Chapter 93

After midnight, in the槐树林 (huái shù lín) (Sophora forest) in the southern city, it was extremely cold. Mu Wanqing leaned against a tree stump, constantly playing with the sword in her hand.

A rustling sound came, but Mu Wanqing did not even lift her head, humming softly, "Did you deliver the letter to Li Shishi? How fussy, it took you half an hour to deliver a letter!" Her words were filled with jealousy, yet they revealed her straightforwardness.

Zhao Yougong smiled helplessly. Dealing with a woman like Mu Wanqing was truly a headache. Lady Zhu walked around in front of him every day, but this playboy prince did not dare to make a move. It was not that he feared Lady Zhu's resistance, but that he was afraid Mu Xiaojie would be jealous and stab her to death with her sword.

"What are you talking about? It didn't take half an hour, just a quarter of an hour. Oh, didn't you ask me to find a scapegoat? You finished so quickly?"

"There was that strange man, the villain. What act are you putting on this time? Can Li Shishi really get involved with the Dragon Guard Army case?"

Sitting beside the tree stump, Prince Zhao Yougong shamelessly moved closer to Mu Xiaojie, inhaling the faint fragrance and smiling, "You don't understand, do you? Don't look at Li Shishi as just a courtesan; some things really do need her help!"

Deciding to pass the Dragon Guard Army case to Li Shishi was a well-thought-out decision by Zhao Yougong. This case had to be investigated, as it could create enough trouble for Cai Jing and others. However, the investigation could not be initiated by him. If Cai Jing and others found out, it would not benefit him at all, and it would be detrimental to his future. But if Li Shishi were to leak the information, it would be a different story. Li Shishi was Emperor Huizong's woman, and even if Cai Jing and others had the nerve, they would not dare to touch her.

"Hmph, villain, are you interested in this Li Shishi?"

"Cough, cough." Prince Zhao Yougong almost choked, turning his head and opening his innocent eyes with a bitter smile, "Wanying, how could that be?"

"Why not? Hmph, I'm telling you, it's fine to play around, but if you dare to marry some random women, watch out for my sword!"

Mu Xiaojie blew on her veil, her right hand slightly raised, showing the ancient long sword. Although Mu Wanqing was quite domineering, in Zhao Yougong's eyes, she became somewhat adorable.

As if deliberately teasing Mu Wanqing, Zhao Yougong leaned his body, his head resting on Mu Xiaojie's shoulder, exhaling warm breath, "Wanying, can I marry Lady Zhu?"

"Hmm?" Mu Wanqing's ears itched from the warm breath, her heart racing like a deer. Just as a hint of shyness appeared on her face, she suddenly turned her head and widened her beautiful eyes, "If you dare, even Zhu Lian is out of the question!"

"....This one is no good, that one is no good, who can I marry then...."

"Stop asking knowingly!"

Mu Wanqing, feeling both embarrassed and angry, kicked Zhao Yougong's mischievous foot with her small black boot. Although she was straightforward, she found it hard to say those words out loud. This villain, knowing her thoughts, deliberately teased her.

"Hehe, if you don't say, how would I know? I might go to the Zhu family to propose tomorrow...."

"If you go, I'll follow!"

Zhao Yougong felt a cold chill down his back. Mu Xiaojie's personality was truly both lovable and hateful. As they were bickering, Dugu Qiubai slowly walked over.

"Dugu, can you make some noise when you walk next time? Your ghostly manner will scare people to death!"

Ignoring Prince Zhao Yougong's nagging, Dugu Qiubai leaned against a Sophora tree, sipping wine from a wine bag.

"Dugu, did you find a scapegoat?" Mu Wanqing straightened her slightly disheveled clothes and asked.

"Zhang Yaobang!"

Hearing these three words, Zhao Yougong's heart raced. Sigh, I'm really sorry to the Five Greats of Kaifeng, but one of them is gone so easily. However, Zhang Yaobang should have died long ago. Among the Five Greats of Kaifeng, he was the most evil. Killing him would be doing justice.

After chatting for a while, they inevitably mentioned the gold. Mu Wanqing tapped the grass with her sword scabbard, somewhat depressed, "Villain, you need to think of a way. The Six-Fan Gate people are always hovering around Chenzhou, the gold can't be transported out!"

"Hmm? Can't we try to lure the Six-Fan Gate people away?"

Zhao Yougong was very curious. Dugu Qiubai was a smart person, and this shouldn't be difficult for him. As he rolled his eyes, Dugu Qiubai frowned and gave him a cold stare.

"Lan Kuo is there."

