Chapter 553 Prince Yong’s Mansion
Chapter 553 Prince Yong’s Mansion
It’s four o’clock in the morning and the night is as dark as ink.
As the capital of Qingzhou in Southern Liang, Dongyang City began a curfew after nightfall. As per routine, the Dongyang Guard Station dispatched a full force of 1120 households, professional soldiers in armor and armed, led by various "captains", to patrol the streets.
All doors were closed. In an inn on the street, a few wanderers saw the armored soldiers approaching outside the window, quickly extinguished the candles on the table, and tiptoed back to their rooms.
Half a year ago, the princes were conferred titles.
Except for the eldest prince, the crown prince and the third prince, the rest of the princes went to their fiefdoms in various places and were not allowed to enter the capital without an imperial edict.
Among them, King Yong was unable to get a share of the wealthy counties in the south of the Yangtze River because his mother's clan was executed, and instead came to Dongyang County near the border.
Pei Shouzheng, the Minister of War, Grand Secretary of Wuying Palace and Prince Taibao, wrote a letter to the emperor, arranging a marriage for the daughter of Pei from Dongyang to marry into the royal palace. The land properties obtained by Prince Yong's fiefdom and the dowry amounted to more than ten thousand hectares.
Three months ago, the palace was planning to hold a Liushang Banquet. On the eve of Prince Yong's official appearance in the local area, the elders of the Demon Cult launched an assassination attempt. More than a dozen scholars and soldiers who came to pay a visit suffered heavy casualties. Prince Yong has been ill since then.
The court was not in a commotion about this, because Emperor Wu of Liang gave up his official position for the second time and converted to Buddhism at the Tianchan Temple. The ministers and even the entire central government were busy fighting for power and profit, while also raising money and grain to redeem this "Bodhisattva Emperor".
……
"The sky is dry and everything is dry, be careful about the fire."
The sound of the gong and the night watchman's calls gradually faded away.
In the north of Dongyang City, on the bluestone road, a luxurious carriage slowly stopped, its curtains covered with pearls and jade.
With the help of the accompanying soldiers, the purple-robed man landed on the ground. He was about thirty years old. There were patches on his chest and back, but they were not shabby, on the contrary, they were extremely exquisite. The corresponding trend was prevalent in Southern Liang at that time, and a patch often cost a hundred taels of official silver.
The purple-robed man glanced at Prince Yong's Palace in front of him.
Even though he had already been enfeoffed and had no chance of ascending the throne, the specifications of the royal family were still exactly the same. The roof was decorated with vaulted arches, and the main gate tower was decorated with green and blue with gold. It was more like a palace than a mansion. The palace walls were painted with colorful dragons and clouds, and when you looked up, you could see green glazed tiles that were distinct from the bright yellow of the imperial city.
“It’s quite impressive.”
The purple-robed man Pei Weidao sneered.
The twenty accompanying soldiers remained silent. Except for the third-level priest who was in the lead, the rest were elites with second-level cultivation. They would also be good fighters in the martial arts world. All the first-class families in the world have similar private armies, and the Pei family's Zhongyue Army is especially famous for its good fighting skills.
Not long after, the commander of the guards of Prince Yong's Mansion strode out. The sturdy man saw a purple robe and immediately clasped his fists.
"Yan has met Master Pei."
"Commander Yan is polite."
The two men exchanged a brief greeting and walked into the palace side by side, followed by armored soldiers. They crossed the outer wall of the palace, walked into the inner city from the Duanli Gate, and turned left to the Altar of Land and Grain in the southwest of Prince Yong's Palace.
But the further they walked, the more hesitant Commander Yan's steps became.
"Why, you still want to regret it now, Commander?" Pei Weidao raised his eyebrows and said, "Privately imprisoning a prince is a capital crime. Your sect is only a small talisman sect, so it is inevitable that everyone will die."
Commander Yan wiped the sweat off his forehead and said, "The prince is not dead after all. Lord Pei must give me a promise first. If Pei wants to get rid of him, I have a close friend who can deliver a letter to the court."
