Love Lock

Chapter 215 The Place Three Feet Underground

A glint of light flashed in Liu Huan's eyes: "Who?"

"He claimed to be His Majesty's secret guard sent to Liangzhou... He was covered in blood, and seemed to be on his last breath..." The guard's voice trembled.

Liu Huan and Li Zhongxin exchanged a glance, and the latter immediately understood and quickly walked out of the imperial study.

A moment later, two eunuchs carried in a bloodied man. His right arm was severed, the wound hastily bandaged with torn pieces of clothing, and his face was ashen.

"Your Majesty..." the guard knelt on the ground with difficulty, "The...King of Jingzhou...is not dead..."

Liu Huan's expression changed drastically, and he grabbed the guard by the collar: "What's going on? Explain yourself!"

“We…we were ambushed…” The guard coughed up blood. “The Jingzhou Prince’s Mansion was prepared…my brothers…are all dead…I faked my death, and they dragged me away to bury me…”

Looking at the gradually fading gaze of the guard, Li Zhongxin recalled how the palace maid named Cui'er had looked the same before she died—the light in her eyes slowly disappeared, until they became two stagnant pools…

"Useless!" Liu Huan roared, slamming the guards to the ground. "What use are you to me?"

The guard twitched a few times, then fell silent.

Li Zhongxin gestured to the eunuch to drag the body out, while he carefully observed his master's expression.

Liu Huan stood beside the pool of blood, the moonlight and candlelight reflecting on his ever-changing face.

Suddenly, he laughed: "Interesting... My seventh brother seems to be smarter than I thought."

He turned to Li Zhongxin, a dangerous glint in his eyes: "Issue my decree that the Minister of War and the Commander of the Imperial Guards be summoned to an audience after the morning court session tomorrow. Since the covert approach won't work... let's do it openly."

Li Zhongxin bowed and agreed, but in his heart he sighed for the people of Jingzhou.

He knew Liu Huan too well—

The new emperor's benevolence has always existed only in imperial edicts and in the writings of historians.

Outside the window, a dark cloud obscured the moon, plunging the entire palace into deeper darkness...

The next day, after court, Minister of War Cao Ge and the commander of the Imperial Guards were summoned to the Imperial Study by Li Zhongxin.

Besides Prime Minister Wei, the two of them were the first to support the King of Xuzhou in his ascension to the throne, and they have rendered meritorious service in helping the new emperor rise to power. Now they are the confidants of the new Emperor Jing and are highly valued.

The carved wooden door of the imperial study was gently closed by the eunuch, making a soft "creak" sound.

Emperor Xinjing, Liu Huan, stood with his hands behind his back by the window, the gold threads on his bright yellow dragon robe shimmering slightly in the sunlight streaming through the window.

His fingertips unconsciously caressed a jade pendant at his waist, a dragon-patterned pendant bestowed by the late emperor, which had now become a symbol of the emperor's supreme status.

Upon hearing the door close, Emperor Jing suddenly turned around, causing the candlelight on the table to flicker in the wind.

"My two ministers, I underestimated my seventh brother, the Prince of Jingzhou, who usually doesn't fight or compete. I didn't expect him to be so vigilant!"

The two men exchanged a glance, then bowed respectfully: "May I ask why Your Majesty speaks such words?"

Emperor Jing sneered and slammed his fingers heavily on the sandalwood table.

"Not only did the assassination attempt on the King of Jingzhou fail this time, but I also lost a team of elite secret guards. You know what I want. Do you two ministers have any other ideas?"

"Ah...this..."

The commander of the Imperial Guards gasped in disbelief.

He walked through the palace and naturally knew the strength of the palace's secret guards, but why was an entire squad of secret guards wiped out?
Could it be that the King of Jingzhou is too cunning, and his lack of ambition and refrain from fighting over the years is merely a facade to deceive the public?

Or perhaps the King of Jingzhou has some powerful trump card that no one knows about?
Cao Ge thought for a moment, then took half a step forward.

