Jiuxi

Chapter 174 Chapter 173 [Forced into the Palace]

Three poles in the sun.

Everyone in Zhuo Garden held their breath and stood on tiptoe when walking, for fear of making too much noise and disturbing the noble man.

Xiao Jun walked into the side hall with a gloomy look, followed by a young official in his thirties.

After the two of them saluted, he was the first to say: "Your Highness, this is Wen Guan, the criminal doctor of the Ministry of Punishment."

Qingyu Huaijin raised his tired eyes slightly and asked, "Has the cause of Chen Jingtang's death been found out?"

Wen Guan did not dare to look at her, lowered his head and said respectfully: "Go back to your Highness, we have found out everything. After three veteran Taoist priests jointly checked, there were also three imperial doctors in the palace supervising, Wang Xiang, Yu Xiang, Privy Pang, Privy Councilors Guo were all present to watch, and they determined that Chen Hou committed suicide by hanging from a beam. The time when Chen Hou committed suicide was probably around midnight, and there were no strange marks on the body, nor any sign of being coerced."

Qingyu Huaijin said indifferently: "Are you sure?"

Wen Guan responded: "My official is sure. Your Highness, the scars of hanging and strangulation are completely different. No one can fake this way of death. If Chen Hou was forcibly hung from the beam, it is impossible not to leave a trace of it." Clues of struggle.”

Qingyu Huaijin breathed out slowly, then waved his hand, and Wen Guan bowed and left.

Xiao Jun looked at Her Royal Highness the Princess with some worry.

Ever since Chen Qifu's confused death, she had realized that this matter might have been done by the Southern Qi Sutra Weaving Department, so she immediately made a series of corresponding arrangements, and even made up her mind last night to force Guo Yan to hand over Guo Yijiang and let him He paid for his life and then compensated Chen Jingtang, thereby eliminating the storm that was gradually forming in the city.

However, the enemies hiding in the dark acted without any rules and directly forced Chen Jingtang to death before the agents of the Procuratorate had no time to react.

Qingyu Huaijin put his left hand on the edge of the table, rubbed his eyebrows with his right hand, and said slowly: "This matter will be very troublesome."

Chen Qifu's death can still be attributed to the valiant struggle of a dandy, but as Chen Jingtang, a Marquis of the Yan Dynasty and a former deputy privy envoy, committed suicide in his palace so suddenly and in grief, the subsequent impact will be difficult to measure.

Xiao Jun said in a deep voice: "Your Highness, all the informants we deployed outside the Chen Mansion last night were unconscious, and the other party did not make a killing move."

There has been an undercurrent in the city recently, and most of the people in the Procuratorate's Office have been sent to monitor the officials who went to the Chen Mansion to express condolences. Xiao Jun asked his men to guard outside the Chen Mansion. However, none of these sharp eyes and ears issued a warning last night. , enough to prove that the person who made the move is a top expert.

"The captain of the universe in his sleeves will return late."

Qingyu Huaijin picked up the celadon bowl on the table and took a sip, and said slowly: "This person actually took refuge with Xiao Wangzhi. He accompanied Lu Chen this time and was responsible for protecting the safety of this young captain. It's a pity that this news came so late. It’s a bit late, if I could have arrived yesterday afternoon, Chen Jingtang might not have died.”

Xiao Jun's heart trembled slightly. From His Highness's words, he knew that it was Lu Chen and Yu Chigui who went to the Chen Mansion last night to force Chen Jingtang to death.

Thinking of this, he frowned and said, "Your Highness, do you want to search the entire city for Lu Chen?"

Qing Yu Huaijin shook his head and said: "It's not necessary. Judging from Lu Chen's behavior all the time, since he dared to risk forcing Chen Jingtang to death, he would definitely escape from the city overnight after succeeding. Later, you will send some experts out of the city to the north, towards the Henan Road. Chase along the way and see if the blind cat can hit the dead mouse."

Xiao Jun quickly took the order.

