Chapter 91: Conspiracy and Ambition

  In the wing room of the East Factory, the imperial physician had just left after treating Jiang Xia's injuries. The injuries Jiang Xia sustained were all internal, and after taking two sacred healing pills from the palace, he was slightly better off. For the next month, he would not be able to engage in any physical activity with others and must rest well.

  Not long after the imperial physician left, Liu Jin entered the chamber and asked with a smile: "How is it? Hu, the imperial physician, is the chief of the Imperial Hospital. After his treatment, do you feel any better?"

  "Thank you for your concern, Jiang Xia. I'm feeling much better." Although Jiang Xia said she was feeling much better, her tone still sounded somewhat weak.

  Liu Jin nodded, and without waiting for Jiang Xia to ask, he began to speak on his own initiative: "This afternoon, the youngest son of the Marquis of Muyang's mansion, Liu Qingyun, was killed by someone. He died right at the back door of the Marquis of Muyang's mansion, and his head was even cut off."

  At this time, the Marquis of Moyang reported to the Emperor and asked the Emperor to take charge. The Emperor then ordered our family and the Brocade Guard to investigate the matter together. Our family still sent out the Dongchang's secret agents to investigate everywhere, and finally found the Wang family mansion that you saw just now.

  At that time, the secret agents of Dong Chang sneaked into Wang's mansion and discovered that it was actually the headquarters of Tianji Society in Beijing. The Tianji Society had been using the name "rebels" to recruit experts all over the world, so our family arranged for people to start setting up an ambush to capture them.

  By nightfall, we were ready to take action, but Zhong Bin released the 'Five-Colored Star Rain' in Xiangyang Manor and called for support from the Brocade Guards. Soon after, people from the East Factory came running to inform our family that you had been kidnapped, and then the spies outside the Wang Family Mansion also came to inform us that you had been taken inside, so our family sent people to rescue you."

  "Thank you, sir. If it weren't for your timely arrival, I'm afraid Jiang Xia would have lost his life already. Jiang Xia will never forget the favor of saving his life," Jiang Xia said with a sincere expression.

  Liu Jin smiled slightly, "You are a person from the East Factory, you are one of us. How could our family just watch as one of our own gets into trouble? Don't worry about it anymore, from now on this matter is ours to handle. We will take good care of it and won't let you suffer any injustice."

  "Then I'll have to trouble you," said Jiang Xia.

  "Take a good rest, I'll go take a look at how their interrogation is going."

  Having said that, Liu Jin stood up and left.

  Out of the Jiangxia resting house, there were two people from the East Factory waiting for Liu Jin outside the door. These two were none other than Fei Ying and Yin Gou, the second of the eighteen notorious big heads of the East Factory.

  Fei Ying's physique is tall and majestic, with a hooked nose, and he is skilled in the "Eagle Claw Technique" and the "Eagle Strike Eight Exhibitions" martial arts, hence his nickname. Yin Gou, on the other hand, has a short and slender build, and was once a master swordsman in his youth. However, after his right palm was chopped off by someone, he had a steel hook installed on his right hand by a skilled craftsman. Due to his ruthless and cunning nature, outsiders often referred to him as the "Soul Reaper" of the Eastern Depot, earning him the nickname Yin Gou (Silver Hook).

  The two were Liu Jin's left and right arms, now seeing Liu Jin come out, they went up together to welcome him. Fei Ying said to Liu Jin: "Your Excellency, Zhu Houxi wants to see you."

  Liu Jin coldly said, "That fool, I really can't understand why Zhu Youjian would send him to the capital to handle such an important matter. He's messed everything up."

  After finishing speaking, Liu Jin took a deep breath and said: "Let Zhu Houxie wait for now, let's go to the study room to talk."

  "Yes." Eagle and Silver Hook replied in unison.

  Lying in the room, Jiang Xia suddenly changed his face, and his eyes were filled with contemplation.

  Believe Liu Jin did not think, Jiang Xia's five senses are different from ordinary people, vision and hearing are extremely sensitive. What he said to Fei Ying and Yin Gou, ordinary people would definitely not hear, but Jiang Xia in the room heard it clearly.

  Many things can be analyzed from Liu Jin's words. Firstly, everything Liu Jin just told him must be false. Obviously, Liu Jin not only knew Zhu Houxi but also had dealings with Zhu Youxiao, Zhu Houxi's father.

  The name Zhu Youxiao may not be familiar to ordinary people, and the name Zhu Houxi is also not well-known. However, Zhu Youxiao's second son, Zhu Houhao, is probably known to anyone who is familiar with Ming history. He was a complex combination of benevolent ruler and tyrant, wise ruler and foolish ruler, and was known as the Emperor Shizong of the Great Ming Dynasty.

  According to the records of the History of Ming, Zhu Houzhao died from a cold and had no heir, so Zhu Houheng was chosen from a collateral branch to succeed him.

  Later generations always doubt when looking at this historical event, Wu Zong was martial and physically strong, how could he die from a mere cold? Now it seems that there is indeed a ghost in here. It seems that Zhu Youzhen had already started to lay out his plan very early on, with the goal of harming Wu Zong to death, so that he himself, as a close branch of the imperial family, could seize the throne.

  According to the original history, Zhu Youxiao was undoubtedly successful. Moreover, from Liu Jin's words just now, it can be heard that Liu Jin had also mixed in and made a lot of efforts in the matter of harming Zhu Houzhao and succeeding Emperor Wuzong.

  Jiang Xia took a deep breath, silently lamenting his misfortune. It seemed that he had inadvertently fallen into another whirlpool, and this time, he was probably going to spin around in the Ghost Gate several times again.

