To make up for this deficiency, Xiang Yu learned another skill from Shou Jun. Although it was also a minor skill, it was quite practical and suited Xiang Yu perfectly.
Weiyang Palace, Council Hall.
Consort Qi looked at Liu Ji with a resentful expression, "Your Majesty promised me that you would make Ruyi the Crown Prince, when will you fulfill that promise?"
Reclining on the couch, Liu Ji lazily raised his hand and kneaded her. "My beloved consort, don't be impatient. After I deal with Xiao He, the next step will be to change the crown prince. Otherwise, given Xiao He's character, he will definitely jump out and lead the opposition."
"Then what is Your Majesty waiting for? Now that he has been imprisoned, why not send him on his way quickly?" Consort Qi's soft, boneless fingers gently drew circles on Liu Ji's chest.
"oh……"
Chapter 186 Life in Danger
"oh……"
Liu Ji groaned, removed Qi Ji's hand, and feigned anger, saying:
"Hmph, that's a woman's view. You don't understand the way of a ruler. How can you kill a dignified prime minister just like that? If not handled properly, it might cause trouble! Don't worry, I have already sent people to collect evidence of Xiao He's rebellion. He will be sentenced to death in a few days. Hehe, I don't believe Xiao He is so clean."
Liu Ji closed his eyes. Although his wound had stopped bleeding, it was beginning to fester. The blue pill applied externally was only for stopping the bleeding. It seemed that Black Dragon was determined to kill him.
The key question is whether the Black Dragon will keep its promise and take him to cultivate immortality after his death. Liu Ji has no idea. What if he feeds the Black Dragon well, but the Black Dragon goes back on its word and gets fat? Wouldn't that be a huge loss?
Just then, the Black Dragon's voice rang in Liu Ji's mind.
"Promise her. You're already on your deathbed, what's there to be afraid of? Quickly kill Xiao He, install a new crown prince, and eliminate all opponents, so that I can take you to cultivate immortality and seek eternal life."
"Ah? Dragon God, I'm afraid that being too forceful will backfire. These two matters are not trivial. However, since the Dragon God has spoken, I will certainly complete them as soon as possible."
Liu Ji felt increasingly uneasy. He had just returned to the capital when the Black Dragon couldn't wait to jump out and interfere. He didn't know what the Black Dragon was up to, but he didn't want to ask directly. What if the Black Dragon genuinely wanted to take his soul to another world to seize immortality? What if his questioning angered the Black Dragon, and it simply ignored him?
"Then let's deal with Xiao He first. Before the ministers can react, let's quickly and secretly go to the imperial prison to execute Xiao He in person," Black Dragon urged.
"Um, Dragon God, could you tell me how the soul travels to another world to cultivate immortality after death?" Liu Ji asked cautiously.
"I can open a portal in the heavens, allowing a person's soul to leave their body and float into the air after death. With my help, they can travel to other planes. Hmm? Why are you asking this? Don't you believe me?" the black dragon retorted.
"I believe you, of course I believe you. We are the best partners. Don't worry, Dragon God, I will handle Xiao He and the Crown Prince's affairs perfectly for you." Liu Ji had to admit that he had no room for negotiation on this matter, and he couldn't even delay for a moment. He could only try his best to show his abilities so that the Black Dragon would be reluctant to part with him.
"Then I'll be waiting for your good news. Once it's done, there will be plenty of divine medicine. Hehe, your favorite concubine is unhappy, so hurry up and coax her!" the black dragon laughed.
"Enough of the divine medicine?" Liu Ji swallowed hard, then pulled Qi Ji into his arms. "My beloved concubine, please don't be angry. I promise you, I'll go and deal with that scoundrel Xiao He right now."
Lady Qi was overjoyed, her eyes filled with affection. "Thank you so much, Your Majesty!"
Liu Ji was immediately itching with desire, "Dragon God, give me a few divine pills first, and I will immediately order Xiao He's execution after I'm done, I will never break my promise!"
