Chapter 528: Hardline

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Zhao Xu was lecturing at the Technology Academy when he suddenly learned that an Imperial Edict had arrived.

Returning to the Prince's Mansion, Zhao Xu had just stepped through the gate when Xu Ke followed close behind.

After the Imperial Edict was read, Zhao Xu's expression shifted slightly, while Xu Ke began to smile bitterly.

Seeing the Yan Wang's unpleasant expression, the young eunuch who had come to deliver the edict did not dare to linger; he offered his excuses and hurriedly left with the Imperial Guard soldiers.

"Your Highness, Imperial Uncle Mi was assassinated on the road, but fortunately, our people discovered it in advance and saved him. At present, Imperial Uncle Mi has resigned from his post and returned home, claiming illness and refusing to come out," said Xu Ke.

He paused and added, "Before the incident, Dou Wei and his party went to the palace, and immediately afterward, the Imperial Uncle also went to the palace, but he seemed displeased upon coming out."

Taking out a slip of paper, he continued, "This is what our people overheard: the conversation between the Imperial Uncle and the Father-in-law of the Emperor."

Zhao Xu nodded.

After Xu Ke arranged for the people of the Four Courts to go to Jingshi, he had also been secretly protecting the Mi Family under his orders.

Of course, sometimes protection is also a form of surveillance.

"Truly..." Zhao Xu almost blurted out that a dog cannot change its habit of eating excrement, but in the end, he suppressed it.

The Northern Expedition made him see clearly Zhao Heng's incompetence and weakness.

And this time, it made him see clearly that Zhao Heng is simply a person who cannot distinguish what is important.

I fear that in this emperor's heart, there still exists a shred of fantasy regarding the powerful clans.

Now, he finally understood why Dou Wei had supported Zhao Heng's ascension to the throne back then.

This is just a person whose strategic level is like dog shit, who only has a little petty cleverness, and who is also extremely fond of indulging in pleasure.

Since ancient times, treacherous officials have always loved such emperors.

And the twenty-plus years this emperor has been on the throne have also been twenty years in which the separatist rule of the powerful clans has become increasingly intense and the Great Song has accelerated its decline.

It was not until the Northern Expedition that this emperor completely lost control.

In order to seek temporary peace,

he signed a peace treaty and was then blackmailed by the powerful clans, causing the powerful clans to change from covert separatism to open and blatant separatism.

"The Emperor is now wavering back and forth between Your Highness and the powerful clans," Xu Ke said what Zhao Xu wanted to say.

Giving a light hum, Zhao Xu said, "Since I have walked step by step to this day, when have I ever relied on the Imperial Court? I have never held any hope for the Emperor; otherwise, I would not have demanded the Southern Three Commanderies when he came to Yanzhou."

He paused and added, "This is also fine. If he trusted me completely, I would still have to show some consideration. Now, let black be black and white be white."

Xu Ke nodded and said, "By the way, Your Highness, Changle Junzhu will be able to arrive in Yancheng tomorrow. What should be done about this Imperial Edict?"

Ma Han rescued Changle Junzhu and ordered people to escort her from Jinzhou to Yancheng.

But Changle Junzhu traveled slowly by carriage, so it took all these days to arrive.

"It is very simple: just say that Changle Junzhu encountered bandits on her way to Yancheng and unfortunately perished." Zhao Xu's eyes narrowed.

How could he possibly hand over someone he had saved?

Furthermore, since Zhao Heng blames him for being overbearing and reckless, he will show him what being overbearing and reckless looks like.

Facing the powerful clans who plot against him, he is submissive; facing the Imperial Prince who saved him from danger, he strikes with a heavy fist.

Such behavior—if this can be tolerated, what cannot!

Now, he wants to tell Zhao Heng clearly.

The powerful clans are not to be trifled with, and neither is he!

"Hehe, this subordinate thought the same." Xu Ke smiled.

Then, as if realizing something, he said, "Your Highness, do you think this matter could be a scheme by the powerful clans to sow discord?"

