Inheriting a Taoist temple, the story begins with Wu Zetian offering incense.

Chapter 206 Zhao Ji: You insulted your own character, and you insulted my intelligence! [Seeking monthly votes]

Upon hearing Yang Jian's question, Zhao Ji's heart skipped a beat, but on the surface, he maintained his calm and composed demeanor.

“Eunuch Yang, there are no outsiders here. You might as well make your point clearer.”

Yang Jian knew he had a chance when he saw Zhao Ji's reaction, and happily leaned close to his ear and whispered:
"We have made all the arrangements. As long as you nod, you can ascend the throne and become an official of the Great Song Dynasty within a month... Ah!!!"

Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Ji raised his arm high and swung it across Yang Jian's face:

"You castrated dog, how dare you rebel?!"

With a slap, Yang Jian was already stunned, but Zhao Ji showed no sign of stopping. He delivered a left front kick, directly striking Yang Jian in the chest and sending him sprawling face-first into the dirt.

Zhao Ji is eighteen years old this year. He has been playing football for many years and his physical fitness is far superior to that of Emperor Shenzong's sons. Yang Jian, on the other hand, is a eunuch who is over forty years old. He is used to being bossy and has a very weak body.

After kicking Yang Jian, Zhao Ji straddled him, clenched his fists, and, like Wu Song fighting a tiger, swung his fists at Yang Jian's face:
"Now that my elder brother has become a disciple of an immortal, and I have also glimpsed the path to immortality, you old eunuch with audacity, actually dare to dream of establishing a new emperor! You not only insult my character, but also my intelligence! I'll beat you to death, you bastard!"

Emperor Huizong felt that if he hesitated for even a second, he would be blaspheming the immortals. This vile creature, worse than a pig or a dog, actually tried to tempt him with this.

He unleashed a flurry of punches, knocking out several of Yang Jian's teeth. As he continued, Zhao Ji suddenly realized that Yang Jian, merely a steward in the back garden, was no match for the court and must have accomplices.

Thinking of this, he took the hemp rope from the construction site and tied up Yang Jian, who was pleading incessantly. Fearing that Yang Jian's accomplices would come and kill him to silence him, he took off his socks and stuffed them tightly into Yang Jian's mouth.

The commotion was so great that it attracted the attention of the guards from the Imperial College next door.

After putting on his boots, Zhao Ji calmly addressed the guards at the Imperial Academy:

"Someone has attempted to assassinate me! Quickly send someone to notify the Imperial Guards! All other guards, protect me! If you can wait for the Imperial Guards, I will reward you handsomely!"

Upon hearing that someone was assassinating Prince Duan, not only did all the guards of the Imperial Academy arrive, but even some hot-blooded students jumped over the wall to help.

These students, who have not yet experienced the rigors of officialdom, still retain some spirit.

Yang Jian lay on the ground, knowing he was finished. He tried to kill himself by banging his head against the ground, but Zhao Ji threw him into the sand, which was soft and could not hurt him at all.

The Imperial College was very close to the palace, only about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. The sound of horses' hooves came from afar, and the first squad of royal guards galloped over.

These guards, dressed in infantry armor and with their horses clad in horse armor, looked like tanks. Upon arrival, they immediately took over the defense of the area.

Emperor Huizong bowed to thank the students and the guards of the Imperial Academy, repeatedly stating that he would personally visit them the next day to express his gratitude.

With the imperial guards by his side, Zhao Ji breathed a sigh of relief. However, he did not know who Yang Jian's accomplices were. The only people he could trust now, besides his elder brother Zhao Xu, were Li Gefei and Cai Jing, whom he had sworn a poisonous oath to.

After thinking for a moment, he sent someone to inform Li Gefei by fast horse. Only by entrusting this matter to Li Gefei for trial could Zhao Ji be completely at ease.

At this moment, Li Gefei, who had just been promoted to Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, was at home tasting white wine. He thought the fruity aroma was very good, but it was too sweet. If it could have a light sweetness like rice wine, it would be perfect.