Lady Qi exclaimed playfully, "Oh dear! Your Majesty, it's not even dark yet! How annoying!"
"Hahaha……"
At this time, at Xiao He's residence.
"Quickly send someone to find out if the Prime Minister has really been imprisoned by His Majesty." Xiao's wife and her husband were in a state of panic. Not long ago, they received news from an acquaintance in the palace that Xiao He had been imprisoned.
Although Xiao He and his wife knew about his plan to protect themselves by disgracing themselves, they did not expect it to escalate to the point of becoming prisoners. They thought that at most he would just be dismissed from his post. How could His Majesty be so heartless?
Xiao He's eldest son, Xiao Lu, sighed, "My dear mother, what's the point of confirming anything! Quickly think of a way to save them!"
Madam Tong composed herself. "Yes, yes, yes, the plan to protect oneself by defiling oneself was suggested by that Zhao Ping. Quickly, bring him here."
"Damn it! It was all that bastard's bad idea! I'm going to find him right now!" The second son, Xiao Yan, rushed out of the room as he spoke.
At this moment, in Zhaoping's room.
"You just arrived from the Heavenly Prison?" Zhao Ping sized up the man before him. He was indeed exceptionally heroic. Even the legendary Hegemon Xiang Yu was no more than this.
"Indeed. Prime Minister Xiao asked me to come and inform him of his situation, hoping that you, sir, can find a way to help him escape, otherwise his life is in danger." Xiang Yu did not wear a mask, after all, many years had passed, and apart from Xiao He, probably no one else in the Xiao family had seen Xiang Yu in person.
Zhao Ping frowned. "His life is in danger? It can't be that bad..."
"It's better to believe it's true than not to believe it's not. If we don't prepare in advance, we might really be in mortal danger. At that time, the gentleman who gave the Prime Minister this self-deprecating advice could indirectly cause Prime Minister Xiao's death." Xiang Yu repeated Hao Jiu's words verbatim. Hao Jiu was quite good at witty remarks.
Zhao Ping's heart skipped a beat. "But is the situation really this serious? What way can I possibly find to save it in such a short time?"
Just then, the door was kicked open.
"Zhaoping! It was all your bad idea! The Prime Minister was unjustly imprisoned and I heard he was even tortured. What else do you have to say for yourself!" Xiao Yan glared at him coldly.
"Second Young Master, please calm down. I just learned of this matter and am discussing a way to rescue him. This is a brave man who came from the Heavenly Prison to deliver a message to the Prime Minister." Zhao Ping felt extremely fortunate. If this man hadn't been there, who knows what the angry Second Young Master would have done.
Xiao Yan looked at Xiang Yu with a slight surprise, "You brought news of my father from the imperial prison?"
"That's right," Xiang Yu said, clasping his hands in a fist salute.
Xiao Yan suppressed his anger and cupped his hands in greeting, "Please come with me, my mother invites you."
Soon, Xiang Yu and Zhao Ping met Xiao He's wife, Tong Shi.
After Xiao Yan explained Xiang Yu's situation, Tong Shi and Xiao Lu immediately came over and politely inquired about Xiao He's situation.
"Alas, Prime Minister Xiao is sitting in the corner with his shackles on and tears streaming down his face. I could not bear it, so I risked my life to come and deliver this message." As soon as Xiang Yu described Xiao He's pitiful state, Tong Shi immediately began to sob.
"You worthless scoundrel Zhao Ping! It's all your fault!" Xiao Yan roared.
“Second brother, stop talking nonsense. This was an accident. How could you have known that His Majesty would be so heartless? It was just a matter of forcibly buying some land. He could have simply returned it. Why did it have to come to this?” Xiao Lu asked in confusion.
“Oh, I forgot, Prime Minister Xiao said that His Majesty has added another serious crime to his list: embezzlement and perverting the law. There are also other crimes under investigation,” Xiang Yu added.
"Corruption and abuse of power? The Prime Minister has even donated his family property, so how can he be accused of corruption and abuse of power?" Zhao Ping looked incredulous.
