng Nanzhong was actually quite resentful. When Zhao Huan was still the Crown Prince, he was extremely cautious, afraid of making any mistakes, and always put the word "endurance" first in everything.

Even back then, when there were rumors that the Emperor Emeritus had the idea of ​​changing the heir apparent, Geng Nanzhong went everywhere begging and pleading with everyone he could. Even in front of Wang Fu, Geng Nanzhong humbly begged countless times...

This finally put an end to the retired emperor's idea of ​​changing the crown prince.

Now, isn't he finally becoming the mother-in-law after all his years of hard work? With the new emperor ascending the throne, Geng Nanzhong has made great contributions, and is even the first person to have contributed to the succession.

Having endured so many years in the Eastern Palace, Geng Nanzhong had been longing for this very moment.

When Cai Jing, Wang Fu, Tong Guan, and their ilk returned to the capital, they were naturally swept aside with a broom. Who was Su Wu? He was undoubtedly a remnant of Tong Guan's faction, so Su Wu should not be allowed to have another chance to truly rise above others!
Geng Nanzhong was looking at his competitors... Although he didn't quite know how to operate power, he already had a role model in front of him. He just had to follow Cai Jing's example, and he couldn't go wrong.

Perhaps Geng Nanzhong didn't really think it through, but subconsciously he knew he had to exclude Su Wu, because of the exclusivity of power.

If what the Emperor says is true, and the Emperor still cherishes the small favor Su Wu once had, and Su Wu returns to the capital with outstanding achievements and unparalleled glory, then Su Wu's power in the court will be beyond question. Geng Nanzhong, having no foundation, has risen to power in one step, and it will be difficult for him to compete with Su Wu. It is really uncertain who will rise and who will fall in the future.

Take the present as an example. Geng Nanzhong is already a signatory to the Privy Council, but he actually knows nothing about military affairs, and it is also a time of great turmoil.

What if... Su Wu returns and truly gains the Emperor's trust? Then, without a doubt, wouldn't the position of Privy Councilor be Su Wu's? Geng Nanzhong has his eye on the Privy Council's power, which he already considers his own. How could Su Wu possibly snatch it away?
Hearing Geng Nanzhong's words, how could the Emperor not frown even more? After much thought, he sighed deeply and slowly said, "If we're talking about those in and out of the court today who are knowledgeable in military affairs and skilled in battle, who can surpass Su Wu? I originally thought of people like Tan Zhen, but now I know that Tan Zhen is nothing but a fraud. I also thought of trying Liang Fangping. I originally thought that if Liang Fangping could achieve some merit this time, I would promote him to Associate Privy Councilor upon his return. Unexpectedly, he is also an incompetent and cowardly person. Alas..."

The emperor spoke his mind without any concealment in front of Geng Nanzhong, but he didn't say everything. Geng Nanzhong's appointment as the Privy Councilor was out of necessity; if eunuchs couldn't handle it, then civil officials would have to take over...

Ultimately, the emperor still wanted to win over Su Wu; these were turbulent times, and he needed some kind of protection.

Geng Nanzhong immediately said, "I have heard that there are many capable generals among the military commanders in the Northwest..."

Geng Nanzhong was providing the emperor with more options.

The Emperor also said, "I know, Minister Zhong, Elder Minister Wang, Chief Steward Liu... which one here is young?"

After thinking for a moment, Geng Nanzhong continued, "I have heard that Liu Guangshi, the son of Chief Steward Liu, is extremely brave and resourceful!"

"Hmm? Is this true?" the emperor asked.

Whether it was true or not was another matter, Geng Nanzhong simply nodded: "It's true! Absolutely true. There are many soldiers in the capital who have just come from Huazhou. There are many rumors that this Commander Liu of Fuyan is exceptionally skilled in battle, has superb strategies, and has won every battle, never being defeated..."

The emperor was indeed delighted: "Excellent, excellent! I wonder where this person is now, whether he is in Fuyan or has also gone to Yanyun..."

"I will immediately send people to inquire and search..." Geng Nanzhong felt relieved, as he had found a competitor for Su Wu in front of the emperor.

Geng Nanzhong couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. He had taught the emperor many things over the years, and now he was also teaching him the way of the emperor, the way of balancing and maintaining equilibrium...