"Then I must thank Dou Wei for letting me completely recognize this Imperial Father of mine." Zhao Xu did not care at all whether it was a scheme by the powerful clans to sow discord.

If Zhao Heng truly treated him with sincerity, he would not have issued this Imperial Edict.

He would not be swayed by discord, but now the facts are the opposite.

Hearing this, Xu Ke nodded; he noticed that from the moment he received the Imperial Edict until now, the Yan Wang's mood had been very calm.

Perhaps the Yan Wang had long ago seen through the essence of this Great Song emperor.

He had never held any hope for the Imperial Court.

"There is one more thing. The people I have planted in the Ningjin Dusi discovered that Tiemuta was escorting a carriage to the outskirts of Jincheng. However, the carriage did not enter the city; they simply set up a camp and surrounded the carriage, and their patrols were strict. It seems there is something very important inside the carriage," said Xu Ke.

"Is that so?" Zhao Xu immediately jumped out of the matter of the Imperial Edict.

Nowadays, under the situation of the world's separatist rule, how could a vassal king far away on the frontier possibly care about the Imperial Court's attitude toward him?

Moreover, he had long since grasped the minds of these people.

Zhao Heng counts on him to check and balance the powerful clans so that he can live a peaceful life.

And the powerful clans are unhappy with him; they only want to weaken him for now and do not want to kill him yet.

They want him to beat the Northern Di into a serious injury, and for him to be seriously injured as well, so they can take the opportunity to feast on the corpses of both of them.

It is these thoughts that allow the Great Song to maintain a strange and delicate balance at present.

As for this balance, he does not want to break it for the time being; it is not bad for it to exist just like this.

At the very least, he can continue to make money from trade and hoard grain and mineral resources, which are the most important things in these chaotic times.

As for his lie this time that Changle Junzhu was killed by bandits, it will not break this balance either.

The powerful clans' goal of sowing discord has been achieved, and Zhao Heng cannot really fall out with him over this matter.

It is even more impossible for the Northern Di to once again lead their troops to the northwest and then move south from Wuguan.

Otherwise, this opportunity would be too good for him.

If he does not take the opportunity to seize the Ningjin Dusi and turn the Northern Di's eastern territory upside down, when will he?

"Yes, this subordinate finds this very strange. What could be in a carriage that would make the Northern Di value it to such a degree?" Xu Ke frowned, truly unable to guess.

"Continue to investigate." Based only on Xu Ke's few words, he could not guess.

However, this was, after all, an unusual signal that should attract attention.

After discussing a few more minor matters, Xu Ke returned.

Zhao Xu went to the study and then submitted a memorial to Zhao Heng.

Naturally, it spoke of the matter of Changle Junzhu being abducted.

As for whether Zhao Heng would believe it or not, he did not care.

Secondly, he gave Zhao Heng a reminder.

Currently, he is at war with the Northern Di, so doing anything disadvantageous to the Northern Di is appropriate.

If the Northern Di is dissatisfied, they can come find him; there is no need for the Imperial Court to interfere.

After writing it, he put down his brush and ordered someone to send it to Jingshi.

The next day.

Just as Xu Ke had said, a carriage arrived in Yancheng under the escort of Ma Family soldiers.

However, the Ma Family soldiers were all in plain clothes, and this party looked more like merchants.

Although Zhao Xu was informed, he remained in the courtyard of the prince's residence sleeping quarters sunning himself and did not go to welcome them.

After all, Changle Junzhu kept calling him "brother," so she should be the one to come pay him a visit.

Less than half an hour later.

The carriage arrived at the prince's residence, and only then did Zhao Xu walk slowly to the front courtyard.

At this moment, a young girl in a goose-yellow long dress was standing with her back to him.

Hearing footsteps, the young girl turned around, glanced at him, then lowered her head, performed a slight curtsy, and said in a low voice, "Ninth Brother, it has been a long time."

"Do not call me Ninth Brother; Changle Junzhu is already dead. From now on, you can go back to being Nian Yuyan," Zhao Xu said with a light laugh, his hands clasped behind his back.