Traveling back to the Northern Song Dynasty: Picking up a princess as my wife

Zhao Ji's expression first showed pain, then seemed to show relief: "Alas! Actually, I figured it out during my time in Wuguo City. If I had passed the throne to the Crown Prince earlier, I wouldn't have ended up with the downfall of the country. Now that Zhao Gou has ascended the throne in Lin'an, it can be considered that our Zhao family line continues. As for me, forget it. I think your mountain stronghold is quite nice, a good place to retire."

Li Zhen smiled at Zhao Ji: "Father-in-law, is what you say true?"

Hearing Li Zhen questioning him, Zhao Ji became somewhat anxious: "You child, I am no longer the Emperor Huizong of Song I once was. I am just an old man in my twilight years. Even if I regain the throne, to whom will I pass it on? Just say what you want to say directly, don't beat around the bush."

Upon realizing that Zhao Ji might genuinely be unaware of Wang Cheng's affairs, Li Zhen went straight to the point and revealed the intelligence he possessed.

When he heard that Wang Cheng, who was right next to him, had secretly contacted people from the former Imperial City Guard, he was furious.

“That good son-in-law, could you send someone to call Wang Cheng over? I want to ask him what he’s up to in person.”

Before long, Yue Peng called Wang Cheng over. When he entered the room and saw Zhao Ji and Li Zhen sitting in chairs watching him, he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. Recalling that he hadn't let anything slip by recently, he pretended to be relaxed and put on a smiling face.

"Your Majesty, may I ask why you and the Prince Consort have summoned me?"

Emperor Huizong's gaze was deep and complex as he stared at Wang Cheng, his unspoken reproach subtly spreading through the air.

He forcibly suppressed the anger surging in his chest, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible authority and concern: "Wang Cheng, I don't know what you've been busy with these past few days. I haven't seen you for a long time. I'm quite curious about what you've been busy with that makes me so reluctant to see you."

Upon hearing this, Wang Cheng's lips curled into a slightly awkward smile, a smile that concealed a hint of self-deprecation and helplessness: "Hehe, Your Majesty, you flatter me. You have been spending more time with the princess these days, so naturally you have neglected the affairs of the manor. This old servant merely took advantage of this leisure time to tidy up the residence that I had not been able to maintain in the past. And since the weather has been kind to me, with occasional sunny days, I dared to step out of the manor to enjoy nature's bounty. But time waits for no man, and my body is not as robust as it used to be. A little movement makes me feel sore all over, which is truly lamentable."

At this moment, Zhao Ji's patience shattered like thin ice, and his anger erupted like a volcano.

He suddenly stood up, his hands clenched tightly, his fingertips turning white with anger. Finally, his uncontrollable emotions manifested in a sharp movement. He grabbed the exquisite porcelain cup on the table, the liquid inside splashing out, just like his chaotic thoughts at that moment.

With a crisp cracking sound, the porcelain cup slammed against Wang Cheng's side, shards flying everywhere, filling the air with the sharp, tense atmosphere of shattering porcelain.

"You filthy scoundrel!"

Zhao Ji's voice was deep and imposing, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth, filled with unspeakable anger and disappointment. "Even now, you still dare to argue and refuse to reveal the truth! Speak! How did you collude with the Imperial City Guard? What kind of conspiracy and schemes are hidden behind you!"

His gaze was piercing, as if it could penetrate Wang Cheng's flickering eyes and reach the deepest secrets of his heart. The surrounding air seemed to freeze, leaving only Zhao Ji's resounding question echoing in the empty room.

Upon hearing Zhao Ji's questioning, Wang Cheng panicked: How did he know? Could it be Fang Bucun?

Wang Cheng knelt on the ground and kept kowtowing: "Your Majesty, this old servant is truly devoted to you. I did this only to help you regain the throne. I don't want you to live a miserable life in this harsh land. After all, you are the rightful emperor of the Great Song Dynasty."

Li Zhen's gaze slowly shifted to Yue Peng, who stood quietly to the side, his tone steady yet carrying an undeniable authority: "Yue Peng, please invite that person as well."

After he finished speaking, a subtle and tense atmosphere seemed to fill the air.

Soon, the door creaked open, breaking the silence inside. Fang Bucun was escorted in by several burly men, bound hand and foot, looking extremely disheveled. His gaze swept across the room, finally settling on Wang Cheng kneeling on the ground. At that moment, Fang Bucun's heart sank to the bottom. He knew that his plan had come to nothing.

"Chieftain!" Fang Bucun suddenly looked up, his voice filled with resentment and despair. He shouted hoarsely, "It was all manipulated by that old eunuch behind the scenes. He promised me wealth and glory, saying that as long as I helped the old emperor regain his throne, he would grant me power and status. I... I was just blinded by greed!"

Upon hearing this, Li Zhen frowned slightly, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. He slowly walked to Fang Bucun without uttering a word, but the pressure emanating from his body made everyone present feel an invisible pressure.

An indescribable heaviness filled the air, as if time itself had frozen at that moment.

Li Zhen turned to look at Yue Peng: "Have he brought his men under control?"

Yue Peng replied, "Reporting to the chief, the thirty-seven people who came in with Fang Bucun have been brought under control. In addition, the more than twenty people in the outer village have also been captured by our brothers. A lot of weapons were found in their residences, including two hunting rifles and countless bullets."

Li Zhen turned his gaze to Fang Bucun, who was kneeling on the ground, and after a long period of contemplation, he slowly spoke.

"Master Fang, how have I, Li, treated you? Have I been unfair to you and your brothers in terms of treatment and food?"

Fang Bucun buried his head deep in his chest, not daring to look directly at Li Zhen's questioning: "Chief Li has treated me and my brothers very well, and extended a helping hand when I was in danger."

Li Zhen's figure slowly rose in the dim light, like a lone peak about to collapse, facing Fang Bucun's deep and resolute words: "Since that's the case, then don't blame me for being ruthless. Yue Peng, you will personally lead Master Fang and his warriors on their journey home. Remember, when you strike, be swift and decisive, don't let them suffer."

The moment these words were spoken, the air seemed to freeze. Fang Bucun's face instantly lost all color, like the last rays of the winter sun being swallowed by dark clouds. A thousand words surged within him, yearning for a glimmer of hope, but his throat felt as if it were being choked by an invisible hand, and not even a faint plea for mercy could escape.

In the end, he could only let out a long and heavy sigh, a sigh that contained endless helplessness, resentment and acceptance. Then, he chose to face his inevitable fate with an almost solemn silence.

After Yue Peng and the others left, Li Zhen immediately instructed Yue Ying: "Immediately send a message to Mr. Bu Liang by carrier pigeon, telling him to be on high alert. I'm afraid these people won't let this go easily. Tell him to guard Tangyin City well."

Yue Ying turned and left, leaving only Zhao Ji, Li Zhen, and Wang Cheng kneeling on the ground in the room.