The emperor also quickly received the news that the Yuan family's legitimate son and second legitimate son had died one after another, and the news he received was much more detailed than that of He Lianfang.
Sun Kui saw that after the emperor read the secret message sent by the secret guard, his expression suddenly became cold and terrifying, and his whole body exuded a terrifying aura. He was so frightened that his heart tightened, and he quickly lowered his head and breathed softly.
"What a great skill." The emperor's tone was very cold, "I really underestimated them."
Who did you underestimate? Who made the emperor so angry?
Sun Kui had a series of questions in his mind, but he did not dare to ask.
The emperor looked at the dark guard armor and asked, "Have they found that thing?"
The secret guard replied respectfully: "No."
The fingers of the emperor's right hand tapped lightly on the royal table, with a thoughtful expression on his face. After a moment, he asked again: "Did they find anything?"
"They sent people to Shu before and got some news in Shu." Dark Guard Jia reported truthfully to the emperor, "They learned that Han Zhong originally heard about the treasure map of the Pei family from an eunuch."
The emperor knew about the rumor that the Pei family had a treasure map.
The treasure map rumor is not entirely false, but the fact that there is a treasure is certainly false. The emperor guessed that the treasure map of the Pei family contained not gold and silver jewelry, but that thing.
The emperor motioned to the secret guard to continue.
"The eunuch heard about the treasure map when he was in the palace, but he didn't know where the treasure map was or what treasure it was hiding." The secret guard continued to report, "As for the whereabouts of the treasure map, Han Zhong was never found, and they didn't find it either. They went to the Pei family's deserted house to look for it, but couldn't find it. They went to the Pei family's hometown again, and even dug the Pei family's ancestral graves but couldn't find it."
Dong dong dong... The sound of the emperor's fingers tapping on the imperial table echoed in the quiet imperial study room.
When Sun Kui heard this, his heart couldn't help but beat with the sound of knocking on the table.
Treasure Map? That thing? Pei family?
Why does the emperor's matter still involve the Pei family of the previous dynasty? Could it be that the Pei family was raided and executed because of the treasure map?
The secret guard stopped talking and quietly waited for the emperor's next words.
The emperor thought for a while and then asked: "Is there any news or rumors about treasure maps in the Western Regions or the Huns?"
The secret guard understood what the emperor meant, thought for a while, and said, "No."
The emperor ordered: "Pay attention to the news in this area. As long as you hear rumors about treasure maps or treasures, go and inquire and investigate." He emphasized specifically, "Even if it is just a rumor, I will not let anyone go."
The secret guard said respectfully: "Yes, Your Majesty."
The emperor didn't know what he thought of, but his brows suddenly frowned, with a look of disgust on his face.
"Keep an eye on those people."
"Yes." The dark guard hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Your Majesty, are you just staring?"
"Keep an eye on them. No matter what they do, don't interfere." The emperor warned with a cold face, "Don't alert the snake." The emperor has been sending secret guards to keep an eye on those people, in order to learn about that thing through them. end.
"Your Majesty, the person in charge of the house and His Highness Tenth Prince have also learned about this matter." Secret Guard Jiahui reported, "His Royal Highness Tenth Prince and the others are also keeping an eye on those people."
When the emperor heard this, his originally cold face immediately showed a smile.
Sun Kui immediately felt that the breathless majesty that had been permeating the imperial study just now dissipated.
"It's not surprising that Lao He and Xiao Shi were staring at those people." With Lao He's method, it was not surprising to find those people.
"Those people noticed His Highness Tenth Prince and his people, and have been secretly investigating His Highness Tenth Highness's people." Secret Guard A said, "However, our people interfered with those people, so that they could not find out that it was His Highness Tenth Highness and the others."
The emperor praised: "Well done."
The secret guard Jia reported other things to the emperor, and Sun Kui, who was standing aside, was frightened. He wanted to run out and pretend he didn't hear anything.
These confidential matters were not something that a eunuch like him could hear.
"Your Majesty, what should we do with the people hiding around His Highness King Chen?" Secret Guard A asked, "If we don't deal with them, His Highness King Chen may be in danger."
Those people were going to kill King Chen, and the emperor had already expected it.
"Don't worry about them."
