Capítulo 1328: Chapter 1323: Duplicity
“The day is fading; I reckon Zhong Xingxiao will return soon. Uncle Feng, you should rest early…” Xiao Rongyan still has to wait here to see what useful information Zhong Xingxiao brings back after eting Lu Jin, and Zhong Xingxiao must know that his trip to the Imperial Palace was a waste of ti.
Just as Xiao Rongyan finished his sentence, Yue Shi rushed in breathlessly and said, “Master, sothing has happened. Soone from our diplomatic mission… attempted to assassinate Minister Liu Rushi of the Ministry of Rites. The person has already been caught by the Liu family! Minister Liu’s injuries seem severe, and the Liu family has already sent for the Imperial Physician with a na card!”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Rongyan’s palm tightened, and his gaze suddenly darkened: “Whose man?”
“It’s… it’s the Regent Prince’s man!” Yue Shi said, gritting his teeth. This Regent Prince was always causing trouble for his master; simply there was never a day of peace.
Xiao Rongyan sat steadily in his chair and spoke calmly: “Uncle Feng, send Pingyi to visit Minister Liu on my behalf. Also… tell the Liu family that even if the perpetrator was from the Yan Kingdom, what happened on Zhou soil should be handled by the Zhou Dynasty. We, Yan Kingdom, will not protect him and have no grievance.”
Hopefully, Liu Rushi is uninjured; otherwise… at this juncture, Zhong Xingxiao’s man assassinating the host responsible for the negotiating task at the Ministry of Rites nearly declares a desire for a straightforward confrontation rather than peaceful talks!
“Additionally, Yue Shi, investigate the background of this guard, and find out why he attacked Minister Liu!” Xiao Rongyan tapped the table softly, his gaze cold and stern, “When Zhong Xingxiao returns, make him co and see !”
If it wasn’t for Zhong Xingxiao being his sister-in-law’s brother, according to Xiao Rongyan’s deanor, Zhong Xingxiao and his son would probably find grass growing three feet high atop their graves.
As Xiao Rongyan’s icy voice ca through, Zhong Xingxiao, who had just received the news, was about to enter the door. Upon hearing the Regent Prince’s voice akin to icy shards, he hurriedly lifted the hem of his robe in a panic and ran into the Regent Prince’s chamber, almost tripping over the threshold, only saved by the quick-eyed and quick-handed Feng Yao.
Feng Yao maintained his smiling face: “Old Regent Prince, be careful!”
Zhong Xingxiao felt a headache, realizing he must be cautious, and imdiately lifted the hem of his robe and knelt before Xiao Rongyan to plead for forgiveness: “Regent Prince, forgive ! I truly don’t know what has happened; I was the first to support His Majesty’s negotiation strategy. Before coming, both the Empress Dowager and Emperor advised earnestly, and I wouldn’t dare disobey, let alone arrange an assassination of a significant minister from the Zhou Dynasty Court!”
Zhong Xingxiao is a very savvy person; he understands that now he is here in the Zhou Dynasty with the Regent Prince. He is also the brother of the Empress Dowager Yan, who once hard the Emperor’s sibling of Zhou. If the Regent Prince wants to remove him, now his guard has stirred this assassination of a major minister from the Zhou Dynasty Court, and if the Regent Prince hands him over, could he survive?
Without a word, Xiao Rongyan looked at Zhong Xingxiao’s posture, lifting the hem of his robe, his legs crossed, and glared at Zhong Xingxiao, who knelt at his feet: “By your logic, the guards brought by Master Zhong should be trustworthy! Your trusted n from Yan go and assassinate significant ministers of the Zhou Dynasty, how do we not know it was your deliberate sche against His Majesty, a deception?”
“Regent Prince, I am innocent!” Zhong Xingxiao kowtowed heavily, “I am aware of being the Empress Dowager’s brother, and since coming to Zhou, I’ve been walking on eggshells, fearing any misstep might cause displeasure to the Zhou Emperor, fearing even my life would be forfeit here. After all, now our Yan Kingdom is in decline, seeking aid from Zhou, if the Zhou Emperor really said the word, for the sake of Yan Kingdom, even I would have to die, but I am also human… I also fear death, why would I intentionally seek death? I beg the Regent Prince for insight!”
“Do you know the details of the one who attempted the assassination of Liu Rushi?” Xiao Rongyan asked, taking up a cup of tea, as if unhurried.
This attitude of Xiao Rongyan made Zhong Xingxiao even more anxious, fearing the Regent Prince might hand him over, quickly signaling his trusted old servant to deliver the detailed origins of the guard to Xiao Rongyan.
Yue Shi handed the bamboo slip to Xiao Rongyan, who then leisurely unfolded it, carefully and diligently reading through, his eyes never idle, and his mouth not left idle either: “Master Zhong indeed acts swiftly, as soon as this matter occurred, even I as the Regent Prince have only just received the news, yet Master Zhong has already gathered all of this person’s background docunts.”
Zhong Xingxiao kowtowed fearfully again: “To the Ninth Prince, the people brought this ti were ticulously selected. Afraid of any mishaps before coming, all were brought with their contracts and origin docunts.”
“Is it to avoid mishaps, or for your convenience, to protect your escape…” Xiao Rongyan’s gaze never left the bamboo slip, just said, “Master Zhong, don’t play tricks in front of .”
All Zhong Xingxiao could do was plead innocence, constantly kowtowing, daring not say anything beyond.
After reading the bamboo slip, Xiao Rongyan casually tossed it at Zhong Xingxiao’s feet, startling him to the bone.
“Master Zhong has always been cunning and clever, why bring soone with such blatant flaws in their background to Zhou to stir trouble?” Xiao Rongyan’s voice was stern.
“Regent Prince, I beg forgiveness and guidance for a clear path! My death matters little, but if I delay His Majesty’s negotiation strategy, even if I had a thousand heads, I could not bear it!” Zhong Xingxiao lowered himself as much as he could, begging Xiao Rongyan while pretending deep concern, opening his mouth with worry, “Besides, the Empress Dowager has been frail since childhood, and after the late Emperor passed, she has often grieved excessively. My death is insignificant, but if the Empress Dowager falls ill because of my death, I really would be unforgivable even a thousand tis!”
Before coming to Zhou, Zhong Xingxiao knew that his small life was entirely tied to the Regent Prince.
Originally, he asked the Empress Dowager to find a way not to make him co to Zhou, but his sister the Empress Dowager didn’t want to chill the Regent Prince’s heart, so she had soone send him a ssage, saying the Regent Prince, for her sake, would not let him co to trouble in Zhou either.
Seeing that his sister was of no hope, he then selected more than ten skilled guards. Who would know, upon arriving at Zhou, his guard, damnably, attempted to assassinate significant court ministers! Who would Zhong Xingxiao voice his grievance to!
“A way to live…” Xiao Rongyan almost mockingly glanced at Zhong Xingxiao, “it’s simple. With such a major incident, I imagine the Zhou Emperor has already received the news. You should bring the docunts personally to the Master Lu you just visited, show sincerity, and cooperate unconditionally with Zhou’s investigation into the case. Just say… even if jailed, you have no complaints, be straightforward!”
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