Martial Arts Crossover: My Wife is the Top Scholar

Chapter 106 You hold him off first, I'll gag him and turn off his stereo.
Not all missions are the same.

The standards of hospitality and the lodging provided all differ.

The Liao delegation stayed at the largest of the five hundred and twenty-five rooms, the "Duting Post Station".

The Goguryeo delegation stayed at the Tongwenguan.

The Izumo delegation stayed at the Chanyun Pavilion.

The Western Xia people arrived and stayed at the Duting West Post Station.

Those from Dali and Jiaozhou stayed at Huaiyuan Post Station.

The Uyghurs and Khotanese lived in the ceremonial compound.

The banquet for the Liao envoys was held at Banjing Pavilion.

One reason is because of their "snobbishness".

Secondly, it was to prevent the missions from colluding with each other or fighting in private, which would cause a lot of trouble if problems arose.

Now, not only has a problem arisen, but it is the most serious problem ever: the Goguryeo envoy has been assassinated, and it was not a minister who died, but the crown prince of Goguryeo.

This will affect the succession to the throne of Goguryeo.

Based on the principle that whoever benefits is the murderer, the prime suspect is... the seventh prince of Goguryeo.

The king of Goguryeo had only two sons.

The crown prince was assassinated.

The seventh prince is the sole heir apparent.

No matter how incompetent this guy was, the King of Goguryeo still had to make him the crown prince. The civil and military officials either had to obediently change their ways or wait for the reckoning later.

Was only the seventh prince the one who benefited?

The death of the Goguryeo crown prince in the Song capital is a serious threat. If the murderer is not caught soon, relations between Goguryeo and the Song Dynasty will plummet, which will benefit neighboring ethnic groups.

Who are the guards at Tongwen Guan?

Could it be the guard's enemy, who is trying to frame him for dereliction of duty and launch an assassination attempt?

There are many suspects.

The Goguryeo envoy was in a panic and made a scene.

Zhao Zhen originally intended to hand the case over to the Ministry of Justice, but unfortunately, all four of the Four Great Constables were out on cases, and it would be somewhat impolite to entrust such a matter to them.

After deliberation among the court officials, it was decided to entrust the case to the Eighth Prince. The Eighth Prince originally wanted to ask Bao Zheng and Gongsun Ce to help investigate the case, but considering that the imperial examinations were approaching and the two were burning the midnight oil to prepare for the exams, they could not get involved in the case.

After a moment's thought, I thought of a "great talent".

……

A sedan chair stopped in front of the Li residence.

The Eighth Prince lifted the sedan curtain, revealing a dignified and noble face. Putting aside everything else, the Song Dynasty royal family was known for their exceptional good looks. The Eighth Prince's appearance and demeanor clearly indicated that he was a wealthy and noble prince; it would be a pity if he didn't become emperor.

This is where people get the question.

Why is it the Eighth Prince?
Could it be that the Eighth Prince was the eighth in line?

The Eighth Prince was the son of Zhao Kuangyin.

After Zhao Guangyi ascended the throne, his sister-in-law took her son to the Golden Hall to reason with him, saying that his nephew was too young and that if he became emperor, he would probably be torn apart by wolves and tigers. She said that if he became emperor, the country would eventually belong to the Zhao family. She said that she was a woman and had no objection, but her child was too young and she should at least give him an explanation.
Zhao Guangyi laughed loudly: "The emperor is called 'Long Live,' the prince is called 'Long Live,' and my nephew should be called 'Long Live.'"

I hereby bestow upon my nephew the titles of: Protector of the King, Guardian of the King, King Before the Palace, King Behind the Palace, King Left of the Palace, and King Right of the Palace. He shall not pay homage to the King when entering the palace, nor shall he bid farewell to the King when leaving the palace!
A prince is a thousand years old.

Adding them together, they are eight thousand years old.

I hereby bestow upon him a concave golden mace, to strike down tyrannical rulers and treacherous officials; this golden mace is now a thousand years old.

That's not enough. I will bestow upon you a gold-inlaid white jade lock. Seeing the lock is like seeing me. You are protected by the true dragon emperor. No one in heaven or on earth will dare to kill you. The white jade lock is considered to be a thousand years old.

Sister-in-law, are you satisfied?

