The twenty years of Yuanjing are destined to leave a mark in the annals of history. This year was originally peaceful and healthy for the country, but at the end of the year there was a bloody storm. Emperor Shengwu Xiao Yi almost ruined the continuation of the entire dynasty with his own efforts, which was called the "Yuanjing Palace Incident" by later generations.
Until a thousand years later, there was huge controversy over the "Yuanjing Palace Incident" both among officials and among the people. Whether it was an atrocity or a good policy when Emperor Wu killed his wife and children has been debated endlessly.
Some people praised Xiao Yi, saying that he was decisive in killing, and he was infamy for a lifetime, but he allowed the smooth transition of imperial power and extended the prosperous age for another fifty years; others scolded Xiao Yi, saying that he was ruthless and unkind, and even spared the flesh and blood of his closest relatives for the sake of imperial power. Some people say that he is narrow-minded and has no tolerance for others. When he saw that the prince was more handsome than him, he disfigured the prince...
As a result, Xiao Yi was dubbed the "Mad Emperor".
Compared with the 20th year of Yuanjing, the 22nd year of Zhengyuan appears to be particularly peaceful and smooth, just like countless ordinary years in the long history.
In Liyuan this year, the autumn hunt organized by Emperor Zhengyuan was in full swing. Although there was an undercurrent surging in private, it was still calm and harmonious on the surface.
"Your Majesty, our people are missing."
The subordinate officer Zhao Ling strode into the tent, walked up to Wei Zijian, and whispered.
Wei Zijian's face darkened: "What's going on?"
Zhao Ling continued: "Half an hour ago, the fourth lady of the Shen family returned to the camp, but the people we sent did not come back. My subordinates sent people into the mountains to search, but found nothing."
At this moment, an announcement suddenly came from outside the tent: "Deng Hua, the minister of Zhan in the East Palace, asks to see the eldest prince."
Wei Zijian suddenly smiled: "I came at the right time, just in time to have a look."
After saying that, Wei Zijian walked quickly to the door and said enthusiastically: "Mr. Deng, please come in quickly."
Hearty laughter rang out outside the tent, and the voice came before anyone arrived: "It's been two years, is the eldest prince okay?"
Wei Zijian smiled and welcomed Deng Hua into the tent, and then ordered someone to drink tea.
"Since His Highness the Crown Prince and Duke Deng left Dasu, I have been missing him very much. When I came to Kyoto this time, I should have visited the East Palace as soon as possible." Wei Zijian suddenly suppressed his smile and frowned, "But Kang Ning is not in good mood. So I took some time to enlighten her. I hope His Highness the Crown Prince can forgive me."
Deng Hua picked up the tea cup and took a sip. The curls of smoke hid the expression on his face, and he could only hear the smile in his words: "Where did the eldest prince come from? As for the relationship between Dong Palace and Da Su, how could the prince's palace talk about it?" Are you to blame for this?”
Then he sighed softly: "It's just that something happened recently, which damaged the princess' reputation. The eldest prince should enlighten her more."
"So, Prince Qing's Mansion still insists on breaking off the engagement?" Wei Zijian smiled slightly.
Deng Hua put down the tea cup and said: "Donggong is willing to always be the eldest prince's strongest ally. Why should the eldest prince insist on being friends with Qin and Jin?"
"How can I, the king, believe in the sincerity of the East Palace when even the marriage alliance can be given up so easily?" Wei Zijian was still smiling, but his eyes darkened.
"As time goes by, people's hearts are revealed." Deng Hua said with seriousness.
Wei Zijian picked up the tea cup, fiddled with the lid, and said slowly: "Kang Ning is spoiled by his mother, so he is naturally a little arrogant. It is reasonable for Prince Min not to like it. It's just that the princess of a country is allowed to be spoiled." People are openly insulted and ignored, which makes it difficult for people to want to see the 'human heart' in the future."
Hearing this, Deng Hua couldn't help but look a little more solemn. He understood what Wei Zijian meant.