Just as they were drinking, the Imperial Guards rushed in on horseback, startling the whole family.

"Minister Li, Prince Duan has been assassinated, and he has specifically requested that you be the one to handle the case."

Li Gefei asked:
Who was the assassin?

“He was thrown into the sand by Prince Duan, and his mouth was gagged, so we couldn’t see his face.”

Upon hearing this, Li Gefei knew that things were not simple.

Prince Duan now spends his days wandering around Yiyuan Palace in a Taoist robe. He doesn't go anywhere except to get beaten up in the palace. Why would anyone want to assassinate him?

Do you think he eats too much grain?
Li Gefei hurriedly changed into his official robes, preparing to investigate the case. Li Qingzhao, worried about her father's safety, followed him with her, carrying her token and a powerful flashlight.

The father and daughter arrived at the construction site of Yiyuan Palace, where thousands of imperial guards had already gathered. The entire street was under martial law, and soldiers were guarding the rooftops on both sides of the street.

Just now, Zhao Xu also sent an imperial edict from the palace, giving Li Gefei full authority to handle this matter. Within the territory of the Song Dynasty, everyone is authorized to investigate.

When the bribery case in Western Xia was investigated last time, the authority was only below the level of a prince, but now that the prince has been assassinated, even that restriction has been lifted.

Upon seeing Li Gefei, Zhao Ji found a cloth bag and completely covered Yang Jian's head with it. Then he ordered the guards to carry him to the Ministry of Justice prison, where he would be interrogated later.

Upon seeing this, Li Gefei knew it must be someone he knew; otherwise, there would be no need to protect the murderer's right to privacy.

On his way to the Ministry of Justice, Zhao Ji bought two baskets of steamed buns to fill his stomach. When the eunuchs who were following him saw this, they were immediately relieved... He still knew to eat, so it seemed that Prince Duan had not been too frightened.

Upon arriving at the Ministry of Justice, Li Gefei's usual investigators were already there. Without a word, they led Yang Jian into the recently renovated interrogation room. The room contained a pool with a small waterwheel beside it, one-third of which was submerged. Prisoners were tied to the waterwheel, and as it was slowly turned, they would gradually become upside down, unable to breathe. Drinking water would be choked by gravity, causing them to swallow even more water… In short, it was a living hell. Even the most tightly sealed prisoner would immediately confess when tied to the waterwheel, daring not to resist.

This was the first time Emperor Huizong of Song had witnessed such a scene, and he was so frightened that he forgot to eat his steamed bun.

"How could my Great Song Dynasty have such a place of cruel torture?"

Li Gefei, with his hands behind his back like an old professor, said:
“A few days ago, the immortal bestowed upon me a precious book, which is full of methods of torture and forced confessions. Our Great Song will treat good citizens with the warmth of spring, but will be as cold and ruthless as the coldest winter for scoundrels who bring disaster to the country.”

These words stirred Emperor Huizong's blood:
"Since it was bestowed by the immortal, it must be perfect."

Li Gefei shook his head with some regret:

"The book says that you should keep some piranhas in the water to make the interrogation more effective. Unfortunately, I searched the entire flower and bird market but couldn't find any piranhas. It's a real pity."

Li Qingzhao: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

Dad, are you planning to become a Gestapo?
Soon, Yang Jian was tied to the waterwheel. After the bystanders left, Li Gefei removed the black cloth covering his head.
"Eunuch Yang? Your Highness, the one who assassinated you was actually Eunuch Yang?"

An old eunuch in his forties or fifties, bare-handed, stabbed an eighteen-year-old strong young man to death... Shouldn't this behavior be more accurately described as staged accident?

Emperor Huizong set the lotus leaf-wrapped buns aside before revealing the truth:

“He asked me if I wanted to be emperor. He said that if I nodded, I could sit on that throne within a month. I suspected that he was conspiring with others to rebel, so I lied and said that I had been assassinated.”

