Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

The more Zhao Ji thought about it, the more convinced he became that the dark-faced man must be Zhao Yuan.

He immediately ordered the eunuchs at the door to summon Cai Jing and Tong Guan, who were waiting outside.

"Prime Minister Cai, I've thought it through. That dark-faced man who fought in the arena is undoubtedly Zhao Yuan, the eldest son of Zhao! Immediately send men to arrest him and bring him to justice!"

Emperor Huizong said excitedly.

"Your Majesty, this..."

Cai Jing and Tong Guan came because of the fact that most of the Jurchen delegation had been killed.

So many Jurchens died on Song territory, including the second son of a Jurchen leader, the future second prince of the Jurchen state.

The Song Dynasty court clearly had to give the Jin people an explanation for this matter.

However, neither of them expected that,

The emperor's opening remarks brought up the assassin from last winter.

"Your Majesty, I have already mobilized the Imperial Guards and the constables of Kaifeng Prefecture to hunt down that dark-faced man who fought in the arena. I expect to hear news soon."

Tong Guan said cautiously,

"But now, the matter of the Jurchens is the most important. This old servant has already confirmed with the Jurchen delegation that the Jurchen who died last on the arena was indeed Wanyan Zongwang, the second son of the Jurchen leader Wanyan Aguda."

"If this matter is not handled properly, I'm afraid that between the Song and Jin dynasties, let alone an alliance, it would be good enough if they didn't go to war."

"I entrusted this matter entirely to the two of you long ago. Now that you've caused trouble, instead of figuring out a solution yourselves, you're asking me for help?"

Zhao Ji snorted coldly.

"I don't care about the Jurchens, and I'm too lazy to know anything about them. All I want to know now is when that traitor Zhao Yuan will be brought before me!"

Cai Jing and Tong Guan looked at each other in bewilderment.

The matter concerning the Jurchens has escalated to this point; what can these two, as subjects, possibly do to resolve it?

Zhao Ji's words clearly placed all the blame for the deaths of the Jurchens on the two of them.

Tong Guan was about to say something, to explain himself,

But then he suddenly noticed Cai Jing gently shaking his head at him.

Although Tong Guan had his doubts, he still chose to believe Cai Jing.

He swallowed back the words that were already on the tip of his tongue.

Just as the two were about to kneel down and take their leave before Emperor Huizong,

Suddenly, the eunuch came in and reported, "Steward, there are two officials from the Censorate waiting outside. They say they have important matters to report."

"The Censorate? What are they doing here?"

Zhao Ji was slightly taken aback.

Cai Jing and Tong Guan, who were standing to the side, also looked puzzled.

After the eunuch led the two censors from outside the hall into the back of the Chuigong Hall,

Emperor Huizong's gaze immediately focused on the imperial edict held by the two imperial censors.

"what is this?"

"Your Majesty, this is the imperial edict you just issued to the Censorate Prison," the Censorate official said in surprise.

"Nonsense! When did I ever issue an imperial edict to the prison?" Zhao Ji immediately shouted.

Cai Jing, who was standing nearby, had already sensed something was wrong and quickly asked,

"What is the contents of this imperial edict?"

"Reporting to Prime Minister Cai, this imperial edict orders the Censorate to transfer the martial arts champion Xu Guanzhong to the Kaifeng Prefecture prison for safekeeping," the Censorate official replied.

"what?"

Tong Guan's eyes widened immediately. He had spent most of the day attending to Zhao Ji, and had never seen him issue any decrees.

········Requesting flowers·· 0

"What about Xu Guanzhong? You didn't really hand him over, did you?"

"This... Upon seeing the imperial edict, how could the lower-ranking officials dare to disobey?"

The officials of the Censorate noticed that Zhao Ji and Tong Guan's expressions were not right.

He already knew in his heart that there was definitely something wrong with this imperial edict.

He hurriedly replied, "I sensed something was amiss, which is why I brought the imperial edict with me."

Zhao Ji's face darkened as he demanded the imperial edict.

Upon unfolding it, the contents were indeed exactly as the officials from the Censorate had stated.

"Good! Good! Good!"

. ......... .......

Emperor Huizong shouted "Good!" three times in a row, then threw the imperial edict in his hand hard at Cai Jing's face.

"You are the prime minister! I entrusted this country to you, and you've made such a mess of it? Now people even dare to forge imperial edicts! Is it possible that someone will rise up in rebellion and seize my throne at any moment?!"

"Your Majesty, it is all my fault..."

Cai Jing hurriedly knelt down to beg for forgiveness.

Tong Guan, who was standing nearby, picked up the imperial edict, opened it, glanced at it, pondered for a moment, and then said...

"Your Majesty, there are some suspicious things about Xu Guanzhong's matter and what happened at the arena today!"

"What's strange?" Zhao Ji asked, frowning.

