Humans in All Heavens: Starting with Detective Dee

Upon hearing Di Renjie's words, Wu Zetian's anger vanished, replaced by a pleased smile.

Xiao Qingfang's actions enraged the emperor, who wished he could tear her to pieces.

The thought that Xiao Qingfang would inevitably cause trouble in secret after escaping, and that she couldn't capture her in time, made her even angrier.

But Di Renjie's words immediately excited her.

Wu Zetian, how should I put it, was somewhat ambitious and eager for quick success.

In foreign wars, she certainly hoped for victory, but she suffered more defeats than victories against the Tibetans, Khitans, and Turks.

Several times, he was beaten so badly that it was unbearable to look at.

But right now, Di Renjie is describing to her a war that is about to be won.

If Di Renjie and Di Chun's analysis is correct, then they can completely turn the tables and use this to defeat the Khitan.

Thinking of this, the anger that had been surging within her because of the possibility of a Khitan rebellion immediately subsided, and instead a feeling of joy welled up inside her.

They wished the Khitans would rebel immediately.

These are all achievements. As the first female emperor in history, Wu Zetian needed many things to prove her legitimacy.

Victories in foreign wars are a good example of this.

She wanted to prove that she was no less capable than male emperors, and that it was also possible for a woman to ascend the throne and become empress.

Thinking of this, Wu Zetian looked at Di Renjie with a gentle expression: "Huaiying, you are right. As for the specific arrangements, I think you should not leave for a while."

First, we need to come up with a set of rules, and it must be kept secret so that no one can find out.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"What happened today is only known to the four of us present. No one else is allowed to know."

Wu Zetian certainly understood the principle that things are accomplished in secrecy and ruined by leaks.

This kind of damn thing should naturally be kept quiet, the fewer people who know, the better. Within a small circle, it's enough for just the four of them to know.

The more one knows, the easier it is to leak information. In the court today, Wu Zetian sees everyone as a traitor.

Who knows if someone is a spy planted by Xiao Qingfang?

The three men stepped forward and discussed with Wu Zetian in detail how to make the next arrangements.

Half an hour later, a guard's voice came from outside the door: "Your Majesty, Huang Shengyan has arrived."

That person was unaware that Huang Shengyan had been promoted to Grand Secretary.

Inside the Guanfeng Hall, Wu Zetian, who was discussing important matters with Di Renjie and the other two, suddenly looked up at the door upon hearing this.

Upon seeing this, Di Renjie and his two companions quickly retreated to the lower level.

"Let him in."

The four looked towards the door and saw Huang Shengyan leading in a man covered in wounds.

If it's not Huan Bin, then who is it?

Upon seeing Wu Zetian, Huan Bin began to weep and wail, snot and tears streaming down his face: "Your Majesty, I am innocent! I do nothing to anger Your Majesty and have been arrested!"

With a "bang," two Imperial Guards threw Huan Bin to the ground.

Huang Shengyan looked at Wu Zetian.

"Go down and continue with the task I just gave you. But in addition to the Inner Guards of the Inner Guard Bureau, also take down all the Thousand Bull Guards around Huan Bin and await their punishment."

"Yes, Your Majesty. Those people were temporarily detained when they arrested Huan Bin."

"Good, well done." Wu Zetian nodded in satisfaction.

The angrier he was at Xiao Qingfang, the more satisfied he was with Huang Shengyan.

Yuan Tiangang was guarded and imprisoned by Huang Shengyan. More than ten years have passed, and Yuan Tiangang is still safely imprisoned in Hanguang Temple.

Putting aside his abilities, this alone proves that Huang Shengyan is loyal and reliable.

"Go down."

"Yes."

As Huang Shengyan and the two Imperial Guards left, the Guanfeng Hall fell silent once again.

Wu Zetian glanced coldly at Huan Bin, who was lying on the ground.

Xiao Qingfang took all the people she had placed in the Inner Guard with her, fearing that Wu Zetian would kill them all.

But Huan Bin did not take him with him. He was the General of the Thousand Bull Guard, the emperor's personal bodyguard, such a high-ranking official position.

Operating such a position is extremely difficult.

Xiao Qingfang was clearly reluctant to part with him.

By keeping Huanbin here, they can still keep track of Wu Zetian's movements at any time.

No matter how capable Di Chun is, she couldn't possibly have imagined that the General of the Thousand Bull Guards was one of her people, right?

She did not expect that Di Chun was familiar with the plot and would be able to find a reason to reasonably shift the blame onto Huan Bin.

Inside the main hall, the suffocating atmosphere caused Huan Bin, who was lying face down, to have his heart pounding violently.

When Huang Shengyan went to arrest him, he still held onto a sliver of hope, but now, looking at Wu Zetian's cold and aloof face, all hope vanished.

He knew he had definitely been exposed.

But even ants try to survive, so naturally he still wanted to struggle.

"Bold Huan Bin, I have shown you the greatest kindness by appointing you as the General of the Thousand Bull Guards, but who knew that you would dare to collude with the Snake Spirit rebels and plot a rebellion."

How should I reward someone like you?

"Your Majesty? I am innocent! What snake spirit? I have never heard of it."

I was handling some matters at the Qianniu Guard's residence when Huang Shengyan suddenly led his men to capture me.

I have absolutely no idea what happened.

As he spoke, Huan Bin even looked at Di Chun, who was standing to the side: "Brother Di Chun, please plead for your foolish brother."

We're brothers! Help me explain to His Majesty, how could I possibly rebel?

Upon hearing this, Di Chun grinned and said, "General Huan? You don't know yet, do you? It was I who exposed you."

Brothers should be willing to go to great lengths for each other.

But I wouldn't dare be brothers with someone like you.

You stabbed me twice, and I dodged it. Now, of course, I'm going to stab you twice.

Oh, of course, it might be more than two cuts. You can guess how many cuts you'll endure.

"This?" Huan Bin still wanted to argue, looking aggrieved and innocent: "Brother, I don't know where I have offended you."

"Since you came to the Thousand Bull Guard, how have I been? Everyone has seen it for themselves. Why do you have to slander me?"

"Alright." Wu Zetian's icy voice directly interrupted Huan Bin's sophistry.

"Even now, you still want to make excuses."

They won't shed tears until they see the coffin.

Your master, Xiao Qingfang, has already fled to escape punishment. As her subordinate, don't you know the methods of the Inner Guard?

"Do I have to torture you before you'll confess? My patience is limited..."

"Your Majesty, this humble subject indeed..."

"Hmph... Guards..." Wu Zetian was too lazy to listen to Huan Bin's sophistry.

"Your Majesty." A guard entered from outside the door.

"Drag this dog to the Inner Guard Headquarters and have Huang Shengyan use all the Inner Guard's methods."

Remember, let this dog experience the cruelest punishment in the world.

But he must not die.