Survival countdown

Prince Jing didn't even lift his eyelids: "You are still my son."

Huo Jingtang: "When you're old, you should admit defeat. If you continue to die, it will be bad for your family."

"The emperor suspects you and gives up on you. It's hard to feel good. The military power will be taken back as soon as it is said, and you will be given a piece of candy from time to time to squeeze out your value so that he can pave the way for his beloved son. You are really a good dog."

Prince Jing knew that Huo Jingtang regarded the emperor as his father.

The emperor knew that Prince Jing's mansion was a den of dragons and tigers, but he still mercilessly drove ten-year-old Huo Jingtang out of the palace.Even so, Huo Jingtang was only angry and didn't feel any hatred towards the emperor.

He was poisoned by Gu, and his military power was withdrawn, he was married to a man, he was used to death, and his blood was drained. He was still loyal to the dog emperor, and he treated the emperor as a loving father, but he could not see his father for ten years.

Huo Jingtang and the emperor's father-son-like relationship made King Jing feel disgusted, his heart was soaked with poison, and he wished to kill Huo Jingtang to see if the emperor would suffer.

As long as the emperor can feel pain, Prince Jing is deeply relieved.

He couldn't get close to the emperor, so he settled for the next best thing and tried every means to hurt Huo Jingtang, which would also make him happy.

So he specifically poked at Huo Jingtang's sore spot.

"Are there any younger brothers and sisters born in the palace these years?" Caring for the elders, he chose to start with the daily affairs.Huo Jingtang had no emotional ups and downs: "Ah, I'm sorry, I haven't been home for a long time, and I forgot the imperial doctor's diagnosis that my father seems to be...unable to have children? Is there no offspring...? I'm sorry, it's my king's fault to bring up the matter that made my father sad."

The teacup in Prince Jing's hand clicked softly, and fine lines appeared on the surface of the cup: "You did it on purpose back then."

Huo Jingtang's face was serious: "Father, if you hadn't believed in the cunning servant back then and tried to cut off my hand with a knife, I wouldn't have struggled so hard and accidentally kicked you—" He glanced Prince Jing laid down his body, and everything was kept silent. "Your Majesty taught me that I am small and weak, so I have to hit him three times when I meet someone who wants to kill me... I also did it to save myself. Didn't father regret afterwards that he was too impulsive?"

Huo Jingtang fiddled with the Buddha beads a little faster, feeling quite emotional: "Speaking of which, I have to be thankful that I was quick at that time, otherwise my father would really cut off my hand, and when he calms down, he might regret it to pieces."

"I still have to thank you?"

"For what the Son of Man should do, what are you talking about thanking you for?"

With a click, the cup in Prince Jing's hand shattered into pieces, he threw it away casually, took out a towel and took out the blood in his hand without haste: "How much do you know?"

"You should know everything."

"How many people did you bring?"

"Add me, no more, no less sixteen riders."

"Cavalry? Is it cavalry?" Needless to say, King Jing, who seems to be invisible in political affairs, is still quite familiar with border affairs: "You should know that I have a Northwest soldier in my hand, and there are private soldiers raised by An Huaide in Huainan. How dare the six cavalry go deep into the tiger's den? Which cavalry are you leading?"

Huo Jingtang laughed but said nothing.

The hands beside Prince Jing tightened up: "Impossible. During the period of the Holy Ancestor, the Tanghe Iron Cavalry had already been dismantled, and it has long since lost its reputation in the past few decades... Isn't it a rumor that you have a ghost soldier in your hand? No, it's impossible. , Four Routes of Northwest Soldiers, I am fully aware that there is an extra Tanghe cavalry that is brave and skilled in fighting, it is impossible to hide it from my eyes."

Huo Jingtang: "There is no trace of the Tanghe cavalry, but they are everywhere, and they only obey my orders."

Prince Jing stared fixedly at Huo Jingtang, with suspicion always hidden in his eyes. He is also a general with rich experience in marching. He pondered deeply about Huo Jingtang's words, and suddenly his thoughts turned. The Lingtai was clear and his eyes were like lightning: "Tang The He Cavalry is in the Northwest Army, and any soldier of the Northwest Army may be a Tanghe Cavalry, and only if you give orders will they form a real Tanghe Cavalry—does he know?"