Qingyu Huaijin was silent for a moment, and said with a deep gaze: "Tell Wang An to appease the Chen family and never cause trouble again, let alone bully the other party at this time. Let him petition Emperor Yan to make Chen Jingtang the Duke of the country and give him a generous burial. One son will inherit the title."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Second, get Lu Chen's portrait from the Procuratorate. This person is wanted throughout the country. His head can be exchanged for ten thousand taels of gold and he will be granted the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households. If you can provide the accurate whereabouts of this person, you will be rewarded with a hundred taels of gold and be awarded a sixth-grade official position. .As for the reason for being wanted, it can be said that this person is plotting to assassinate Chen Jingtang."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Third, send a message to Li Shouzhen and Wang Shidao, asking them to continue to recruit the Seven Star Gang and carry out the beheading strategy according to the original plan. It is said that it is disrespectful to come back but not to reciprocate. They have made Heluo City restless, and we must retaliate. .”

Xiao Jun respectfully agreed. He knew that His Highness was trying to calm down the undercurrent caused by Chen Jingtang's suicide as much as possible, and on the other hand, he was pushing the matter to Nan Qi Xizuo, represented by Lu Chen.

Qingyu Huaijin got up and walked slowly to the window, looking at the bright sunshine, a series of memories emerged in his mind.

Bodhisattva Man, the Northern Ranger who assassinated Mo Shanke, the young woman who fought alongside Lu Chen outside Guangling City, Yuchi Gui who suddenly appeared after disappearing for many years, more than twenty of his men who died tragically on Dongyang Road, and even the turmoil in Heluo City during this period .

"You came to the Northland to help the Seven Star Gang solve the current crisis? It seems that Lin Jie and you, the Lu family, have a deep connection. In this case, I will completely wipe out the Seven Star Gang and let the father and daughter Lin Jie and Lin Xi die before you In front of me, how else could I be worthy of the great gift you gave me?"

Qingyu Huaijin whispered to himself, a cold light flashed in the noble Danfeng's eyes.

While the Yongping Princess, who had suffered a rare setback, was secretly furious, several riders were running fast on a remote road more than sixty miles north of Heluo City.

Last night, they used the city guards who had been bribed in advance to rappel down from the towering city wall. After retrieving their mounts somewhere outside the city, they quickly headed north.

In the afternoon, everyone took a short rest under the shade of a tree. Yuchi Gui raised his eyes and looked at Lu Chen, who was carefully eating dry food, and said meaningfully: "When Chen Jingtang asked about Chen Qifu's death last night, I thought you would tell the truth."

Lu Chen swallowed the dry food and said softly: "Actually, he knew in his heart that Chen Qifu's death was too strange and must be related to outsiders. Senior suddenly mentioned this matter, did he think I was too despicable?" "It does feel a bit like this. "

Yu Chigui looked calm, and then said: "However, as a dandy, Chen Qifu was tyrannical and oppressed the good in Heluo City. Who should die if he doesn't deserve it? Chen Jingtang has been in charge of the puppet Yan army for many years, and hundreds of Daqi border army officers died under his orders. Qian, who should die if he doesn't deserve it? They are your enemies, and you must use any means to deal with your enemies. If you can't even show this ruthlessness, I don't think you are qualified to inherit Brother Xiao's mantle in the future."

"If he didn't ask me, he wouldn't tell me. He asked just for peace of mind, because he knew that no matter whether he agreed or not, I would never let him see the light of day."

Lu Chen stood up and dusted off the dust on his clothes: "Senior, we should be on our way."

Yuchi Gui nodded slightly, walked towards his mount and said, "From today on, if you are interested, you can follow me to practice Yuchi's Sixteen Style Sanshou."

Tan Zheng, who had been listening silently next to him, had bright eyes and joy on his face.

Lu Chen was startled for a moment, then bowed to Yuchi Gui: "Thank you, senior, for your generous advice."

Yuchigui put on his stirrup and mounted his horse with a smile on his face, and said leisurely: "Let's go on our way first. I know you want to go back to someone right away."

This senior is really...

Lu Chen smiled helplessly, got on his horse and headed north quickly.

