It's daybreak and it's time to hit the road.
Wang Jian rode at the front. Today was the day to send Xiang Liang to Xianyang City, but Wang Jian always felt that today was also the day to send himself to prison.
Along the way, Wang Jian was thinking about how to kill Xiang Liang. As long as Xiang Liang died, there would be no evidence and he would still have room for maneuver. However, Xiang Liang was still alive, which was very embarrassing.
But the good thing is that Xiang Liang doesn't want to live. If he lives, he will be tortured, so it is better to die.
As for whether Xiang Liang would tell himself, Wang Jian felt that he would not. As long as he lives, there will be discord between the emperor and his ministers in the court. As a rebel, Xiang Liang hopes to see this situation. If you die, you have one less opportunity to cause chaos.
In this contemplation, Wang Jian entered Xianyang City unknowingly.
Suddenly, someone grabbed his horse. Wang Jian was stunned for a moment, then came back to his senses and found Li Shui and Li Xin standing in front of him with smiles on their faces.
Wang Jian was in a bad mood.
Li Shui said with a smile: "General Wang, you are finally back. Xiaoxian is really looking forward to it."
Wang Jian said nothing. He felt that Li Shui's smile was getting more and more mean. Wang Jian felt a little itchy in his heart and wanted to punch Li Shui in the face.
But he held back, he had no choice but who could make him educated? If a dog bites a person, the person can't bite the dog again, right?
Wang Jian said calmly: "Please give way to the banished immortal. I want to enter the palace to see your majesty."
Li Shui said with a smile: "I'll delay the old general for a quarter of an hour, just a quarter of an hour. May I ask where Xiang Liang is?"
Wang Jian pointed behind him casually.
Li Shui and Li Xin immediately left happily. Wang Jian noticed that there were four servants behind these two people, carrying a copper box.
The more Wang Jian looked at these people, the more strange he felt, so he simply got off his horse and walked towards the back.
Li Shui had already arrived in front of Xiang Liang, looked him up and down for a while, and said: "So this is Xiang Liang who is famous all over the world. It is better to meet him and admire him for a long time."
Xiang Liang said calmly: "Huai Guzi, why do you need to be so pretentious? You are the spy I sent to Xianyang City, why don't you recognize me?"
Li Shui sneered.
The people around him weren't too surprised. After all, there had been such rumors for a long time, and they had caused quite a stir. But Li Shui had already explained it clearly, so no one believed him.
Li Xin had already ordered someone to put the box down, and then said to Xiang Liang, "We gave this to you specially."
Li Shui said: "Yes, it took countless skilled craftsmen in Shangjun's courtyard several days to make it. This thing is called the Golden House."
Xiang Liang glanced at the copper box and said nothing.
Li Shui chuckled: "Of course, this golden house is just for good taste, it's actually made of brass."
Then, Li Shui waved his hand, and the servants opened the box. Everyone looked around and saw a chair inside the box.
The servant carried Xiang Liang to the chair again. After he sat down, several straps tied his chest and abdomen tightly.
At this time, Xiang Liang could no longer move. But this was not over yet. The servants tinkered with the box, and two holes appeared in the front of the box, just enough for Xiang Liang to get his feet out. Then, the chains were locked between the two ankles, and the feet could never go back.
The two hands did the same thing.
Finally, there's the head.
Now Xiang Liang seemed to be performing a magic trick and was locked into a box by the magician, leaving only his hands, feet and head exposed.
Xiang Liang understood immediately, and he gave a wry smile: "Huaiguzi, you have gone to great lengths to prevent me from committing suicide."
Li Shui smiled: "God has the virtue of good life, and I have a kind heart."
After finishing speaking, Li Shui turned around and said to Wang Jian with a smile: "Old General Wang, I won't delay you anymore. Let's go to the palace immediately to ask for the reward."
Wang Jian said nothing, turned around and mounted his horse.
Li Shui took two steps, suddenly remembered something, and said to Li Ji: "I heard people say that you can kill yourself by biting your tongue. Some people say this is true, and some people say it is false. There are different opinions, and there is no consensus. However, Regardless of whether it’s true or false, I’d rather believe it exists than believe it doesn’t exist…”
Li remembered, found a piece of rag, and stuffed it into Xiang Liang's mouth.
Li Shui said helplessly: "If you block his mouth, how will he eat? It would be too cruel to starve him to death."
Li Ji scratched his head: "The meaning of banishing immortals is..."
Li Shui looked earnest and seductive: "Can you use your brain to think about it?"
Li Ji touched his chin and thought for a long time: "Cut off the teeth?"
