Chapter 013 The Regent Prince Has Rebelled
"The Regent Prince was born into a prominent family, with five generations of military merit behind him. Even if he did nothing, he could still live a life of luxury and abundance as a rich man."
Ling Huzhen paused, "However, the Su family has a strict family tradition. Since the Regent Prince was ten years old, General Su Zhenwei would take him along on expeditions, whether it was the bitter cold of the Turkic border regions or the miasmas of the Baiyue lands, he has had the Regent Prince experience them personally."
Wei Wanlan listened with some amazement, "A ten-year-old child can go to the battlefield?"
"As a young child, he served as a fire tender, and as he grew older, he served in logistics, supply transport, and as a scout or vanguard in the field battles. He has experienced every role in the Great Wei army. To have survived to the present, this person has been tempered like steel, so..."
Ling Huzhen's originally gentle expression suddenly turned solemn, leaving Wei Wanlan quite puzzled, "So what?"
[He's worried you can't match up to the other side.]
"I see," Wei Wanlan's heart warmed again, his eyes and brows curving into crescent moons, looking as innocent as a young deer being gently stroked, "The Director is so kind."
[Ask him for the Regent Prince's information.]
"Can you tell me more details about the Regent Prince? Like his hobbies, interpersonal relationships, even the type of women he likes, I also need to know his birth date." Remembering the system's request for indirectness, Wei Wanlan mixed the intelligence he wanted to obtain.
To know oneself and know the enemy, one will not be in peril in a hundred battles. Hearing the Emperor's request, Ling Huzhen instinctively thought the Emperor intended to formulate a countermeasure against the powerful minister beside him, and he nodded approvingly.
"Su Jingzhi is suspicious, with a double-dealing and distrustful nature, I believe," Ling Huzhen lowered his voice, "he must often say the opposite of what he means."
Wei Wanlan tilted his head, feeling that Su Jingzhi was simply being straightforward in expressing his thoughts each time.
"Anything else?"
Ling Huzhen: "He has no wife or concubine, nor any scandals, perhaps just to conceal the type of woman he desires. This humble servant deems that if one can cater to his preferences, the beauty scheme may possibly succeed."
At this point, he suddenly recalled the Persian dancer, Wei Wanlan nodded, "Mm-hmm. Please continue, Lord Ling Huzhen."
"As for the birth date," Ling Huzhen paused, taking from the many materials he had brought to the table a golden box the size of a brick, sealed with a ribbon and locked, "Your Majesty, this is the Su Clan's golden casket."
The golden casket had a lustrous, complex pattern, its preciousness apparent at a glance.
[That's it!!! ]
The system's tone was clearly raised, even with a sizzling electric current, its speed extremely fast, the shrill squeak stinging the ears:
[The Regent Prince's birth date must be in there, get it, write it on the voodoo doll, Su Jingzhi must die!!!]
Wei Wanlan accepted the golden casket with both hands, a layer of sweat rising on his palms, but far less excited than 404, instead feeling a bit perplexed as he held the golden casket, Wei Wanlan nodded, "I see."
"The golden casket contains extremely important information, I cannot view it, if Your Majesty wishes to check the casket now, I and all unrelated persons in the Tianlu Pavilion will immediately withdraw."
"Wait." A soft lock of hair fell on the Great Wei Emperor's forehead, making his eyes lively, like a little deer. "If the Regent Prince dies... what will the consequences be?"
The Tianlu Pavilion fell into brief silence because of this sentence.
Ling Huzhen carefully said, "Su Jingzhi now bears the great responsibility of the nation, if he dies, many things will change. Your Majesty needs to find a new capable general to shoulder the world."
"Anything else?"
"Su Jingzhi rules with an iron fist, governing the country like commanding the army, the officials above and below are intimidated by him. If Your Majesty takes the throne, whether you can suppress the officials may be a daunting task."
Wei Wanlan shifted on the cushion, his rosy lips moving, "Then, is there anything else?"