Pei Weidao seemed to have heard a huge joke, and couldn't help laughing, saying: "Do you need a guarantee to kill a prince?"
"Have you not heard that the last emperor fell into the water and died?"
Pei Weidao's laughter gradually became low, and he looked at the other party viciously: "I respectfully call you Commander Yan. If I am not happy, you are just a wild dog that comes when I call and goes away when I wave. Now Pei is under my control. Grandfather wants to take back the land and dowry that the vassal kings took away. If you ruin my impression in grandfather's heart, it will be a capital crime."
The words fell.
The armored soldiers and the priests attacked fearlessly.
The third realm, Dongxuan, is the peak of gold. One needs to refine a "qi" between heaven and earth to enter the warrior state and give birth to a secret technique. Most of the secret techniques in the world are based on the five elements, but there are differences in the detailed analysis.
boom!
A phantom of a mountain as big as a millstone pushed out. Commander Yan did not dare to fight back. He was hit hard and the steel armor on his body shattered. He retreated dozens of steps and vomited blood.
It is obvious that the warrior priest knows how to take action and also knows how to act in moderation.
"Thank you, Master Pei, for your mercy."
"Lead the way."
Commander Yan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. In fact, the arrogance of the noble family made him feel relieved. Lord Pei was the prince's guardian. This time, he secretly killed Prince Yong and used Princess Pei to take back the land. It was just a convenience. He took the initiative to give the prince a handle so that both sides would trust each other. This was probably his real purpose.
The evidence of murdering a vassal king is not enough to completely destroy the great family that "governs the world together", but it can cause some serious damage. It can also prove Pei's determination to support the emperor. As for whether the prince will feel grief for the loss of his father, we will have to wait and see who has the last laugh in the fight for the throne.
Commander Yan had a lot of thoughts in his mind. The Fulu Mountain behind him was actually a branch of the Demon Cult. The elders were closely following the fight for the throne among the various disciples of Southern Liang. As an undercover executor, he at least had complete intelligence.
The night is as cold as water.
The two men came to the altar of land and grain, and the soldiers opened the "coffin lid" of the dungeon, and the entire Prince Yong's Mansion fell silent.
Pei Weidao asked with his hands behind his back, "Where is my sister?"
Before Commander Yan could reply, the armored attendant said, "The Eagle Room sent a message saying that the princess is practicing Taoism in seclusion. Judging from her diet and daily life, she should not be pregnant for the time being."
"Useless thing." Pei Weidao cursed inwardly. Without the crown prince, Pei's control over the palace would have been in vain. Obviously, she had a good body for bearing children. If he had known this, he would not have let Prince Yong live to this day.
"Where is the chief priest of the palace?" Pei Weidao continued to ask.
When the vassal king is conferred the title, the Imperial City Xuanjin Mountain Villa will, in accordance with ancestral law, send a fourth-level elder to guard the villa.
The armored soldier glanced at the embarrassed Commander Yan and replied, "The chief priest has gone to the mountains to find medicine for King Yong."
"Haha, what an ugly fence-sitter."
"Master Pei, something is wrong!"
Pei Weidao's laughter stopped abruptly. Several soldiers stood on the altar, at a loss as to what to do. One of them came over to report.
"There is no sign of King Yong in the dungeon."
"what!"
Pei Weidao's face changed, and he immediately climbed onto the altar of state with Commander Yan. The dungeon was extremely large, and the surrounding areas were made of the highest-grade yang steel, forming a seamless whole. Even the Four Realms might not be able to blast it open before they exhausted all their strength.
"Impossible." Commander Yan poked his head out and looked around, and said nervously: "I came over to take a look when I left the house!"
The dungeon was dark. Pei Weidao hurriedly looked towards the only ventilation hole, only to see that the original yang steel fence had been violently destroyed, with messy marks all around, and the prey had actually escaped from the cage.
"Seal off the royal city!"
"Transfer the Dongyang Guard Station over here and find it for me!"
The soldiers moved quickly and crushed the flower petals on the ground in the gardens surrounding the Altar of Land and Grain. Commander Yan's mind went blank. Prince Yong escaped, and Pei would definitely put all the blame on him. He was already a dead man.