Li Shui covered his mouth and said, "Nephew, you are so cruel. But... the lesser of two evils is better than starving him to death, right?"
Li Xin, who was next to him, said quietly: "Brother Huai, you are so kind."
Li Shui said modestly: "Brother Li, thank you very much."
Xiang Liang looked at Li Shui, his eyes full of resentment. But the light didn't last long. Li Ji took out a sharp dagger and stirred it in his mouth.
Li Shui covered his ears and walked away quickly.
…………
In the palace, Ying Zheng was waiting for Wang Jian in the political hall.
From Wang Jian down, all generals, big and small, followed him into the palace.
After Wang Jian entered the political hall, he steeled himself and told the story of how he defeated the thief. These rhetorics were drafted in advance, so there were no loopholes.
As for Wang Heng's whereabouts, Wang Jian had already thought about it, claiming that he stayed in Chu to help organize household registration and maintain stability.
Ying Zheng nodded lightly, and there was no indication of satisfaction or dissatisfaction from his expression.
He looked at the generals and said calmly: "You have fought against thieves for thousands of miles, and your hard work has made great achievements. You should be rewarded."
Then, a young eunuch came over and began to read out a list. Starting from Wang Jian, some were rewarded with thousands of gold, some were rewarded with hundreds of gold...
Wang Jian followed everyone to salute and thank him like a zombie. Now all he could think about was how to kill Xiang Liang.
It is getting harder and harder to kill Xiang Liang now. He is locked in that copper shell. Unless he hits the head, otherwise... sigh.
Wang Jian turned his head and looked at Li Shui, who was not far away, and thought: If he can't kill Xiang Liang, he might as well kill Huaiguzi. Anyway, I want to kill someone.
After Ying Zheng finished the rewards, he ordered a banquet for all the ministers in the palace.
Afterwards, the emperor and his ministers moved to a large hall. The important civil servants and military generals were having a banquet in the hall, while those with lower official positions simply lined up outside the palace gate.
On this day, the palace was very lively, as if it was a festival.
When the banquet was almost over, Li Shui looked at Wu Jiao in the corner, Wu Jiao understood, turned around and left.
After a while, a person dressed as a palace maid came up crying, knelt down in the main hall, and said with great sadness: "A common girl has suffered an unparalleled injustice. I beg Your Majesty to make the decision."
Ying Zheng asked: "Who are you?"
The palace maid said: "Folk girl Song E."
Li Shui was a little helpless at the side: His Majesty's acting skills are so bad. With this nonchalant appearance, who wouldn’t know that it was arranged in advance?
But after thinking about it, Li Shui understood again. He is an emperor, does he need to act? I’ll tell you clearly that something is going on here, so what can you do?
Thinking of this, Li Shui felt a little envious and couldn't help but say: "That's what a real man should be."
Li Xin said from the side: "Brother Huai, your idea is a bit dangerous."
Li Shui glared: "What was I thinking?"
Li Xin smiled and said with a sly look: "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone about this. In the dead of night, who doesn't have some weird ideas? But they just think about it, and they won't actually do it."
Li Shui patted Li Xin on the shoulder: "Brother Li, since arriving in Great Qin, I have found that everyone is serious, but you are very real and don't pretend."
Li Xin coughed dryly: "Brother Huai, thank you very much. In fact, I am serious in front of gentlemen."
Li Shui nodded and started drinking and eating again. After a while, he suddenly came back to his senses: Was I scolded just now?
…………
While Li Shui and Li Xin were chatting, Song E had already told the whole story in tears.
The civil and military officials present were more and more shocked as they listened: What? Wang Jian colluded with Xiang Liang? What? Wang Jian has been capitalizing on the enemy?
Many people looked at Wang Jian. Some people even started to get scared. A few days ago, they visited Wang Jian with gifts, so they wouldn't be implicated, right?
Fortunately, Wang Ben did not open the door at that time, so even if he was implicated, his life would not be lost.
They didn't see Wang Ben that day, and they were filled with resentment. Now, they almost regard Wang Ben as their savior.
Wang Jian sat in his seat, sighing secretly in his heart: Song Liu actually had a daughter, and she actually came to Xianyang City? Unexpectedly, His Majesty actually took action during the celebration banquet. Are you so eager to kill me?
He was filled with emotion in his heart, but he didn't show any panic on the surface, and even poured himself a glass of wine steadily.
After Song E finished speaking, Ying Zheng looked at Wang Jian: "General Wang, is what this person said true?"
Wang Jian stood up, cupped his hands and said, "This person is making a completely false accusation. I suspect that this person was ordered by the banished immortal."