But the Emperor continued, "Liu Guangshi should certainly be promoted and given important positions. As for Su Wu, we cannot ignore him. After all, I am now the Emperor, and it is my right to rule. He is a subject, and it is only natural for a subject to be loyal to the Emperor. We also have a past relationship, so we should first show him some goodwill. If he upholds the duties of a subject and does not cause trouble, that would be even better..."

Geng Nanzhong's heart tightened, and he asked, "How does Your Majesty intend to show goodwill?"

The Emperor was also pondering this, and recalling the news circulating in the capital in the past day or two, he asked, "Is it said that the Western Xia has been destroyed? And that the northwestern armies and the Jingdong cavalry have entered Xingqing Prefecture?"

This matter had already spread throughout Shaanxi and even in many places outside Bianjing. However, because of the Jurchen siege, people in Bianjing were unaware of it. As soon as the siege was lifted, the rumors began to circulate, but there was still no official news.

Even the Western Xia emperor Li Qianshun was still being held captive in Chang'an. The Jingzhao Prefecture in Chang'an frequently sent people to report to the capital, but the capital was under siege and the Jurchen cavalry patrolled day and night, so how could they get close?
In just one or two days, when the news of the siege of the capital being lifted truly spread, official documents from various localities will arrive to confirm the situation.

But while this matter is undoubtedly a great thing in the present moment, it's not that important. The people of Tokyo have far too many other things to worry about...

Geng Nanzhong himself did not know the truth. He had heard the news but did not report it to the emperor immediately. He knew that such meritorious service was extremely high... He secretly thought it was best if it was false.

It would be best if such merit could be achieved in Geng Nanzhong's hands.

Another point is that the war against Xia was orchestrated by the retired emperor. If this is true, wouldn't the retired emperor's prestige and popularity be even greater?
So, if one were to do something disrespectful to the Emperor Emeritus in the future, how would the world view it? How would future generations of historians view it?
It wasn't just Geng Nanzhong's own selfish motives, but also Geng Nanzhong's selfish motives for the emperor.

There are countless entanglements and intricate complexities involved...

Geng Nanzhong immediately remarked, "I don't know if it's true or not...it might just be a rumor..."

Clearly, Zhao Huan's feelings were complex, a mixture of joy and worry...

He slowly explained, "Well, Su Wu led his troops through Datong into Yanyun this time, forcing the Jurchens to retreat, which is a meritorious deed. If he could even recapture Yanyun, his achievements would be even more outstanding. In the past, Tong Guan recovered Yanyun and was granted the title of Prince of Guangyang. Now Su Wu has entered Yanyun again and has also been granted the merit of repelling the Jurchens. How about... granting him the title of Prince of Langya?"

"Huh?" Geng Nanzhong was taken aback.

The Emperor slowly continued, "There's no need to be surprised. In the current situation, what importance do these things hold? They're merely titles, worthless to me. The stability of the nation and its people is of paramount importance. With such favor, Su Wu will surely know whether the Emperor Emeritus's favor is greater or mine. Besides, in the future, Su Wu will eventually enter the capital to serve as an official, not remain here commanding countless troops. I will transfer him from the Privy Council, whether to the Secretariat or the Chancellery. I will also recall Cheng Wanli from the capital. In this way... there will be no worries..."

After all that talk, Geng Nanzhong only heard one sentence: Su Wu was transferred from the Privy Council. With just that one sentence, Geng Nanzhong felt much more at ease and nodded: "Your Majesty, then so be it. Let's stabilize the hearts of people inside and outside the court first, and we can discuss the future later!"

"Alright, then so be it. This matter cannot wait or be delayed. The imperial edict must be issued immediately. If Hebei is not an option, then we should detour through Jingdong or Hedong. We must immediately convey my favor to the military camp, and let all the generals know of my imperial favor! So that the generals will know that I will not mistreat those who have rendered meritorious service."

Emperor Zhao Huan was clearly quite capable.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Geng Nanzhong bowed and went to carry out the order.

In Hebei, on the city wall of Hejian Prefecture, Liu Guangshi had already breached the city and entered Hejian ahead of schedule. This was Su Wu's military order. Su Wu's immediate thought was to put maximum pressure on the Jurchens and make them panic. Otherwise, the Jurchens would never give up this trip that yielded such a fortune.

Su Wu did not want to immediately engage in a decisive battle with the Jurchens. Ultimately, his strength was insufficient and everything was too hasty. If he had truly had 45,000 cavalry, Su Wu would have wanted to finish the job once and for all and completely wear down and trap the Jurchens in the land north of Yan and Yun.

