Murong Xue put away her bow and arrows, asked Li Bing for instructions in a low voice, and then ordered Zhao Jing to summon his subordinates who were scattered in other places, asked all those hundreds of people to hand over their weapons, and ordered them to wait outside the village. Guarded by a group of monks.
After everything was settled, he led Zhao Jing into the village to meet Li Bing.
In the main hall of Xianxia Villa, Prince Li Bing sat in the middle. Master Xiahou Ninghan and Master Hui Dian sat on both sides. Zhao Jing knelt in the middle of the hall and confessed to everyone the whole story of the assassination of the prince.
Regarding this matter, Lao Jianhua had already planned a complete set of rhetoric to frame the King of Huaiyang, so what Zhao Jing revealed was logically rigorous and watertight.
No matter who sees it, this is a conspiracy to fight for the succession to the throne.
The King of Huaiyang, Li Kuang, used the spies placed next to the prince to learn about Li Bing's itinerary for the river sacrifice ceremony. After that, he secretly ordered Zhao Jing to lead his men to ambush Li Bing and his companions in advance and carry out a sneak attack.
Zhao Jingsha said in a serious manner that before he set off, he did not know that the target Li Kuang asked him to assassinate was actually the dignified Prince of the East Palace. When he finally knew the truth, the attack had already been launched, and it was hard to get back from the mistake. Out of fear of crime, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and continue the hunt. Fortunately, His Highness the Prince was magnanimous and granted everyone the grace of forgiveness. Only then did he repent and determined to abandon the dark side and turn to the bright side.
After listening to Zhao Jing's story, Li Bing was silent for a while, with mixed feelings in his heart, and he didn't know what to do.
Murong Xue learned from Zhao Jing that this assassination operation was just the personal ambition of King Huaiyang, and there was no sign that the imperial court was involved yet. She immediately felt relieved and couldn't help but said: "Zhao Jing, what you just said Can those things be testified in the Sanfa Division? Do you dare to confront the King of Huaiyang?"
Zhao Jing glanced at Li Bing and replied firmly: "Your Highness, Mr. Murong, Zhao has sinned so seriously that he dare not deceive him any more. Everything I said is true and can be used as a witness against Li Bing." Take it to court."
After hearing this, Li Bing, Murong Xue and Shan Tingxian exchanged glances with each other, and couldn't help but trust Zhao Jing a little more.
The three people immediately discussed and decided to set off for Bianzhou as soon as possible before it was too late. Firstly, this will not delay the ceremony of sacrificing the river; secondly, it can also meet up with Xie Guang and get the protection of Xuanjia Army.
After it was safe, the matter was reported to the imperial capital in writing and asked for the emperor's adjudication.
The hundreds of warrior killers from the Huaiyang Palace asked the monks to escort them to the Yanshi Palace and temporarily hand them over to the government soldiers to take them into custody.
In addition, Murong Xue asked the old monk Huidian to come out and lead twenty monk soldiers with the best martial arts, together with Zhao Jing, to follow them and protect the prince along the way.
Originally, Li Bing wanted to invite Xiahou Ninghan to Bianzhou to watch the ceremony, but the beautiful sect master said that she would wait for her father to return to the village and declined the prince's hospitality.
Seeing that he was about to say goodbye to Xiahou Ninghan, Li Bing suddenly felt reluctant to leave.
When Murong Xue and Shan Tingxian saw that the prince was reluctant to leave, they thought he had feelings for Xianxia Villa, a place of refuge, so they couldn't help but offer words of comfort. It's a pity that they didn't say it was okay, but when they did, they didn't make the point at all, which made Li Bing even more uncomfortable, and his eyes moistened unknowingly.
Xiahou Ninghan was smart and had already guessed where Li Bing's heart was. However, she had no affection for the Crown Prince, so she could only explain it softly: "Your Highness, my father often said: The affairs of the world are not as big as one reason." The word; no one in the world can escape the word fate. Ninghan believes that if we are destined, we will meet again. Your Highness shoulders the important responsibility of the country, and you should think of the people. I hope you can calm down the situation as soon as possible and restore the Holy Tang Dynasty. peaceful."
Li Bing also knew that love affairs should not be forced, and besides, he did have a heavy responsibility on his shoulders, and he must not be in love with his mother-in-law and his children. Otherwise, not to mention the loss to the country, Xiahou Ninghan would definitely look down on him.
Therefore, the prince gathered his mood and once again solemnly thanked the Feixian Sect for the rescue, and told Xiahou Ninghan that she must visit Luoyi with senior Xiahou Mei when she is free. When the time comes, he will welcome you and treat you wholeheartedly.
After saying goodbye, everyone got on their horses, left Xianxia Villa, and continued towards Bianzhou.
Due to Zhao Jing's defection, the enemy no longer had a strong threat, and with the strict protection of Songshan Zen Monastery, the journey was very peaceful. Within a few days, Li Bing and the others met Xie Guang, who came to look for everyone on the official road leading to Bianzhou.
It turned out that on the third day after Li Bing was attacked, the chamberlain in charge of the guard of honor for the rearguard received news that the chamberlain who was personally assigned by him and responsible for rushing to the front to deliver the official documents of the court to the prince every day actually went to the front line for two days in a row. His Highness could not be found.
Moreover, on a secluded mountain road, the men also found large traces of fighting and blood stains.
