Chapter 191 Saving Gao Xiaowan wisely
Xiao Jinyu only stayed in bed for seven days after being hit by the arrow. Within these seven days, the rumors in Ye City were spread one version after another, and they became quite outrageous. Xiao Jinyu also asked Ling Ye to send people to pay close attention. He Shikai and Lu Lingxuan's every move.
Now Ling Ye has trained a group of secret agents for her. Through training in Xinghua Yanyu Tower, they have slowly penetrated into some of the powerful families entrenched in Ye City.
Of course, Lu Lingxuan and He Shikai are the focus of attention.
After learning the news that He Shi had entered the Lu Mansion, Xiao Jinyu predicted that the two men would take the next step and insisted on staying in the palace. Xie Yuxuan naturally strongly opposed it, but she still could not overcome her persistence.
Princess Liyang didn't say anything against her, she just shook her hand, repeatedly told her to be careful, and then told Ling Ye to follow closely and protect her.
Even Gao Yanzong was worried and led a group of troops to follow him secretly.
…
As soon as he heard the words "Xie Shilang", Gao Zhan's eyes lit up. He had been quite distracted these past few days. He had lost interest even in having a beautiful woman in his arms. He didn't even enter the harem. He only drank and thought about life every day.
At this moment, I saw "Xie Zhen" walking into the Zhaoyang Palace. He was still as slender as jade, as tall and straight as a pine, and had the unique charm of a descendant of the Jiangzuo gentry. However, it was obvious that he was very weak. He was as red as a petal in the past. The lips are generally white and bloodless.
"Xie Qing, how is your injury? Thanks to you this time..."
Gao Zhan's eyes were filled with gratitude and a hint of shame.
"I'm feeling much better. Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty!"
Gao Zhan seemed to raise his hand to pick her up, then seemed to think of something, and ordered the waiter:
"Hurry up and give Xie Qing a seat!"
Xiao Jinyu refused and said, "Thank you very much, Your Majesty. I will not stay here any longer. I am here to fulfill the promise I made seven days ago. If Your Majesty suspects that King Hejian is rebellious, I am willing to go and inspect Prince Hejian's palace on Your Majesty's behalf." , but please give King Hejian a chance to be reviewed fairly by Dali Temple!"
Hearing this, the monk's eyes widened and he couldn't help but sarcastically said: "Shilang Xie is serious about what he said. He is really willing to raid the Hejian Prince's Mansion. Are you not afraid? If Gao Changgong knows about this, does he regard you as an enemy?"
Xiao Jinyu then looked at He Shikai and said with a smile: "What you said is wrong. No matter whether King Hejian is guilty or not, I will do business first. Prince Lanling Gao Changgong is by no means such a grudge-bearing person. Don’t judge a gentleman with a villain’s heart!”
"you--"
He Shikai wanted to say something else, but Gao Zhan cut him off and said, "Okay, Yantong, stop arguing. Xie Shilang's words are reasonable and there is no intention of favoritism. Let him handle this matter!"
"As for the Buddha's tooth you are talking about, let Mr. Xie help me take a look! What kind of treasure is it?"
Buddha tooth?
Xiao Jinyu thought for a moment, then rolled up her sleeves and answered, "Yes!"
"In order to show justice, your majesty also invites Bi Yiyun, the official minister of the capital, and Sima Maozong, the minister of Dali Temple, to go together to supervise the handling of this matter!"
As soon as these words came out, Gao Zhan's eyes suddenly showed approval: "That's right!"
After a moment's pause, he said again,
"By the way, Xie Qing has made great contributions to the Yubi City of Zhou State. I haven't awarded you a reward yet. I will officially announce the reward to Xie Qing in the morning meeting tomorrow!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"Then go and get busy!"
"yes!"
Just as Xiao Jinyu was about to leave, Gao Zhan asked for the first time: "Can Xie Qing still bear it? It's okay if we don't do this for a few days!"
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am fine!"
Gao Zhan nodded, and immediately sent his chamberlain to summon Bi Yiyun and Sima Maozong, and also mobilized a forbidden army to control "Xie Zhen".
Seeing the tiger talisman symbolizing the Forbidden Army, He Shikai's eyes widened and he thought to himself: Is this too childish? It's not just a piece of cake and a piece of candy, just left to Xie Zhen to "play"?