Unfortunately, he didn't actually have it. Perhaps he would have it a year from now, but at this moment, Su Wu truly didn't.

Fighting the Jurchens in open battle to the death is something to think about, not to try. If you try, you'll most likely die. In such a life-or-death situation, there's no room for luck. The Liao dynasty's million-strong army serves as a cautionary tale.

The vanguard of the Jurchen cavalry had already arrived at the city of Hejian. They came very quickly, while the main force was still behind.

Seeing only the flags and armor on the city wall, the Jurchen vanguard turned around immediately without looking back!
Liu Guangshi sat on the city tower, waiting patiently for two or three days to arrive. He watched as the Jurchens came in waves, infantry, auxiliary troops, and cavalry, their banners billowing like clouds.

Wanyan Zongwang arrived outside Hejian City, his brow furrowed. Hejian City held considerable "assets," and that was one of them. The other was the city itself—the city the Song emperor had promised to cede, now part of the Jin dynasty's territory—which he was reluctant to relinquish…

Thirdly, and more importantly, this city must belong to Su Wu's troops, who are skilled warriors and at least capable of fighting. If we simply cross it without a fight, there will be many problems later. The most direct problem is that there will definitely be a force following behind us, ready to launch a surprise attack at any time...

Crossing the former Liao-Song border was a major problem. Although the Liao-Song border was flat, there was a river. However, the river was not the most troublesome thing. The most troublesome thing was that the Song people had planted countless thorny forests along the border, which stretched for countless miles.

If the army wants to cross this border, it must pass through Xiongzhou. If it gets stuck between Xiongzhou and Hejian and can't move forward or backward, that would be even more troublesome.

Of course, it's not that we have to go through here. Going through other places would also be troublesome, as we would have to take a long detour. We could even go east of the river to return to the border, but we would be completely in the dark, not knowing anything about the terrain, the cities, or the armies in each place...

Although many former Liao people served as guides and military advisors in the army, how could Wanyan Zongwang completely trust them...?

They were anxious, but also calm...

Let's test our skills first, see how capable Su Wu's men really are, and then set up our formation and give it a shot!
Inside Hejian City, Liu Guangshi's garrison consisted of over 13,000 regular soldiers and nearly 20,000 auxiliary soldiers. These included not only soldiers from Fuyan, but also soldiers from Huanqing, and even over 7,000 regular soldiers and over 10,000 auxiliary soldiers from Xiongzhou.

Within Hejian City, the people were united in their hatred of the Jurchens. After the devastation, countless deep-seated grudges and blood feuds had been inflicted. How could the released young and strong Song men not hate the Jurchens at this moment? Countless families had already lost their wives and daughters…

Any real man, any true man, would fight to the death against the Jurchens this time...

They were waiting for the Jurchens to prepare for the siege and for the war to begin.

A war is about to break out in Hejian Prefecture.

Emperor Emeritus Zhao Ji rushed back to Tokyo, and Geng Nanzhong went out of the city gates to meet him.

Upon seeing Zhao Ji, Geng Nanzhong, his face streaked with tears, bowed deeply and left, crying out, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you've suffered so much! Your Majesty has finally returned..."

Suddenly, Zhao Ji's eyes also filled with tears. Overwhelmed with sorrow and countless emotions, he wiped away his tears and said, "Alas... you all have had it tough..."

As he spoke, Tong Guan quickly handed Zhao Ji a cloth, which Zhao Ji used to wipe his eyes, taking one last look at the majestic city of Bianjing in the distance…

Some were deeply moved: "Heaven is wise, our ancestors protected us..."

Geng Nanzhong continued, "Your Majesty, please come quickly. The Emperor is already waiting in the palace, and all the civil and military officials are in the main hall, waiting for Your Majesty to return..."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ji's expression turned slightly displeased, but he said nothing and simply waved his hand, saying, "Get in the carriage, let's go back to the palace!"

The crowd followed, and Tong Guan, inside the carriage, slightly lifted the curtain to look at the several thousand victorious soldiers following behind...

He could see some things. As a foreign army, the Jiesheng Army was not allowed to enter the city. There were military camps stationed outside the city. Tong Guan wanted to get out of the carriage to say something, but he did not move.

The emperor had one carriage frame, while Tong Guan and Cai Jing shared the same frame.