The soldiers mounted their horses and quickly went to the garrison outside the city to mobilize troops. No written orders were needed. The name of a big family was more effective than the kowtow of the county magistrate, not to mention that the current Minister of War was Lord Pei.
call!
The armored attendant held Pei Weidao's arm and walked to the bottom of the dungeon. The two stood in front of the ventilation grille, with broken pieces under their feet. "What a huge force..." The armored attendant was secretly shocked and said, "Pei Ershao, please look, this is not broken, but crushed into powder. The person who came to rescue Prince Yong must be extremely strong."
Pei Weidao forced himself to calm down and asked, "Four realms?"
The armored warrior shook his head and said in a low voice, "Not all people in the Four Realms are good at strength. As far as I know, the only person below the immortals on earth who can accomplish such a feat is the second son of the Pingxi King in Yizhou, Zhao Wanjun, who is born with the power of a dragon and an elephant."
Pei Weidao was shocked. He really didn't want to believe that Prince Yong had any relationship with the "only two" kings of different surnames in Southern Liang.
"The power of the dragon and the elephant, is it the power of a dragon and an elephant?"
"Well, it's not an empty statement."
"what!?"
At this moment, on the altar, Commander Yan came to his senses and quickly took out the Di Ting talisman from his waist. He looked at the red dots on the talisman paper with his pupils trembling. His face suddenly became terrified and he shouted heartbreakingly:
"Master Pei, Prince Yong is in the dungeon!"
……
Dark dungeon.
Pei Weidao and the armored warrior had stiff expressions, and they both turned back almost at the same time.
The handsome face that made people trance was close at hand, but the other person's presence was strangely weak. He was tall and slender, wearing a simple red robe, which was full of inexplicable majesty. His eyes were like gems in the dim light, but also cold and indifferent.
"It's not your fault."
"It's just a dungeon. I'm barely used to it."
Jiang He spoke calmly and blasted the armored warrior with a punch. The flesh and blood splattered on the wall like bullets. He crushed the Yang steel fence, but mainly wanted to test the so-called fifth-level solidity.
The answer is that it is so hard that it is beyond imagination. Although the King of Carrying Mountains does not look like the legendary mountain-moving magical power, the power blessing is still huge. It is a pity that the fifth-level solidity is well-deserved, and it is difficult for him to completely smash the dungeon with one punch.
A third-level Dongxuan master died in front of him. Pei Weidao smiled with difficulty and said in a sad voice: "Why is my brother-in-law like this?"
"Boss, Pei wants to kill you as a token of his loyalty to the Crown Prince..."
A ray of golden light fell on the vent. Within a quarter of an hour, Wuhe had investigated everything thoroughly. He was more efficient than the four players during the special mission.
Pei Weidao knelt on the ground with a sincere look on his face. His mind was full of thoughts like a storm. He made a prompt decision and said, "Your Majesty, spare my life and use this as hostage evidence to counter the Pei family. As long as I am alive, there will be no major problems. Even if I cannot make my grandfather join you, there will be countless benefits. It is better than a momentary pleasure. The king should put the grand plan first."
Pei Weidao was keenly aware that Prince Yong had concealed his superb martial arts skills. No similar news had ever circulated in the 18 years since the other party was born. He was so forbearing. If he was not doing it for the "king's grand plan", he must have some plan.
"Haha." Wuhe sneered, "You have a quick wit, but what a pity."
Jiang He slapped out with his palm, knocking his head completely to the ground. The neck was broken smoothly and blood spurted out like a fountain.
"Send the head to Pei, and have the father-in-law come to see me. The body will be placed outside the palace."
"clear."
Jiang He paused for a moment, realizing that he was not talking to a passerby. He smiled and said, "Thank you for your help."
"Haha, just running errands for the boss." Wuhe waved his wings nonchalantly.
The golden light carried the head and the body away.
Jiang He jumped out of the dungeon. What Pei Weidao said was indeed true, but as a former emperor, he was very clear about the style of the aristocratic families. They would start by reporting the missing person to the officials, and then frame him. By then, the ones who wanted to kill Pei Weidao the most would probably be the Pei family.