Having come this far, continuing to argue would only anger Zhao Guangyi, so he could only nod in agreement. From then on, Zhao Defang was known as the Eighth Prince and received eight rewards.

The Eighth Prince was the most transcendent being.

As long as you don't rebel, nothing will happen.

The key point is that the Eighth Prince did not need to rebel because he had no sons. He only had one daughter and several adopted daughters. It is said that he had a son in his early years, but the son died of a serious illness shortly after birth, and he had no more children since.

How can you rebel without a son?

If the rebellion succeeds, who will inherit the throne?
Why did Duan Yanqing immediately realize that Duan Yu was his biological son? Because Duan Yanqing knew that even if he succeeded, the empire would eventually be handed over to outsiders.

Duan Yu is his biological son, and the throne of Dali will eventually fall into his son's hands. Duan Zhengming is very shrewd. He made Duan Yu recognize him as his godfather, which is both a matter of face and substance. Giving him the Seven Dragon Balls might not be an option.

Was Wu Zetian powerful or not?

The only female emperor in Chinese history.

Di Renjie's words were a scathing rebuke to the Empress: "I've only ever heard of sons bowing to their mothers, never nephews bowing to their aunts!"

The emperor didn't need to worry about the Eighth Prince rebelling, and the Eighth Prince had also come to terms with it, focusing on maintaining his good reputation and hoping that future operas and novels would create more stories about him.

To accomplish the affairs of the king and the world!
Win fame during life and after death!
If I can't get the throne, then I'll get fame!

When Li Zhaoting learned that the Eighth Prince had arrived, he knew that he was not there to see him. He had Feng Suzhen put on Feng Shaomin's disguise and invited the Eighth Prince to drink tea and listen to the zither.

Li Zhaoting has already prepared the story.

Feng Shaomin is Feng Suzhen's elder brother. He entered the immortal mountain at a young age to learn martial arts from a master, mastered unparalleled skills, was skilled in Buddhist swordsmanship, and was highly talented in both literature and martial arts.

While exploring Dali, Feng Shaomin accidentally met the illegitimate daughter of Duan Zhengchun, the Prince of Zhennan in Dali. The two fell in love at first sight and were destined to be together for three lifetimes.

You can check the Eighth Prince's records at will!

Duan Zhengchun had illegitimate daughters all over the world.

With his daughter's marriage alliance, he can go anywhere in the world without fear!
If you suspect that your daughter is not your biological child, or if you see a young girl of mysterious origin, or if you don't know who your biological father is, you can suspect Duan Zhengchun.

Duan Zhengchun couldn't remember how many lovers he had, and he might have unwittingly accepted this daughter as his daughter.

A golden signboard is more real than real gold.

The Eighth Prince felt a pang of regret, but he was too embarrassed to break up the marriage. He thought to himself that Tianxiang was really unlucky; she didn't see Feng Shaomin when she went to Hangzhou to hold a martial arts contest to find a husband!

Both were preoccupied with their own chaotic thoughts as they drank tea in the living room. Li Zhaoting, who had lived in Dali for a long time, clearly carried Pu'er tea with him.

Pu'er tea has six categories: green tea, oolong tea, black tea, dark tea, yellow tea, and white tea.

Li Zhaoting prefers oolong tea, which has the sweetness of green tea and the color and aroma of black tea, but without the slight bitterness of green tea or the astringency of black tea. It has a pure aroma, a clear liquor, a refreshing aftertaste, and an endless lingering flavor.

The tea that the Eighth Prince drank was the finest tribute tea, with every part meticulously crafted to the best of its ability. Each tea cake was worth a fortune. While the tea was indeed excellent, it had lost some of its natural flavor, and after drinking it for a long time, it became bland and tasteless.

Your tea is excellent!

"Your Highness, when I was learning martial arts with my master in the mountains, I really enjoyed picking and processing tea leaves."

What kind of tea do you think tastes the best?

"A sky full of stars!"

What is 'baby's breath'?

The Eighth Prince was taken aback. He had tasted the finest teas from all over the world. What was "Full of Stars"?
Li Zhaoting explained, "Large tea shops sell tea in large wooden barrels or porcelain jars. Once the top layer of tea is sold out, the bottom layer is crushed into small pieces. These pieces are collected and mixed into a large bag, which is called 'Full Sky Star,' also known as 'High Broken Tea.' It contains the flavors of all teas and is best brewed in a large pot for maximum aroma and flavor!"