At this moment, how could Cai Jing remain silent? "I believe... the victorious army should enter the city..."

Tong Guan waved his hand: "I can't bear the responsibility!"

Without a truly plausible reason, how could the victorious army enter the city? If they were to force their way in, wouldn't they immediately break off all pretense of civility? And what if the emperor were truly benevolent?
Besides, Tong Guan is not like Cai Jing. In fact, he doesn't have much ambition to compete. He has already lived to this point. Unless someone really wants to kill him, he will not take the initiative to do anything. It is also because Tong Guan is confident that with his achievements and prestige, it is normal for him not to be needed. He would not push people too far.

Cai Jing was truly furious at their lack of resolve, and retorted, "If things really come to this, let's see what we do!"

Tong Guan chuckled, remaining silent, only glancing at Cai Jing. To be honest, Cai Jing was quite anxious. Even Tong Guan felt that his chances of landing safely were very high, while Cai Jing's chances of landing safely were probably much more difficult...

How could Cai Jing not look at Tong Guan? He simply said, "You, don't harbor any illusions..."

At this moment, Tong Guan nodded in agreement, sighed slightly, and feared that someone might be pushing him too far...

These two old men seem to really be able to sense something...

As they entered the city, the retired emperor was overjoyed. He looked left and right, heading towards the imperial city. Today, the central gate of the imperial city was wide open, namely the Daqing Gate. The emperor's carriage passed through the Daqing Gate, while the rest of the people passed through the left side gate.

The path led to the Chui Gong Hall, where all the civil and military officials were present.

Emperor Zhao Huan, seated on the high platform, saw his father enter the hall and descended a few steps to greet him, tears streaming down his face: "Father!"

Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) also shed tears: "It wasn't easy, it wasn't easy at all..."

The father and son exchanged a few words, and then genuinely embraced and wept. How could this not be a display of paternal love and filial piety? Their poignant emotions were not entirely feigned.

Zhao Huan then invited, "Father, please take a seat!"

Zhao Ji looked at Zhao Huan, still deeply moved. He stepped forward, ascended the small high platform, and sat down on the dragon throne. Once seated, he looked around...

At first glance, it evoked a sense of melancholy. He then slowly said, "On this trip out of the capital to pray for blessings, I witnessed countless hardships among the people. I was deeply moved and know that my governance of the empire in the past was far from sufficient. Now that I have returned, I must be even more diligent in governing. Firstly, I must avenge the Jurchens, and secondly, I must seek the well-being of the people. I hope that all of you, my beloved ministers, will join me in this effort to restore the Han and Tang dynasties! May you all be remembered in history!"

Emperor Zhao Huan stood to the side and bowed respectfully, saying, "I will remember my father's teachings!"

The many officials also bowed in respect.

Zhao Ji had a question on his mind that was particularly urgent, so he immediately asked, "On the way, I heard some people say that the Tangut people have already perished, while others say it's all just a rumor. Is it true or false?"

Zhao Huan chimed in, "Yesterday, we received an urgent report from the Jingzhao Prefecture confirming that the northwestern armies have entered Xingqing Prefecture. The Dangxiang have fallen, and their ruler, Li Ganshun, is on his way from Jingzhao Prefecture to Kaifeng..."

Emperor Huizong clapped his hands in delight and stood up, saying, "Excellent, excellent, excellent! Such meritorious service is surely worthy of the Han and Tang dynasties! Zhong Shidao and Li Yan should be richly rewarded, and Su Wu should also be richly rewarded!"

Li Yan is dead, and the news came back with him, along with official documents, detailing the whole story clearly...

Zhong Shidao submitted a memorial detailing the events leading up to and following the battle, attributing all the credit to Su Wu.

Su Wu, the Emperor spoke: "Minister Su has already been granted the title of Prince of Langya!"

An excited Zhao Ji waved his hand and said, "Not enough. The merit of destroying a country is far beyond what the Prince of Langya deserves."

Zhao Huan was anxious and immediately said, "That's not enough. I've already added... the position of Privy Councillor!"

This was added by Zhao Huan on the spot. The matter of bestowing honors upon Su Wu could only come from Zhao Huan's mouth, and absolutely could not come from Zhao Ji's mouth.

Zhao Ji nodded: "Good, that's about right. My son has done a good job. It will further encourage Su Wu to fight for the country in Yan and Yun, and even..."