Huo Jingtang knew who the "he" King Jing was talking about, so he didn't speak, but looked back calmly.

King Jing understood, and murmured to himself: "He knows, but he still believes in you? Why? Does he really treat you like his son? Ha! My fifth brother is really an infatuated kind. Cui's life and death are mine. He can still treat her child as his own son—no, I'm afraid his own son didn't care so much. The Tanghe cavalry, which even the ancestors are afraid of, let you reorganize, and only let you order... ...No wonder, no wonder you are willing to be driven by him, I am not as scheming as Fifth Brother."

Prince Jing muttered to himself, as if caught in the memories of more than twenty years ago, his eyes were a little dazed.

Huo Jingtang was bored, he fiddled with the beads and wrapped them around his back cloud, it was rare that he didn't disturb Prince Jing's fun of reminiscing about his past.

King Jing suddenly came back to his senses, and asked abruptly, "Have you cured the poison?"

Huo Jingtang said coolly: "This king thought you wouldn't find out until you died."

Prince Jing's eyes were filled with mist, "If I try my best, I may not have a chance of winning."

Huo Jingtang: "The person who took the official defense seal in your hand and went to the northwest to lead the troops is the deputy general of the Tanghe Iron Cavalry. All the imperial troops in Jichang Villa were killed, and Zheng Chuzhi took 200 million relief money to arrest An Huaide .”

Prince Jing's hands were clenched into fists, veins popped out on the back of his hands, and he stared at Huo Jingtang: "Nizi..."

"The person my little lord sent to Xuzhou should have told An Huaide that this king brought Tanghe cavalry to the mansion to reminisce with your father. With An Huaide's loyalty, he might be caught without a fight."

"Nizi dare you!"

King Jing yelled angrily, pulled out the ring knife hidden under the table and slashed at Huo Jingtang, the table and chair were split into two, but Huo Jingtang dodged it in danger, his cheek was still blown out by the sharp wind of the knife A bloodstain.

The cavalry outside the house moved upon hearing the wind, Huo Jingtang raised his hand to stop, wrapped the Buddhist beads around his wrist, raised a big smile, his eyes were full of joy: "Speaking of which, our father and son regard each other as deep as sea, but we have never really fought against each other. I have always wanted to know whether the moves taught by His Majesty are better than yours, or the ultimate moves you practiced on the battlefield are more powerful."

As soon as the words fell, the tall body straightened immediately, and his momentum changed completely. He was dressed in black iron armor, like a bloodthirsty and cruel human slaughter.

For the Turks, Southern Xinjiang and Great Xia, Huo Jingtang is the massacre of the world.

His words successfully stimulated King Jing, his eyeballs were covered with bloodshot eyes, as if looking through Huo Jingtang's face at Emperor Yuanshou who had hated him all his life.

The mother of the childhood sweetheart of the first emperor is the emperor's true love, but because of the suspicion of the ancestor emperor and the decline of his mother's family, he has to be willing to stay behind. The position of the concubine of the East Palace, the throne of the empress, and even his crown prince must be given up!

Before the late emperor died, he repeatedly tried to amend the will, abolish the East Palace, and change the crown prince, all because those damned courtiers moved out the reason that the eldest son was incorruptible, and forcibly took away his throne. How can I not hate it?

Before Huo Jingtang became famous, the name of Northwest God of War belonged to King Jing.

Time has left traces on him, but it has not taken away his martial arts talent. A ring-headed knife dances vigorously, and his moves are open and closed, majestic, not gorgeous but powerful, all of which are on the battlefield. The killing move that has been practiced.

Huo Jingtang only defended but didn't attack. His tiger's mouth was numb from the shock, and he stepped back step by step. With his palms on the table, his body backflipped over the table, and the table and chair were split in half.

Prince Jing: "Why didn't you take action?"

Huo Jingtang evaded: "Swords have no eyes, you are my father after all."

With a loud bang, King Jing's ring-sword sharply grazed Huo Jingtang's right arm, his red eyes were fierce, "Your existence is the biggest mockery of my life, if you don't die, you are not filial!"

Huo Jingtang's eyelashes trembled, and the knife in his hand fell to the ground, as if giving up resistance.

