Lin'an Never Night

Chapter 400: Dragon Slaying (Additional chapter for the Atlantic Sea Lion Leader)
Zhao Gou asked in a deep voice: "Shen Qing, who do you think did this and what is his purpose?"

Shen Xuzhong pondered for a moment, then said cautiously: "This matter is of great importance, and I dare not speculate rashly."

Zhao Gou gritted his teeth and sneered, "Then investigate, investigate thoroughly! There are so many actions involved in this matter, it is impossible that there are no clues, investigate thoroughly!"

Shen Xuzhong's forehead was covered with sweat, and he bowed his head and said, "I obey your order."

Zhao Gou said coldly: "There will be some action in Jiankang, so we need to send people to investigate."

Shen Xuzhong said: "Yes, your Majesty..."

Zhao Gou waved his hand and said, "Go to the Mechanical Speed ​​Room and pass on my order. Ask the Mechanical Speed ​​Room to send someone to investigate this case. You will be responsible for it. If it is necessary to mobilize troops, I will allow you to do so."

Shen Xu was startled and instinctively resisted: "Sir, these are all matters of the Ministry of War. I am sure..."

Even though he was loyal, he disliked spies.

No one wants to see a spy organization stretch its arms too far.

Zhao Gou said firmly: "This is a matter of treason and usurpation of the throne! It is not the Ministry of War's business! You don't allow the Imperial City Office to leave Lin'an, so can't the Privy Council's Speed ​​Office leave Lin'an either?"

Seeing Zhao Gou's stern voice, Shen Xuzhong dared not say anything more and said quickly, "Yes! I will go and pass on the order right away."

Zhao Gou waved his hand and Shen Xuzhong hurriedly retreated.

Zhao Gou thought for a while with a gloomy expression, then said in a deep voice: "Someone come!"

The palace maids and eunuchs who had left hurried back to the palace. Zhang Quwei stepped forward and whispered, "Your Majesty?"

Zhao Gou said word for word: "Draft an imperial decree to summon Yang Cunzhong back to the court, appoint him as Junior Tutor, and temporarily Privy Councilor."

Zhang Quwei's heart skipped a beat. The Qin family was completely finished.

However, although Zhang Quwei had a close relationship with Qin Hui, he absolutely dared not say a word for the Qin family at this time.

Even a rabbit will bite when it is angry, let alone the government is not a rabbit.

Zhang Quwei agreed and was about to leave when Zhao Gou said, "Also, tell the guards in front of the emperor to be on high alert and double the number of soldiers on duty than usual!"

Zhang Quwei felt a chill in his heart and quickly agreed and hurriedly retreated.

Liu Wanrong then stepped forward and saw that the emperor's forehead was already covered with sweat. She quickly wet a towel in the golden basin and gently wiped the sweat off Zhao Gou's forehead while saying softly, "Your Majesty, the imperial physician has told you not to get too happy or too angry, and to take care of yourself."

Whether this official is dead or alive, he can't make Liu Wanrong sad or happy.

However, she still hoped that Zhao Gou was alive.

When the emperor was assassinated, she, the emperor's concubine, was left on the stone steps of the main hall of Xiangji Temple and ignored. If the emperor died, how tragic would her end be?
Zhao Gou was not a good man to her, but he was still a tree that could shelter her from wind and rain, and the only tree she could rely on.

However, when faced with danger, the tree will run away.

At this time, another young eunuch came in to report: "Your Majesty, the emperor's father-in-law and his uncle have come to the palace to visit you."

Zhao Gou frowned, but thinking of Queen Wu's haggard face, he still said, "Announce."

After a while, the Wu family father and son entered the bedroom.

The old man of the Wu family was born into a military family. He had a sturdy build and a straight back.

However, the King's Uncle was much weaker, because when he was born, his elder sister Wu was already a noble concubine, and she was the only noble concubine when the position of Queen was vacant, and she was the actual master of the harem.

However, the news that Zhao Gou's original wife, Xing, had died after being abducted to the Jin Kingdom had not yet been reported back, so she had not been appointed as the new queen.

Therefore, this uncle of the emperor has lived a life of luxury since childhood and has never suffered any hardship, unlike his father or even his sister who practiced martial arts and looked very weak.

Zhao Gou was now feeling listless and was too lazy to listen to their chat.

Wu Guozhang is a military man and is not good at beating around the bush.

After his son winked and made eyes twice, Wu Guozhang couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, I heard that the Privy Councilor Qin Hui submitted a petition requesting 'mourning for Ding', right?"

Zhao Gou glanced at him and said calmly, "Qin Hui asked the father-in-law to speak for him and wanted me to 'seize the love', right?"

Wu Guozhang's old face turned red, and he said awkwardly: "Uh... this... I thought... Qin Shumi..."

Wu Guojiu could not help but said, "Your Majesty, now someone dares to assassinate you, you know how lawless they are.

At this time, we must have someone we can absolutely trust in order to defend the Zhao Song Dynasty.

Qin Shumi is loyal to the emperor, and the emperor can rest assured when he is in charge of the military power. If Qin Shumi is in mourning, then... who can be trusted?"

Zhao Gou asked, "You are twenty-four this year, right?"

Wu Guojiu was stunned. The emperor suddenly asked me why I was so old. Could it be that he wanted to appoint me as an official?
You don't want me to be the Privy Councilor?
Wu Guojiu's heart suddenly started beating wildly, and he quickly responded, "Yes! I am twenty-four. If you count by my birthday, I will be twenty-five in six and a half months."

Zhao Gou nodded and said, "Qin Hui is dead, and the descendants of the Qin family should observe mourning for three years. After three years, you will be 28 years old. I think it is better to cancel this marriage. You can find another good match."

