Chapter 1659: He Xiao

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The riot in Tianshui City was also transmitted to the palace in the first instance.

Hearing that Bai Tan and the Central Commander Li Qibo had already rushed to deal with it, the Yao King felt slightly comforted and sent another two thousand imperial guards to them—the number of refugees in the city was indeed too large.

The Yao King himself still had to deal with the relentless Qingyang and the Beijia special envoy, and was truly unable to divide his attention.

Not long after, the Fourth Prince, You Rongzhi, and other officials in charge of the Tianshui Eastward Expansion project arrived at the Frost Immortal Hall one after another.

Qiu Long asked: "Why don't I see Gu Xuan and Jing Yuanxun?"

Someone replied: "Their mansions were attacked by refugees, I'm afraid……"

Everyone was silent, feeling a sense of shared sorrow.

Who could have imagined that the capital of the Yao nation, which had enjoyed two hundred years of prosperity, would encounter such an unprecedented turmoil!

Even many noble officials in the north of the city could not escape the disaster.

The Yao King comforted them: "Just now, news came from the city that the mansions of the Qian family and the Bo family have been recaptured, and the refugees inside have been cleared out. Everyone, do not be alarmed or restless; the disaster of the refugees is not to be feared. It has been like this for the past two hundred years, and it will be the same tonight! Before dawn, the refugee riot will definitely be suppressed!"

His attitude was decisive, revealing strong confidence, and the officials naturally believed him.

The Yao King was usually stubborn, but at critical moments, he was far more composed than these officials under him.

The Yao King glanced at Qingyang; this old hag was standing on the side with the Beijia special envoy, watching the fun.

If it weren't for the Beijia special envoy insisting on standing here as a witness, the Yao King might have ordered someone to behead Qingyang on the spot!

No matter how clumsy the reasons and excuses found afterward were, that was afterward. The Yao King knew very well that the refugee riot in Tianshui City was eight or nine parts related to Qingyang! But conversely, if she died, could the turmoil outside the city stop?

Usually, he was unwilling to move Qingyang, but if killing this old hag could stop all the chaos in Tianshui City, he was willing to take the risk! The Yao King secretly gritted his teeth, just in time to hear the Fourth Prince ask: "Why hasn't Island Master He come?"

That's right, it was so lively tonight, and He Xiao was one of the most important persons in charge of the Tianshui Eastward Expansion project; why hadn't he shown his face yet?

The Yao King's heart sank, and several terrible thoughts flashed through his mind.

Calculating the time, He Xiao should have arrived long ago.

Could it be……

You Rongzhi said to the Fourth Prince: "From the South City Gate to the Central Main Street, the whole way is blocked by refugees. Perhaps Island Master He is blocked on the road?"

The Frost Immortal Hall was in an uproar; at this time, a small palace servant hurried in and said in a low voice to Qiu Long: "Zhao Song requests an audience, saying that something big has happened at the Flowing Spring Shanzhuang."

Qiu Long now got a headache whenever he heard the words "something big." There were truly enough "big things" happening tonight.

But Zhao Song didn't enter the hall directly, but instead looked for him to speak first; there must be some inside story. He could only apologize to the Yao King and follow the small palace servant to the back.

The back hall had a barrier, so others could not eavesdrop.

Zhao Song and Official Yu almost rushed in and knelt on the ground: "Official Qiu, save me!"

"Speak clearly, what happened?"

Zhao Song then told what had just happened at the Flowing Spring Shanzhuang, and Qiu Long pressed one hand on the pillar, saying solemnly: "You let He Xiao run away?"

At this juncture, He Xiao actually slipped away! With him running away like this, would the huge amount of money he owed the Yao King also run away with him? Qiu Long's first reaction was that His Majesty was going to be furious.

However, wait, that wasn't the worst part.

He Xiao ran away, and the crime of the explosion attack encountered by Qingyang and the Beijia special envoy would likely be pinned on him! Otherwise, why would he run away? Unless, was it really his handiwork? But the Beijia special envoy and Regent Qingyang would also use this as an excuse to constantly urge the Yao King to bring He Xiao to justice.

Zhao Song took a letter from his bosom and presented it with both hands: "This is the letter He Xiao left behind, specifically designated to be delivered to you!"

The small palace servant took it, tore open the envelope, verified it was non-toxic, and then placed it in Qiu Long's hand.

There was only one sentence in the letter:

The truth remains at the bottom of the red jade box.

Even if someone intercepted this letter, just looking at this sentence, they would be confused.

But Qiu Long understood immediately:

A few days ago, He Xiao had just given him a box of good medicine to refresh his mind; the box containing the medicine was a red jade box!

Bottom of the red jade box?

He usually received too many treasures, so how would he pay attention to a box for medicine? But now thinking back, He Xiao had specifically instructed at the time that this kind of pill must be stored in a red jade box so it wouldn't spoil.

It seemed He Xiao was afraid he would throw the box away, hence these words.

Qiu Long took out the medicine box from his bosom, felt it carefully inside and outside the bottom, and sure enough, there was a secret compartment.

He pushed open the secret compartment and took out a small paper roll! The paper strip was only a finger wide, and when spread out, the words on it were flying like dragons and dancing like phoenixes: Bai Tan and Qingyang are conspiring to rebel tonight!

The few words flashed into his eyes, but they nearly froze Qiu Long's brain.

Bai Tan!

He Xiao was pointing out that General Bai was an accomplice of Qingyang?

Qiu Long's first reaction: Impossible? For so many years, General Bai had been loyal to His Majesty, charging into battle on the battlefield and working diligently in Tianshui City. Even this time when the Quiet Lake Shanzhuang went on sale, Bai Tan also spent money to snatch the first-row refined residence, faster than You Rongzhi!