Sun Kui, who was standing aside, heard the emperor say this and suddenly raised his head to look at the emperor in shock. He saw that the emperor's face was devoid of any emotion, and his tone did not fluctuate at all, as if he had just said an understatement.
Your Majesty... He actually doesn't care about the life or death of His Highness Prince Chen! ! !
That was His Highness Prince Chen, the biological son of the Emperor. The Emperor actually... didn't care about His Highness Prince Chen's safety!
The secret guard was not as frightened as Sun Kui. He still said without any disturbance on his face: "Yes."
The emperor asked again: "Is there anything else?"
The secret guard said: "No more, I will retreat." After saying that, he retreated.
The emperor continued to review the memorial.
Sun Kui hesitated for a moment, then quietly exited the imperial study.
As soon as Sun Doudou saw his master come out, he took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead and face.
"Master, are you so hot?" Seeing that the sweat on Sun Kui's neck had soaked his collar, Sun Doudou felt very strange. After all, it was not very hot today. He hurriedly went to bring Sun Kui a cup of tea, "Master, let's have a cup of tea first."
When Sun Kui grabbed the tea cup, his hands were shaking, so much that he almost dropped the tea cup in his hand to the ground. Fortunately, Sun Doudou caught it in time.
Sun Doudou saw that his master's hands were shaking violently, and then he realized that the sweat on his master's face and neck was cold sweat, not caused by heat. The master's expression was obviously normal, but his hands were... What happened in the study room just now made the master so scared.
He took the tea cup and fed it to Sun Kui's mouth.
"Master, have a sip of tea."
Sun Kui lowered his head and drank tea hurriedly. After the cup of tea bottomed out, the fear and panic in Sun Kui's heart decreased a lot, and his hands were no longer shaking as much as before.
Sun Doudou raised his hand and patted Sun Kui's back gently, and asked with concern: "Master, are you okay?"
Sun Kui quickly took out a small white porcelain bottle from his sleeve, poured out a few pills, lowered his head and drank them all.
It was the first time that Sun Doudou saw his master losing his composure. He was curious and uneasy. What happened just now that scared his master so much that he took Jingxin Pills?
After taking a few Jingxin pills, Sun Kui's heart immediately calmed down and his hands stopped shaking.
He let out a long sigh of relief. He was really scared to death just now.
"Master, are you okay?" Sun Doudou knew that it must be extraordinary to scare his master into this state, and it was not something they should know, so he did not ask curiously what happened.
"It's okay." Sun Kui felt the coldness on his back and told Sun Doudou, "I'll go change my clothes. Just keep an eye on me."
"Master, don't worry."
Sun Kui hurriedly went back and changed out of his clothes that were soaked in cold sweat just now. Just for a short while, Sun Kui's inner clothes were soaked with cold sweat.
After changing into clean clothes, Sun Kui hurriedly went to the imperial tea room to make tea for the emperor.
Because he had taken Jingxin Pills, Sun Kui didn't have any fear in his heart, and returned to the imperial study with tea as usual.
"Your Majesty, please take a sip of tea and rest."
Upon hearing this, the emperor put down the memorial in his hand and took the tea cup from Sun Kui's hand.
After drinking the tea, he handed the tea cup to Sun Kui, took a deep look at Sun Kui, and then mocked: "Come on."
Sun Kui knew that the emperor had noticed that he had changed his clothes. Although the clothes he was wearing now were exactly the same as before, the Emperor's dragon eyes were sharp and could not be hidden from him.
He smiled apologetically and said bitterly: "Your Majesty, this servant is timid and can't help but be scared." Fortunately, he was smart and had always prepared calming pills for himself, otherwise he would have been scared to death just now.
"If you're afraid, just take a few more Jingxin Pills." The emperor knew that Sun Kui had the habit of taking Jingxin Pills.
"My slave has already eaten." Otherwise, he wouldn't be so calm now.
"Okay, let's go and guard outside." The emperor did not embarrass Sun Kui.
"Then slave girl, go and guard outside. If you have any orders, just call me slave girl." Sun Kui quickly exited the imperial study room and ran to the door to guard the door with his apprentice.
After a while, Li Pushe came over and wanted to see the emperor. Sun Kui hurriedly went in and reported to the emperor.
The emperor asked Sun Kui to bring Li Pushe in, but Sun Kui immediately withdrew.