"The ocean is vast because it embraces all rivers; its capacity is great!"

The Eighth Prince thought to himself, "What nonsense are you talking about? Can't you just say 'Gao Sui' (a type of sweet soup)?" The Eighth Prince had never drunk Gao Sui, but several of his servants and stewards liked it.

The high-quality tea they were drinking was tribute tea, the finest variety, Mantianxing. A single pot of it filled the entire garden with its fragrance.

The Eighth Prince smelled the aroma and wanted to have a cup, but the steward said that this was for servants and the prince could not drink it, and hid all the wine. The Eighth Prince was on the verge of tears.

What are your views on the diplomatic delegation?

After drinking two cups of tea, the Eighth Prince posed a question.

Li Zhaoting said, "They're all bad birds!"

Feng Suzhen said, "None of them are good. Izumo is sneaky, Goguryeo is treacherous, and the Khitan delegation is ambitious. Most of the three are probably colluding."

Why is Izumo acting so suspiciously?

The Eighth Prince did not say much, but continued to ask questions. Feng Suzhen explained: "According to the rules, if there are female members in the delegation, especially princesses who are sent to marry foreign rulers, they need to go to the palace to see the Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager will give them a reward."

This reward was far greater than their tribute.

Why would Izumo refuse money that's being given away for free?

I have read historical records about Izumo, and Princess Toshihide's actions did not conform to the rules of Izumo.

Even if Izumo has a custom of not meeting one's parents-in-law, this is the Song Dynasty. They are here to send a princess for a marriage alliance. When in Rome, do as the Romans do, and they should abide by the rules of the Song Dynasty.

And that Wuwan.

His specialty martial art is called the Fiery Cloud Poison Blade, which is a combination of the Flaming Blade and the Poison Sand Palm. The Flaming Blade is a unique skill of the Tantric Buddhist temple, Dalun Temple, located in Tibet.

Tibet and Izumo are thousands of miles apart.

Who taught Karasuma his martial arts?

When I previously competed with Yelü Yancai in a contest of talent, I observed the delegations from the Three Kingdoms. The Wuhuan appeared tall and imposing, but in reality, he was timid and cowardly. He had practiced Japanese ninjutsu.

This person is bound to be cunning and deceitful.

Your Highness, you must investigate this matter thoroughly.

Feng Suzhen spoke with increasing enthusiasm, displaying the erudition of a top scholar and calmly analyzing the clues.

Why did Goguryeo harbor treacherous intentions?

The Eighth Prince continued to ask questions.

"Because the King of Goguryeo only had two sons, it was impossible for both of them to serve as envoys. If they were both assassinated, the King of Goguryeo would have no heir, and who would inherit his throne?"
Secondly, the two princes have always been enemies. While in Goguryeo, they need to restrain themselves. Once they leave Goguryeo, they can launch an assassination at any time. As long as the other is killed, he will become the sole crown prince, leaving the Goguryeo king with no other choice.

Finally, just like in Izumo, the princess who was sent to marry the emperor did not go to the palace to ask for a reward. The Goguryeo people have always been greedy and avaricious. When the emperor held a banquet, they would even secretly take the side dishes, fruits, and pickles back with them.

They can't possibly give up money they've already received for free.

There's only one explanation for not daring to go.

The Goguryeo princess is a ghost!
Your Highness need not ask any further questions.

I will analyze the Liao Dynasty directly.

The true leader of the Liao delegation could not possibly be Yelü Yancai. He was merely a figurehead used to attract attention; the real envoy was someone else entirely.

This person is cunning and likely has ulterior motives.

The student is lacking in knowledge and understanding.

Please correct me, Your Highness.

Feng Suzhen poured a cup of tea for the Eighth Prince.

The Eighth Prince nodded, very satisfied.

Feng Suzhen's analysis is not entirely correct; some parts are quite naive. This naivety is not due to immaturity, but rather because Feng Suzhen has no experience in court politics.

"Li Zhaoting, what are your thoughts?"

"I think a murder might have occurred!"

"why?"