When Uncle Wu thought of Madam Tong's pretty little appearance, he felt reluctant to let her go.

Besides, she is the daughter of the prime minister. Would it be easy to find another one with such noble birth?

Anyway, whether she gets married or not, it won’t affect my finding another woman.

Wu Guojiu smiled and said, "I love Madam Tong deeply. Even if I wait for her for three years, it is not a big deal..."

Although Wu Guozhang was a military commander, he was much smarter than his stupid son. At this point, how could he not understand that the Qin family was doomed?

He covered his son's mouth with his hand and said to Zhao Gou: "The emperor said that there are three kinds of unfilial behavior, and the worst is to have no offspring. No matter how good the Qin family's daughter is, my son can't afford to waste three years of her time. I will go back and cancel the engagement with the Qin family and find another good match for my son." Zhao Gou said indifferently: "I am tired."

"Yes, yes, I'll take my leave."

Wu Guozhang quickly agreed, pulled his confused son, and hurriedly left the bedroom.

Zhang Quwei took the written imperial edict and brought it back to show Zhao Gou. Zhao Gou nodded and asked someone to use the imperial seal and send it out.

Afterwards, Zhao Gou said to Zhang Quwei, "Zhang Dayong."

Zhang Quwei hurriedly said, "The servant is here."

Zhao Gou said slowly: "Draft another decree to approve Qin Hui's request and order him to retire and observe mourning. In addition, all Qin's sons and grandsons shall observe mourning."

Zhang Quwei was secretly shocked. He did not even bother to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead. He responded with a tense throat.

Zhao Gou said: "The murderer who killed Prime Minister Qin has not been caught yet. You go and tell the Qin family that after the funeral, Qin Hui's body should be placed in Taiyi Palace so that after the murderer is caught, a memorial ceremony can be held to comfort Prime Minister Qin's spirit in heaven. The entire Qin family should stay in Lin'an to mourn, and there is no need to return home!"

"Yes, I obey your order!"

Zhang Quwei hurriedly left the bedroom and almost fell on the threshold when he walked out the door.

He had to cut ties with the Qin family immediately, because the Qin family's ship was clearly about to sink!
……

Wanqi Xie wrote a memorial in a very eloquent and meticulous manner.

He included all the officials in the court who were pro-war, had pro-war tendencies, and those who were not pro-war but were not from the same faction as him, as well as anyone who could be somehow related to Yue Fei.

He even tried every means to establish a relationship with Yue Fei, even with Yang Cunzhong, who was once the most trusted person by the emperor but had now fallen out of favor and was demoted to Huzhou to retire.

He reported the matter based on hearsay and implicitly stated: It was said that Yang Cun Zhong was Yue Fei's sworn brother.

He didn't expect to kill so many people in one go, but if he listed more names, more people would inevitably be killed.

If this shot is fired, he will become the leader of the peace faction and completely inherit Qin Hui's political legacy.

He became successful by relying on Qin Hui, and was exiled because of competing for power with Qin Hui.

But now that Qin Hui is dead, if he wants to replace Qin Hui's former power and status, he can only become another Qin Hui.

After writing the memorial, he planned to present it to the emperor in person.

But when he went out excitedly, he was hit twice on the head.

The first one to come was Yang Cun Zhong, who returned and became the prime minister of the dynasty.

The second was Qin Hui’s retirement. Both Qin Hui and his son retired.

Wanqi Xie stood there for a while, then returned to his study in a daze. After a long silence, he sighed softly, then burned the ten-thousand-word book with candlelight.

……

The Qin family lost power.

Until detailed evidence is obtained, the Qin family will not be subject to further sanctions.

However, Qin Hui was very clear about what his family had done, and he was also very clear that since the emperor had already suspected the Qin family, it was only a matter of time before they were exposed.

As a result, Qin Hui's hair turned white overnight on the day he was ordered to observe mourning.

Yang Cun Zhong returned to power and took up the post of Privy Councilor.

The three yamen of the Imperial Guards are all his old subordinates, and the Privy Council is now under his control, so the Imperial Guards can be said to be a solid unit.

But, all of this is nothing to get excited about for Yang Yuan.

He was very clear that Zhao Gou's re-employment of Yang Cun Zhong had nothing to do with Zhao Gou's political attitude.

Zhao Gou was only concerned about his throne and his life.

Zhao Gou's suppression of the Qin family did not mean that the court's foreign policy would change, because he reused Wanqi Xie and promoted him to prime minister, above Shen Gai.

Zhao Gou was making his attitude clear to the world and to the Jin Kingdom: whether the Qin family lost power or not was only a matter for the Qin family. The Song Dynasty's attitude had not changed, Zhao Gou's attitude had not changed, and the national policy of advocating peace had not changed.

Therefore, this “army” still needs a “general”, and this dragon still needs to be slain!
……

This was the third day since Yang Yuan became the Yulong Zhidu Yuhou. He had already made some comrades-in-arms and became familiar with the defense route.

When he was not on duty, as soon as he got home, he would immediately call Hanane and Xiaonai into the house and seriously ask them for some stealth techniques and the use of some small props.

He decided to go "checkmate" tomorrow.

Because once Zhao Gou's injuries recovered, if he took action then, the risk of being exposed would greatly increase.

If we take action now, as long as we are skillful and can do it without anyone noticing, then everyone will think that Zhao Gou's death was caused by the injuries and poison he suffered.

Yang Yuan could then "leave the place after his work is done, leaving his achievements and fame behind."

When Yang Yuan was sharpening his knife and preparing to "slay the dragon", he did not know that even if he did not take action, Zhao Gou's life would come to an end.

This is an...an annoying misunderstanding!

(End of this chapter)