Li Pushe came to see the emperor because Mr. Meng was about to leave the capital. He has been coming to the capital to give lectures for some time. In a few days, the lectures will be over and he will go to Liangzhou to give lectures.
Mr. Meng sent Li Pushe into the palace to request for him. The old man wanted to meet Zhao Yao quietly before leaving the capital and have a good chat with Zhao Yao.
The emperor was not surprised at all by Mr. Meng's strange request, as if he had expected that Mr. Meng would do this. He asked Li Pushe to tell Mr. Meng that he would let him see Zhao Yao secretly.
One night a few days later, Zhao Yao appeared in Mr. Meng's study.
Thinking of the mysterious appearance of this journey, Zhao Yao couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth. Is he shady, or something happened, he was actually... Thinking of what happened on the way to Taixue, Zhao Yao was at a loss for words.
Mr. Meng first apologized to Zhao Yao because he wanted to see him, but he knew that Zhao Yao did not want to be noticed by others, so he could only see him secretly.
Zhao Yao was surprised how Mr. Meng knew about this.
Mr. Meng did not answer his question directly, but told him that his purpose in coming to the capital to give lectures was to meet him.
Zhao Yao was shocked when he heard what Mr. Meng said about the purpose of his coming to the capital to give lectures. He couldn't believe that part of the reason why Mr. Meng came to the capital to give lectures was because of him. How virtuous and capable is he? !
Puzzled and puzzled, he asked Mr. Meng why he wanted to see him.
Mr. Meng said that he had benefited the people, just like what he said when they first met. Of course, Mr. Meng also said that he heard that Zhao Yao was not favored and was afraid that the talented Tenth Highness would be bullied, so he came to the capital to see him.
After Zhao Yao heard Mr. Meng's true reason for meeting him, he was shocked, moved and honored.
He quickly stood up and gave a big salute to Mr. Meng, thanking Mr. Meng for taking such trouble for him.
Mr. Meng hurriedly helped Zhao Yao up and then apologized to Zhao Yao. Because he seemed to have caused some trouble for him when he saw him before.
Zhao Yao saw the remorseful and guilty expression on Mr. Meng's face, and hurriedly comforted him: "You are too worried, I am fine."
"Are you really okay?" Mr. Meng still felt uneasy.
"It's okay, don't you think I'm doing well?" Zhao Yao smiled and said to Mr. Meng, "The royal brothers and ministers didn't look at me with admiration just because you saw me. In their eyes, I'm still a stranger. The favored prince." His disguise was unexpectedly seen through by Mr. Meng. Alas, smart people are poisonous to the eyes.
Hearing what Zhao Yao said, Mr. Meng felt relieved, but at the same time he felt sorry for Zhao Yao and felt that Zhao Yao was unjust.
"Your Highness, before coming to the capital, I wanted to accept you as my disciple, so that you would be valued by the emperor in the future, and you would not be bullied or have your talents buried. I also thought about taking you away and letting you follow me. Be there and do what you want. But I know now that you don't need me to do that."
"Why are you so nice to me?" Because he did those things?
"Your Highness, you are a very talented person. The things you have made not only benefit the people of Zhou Dynasty, but also benefit future generations." Mr. Meng looked very serious, "Before I came to the capital, I was worried Your talents will be buried and you will no longer be able to make things that benefit the people."
Zhao Yao was a little embarrassed by what Mr. Meng said. He scratched his face and said, "I just did what I should do. It's not as great as you said."
Seeing that Zhao Yao didn't realize it, Mr. Meng suddenly understood why the emperor pretended not to favor him.
"Your Highness, I wonder if I can help you in any way?" Since His Highness doesn't think what he has made is great, there is no need for him to emphasize it again.
Zhao Yao was stunned when he was suddenly asked by Mr. Meng. He thought for a while and said, "Do you have a lot of books with labels on them?"
Mr. Meng didn't seem surprised by Zhao Yao's question. He smiled kindly and said, "I carefully mark each of my books."
When Zhao Yao heard this, his eyes suddenly lit up.
"Can you please print these books?"
"Your Highness, you want my book?" Mr. Meng asked, "May I know why you want my book?"
Zhao Yao said very frankly: "I want to take it to my fief in the future and read your book to the people in my fief."
