Catching Monsters

Chapter 470 Let's Make Our Relationship Even Stronger
Despite his seemingly unreliable nature, Xu Xiaogang had been secretly observing the situation in the capital. Upon hearing this, he couldn't help but scratch his head and say, "Mother, this is not a good matter. You probably don't know, but the Imperial City is currently guarded by the Imperial Guards."

"It's not easy to get in."

"Otherwise, how can I ask you to come up with a solution?" Tao Yuelan said in a deep voice.

……

In the square outside the palace, the atmosphere inside the palace has been somewhat subtle in recent days.

It all stemmed from the sudden imposition of martial law by the Imperial Guard.

At this moment, Feng Yu was sitting on a stone bench outside with a somewhat worried expression, lost in thought.

At this moment, the Eighth Prince Xiao Jingqing came out of the chamber pot and emptied it. These things were usually done by the eunuchs who served him.

Xiao Jingqing claimed that he had no way to repay his father's kindness in raising him, so he served by his side and did all the dirty and tiring work himself.

As he passed by Feng Yu, Xiao Jingqing asked, "Eunuch Feng, since yesterday you've often been outside looking worried and troubled, I wonder what you're thinking about."

Feng Yu gave a wry smile and said, "Your Highness, you are quite carefree. The Imperial Guards are suddenly under martial law, and even I am not allowed to go out."

"I wonder what major event has occurred outside the capital." Feng Yu paused and said, "Alas, I originally intended to leave the palace with His Majesty's edict."

"But you were worried that His Majesty would find out about the sudden martial law imposed on the Imperial Guards, and you stopped me from saying it."

Hearing Feng Yu's words, Xiao Jingqing smiled and said, "Eunuch Feng, you are also an old man in the palace. The sudden imposition of martial law by the Imperial Guards could only be because of His Highness the Crown Prince."

"My father is not in good health right now, so it's best not to let him know about these things, lest he worry."

Feng Yu stared at Xiao Jingqing's face for a long time, then slowly sighed, "Jingqing, this servant has watched Your Highness grow up, hasn't he?"

"Of course, when I was little, I often didn't know the rules and would ride on my father-in-law's shoulders and play around." Xiao Jingqing nodded with a smile.

"You really chose the wrong name. You should be called Jingxiao."

At the same time, Xiao Yuzheng's voice could be heard calling from inside the palace: "Jingqing, Jingqing."

"I'll stop talking now, my father is calling me." After saying that, Xiao Jingqing took the chamber pot and quickly entered the palace.

The room was brightly lit, and Xiao Yuzheng, who was lying on the bed, looked more than ten years older in the past six months.

To be honest, Xiao Yuzheng's health was not good to begin with, and he had previously taken heavy metal pills made by alchemists for a period of time.

The fact that he has survived for so long is entirely due to the efforts of the imperial physicians in the Imperial Medical Center, who have used all their skills to continuously prepare miraculous medicines.

Lying on the bed, Xiao Yuzheng's vision was already failing. Xiao Jingqing quickly stepped forward and took Xiao Yuzheng's hand, saying, "Father, I'm here."

Perhaps he was truly getting old, or perhaps he sensed his impending death and was reluctant to part with his son, Xiao Yuzheng held Xiao Jingqing's hand tightly and said, "Jingqing, what have your elder brothers been busy with these days? It's been almost three months since they last visited me."

"My eldest and fourth brothers are busy with national affairs," Xiao Jingqing replied slowly. "Recently, the banditry in the southwest has become increasingly serious, and my fourth brother is busy deploying military forces."

"As for my elder brother, he often meets with Minister Zheng of the Ministry of Revenue, Minister Yan of the Ministry of Personnel, and Minister Miao of the Ministry of Rites. I don't know exactly what they are busy with, as I haven't left the palace for a long time," Xiao Jingqing answered truthfully.

"Phew." Xiao Yuzheng let out a long sigh, then asked, "How effective has Jingfu's governance been?"

Earlier, Xiao Yuzheng often asked Jiang Yun if he had found the elixir.

But there was no news at all.

Now, Xiao Yuzheng seemed to have resigned himself to his fate and no longer asked any questions.

"My elder brother is quite capable in governing the country. I heard that he transferred Zhang Yuhu to the front line to fight against Wang Longzhi's army. Although the results were not great, he was able to barely stabilize the front line."

"They are training troops in the north. Once the troops in the north are trained, they will be transferred to the south, and the banditry can be quelled in one fell swoop."

Xiao Yuzheng, with his eyes closed, asked, "Zhang Yuhu? Where's Xu Xiaogang?"

"Xu Xiaogang fell ill a month ago and returned to Beijing to recuperate."

Xiao Yuzheng felt uneasy and asked in a deep voice, "Could it be that your fourth brother wanted to seize power and specially transferred him back?"

