After the failed attempt to pretend to be dead, the sickly child was favored by the treacherous mini

After Minister Xu left the Golden Palace, Xia Hong and Shen Jinmo sat in front of the window: "What do you think the Han siblings are doing now?"

"Of course there are bandits, but I don't think they are enough to hold the two siblings back."

He took a chess piece from the chess basket and placed it on the empty chessboard: "I have a guess in my mind, does the emperor want to hear it?"

"Humph." Xia Hong smiled and dropped a piece: "Why are you keeping me in suspense? If you are wrong, will I blame you?"

"Han Zhou may be repairing warships, but he is more likely speeding up the construction of warships, and Han Shu is moving around, maybe preparing for the expedition to East Japan."

"The next month is not only the time I use to prove that the Han siblings are spoiled, but also the time I give them to prepare."

"But I may be wrong. Maybe the bandits have really held the two Han generals hostage."

Xia Hong asked: "Does Wang Heng think the Ministry of War can recall Han Zhou?"

"The Ministry of War cannot do this, but the Emperor certainly can."

Shen Jinmo picked up the teapot and poured a cup of cold tea for Xia Hong. In this imperial palace, he felt so comfortable and relaxed as if he was at home.

"Han Zhou is a very understanding person. From the perspective of the siblings, if they miss this opportunity, they will never be able to avenge their mother again."

"So he must do his best to delay Han Shu's departure. After all, if he is called back right after setting out to sea, all the preparations will be in vain."

Xia Hong knocked on the small table three times. He couldn't wait to know what Han Shu and her brother were doing.

Suiyi came out from the darkness and said, "Your Majesty, please give me your instructions."

"Sui Yi, have the secret guards that were previously placed in the Tiger Army follow up at any time and report the progress to me in a timely manner."

Sui Yi stood still and said, "General Xiao Han is very skilled in martial arts. The previous secret guards may not be able to monitor him. I have to go there myself."

Looking at Sui Yi through the silver mask, the smile on Xia Hong's face gradually disappeared in front of Sui Yi: "No need."

As a secret guard, he should just obey orders and kill people. He should not guess what his master is thinking.

A secret guard with a heart will have desires.

Desire is the root of all betrayal.

Another rainstorm fell, completely washing away all the dust attached to the trees in the capital, and every breath of air inhaled was less hot.

Minister Xu brought Xun Zhan into the palace and kept wiping the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief in his hand.

He once thought that the order of ten golden medals to summon the Han siblings back to the court was too heavy, but when things came to this point, he felt that he had underestimated the intentions of the Han Shu siblings.

Now, people in the court and the country are discussing not only the incompetence of his Ministry of War, but also whether Han Shu and his sister have other ideas?

Xun Zhan saw how nervous Minister Xu was, so he pretended to be nervous too: "Sir Xu, you brought me here with you, are you going to take me away to take the blame?"

Minister Xu's heart skipped a beat: "Do you also think the emperor wants to convict me?"

Xun Zhan's evil eyes were filled with confusion: "Shouldn't the emperor convict you?"

Minister Xu sighed deeply, and finally followed Eunuch Lin into the Golden Palace.

As for Xun Zhan, he has to wait outside if he is not summoned.

But fortunately, the sun is not shining on people now, otherwise if he got tanned, Xia Yu might think that others are good-looking.

Ever since Minister Xu entered the Golden Palace, the atmosphere inside the palace has become unusually solemn.

Looking at Minister Xu of the Ministry of War kneeling in front of the hall, Xia Hong directly picked up the large stack of memorials on the desk and smashed them all at Minister Xu's head.

One imperial edict and ten golden medals failed to recall Han Shu and his sister to the court to discuss state affairs. The evil ambitions of the Zhongqin Marquis' Mansion were obvious!

Minister Xu hastily picked up the black gauze hat that had been knocked off and put it on. With his face red from being knocked, he kowtowed to Xia Hong: "I know my crime. I beg the emperor to give me another chance."

Xun Zhan, who was standing outside the palace waiting to be summoned, was Minister Xu's last trump card.

Whatever Minister Xu assigned to Xun Zhan, Xun Zhan did perfectly.

"One more chance?"

The paperweight at hand knocked Minister Xu's hat off again. Xia Hong's seemingly calm voice was filled with anger: "You promised me to approve more silver for March, but now the silver has been spent, but where is the man?"

"Tell me, have all the people and money been eaten up by your Ministry of War?"

Lian Lin's questioning made Minister Xu dare not even say a word of pleading.

Now that summer is coming to an end and autumn is approaching, Xia Hong has given him too many chances.

Based on Minister Xu's understanding of Xia Hong, anyone who dared to betray his trust so many times would have met his end long ago.

He didn't understand why Xia Hong was so tolerant of him, but it was true that he was worried that he would die from this thing that should have been very easy to accomplish.

So Xun Zhan’s guess was correct, he really was dragging Xun Zhan to take the blame.

Xun Zhan has a good background and a good family. Even if something happens, with Xun Xiang around, he can still make a comeback in the future.

But it’s different for him. His black hat was hard to come by, and if he lost it, he could never wear it again.

Xia Hong picked up the teacup handed to him by Eunuch Lin and took a few sips. Before Minister Xu was about to be swallowed by silence, he granted amnesty.

"For incompetence in performing his duties, he will be punished with thirty lashes of the cane and a six-month salary deduction."

"I thank the emperor for his mercy. I thank the emperor for his mercy."

He thanked Xia Hong profusely and kowtowed towards him until Minister Xu was dragged out of the hall by several eunuchs.

The mess in the hall was quickly cleaned up, and the cold sweat from where Minister Xu was kneeling was wiped away by the palace servants.

After Minister Xu finished his beating, Xun Zhan was led into the palace by Eunuch Lin: "Your Highness, I, Xun Zhan, pay my respects to His Majesty. Long live the Emperor."

Xun Zhan actually didn't want to get involved in Han Zhou's affairs at all.

If this is done well, it will not be considered a merit. But if it is done poorly, it may be like the eunuch who forced Marquis Zhongqin to return to the court, and will be infamous for eternity.

If such a person who would be infamous for eternity appeared in his Xun clan, his father would definitely sever the father-son relationship with him.

But Xun Zhan also knew that having come this far, he had to go.

Han Zhou is so stupid. If he doesn't go, that idiot might not be able to save his life when he comes back.

"Flat body, give me a seat."

Those sitting in the hall are all old acquaintances.

Just by looking at the stool, Xun Zhan knew that he would have to watch the show and perform well today.

"The Han siblings haven't returned yet. I don't know what their intentions are."

Shen Jinmo didn't say anything, and Eunuch Lin seemed to have completely become a chief eunuch who had lost his political significance.

So this question was left to Xun Zhan to answer: "Han Shu and Han Zhou witnessed their mother's tragic condition when they were young, and the Tiger Power Army failed to protect the commander's wife in their early years. Their hatred for the Eastern Japanese is much stronger than that of others."

Having experienced being forcibly recalled to the court, and having witnessed the sadness of watching 300,000 Tiger and Power Army soldiers being reduced to only 100,000, every member of the Tiger and Power Army was extremely afraid of this time, and that they would never be able to take revenge in this lifetime.

They are even more afraid that after they return, what awaits them is the soft knife of power, which will torture them to death.

Xun Zhan understood this, and Xia Hong understood it even better.

Because you understand it, you can use it as a bargaining chip and kill two birds with one stone.