jdhmnovel Chapter 163 Lure the snake out of its hole
Chapter 163 Lure the snake out of its hole
Wen Shuyao's words were pointed.
In his previous life, Xie Jinghan and the Northern Di were already bitter enemies. However, a sudden murder case in the capital was connected to the Northern Di envoy. When the Prefect of Jingzhao led his men to surround the post station, they found letters related to the Jingwang Mansion in the Northern Di envoy's bedroom.
The news threw the entire capital into chaos.
First, a group of officials, led by aristocratic families, began to besiege Xie Jinghan with a shared hatred of the enemy. Then, a continuous stream of memorials from censors were submitted to the emperor.
Having finally found a fault in Xie Jinghan, they naturally wanted to eliminate this enemy who posed the greatest threat to them.
Xie Jinghan has devoted himself to the cause of Dali over the years, and not only the common people, but even the military generals who have had disputes with him have seen it.
With the protection of military generals and the emperor's determination to safeguard Xie Jinghan, Xie Jinghan was able to extricate himself from this turmoil.
However, as a general of the current dynasty, Xie Jinghan's connection with the Northern Barbarians was questionable, but the emperor dared not entrust him with important responsibilities at such a critical juncture.
Even as the Northern Barbarian invasion was raging, Xie Jinghan was still troubled by these rumors and could only live as a leisurely prince in the capital.
Despite the efforts of the experienced General Chu in turning the tide of the battle against the Northern Di, the Dali suffered heavy losses, and General Chu was also seriously wounded.
Wen Shuyao spoke up for two reasons: first, she didn't want Xie Jinghan to be caught up in these troubles; second, she wanted to protect the innocent lives of the Dali soldiers; and most importantly, she wanted to save General Chu.
She was given a second chance at life so that she could protect the people around her.
The Chu family was the family she cared about the most.
After Wen Shuyao spoke, Xie Jinghan remained silent for a moment.
Xie Jinghan's eyes flickered slightly, a peculiar light shining in his peach blossom eyes: "What do you know?"
“Your Highness is a target for those who are too powerful.” Wen Shuyao, under his gaze, remained calm and answered naturally, “Powerful families all prioritize profit, and they naturally do not want someone like Your Highness to stand in their way of profiting and seizing power.”
“It’s a pity that His Highness is usually so upright and honest that it’s hard to find any weaknesses,” Wen Shuyao analyzed logically. “Moreover, His Highness has an excellent reputation both in the court and among the common people.”
“If I were them, I would start by ruining your reputation, Your Highness, so that no one would believe you anymore. In that way, wouldn’t you, this obstacle, be resolved in a perfectly logical way?”
"What could be more disgraced than being branded a traitor and colluding with the enemy?"
Xie Jinghan's reputation was earned through real battles with the Northern Di.
If rumors were to spread that he had colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country, and even conspired with the Northern Barbarians, then…
Xie Jinghan was a smart man. After Wen Shuyao finished speaking, he nodded and said, "What the princess says is very true. I will pay more attention these days."
"However..." He glanced at Wen Shuyao again, his eyes seemingly probing, "Does Your Highness believe that there are powerful families in the capital colluding with the Northern Di?"
Wen Shuyao nodded: "That's right, and I think... those who colluded with the Northern Barbarians were not simply after their family's wealth."
"Cooperating with the Northern Barbarians is tantamount to asking a tiger for its skin." Wen Shuyao said, carefully considering her tone. "Although the aristocratic families are profit-driven, they are also smart people. They naturally know that what allows them to live on piles of gold and silver is the peaceful and prosperous life of the people of Dali, the shrewdness and competence of His Majesty, and Your Highness's bravery and skill in battle."
"If we want to get rid of you, this stumbling block, there's no need to use such radical methods... I think there's a traitor within the court."
Upon hearing Wen Shuyao's words, Xie Jinghan's usually expressionless face showed a hint of a smile.
After a moment, Xie Jinghan nodded slightly and said seriously, "There is indeed a mole inside."
Moreover, this mole held a fairly high position.
"Didn't you want to know who Madam Wen's lover is?" Xie Jinghan answered immediately, "It's Prince Xin."
"The Prince of Xin's broken leg was faked. He was pretending from beginning to end. His mother, the former Consort Mei, was very likely the eldest daughter of the Northern Di King who had disappeared."
Wen Shuyao blinked in surprise: "So... it makes sense that he colluded with the Northern Barbarians."
Noble families would not easily collude with the Northern Barbarians unless they were desperate.
Everything they possess today is thanks to the peaceful and prosperous Dali Kingdom.
Only someone like Prince Xin, who possessed the blood of the Northern Barbarians and was scheming to seize power, would collude with the Northern Barbarians.
Wen Shuyao was silent for a moment: "In that case, what are Your Highness's plans?"
Xie Jinghan's eyes were cold: "Naturally, it's a plan to lure the snake out of its hole."
The phrase "luring the snake out of its hole" sounds easy, but in reality, it's extremely difficult to do.
Moreover, the enemy they were facing was Prince Xin.
Prince Xin had remained hidden for decades without revealing his true identity, but it was only because she was reborn and recognized the bewitching flower that Xie Jinghan was able to follow the clues and pinpoint Prince Xin's whereabouts.
How could someone with such a deep and cunning mind be so easily schemed against?
Many thoughts raced through Wen Shuyao's mind. Finally, she looked at Xie Jinghan, opened her lips, and seemed to want to say something.
However, Xie Jinghan reached out and patted her on the shoulder.
"Don't worry, I have my own way of dealing with him."
Xie Jinghan's words instantly calmed Wen Shuyao's anxious heart.
Wen Shuyao raised her eyes and glanced at Xie Jinghan: "Does Your Highness have any good ideas?"
“Prince Xin has been lying low for many years, and no one has noticed his disguise. He probably never expected that his decades-long disguise would be seen through in such a short time.” Xie Jinghan chuckled as he said this. “He is probably plotting something big.”
Upon hearing this, Wen Shuyao looked at Xie Jinghan curiously: "Does Your Highness intend to use the arrival of the Northern Di envoys in the capital... to lure the enemy out?"
Although Xie Jinghan did not speak, Wen Shuyao knew his decision from his expression.
……
About 100 miles outside Beijing, a long convoy was slowly traveling on the official road.
When the passersby saw the flag fluttering above the carriage, they were first puzzled, and then their expressions changed drastically.
"Hurry up, hurry up!" They carried their children and walked towards the village without looking back. "What bad luck!"
They spat at the convoy, their disgust and loathing undisguised.
Upon seeing their actions, the mounted guards in the caravan changed their expressions drastically, their eyes sweeping over the group with a sinister glint, their long swords poised to strike.
"Huyan Tu!" A clear female voice rang out from inside the carriage, "Stop your insolence on Dali territory!"
Upon hearing this, the man who had been replaced by Huyan Tu sheathed his long sword, his expression filled with anger. "They were the ones who looked down on us first!"