Steal my marriage? Turn around and marry the tyrant to take the throne

Nangong Xuanyu asked in a cold voice, "What is that?"

The Prefect of the Capital respectfully said, "In the ashes at the very bottom, your humble servant found half a piece of unburnt silk cloth with dried marks from writing with a special potion."

"After careful restoration, the lotus pattern and half of a broken Sanskrit symbol can be faintly seen."

"The method of drawing the lotus pattern is seven parts similar to the pattern on the prayer flags used by the monks of Fatu Temple in the past."

"And according to officials fluent in Sanskrit, the handwriting style of that half of the Sanskrit text is similar to that in the Fatu Temple's records..."

The emperor exclaimed angrily, "Excellent! Absolutely excellent!"

"I knew it. How could a few barbarian Huns be so familiar with the capital's inner workings, spread rumors, and stir up trouble?"

"It turns out that remnants of the Fatu Temple were secretly leading the way and tipping us off!"

As he said this, a terrifying storm was raging in Nangong Xuanyu's eyes!

He was angry, but not surprised.

Xingchen's true identity is that of a prince who plots to seize the throne, and he also has the help of a secret agent left behind by Empress Dowager Gongsu.

Over the past twenty years, how could Xingchen have been completely unprepared?

Nangong Xuanyu never naively believed that the power they had built up over many years would vanish so quickly.

The centipede insect is dead but not stiff.

Especially Xingchen, who, with the title of a high monk, has been operating in Fatu Temple for many years and has countless believers.

Who knows how many assassins and spies he secretly cultivated and planted?

The purge of Fatu Temple was a bloodbath. People were arrested, killed, or exiled.

Although Fatu Temple was seemingly uprooted, some of the most hidden individuals managed to escape.

During this time, the emperor never relaxed his efforts to investigate and eliminate the remaining forces of Xingchen.

He also dealt with several cases of violence that were attempts to avenge Xingchen.

But Nangong Xuanyu knew that there must be even more cunning fish patiently waiting for their chance.

The Xiongnu wanted to infiltrate the capital, obtain secrets, and create chaos. For them, this was probably a golden opportunity.

The remnants of Fatu Temple hated him to the bone and were constantly plotting to overthrow his regime and avenge Xingchen.

Both sides hit it off immediately, and each got what they wanted!

The rumor case is probably just a small test for them.

Those people's real schemes are definitely much bigger!

"His Majesty……"

Seeing the emperor's fury, the Prefect of the Capital broke out in a cold sweat: "This matter involves the remnants of the Fatu Temple, who are colluding with Xiongnu spies. This is no small matter!"

Nangong Xuanyu understood this principle perfectly well.

He closed his eyes, took a few deep breaths, and forced himself to calm down from his rage: "Issue my decree, ordering the Nine Gates Commandery, the Five City Garrison Command, the Prefect of the Capital, and others to immediately impose martial law throughout the city and strengthen inspections!"

"At the same time, search for them within the Great Zhou territory!"

"Especially foreign merchants, wandering monks and Taoists, and all those whose behavior is suspicious. Anyone without a clear travel permit or whose words and actions are strange should be detained and interrogated carefully!"

The Prefect of the Capital and the Commander of the Five Cities Garrison said in unison, "Your humble servants obey the decree!"

The emperor continued, "Continue to investigate that fur trading company thoroughly, uncovering all clues upstream and downstream, and tracing the whereabouts of the fleeing people."

"Whether he's alive or dead, I want to see his body!"

The Prefect of the Capital's heart skipped a beat: "Yes!"

The emperor paused, his gaze sweeping over the ministers below who were trembling with fear, and said in a chilling tone: "Also, secretly investigate all officials and nobles who have had dealings with Fatu Temple."

“Especially during the late Emperor’s reign and the early years of my reign, those who had close ties with Fatu Temple.”

"This matter will be handled by Zhan Weiran in conjunction with you. You must be extremely cautious and avoid alerting the suspects. However... it is better to be wrong than to overlook any suspicious activity!"

The crowd replied with heavy hearts, "Your Majesty, we obey!"

Nangong Xuanyu said coldly, "If even a single word of what we discussed today is leaked, causing unrest or alerting the traitors... you know the consequences!"

The Prefect of the Capital and the Commander of the Five Cities Garrison hurriedly replied, "We swear on our lives that we will never leak this information!"

……

For the next few days, the entire capital was shrouded in an atmosphere of impending doom.

Although the women in the inner palace were not involved in these matters, the atmosphere was still very tense.

Lingyan Pavilion.

Jiang Changzai was even more anxious.

Given her status, she might not know the secrets of politics. However, after helping Jiang Wange fake her death and leave the palace, all the people Xingchen had left her behind vanished overnight.

The agreed-upon code was no longer answered.

The channels for transmitting messages were no longer effective.

She risked leaving a mark at the originally agreed-upon location, but it vanished without a trace, like a stone sinking into the sea.

They deliberately cut off all contact, abandoning her, their ally, in danger.

Jiang Changzai was unaware that the people Xingchen left behind had been discovered by Nangong Xuanyu's men.

Or was it because their cooperation with the Xiongnu was exposed, and they were eager to protect themselves and cut their losses to survive?

She risked her life and the safety of her entire family to help Jiang Wange escape, all in order to take revenge on Nangong Xuanyu!

But now, Jiang Wange has disappeared without a trace, Xingchen's forces have vanished, yet Nangong Xuanyu remains unaffected.

How could Chiang Ching-kuo feel at ease?

But the more this is the case, the less she can panic, lest she reveal any flaws.

Nangong Xuanyu is suspicious by nature and ruthless in his methods; she cannot let him notice her.

In any case, she has no connection whatsoever with Jiang Wange or the former Duke Zhenguo's Mansion.

Even if Nangong Xuanyu racked his brains, he probably couldn't have imagined that she would have the courage and means to help the deposed concubine, whom he had imprisoned for many years, escape.

Nangong Xuanyu would only focus his attention on families with a past relationship with the Jiang family, or on the Xiongnu people.

As long as she doesn't lose her composure, the most dangerous place will actually be the safest.

……

After Fatu Temple was completely uprooted, all documents, books, directories, and account books were jointly investigated and archived by the Censorate and the Ministry of Justice.

All those clearly implicated or strongly suspected have been dealt with.

The remaining files are numerous, involving many female relatives of officials in the capital and other regions.

Most of them are just ordinary records of prayers, which are difficult to investigate in detail, so they are sealed in the archives.

After the emperor gave his word, Li Changde plunged headlong into the dusty archives.

One by one, the scrolls were brought out, and he spread them out to examine them carefully.

The handwriting on the tablets, some neat and some messy, records the heyday of Fatu Temple, when incense smoke filled the air and believers thronged the temple.

Countless women from official families have come there to pray.

"October 9th... October 9th..."

Li Changde muttered to himself, rubbing his sore eyes. Finally, he found the record in a tattered directory!

At 3:45 AM, the women of the Jiang family arrived, offered prayers, and donated ten taels of incense oil money. They left at the beginning of the 1:30 PM.

The time, people, and event, as well as the amount of money donated, are clearly documented. It's no different from countless similar records.

This one point alone doesn't really prove anything.

But Li Changde still carefully looked through it.

Suddenly, his fingers stopped.