Chapter 46 - 2#

Rong Jiu held Jingzhe’s fingers with his backhand and sighed: “Why so silly, what if I lie to you?”

Believing whatever is said.

Jingzhe: “But there’s no benefit in lying to me.”

What Rong Jiu did to him was mostly a losing business. Jingzhe really couldn’t think of anything worth lying about.

“Cheating your sympathy, cheating your joy,” Rong Jiu’s voice carried a bit of weirdness, “Cheating you so you can’t leave.”

Jingzhe looked back at Rong Jiu behind him.

The black horse followed them unhurriedly. The silence here was as if only the two of them were left in the world.

Jingzhe: “Something that already exists without cheating, why need to gild the lily?”

He dragged Rong Jiu and continued to walk forward.

Rustle, rustle—

…

Jingzhe didn’t know when he fell asleep. When he woke up again, he was already back in his tent.

He opened his eyes and looked at the yellow-white tent that had become somewhat familiar recently.

Didn’t sleep enough.

Jingzhe thought while covering his head, his temples throbbing with pain.

Outside, there was no sound of soldiers drilling. He must have overslept, don’t know what time it was now.

Jingzhe was a bit slow. After thinking for a while, he looked inside the tent and found that the others were basically there, but two places were empty, don’t know where the people went.

He slowed down, then got up.

Wei Liang was closest to him and noticed his movement at once, busy coming over from his place: “Jingzhe, are you okay?”

Jingzhe leaned back and said hoarsely: “Fine, just a bit of a headache… Why are you all gathered here?”

Just waking up, Jingzhe vaguely heard their conversation, only hearing a sentence or two about martial law, but they spoke very quietly, even inside the tent, Jingzhe couldn’t hear clearly.

Wei Liang: “Still talking about us, where did you go yesterday yourself? If someone hadn’t sent you back in the morning, we would have thought something happened to you.”

Jingzhe subconsciously asked: “How did the person who sent me back look?”

Wei Liang was stunned, didn’t expect Jingzhe to ask this, thought for a moment: “Looks okay, isn’t it just dressed as a soldier?”

Oh, then it wasn’t Rong Jiu.

Jingzhe rubbed his forehead, couldn’t even remember how he fell asleep yesterday, just felt dazed leaning on Rong Jiu, and woke up here in the next instant.

His last night was really ups and downs.

Jingzhe briefly recounted yesterday’s events, skipping Rong Jiu’s matter, but mentioned the camp martial law.

Wei Liang: “Then you were purely unlucky, why did you have to get up at night yesterday?”

Jingzhe: “…Can you still blame me for this?”

While they were whispering here, someone on the other side of the tent was already sobbing softly. Jingzhe was slightly stunned and looked at Wei Liang.

Wei Liang sighed: “Last night, a total of three of us went out. You were sent back in the morning, the other two haven’t come back until now.”

Jingzhe lowered his eyebrows. The soldier’s words yesterday were very clear. If the person had no problem and was innocent, they would be released at dawn. Those who haven’t returned until now…

There must be some problem.

Jingzhe: “So now the camp is under martial law, can’t go out either?”

Wei Liang: “Manpower in those important places still have to work. We, the second-rate ones, are temporarily not allowed to go out.”

For example, the camp cooks, if they don’t cook a meal, everyone will starve to death.

…Cao Min was really unlucky.

Came back late last night and got caught. After surviving the night, still have to continue working during the day.

Wei Liang didn’t know much either. After all, when he got up, the incident had happened for some time. They only knew something happened in the camp, but didn’t know exactly what.

Jingzhe got up, rinsed his mouth with the overnight water in the tent, and changed clothes. During this period, the sobbing never stopped.

The palace servant was called Zeng Ming. He seemed to have come together with the two who didn’t return.

Now three went and two missing, don’t know what happened, it was normal to be emotional.

Jingzhe glanced at him and said nothing.

If he hadn’t learned the ins and outs from Rong Jiu yesterday, encountering this situation today, he would probably be clueless too.

How could someone attempt to assassinate Emperor Jingyuan in Shangyu Garden?

Jingzhe was puzzled.