Upon hearing this, Li Gefei immediately sent a message to the palace, instructing Zhao Xu to keep his distance from everyone in the palace starting tonight, and to strictly control the food he eats to prevent him from being poisoned.

Yang Jian's mouth was still gagged, and he was struggling and stammering. Li Gefei took a pair of iron pliers, ripped the smelly sock out of his mouth, and coldly asked:

"Tell me about your accomplices. If you cooperate, I can give you a quick death."

Since you have rebellious thoughts, you certainly won't survive, but if you don't cooperate, you'll experience the most unbearable feeling in the world—wanting to die but not being able to.

The experts in the Ministry of Justice were very skilled at keeping prisoners alive with ginseng soup while continuing to torture them.

Sometimes, to amplify the pain, they would use gold needles to prick acupoints on the body... The methods of ancient times were no less sophisticated than those of modern times.

Yang Jian, who kept his mouth shut, spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva and said:
"Unfortunately, all our efforts were in vain, and the foundation of the Song Dynasty was about to perish."

Li Gefei was somewhat speechless, and placed Li Qingzhao's token in front of Yang Jian:
"Did you see the words on it? It says 'Six Ding and Six Jia protect the whole body.' His Majesty's token is of a higher level, and he is protected by the superior of the Six Ding and Six Jia—the Four Duty Officers. Do you really think your despicable methods can change the world? This idea is not just stupid, it's downright stupid!"

After saying that, he gave an order to one of his men:

“Yang Jian has an outer residence on Xiangguo Temple Street. Arrest everyone inside. Find all the people who have visited that outer residence in the last three months and arrest their entire families as well… This involves treason. It is better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free.”

After arranging this matter, Li Gefei then spoke to the yamen runner in charge of the execution:
"Eunuch Yang lost his teeth and was bleeding from his mouth. We gave him some liquor to rinse his mouth. The immortal's book says that this method can kill bacteria and disinfect, and prevent the wound from becoming infected."

Soon, Yang Jian's screams echoed from the interrogation room.

Unable to bear the scene, Li Qingzhao slipped out with the token in her hand and started playing on her phone in Li Gefei's office.

Before a standard interrogation procedure was even completed, Yang Jian began to confess, and the sorcerer Zhang Huaisu, the Imperial Diarist Deng Xunwu, the Academician of the Baowen Pavilion Lü Jiawen, Lü Jiawen's two sons-in-law Liu Kui, the Director of the Imperial Academy, and the officials including the Academician of the Longtu Pavilion and the Prefect of Yangzhou Jian Xuchen, all came to light.

On the other side, inside the palace.

Several eunuchs were carrying meat pies and soup, preparing to deliver the imperial meal to the Imperial Study. As they passed the lotus pond, they slipped and fell into the water. No matter how much they struggled, they couldn't get ashore, and no matter how much they called for help, no one came to their rescue. They slowly lost their lives.

They had just died when several palace maids passed by, screaming in fright, which quickly attracted the attention of the imperial guards.

Inside the imperial study, Zhao Xu heard the report and found it very strange:
"Did no one shout when they fell into the water?"

The eunuch bowed and replied:
"There was no sound at all. The night watch was just ten feet away, but no one heard a sound... The imperial physician has found that those meat patties were highly poisonous, and the palace has begun to investigate."

His death was so suspicious; it seems Master was behind it all… Upon hearing this, Zhao Xu held up the brass token with both hands and bowed.
"Thank you, Master, for saving my life!"

At the same time, inside Hunyuan Palace, Zhou Yi rode his motorcycle back to the mountain with Wu Meiniang. The two had dinner in town, strolled through the night market, and even tried their luck at winning some plush toys.

Upon returning, the two inspected the various halls with flashlights. When they reached the Zhongtian Hall, they noticed a golden leaf on the offering table of the Ziwei Emperor…

(End of this chapter)