Ming Dynasty: I, Yan Maoqing, am truly radiating auspicious energy!

Chapter 105 Why did you provoke him?
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

These words were so powerful that Tao Zhongwen felt as if his heart had been gripped tightly, making his chest feel tight and his head spin.

Although Yan Maoqing still couldn't produce any real evidence, some things absolutely couldn't withstand such analysis, let alone the Emperor's careful consideration; otherwise, his death would have already come!

He even suspected that Yan Maoqing might have mind-reading abilities.

If Yan Maoqing didn't possess the ability to read minds, how could he have described this matter so accurately, almost exactly what Yan Maoqing was thinking?
Especially now, seeing Huang Jin and Lu Bing, who had been kneeling on the ground and dared not raise their heads, now quietly turning their heads to look at him with a scrutinizing gaze, he felt as if the sky had fallen!
Both of them were swayed by Yan Maoqing's words, and it was impossible for the Emperor not to be moved at all!

Even the slightest ripple would be enough to engulf him and kill him...

No!

I cannot sit idly by and wait to die. This is the critical moment that truly concerns my life and death. I must fight back!

"You ignorant brat! How dare you spout nonsense before the Emperor of Longevity! I..."

"You old scoundrel! Do you think I can't guess how you plan to continue bewitching the emperor this time?!"

However, before he could finish speaking, Yan Maoqing immediately drowned him out with an even louder voice.

"I can even summarize all your outdated tricks into a poem I made up on the spot, so listen carefully!"

"It's nothing more than four lines, exactly:"

"Practice until your body resembles a crane, and you won't be afraid of palace maids strangling you."

"Clouds in the blue sky, water in the bottle, all thanks to the treacherous minister Yan Maoqing!"

"Yes and no, what else do you have to say?!"

"..."

Huang Jin and Lu Bing were completely convinced, and for a moment they even had the illusion that they were kneeling not only to the Emperor, but also to Yan Maoqing.

Talented!

appropriate!

No wonder he was the top scholar in the imperial examination; he is truly talented, and that's a perfect description!

They never expected that even after things had come to this point, Yan Maoqing's attack power could still increase further, and he even had the energy to pull off such fancy moves. What kind of monster was he?!
Without a doubt, this improvised poem immediately shut down any further arguments Tao Zhongwen could make.

Unless he can come up with something different, but can he?
Even these four improvised lines of poetry alone were enough to make them suspicious.

In other words, Yan Maoqing is now just a junior scholar and is not qualified to write Qingci for the emperor. Otherwise, would Xia Yan and Yan Song still have a chance to gain the emperor's favor through Qingci?

"You, you, you... I, I, I..."

Tao Zhongwen suddenly felt a hand grip his throat, squeezing him so hard he could hardly breathe, his vision blurred, and he couldn't even utter a complete sentence.

Yan Maoqing was also somewhat agitated at this point. Without Zhu Houcong's permission, he stood up and continued pointing at Tao Zhongwen's nose, saying:
"What do you mean, 'you'? What do I mean, 'me'?"

"Don't say I didn't give you a chance, or that I took advantage of your old age and senility. Weren't you just about to set up a ritual here to pray?"

"Right now, in the presence of your sovereign and father, hold a ritual and pray to see if today will bring you good fortune or misfortune!"

"If my calculations are accurate enough, I will take back what I just said and apologize to you with my arms bent over. If my calculations are inaccurate... the ruler and father have their own judgment, so why should I say anything more?"

"!!!"

Huang Jin and Lu Bing were dumbfounded upon hearing this. Even at this point, this guy could still increase Tao Zhongwen's strength!
This is a blatant conspiracy!

No solution!

Lore!

The only answer that Tao Zhongwen could give for this religious ceremony was "blessing"!
No one could be unaware that whether his fate today was a blessing or a curse, and whether the divination was accurate or not, depended entirely on the Emperor's will.

Isn't this a sharp blade that Yan Maoqing handed to the emperor?
If the emperor had no intention of protecting him, he could easily accuse Tao Zhongwen of deceiving the emperor with a simple "no," and send him to his death with a legitimate reason.