It wasn’t impossible, but even with such intentions, after really arriving at Shangyu Garden, one should know that the strict security here made it impossible to break in at will.

Previously in Taishi Palace, due to the huge size of the entire palace and the trouble of guarding, if one really wasn’t afraid of death, risking falling into mud to climb the cliff, and then climbing in from the broken wall behind the ancient tree, there might be a sliver of possibility.

But in the current camp?

Soldiers patrolled day and night. Even at night, countless bright torches shone outside the imperial tent, impossible to leave any blind spots.

Seeing the power in it, yet still persisting in doing it, is this blackmail?

Jingzhe couldn’t help but complain.

The one killed was the Heyin envoy.

This envoy attempted to sneak into the imperial tent. After being discovered, the guarding soldiers warned repeatedly, but he didn’t listen at all, rushing inside recklessly, and was finally hacked to death by random knives.

After the incident, the Heyin people were immediately controlled, but each of them shouted injustice, saying they never had such thoughts. Even if the envoy really did such a thing, he must have been instigated or forced by someone.

As soon as these words came out, the spearhead was aimed at Annan and Yueyu.

Heyin, Annan, and Yueyu, these foreign tribes, had always been rather thorny.

Whether harassing the border or plundering other small countries, these bad records were also the purpose of some envoys coming to court this time - to complain.

The Heyin envoy died. Although it caused many people to worry, relatively speaking, many people also felt great pleasure in their hearts.

The Heyin people refused to admit their intention to murder Emperor Helian even to death, dragging Annan and Yueyu into the water along with them.

After all, during these days in Shangyu Garden, only these two envoys were close to Heyin, and there were several open interactions.

The Yueyu envoy didn’t expect this to happen. Don’t know how many times he cursed that crazy Heyin envoy in his heart, but on the surface, he still had to speak that not quite authentic official language, trying to defend himself.

Even if their Yueyu had wolfish ambitions, they really didn’t need to attack Emperor Helian at this time!

Unless they didn’t want to live anymore.

Given the security of Shangyu Garden, even if they really attempted to assassinate the Emperor, they would end up losing soldiers and generals.

How could they do such a thankless thing?

Yueyu’s defense was indeed correct.

Regardless of what thoughts the numerous envoys harbored before coming to court, now… most dare not reveal them.

They still want to go back alive.

The current Emperor Helian has a much tougher temper than the previous one.

When those beautiful eyes looked over, there was always an illusion of a chilly neck. Several envoys couldn’t help touching their necks.

This can’t be blamed on their sensitivity.

These days, riding horses and hunting, they almost all had encounters with Emperor Jingyuan. Apart from that competition late at night, they also often bumped into him in the mountains and forests.

They had seen Emperor Jingyuan’s skills with their own eyes.

Very beautiful.

Even the most elite soldiers were on par with Emperor Jingyuan. Such neat and crisp skills always made people want to applaud.

Precisely because they had seen it with their own eyes, they naturally knew how heavy Emperor Jingyuan’s killing intent was.

They had seen Emperor Helian laugh loudly after shooting prey, riding a tall horse and rushing into the deer herd - really crazy. Even if they looked docile, the stag’s sharp and huge antlers were not for decoration. One moment of carelessness could easily disembowel a person.

But Emperor Jingyuan seemed to find it interesting, turning himself into a member of the colosseum, fighting with the prey until the last moment, until covered in blood, like an evil ghost walking out of a sea of blood.

This couldn’t help but make people trance… This Majesty enjoyed this dangerous wantonness very much.

If such a madman suddenly decided to shave their heads on a whim, it was also possible.

Emperor Jingyuan didn’t take Yueyu and Annan’s defense to heart.

He yawned lazily, with an elegant posture, his indifferent and cold voice carrying imperceptible drowsiness: “Then, take them down for interrogation first. Wait until it is found out whether the envoys colluded… Ha, by then, naturally will return innocence to everyone.”

That casual and undisciplined attitude made Yueyu and Annan somewhat dissatisfied, but now under suspicion, they couldn’t care so much.

Emperor Jingyuan rested his chin on his hand, watching those envoys being dragged down, then looked at the others and spoke unhurriedly.