"Because during yesterday's victory celebration banquet, Bao Zheng analyzed the delegations from the Three Kingdoms. You don't know, Bao Zheng is a jinx; he gets cases wherever he goes."

Li Zhaoting may seem to be spouting nonsense, but he is actually full of bitter tears. The title of "Tai Sui" is not a pleasant one!

"Li Zhaoting, when you went to Suzhou for sightseeing, the Beggars' Sect suffered a terrible internal strife, with blood flowing like a river. When you went to Jiangling to help investigate the case, the entire martial arts world of Jiangling was wiped out."

You went to the Daxiangguo Temple to burn incense, but several monks there died, and even the abbot abdicated!

Even Buddha can't do anything to you!

If we're talking about jinxing, you're the one who should be saying it.

I remember you were known as the "Master Physician in Plain Clothes".

A commoner with divine insight is equivalent to someone with an iron tongue who can make definitive predictions!
You're the one who's jinxing it!

The Eighth Prince was quick-witted and his ideas struck right to the heart.

Li Zhaoting had the urge to assassinate the king.

Unfortunately, I don't have a tragic family background; my family is happy and joyful. Otherwise, this would be the perfect opportunity to take everyone down with me and wipe out my entire family.

Li Zhaoting sighed, "Your Highness, Bao Zheng and I analyzed the delegations from the Three Kingdoms together, and Gongsun Ce added his own analysis. With the three jinxes working together, you should add more guards! That would be safer."

What is safest?

"If all the envoys from the three countries are killed, even if we find the murderer, no one will believe us."

"what do you mean……"

"Your Highness, I didn't mean it, I really didn't!"

Li Zhaoting fantasized about the legends of the martial arts world:
How to defeat Xiao Feng?

You hold him off, I'll go turn off the stereo!
How to defeat Li Zhaoting?
Find a beautiful woman to shut him up!

When Buddha used the Five Elements Mountain to suppress the Monkey King, he needed to expose the Monkey King's head. When Buddha used the Five Elements Mountain to suppress Li Zhaoting, he had to bury the Monkey King's head.

Li Zhaoting: What the hell can I say?
No!

I want to emulate a certain legendary constable, write more fictional stories and spread them around, and promote my name.

The Eighth Prince was unaware of Li Zhaoting's thoughts; otherwise, he might have fainted from anger, pointing at Li Zhaoting and staging a scene reminiscent of "Emperor Kangxi scolding his ministers."

"The crown prince of Goguryeo was assassinated."

"Is Your Highness the person in charge of the case?"

"You are smarter than I thought."

Has the autopsy been performed?

"It requires the two of you to verify it."

"We hold no official positions or rank..."

"Even a seventh-rank official stands before the prime minister's gate!"

The Eighth Prince stood up and adjusted his crown.

The gatekeeper of the Prime Minister's residence was a seventh-rank official.

What rank of official did the talented scholar favored by the Eighth Prince belong to?

The Eighth Prince pulled out two gold tokens from his robes: "These are my calling cards. Most people will give you face. As long as you don't misuse them, you can travel the world without fear!"

Li Zhaoting and Feng Suzhen accepted the gold medal.

……

Tongwen Hall was surrounded by the Imperial Guard.

Complete lockdown; entry is permitted, but exit is not.

Without the Eighth Prince's pass, anyone who tries to leave the Tongwen Hall can be shot dead by the Imperial Guards.

The Goguryeo envoys caused quite a commotion.

The Eighth Prince said calmly, "I guarantee with my own reputation that the murderer will be found. Before the case is solved, anyone who tries to leave this place will be considered an accomplice of the murderer. Don't cause trouble, as this is a suspicious situation."

"You have no right..."

The seventh prince shouted loudly, but was rebuked by the eighth prince after he had only uttered four words: "You are the only son of the King of Goguryeo, but the King of Goguryeo has brothers, and his brothers all have sons. You are not the only choice."

"What does Your Highness mean?"

"What I mean is that you are the prime suspect in the Crown Prince's assassination attempt. My discovery of the true culprit is not to make things difficult for you, but to help clear your name."

The Eighth Prince coldly stared at the Seventh Prince: "Unless you are truly the murderer, and you orchestrated the assassination!"

　Thank you to readers Ulawala, I Love Pancakes, and Lonely Monkey for their generous donations.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)