"Yes, Imperial Majesty!" Zhang Jing hurriedly bowed, inwardly letting out a sigh of relief.
In reality, the Imperial Majesty's question had been a test for him. Zhang Jing couldn't help but curse Wang Xijue in his heart. It was all his fault, otherwise the Imperial Majesty wouldn't have been so angry.
Zhang Jing knew exactly what kind of person Xing Shangzhi was.
If you asked him to kill someone or use a knife, he would be fine. But if you asked him to handle some important matters, his methods would be far inferior. To put it bluntly, this person was a boorish fellow and couldn't take on big responsibilities.
The situation in Jinan was definitely complicated and definitely wasn't something that Xing Shangzhi could handle.
If he recommended Xing Shangzhi, that would mean he was doing it out of selfishness. After all, he was the one who recommended Xing Shangzhi.
Clearly, because of Wang Xijue, the Imperial Majesty was even suspecting him. That was going to kill him.
Fortunately, he was quick-witted. Zhang Jing couldn't help but sigh. As for whether or not Xu De could handle things well, that was none of Zhang Jing's business.
"There's no need to reply to Qufu!" Zhu Yijun didn't care what Zhang Jing was thinking.
"Yes, Imperial Majesty!" Zhang Jing hurriedly replied.
If the Emperor didn't reply, that meant he didn't agree with Wang Xijue's idea. Zhu Yijun was sure Wang Xijue would understand.
This time, he was forcing a duck onto a perch. Wang Xijue had no choice but to do it. He wanted to preserve his reputation and render a meritorious service.
Jinan Prefecture.
Ever since the assassination attempt, Jinan Prefecture was in a state of panic. All the gentry in Jinan Prefecture felt insecure.
Even a large family like the Chai family had their doors tightly shut, not letting anyone out easily.
The gentry were even more on edge, waiting for the next step in the matter.
The Inspector-General and Prefectural Yamen mobilized all their manpower to search for the rebels. The Imperial Bodyguard also continued to search. All of Jinan's official power was mobilized. Bai Xin didn't dare go out on the streets.
Many of the loafers who usually wandered about on the streets were arrested. The public security was much better, and the thieves and thieves were all gone.
Imperial Envoy Residence.
Wang Yongji sighed. He glanced at Xing Shangzhi, who was sitting beside him, and said helplessly, "You still haven't found any clues?"
Xing Shangzhi was a little ashamed, but he was even more unwilling. "No!
That day, we chased after the black-clothed men, but once we got out of the alley, they split up and we couldn't find them anymore.
There are no obvious clues on the body, clothes, or weapons. "
After listening to Xing Shangzhi's words, Wang Yongji sighed again. Obviously, these people were very professional.
"Jinan Prefecture and the Inspector-General's yamen didn't find any clues either."
Wang Yongji said helplessly, "We can't let this go on. Right now, everyone in Jinan is in a state of panic. This won't do."
Xing Shangzhi's face flashed with unhappiness when he heard Wang Yongji's words.
If it hadn't been for Wang Yongji keeping things under control, Xing Shangzhi would have long since taken action. He would first capture a few gentry families and interrogate them. That way, he would be able to find some clues.
If it wasn't obvious, then it must have been done by the gentry of Jinan.
Wang Yongji knew what Xing Shangzhi was thinking, but he didn't dare let him do it.
"I've already submitted this matter to the imperial court. Let's wait for the court's decision!"
Wang Yongji looked at Xing Shangzhi and said, "Let's not act rashly before the court's approval arrives. Jinan can't fall into chaos. If Jinan falls into chaos, Shandong will fall into chaos as well."
Although Xing Shangzhi was unwilling, he had no other choice. Before coming, he had been told to listen to Wang Yongji. He was only his assistant.
Willow Lane, Yang Manor.
Wang Shan's face was gloomy. When he looked at Yang Fei, his expression became even more unsightly.
After a while, Wang Shan sighed and said somewhat helplessly, "This Wang Yongji is an expert!
It's been so many days, yet he's suppressed the Imperial Bodyguard and hasn't made a move. "
Hearing Wang Shan's words, Yang Fei felt somewhat awkward. In fact, he had been feeling very awkward for the past few days.
The assassination had failed, but the loss of manpower wasn't much. The key was the failure itself.
Although the assassination was serious enough, the failure to kill Pi Gan meant that the entire matter wasn't serious enough.
Originally, he had held onto a glimmer of hope that the Imperial Bodyguard would make a move, but the Imperial Bodyguard had disappointed him once again.
