novelSusiti Chapter 141 Zhao Guangyi, Go Explode!
Chapter 141 Zhao Guangyi, Go Explode!
Chapter 141 Zhao Guangyi, Go Explode! (Part 1)
Liao merchants?
Shi Zaixi thought for a moment, then suddenly realized what was happening and hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, you mustn't!"
The Liao merchant arrived in the capital two months ago, when the civil and military struggles in the court were at their most intense. After making some inquiries, the Liao merchant sent someone to knock on Zhao Guangyi's residence.
Zhao Guangyi initially wanted to avoid meeting the man, but under Shi Zaixi's persuasion, he met with him in private.
Through that man's words, it was learned that behind this Liao merchant was Xiao Siwen, the head of the Xiao clan of the Liao Kingdom.
The reason why they approached Zhao Guangyi was quite simple.
Firstly, they wanted all goods to be in Zhao Guangyi's hands, so as to facilitate trade, and promised Zhao Guangyi that he would receive 30% of the profits from the trade.
Secondly, it conveyed a message from Xiao Siwen: "If Your Majesty intends to become the heir apparent, Liao might be able to lend Your Majesty a helping hand!"
This is not a rare occurrence.
Since Shi Jingtang ceded Youyun, Zhang Yanzhe and the Northern Han both attempted to use the Liao dynasty's power to invade the Central Plains, ascend the throne, and become emperors of the Central Plains.
The Liao Dynasty also coveted the Central Plains, and Yelü Deguang even directly attacked Kaifeng, almost bringing the Central Plains into its territory.
It wasn't until Yelü Jing ascended the throne that the Liao Dynasty was in turmoil, and Yelü Jing himself was incompetent and tyrannical, so the Liao Dynasty temporarily took Ziguang back from the Central Plains.
It was at this time that Zhao Kuangyin established the Song Dynasty.
When the news reached the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, Xiao Siwen, who was in charge of Nanjing, felt uneasy. He knew that with Zhao Kuangyin's temperament and ability, a battle with him would happen sooner or later. After much deliberation, he immediately sent spies south to spy on the Song Dynasty.
Upon learning of the court intrigues, the astute Xiao Siwen immediately set his sights on Zhao Guangyi.
If there is internal turmoil in the Song Dynasty, Zhao Kuangyin will naturally have no time to attend to other matters; this was Xiao Siwen's thought.
Zhao Guangyi, who aspired to conquer the world, naturally did not agree to the Liao merchant's conditions. However, under Shi Zaixi's strong persuasion, he did not reveal the Liao merchant's identity.
"Your Majesty! We may not need the Liao Kingdom's assistance, but we must not offend them lightly!" Shi Zaixi immediately advised earnestly, "If things truly reach a point where nothing can be done, the Liao Kingdom might be a way out for Your Majesty!"
If the Liao merchants were exposed, wouldn't that completely kill any possibility of cooperation with the Liao Kingdom?
"It's impossible—it's impossible! It's already impossible!" Zhao Guangyi said grimly, "Tell me! If we don't use those Liao merchants to take the blame, then who will?!"
Upon hearing this, Shi Zaixi choked.
In this incident, neither Zhang Quhua nor Liu Rang are suitable candidates for sacrificing their own interests to survive.
To put it bluntly, they simply lack the ability to plan something like this.
"This matter is settled! No further discussion is needed!"
Zhao Guangyi rubbed his temples and said, "Also, tell Daoist Chen Tuan to rest for a few days and then go to the palace with Prince Fu Wei after he arrives in the capital."
After saying that, he looked at his wife, Madam Fu, beside him and asked in a deep voice, "When will my father-in-law arrive in the capital?"
"Father should be able to arrive tomorrow," Madam Fu said softly.
"Mother's days are numbered—after Father-in-law arrives in the capital, please remember to tell him what I told you before."
"Don't worry, my husband, I understand."
Zhao Guangyi's expression softened slightly. He gently hugged Fu Shi and then summoned servants to help him change into his court robes.
Having a scapegoat isn't enough; he needs to find a way to prove his innocence before his elder brother, the emperor.
"By the way, that physician—was his name Cheng Dexuan?" Zhao Guangyi suddenly brought up the matter while changing his clothes.
"Yes," Shi Zaixi replied quickly.
"Could this person be skilled in concocting poisons? The kind that kills without leaving a trace?" Zhao Guangyi asked, frowning.