"Your Majesty, in my opinion, it would be better to deploy troops south under the pretext of suppressing bandits. The border area between Jingzhou and Liangzhou is already rife with banditry, which would be perfect..."

The emperor and his ministers were discussing what justifiable reason they could use to seize the King of Jingzhou. Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded outside the hall.

A eunuch's shrill voice pierced through the doorway: "Your Majesty, Prime Minister Wei requests an audience—"

Prime Minister Wei had just left the court session, why is he back again? Emperor Jing frowned, and before he could answer, the vermilion palace doors were pushed open.

Prime Minister Wei strode in, wearing a purple robe and jade belt, followed by Wei Dabao, who was covered in sweat.

Prime Minister Wei's usually meticulously combed hair was now disheveled, and the hem of Wei Dabao's brocade robe was covered in mud.

He arrived in the capital in a hurry, and without taking a break, went straight to the palace, where he met Prime Minister Wei, who had just finished court.

After he explained the whole situation, Prime Minister Wei was furious and, without saying a word, immediately took him back to the palace to see Emperor Jing.

"Your Majesty!" Prime Minister Wei gave a hasty bow, took out a handkerchief from his sleeve to wipe the sweat from his forehead, and said, "This old minister has important matters to report!"

Emperor Jing noticed that Wei Dabao's robes, which looked ill-fitting due to his weight loss, and said to Prime Minister Wei with displeasure, "Uncle, what's the matter that you're so flustered? I'm discussing important matters with my two ministers."

Wei Dabao suddenly knelt down and started sobbing.

"Your Majesty, you are wise! You must avenge this humble subject! The King of Cangzhou, he..."

Before he could finish speaking, he kowtowed three times, his forehead immediately turning bruised and purple.

Emperor Jing was already furious about the escape of the Prince of Jingzhou. After hearing Wei Dabao's tearful complaint, he became even more irritated and waved his hand, sweeping the teacup off the table and shards of porcelain onto Wei Dabao's knees.

"Get to the point," Emperor Jing said, glancing at him.

Prime Minister Wei grabbed Wei Dabao and shouted, "Stop crying! Tell me the truth about your suffering and what you have seen and heard!"

Wei Dabao sobbed twice: "When I returned to my hometown, I found that the King of Cangzhou had ordered Luo Hai, the magistrate of Qingshui County, to lead troops to confiscate all of my property."

Wei Dabao pulled an account book from his pocket and presented it with trembling hands. He had compiled it along the way to the capital.

"The King of Cangzhou not only seized the houses and land of the common people, but also converted all thirty-six houses into barracks to house troops."

"What? Troops stationed here?" Emperor Jing's pupils contracted sharply. He gripped the table tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force: "How many troops?"

“At least tens of thousands!” Wei Dabao crawled two steps on his knees. “Those were all deserters from the Jingzhou camp, and now they have all been taken in by the King of Cangzhou.”

At least tens of thousands?

The entire imperial study fell into a deathly silence.

The Imperial Guard commander instinctively pressed down on the hilt of his sword, causing his armor to make a soft "clicking" sound.

Gary Cao gasped, his eyelids twitching.

"Well done, Prince of Cangzhou!" Emperor Jing suddenly roared, slamming his hand on the table, causing the inkstone to jump. Ink splattered on the memorial, resembling spreading bloodstains.

The King of Jingzhou just lost a squad of his secret guards, and now the King of Cangzhou has appeared, who has privately amassed troops.

The newly enthroned Emperor Jing felt that his imperial dignity had been seriously challenged, and he was so angry that he almost fell over.

Prime Minister Wei stepped forward at the opportune moment to stir up trouble: "Your Majesty, Da Bao is a branch of the Wei family, a century-old clan in the Great Jing Dynasty. The King of Cangzhou's actions are clearly a contempt for the court's rules and regulations! If he is not severely punished, the clan will have no place in the Great Jing Dynasty."

He emphasized the words "family of prominent families," his cloudy old eyes gleaming with a sharp light.