"Your Majesty, we cannot give this thing, this is the Forbidden Army..."
"Ye City is not at peace now. Xie Qing is on my way to do something. The journey is dangerous and unpredictable. In case he encounters another assassin, let him control this forbidden army first! After the matter is done, just return the tiger talisman to me!"
Gao Zhan's words made Bi Yiyun and Sima Maozong who had just stepped into the palace dumbfounded. His Majesty actually trusted this Xie Zhen so much. Could it be that this talented young man would be another favorite of the emperor after He Shikai?
Xiao Jinyu naturally didn't know that Gao Zhan's words had already caused huge waves in the hearts of several people in Zhaoyang Palace, so she just said calmly: "Yes!"
Then he dispatched a group of dozens of imperial guards to the Hejian Palace, with Bi Yiyun and Sima Maozong following them.
…
When a group of forbidden troops led by Xie Zhen stormed into the mansion, Gao Xiaowan didn't seem surprised. In other words, he had been waiting for this moment every moment for the past seven days, and he had passed the period of panic in the first few days. .
Seeing the arrival of the Forbidden Army, I felt a sense of relief!
But what he didn't expect was that the leader turned out to be Xie Zhen, whose talent was so famous that scholars all over the world admired him!
He had also been impressed by this young man's talent, so when he heard others laughing and slandering Xie Zhen in the Xinghua Yanyu Tower, he couldn't help but stand up and retort. However, his luck was so bad that he happened to meet him by chance. Your Majesty has arrived!
Is it possible that Xie Zhen also wants to be a sycophant like He Shikai?
While I was thinking about it, Xie Zhen’s words came to my ears:
"There are rumors that a straw man was imprisoned in the palace of His Highness Prince Daohejian and he was shot with arrows every day. Some people say that this straw man is His Majesty!"
Before Xiao Jinyu finished speaking, a woman shouted: "That man is talking nonsense. His Highness had a straw man stabbed, but that was not His Majesty, but..."
The speaker was Gao Xiaowan's princess Lu. As soon as Lu opened her mouth, Gao Xiaowan immediately interrupted her.
"Let Mr. Xie finish what he said!"
Xiao Jinyu looked at Gao Xiaowan and continued: "Someone said that there is a luminous tooth of the Buddha in His Highness's warehouse. It is rare and is regarded as a treasure. Your Majesty wants me to take it to the palace to have a look!"
Gao Xiaowan then replied: "Okay, I will obey your Majesty's order!" Immediately, he ordered the steward of the mansion, "Come, take out the Buddha's tooth and give it to Minister Xie to present it to Your Majesty!"
"yes!"
The steward responded to the order and entered the house. Not long after, he took out a Buddha tooth from the warehouse, held it on a jade plate, and presented it to Xiao Jinyu.
Xiao Jinyu saw that the Buddha's tooth was indeed glowing with golden light.
Legend has it that the tooth of the Buddha is the tooth of Gautama Buddha, which symbolizes wisdom and compassion, as well as power. It is an extremely precious collection.
Gao Xiaowan is just too proud and arrogant. Even if he has no intention of rebellion, a Buddha tooth can easily fall into the trap of his mouth!
I'm afraid he also fell into this matter in his previous life.
Just as Xiao Jinyu and Gao Xiaowan were staring at each other face to face, the imperial guard sergeant who went into the mansion to search had already walked out carrying a straw man.
"Thank you, Minister. There is a straw man in the backyard, with several arrows in his body. However, there is a sentence written on the back of the straw man."
"What is it?"
The Imperial Guard sergeant turned the straw man over and saw a piece of white silk written on it: Traitors and scholars deceive the emperor and kill loyal and good people indiscriminately. They will not die a good death!
Xiao Jinyu said nothing, but Bi Yiyun and Sima Maozong looked at each other, sighing softly, with expressions of understanding.
"Master Bi, how do you and Sima Qing view this matter?" Xiao Jinyu asked.
Bi Yiyun's eyes were uncertain, and his expression was difficult to distinguish, but Sima Maozong showed an angry look on his face. "That He Shikai must have deliberately set up a trap... I think that the writing on the white silk should be used as evidence and handed over to His Majesty's case!" Sima Maozong said.
Xiao Jinyu nodded, asked someone to take the white silk, and was about to leave. But at this moment, a woman from the house ran out and cried loudly:
"Officials, please take me away from here. His Royal Highness King Hejian has treasonous intentions. I have discovered his conspiracy and will be silenced. Please take me away!"