The head chamberlain was keenly aware that something bad was going on!
So, he hurriedly ordered Pegasus to catch up with the Thousand Xuanjia Army further ahead, and asked them to turn around and return quickly to look for the prince.
Unexpectedly, the two groups of people walked towards each other, and until they converged, there was still no sign of Li Bing.
This time the trouble is big.
General Xuan Jia and the chamberlain who led the team were trembling with fear. The two of them did not dare to make decisions easily and hurriedly settled in a nearby county. While continuing to search for the prince, they sent someone to quickly notify Taifu Xie who was waiting for the emperor in Bianzhou.
Xie Guang was also shocked when he received the news. You know, Li Bing is the most critical talisman to him. If the prince is lost, no matter how powerful the Xuanjia army is, it will not be able to fight against the imperial court.
He quickly ordered all the five thousand personal guards in his headquarters, and with Lao Jianhua, who was secretly snickering, they searched along the way.
Until today, the missing person team finally met the prince on the road who had been missing for many days.
As soon as Xie Guang saw Li Bing, he turned over and jumped off his horse when he was far away. He ran for dozens of steps and fell to his knees in front of Li Bing. He almost burst into tears: "Your Highness, forgive me! Your rescue came too late. Sin deserves death, sin deserves death!"
Li Bing, who had been in crisis, felt an inexplicable feeling of closeness in his heart when he saw Xie Guang. He quickly dismounted, helped Xie Guang up with both hands, and said with an emotional expression: "Master, please get up quickly. This time, I acted willfully and caused trouble, and made the master frightened. I really can't help it."
Xie Guang's eyes were filled with tears and he didn't even dare to say it. Then he supported Li Bing with half support and half frame, stood up and said: "After I left Bianzhou, I searched for His Highness all the way. On the way, I got a report from Pegasus that there were two people from Songshan Zen Temple. The eminent monk came to deliver a message, informing His Highness how he was assassinated and escaped, and that he was on his way to Bianzhou under the protection of the monks. I did not dare to delay, so I estimated your approximate location and came to greet you."
Li Bing nodded, briefly told Xie Guang his past experiences, and then introduced Hui Dian and other monks to him.
Xie Guang was sincerely grateful to the monks for their help in rescuing Prince Long. At the same time, because he respected the reputation of the demon-suppressing mad monk in the world, he was naturally grateful and forced Hui Dian and others not to leave. They must attend the river ceremony. Attend the ceremony as a distinguished guest.
Huidian was originally the kind of person who loved to join in the fun, so she happily agreed without hesitation.
After everyone was noisy and polite, Lao Jianhua, who was standing aside, suddenly said: "Your Highness, Master Taifu, I have a question in my mind. I don't know whether I should talk about it or not?"
Li Bing was a little confused: "Lao Aiqing, if you have anything to say, please say it directly. Why are you so indifferent?"
Lao Jianhua looked around at everyone and said leisurely: "According to the witness Zhao Jing, King Li Kuang of Huaiyang was behind the attack on His Highness. As far as I know, Li Kuang was already on his way to the river sacrifice ceremony. On the way, I believe it won’t be long before we see him in Bianzhou. By then, what method and attitude should the East Palace use to face the King of Huaiyang?"
Hearing this, Li Bing couldn't help but be slightly startled. Although he had considered this matter before, he had not yet had any clear idea, so he did not know how to answer Lao Jianhua's question.
Xie Guang said solemnly: "Your Highness, don't worry. As long as I am here, I will never let that ambitious guy go easily. I must make King Huaiyang pay a heavy price and seek justice for His Highness! If Li Kuang is allowed to come and go freely , if there is a chance to return to the imperial capital safely, then under the wanton protection of some people, I am afraid that he will not be able to punish him even for the crime of treason in the future! Your Highness, when it comes to last resort, even if I come to force, I must keep Li Kuang! "
Murong Xue was startled when she heard this. Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly saw Li Bingzheng secretly hinting at him with his eyes: Don't say anything yet.
In an instant, Murong Xue understood that the prince was protecting him, lest Xie Guang take the opportunity to make things difficult for him because he spoke out against the King of Huaiyang in retaliation.
Thinking of this, Murong Xue swallowed back the words that were already on her lips.
At the same time, he also knew very well that Xie Guang's aggressive statement was largely just a way to vent his emotions and express his loyalty. Without the emperor's edict and the official documents of Shangshu Province and Sanfasi, detaining and attacking the princes of the royal family without authorization is no different from direct rebellion.
Although Xie Guang was a rude military commander, he was by no means the kind of reckless and impulsive man who had no regard for the overall situation.
And he was not the only one who had the same idea as Murong Xue.
Most of the officials present, including Li Bing, believed that Taifu Xie's statement was just talk. The assassination can only be reported to Emperor Ming first and asked to be investigated by the imperial capital. Before the final conclusion, no one can do anything to King Huaiyang.
It is conceivable that at the upcoming river sacrifice ceremony in Bianzhou, the East Palace and the Huaiyang Palace will inevitably have to give in.
Unfortunately, the development of history is often full of unpredictable drama.
No one expected that just ten days later, what they welcomed in Bianzhou was not the handsome and charming King Huaiyang, but His Highness Li Kuang, who was killed in an attack and his body was missing.