Prince Jing showed a happy smile, and in the next second, a white light flashed out of the corner of his eye, the numb tendons in his right hand were hit hard, the ring head knife missed and there was a knife around his neck, the handle of the knife was in the palm of Huo Jingtang's left hand.

Huo Jingtang smiled cheerfully: "It seems that His Majesty's teaching method is better than Father's."

Blue veins popped out on Prince Jing's forehead: "You used the left-handed saber?"

"Father doesn't know? Ah, after all, I was taken as a hostage by you and sent to the palace when I was about two years old. Before I was ten years old, I used to be left-handed. It was His Majesty who taught me how to use right-handed guns and left-handed knives. It's normal if you don't know."

Prince Jing disdained: "It's nothing more than compensation. He treats you well because of his guilt towards your biological mother. When he weighed the pros and cons to take advantage of you, he was never merciful, just like your mother loved him deeply. He was married to the emperor for the sake of the throne. He dared not say a word. Trash! Bastard! Pretending to be forced and affectionate can only trick you mother and son into working hard for him."

Huo Jingtang looked at him steadfastly, his glazed eyes resembled those of a compassionate Bodhisattva, reminding Prince Jing of his own mother.

King Jing's mother believed in Buddhism, and a small Buddhist hall was set up in the palace to enshrine the merciful and compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva.

Huo Jingtang's eyes also resembled his biological mother Cui Qingru's. Prince Jing inevitably remembered the days when he joined the army in the Northwest. Dance with swords until dawn, and return to camp with horses.

Prince Jing regained his composure, bursting out with hatred.

The similarity between Huo Jingtang and Cui Qingru will not arouse his nostalgia, but will bring endless humiliation.

Back then, he was also in the Northwest Army under Cui Guogong's army. He was the one who had a life-and-death relationship with Cui Qingru, and he was also the one who had a marriage contract with Cui Qingru, but the fifth brother wanted to grab it!

Cui Qingru gave him the greatest humiliation in his life.

Huo Jingtang moved his lips, and his voice was as soft as a mosquito: "Knowing that my mother and His Majesty agree in love, but also deliberately ask the late emperor to grant a marriage, and do things like robbing and robbing love, who is more disgusting? On the wedding night, My mother doesn't want to lie to you, please let her go, but you know that she has a secret womb, you immediately turn your back on her and let the concubine bully her, who is more hypocritical?"

Prince Jing's pupils dilated, his face paled in shock: "You..."

"Killed my mother, made a gesture of loving me to the bone in front of His Majesty, and then sent me as a hostage to the palace. Do you want to see Your Majesty and I kill each other?"

Huo Jingtang's voice was kept to a minimum: "But Father, before Mother married you, His Majesty knew of my existence."

With a bang, Prince Jing fell to the ground like a thunderbolt from the blue sky, with a frenzied expression, he kept shaking his head: "Impossible, absolutely impossible...how did he win again? Ru Niang, Ru Niang, how could you treat me like this? How can you be so biased and bear me so far?"

Huo Jingtang lowered his eyes to look at King Jing who lost his composure, threw the saber behind him with his backhand, inserted it deeply into the wall, kicked away the Huan Shou Dao that had fallen by his feet, and took out an old scarf with a blank expression. ...stuffed it back again, and took out another new scarf to press the wound on the shoulder: "Look carefully, food and drink are provided, don't break it."

After saying that, he walked out of the hall.

Commander San waved his hands to signal his subordinates to lock up Prince Jing immediately, and at the same time asked, "General, are you still on your way?"

Huo Jingtang turned his eyes away and directed: "You don't have to follow, keep an eye on Prince Jing, don't worry about anyone who intercedes."

Commander San handed him the medicine with good curative effect: "Stop the bleeding and remove the scar, the effect is very good."

Huo Jingtang directed from the corner of his eye: "I remember Chinese New Year, are you 26?"

The commander of San was unknown, so he was pleasantly surprised: "The general still remembers."

Huo Jingtang: "You work harder, work harder, I have already married a wife at your age."

Commander San: "...?"

Huo Jingtang: "Why don't you care where I go alone?"

Commander San stammered: "You are traveling all night alone, where are you going?"