  Indeed, Liu Jin's words in the study with Fei Ying and Yin Gou just proved Jiang Xia's speculation.

  "Zhu Houxi, that fool, doesn't he know what big deal he's coming to the capital for this time? His behavior is so high-profile. He killed the young master of the Mu Yang House, but why did he also provoke Jiang Xia?" Liu Jin was furious, with a strong sense of indignation.

  "Director General, what should we do with Zhu Houxi now? The Embroidered Uniform Guards will definitely use severe punishment on the others in the mansion after they are caught. If any of them can't withstand it and reveal the truth, then the entire Xing Xian Wang family will be doomed." Yinhao said.

  Fei Ying furrowed his brow in thought, then ventured to propose: "Why don't we kill Jiang Xia, and then send someone to notify those people who were caught by the Embroidered Uniform Guard to keep their mouths shut. After they've endured for a while, we can think of another way to kill them one by one and cover up the whole thing."

  Liu Jin shook his head, "Jiang Xia is definitely not to be killed. If Jiang Xia dies, the Emperor will definitely investigate thoroughly, and at that time, those people caught by the Embroidered Uniform Guard will not survive. Knowing they are going to die, it's likely someone will reveal the truth."

  At present, there is only one way to deal with this situation, which is to push Zhu Houxin out and take all the blame. It can be said that he was deceived by He Qizong's sorcery, unintentionally worshiped He Qizong as his master, and mistakenly joined the Tianji Society.

  We'll rush to report to the Emperor before Jin Yiwei does, and try to get the Emperor to hand the case over to our Eastern Depot for handling. This way, we can control all aspects of the situation, and Zhu Youjian will only be guilty of being derelict in his duties. At most, he'll receive a imperial edict reprimanding him.

  "Then isn't Zhu Houxi doomed to die?" Fei Ying exclaimed in surprise.

  Liu Jin sneered and said: "Such a fool, it's better to die, once and for all."

  "Master, this way, I'm afraid Zhu Youxiao will be suspected by the Emperor. If he remembers anything else in the future, it's likely..." Yin Gou said with a worried face.

  Liu Jin smiled slightly and shook his head: "It's nothing, the Ning King Zhu Chenhao sent someone to find our family. Although he didn't say it clearly, we can understand the meaning between the lines. Zhu Youxiao only promised that after our success, he would grant me the title of Imperial Scholar and let me enter the Grand Secretariat as a Hanlin Academician. The Ning King was more generous, hinting to us in his words that as long as we succeed, he will make me a king. These people are all eyeing that supreme position, and their conditions are one after another higher."

  "It's a pity they don't understand that Grandfather has lofty ambitions and is also eyeing the throne." Flying Eagle continued to say.

  Liu Jin hummed softly and smiled faintly, saying: "Whether it's a grand minister or an enfeoffed king or marquis, aren't they all just the emperor's slaves? Only by sitting on that imperial throne and becoming the number one person in the world can one bring glory to their ancestors and make this life worthwhile."

  "May Grandpa's wishes come true soon." Flying Eagle and Silver Hook knelt down on the ground and said.

  Liu Jin burst out laughing, adjusted his collar and straightened his silk hat. "Flying Eagle, prepare the carriage, we need to rush to the Leopard House immediately."

  "Yes." Flying Eagle replied.

  Having seen through Liu Jin's plot, Jiang Xia naturally did not want to stay in the East Factory any longer. He struggled to get out of bed and walked all the way to the main hall of the East Factory. Just as he was about to step out of the threshold of the main hall, Jiang Xia heard footsteps behind him, followed by Liu Jin's voice: "Jiang Xia, why don't you rest a bit longer?"

  "Your Excellency, I have someone on my mind who went through the same ordeal as me. I'd like to go back and check if she's safe."

  "Hehe. It's easy to get priceless treasures but hard to find a loving husband, alright, I'll have someone send you back with a horse carriage." Liu Jin said with a smile.

  Jiang Xia nodded, "Thank you, sir."

  After finishing speaking, Liu Xiu signaled Flying Eagle to arrange people.

  Fei Ying supported Jiang Xia out of the main hall, and Yin Gou asked in a low voice beside Liu Jin: "Sir, do you think he will notice anything?"

  Liu Jin shook his head and said, "It's impossible to detect anything, but this child is exceptionally clever, can be used but not trusted. If he could make me trust him, completely at my disposal, that would be the best."

  "Shall we find a few opportunities to test him?" asked Yin Gou.

  Liu Jin thought for a moment and said, "Let's discuss this matter later. The top priority now is to deal with the trouble caused by that fool Zhu Houxi. Immediately send someone to deliver my message to Zhu Youxiao using a flying pigeon book. I'm going to see the Emperor in the Leopard House right now."

  Fei Ying personally arranged for a horse-drawn carriage to send Jiang Xia back to the Xianyao Villa, and the villa suddenly increased its manpower by several times. After Jiang Xia got out of the carriage, Fei Ying said to him: "Take good care of yourself."

  Jiang Xia nodded and Flying Eagle drove the horse carriage away.

  As he walked to the entrance of Xiangyang Mountain Villa, Jiang Xiaoliang revealed his identity and walked in. Inside the courtyard, he saw Cui Ruxue and her master Lie Jueqing, Cui Nianslave, Li Dongyang, Jun Yang, Zhong Bin, as well as Zhu Houzhao and Zhang Yong, all waiting there.

  When they saw Jiang Xia, everyone stood up with a smile on their faces.

  A warm current suddenly flowed through Jiang Xia's heart, and she realized that she was no longer alone in the Great Ming without realizing it.