“No, that’s not true. Fourth Brother isn’t that kind of fool.” Xiao Jingqing knelt before the sickbed, paused, and said, “However, Father, Xu Xiaogang has returned to the capital. He should come and pay his respects to you.”

"Then let him come," Xiao Yuzheng said slowly.

Xiao Jingqing said, "In my opinion, Father, why don't you summon him to the palace by imperial decree?"

"Why would I need an imperial edict to have him come to see me?" Xiao Yuzheng tried hard to open his eyes to see Xiao Jingqing's expression.

Xiao Jingqing knelt respectfully beside the bed and comforted him, saying, "The Duke of Zhenguo was transferred back from the front line. Although he didn't say it, he must be a little unhappy about it."

“Father, the fact that you issued an imperial edict is enough to prove how much you value him.” Xiao Yuzheng nodded slightly and said, “Let Feng Yu in and have him take the imperial edict and go out of the palace.”

later.

Feng Yu walked with his hands behind his back to the palace gate, and as expected, he was quickly stopped by the heavily guarded imperial guards.

"Eunuch Feng, are you going out of the palace to buy something?" A junior officer of the Imperial Guard hurriedly and respectfully approached, saying, "What do you wish to buy, Eunuch? Just tell me, and I will have it delivered to the palace."

"There's no need for you to go out yourself, Father-in-law."

“There are rebels outside who want to assassinate His Majesty. You are a close confidant of His Majesty, and I am worried that it will be unsafe for you to go out.”

Feng Yu's gaze was icy as she glanced at the low-ranking leader: "What? If someone tries to harm me, you think you can protect my safety?"

"What is this?" Feng Yu said, slowly taking out the imperial edict and saying calmly, "According to His Majesty's decree, I need to go to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion."

After speaking, he immediately opened the imperial edict, which contained the contents and was stamped with the Imperial Seal of the State.

Upon seeing the contents, the minor leader swallowed hard, but dared not object any further. He simply asked, "Sir, would you mind sending some men to accompany you?"

"roll."

After Feng Yu finished speaking, he was finally able to leave the palace gates without any hindrance.

Watching Feng Yu's departing figure, the small leader couldn't help but curse inwardly, "What's with all the arrogance? Still acting all high and mighty."

His Majesty is on his deathbed, how many more days can you, the dog beside His Majesty, bark?

Feng Yu dared not delay for a moment and immediately headed towards the location of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.

Inside the Prince's Mansion.

Xiao Jingfu looked anxious. He had sent many imperial guards to search for Jiang Yun's whereabouts inside and outside the city, but they couldn't find him.

He knew that martial law could not continue indefinitely.

If this continues, I'm afraid my father will eventually notice.

Just then, Zhang Yao rushed in, pushed open the door of his study, and ran in.

He was panting heavily as he stared at Xiao Jingfu and said, "Your Highness, something terrible has happened! Something terrible has happened!"

"His Majesty suddenly decided to meet with Xu Xiaogang, and Feng Yu personally brought out the imperial edict."

"Do you think Xu Xiaogang is aware of these current events?"

Hearing Zhang Yao's words, Xiao Jingfu couldn't help but clench his fists. He took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "Didn't I say that no one is allowed to come in or out?"

"That's Eunuch Feng Yu, and he's holding an imperial edict. No one dares to stop him," Zhang Yao said anxiously. "Besides, given Eunuch Feng Yu's abilities, if anyone dares to stop him, wouldn't they be asking for trouble?"

Hearing Zhang Yao's explanation, Xiao Jingfu calmed down a bit.

His eyes flickered with complex emotions as he pondered a solution. He quickly straightened his clothes and asked in a deep voice, "How much longer until Xu Xiaogang enters the palace?"

"do not know."

"I need to go to the palace," Xiao Jingfu said through gritted teeth. "I haven't seen my father for almost three months, and I miss him terribly. Also, go and prepare some tonics and send them to the imperial kitchen."

"A tonic? Ginseng or something else?"

“Arsenic.” Xiao Jingfu’s eyes turned cold: “In a moment of desperation, you arranged for the Imperial Guards to feed my father this tonic.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yao was so frightened that his legs went weak, and he followed Xiao Jingfu to do his job.

To personally poison the current emperor would be an act of utter treason.

If this is discovered, the entire family, including nine generations of relatives, will be wiped out.

He knelt on the ground and said, "Your Highness, I have no experience in this kind of thing. If I mess it up, it might ruin your plans. Why don't you choose someone else to do it?"

"Who the hell has experience? Do I? Or who does?" After cursing, Xiao Jingfu helped Zhang Yao up and patted his clothes: "Don't worry, after this is done, I will marry your other two daughters as well, and the future crown prince will be chosen from their children."

Zhang Yao: "But my eldest daughter and second daughter are already married."

"It's okay, I'll still want to get married."

"Let's become even closer through marriage."

(End of this chapter)