No substantial evidence is needed, nor is it even required to be related to the emperor's assassination attempt. What is this all about?
The relationship has been sown, and the knife has been handed over... Your Majesty, I don't know what kind of temper you have?
Of course, the possibility that the emperor was protecting Tao Zhongwen cannot be ruled out.

After all, Tao Zhongwen was a Taoist priest who had followed the emperor for many years and was deeply trusted by him.

Even so, Yan Maoqing was definitely not at a loss, because his only bet was to "plead guilty with a thorn on his back." Tao Zhongwen might very well lose his life on the spot. Trading one's life for an apology, no matter how you look at it, Tao Zhongwen would definitely be the one who loses.

Since things had come to this point, Tao Zhongwen had no choice but to accept it, otherwise how could he clear his name and prove his abilities?

Of course, Tao Zhongwen could also ask Yan Maoqing to gamble with his life.

But this way.

Yan Maoqing's proposal at least left the emperor with a way out. If the emperor didn't want Tao Zhongwen to die, it would only be a matter of a word, and he wouldn't suffer any loss.

If Tao Zhongwen were to ask Yan Maoqing to also stake his life in the gamble, it would be like removing the emperor's ladder and completely lifting him up, forcing him to choose between the two of them to die.

This is where Tao Zhongwen went wrong. There's no guarantee that the emperor won't use it as leverage, thus completely favoring the more "sensible" Yan Maoqing.

Tao Zhongwen is really in a difficult situation this time...

Lu Bing was even secretly relieved that he had the foresight to resolve the "misunderstanding" between Shen Lian and Yan Maoqing in advance.

Otherwise, if Yan Maoqing is vengeful and determined to deal with Shen Lian, how could he possibly stop him?

Just as I was thinking this.

"Smoke billowing from the rooftops! I summoned you to the palace to assist in the investigation, not to cause me trouble. You've got the priorities backwards and are talking nonsense!"

Zhu Houcong finally couldn't hold back any longer and stopped Yan Maoqing, pointing at the palace gate and coldly shouting,

"I don't want to see you again. Get out of the palace immediately!"

Yan Maoqing was taken aback, but he already understood Zhu Houcong's meaning. He quickly took his leave while he was ahead, bowing respectfully.

"Your humble servant obeys the decree..."

Zhu Houcong had clearly decided to protect Tao Zhongwen...

It seems that the relationship between Zhu Houcong and Tao Zhongwen was not as simple as recorded in historical books.

Or perhaps Tao Zhongwen had other uses for Zhu Houcong, possessing special value in united front work, but this was simply unknown to others.

However, it doesn't matter. After this ordeal, even if Tao Zhongwen survives, he will never have an easy time like the ones described in historical records...

Because he was able to "get out of the palace" after stabbing Zhu Houcong in the lungs, he was clearly in a better situation than Tao Zhongwen. In this "battle of wits," he still had a slight advantage. It was truly a case of the devil being one step ahead of the saint!
……

After Yan Maoqing left.

Zhu Houcong then sent Lu Bing to continue interrogating the traitor, and ordered Huang Jin to temporarily withdraw.

Only after everyone else had left in Yude Palace did Zhu Houcong move closer to Tao Zhongwen.

At this moment, the bloodstained short sword that he had ignored when he was cursing Yan Maoqing earlier, which was right in front of him, had somehow appeared in his hand.

"..."

Tao Zhongwen's heart seemed to be pounding in his head, each beat making his scalp tingle, and he quickly lowered his body even further.

"Master Tao, why did you provoke him?"

Zhu Houcong looked at Tao Zhongwen, who was trembling at his feet with a half-smile... This old Taoist priest, the thirty-first generation descendant of Tao Hongjing, the universally recognized orthodox successor of the Shangqing School, and the head of the Taoism in the three palaces of the capital... asked,
"Now that things have come to this, you no longer need to hold a religious ceremony to predict your fortune or misfortune."

"I will ask you one last time: is the saying 'two dragons never meet' true or false?"

"Think carefully before you answer, your answer will determine your fortune or misfortune today."

(End of this chapter)