The woman's words were like a pebble dropped into the water, causing the water to burst into shock. Gao Xiaowan, his princess, and other servants in the palace all changed their faces in shock.
Princess Hejian was so angry that she was about to hit the woman, but Gao Xiaowan pulled her back.
"Who are you?"
Xiao Jinyu walked up to the woman and asked.
"I am a concubine of His Royal Highness King Hejian!"
"How long have you been in the mansion?"
The woman looked at Xiao Jinyu with some confusion and fear, and replied: "Less than...two months!"
"What evidence is there to prove that King Hejian has rebellious intentions?"
The woman then raised her head and answered: "There is a portrait in His Royal Highness King Hejian's study. It is of His Majesty. His Highness will cry to this portrait every day and curse His Majesty. Also... In addition to the Buddha's tooth, there are also some long statues in His Highness's warehouse." There should be hundreds of spears and flags. If you don’t believe me, you officials can go in and check it out!”
Bi Yiyun and Sima Maozong were hesitant, so Xiao Jinyu ordered the imperial guards behind him to go into the warehouse to check, and at the same time asked the woman:
"What's your last name? Who are you? Where do you live?"
"My surname is Chen. She is just an ordinary... daughter of a merchant family. Her family lives... fifty miles outside Yecheng!"
Chen? Xiao Jinyu couldn't help but take another look at the woman. At first glance, she didn't think she looked familiar, but after taking a closer look, she actually felt a little familiar.
At this time, a guard sergeant came out and handed a portrait into her hands.
After Xiao Jinyu saw it, he immediately ordered: "Come here! Capture the Chen family for me!"
"yes!"
The two guardsmen behind him responded to the order and immediately escorted the woman who was kneeling on the ground. The woman was confused and shouted at Xiao Jinyu: "His Royal Highness King Hejian has a disobedient heart, why do you want to arrest me? ?”
Xiao Jinyu raised her hand and slapped the woman hard!
The woman was beaten to a point of confusion. Also confused were Bi Yiyun, Sima Maozong, and everyone in the Hejian Palace.
Gao Xiaowan's face was already ashen, but at this moment he heard Xiao Jinyu say angrily: "You have only been in the house for two months, and you have such courage to falsely accuse the master. You are not like the daughter of an ordinary family. I suspect you are ambushing me here." A secret spy from the Zhou Dynasty, or the work of a certain official in the DPRK? "
After saying that, he showed the scroll in his hand in front of everyone.
I saw that the scroll was actually a portrait with a very crude brush. It was impossible to tell who was painted, which shows the poor painting skills of the painter!
"Can anyone recognize that the person in this portrait is His Majesty?"
Xiao Jinyu asked, everyone shook their heads, Bi Yiyun and Sima Maozong each looked at each other with even more embarrassed expressions!
"Your Majesty is wise, mighty, and handsome in appearance. You actually said that such an ugly portrait is of His Majesty. Are you scolding His Majesty?"
The woman's face suddenly changed with shock, her face turned pale, and she shook her head desperately to defend herself, but at Xiao Jinyu's signal, two guardsmen dragged her out!
Bi Yiyun wanted to laugh, but couldn't.
Gao Xiaowan was surprised but also a little embarrassed. After all, the portrait was indeed made by him!
It's just that what he painted was his father, Emperor Wenxiang Gao Cheng. Although his painting skills were not good, it was just a way for him to miss his father!
At this time, several more imperial guards ran out of the mansion, one holding a spear and the other holding a flag, and placed them in front of Xiao Jinyu, Bi Yiyun, and Sima Maozong.
A few people took a look and found that the spear was clearly made of wood and had no lethality at all, while the flag looked more like a child's plaything.
"Is this the evidence of treason you said?"
Sima Maozong turned his head and looked at the woman Chen.
Mrs. Chen looked shocked and said, "Isn't this enough to prove that he has a disobedient heart?"
Sima Maozong shook his head and sighed.
At this time, Xiao Jinyu said again: "Leave it to Dali Temple for review to see who is behind her?"
Mrs. Chen suddenly shouted in fear: "No, I don't want to go to Dali Temple, Gao Xiaowan, it's you who's sorry for me, it's you who's sorry for me..."