But conversely, if General Bai rebelled, His Majesty and Tianshui City would be in danger! Thinking that Bai Tan currently had thousands of men under his command and his nephew Bai Hengbo was in the palace, Qiu Long broke out in a cold sweat.

He steadied his mind, dismissed Zhao Song and the palace servants, and personally took a gold tray, placed a few medicinal herbs on it, and then turned to the front hall, saying clearly to the Yao King: "Your Majesty, it is time to take the medicine."

The pills prescribed by the imperial physician were to nourish the body and restore energy, and the Yao King needed to take them at regular intervals. Especially with state affairs being busy, the Yao King had to take a short rest every hour or two.

After all, he was old, and his energy was not as good as a young man's.

Moreover, Qiu Long's tone was raised higher than usual, and the Yao King knew immediately that something was different.

He gave a "hmm": "Everyone leave, take a short rest for two quarter-hours."

The ministers were accustomed to this and bowed and left one after another. No matter how urgent state affairs were, His Majesty could not be allowed to overwork, otherwise, if the old monarch fell ill, who could take over such a big mess? Qingyang looked at the Yao King steadily, didn't say anything, and also went out.

Once the hall door was closed and the barrier was activated, the Yao King turned to ask Qiu Long: "What other urgent matter is there?"

After all, they had been master and servant for decades; Qiu Long had just turned to the back hall, and when he came out, he offered the medicine, and the Yao King understood immediately that there was a secret matter to be reported urgently.

Qiu Long asked him to take the medicine first, scanned the hall to ensure there were no eavesdropping divine abilities, and then said in a low voice: "He Xiao escaped as soon as he saw the palace envoy."

"What!" The Yao King's face changed color, "Zhao Song actually let him……"

Qiu Long interrupted him: "This is the note He Xiao left behind."

The old palace servant had never been so rude, but the Yao King didn't blame him for his rudeness, reaching out to take the note and look at it—

His eyes widened!

Bai Tan?

Bai Tan!

He Xiao said that the accomplice of Qingyang he had been struggling to find was actually Bai Tan?! Qiu Long said carefully: "Your Majesty, this could also be He Xiao deliberately implicating him before escaping……"

The red jade box, He Xiao gave it to him a few days ago. Assuming Bai Tan was truly conspiring with Qingyang to rebel, why didn't He Xiao blow the whistle earlier, but only revealed it at this very moment? What did that mean? It was terrifying to think about.

"No!" The Yao King glared at him, his eyes becoming clearer instead. "Although He Xiao's purpose is unknown, he rarely says the wrong thing. Call Yuwen Xu in."

Qiu Long walked to the outside of the hall and summoned Yuwen Xu alone.

"Your Majesty." Yuwen Xu faced the Yao King, as respectful as ever.

The Yao King went straight to the point: "How did you get your hands on that whole set of evidence for exposing Shi Song Wei?"

Previously, Yuwen Xu had presented this set of information, and because the evidence was exceptionally sufficient, the Yao King immediately handed it over to the Court Marshal for execution, and after Shi Song Wei was arrested, he confessed quickly, so the Yao King didn't go into detail despite his busy schedule.

Knowing it could be done, one doesn't necessarily need to know how it was done.

Caught off guard by this question, Yuwen Xu was terrified.

If he told a lie and was discovered, it would be the crime of deceiving the monarch. The King's temper was that he didn't hate incompetence, but hated deception.

Fortunately, he had been prepared in his heart, swallowed his saliva, and said: "It, it was discovered by the Yangshan Chamber of Commerce and submitted to me."

When he reported the Shi family clue earlier, he didn't emphasize that he had spent effort to find it, only saying lightly that he "got a clue," and the Yao King was focused on the rich and detailed content, so he didn't ask more.

The Yao King said gloomily: "He Xiao gave it to you?"

"Yes, yes." Yuwen Xu bit the bullet, "This afternoon, he sent it to my house via a personal guard."

And then he took this thing into the palace to claim credit.

Even though the Yao King's tone was fierce now, Yuwen Xu didn't regret it. This just happened to show that the King had investigated along the evidence and truly found something, which was why he wanted to confirm the source.

The clue was true, the evidence was useful, that was the most important thing. Afterward, he would just wait to be rewarded.

"I was wondering why Official Yu was suddenly so thorough and could catch the Shi family's horse feet; so it was taking credit for others!" The Yao King smiled coldly, "Didn't you ever think about why He Xiao would give such a big credit to you?"

Did he not know what kind of character these official merchants under him had? They clearly held the best resources in the entire Yao nation, no, no, they clearly held the best resources in the entire Golden Plain, yet every year they only earned a few coins for him, for the national treasury, and sometimes had to do some tricks to balance the accounts, and if they couldn't cover it up, they would find various reasons to cry about losses—

Otherwise, why would the national treasury be empty year after year, and why would the country be so short of money? Even needing He Xiao, an outsider, to raise money for the Yao King, to raise money for the national treasury?

These official merchants couldn't even count money correctly when sitting on it, otherwise where would the losses and deficits come from?

With this kind of straw-bag level, with this kind of work efficiency, Yuwen Xu, who had been an official merchant for ten years, suddenly became clever, suddenly became capable, and suddenly caught the Shi family's speculation and misconduct; the Yao King felt it was abnormal.

Today's big events were connected one after another, and he hadn't had time to think carefully before, but now that he pondered it, it didn't taste right.

Yuwen Xu lowered his head, not daring to speak.

The Yao King waved his hand, having no time to be angry or entangled with him: "You go down." ===== CHAPTER 1660 =====