Hearing Zhao Yao's answer, Mr. Meng was both surprised and expected.
"I know the book you marked is worth thousands of gold. If you are reluctant to part with it..."
Mr. Meng interrupted Zhao Yao's words and said with a smile: "I am not reluctant. I originally planned to give my book to the court. Since you want it, Your Highness, I will have it printed."
"Thank you so much." Zhao Yao stood up again and saluted Mr. Meng.
Mr. Meng helped Zhao Yao up again and said with a kind face: "Your Highness, there is no need to be so polite."
Next, Mr. Meng chatted with Zhao Yao about some folk affairs. He talked about what he saw, discovered, and worried about. He didn't mention these things when he chatted with the emperor before.
Zhao Yao listened very carefully and memorized it by heart.
Mr. Meng smiled happily when he saw that Zhao Yao listened attentively.
An old man and a young man chatted about people's livelihood matters, and the conversation was very speculative.
Mr. Meng did not chat with Zhao Yao for too long. Before Zhao Yao left, he gave Zhao Yao a sundial jade pendant. Everyone who knows Mr. Meng has seen this jade pendant. If Zhao Yao needs help in the future, he can take out this jade pendant and ask for help. Anyone who has seen and recognized this jade pendant will help him.
Zhao Yao was well aware of the importance of this sundial jade pendant and refused to take it. However, Mr. Meng forced it on him and he had no choice but to accept it.
Mr. Meng didn't say anything more, because he knew that Zhao Yao would not have anything happen to him as he feared.
After Zhao Yao left, the emperor appeared in Mr. Meng's study.
"Are you so optimistic about Xiao Shi?" Obviously, the emperor had already learned that Mr. Meng gave Zhao Yao a sundial jade pendant.
Mr. Meng said meaningfully: "Same as you."
When the emperor heard this, he chuckled, and then he asked: "Did you see anything when you first saw Xiao Shi?"
Mr. Meng said loudly: "A peaceful and prosperous age!"
The emperor thought to himself: It is indeed so!
When Mr. Meng saw the emperor's indifferent expression, he knew that the emperor might have already known about this matter.
"It seems that Your Majesty is aware of this."
"An old Taoist priest told me." The emperor told Mr. Meng what the old Taoist priest had said to him.
Mr. Meng agreed very much with what the old Taoist said.
The emperor did not chat with Mr. Meng for long and returned to the palace soon. However, before leaving, he asked Li Pushe to help him print books for Mr. Meng.
Mr. Meng planned to print the contents of his lectures during this period into a book before he left, and then give it to the students. This is a great thing for students in Beijing.
Before Mr. Meng left the capital, news of the murder of the Yuan family's eldest son and second son reached the capital. Sure enough, as Zhao Yao expected, it caused a storm in the capital. Of course, it also caused an uproar in the court.
Two outstanding legitimate sons died in a row, which was a huge blow to the Marquis of Jingyang. After the Marquis of Jingyang received the news that his eldest son was also killed in the Western Region, he fainted. When he woke up from the coma, he fell ill. Fortunately, he did not have a stroke and paralysis, otherwise the consequences would be disastrous. However, his illness made things worse for the Yuan family.
Regarding the death of the two legitimate sons, the Yuan family could not ask the emperor to help investigate. They could only announce to the outside world that their two legitimate sons died at the hands of bandits in the Western Region.
If they ask the emperor to investigate, their family's collusion with King Youxian of the Xiongnu will be found out, and then the Yuan family will be executed.
The Duke of Zhenguo, the Wang family, and the Xun family all felt that there was something fishy about the death of the two legitimate sons of the Yuan family. They could not simply die at the hands of bandits from the Western Regions. However, if this is not the case, then what is the real cause of death of the two legitimate sons of the Yuan family, and why is the Yuan family unwilling to accept the emperor's arrangement.
Could it be that the death of the two legitimate sons of the Yuan family was related to the emperor?
It's unlikely, after all, it's not the Yuan family's turn for the time being.
Because the Yuan family is not worthy of the emperor being the first to have surgery.
The death of the two legitimate sons of the Yuan family made other aristocratic families in the capital begin to panic and fear.
It's getting colder today. Guys, please take precautions against heatstroke.
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(End of chapter)