“Sudden occurrence of this matter, everyone need not mind. Those whose hands are still itching can continue hunting, just need to bring a small team of soldiers to avoid further accidents.”

“Should be. Should be.”

“His Majesty is right.”

“We need not anymore…”

Other envoys scrambled to speak, afraid that Emperor Jingyuan would suspect them. After they dispersed, Ning Hongru walked behind Emperor Jingyuan.

“Your Majesty, the body of the Heyin envoy has already…”

He whispered.

After a moment, Emperor Jingyuan chuckled, couldn’t tell if it was mockery or amusement.

“It’s fine, continue to send people to watch.”

Emperor Jingyuan waved his hand and said casually.

“Yes.” Ning Hongru bowed, seeing Emperor Jingyuan seemed somewhat weary, couldn’t help but advise again, “When you went out last night, should have brought a few more people at least.”

Only those few in the dark followed. In Ning Hongru’s view, this was far from enough.

Emperor Jingyuan: “Wei Haidong complained to you?”

Ning Hongru smiled awkwardly: “Dare not, Wei Haidong is just worried about Your Majesty’s safety.”

Emperor Jingyuan said coldly: “Let him take good care of his own business. Next mistake, I will twist his head off.”

Ning Hongru shut up, daring not speak again.

Saw Emperor Jingyuan yawn lazily again, looking sleepy but just not resting. Not long after, Shi Lijun lifted the tent flap and walked over quickly.

Shi Lijun: “Your Majesty, everything is ready.”

Emperor Jingyuan then got up slowly.

Ning Hongru and Shi Lijun followed, asking in a low voice: “What is this for?”

Shi Lijun: “Your Majesty wants to choose a horse.”

This was a whim Emperor Jingyuan just had.

Choose a horse?

Choose a horse for whom?

Ning Hongru’s thoughts spun around, ah-ed, and lowered his eyes.

…

Jingzhe stayed in the tent for half a day before he could go out.

The cooks sent food, which was even more sumptuous than usual, saying it was for compensation.

After eating, when lifting the tent flap to go out, Jingzhe almost forgot yesterday’s injury, took a bigger step, directly pulled the injured part, and immediately hissed.

Wei Liang looked back. Jingzhe hurriedly waved to him, signaling he was fine.

They were originally going to work, but halfway there, they were told by the palace servant leading them that they were off today and didn’t need to work for the time being.

Walking halfway, they had to come back.

Wei Liang just felt strange: “We walked all the way just now, others still have to work, why is it our turn not to?”

For them, resting well wasn’t necessarily a good thing. Being treated too well sometimes might be a sign of danger instead.

Jingzhe struggled to think for a moment, didn’t sense danger for the time being, and lay down again.

Wei Liang looked at him: “Are you really okay?”

On the way back just now, he felt Jingzhe’s movements were stiff, as if injured somewhere.

Thinking of this, he hurriedly said: “Did you get injured last night?”

The voice was a bit loud, immediately attracting the attention of others.

Jingzhe shook his head quickly: “No, where did the injury come from? Those lords yesterday were very decent, their sabers didn’t touch me once.”

Only then did Wei Liang breathe a sigh of relief. About to ask more, he heard noise outside the tent. Wei Liang glanced, got up and lifted the curtain.

In less than a moment, he came back with two people.

Zeng Ming saw the two returning, happily pounced over: “Liu Da, Xu Feng, you two finally came back!”

These two palace servants looked listless and very tired, but looking all over, they shouldn’t have been tortured.

Just didn’t know why they were locked up for so long.

Zeng Ming pulled Liu Da and Xu Feng to sit down and asked about yesterday’s events.

Liu Da and Xu Feng felt unlucky just thinking about it.

Xu Feng: “Jingzhe was caught getting up at night, we were purely dragged out while sleeping, saying we had contact with the Heyin envoy.”

This was unexpected to everyone, thought they were also caught getting up in the middle of the night.

Wei Liang: “You were dragged out at night? How come we didn’t know.” Everyone slept in the tent, seven or eight people, none heard this commotion.