The wife and her two sons also looked over.
Xiang Yu continued, "In fact, Prime Minister Xiao has already passed the test by following Mr. Zhao's plan. His Majesty also said that he would not hold the matter against him and let the Prime Minister take the letter of accusation to apologize to the people and settle the matter."
As a result, Prime Minister Xiao mistakenly thought that His Majesty wanted him to continue being a good prime minister, so he boldly suggested that the empty land in His Majesty's Shanglin Garden be given to the people to cultivate. After the harvest, the grain would belong to the cultivators, and the straw would not be taken away, but left to be used as food for the birds and animals in the garden.
Upon hearing this, His Majesty flew into a rage, accusing the Prime Minister of corruption and bribery, claiming he had accepted money from merchants and plotted to seize His Majesty's Shanglin Garden. The Prime Minister was then imprisoned in the imperial jail and placed in shackles.
After hearing this, Xiao Yan looked at Zhao Ping apologetically and bowed, saying, "I have misunderstood you, sir."
Zhao Ping paid no attention to Xiao Yan, but instead slapped his thigh hard. "Oh dear! Why did the Prime Minister make such a foolish mistake at the last moment! His Majesty was clearly testing whether the Prime Minister had truly abandoned the people's hearts! The Prime Minister's life is in danger, what should we do!"
The three men, including Tong, immediately turned ashen-faced and looked as if they had lost their parents. Even Zhao Ping cried out, "What can we do? Who else can save the Prime Minister?"
Chapter 187 The Lords Jie and Zhou
"May I ask if you have a good plan, sir?" Tong asked cautiously.
Zhao Ping sighed deeply, "Now that things have come to this, I have no better ideas than to quickly contact influential ministers in the court to plead with His Majesty on my behalf."
“But who would dare to disobey His Majesty at this time?” Xiao Lu spread his hands. “His Majesty used to listen to two people the most: Zhang Liang and my father. But now Zhang Liang is without official position and is ill at home, while my father is imprisoned. What should we do?”
Zhao Ping shook his head with a wry smile. "His Majesty is completely different after becoming emperor. Even if Zhang Liang were still serving in the court, His Majesty wouldn't listen to him. He even imprisoned the prime minister, let alone Zhang Liang. Even if Zhang Liang could persuade His Majesty, he wouldn't go. It would be like inviting trouble. However, there is one person we can try."
"Who is it?" Tong and the others all showed surprise and delight.
“I have heard that the Imperial Censor Zhou Chang is a man of strong character who dares to speak out and has repeatedly contradicted His Majesty,” Zhao Ping replied.
Xiao Lu was overjoyed and said, "That's right! When Lord Zhou followed His Majesty to quell the rebellion in Zhao and temporarily served as the Prime Minister of Zhao, he opposed His Majesty's decrees several times, causing His Majesty a great headache. His Majesty wanted to demote him to the position of Prime Minister of Zhao and keep him in Zhao, but could not find any grounds to do so, so in the end, he had no choice but to let it go."
In previous years, when His Majesty intended to change the heir apparent, deposing Crown Prince Ying and establishing Ruyi in his place, it was again Minister Zhou Chang who stepped forward. In his haste, he stammered, but still angrily rebuked His Majesty, stating directly that His Majesty was gravely mistaken and that if the Crown Prince were deposed, he would not obey the edict for a long time. Therefore, the Crown Prince was spared, and a chance for reversal was given.
Madam Tong breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. "My son, go and see Lord Zhou immediately. You must persuade him to take action no matter what."
"Yes!" Xiao Lu didn't dare to delay, hurriedly bowed to everyone, and then strode out of the room.
"Thank you for saving me, sir." Xiao Yan bowed deeply to Zhao Ping.
Zhao Ping helped him up with both hands, saying, "Don't thank me yet. I'm afraid even if Zhou Chang goes, it will be difficult to change His Majesty's mind."
"Oh no! What should we do?" Madam Tong's face, which had finally regained some color, turned deathly pale again.
