The Blood Crown

The Ministry of Rituals has already been preparing for the wedding of Yan Sikong and Princess Wanyang. Since the reduction of the feudal clan and the increase of sea tax have been completed, the treasury has been abundant in the past two years. It will be extravagant and grand.

The Ministry of Rites sent officials to personally supervise the wedding affairs in the Yan Mansion, and also to teach etiquette to Yan Sikong and the servants of the Yan Mansion. Yan Sikong has not been free to go to the Yamen for several days, even so, no one will criticize He, firstly, he is about to become a son-in-law, and secondly, most of the people around him are contemptuous of him, and those who can still come to curry favor at such a time are mostly villains who are obedient and vicious, and he has no time to pay attention to him.

Due to the many contacts in the house, Yan Sikong's movement is inconvenient. Even when he asked Ali to find She Zhun, he became more cautious than before. The jailer, who was bought with a lot of money, revealed the plan to the Feng family and his son.

Yan Sikong really wanted to meet Feng Ye in person, because it was likely to be their last, but he couldn't, and he didn't dare, and he couldn't make any trouble on the eve of the action.

Under such urgency, he also took time to celebrate Xie Zhongren's birthday.

At his 66th birthday banquet, Xie Zhongren deliberately ridiculed Yan Sikong in public, saying that he is filial and reasonable, and that he will become a son-in-law in the future, even the son-in-law of the Holy Majesty, and he will be loyal and filial, and will be as filial as the princess.

These words not only alluded to Yan Sikong's betrayal of his mentor, but also mocked him for admiring the emperor's concubine. Hearing this, a lot of contempt and supercilious eyes arose at the banquet. He can't afford it.

Yan Sikong turned a deaf ear and remained calm. He even recited his congratulatory speech to Xie Zhongren himself, doing his best to flatter him.

He knew that Xie Zhongren was testing his loyalty, and he would perform this play to the end, even if everyone criticized him and left his reputation in history.

Halfway through the banquet, Yan Sikong got up to relieve himself.

Fang came out of the latrine, suddenly, he felt a gust of wind pressure from his side, his body moved faster than his thoughts, before he could turn his head, he stretched out his hand to block, the attacker's fist brushed past his forearm, Stirring up a burst of burning pain, he sideways dodged the second attack, and with his magic power, he twisted his waist and limbs, and instantly distanced himself from the attacker.

He took a closer look and found that the person who attacked him was actually Zhu Lanting.

Zhu Lanting withdrew his hand and looked at Yan Sikong coldly: "You really know kung fu."

Yan Sikong looked around, compared to the birthday banquet held in the main hall, this place is very secluded, but after all, he showed his feet in Xie Zhongren's house, his heart tightened, and he said in a deep voice: "Who is Commander Zhu?" intention?"

"How long are you going to pretend?" Zhu Lanting narrowed his eyes, "I have already seen that your figure and walking posture are unusual. During the spring hunt, you rushed to save the prince immediately, but you only suffered Slightly injured, others may think that you are fatal, but I know that if you are not good at kung fu, it is not uncommon to die under chaos."

Yan Sikong said with a blank face: "Even if I know Kung Fu, so what? Which law have I violated? Commander Zhu is too aggressive. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave first." He wanted to leave after speaking.

But Zhu Lanting reached out to stop him: "I endured my nausea and came to the birthday banquet just to see you."

Yan Sikong looked at Zhu Lanting cautiously: "What do you want to do?"

"I want to ask you a few things."

"...Say it."

"Did the Feng family father and son conspire against each other?"

"Whether the father and son of the Feng family rebelled, I'm afraid Commander Zhu, like many others, has his own judgment, but since His Majesty has decreed to convict, you and I are both ministers, how can we criticize it."

"I want to hear from you."

Yan Sikong frowned: "Commander Zhu is very surprised, whether the Feng family and his son rebelled against me or not, it has nothing to do with me."

Zhu Lanting sneered: "I wish this person will always be safe in doing things. If he is not sure, he will never startle the enemy. I have known about you and Feng Ye for a long time. I know that the relationship between you two is extraordinary, and I know that you have had several times in private. tryst."

Yan Sikong was taken aback, cold sweat dripped down his back instantly, when did Zhu Lanting stare at him?He was unconscious?No, maybe Zhu Lanting was just playing with his words, and he couldn't mess himself up.There was no emotion on his face: "I really don't understand what Commander Zhu is referring to. It is true that Feng Ye and I have a bad relationship, but we don't want to fall into the well at this time..."

"On New Year's Eve last year, you and Feng Ye had a private meeting at the old house of Yan Mansion and spent a good night together. Is there such a thing?" Zhu Lanting interrupted him rudely.

Yan Sikong's eyes gradually turned cold, he was sure that Zhu Lanting really knew something.

"You must really want to know how I know." Zhu Lanting whispered, "On New Year's Eve, we caught a drunk man urinating on the palace wall. Sleeping, patrolling the streets with guards, I happened to bump into a person who was sneaking out at night, I was worried that he might be a criminal, so I followed quietly, but I didn't expect to follow all the way to the old house of Yan Mansion, and found out that it was you and Fengye."

Yan Sikong clenched his fists: "You knew it then, why didn't you tell me?"

"I want to know what you are planning to do, why you are so close, but you have to act like a fire in front of others, so I have watched you for a long time since then."

Yan Sikong felt chills all over his body. He never expected that many things he thought were seamless, in fact, there must be a hundred secrets. However, only Zhu Lanting's skills can follow him and Feng Ye without being discovered. Happened.