Ling Huzhen paused. Then his voice became a bit hoarse: "The Su family's six generations will end here. Although I dislike Su Jingzhi, I request to leave his remains intact."
His gaze fell on the history books filled with black ink.
Wei Wanlan suddenly had a lump in his throat:
"They will be very sad, won't they?"
"Who?" Ling Huzhen asked in doubt.
"No one."
His father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and other ancestors of the Su family who had rendered meritorious service to this dynasty... Wei Wanlan pushed the curly hair back behind his ear, but more fluffy hair fell down, making him itchy and unsettled.
The system quickly electrocuted him a few times to urge him on.
Crackle! Crackle!
[Hurry up.]
The curly hair became even curlier, Wei Wanlan puffed up like a little hedgehog, his eyes red as he hissed: "Director... I'll look at it alone."
"As commanded by Lord Ling Huzhen."
"Wait, Lord Ling Huzhen!" Wei Wanlan suddenly called out to Ling Huzhen's retreating back.
"Your Majesty?" Ling Huzhen not only was not impatient, but concern was fully displayed, "Do you have any other orders?"
"I... want wine."
Ling Huzhen paused, that head filled with knowledge did not understand this kind of behavior from the Emperor: "As commanded."
"I also want fruits." Wei Wanlan supplemented, "Arranged on a plate, and if there are pastries, bring those too, the best ones."
"Yes." Ling Huzhen understood, "I'll prepare them immediately.
It turns out His Majesty is hungry.
His Majesty is in the growing stage, pitiful though he is the ruler of all under heaven, having to live relying on the Regent Prince's breath, and now can't even guarantee a meal, having to come to the Tianlu Pavilion to beg for food.
Truly a tyrannical minister reigning! Su Jingzhi, what sin have you committed!
***
Outside the Tianlu Pavilion, in the city of Chang'an, a storm is brewing!
The heavy city gates closed, the sixteen large gates thunderously locked, the outside and inside of the city separated, the gates colliding with a muffled reverberation.
The city's guardsmen sounded the alarm bells, the urgent rhythm spreading throughout the imperial capital in an instant:
Ding, ding ding ding!
The buzzing pierced the eardrums: "Announcing the Regent Prince's decree, today's court session is canceled, the east and west markets will be closed, the neighborhood gates will soon be shut, all civilians are to return to their residences!"
"Those who violate the prohibition and roam the streets will be executed!"
"Those who enter the imperial city without permission will be executed!"
"Those who slander the politics or criticize state affairs will be executed!"
"Those who gather with neighbors and organize assemblies will be executed!"
"..."
Under the awe-inspiring name of the Regent Prince, one after another decree of execution made the imperial capital freeze in an instant, the stalls in the east and west markets empty, each household closing their doors and shutters, the icy winter wind sweeping across the blue cobblestone streets of Zhuque Avenue, stirring the rustling of fallen leaves, the crowing of roosters and barking of dogs nowhere to be heard.
The sky is about to change.
The northern and southern barracks of the Chang'an garrison, both are Su Jingzhi's direct forces.
The northern barracks have cut off the connection between the imperial city and the outside, the southern barracks have long since besieged the palace tightly, the court officials who have already entered the palace can only wait at their own offices.
A wild duck flew slowly over the imperial city, suddenly a bowstring twanged, the duck let out a mournful cry and fell vertically.
Tang Tuan retrieved the longbow: "Duck, don't blame me, the king's command must be obeyed, before the situation is stabilized, not even a fly can fly out of the palace. You've grown so big, you broke the rules. I'll bury you nicely in my stomach."
After saying that, a Jin Wu Guard picked up the duck.
That Jin Wu Guard came forward to report: "Deputy Commander Tang, there are ministers in the palace who have recognized that we have already occupied the royal palace, cursing the Prince as a rebel and traitor, how should they be dealt with?"
"Kill them."