"Then I'll go and beg a few more officials. What if there are still righteous people among them?" Xiao Yan said through gritted teeth.
Zhao Ping pondered for a moment, "His Majesty's suspicion grows stronger every day, and all the military generals are in danger. There are not many influential civil officials, except for Zhou Chang and probably only Chen Ping."
However, Chen Ping is currently overseeing the construction of the imperial mausoleum in Xianyang, so he probably doesn't have the time, and may not be willing to plead for the prime minister.
However, if the young master can persuade most of the court officials to speak up for the prime minister, it will have a significant effect at tomorrow's morning court session.
I fear the Prime Minister may not be able to hold out until tomorrow morning's court session. His Majesty might take action tonight, or even before nightfall.
"Hiss... Please, sir, think again if there are any other solutions." Xiao Yan bowed again.
Zhao Ping gave a bitter smile, "If the Prime Minister hadn't used my self-defense strategy, we could have tried to get the people to plead for him, but now..."
"Then we can only place our hopes on Lord Zhou?" Madam Tong said, her voice trembling with tears.
"No, there is another person who is even more reliable than Zhou Chang. If we can get this person's help, the Prime Minister will have nothing to worry about," Xiang Yu suddenly said.
"Who is it?" Zhao Ping asked, his face showing surprise and doubt.
Madam Tong and Xiao Yan also looked over with some surprise, feeling extremely uneasy, fearing that their hopes would be dashed.
Xiang Yu smiled slightly, "Empress Lü."
"Empress Lü?" The three of them were taken aback.
Zhao Ping sighed, "I've heard that Empress Lü and His Majesty have a deep relationship. She even tortured and killed the Marquis of Huaiyin on His Majesty's behalf before. Back when Peng Yue was exiled to Shu, he went to Empress Lü to plead for him, but it was better not to plead at all. Instead, His Majesty changed his mind and chopped Peng Yue into mincemeat."
Lady Tong and Xiao Yan had also heard about this matter, and asking Empress Lü to intercede for the prime minister was no less difficult than asking Zhang Liang to come out of seclusion.
"Oh, thank you so much, brave warrior. I'll have someone prepare a meal right away."
"If Lady Tong doesn't believe me, surely she should believe the Prime Minister?" Xiang Yu's current status is that of a jailer, so it's normal for the other party not to believe him.
"Could it be that the Prime Minister's intention was to plead with Empress Lü?" Zhao Ping asked in surprise.
“That’s right. The Prime Minister said that His Majesty once said that the Crown Prince was kind but weak, unlike himself, and that he was considering deposing the Crown Prince and letting Liu Ruyi inherit the throne. His Majesty has tried to do this several times, but the Prime Minister has always opposed it. I think this may be related to his imprisonment.”
His Majesty was seriously injured during the campaign to quell the rebellion, and the succession to the Crown Prince is imminent. However, His Majesty has never truly given up on changing the Crown Prince, and it seems that he will make a fuss about it again, and this time he will be even more determined than before.
If the Chancellor were to fall from power at this time, one less important minister in the court would be needed to help Empress Lü defend the position of Crown Prince. Lady Tong could use this as a pretext to persuade Empress Lü to lend a hand. If His Majesty were to depose the eldest son and establish the younger son in his place in the future, the Chancellor would surely stand firmly in support of Empress Lü and the Crown Prince.
"As long as the Crown Prince does not ascend the throne, Empress Lü will not be able to rest easy. She will not easily give up such a powerful ally as Prime Minister Xiao, and will surely do everything in her power to rescue him," Xiang Yu said, bowing.
Zhao Ping suddenly realized, "No wonder His Majesty's attitude is so firm. It turns out there is still the matter of deposing and establishing the Crown Prince. Madam, I think what the Prime Minister said makes sense. His Majesty may really be preparing to depose and establish the Crown Prince again. This is the opportunity for us to contact Empress Lü to save the Prime Minister."
"If we can get Empress Lü's help, the Prime Minister's safety will be assured!" Lady Tong was overjoyed.