He suddenly thought of the day he was kidnapped to Yeli, he narrowed his eyes: "So that person that day was you..."

Zhu Lanting frowned slightly: "Which day are you referring to?"

Yan Sikong's face changed slightly, Zhu Lanting had already confessed to him, there was no need to hide this matter from him, could it be that the man in black that day was not Zhu Lanting?But who would that be? !

"Anyone else?" Zhu Lanting asked.

Yan Sikong didn't answer, he took a deep breath and looked at Zhu Lanting steadfastly: "Since you have seen it, I don't intend to hide it. I played with Feng Yeren to catch Xie Zhongren."

"What hook? Jingcha Lieqi?"

"Yes, that's what the teacher and I came up with, to get King Jingyuan to pass Jingcha."

Zhu Lanting's chest heaved deeply: "Then what happened to the rebellion?"

"Xie Zhongren sent a prostitute to seduce Feng Ye's coachman and steal the soldier amulet. Everything was his conspiracy."

Zhu Lanting's eyes widened: "Do you have evidence?!"

"No." Yan Sikong said coldly, "Even if there is, there is no power to recover."

"So you turned against the eunuchs?" Zhu Lanting said viciously, "Is what you are doing now worthy of the crown prince and Mr. Yan Ge? You are simply shameless!"

"He is no longer the crown prince, but the 'King of Chu'." Yan Sikong lowered his eyes slightly, concealing the fluctuations in his expression, and said lightly, "Commander, please don't say anything wrong again, I'm afraid it will cause trouble for the upper body."

Zhu Lanting's expression softened instantly: "You still want to keep hiding it from me."

Yan Sikong frowned deeply.

"I was testing you just now." Zhu Lanting said, "I have followed you for more than half a year, do you really think that I don't know what you want to do?"

Yan Sikong really didn't know how much Zhu Lanting knew, so he was very careful with every word: "What else do you know?"

"I also know that the intelligence dealer known as 'Tiankui Bailing' is in the city, and you have had at least two contacts with him." Zhu Lanting looked deeply at Yan Sikong, "Yan Sikong, I The more I investigate you, the more I feel that you are not simple. I sent someone to your hometown. Although there is such a person, but that person is definitely not you. With your appearance and talents, it is impossible for the village to have no impression of you. You If you used that person's identity, you might not be Yan Sikong at all, nor a person from Ji'an County, Panyang Prefecture."

Yan Sikong's mind was spinning rapidly, thinking about Zhu Lanting's purpose and how to minimize the damage of this matter.

Zhu Lanting continued: "I suspect that you have an ulterior motive. You came to the capital with a purpose. Tell me, what do you want to do? If I know that you are threatening His Majesty's safety, I can take you now. "

Yan Sikong snorted and said, "As expected of the commander of the imperial guards, the number one expert in the army, I wish the commander such a meticulous mind and such sharp eyes, it is really awe-inspiring."

"Stop talking nonsense." Zhu Lanting said coldly, "Do you know why I came to you today? Originally, I just wanted to investigate you secretly, and then make plans when I have real evidence, but you are going to marry the princess right now. Commander, I swear to protect the safety of Your Majesty and the harem to the death, and will never let anyone with evil intentions get involved with the princess, if you can't explain why today, don't blame me for being rude."

Yan Sikong smiled sarcastically: "Zhu Lanting, you also swore to the empress dowager, your grandmother, that you would assist the eldest prince and the future emperor all your life. Now that your highness is deposed, you have never said a word for him. What are you doing?" Face-to-face talk and vow to protect His Majesty to the death."

Zhu Lanting's complexion changed, and he said angrily: "You...now that the eunuch party is dominant, Your Majesty will not listen to your advice. As a military commander, I am not allowed to interfere in politics. Moreover, I am the eldest grandson of Zhu's family. How can I implicate the whole family by acting recklessly? ..."

In fact, Zhu Lanting should not be blamed for this matter.Emperor Zhaowu's determination to abolish the crown prince was obvious to all the civil and military courts of the Manchu Dynasty. At the juncture when the eunuchs seized power and bloodbathed the gentry, no one dared to object, otherwise they would just be seeking their own death.

Yan Sikong's purpose is nothing more than to provoke the general: "It is understandable to wish the commander to be wise and safe, but you have scruples, but I, Yan, am alone and have no worries. .”

Zhu Lanting tremblingly said: "You, what do you want to do?"

"Isn't Commander Zhu curious about my life experience? I was once ruined by Xie Zhongren, and I had a blood feud with the eunuch party. I concealed my identity and became an official in the court for revenge. Now I bear the humiliation and live in the world for revenge. It is even more so that the eldest prince can inherit the great rule, and create a peaceful and prosperous world where the rivers are clean and the sea is clean, and the things are peaceful and the people are safe."

Zhu Lanting looked at him in shock.

Yan Sikong bowed deeply to Zhu Lanting: "I have offended so much just now, Commander Zhu is upright and upright, and the world is well-known. In front of Commander Zhu, I am already at your mercy. If Commander Zhu is really willing to watch the eunuchs destroy I have a century-old foundation, so you can arrest me as much as you want, but if you wish the commander is still bloody, please allow me to go down to the mountains of swords and seas of fire."

Zhu Lanting's expression showed struggle.

Yan Sikong straightened up and said calmly: "I am waiting for you at any time." After speaking, he turned and left.