Emperor Jing looked at Cao Ge, the Minister of War, and the Commander of the Imperial Guards: "My two ministers, what do you think?" Cao Ge felt that it was time for him to show his abilities. He suddenly knelt on one knee, and his official robe spread out in a fan shape on the gold brick.

"Your Majesty, my younger brother Cao Xiong is stationed at the North Pass of Cangzhou. I request Your Majesty's permission to send this message by carrier pigeon, ordering Cao Xiong to investigate the situation immediately!"

Emperor Jing stared at the patterns on Cao Ge's official robe and suddenly remembered something: "That's right! I heard that Cao Aiqing's younger brother, Cao Xiong, took over Zhao Zun's position as marshal and was stationed at Beiguan before the new year."

“Indeed.” Cao Ge replied respectfully, “With Cao Xiong helping Your Majesty verify, there will be no mistake.”

"Very well! Granted." Emperor Jing sneered. "Quickly send a message to Cao Xiong by carrier pigeon. I want to see just how bold the King of Cangzhou is to dare to amass troops and rebel."

The commander of the Imperial Guards suddenly spoke up: "Your Majesty, if the situation is true, how should we handle it?"

He made a horizontal slicing gesture, and the gold edge of the scabbard flashed coldly in the candlelight.

Prime Minister Wei stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, this old minister believes that if the facts are verified, we should take immediate action and send troops to attack the King of Cangzhou while he is still weak. We should seek justice for the Wei family.”

Wei Dabao quickly kowtowed as well: "Yes! I am not lying. I beg Your Majesty to do justice for me."

Emperor Jing glanced at the uncle and nephew, then strolled to the window. In the distance, the banners of the Imperial Guards fluttered in the wind on the palace walls.

He suddenly turned around, the hem of his dragon robe swirling in a sharp arc.

"Uncle, please don't worry. Although I am not surnamed Wei, I am still a member of the Wei family. Regardless of whether the King of Cangzhou intends to rebel, I will seek justice for the Wei family. If that is true, I will send troops to raze Cangzhou to the ground."

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Wei was taken aback, then a satisfied expression appeared on his face, his wrinkles creased with a smile.

Wei Dabao remained kneeling, unwilling to get up, his haggard and thin face streaked with tears.

Prime Minister Wei helped him up from the ground. Knowing that Emperor Jing and Cao Ge still had things to discuss, he took the initiative to bow and bid farewell.

After the figures of Prime Minister Wei and his nephew disappeared outside the Imperial Study, Emperor Jing's demeanor grew increasingly cold.

"Minister Cao, send a message immediately." Emperor Jing looked at Cao Ge, his speech suddenly quickening, and a murderous intent flashed in his eyes: "Once it is confirmed that troops are stationed in Cangzhou, I authorize the garrison at Beiguan to execute them first and report later!"

"Yes! I will do it immediately," Cao Ge replied solemnly, and left to carry out the order.

Emperor Jing's chest heaved violently. Thinking that the King of Jingzhou and the King of Cangzhou would threaten his throne, he suddenly took two quick steps and grabbed the belt of the Imperial Guard Commander's breastplate.

The bronze mirror reflected the emperor's distorted face: "Send another squad of assassins to Jingzhou. If the assassination fails..."

He lowered his voice, his words sharp as ice, "Then we'll use the pretext that the King of Jingzhou colluded with bandits to murder the King of Liangzhou, and openly and legitimately arrest him, escort him back to the capital for trial, and then on the way..."

Emperor Jing narrowed his eyes, his gaze like a sharp sword piercing straight to the heart.

"I understand!"

The commander of the Imperial Guards clasped his hands in a fist salute, nodded firmly, and turned to leave.

Suddenly, thunder roared outside the Imperial Study. A torrential downpour began, the raindrops pounding on the glazed tiles like the beating of war drums.

Emperor Jing walked to the gate and looked at the blurred outline of the palace in the rain. He suddenly remembered the scene when he was a child, when he and the Prince of Jingzhou listened to the late emperor's lectures on "The Strategies of Governing the Country".