Huo Jingtang looked at the wound on his shoulder, feeling a little melancholy: "I've been separated from Xiao Lang for three months, and I'll let him see my wound as soon as we meet, maybe I'm worried." He glanced at San Commander as he spoke, showing off a little : "You may not know, Xiao Lang is very soft-hearted, always worried and sad for the people under him. Even people who have nothing to do with him are like this, let alone this king?"

"Oh." Commander San was indifferent.

"He might cry anxiously." Huo Jingtang added.

Commander San lowered his head and picked his nails.

Huo Jingtang didn't care about the attitude of dismissing the commander, so he was about to put on his helmet when he suddenly remembered something: "Your medicine is very effective?"

"Excellent hemostatic effect."

"What about scar removal?" Seeing San's command distracted, Huo Jingtang took the medicine directly: "Forget it, as long as it works."

Finished talking and left.

The colleague pushed the command: "Why do you stay here for a long time?"

Commander San looked deeply at his colleagues: "I admit that what you said before is a fucking truth." All lovers in the world are dogs.

Colleagues are puzzled, he has said so many truths, who knows which one.

***

One person and one rider disappeared at the end of the street in the twilight of the morning light. Zhao Sanlang and Zhao Yuzheng ran back to Xie's house as if fleeing, patted his chest and gasped: "As expected of Tanghe cavalry, Shiro, have you noticed that person just now?" Glancing towards where we were hiding when we left? He knows we're hiding there, he sure does!"

Zhao Yuzheng's eyes were dull, immersed in the shock of seeing the man's face walking out of the hall without a helmet just now, the memory that was so blurred that only the figure remained suddenly became vivid.

The person who had amazed him when he was twelve or thirteen years old was vivid and brighter than the beautified memory.

Zhao Yuzheng's fingertips touched his heart, where it was beating vigorously.

"Shiro... Shiro?"

Zhao Yuzheng returned to his senses and looked at Zhao Sanlang who was full of worry: "Third brother, do you know the identity of that person just now?"

Zhao Sanlang: "It would be great if I knew. But I can be sure that he is the leader of the Tanghe cavalry. This trip is on business, and he needs to return to Beijing to report on his duties. Then he can find someone to pay attention to him. As long as he moves around in the court, he will be found sooner or later. "

Zhao Yuzheng smiled when he heard the words, strong anticipation welling up in his heart.

***

An Huaide, Sima Jiao, and 200 million taels of disaster relief money are all in the Yamen of Yangzhou government. Zheng Chuzhi ordered the Yangzhou camp soldiers to surround him. He wanted to write a scripture to report to the emperor, but he was worried that the emperor would transfer the case to the imperial envoy. null?

The aides suggested that he could add in the notes, "The envoy is young and promising, resourceful and worthy of the East Palace's praise for his 'benevolence and uprightness'." Zheng Chuzhi hesitated: "Is it possible?"

Knowing that he was concerned, the staff explained patiently: "It is about the mother of the country and the crown prince. The case is not trivial. The East Palace once publicly expressed his appreciation for the imperial envoy, so he is suspected of being a crony. When investigating this major case, any relationship must be avoided. Excluding the imperial envoy who avoided suspicion, King Qin was abolished, Duke Zheng's government kept a low profile, although there has always been a rift with the East Palace, it also shows that you are handling the case and there is no loophole to take advantage of."

Zheng Chuzhi: "That's right. I'll just write an excerpt... But why do I remember that it was Zhao Baiyu who was praised by the fifth prince? Forget it, brothers are of one heart, no one praises the same. The attitude of the fifth prince is the attitude of the East Palace."

If you write with spirit, you can finish it in just a quarter of an hour. The writing is graceful, and every word and every sentence is full of true feelings.

Zheng Chuzhi wrote a good letter and said: "Hurry up and send to the capital." Turning around, he said to the left and right: "Guang Zhao Mansion has veteran jailers with rich experience in interrogation. If you want them to interrogate An Huaide properly, you must pry their mouths open!"

***

The letter from Yangzhou Mansion was sent to Wende Hall in a hurry, and Emperor Yuanshou read it at a glance: "It's Zheng Chuzhi who got the credit?"

Not quite right.