"Dali Magistrate Xin Buyi advised, the Prince should gradually seize the imperial power, the current Emperor's lifespan may not be exhausted yet."
"I only listen to the Boss."
"Then, when the Prince ascends the throne, how should the current Emperor be dealt with?" The Jin Wu Guard officer blushed as he asked, "This is what I wanted to ask."
This person was the guard who had originally blocked the leopard for the little Emperor in the Beast Garden, and because Wei Wanlan had mistakenly suspected him of regicide, giving him gifts and personally apologizing, the guard had been amazed and delighted, after all that was the Emperor.
"I don't know." He had thought the Boss really cared about this little Emperor, secretly relieved, finally someone could catch the Regent Prince's eye, making the icy statue of a man move. But now the Boss wants to usurp the little Emperor's dynasty, what's going on?
The Regent Prince was usually steady, his actions must have his own principles. Tang Tuan then told the Jin Wu Guard, "The Boss wants to kill the little Emperor himself, we just need to carry out the mission. If necessary, if the Prince is not convenient to do it himself, we'll kill Wei Wanlan. He's doomed."
He licked his lips, exposing his canine teeth, utterly regretful.
***
The layer of clouds almost crushed the eaves of the pavilion. Suddenly a gust of wind rose from the ground, blowing the pages rustling loudly.
Ling Huzhen led his subordinates out of the Tianlu Pavilion to the hall where old official documents were stored, feeling the wind unusually cold. Pinching his fingers to calculate, he found today to be an inauspicious day, his brow knitting into a knot.
The note-taking official suddenly said, "Sir, the atmosphere in the palace is not right! Our Tianlu Pavilion may be remote, but it's been half a day without even a palace eunuch or maid passing by..."
The official had just finished speaking when the experienced calligrapher looked far into the distance and saw a wild duck flying over the palace and plunging down, trembling with fright, "Sir, someone is shooting arrows in the palace!"
"The Regent Prince's military discipline is strict, there should be no weapons allowed inside the imperial gardens, who would be so bold?" The note-taking official was stunned.
Su Jingzhi's subordinates dared not move a single soldier without his order, but now someone was shooting arrows in the palace, the only explanation for this phenomenon was that the arrows were shot on the Regent Prince's orders.
"Oh no! Su Jingzhi has rebelled!!!"
Ling Huzhen's face turned deathly pale, his chest heaving violently, too late, he should have realized it earlier.
The note-taking official: "Sir, I think I heard hoofbeats! The Chang'an garrison has moved!"
"The Tianlu Pavilion is closest to the northern barracks, the garrison is controlling the imperial city." Ling Huzhen's expression turned angry, his eyes bulging, forcing out a sentence through gritted teeth, "The Su family's five generations of good reputation, should have been passed down to posterity, how could it produce such an unworthy descendant like Su Jingzhi, tarnishing the entire Su family's name in history!"
Another gust of wind blew through.
The sound of paper rustling, a sense of collapse everywhere. The note-takers hurriedly pressed down the piles of papers.
At this moment, someone shouted, "Lord Ling Huzhen! Open the door!"
Everyone looked towards the main entrance of the Tianlu Pavilion.
All the historians held their breath, even though they all knew who was coming, at the moment he appeared, they pressed their lips tightly, unable to make a sound.
Only the Regent Prince himself.
Su Jingzhi, in black robes with his hands behind his back, walked across the white jade bridge outside the Tianlu Pavilion, towards the direction where the guards had reported Wei Wanlan to be.
The storage room fell into a deathly silence.
—He is the rebel and traitor who steps on imperial power with every step!!!
Ling Huzhen was suppressed by that aura, unable to speak for a long time, finally gritting his teeth: "All of you are ministers of the Great Wei, the imperial palace and the imperial city have already fallen into the hands of the rebel, with only His Majesty left in the pavilion, the safety of the Son of Heaven rests on us, please swear with me to obstruct and stop Su Jingzhi's regicide!!!"
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