At that time, Liu Yan, the King of Jingzhou, always liked to follow him around and secretly hide pastries in his sleeves.

Now, in order to secure his position, he must also secretly hide the King of Jingzhou, three feet underground, so that he will never see the light of day again...

"Boom!"

At that moment, a pale white lightning bolt ripped through the leaden-gray sky, followed by a thunderous explosion that made the glazed tiles on the palace walls rattle.

Emperor Jing was jolted awake; the thunderclap seemed to be a response from heaven to his earlier thoughts.

"Your Majesty, please come inside! Be careful not to catch a cold."

Chief eunuch Li Zhongxin hunched over as he shuffled through the rain, the raindrops from his oil-paper umbrella forming a thin stream on the gold-brick floor.

The old eunuch, who had served two emperors, had wrinkles around his eyes, and his pale face looked even more haggard in the flashlight.

"Your Majesty, the palace guards report that Princess Chang Le is outside the palace gates again..."

Li Zhongxin's voice was as cautious as the curve of his bow, "This time he brought the jade ruyi bestowed by the late emperor, saying that he absolutely had to see His Majesty."

Emperor Jing abruptly waved his sleeve and turned to walk towards his desk.

"Hmph! Why did all these troubles pile up today? Can't you just let me have a moment's peace?"

He stared at the flower branches outside the window, broken by the torrential rain, and felt a surge of anger.

"I've said it countless times, since I ascended the throne, I have never bestowed the title of Princess Chang Le, and there is no such person as Princess Chang Le in the Great Jing Dynasty! Tell her to get out!"

"Yes! This old servant will go and let her go." Li Zhongxin held up his umbrella and walked towards the palace gate.

The long palace road in the rain seemed endless. Li Zhongxin's figure, holding an umbrella, gradually hunched over, and the mud splattered from his official boots as he stepped through the puddles dampened the hem of his crimson robe.

The cries and curses coming from afar grew clearer and clearer, tearing through the curtain of rain like a dull knife.

"Open your dog eyes and look! The words 'Imperial Gift' are engraved on this jade ruyi!"

The veins on Princess Chang Le's hand, which was clutching the jade, bulged, and the pearls inlaid on the jade ruyi gleamed with a cold light in the rain.

Her pale green dress was already soaked through, and the tassels of the gold hairpin in her hair were blown by the wind, tangling around her pale cheeks.

The guards standing at the palace gate remained motionless like iron towers, and rainwater flowed down the grooves in their armor, forming thin streams that fell onto the bluestone pavement.

"This humble general only recognizes His Majesty's token."

"Princess!" The oil-paper umbrella held by the maid Mingyue was blown about by the wind, and the bright red handprint on her left cheek was very obvious. "The doctor said that you have been chilled and cannot be exposed to cold again. Let's go back..."

Before she could finish speaking, Princess Chang Le slapped her again, yelling, "You lowly servant! Get out of here!"

"what!"

Mingyue screamed and stumbled into a puddle, the crisp sound of the umbrella ribs breaking drowned out by the thunder.

"You dare to try and discipline your master? This princess is going to the palace to see His Majesty today!"

She suddenly lunged at the palace gate, her jade-inlaid fingernails scraping against the guards' armor with a grating sound.

"Make way, make way! Let this princess in. Don't you recognize me as a princess?" Princess Chang Le's face was streaked with tears, and her voice was shrill.

When Li Zhongxin arrived, he saw the once-noble princess beating a motionless guard like a shrew in the rain.

Her peacock-embroidered cloak trailed in the mud, and her disheveled hair made her look like a madwoman.

“Princess,” Li Zhongxin’s voice was muffled by the sound of rain, “this old servant just went to report again…”

"You old eunuch, you must not have explained it clearly!" Princess Chang Le suddenly looked up at him, her bloodshot eyes fixed on the cloud and goose patch on the eunuch's scarlet robe.

"You know perfectly well that I, this princess, never had to report when entering the palace before..."

At this point, she suddenly choked up, and rainwater mixed with tears streamed down her thin chin.