Logically speaking, Huo Jingtang should be the first person to find the relief money. It is not convenient for him to come forward, so he can give the credit to Zhao Baiyu. It's a matter of anger and hatred.

The disaster relief money was robbed in Xuzhou, An Huaide rushed there in a hurry, intending to close the case quickly, which also made Emperor Yuanshou suspect him, and asked Cha An Huaide to find out that he was a horse slave brought back by King Jing from the northwest.

Having been stripped of his slave status, and single-handedly cultivated to be a provincial commander, it's no wonder he is so loyal.

Up to this point, Emperor Yuanshou thought that the most outrageous things that King Jing had done were embezzling disaster relief funds and murdering court officials. With the iron certificate of the holy ancestor Danshu in hand, he could not be killed, but he could cut military power and seal Zongzheng Temple.

It is not that Emperor Yuanshou could not tolerate Prince Jing's death, but if even Huo Jingtang and Zhao Baiyu would not dare to touch Prince Jing's case, what would he have done in Huainan?

Emperor Yuanshou rubbed his fingers, his heart sank, and his killing intent towards Prince Jing surged up countless times.

At this time, the eunuch came to report: "Your Majesty, Zhao Zai insists on seeing you."

Emperor Yuanshou: "Xuan."

Zhao Boyong entered the palace: "I see Your Majesty—"

"Excuse me, take a look at the excerpts from Zheng Chuzhi." Emperor Yuan Shou threw the excerpts down.

Zhao Boyong picked it up and read it, his heart tightened, he didn't show any expression on his face, but he was more cautious.

Emperor Yuanshou: "What do you think?"

Zhao Boyong: "If what is said is true, the matter is of great importance. An Huaide and Sima Jiao must be escorted to Beijing and handed over to the Ministry of Criminal Justice and Dali Temple for review."

Emperor Yuanshou: "Who do you think can be the presiding judge of this case?"

Zhao Boyong's mind was spinning quickly: "The East Palace is in charge of the Ministry of Criminal Justice. It is reasonable to avoid suspicion. Dali Temple has not yet officially appointed a Dali Temple Minister. In terms of ability and seniority, there is no one who can do the job. We have to deal with it." In this case, ability and seniority are indispensable, and it cannot be involved in the slightest with the East Palace. It must be handled impartially... The king of Lin'an Xiaojun is extremely capable, loyal to His Majesty, and has no relationship with the Chaozhongmen Party. -"

While talking, carefully observing Emperor Yuanshou's expression, Zhao Boyong knew it was time to change his tone.

"Although he is the best candidate to try this case, the case is full of doubts, and he has a husband and wife relationship with Fu Envoy. I am afraid it will be difficult to convince the public. I think that the person who will try this case should be handed over to Zheng Chuzhi."

"Appoint Zheng Chuzhi, don't you worry about court officials discussing him for private revenge?"

"Anyone can coerce selfishness, but Zheng Chuzhi can't! Zheng Guogong's mansion and Sima family have always been at odds, and all officials know that there is grievance in front of them, just like melon fields and plums, Zheng Chuzhi dare not be biased in the slightest. It is about the mother of the country and the prince. The most important matter in the world, if there is a mistake, if there is even a little bit of personal grievances, it will be the disaster of Zheng Chuzhi's death. Moreover, the queen is an example of a married woman, and she never makes mistakes in her words and deeds. The East Palace has both ability and integrity. There has never been a big mistake, and the courtiers and courtiers who love them will monitor the presiding judge of the case. The eyes of the court are all staring, and Zheng Chuzhi, who has a personal grudge with the East Palace, will make a fair and fair gesture, and dare not have the slightest personal Resentment is mixed with it."

Emperor Yuanshou examined Zhao Boyong's expression and measured his words, which can be said to be watertight.

"In this case, I will hand over the case to Zheng Chuzhi, and order him to bring An Huaide and Sima Jiao to Beijing to await trial. The order is to order Zhao Baiyu to take over 200 million taels of disaster relief money to ensure that every penny is spent on the common people. By the way, hand over the case of the extermination of the Jiangnan Imperial Merchant, the relevant witnesses, and criminals to Zheng Chuzhi."