Shi Zaixi's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly said, "Your Majesty, this man is well-versed in pharmacology. When I was chatting with him the other day, he mentioned that he had concocted a poison called 'Qianji Drug,' which is colorless and odorless."
After a moment's hesitation, Zhao Guangyi hardened his heart and said, "Use this medicine to find a way to poison Zhang Quhua and Liu Rang."
Having said that, he straightened his clothes, strode out of the mansion, and headed straight for the palace.
Inside the Chuigong Hall of the Imperial Palace, someone had arrived before him.
"Father!"
As soon as they entered the Chuigong Hall, before Zhao Kuangyin could even speak, Zhao Dezhao suddenly collapsed in front of him, tears streaming down his face. He looked up at his father with pleading eyes, his face streaked with tears, crying, "Father, save me!"
Zhao Kuangyin paused slightly as he was reviewing memorials, completely unprepared for Zhao Dezhao's sudden outburst.
"Save you?" Zhao Kuangyin glanced at the report handed over by the Military Affairs Department, but pretended to be puzzled: "Why do you say that, Zhao'er?"
""
"Father, you are unaware that rumors have recently spread in the capital, falsely accusing me of plotting to harm you through witchcraft. They also claim that I am immoral and should be made the heir apparent by the title of Marquis of Taiyuan."
Zhao Dezhao looked up, his eyes blurry with tears, "This is clearly someone deliberately trying to sow discord between me and Father Emperor!"
"Oh? Is that so?!" Zhao Kuangyin frowned, then suddenly changed the subject: "Didn't you spread this rumor?"
""
what?
Upon hearing this, Zhao Dezhao was shocked and almost couldn't keep up the act.
Both he and Zhao Pu underestimated Zhao Kuangyin!
"Isn't it you?" Zhao Kuangyin stared intently at him, his eyes sharp.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Dezhao raised his head, tears still glistening in his eyes, and met his father's gaze.
This single action softened Zhao Kuangyin's expression.
Having held a high position for a long time and killed countless people, he had seen too many people with ulterior motives. Such people all had one thing in common: they avoided eye contact and dared not meet his gaze.
The murderous aura emanating from him, honed through countless battles, was enough to frighten ordinary people, let alone those with guilty consciences.
Although Zhao Dezhao's eyes were filled with tears, they were also clear and bright.
This at least shows that the child has a good heart!
A twelve-year-old child doesn't yet have the ability to hide strange thoughts under one's own nose and look directly into one's eyes without fear.
"Father, it was indeed your son who released them."
This time, it was Zhao Kuangyin's turn to be stunned.
To be honest, he was just testing Zhao Dezhao, but he never expected Zhao Dezhao to give this answer.
He guessed that Zhao'er might deny it, or she might argue before admitting it, but he never expected that Zhao Dezhao would admit it so easily, so directly, and so generously!
In other words, Zhao Dezhao's tearful appearance just now was deliberately acted.
Zhao Kuangyin looked at his son expressionlessly: "Why is that?"
Zhao Dezhao knew that ever since Zhao Kuangyin asked that question, whether it was a test or he had obtained some evidence, he could no longer hide anything.
He dared not gamble.
If Zhao Kuangyin really did find out something through some channels, then lying now would be tantamount to courting death!
On the contrary, being honest with each other may have unexpected results.
Zhao Dezhao lowered his head, his voice suddenly dropping, carrying a hint of youthful fear: "Father, it's because I'm too scared."
The word "Father" softened Zhao Kuangyin's heart, but he still frowned and asked in confusion, "Are you afraid? Afraid of what?"
"Father, a few days ago Zhang Dejun sent me a letter saying that someone intends to harm me with witchcraft—"
Upon hearing Zhao Dezhao's words, Zhao Kuangyin's expression softened slightly.
"Although I have always acted uprightly, I am afraid that Father will be deceived by villains. That is why I thought of using rumors to let Father know that this matter was done by villains who wanted to ruin our relationship."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Kuangyin smiled, feigning displeasure, and said, "Do you perhaps think that I am the kind of person who cannot distinguish right from wrong—"
He stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence, and the smile on his face gradually faded.
Zhao Dezhao raised his head again, his expression calm and composed, meeting Zhao Kuangyin's gaze directly.
The father and son locked eyes, and an eerie silence instantly fell over the hall, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
After a moment, Zhao Kuangyin's low voice broke the silence: "This humble one did it—"
"You mean, the Zhang Quhua case was orchestrated by your third uncle?"
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