"We can't wait any longer!"
Wang Shan looked at Yang Fei and said, "Get someone to give us clues and lead the matter to the Chai family.
In for a penny, in for a pound. Get the Imperial Bodyguard to look for the Chai family.
This time, we must do it well. Try to convince the Imperial Bodyguard that it was the Chai family who did it. However, the people outside will think that the Chai family is innocent. "
Yang Fei nodded solemnly. "Don't worry, Envoy Zuo. I know what to do. This time, there won't be any mistakes.
Right now, everyone is already panicking. Once the Imperial Bodyguard makes a move, it'll be much easier for us to make arrangements. "
Wang Shan nodded and waved his hand. "Go do it!"
That night, Xing Shangzhi returned to his room and ordered someone to bring a table of food and wine. He was going to drink some wine to relieve his depressed mood.
Seeing his subordinate, Chao Lian, walk in, Xing Shangzhi's face darkened.
Xing Shangzhi was very disappointed with his subordinates for not being able to find anything these past few days.
Chao Lian also knew that the commander didn't like him, so he quickly smiled and said, "Sir, I have a clue!"
When Xing Shangzhi heard this, he immediately became spirited. This was the nicest thing he had heard in the past two days.
He stood up abruptly and didn't even bother to drink his wine as he said, "What clue?
Tell me quickly! "
"Sir, a monk came to a temple in the west. He came with a secret report."
Chao Lian quickly said, "This temple is called Lanruo Temple. It's not very big, but it's been very strange these days. A big family has come to perform religious rites.
However, Lanruo Temple usually doesn't perform religious rites for people. "
"I thought it was strange at first, but I didn't take it to heart. On the day of Lord Pi's assassination, these people disappeared. It's said that although the religious rites are still being performed, the number of people has decreased a lot."
"Later, although some people came back, they lost a lot of people. I felt that something was wrong, so I found the Imperial Bodyguard."
Xing Shangzhi slammed the table and said loudly, "God is helping me. Gather the people and let's go to Lanruo Temple." Just as he was about to walk out, Xing Shangzhi said, "I'll go to Lord Wang's side!"
Although it was already dark, Wang Yongji was still awake. When he heard that Xing Shangzhi had come, he directly let him in.
Xing Shangzhi's face was full of joy. After seeing Wang Yongji, he couldn't wait to say, "Lord Wang, we found the assassins!" Xing Shangzhi told him the whole story.
After hearing Xing Shangzhi's words, Wang Yongji's heart skipped a beat. These people from Lanruo Temple must be up to no good.
It was hard to say if they were the ones who assassinated Pi Gan. However, if they were, it would be great.
Wang Yongji nodded directly and said, "Let's go to Lanruo Temple!"
Regardless of whether the other party was an assassin or not, they had to go and take a look.
The Imperial Bodyguard and the Imperial Guard were already ready. They rushed to Lanruo Temple.
Ever since the assassination attempt, there were few pedestrians on the streets after dark. Lanruo Temple was naturally affected as well. The number of incense offerings wasn't very good these past two days. When Wang Yongji and Xing Shangzhi arrived, Lanruo Temple was already closed.
"Men, surround it!" Xing Shangzhi said with a cold expression as he pressed the saber on his waist.
Following Xing Shangzhi's order, the Embroidered Uniform Guards and the imperial envoys quickly surrounded Lanruo Temple.
Xing Shangzhi glanced at Chao Lian beside him and said directly, "Go in and open the door!"
The Imperial Bodyguard split into groups of two. One stood under the wall with his knees bent and his hands crossed in front of his abdomen. The other stepped on the person's hands and directly flipped over the wall. Then, they jumped in and opened the temple door from the inside.
"Rush in and search!"
Xing Shangzhi waved his hand, and the Imperial Bodyguard rushed in like wolves and tigers.
The monks in the temple were still doing their evening prayers and had no idea what was going on. The Imperial Bodyguard had already rushed in like wolves and tigers.
When they saw the saber and sword in the hands of the Imperial Bodyguard, they were shocked and didn't dare to move.
An old monk walked out and stood at the entrance of the hall. He looked at Xing Shangzhi and Wang Yongji who were walking in.
"Amitabha!"
The old monk bowed and chanted the name of Buddha. He said, "Sir, why did you rush into Lian Temple in the middle of the night?"
Wang Yongji glanced at the old monk, then bowed and said, "I have my reasons for visiting in the middle of the night. Please forgive me, Master.