"The military rewards are already being discussed by the Privy Council and the State Council. There are many people to be rewarded, and the imperial edict will be issued to the north soon!" Zhao Huan answered directly.

Zhao Ji nodded in agreement: "Excellent, excellent!"

Emperor Huizong was overjoyed, but Grand Tutor Cai Jing was filled with worry.

Fortunately, Zhao Huan seems to be quite polite and respectful to his father. There are still many things to discuss, which can be dealt with slowly in the future...

Zhao Huan spoke up: "Father, many of my beloved ministers have been gathered here for quite some time today, all eager to pay their respects to you. It is getting late, so let us adjourn the court session. There are many matters to attend to at the courts. We can arrange for them to catch up with you again another day. I imagine you must be tired from your long journey, traveling day and night. Why don't you rest first, and then we can attend to state affairs..."

Zhao Ji, beaming with joy, nodded and said, "Alright! Let's disperse. I'm truly exhausted; I'll go back and rest for a while!"

"Retreat!"

At a shout, the crowd retreated. Zhao Huan accompanied Zhao Ji towards the inner palace.

Cai Jing and Tong Guan walked slowly along the palace road.

Cai Jing was filled with worry. Although the situation seemed relatively calm today, he remained anxious and kept asking Tong Guan, "You said...within the imperial city..."

Before he could finish speaking, Tong Guan understood perfectly and simply waved his hand, saying, "It's not that bad..."

"Sigh..." Cai Jing's worries remained, but he still glanced back a few times...

Meanwhile, in the inner palace, Zhao Huan followed his father and said, "Father, I have overstepped my bounds by staying at your place. I will move in in the next couple of days. Those eunuchs are also lazy, so please go to Longde Palace for a day or two first."

"Yes, it's alright!" Zhao Ji nodded sincerely, his eyes darting left and right, looking at his Longting Pavilion and his Genyue Garden, and for a moment he was filled with emotion: "This country and its people are like this Genyue Garden. If you neglect it for a while, weeds will grow and branches will spread everywhere... In the past, it was I who neglected the affairs of state, I was somewhat negligent..."

Zhao Huan simply said, "It's my fault for not taking good care of these plants..."

Zhao Ji waved his hand and said, "No wonder you're like this. With the barbarians besieging the city, how could you have the mind to take care of these things..."

Keep walking, and you'll reach Longde Palace. Longde, Longde...

Zhao Huan saw him to the door and bowed, saying, "Father, please rest well. I'll go make room for you right away!"

Zhao Ji nodded and waved his hand: "Okay, you go ahead and do your work..."

With that, Zhao Ji stepped inside, entering the Longde Palace, and looked around, surveying the surroundings...

Just then, with a loud "bang," the palace gates slammed shut behind him, startling Zhao Ji. He turned around to see what had happened...

No one came in with them, and the door was just closed?
I could also hear knocking and banging outside the door.

Emperor Huizong panicked immediately: "What are you doing? What are you doing, my son?"

Outside the door, there was no answer; only the sounds of busy activity and the clattering of wooden planks being struck could be heard.

"My son, my son!" Zhao Ji cried out again.

At this moment, Zhao Ji knew that the gate was being nailed shut outside, but he couldn't believe it.

Is this a way to lock up the father?
That's true. Zhao Huan had been planning for a long time, and this was the safest method!

I'm afraid my dad won't come back, and I'm also afraid he'll cause trouble if he does. What can I do?

They have no choice but to confine him!
Zhao Ji turned around, knocked on the door, and shouted, "My son, where is my son!"

Finally, a voice answered from outside the door: "Father, I'm here!"

"What are you doing?" Zhao Ji asked in a panic.

"Father, how has our nation and its people come to this? How could such a great nation be besieged by barbarians? Why are bandits rampant throughout the land? Why are treacherous officials so numerous in the court? Father, it is all your fault!"

Zhao Huan indeed spoke from outside the door.

"What are you saying? What are you saying?" Zhao Ji said urgently, repeatedly.

"Alas... Father Xu is unaware of his own limitations, but I have witnessed it all these years... Father, I am still a filial son. Father, you should enjoy your later years in the Longde Palace. Inside, there is no shortage of writing brushes, inkstones, paper, inkstones, zithers, chess pieces, calligraphy, and paintings. Father has always enjoyed these things and can certainly entertain himself. My Zhao family's empire cannot truly be destroyed like this..."