***

On the way out of the palace, Zhao Boyong breathed a sigh of relief. He still remembered the horror he felt when he read the memorial. An Huaide and Sima Jiao were both members of the Prince's Clan.

The problem is that neither the crown prince nor the fifth prince could be stupid enough to touch the relief money in this sensitive period. Sima Jiao, the empress, and the East Palace are all in the same breath.

He knew that An Huaide was greedy for money but smart. If he was loyal to the Lord, he should know that touching the relief money would speed up the demise of the princelings, unless he had other masters.

Emperor Yuanshou would not fail to see the problems that he could see.

Emperor Yuanshou knew that there was someone else behind An Huaide, and it was possible to cut off Sima's powerful arm and slash the arrogance of the Eastern Palace in this case. The East Palace and the Queen will be abolished.

Dealing with the Sima family is equivalent to intimidating some aristocratic families in the court. While suppressing their arrogance, it can also take the opportunity to clean up one or two. It is a good thing for Emperor Yuanshou, but does he have hidden anger on his face——

Shouldn't it be for the East Palace and the Empress, but for Huainan?Is it someone who is loyal to An Huaide?

Who is An Huaide's allegiance to?

Huainan...

Disaster relief money was found in Jichang Villa in Yangzhou...

"!" Zhao Boyong thought hard, and suddenly gasped: "Is it Prince Jing?"

At the gate of the palace, Zhao Boyong suddenly stopped, thinking of Zhao Baiyu in Huainan.

Zheng Chuzhi's report alone doesn't reveal much about the official situation in Huainan, but if this matter has nothing to do with Zhao Baiyu, why did he specifically mention the relationship between Zhao Baiyu and the East Palace in the report?

Is he afraid that Zhao Baiyu will steal the credit?

If he discovered the disaster relief money, arrested the person, and solved the case, he should be proud. Why is he afraid of Zhao Baiyu taking the credit?

Unless the person who really solved the case was Zhao Baiyu.

The sunlight hit Zhao Boyong's face, and there were no subtle changes in his expression, and only he knew how he felt in his heart.

Forcibly suppressing his disgust towards Zhao Baiyu, and uncontrollably thinking of that woman whenever he thought of Zhao Baiyu, Zhao Boyong calmed himself down and tried to clarify the situation in Huainan with the attitude of an outsider.

If it really had something to do with Prince Jing, it would be difficult to be kind.

As Emperor Yuanshou became more and more stable on the throne, Prince Jing was suppressed and shrunk to Huainan. He was unknown for more than ten years. In addition, Fahrenheit existed in name only, and few people knew that they had the gold medal for avoiding death in their hands.

King Jing's crimes conflicted with the teachings of the holy ancestors, making it difficult for Emperor Yuanshou, and the court's face was also ugly.

Only veterans who have experienced the battle for the throne know that Emperor Yuanshou wished to destroy Prince Jing. Although Emperor Yuanshou seems to have forgotten the existence of Prince Jing these years, and he is also quite fond of Huo Jingtang, he thinks that he I can feel relieved about King Jing.

Maybe Emperor Yuanshou also thought that he could let go of his worries, so he could just keep Prince Jing around. When he really met King Jing and faced the crimes that King Jing committed in Huainan, but was forced to forgive by the legacy of the ancestors, he would understand the feeling in his heart. If the hatred that has been stored for more than twenty years cannot be relieved, it will only become more and more crazy.

and so……

"Whoever is the presiding judge will be unlucky."

Poor Zheng Chuzhi still thought he was rich and powerful, and he was vying to grab the hot potato that others couldn't avoid. He probably still dreamed of being promoted and getting rich.

Walking slowly on the way home, Zhao Boyong stroked his cuffs without mercy, and his expression suddenly changed. If his guess is correct, then Zhao Baiyu was robbed of credit... or did he actually guess the consequences? , take the initiative to avoid? !

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The author has something to say:

Lao Huo (the wound does not stop bleeding): Mr. Xiao Lang looks good when he cries.

Lao Huo (commonly used scar removal holy medicine): A man's scar is an honor, but it should not be too ugly.

Excuse me, are you going on summer vacation?

After studying for more than ten years, I found that I don't know the time of summer vacation. I remember that the summer vacation was two months before. Is it shortened now?