As for whether it can serve as evidence, there is no need to say more. Just like embezzlement, this kind of thing can only be used to make a final conclusion. A cabinet minister who is at the peak of his power will not fall because of his "confused" offspring and a failed attempt to murder a vassal king. Unless he succeeds, there is only a slight possibility, and other contenders for the throne will have to make all-out efforts.
call!
The figure jumped out of the dungeon.
Commander Yan slumped to the ground, his face pale.
"Your Majesty, I was coerced!"
"I'm in the dungeon and you're on the ground. As the commander of the guards, do you think this is appropriate?"
Jiang He raised his leg and kicked him to death. The boot of death pierced through Commander Yan's chest, trampling his heart and sternum into mud.
Not far away, a fifth-rank ceremonial guard in armor was leading people to clean up the scene. Lao Hei looked like a middle-aged man with an honest face at the moment, wearing an epic suit.
"Jiang Weizheng has been instrumental in protecting the emperor, so I present him with a jade pendant."
Guards: "..."
What merit is there?
Several teams looked at each other in bewilderment. Prince Yong had been recuperating due to illness and had refused to see outsiders for a long time. Even if they didn't know the specific situation, everyone could realize that something was wrong. It was just that Pei's gold and silver were too heavy, so everyone tacitly chose to "neglect their duty". However, looking at the current situation, the situation was more serious than they had imagined, but the prince chose to let bygones be bygones.
Jiang He took off the jade pendant and hung it around Lao Hei's waist.
"Is there a secret hidden in the jade pendant?" Old Black asked in a sly voice.
"This is a gift from the Advent. If I have it, it will definitely break."
"alright."
……
In the early morning, autumn fog appeared on the streets.
Dongyang City came alive as usual. Merchants from all over Qingzhou arrived at Wanbao Street early in the morning, selling a wide variety of rice, flour, grain, oil, medicinal materials, mountain products, antiques, calligraphy and paintings.
Because the emperor sacrificed himself to enter the temple, the annual gift from Qingzhou to the capital has been prepared this year, and the Qingzhou governor personally escorted it, preparing to go further to the capital. In accordance with the eldest prince's request, he did not hesitate to break taboos and mobilized 4,000 cavalry from the front line of Dengfeng Town to escort it, which clearly meant that failure would lead to death.
In the palace, Jiang He sat in the Chengyun main hall and understood the general structure of the entire Yong Palace.
In terms of management, the office is headed by the Chief Secretary's Office, which has a chief secretary of the fifth rank, and is under the jurisdiction of branch departments such as the Trial Office, Bookkeeping Office, Food Office, Good Doctor Office, and Engineering Office.
In terms of guards, while the princes were strictly prohibited from entering the capital without imperial edicts, they were not allowed to command troops personally. The Guard Command was reduced from a full strength of 16800 people in the previous dynasty to less than , and there were only ceremonial guards when traveling. They even needed to report to the court before leaving their counties.
It is worth mentioning that Commander Yan is the leader of the guards and holds the third rank. Of course, his actual power is far less than that of the seventh rank officials of the six ministries.
Jiang He sat alone in Chengyun Hall. Zhuang Ya was executing those officials in the royal palace who had accepted money from the Pei family. In theory, these officials were directly under the jurisdiction of the court, but the only chief secretary who was pardoned was an old friend of the Pei family. At this moment, he had no time to write a letter and was locked up in the dungeon.
Da da da!
A warhorse passed through the Duanli Gate. The rider was a burly man wearing shining silver armor with the Pei clan's Zhongyue emblem engraved on it. He saw Prince Yong from afar and shouted:
"Your Highness Prince Yong, the master of the family invites Your Highness to move to the hunting area outside Dongyang City."
Jiang He nodded. That meant there was room for discussion, but riding a horse past the Duanli Gate was very rude.
"killed."
A man in white flashed past the East Garden, and the Immortal Imperial Sword slashed vertically, killing the silver-armored knights and their horses. Zhuang Ya did not stop, she was just passing by, and there were still many targets to be cleared.
(End of this chapter)