……

The atmosphere in the meeting hall at the headquarters of the Seven Star Gang was extremely dull.

Two days ago, an envoy from the Yan Kingdom's court arrived at the mountain gate. This young official named Liu Jingzhi was very courageous. He remained calm despite many threats alone. Finally, he stood in the conference hall facing a group of powerful people, calmly and calmly. Preach the various favorable conditions for recruiting green forests in the Yan Dynasty.

Including but not limited to after the recruitment, tens of thousands of gang members will have fertile land and real estate, the leaders present will have official rewards, some people can also have military power, and so on.

Lin Jie did not give an answer. He treated the man politely according to the rules of the Seven Star Gang, made some rather excessive demands and sent him back to resume his life.

But today's discussion was not initiated by Lin Jie.

In addition to the more than ten powerful hall leaders and deacons, there are several more white-haired old men in the hall. The old man sitting on Lin Jie's left hand is talking non-stop: "... Gang leader, please explain to us old immortals. We shouldn’t come here to make trouble, but this matter is related to everyone’s life and death, so we have no choice but to say something shamelessly, and hope that the gang leader will not take offense.”

Lin Jie smiled and said: "Second Uncle Gui, there is no need to be polite, just say what you have to say."

The old man's name is Gui Yuanzong, and he is the trusted brother of the first gang leader Jiang Zhi. He is one of the only four remaining founders of the Seven Star Gang. Although he has long since left the gang's affairs, his words still have some weight.

He sighed softly and said slowly: "Gang leader, what are your plans for recruiting people?"

Lin Jie noticed that Lin Xi, who was standing not far away, frowned, and said calmly: "Since the second uncle asked in person, I dare not hide it, and accepting the recruitment will definitely not end well. Tens of thousands of people gathered together to If you have the confidence to fight against the Yan Dynasty, once you are divided into various places, unless you are willing to be the dog of the Jing Dynasty and become their sword to harm the people of the north, you will definitely die a violent death."

"Isn't it?"

Gui Yuanzong shook his head, and there was doubt in his old eyes: "Maybe they just want to settle the matter as soon as possible. If the Seven Star Gang takes the lead in accepting the recruitment, most of the other Green Forest gangs will not continue to insist. Can they kill so many people? ?”

Lin Jie said calmly: "At that time, everyone will be a knife and I will be a fish. Whether to kill or not depends on the other party's thoughts. Second uncle, do you think this result is acceptable?"

Guiyuan Zong sighed again, exchanged glances with several other white-haired old men, and then stood up tremblingly, facing Lin Jie and bowing his hands.

The old men stood up one after another, followed by Feng Hall Hall Master Jiang Houming, Fire Hall Hall Master Shang Benyi, Deacon Cui Zidao and Kuang Minggen and others stood up at the same time, and the formation was quite astonishing in an instant.

Guiyuan Zong lowered his head slightly and said word by word: "Gang leader, the implication of Liu Jingzhi's words is very clear. If our Seven Star Gang does not accept the recruitment, the Yan Dynasty army will enter the mountains to encircle and suppress us. In the encirclement and suppression in Qi State, although the Seven Star Gang It survived by chance, but thousands of people starved to death. Every time I think about this, I can't help but feel sad, and I really don't want to see the past happen again."

"I sincerely ask the gang leader to think of the tens of thousands of young and old in the gang and consider accepting Yan Chao's offer."

He bowed to the end.

Jiang Houming and others immediately echoed: "I implore the gang leader to think about the tens of thousands of young and old in the gang!"

The voice was not high-pitched, but it contained a chilling and chilling air.

Lin Tang Hall Master Ran Xuanzhi, Shan Hall Hall Master Dong Mian, Lei Hall Hall Master Shi Changsheng and others looked at this scene and frowned in unison.

Lin Xi's right hand quietly reached for the handle of the waist knife.

In the dull silence, Lin Jie stood up slowly. His tall and majestic body was like a mountain, and a fierce momentum rushed towards everyone.

(End of this chapter)