"Your Majesty, Xu Guanzhong is colluding with the Liao people in order to undermine the Song-Jin alliance,"

Tong Guan replied, "And the dark-faced man who went up to fight in the arena was extremely ruthless towards the Jurchens. Especially after learning that Wanyan Zongwang was the second son of the Jurchen leader, he did not hesitate at all and took his life directly!"

"Your Majesty just mentioned that the dark-faced man was Zhao Yuan, the assassin from last year. This old servant remembers that the Kaifeng Prefecture chased him all the way to the north before losing track of him."

Chapter 286 Cheap Grandfather

"you mean......"

Zhao Ji asked with a dark face.

"Your Majesty, it is highly likely that Zhao Yuan has already defected to the Liao people,"

Tong Guan expressed his guess.

"His purpose in coming to Bianliang this time is to rescue Xu Guanzhong, the Liao spy!"

"Today, the wanton killing of the Jurchens on the arena was all to divert the government's attention, so that his accomplices could rescue Xu Guanzhong from the prison!"

"Your Majesty, Tong Shumi's words are reasonable,"

Cai Jing, who was kneeling on the ground, hurriedly said, "That scoundrel Zhao Yuan saw that he could not find a place to stay in Song territory, so he sought refuge with the Liao people. This incident at the Fanlou arena, as well as the fake imperial edict '200' obtained in the prison, must have been the work of the Liao people!"

Emperor Huizong of Tang frowned as he looked at Cai Jing and Tong Guan.

He couldn't believe that things could be so coincidental.

But then again, he felt that what Tong Guan said did make sense.

Moreover, according to him...

Then the Song court could finally give an explanation to the Jin people.

As long as everything is attributed to the Liao people,

The death of the Jurchen prince Wanyan Zongwang

Perhaps it will not only not affect the relationship between the Song court and the Jin people,

On the contrary, it will make the alliance between the two even stronger!

"Get up,"

Emperor Huizong waved his hand at Cai Jing.

"Since I have entrusted the matter of the Song-Jin alliance to you, then you may handle these trivial matters as well. However..."

Speaking of which,

Zhao Ji's expression immediately darkened.

"But Zhao Yuan must be captured alive, and that vile woman Li Shishi must also be found and brought back. I want Zhao Yuan to be skinned alive in front of Li Shishi!"

......

At the same time, Yuxian Temple,

Shi Qian, mingling among the crowd, had already arrived at the entrance of the Leizu Temple in the backyard.

He originally intended to go inside to find Chen Xizhen.

But just as his hand touched the door frame,

The palace doors had already been opened from the inside.

A Taoist priest with a long beard and a rather otherworldly appearance stepped forward.

Who is this benefactor?

When the Taoist priest saw Shi Qian with his shifty eyes, he immediately frowned.

"Hehe, so you're the uncle of the young lady from the Liu family, and the father of that female guard, Chen Xizhen?" Shi Qian said with a grin.

"It is I, Chen Xizhen, who has come here. May I ask what brings you here?"

"Master Chen, you cultivate Taoism in this Jade Immortal Temple, unaware that a major event has occurred in Bianliang City today,"

Shi Qian recounted in detail what had happened today in front of Fanlou, on the arena where the Jin soldiers fought.

Upon hearing that the Jurchens had openly mocked the Song people...

A hint of anger flashed across Chen Xizhen's face.

Then they heard that the golden man had actually changed the rules of the arena in front of everyone.

Chen Xizhen immediately scoffed, "The barbaric savages are truly shameless!"

But next,

After hearing Shi Qian say that Zhao Yuan directly killed the Jurchen warrior with a hammer,

Chen Xizhen frowned.

"Nonsense! The alliance with the Jin to attack the Liao is a national policy of the court. Now is a critical time. No matter how arrogant and barbaric the Jin people are, how can we kill them!"

Upon hearing this, Shi Qian inwardly scoffed.

No wonder my brother said that Chen Xizhen was a foolishly loyal person.

The Jurchens were already openly killing Song people in Bianliang.

But this fellow is still cowering and hesitating!

"Master Chen, don't be in a hurry. Let me tell you everything that's going to happen next. Then, hehe..."

Shi Qian chuckled and continued his story.

Chen Xizhen noticed his strange smile.

A bad feeling suddenly welled up in my heart.

Sure enough, upon hearing Shi Qian speak,

His own daughter, the female guard Chen Liqing, actually rushed onto the stage.

After helping the man who was fighting in the arena,

Chen Xizhen immediately panicked.

"How could my daughter have gone to the ring? And what happened afterward? She's been arrested by the authorities!"

Shi Qian was no longer joking and quickly finished explaining the rest.

"That young lady from the Chen family has been shot in the chest with an arrow and is currently on my brother's passenger ship,"

Shi Qian relayed Zhao Yuan's words.