The Red Mansion Big Liar.

Chapter 701: Two Sides
After receiving the news that Qiu Duo had received the order and was rushing to Prince Beijing's Mansion to arrest someone, Niu Jizong rushed to Xiyuan.

As soon as he saw Concubine Zhen, he knelt on the ground and said, "My Lady Concubine, the Prince of Beijing's mansion is now under siege, and Shui Rong has been ordered to be captured by the Emperor. Fortunately, my second sister has come to stay in my mansion temporarily. Please issue an order to protect my second sister!"

"No!" Concubine Zhen said gloomily, "You must go back now and hand Yuhuan over to the imperial guards immediately. Then, write a letter to the emperor and explain the reason why Yuhuan came to visit you."

"But……"

"No buts!" Concubine Zhen interrupted, "You shouldn't have come today! Now that you are here, bring a message to Prince Ning, asking him to stay well in the palace during this period of time."

Although Niu Jizong's idea is good, his niece is not as good as his son after all.

If the emperor was gone now, Concubine Zhen might still protect Princess Beijing, but the emperor is still alive and well, and the first to suffer is Prince Ning.

Serving the emperor is like serving a tiger, let alone serving two tigers, the emperor emeritus and the emperor himself?

Not to mention Princess Beijing, if they are not careful, both she and Prince Ning will be doomed.

At this juncture, how could Concubine Zhen bring hatred to her own son for the sake of Princess Beijing?

Thinking of this, Concubine Zhen softened her tone and said, "You are still thinking of protecting Yuhuan at this moment, which is thoughtful. However, we must always take the overall situation into consideration. The emperor just got the news and was furious. Not to mention Yuhuan, even I and the emperor have to be careful.

The commander of the Eight Guards of the Beijing Camp has just left. Don't implicate Prince Ning at this time. And don't act rashly. Don't go there in person to deliver the message to Prince Ning. I'm afraid you will have to take care of the Zhen family in the future!"

It was also because Niu Jizon had a good character. He had not taken a concubine for so many years. Concubine Zhen just thought that he could not resist the request of his eldest niece, so he came to beg for mercy.

But it would have been better if she didn't say this. After she said this, it gave Niu Jizong confidence.

This plan failed. Not only was Prince Beijing deposed, but the emperor would certainly be extremely careful in the future, and Prince Ning would have no chance of making a comeback.

And Concubine Zhen will probably have to keep a low profile as well, so doesn't she have to rely on him alone?

But he did so much, mainly for Princess Beijing. If he returns empty-handed now, wouldn't it be a loss of both the wife and the army?

He suddenly straightened his back, and prostrated himself on the ground again, saying firmly: "Your Majesty, please issue an order to protect Yuhuan!"

"You..." Concubine Zhen's brows were raised with anger, but after she scolded, she stopped abruptly.

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty. Shui Rong did not assassinate Your Majesty this time. It was because of a personal grudge between an actor and Zhang Yunyi. The assassin has left a letter and confessed everything. I promise that this matter will not implicate Your Majesty and the prince. The prince is also aware of this.

Shui Rong was jealous of an actor and caused such a disturbance. Yu Huan was innocent, how could she be an accomplice? On the contrary, we can use this as an excuse to sever her relationship with Shui Rong. As long as she is not implicated by Shui Rong, I will take care of her in the future..."

Niu Jizong talked freely, but Concubine Zhen's expression became increasingly ugly.

Just now, she suddenly heard Niu Jizon calling Princess Beijing by her maiden name, and she noticed something strange.

After hearing this, I was even more overwhelmed.

Although Niu Jizong spoke vaguely, he paid attention to many details, no matter how big or small.

He spoke with certainty, and Prince Ning knew what was going on. The implication of his words was self-evident.

Although Niu Jizon also played an ignominious role in this incident, Prince Ning was clearly the mastermind behind it.

At this point, it's a life-and-death battle, and she and Prince Ning have no way to retreat.

But Niu Jizong, although the risk is not small, may not lose his mind and turn against his allies.

Concubine Zhen didn't dare to gamble, and could only vent her anger by angrily scolding: "You...you are digging your own grave!"