"Lan Kuo?"

Recently, Zhao Yougong and Dugu Qiubai had carefully studied the Imperial Guard Corps. Although the Imperial Guard Corps was not as powerful as before, it still had many experts. Among the known ones were Cao Bing, Huang Shang, Lan Kuo, and Tang Miao. Especially Cao Bing and Lan Kuo, whose skills were even higher than Huang Shang. If Lan Kuo was really near Chenzhou, it would be quite difficult.

Dugu Qiubai had suffered a hidden injury at the hands of Cao Bing, and his wounds had not yet healed. He was still recuperating, and with only Mu Wanqing, going to Chenzhou would be like sending a meat bun to a dog, never to return. The gold had to be transported out; it was the capital for his future. He thought for a long time without saying a word.

The cold wind in the forest made Mu Wanqing not want to disturb the villain, so she could only wait quietly.

They had to divert the attention of the Imperial Guard Corps. If they continued to focus on the Red Mountain Lake Flower and Stone Transport, the gold could not be transported out. How could they attract the Imperial Guard Corps? To mobilize the Imperial Guard Corps, they had to make Emperor Huizong feel the pain. After a long time, Zhao Yougong's face turned slightly red, and his eyes became more ruthless.

If they were going to do it, they would do it big.

"Dugu, how are your injuries?"

"No major issues!"

"Good, in mid-next month, Daming Prefecture will send some famous paintings to the capital. At that time, the Imperial Guard Corps will send experts to protect them. We will intercept them halfway and make a big move!"

"Location!"

"Fengqiu's southern Chenqiao Town. At that time, we will kill the protectors, and Wanying will divert the Imperial Guard Corps' attention northward!"

Chenqiao Town was only a few dozen miles from the capital. Acting here could get them into serious trouble. Hearing Zhao Yougong's bold decision, Mu Wanqing was somewhat afraid, "Villain, are you really going to do this? There will definitely be Six-Fan Gate experts there. If we can't withdraw in time, all your years of effort will be wasted!"

"Ha ha, no problem. With the two of us, few can escape. If we really fail, it's just our fate, not anyone else's fault!"

Zhao Yougong's laughter was filled with helplessness. It was said that a gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall, but that was easy to say. To achieve this, one needed strength. Now, Zhao Yougong was in the capital with limited power. To carve out a place, he had to take risks. Sometimes he had to endure, and sometimes he couldn't. In his position, he could not hesitate.

Mu Wanqing might have many worries, but Dugu Qiubai did not. He just nodded and said, "Good."

The next day, when the sun was high, Zhao Yougong finally got out of bed. The courtyard was sunny, but the autumn wind was bleak, offering no warmth. Walking on the stone path, looking at the withered leaves, it was like the autumn of many years ago. After so many years, Zhao Yougong had experienced countless dangers. Perhaps, being alive was a blessing.

The world has its way, and everything has its rules. A ruler should make decisive decisions and have a heart for the world. But Emperor Huizong was indecisive, both ruthless like a venomous snake and soft-hearted like a woman.

The streets were bustling with people, some gathered in circles, whispering. As Zhao Yougong's eyes glanced over, they scattered like birds, as if the prince's gaze could kill.

"Strange, Shao Lie, why are people so afraid of me today?"

Hearing Prince Zhao Yougong's self-satisfied words, Yang Zaixing was speechless. What kind of question was this? It seemed that the people of the capital were always afraid of seeing the Prince of Yongning.

Suzhou's pig digging graves, Bianliang's wall-demolishing king. These two were the most hated in the Song Dynasty.

Arriving at Kaifeng Prefecture, Xie Dahu, Ma Rulong, and others all rushed over. Prince Zhao Yougong had not even entered the room when Xie Dahu already opened his mouth with a sad face, "Your Highness, the matter from yesterday has been leaked!"

"Hmm? Who leaked it? Do they want to kill me?" Zhao Yougong was so scared that his body trembled, and his official hat was slightly askew.

"Unknown, but Zhang the constable didn't come today...."

"Go find him quickly!"

"Already looked, can't find him at all!"

"This Zhang Yaobang, truly has a wolf's heart and a dog's lungs...."

Zhao Yougong cursed in his mouth, but in his heart, he could only silently apologize. Zhang the constable had done so many bad things; this time, it would be a good deed.

In fact, like Zhao Yougong, Xie Wudi and others also knew about the matter. Only a few people knew, and now everyone was there except Zhang Yaobang. The result was very clear. Ma Rulong cursed while thinking, why did Old Zhang leak the information? What benefit would it bring him?