Xiao Jinyu couldn't help but look back and saw that Chen's eyes were full of resentment and crazy revenge.
Gao Xiaowan's expression when he saw her was nothing but sympathy, and there was no personal feeling between a man and a woman!
Where does the hatred and resentment come from?
After collecting all the evidence, Xiao Jinyu announced another decree:
"King Gao Xiaowan of Hejian disrespects His Majesty and speaks arrogant words. He will be punished twenty times with a staff and confiscated the items in the storehouse. From today on, he will be banned from the Prince's Mansion in Hejian. He will not be allowed to leave without an edict!"
"Come here, let me be punished with a cane!"
Gao Xiaowan's expression changed drastically. He glanced at "Xie Zhen" in disbelief and suddenly smiled bitterly.
"I thought that Xie Zhen, who was so intelligent and had the courage to speak out and criticize the emperor Chen Xu in the Southern Dynasty, must be a man of great honor, integrity and courage, and would not join the ranks of treacherous and sycophantic people like He Shikai. I never thought... …”
Before he finished speaking, he was already being escorted to a bench by two imperial guards. As the bamboo board fell on Gao Xiaowan's body, everyone in the Hejian Palace began to cry and beg.
But Xiao Jinyu just glanced at Gao Xiaowan and said no more. When the twenty sticks were over, she led the imperial guards and walked out of the mansion.
"How can I praise my reputation? Being haggard makes my heart sad. I would rather fly with the sparrows than fly with the yellow swans!"
"Xie Zhen, I hope you remember this sentence!"
I never thought that Gao Xiaowan would have such an unruly side!
Xiao Jinyu couldn't help but look at him again and replied: "Then do you know what happened to the person who said this?"
"Too strong, easy to break!"
Gao Xiaowan was stunned for a moment, and gradually began to think deeply: "I would rather fly with the sparrows than fly with the yellow swans." This sentence was said by Ruan Ji, the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Forest. Ruan Ji and Ji Kang were friends. Because Ji Kang proudly refused to cooperate with the Sima court, he ended up being beheaded. Ruan Ji was extremely angry and once said arrogantly that he would not join the gang, but he was still depressed in the end. Ambition, crying with extreme helplessness and despair!
In addition to bringing death to oneself, what else can the anger and resistance of words change?
Seeing that Gao Xiaowan was deep in thought, Xiao Jinyu ignored him and went to the palace with the guards, Bi Yiyun, and Sima Maozong to return to his life with these evidences!
As soon as they left the Hejian Prince's Mansion, they saw Gao Yanzong rushing over and looked at her with a very worried look, as if he was asking her about her situation.
Xiao Jinyu nodded to indicate it was safe and then led everyone away!
Gao Yanzong immediately stepped into Prince Hejian's residence and saw Princess Lu crying as she cleaned Gao Xiaowan's hip injury. He quickly ran over and handed a bottle of medicine into Lu's hand.
"This is the medicine given by the fourth sister-in-law. It is very effective in treating this kind of injury!" Seeing Lu's suspicious expression, he added, "The fourth sister-in-law is a miracle doctor, and the third brother should know it!"
Gao Yanzong stayed in the house for a while. After Lu finished applying the medicine to Gao Xiaowan, he closed the door and said quietly to Gao Xiaowan: "Third brother, don't blame Xie Zhen. She is here to save you. If she doesn't come today, The person who comes will be He Shikai. Think about it, if it was He Shikai, you might even be dead right now!"
"After all, you scolded His Majesty in Xinghua Yanyu Tower. If I don't give you a good beating, I'm afraid it will be difficult to quell His Majesty's anger!"
"Also, she asked me to tell you that there will be retribution for He Shikai one day. You should also restrain your temper and stop stabbing people. If you do this kind of thing, He Shikai will not be hurt, and you will be in trouble. Telling the truth and giving others excuses will do you no good!"
Gao Yanzong kept persuading, but Gao Xiaowan was thinking deeply. After a while, he asked doubtfully:
"Yanzong, tell me, who is he? Why did you become so nervous about Xie Zhen after Chang Gong had a secret conversation with you before he went to Zhou as an envoy? You wanted to follow him to protect him every day. And now you are still everywhere Speak for him?"
Gao Yanzong's expression changed and he simply said: "She... is the most cherished person of the fourth brother. Third brother, please don't ask!"
(End of chapter)