Although she could not hide her anger, she was obviously weak inside.

Niu Jizong became more and more confident, and he straightened his back and said, "It will be too late if we delay any longer. Please give your order, Your Majesty!"

Seeing that Niu Jizong refused to give in, Concubine Zhen seemed to have aged ten years. She pondered for a long time before sighing and saying, "Forget it! Pass on my imperial decree. Even if Prince Beijing is guilty, the crime is only committed by one person, and the case is not clear yet, so you can't embarrass the princess."

Niu Jizong quickly stood up, picked up the writing brush, ink, paper and inkstone, finished writing, and respectfully handed it to Concubine Zhen to put her seal on it, then he rode back without stopping.

…and at the same time.

Zhang Yunyi stepped into the main hall of Xiyuan.

"Your Majesty, I, Zhang Yunyi, pay my respects to you. Long live the emperor."

Zhang Yunyi was originally waiting for news in the imperial study, but when the emperor learned that Zhang Yunyi had come to the rescue, he summoned him over.

"Get up!" The old voice of the Emperor echoed in the palace, "You have done a great job in protecting the Emperor this time. What reward do you want?"

"Protecting the Emperor is my duty!"

As the suspicion of implicating the emperor had not yet been cleared, Zhang Yun逸 could only behave properly.

The emperor did not insist, but just sighed: "You are loyal and diligent, and you don't take credit for yourself. No wonder my father chose you!"

How does this involve Emperor Xingxian again?

Zhang Yunyi was a little confused about the emperor's train of thought, so he could only follow his words and say, "The late emperor's kindness to me is as great as a mountain. I have no way to repay him, so I can only serve him with all my heart."

The Emperor nodded slightly, his eyes deep as he said, "I heard that the assassin was only an arrow away from you, and your ability to shoot an arrow through a target from a hundred steps away is second to none in the army. Tell me, how were you able to save the prince?"

Zhang Yunyi's heart tightened, and he thought to himself, could it be that the emperor thought I directed and acted in this drama myself?

He did not dare to hesitate, and quickly told how he saw a flash of light in the bushes, and out of curiosity he investigated and happened to discover the arrow in the first place.

Unexpectedly, just as he finished speaking, the emperor clapped his hands and shouted, "Great! Great! It really is the blessing of my father!"

Zhang Yunyi looked up in astonishment, and saw the emperor's face glowing red as he said, "The beam of light you saw must be the spirit of my father!"

"This...I dare not speak nonsense!"

"That must be the case! Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that no one else saw it but you did!"

When the retired emperor summoned him, he already had some suspicions, and after listening to his story, he became even more certain.

Zhang Yunyi secretly complained that he and the emperor were in full view, and others were blocked from view by him...

However, since the retired emperor was able to think in this direction, he was naturally happy to see it happen. He also put on an expression of sudden enlightenment, and then kowtowed to thank Emperor Xingxian.

The Emperor raised his hand and said, "Stand up!"

After Zhang Yunyi stood up, he stopped smiling and said in a deep voice, "Since everything was arranged by my father, you will be in charge of this case. I will let Lu Bing assist you!"

At this point, he paused and said, "I am old, and the world will eventually be handed over to the emperor. You go and tell the emperor that you can go ahead and investigate. No matter who is involved, I will punish them severely and will not show any leniency!"

Based on the relationship between Prince Beijing and the Zhen family and Prince Ning, the retired emperor did not believe that it was only Prince Beijing's work.

He did intend to let Prince Ning check the emperor, but it was just a check and balance. He did not want to really cause trouble that would shake the country.

Now that this sign has emerged, we can only cut the Gordian knot and eliminate the hidden dangers.

In addition, from the perspective of the retired emperor, wasn't it also a clear indication that Emperor Xingxian arranged for Zhang Yun逸 to rescue the emperor?

He had experienced Prince Yizhong's rebellion, so he would naturally not take such a thing lightly.

Summoning the generals of the eight guards in the capital is a preventive measure.

Summoning Zhang Yun逸 and asking him to deliver the message was also to reassure the emperor, lest he become suspicious and the father and son become suspicious of each other, which would lead to greater chaos.

……

(End of this chapter)