Zhao Huan was outside the door, speaking earnestly, his eyes brimming with tears.

Inside the door, Zhao Ji's face was also covered in tears. The sound of tears had stopped, and the door and windows were now firmly nailed shut. Zhao Ji said, "My son, if it were just a throne, why would I do this? It has already been passed to you, so it is yours. How could you do such an unfilial thing!"

“Father dislikes me, he has disliked me since I was a child. Father favors Zhao Kai, but Zhao Kai is not the kind of person who can be the emperor. Father, it is not that I want things to be this way, but Father has never done anything that brings me joy. If Father were to come out, I fear that the relationship between father and son would inevitably end in tragedy. It would be better if Father could live out his remaining years in peace!”

Zhao Huan continued speaking, trying to persuade his father to calm down and behave himself from now on.

“My son, my son… open the door, and everything will be fine…” Zhao Ji became increasingly anxious.

Outside the door, only the sound of footsteps fading away could be heard, and the place grew increasingly quiet, even Zhao Huan's words ceased...

Emperor Huizong cried out repeatedly, “My son, my son… This is disloyalty and unfilial piety! This… I… have I ever been harsh or mistreated you? How could you treat me like this!”

The shouts grew increasingly desperate, but there was no one to answer outside the door.

But Zhao Ji knew there must be guards outside the door. Suddenly, a plan came to mind, and he shouted again, "Who else is outside the door? I am the emperor! I am the emperor! Who is outside the door? Open the door at once! If you disobey my decree, I will kill you all!"

Outside the door, all was still silent...

"I am the Son of Heaven! How dare I disobey my imperial decree! Guards! Guards!"

Emperor Huizong leaned back and strained his neck to shout.

"Your Majesty, I am the Emperor! I am the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty!!!"

Unfortunately, all around remained silent.

No matter how anxious and heartbroken I was, there was still no reply.

Seeing that Zhao Ji had gone mad and lost all his divine demeanor, he began to curse: "You traitors and rebels, you will all die a horrible death! Just wait for my imperial edict, and a million soldiers from all over the country will come to the capital and slaughter you all! Where is Su Wu? Su Wu will come to the capital. If Su Wu does not see me, he will naturally come to the aid of the emperor. If you do not open the gate, your entire family will be beheaded and displayed to the public tomorrow!"

"Master!"

"Prime Minister!"

"Let me out!!!"

Actually, Zhao Huan hadn't gone far outside the door. He was listening and watching from a distance, sighing all the while. He wasn't really that kind of ruthless person, but this matter left him no choice but to let his kindness prevail...

Geng Nanzhong, who was still by his side, heard the Emperor Emeritus's shout and seized the opportunity to speak: "Your Majesty, we really need to be wary of that Su Wu..."

The Emperor ignored this and sighed, "Send more of the old men from the Eastern Palace here. No one is allowed to move within a two-hundred-step radius. Their food, drink, and daily necessities must be closely monitored... There must be no mistakes! Tell the outside world that the Retired Emperor is ill from his journey and is resting... In a few days, send a few maids to serve him..."

Geng Nanzhong simply bowed and said, "Yes, Your Majesty!"

Inside the Longde Palace not far away, the shouts continued, but they gradually grew weaker.

Weak and exhausted, Zhao Ji sat slumped on the steps of the inner corridor, then slowly lay down on the bluestone slab by the door, his gaze unfocused, staring blankly at half the roof and half the sky...

For a moment I was stunned, and when I came to my senses I was already in the night, with the Milky Way dancing in the sky and countless stars twinkling...

Zhao Ji slowly got up, sat down again, looked around, and muttered to himself in a daze, "What crime have I committed to deserve this?"

"It is precisely because I have returned to govern diligently and strive to restore the glory of the Han and Tang dynasties that I have committed any crime."

I regret it, I regret not having hardened my heart and actually replaced the crown prince.

As he murmured, a sudden clarity returned to Zhao Ji's eyes: "Just wait until tomorrow, until Su Wu comes to the capital, and then we'll see how you deal with him!"

Clearly, Su Wu was a lifeline!
(Brothers, the plot has to be written this way now. This is a plot I've had in mind for a long time. How can everything make sense if I don't include Tokyo? This is also a historical fact. Zhao Huan imprisoned Zhao Ji. Now, Su Wu's stage begins...)
(End of this chapter)