I received a secret report that there was a group of thieves hiding in Lian Temple. I'm here to capture them. "
Before the old monk could reply, there were already sounds of killing coming from behind. The old monk's expression changed drastically.
Xing Shangzhi instantly became excited and said loudly to the people around him, "Follow me!" Then, he rushed to the back.
Wang Yongji glanced at the Imperial Guard who came to report and asked, "What's going on?"
"Sir, as soon as we arrived at the backyard, a group of thieves saw us. After seeing us, they ran away. Then, more thieves rushed out of the yard.
They were all holding sabers and bows. "
The guard said excitedly, "Sir, we've caught a big fish this time!"
Wang Yongji nodded and said, "Watch these monks!" After saying this, Wang Yongji also led his people to the back.
"Sir, there's still danger behind. Why don't you wait here?"
The attendant reminded him.
Wang Yongji shook his head and said with a serious expression, "Then I have to go and take a look. I can't let you fight in the front while I hide in the back. That's not my way of being an official, and it's not my way of doing things."
Although Wang Yongji said this, when he arrived at the back, the battle had already ended.
The smell of blood filled the air. Many people were injured, and the Imperial Bodyguards were carrying the corpses out.
When Wang Yongji saw this scene, he frowned. Last time, all the assassins were dead, and some of them even committed suicide.
This time, there were people who died here. Could it be that there were no survivors?
At this time, Wang Yongji saw Xing Shangzhi. Behind him were two people who were pressed down. Wang Yongji's eyes lit up. There were survivors!
Xing Shangzhi laughed and walked to Wang Yongji's side. He said with a smile, "Sir, this time we really found the right place. These people used the same sabers as the ones who assassinated Sir Pi. We can conclude that they are in cahoots."
"These two people are the ones we caught alive. This is the Chai family's butler, and this is the assassin's subordinate."
When Wang Yongji heard Xing Shangzhi's words, he frowned. The Chai family's people?
Was the assassination really related to the Chai family?
At this time, the butler suddenly rushed forward and said with a tearful voice, "Sir, I'm wronged!
I have nothing to do with these people!
The Chai family has nothing to do with this matter!
I don't know who they are! "
"I don't know them at all. I don't know what they do!"
Before Wang Yongji could speak, Xing Shangzhi kicked him to the ground and said loudly, "At this time, you still dare to lie. When I just went in, you were drinking with the leader!"
An Imperial Bodyguard officer came over and said loudly, "Sir, I found the letter and money!"
Xing Shangzhi took the letter, opened it and glanced at it. He laughed and said, "Good, good, this time the evidence is conclusive!" He handed the letter to Wang Yongji and said with a laugh, "Lord Wang, take a look!"
After taking a look at the letter, Wang Yongji's brows furrowed. It was actually a contract.
The two parties to the contract were Chai family's Chai family and a person called Chen Liang.
It didn't say anything about the murder, but it said that Chen Liang would do something for the Chai family, and then the Chai family would pay Chen Liang 100,000 taels of silver.
It didn't say what the specific thing was, but there was Chai's seal on the bottom.
It was Chai's seal.
After reading the letter, Wang Yongji's expression became serious. He looked around, and Wang Yongji felt that there was something strange everywhere!
He glanced at the person who was pressed next to the Chai family's butler.
This was a man in his thirties, kneeling on the ground with a dull look in his eyes.
He was wearing the best silk of Jiangnan, and it seemed that he was a person who lived like a prince.
"What's your name?
What do you do for a living?
Where are you from? "Wang Yongji asked slowly.
This person didn't speak, and Xing Shangzhi kicked him to the ground. Only then did this person raise his head in a daze, as if he had just come back to his senses.
He lay on the ground and cried while kowtowing to Wang Yongji.
"Sir, this lowly one doesn't know anything!
There's no such thing as a lowly one! "
Wang Yongji sighed, then turned to Xing Shangzhi and said: "Sir Xing, take him back and interrogate him. Don't let him die."
Xing Shangzhi excitedly clasped his hands and laughed: "Don't worry Sir Wang, our Imperial Bodyguard will definitely not have a problem doing this." After saying that, he waved his hand and had people press the two people down.
"Sir Wang, what about the Chai family?
Now that the Chai family has been exposed, don't let them escape! "
After the two people were pressed down, Xing Shangzhi said to Wang Yongji: "Why don't we let the Imperial Bodyguard go and take care of the Chai family!"
Thinking of the Imperial Bodyguard rushing into the Chai family, Wang Yongji shook his head. Once the Imperial Bodyguard entered the Chai family, things would become big.