Wei Zijian may not mind Wei Qian's annulment, but he will have to pay the price for bullying Wei Qian. But, that's Shen Yuan's daughter!
Wei Zijian naturally knew Shen Zhuo's identity, and this was what he really wanted to see sincerity: for the sake of Dasu, would the prince dare to tease the tiger's beard who was the chief minister of the dynasty.
Deng Hua was silent in his mind, is this sincerity? No, this is courting death.
Sure enough, when Deng Hua conveyed Wei Zijian's words to Xiao Tao, Xiao Tao only said contemptuously: "How dare a small and barbaric country dare to be compared with the chief minister of the Celestial Dynasty?"
"It's impossible for Gu to be at odds with Shen Yuan because of him. As for what he wants to think, let him alone."
Xiao Tao's reaction was both expected and unexpected by Wei Zijian. He was very disappointed with Xiao Tao.
At this time, an uninvited guest came to Wei Zijian's tent.
"I wonder what the reason for Second Master Shen's visit is?" Wei Zijian asked.
Shen Wei Shi Ran bowed and said: "While I was hunting, I accidentally picked up something in the mountains. I heard that it belongs to the eldest prince, so I came here specially to return it to its original owner."
As he spoke, he raised his voice to the outside of the tent: "Bring him in."
When Shen Wei said the words "Return the property to its original owner", Wei Zijian's eyelids jumped and he felt vaguely bad. Sure enough, Shen Wei's long entourage led a group of people into the tent, like three grasshoppers on a rope.
"Plop", "Plop", "Plop", Qingshan kicked everyone to the ground one by one.
"Second Young Master Shen, what are you doing?" Wei Zijian looked ugly.
Shen Wei narrowed his eyes slightly and said calmly: "The eldest prince knows what I am doing."
"Our Tiansheng dynasty has been a land of etiquette since ancient times. We pay attention to coming and going but not going back and forth, and we also believe that the laws of nature are clear and retribution is unsatisfactory."
"The eldest prince should also have read books and understood the principles. He should know that power is not as powerful as the laws of heaven. If he violates the laws of heaven, someone will do it for heaven."
"That's it for now, I'll take my leave."
After Shen Wei finished speaking, he bowed to Shi Ran and turned around to leave. Wei Zijian stared deeply at Shen Wei's back.
When Shen Wei walked to the door of the big tent, he suddenly paused. He turned around and said, "Oh, I forgot, there are some small things belonging to Princess Kangning here. I think I should return them as well."
As he spoke, he raised his chin towards Qingshan. Qingshan turned around and left the tent, and then brought in a group of people, also three. One boy and two girls, one older and one younger, with shabby clothes and sallow complexions, looking like refugees.
Wei Zijian didn't know these three people, but he could guess who they were. So he smiled and said, "Second Young Master Shen is really thoughtful."
"This time, I return the property to its original owner. If there is a next time, I will have to return it in full. I hope the eldest prince and princess will take care of themselves."
After Shen Wei finished speaking, he really left this time.
"Your Highness, what should we do with these people?" Zhao Ling pointed to the two groups of people tied up in the tent.
"Kill them all." Wei Zijian closed his eyes, not wanting to see more.
As soon as Wei Zijian finished speaking, Zhang Laoqi kept kowtowing vigorously and wailed: "Please, sir, don't kill me, don't kill me! I didn't say anything, I didn't do anything~~~ Sir, please ~~~"
Aunt Zhong also cried and cried: "Please, for the sake of our orphans and widowed mothers, please let us live~~~~ As long as you are willing to spare our lives, we will leave immediately, far away from Kyoto, never again I won’t come back. My little girl is only six years old, please be kind to me~~~~~"
"They are all very sharp-tongued. No wonder they are capable of deceiving people." Wei Zijian sneered disdainfully.
"If you can catch Shen Wei once, you can let him catch him a second time. If you are alive, you are the handle." Wei Zijian waved his hand casually and said to Zhao Ling, "Why don't you pull him out?"
Zhang Laoqi did not expect that what he bought for fifty taels of silver was not the good reputation of a young lady from a wealthy family, but his own life.