A courtier named Zou Gou stood up, saluted Ying Zheng, and then said: "Your Majesty, all the ministers are having a banquet today. Why did a palace maid come to complain? This palace maid is originally from Chu, and how did she enter the palace? ?I think there is something fishy about this matter."
Zou Gou is not a fool, and he did not stand up to seek justice and restore Wang Jian's innocence, but he has always been on good terms with Wang Jian.
Not only were the two families married, but he himself was recommended to the court by Wang Jian. If Wang Jian falls, his future will be ruined.
More importantly, Zou Gou didn't believe that Wang Jian had such courage and would secretly fund Xiang Liang and let him rebel.
Li Shui stood up helplessly and said to Zou Gou: "Master Gou, this Song E was indeed brought to the palace by me."
When Zou Gou heard this, he suddenly became energetic: "So, today the palace maid came to complain, and it was also arranged by the banished immortal in advance? General Wang has just returned in triumph, will the banished immortal make a plan to kill the hero? How will the people of the world view Your Majesty if you act like this? What kind of situation do you want to put our Great Qin court?"
Zou Gou skillfully gave Li Shui a big hat first.
Li Shui looked at Zou Gou with a smile: "So, Master Gou wants to protect Wang Jian? Does he want to advance and retreat with him?"
Zou Gou said: "I am just discussing the matter. I believe in the character of General Wang. In addition, my surname is Zou."
He is not stupid, and he is not in a position to advance and retreat with Wang Jian. For this kind of thing, just support it, there is no need to really risk your life.
Li Shui said calmly: "Master Zou doesn't have any evidence, so he just makes random suspicions. Being an official like this may bring disaster to the country and the people."
Zou Gou stared and asked, "What? Is there any evidence to banish the immortal?"
Li Shui smiled: "A little bit."
According to the plan, it was time for Li Ji to come on stage, but Li Ji didn't react at all. Li Shui glanced over there in confusion and found Li Ji eating happily.
Li Shui was a little helpless: "This is a loser."
He walked quickly to Li Ji, grabbed his clothes, and lifted him up.
Li Ji had no choice but to swallow the meat in his mouth, and then said in an embarrassed tone: "Your Majesty, I found Song Liu in Chu. Now he is waiting outside the palace."
Wang Jian's heart sank slightly: "Song Liu is still alive?"
Song E's face was full of tears and she looked at Li Ji gratefully.
Ying Zheng nodded, and immediately a young eunuch ran out to deliver the order.
After a short time, Song Liu's family was brought up.
Later, Song Liu began to tell how they met Wang Jian and Xiang Liang's people conspiring in Songjia Village, and how Wang Jian later wanted them everywhere.
Li Ji did a good job and even brought the wanted notice.
Immediately afterwards, Liu Wei and Liu Feng also stood up and told how their camp was attacked...
Then Zhao Tuo and Wu Gang used their own experiences as evidence.
There was also Li Ji's servant Li Bing, who told all about the contacts between Wang and Xiang Liang's people.
The evidence provided by these people was intertwined and almost convicted Wang Jian.
Wang Jian was completely desperate, but when people are dying, they always want to struggle. Knowing that there is no hope, Wang Jian still gritted his teeth and said: "They have all been bribed by the banished immortals."
This kind of rebuttal is bordering on rogue.
But at this time, a young eunuch came in and said, "Your Majesty, Xiang Liang has confessed. Here is the confession."
Wang Jian was stunned: "So fast?"
Li Shui smiled: "This torture, how can a normal person endure it? Especially Xiang Liang, who has been pampered since he was a child. Do you really think he can endure the physical pain?"
Ying Zheng looked at Wang Jian and asked coldly: "What else do you have to say?"
When Ying Zheng knew that Wang Jian and Xiang Liang were colluding, he was extremely angry. But now, the most angry stage has passed. His tone is calm, but the murderous intention in it has not diminished.
Wang Jian suddenly sighed and said: "I have been a general of Qin for generations. I have fought in my life and captured countless cities for Qin..."
Wang Jian said this not to beg for his life, but to keep his body intact. If you are lucky, you can save the Wang clan.
Unexpectedly, Zou Gou suddenly jumped over and slapped Wang Jian in the face: "Isn't it natural for a minister to fight for the monarch? What kind of credit are you asking for here? Wang Jian, I used to look at you very well. You are loyal and honest, but I didn’t expect you to harbor evil intentions and deceive everyone in the world. It’s really shameful and terrible!”
Li Shui was stunned when he saw it: This man...has a future.
